Non ministrari, sed ministrare.
These Latin words, which mean “not to be ministered to, but to minister,” grace one of the three stained glass windows that were recently installed in the Permanent Deacon Formation Chapel at the Catholic Pastoral Center.
It is one of several renovations to be completed in preparation for its official appointment as a chapel by Bishop J. Mark Spalding.
“This is where the men in the program learn to serve at the altar when they become permanent deacons,” said Jerilyn Rost, assistant director of the Office of Vocations.
The left window, which contains the Latin words, shows symbols representing the four Gospels. “The book is shown open as proclamation of the Gospel is part of the deacon’s ministry,” Rost said.
The center window contains the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The right window contains a portion of a crozier to represent the Office of the Bishop. The Office of Vocations incorporated Bishop Spalding’s crozier to honor his dedication and full support of the Permanent Deacon Formation Program, Rost said.
The windows were installed by Emmanuel Studios Inc. on Friday, Feb. 18. Other upcoming projects include a new tabernacle, which will be placed into the wall; updates to the altar to match it to the wood design throughout the rest of the space; and new pews to accommodate the 40 men in the permanent diaconate formation program as well as make it more efficient for people to receive Communion when Masses are held there, Rost said.
Rost said the hope is the renovations of the chapel will be finished by the summer in time for the next academic year. All the projects are key steps to transforming the space from a former classroom to a true, sacred chapel, she said.
“There are three layers of glass in the windows. Two on the outside and then the stained glass,” she said. “It’s so silent. You don’t hear the traffic, and on a sunny day, the light comes in and it’s stunning. The windows are a visual accompaniment to the beauty already present during the holy sacrifice of the Mass.”
