History of Our Lady of Grace Chapel

Our Lady of Grace Chapel History

In the year 2021, Saint Peter Catholic School opened the Holy Family Center building. This finally allowed for more space for a possible school chapel. Michael Kraus, principal of Saint Peter Catholic School, wanted this to be a reality for the students.

“I have dreamed of adding a school chapel to our campus since becoming principal in July of 2013. My faith life was transformed through access to a school chapel at Archbishop Rummel High School. I was blessed to witness many students visit the chapel daily through a longing to be with Christ in prayer. The students entrusted to us at St. Peter have that same desire to find Christ. The challenge was always our lack of space for such a project.”

Michael Kraus

The pastor at the time, Father Otis Young, gave his blessing, and a letter was sent to the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2022:

“We are writing to ask permission to proceed with the renovation of existing classroom space on our school campus to erect a school chapel.  We strive as part of our school mission to have Catholic identity embedded with every component of our ministry…. School children need grace more than ever during these times when expectations and routines have been drastically changed and often more difficult.  There is a genuine longing for prayer among our community…. We are confident that a school chapel located on the campus would be utilized continually by students, faculty, and classes.  It would be safe and treated with utmost reverence. This chapel would transform our campus and enrich student sacramental preparation with the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.”

The Archdiocese quickly gave its approval, and the school met with Father Nile Gross of the Office of Worship and Andre Villere of the Building Office. Once obtaining requirements for the set space, they moved forward with hiring Hoffpauir Studio as the architects for the project. The teachers of the religion department met and ultimately determined the name. All those involved wanted the chapel to be named in honor of the Blessed Mother; then, the image of Our Lady of Grace was chosen–her arms lovingly outstretched, constantly interceding and comforting her children.

Ben Hudacheck, Owner of BH Estimating, hand-carved the altar, ambo, and reredos within Our Lady of Grace Chapel. In the planning process of these pieces, the apparition of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal to Saint Catherine Laboure inspired the team. In 1830, when the Blessed Mother visited Saint Catherine in Paris, Mary requested that the Miraculous Medal be created with the image of Our Lady of Grace on the front.

“As far as the design, Michael [Kraus] wanted it to be a Marian theme and wanted it to be a catechetical tool for the students as well. The design team came up with the idea of the Miraculous Medal and St. Catherine Laboure on Rue du Bac in Paris.”

Ben Hudacheck

The altar was constructed out of solid Honduran Mahogany with a clear finish and solid wooden joinery, which is designed to last hundreds of years. Hand planes were used instead of sandpaper as a final finish in order to bring out the wood grain and allow the natural beauty of the wood to stand out better. The Latin phrase on the front of the altar Ad Jesum Per Mariam translates to To Jesus Through Mary. The front of the Miraculous Medal is carved below with Our Lady of Grace at its center (the Blessed Mother revealed this image to Saint Catherine Laboure in Paris at Rue du Bac). The design is both Gothic and English in style. There are also crosses incorporated into the design, and these are inspired by the crosses used throughout the church in Paris, The Chapel of the Miraculous Medal. The ambo was also constructed out of solid Honduran Mahogany with a clear finish, and it contains the opposite side of the Miraculous Medal which includes the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Before the altar was delivered to the school, Ben and Chantelle Hudacheck, along with their children, prayed a rosary before the altar for the Saint Peter Community.

“We all felt a strong sense that Jesus was going to bring revival to your campus through the renovation of this chapel. That especially during this time of the Eucharistic Revival, you would see a significant increase in the tangible presence of Jesus at the school.  He is going to bless this act of bringing the Eucharist onto the campus. We prayed for students and faculty and family to all have encounters with Jesus when they visit and pray in the chapel. We are so excited for y’all to start using the altar."

Ben Hudacheck

The tabernacle was originally located in the chapel of Maison Hospitaliere, a nursing home in the French Quarter whose founding dates back to 1879. The tabernacle was then placed in St. Martin’s de Porres Manor (and it was removed during its renovation following Hurricane Katrina). When Saint Peter acquired the tabernacle, it was sent to Zito’s Plate and Polishing Works in New Orleans to be refurbished. This was the last project that father and son, Henry and Corey McCloskey, worked on together.

On the left wall of the Chapel, there are framed Bellazzi prints of the Joyful and Luminous mysteries of the rosary; the Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries are on the right. The Mary and Saint Joseph statues in the right and left corners were imported from Italy. Their wall sconces were also hand-carved and then later painted with a fleur-de-lis motif by Norman Fauchaux. In the back of the chapel, there are two holy water fonts: the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On the back wall, three icons are displayed honoring the school’s patrons: Saint John Bosco, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and Pope Saint John Paul II. All of these items are legacy gifts from the Saint Peter Class of 2022. In the hallway, outside the Chapel, there is a painting of Father Otis, which was organized by the families of the Class of 2023, and painted by Scott Withington, a local artist. On Father’s vestments, there is an image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

On August 24, 2023, Archbishop Gregory Aymond blessed the Chapel with holy water and sacred chrism oil. The administration, religion teachers, student representatives, and generous donors who helped make this dream become a reality were present. Following the Gospel, Archbishop Gregory Aymond stated, “This is a place where you will come to be alone with Jesus…. He will be present to you. Sometimes in your heart, you will hear Him say something. Other times, He will just say simply, ‘I’m here with you. I love you. You’re my son. You’re my daughter.’” Now, the Chapel is used by the school community during the school day–to pray alone, with a group, or to simply be in the presence of Jesus Christ.

“It is my hope and prayer that our St. Peter students and staff will develop a constant longing for Christ in the presence of the Eucharist through Our Lady of Grace Chapel.”

Michael Kraus