Welcome to the Historic Mater Dei Chapel!
This stunningly inspiring space is the spiritual and communal centerpiece of our campus and is the setting for commissioning and pinning ceremonies, lecture programs, memorial observances, and worship services throughout the year. Mount students begin their time at the university druing a moving candle-lighting ceremony here, and conclude it with a Baccalaureate Mass in the chapel just before commencement.
Over the past six decades, more than 470 couples have commenced married life by vowing their lives to one another in this sacred space. We invite you to tour the chapel at your leisure, paying special attention to the stained-glass windows, crucifix, stations of the cross, statuary, and other exquisite artwork. All of it was designed by six women—three Sisters of Charity and three undergraduate art students —in the late 1950s and early ‘60s, a time when women were all but absent from leadership roles in the professional worlds of architecture, art, and design, let alone the creation of religious spaces.
In March 2024, under the guidance of then Chief Mission Officer Sister Karen Elliott, C.PP.S., the Chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was recognized for its historical and cultural significance – as the first chapel created by all women in the 1960s, and the only one created by faculty and undergraduate students at a US Catholic college or university -- as well as its architectural value, in the mid-century modern (MCM) style.
Click here to contribute to the restoration of the Mater Dei Chapel
Launch Mater Dei Chapel Experience
The Mater Dei Chapel
On March 4, 2024, the Mater Dei Chapel was named to the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of The Interior. In celebration of this recognition, the University created a documentary about the Chapel titled MATER DEI CHAPEL: A Story of Sacred Art & Inspirational Women. In this film, Ebbeler ’61 and Brungs ’60 share stories of the design and creation of the Mater Dei Chapel. They also recount stories of Hoffman '61, Sister Augusta, and Sister Maria Corona Molloy. The introduction features Sister Judith Metz, SC, and Maddie Williams, MSA Design.
Mater Dei Chapel: A Story of Sacred Art & Inspirational Women
Watch the artists of the Mater Dei Chapel tell their story of its creation.
Mater Dei Chapel: The Journey to the National Register
Watch the Mater Dei Chapel's history and journey to the National Register of Historic Places.
A Glimpse Into the Interior of the Mater Dei Chapel
Watch a brief video highlighting the interior of the historic Mater Dei Chapel.
View the Sacred Art & History of the Mater Dei Chapel
December 17, 1962 marked the dedication, consecration of the main altar and first Mass. The Solemn Blessing took place the following spring on May 1, 1963.
The meaning of Mater Dei – “Mother of God” – was inspired by the words of Pope John XXIII. During his opening remarks of the Second Vatican Council, just two months before the Chapel’s dedication, Pope John XXIII called on the Mother of God “to watch over the church during the work ahead.”
Architecture
It was constructed with capacity, economy and simplicity of design in mind. According to a letter written by the Chapel’s architects, the Chapel “reflects the engineering knowledge, craftsmanship, economy, and material of the day.”
The letter also expressed, “In this way, the Chapel is similar to the Greek, early Christian, gothic and renaissance architecture.”
Augusta Zimmer, SC
The artwork gracing the Mater Dei Chapel comes from the hearts and hands of Sr. Augusta Zimmer and her art students. An internationally known artist of her time, Sr. Augusta empowered her students to capture a spiritual message when creating the Chapel’s works of art.
Sr. Augusta began as a science teacher, but was quickly sent to the Chicago Art Institute to explore her God-given talent – art. Her expertise as an artist and teacher came from years of traveling the world and studying art. She began her international studies in Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land in 1935, when she received a traveling fellowship.
In 1955, Sr. Augusta studied in Florence, Italy, and earned her Master of Fine Arts degree. During her two years in Florence, she developed a strong interest in ceramics and became fascinated with Venetian glass mosaics, which is reflected in the Mater Dei Chapel.
After spending 33 years as a teacher at the College of Mount St. Joseph, including 14 years as the chair of the Art Department, Sr. Augusta retired in 1971. She was then awarded an opportunity to travel to Iran to study Persian art forms, and continued to create art until her death on December 15, 1990.
Sr. Augusta never had an art show of her own, yet the Mater Dei Chapel stands as one of her greatest living works of art. However, she would be the first to extend the credit to the main contributors of the Chapel artwork, her students, specifically Margaret Rolfes Brungs ’60, Judy Dettenwanger Ebbeler ’61 and Marlene Hoffman ’61.
Marlene Hoffman ’61, an alum of the art program at the Mount, designed the 28 windows under the guidance of Sr. Augusta Zimmer.
Symbols of Christianity
Each colorful window displays symbols of Christianity. The various shades of gold, brown and auburn in each piece symbolize the worth, virtue and glory of God, and complement the tones in the reredos behind the altar.
Blessed Sacrament of Christ
The 10 windows framing the sanctuary represent aspects of the Blessed Sacrament of Christ. Images used include a gladiolus, lamb, chalice and host, as well as numerous circles.
Blessed Virgin Mary
The 18 windows in the body of the Chapel are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. They include images of a moon, lilies, a Chi Rho Cross with the letter “M,” and many more symbols associated with Mary’s role in salvation history.
Devotions
Among the windows are three with special devotion:
- St. Joseph with a carpenter angle and hammer;
- Mother Seton displaying volumes of closed books;
- St. Thomas Aquinas showcasing a portrait image of St. Thomas wearing the scholarly vestments.
The Process
Marlene spent one year researching, designing and producing the windows. She created full-scale templates for each window, which she hung from the fourth floor of Marian Hall at the Motherhouse to finalize the design.
After the collection was approved, Marlene worked with Blenko Glass Company in Virginia on the glass selection and construction. The lead frames were constructed in the Art Department under the guidance of Sr. Augusta.
Related documents
Mass and Sacraments
Mater Dei Chapel
Sunday and Holy Day Mass Schedule
In addition to the schedule below, Mass is usually offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. in the chapel when classes are in session. When Fr. John is unavailable for weekday Masses, a prayer service is led by a faculty or staff member.
If you are unable to attend on campus, you can search Mass Times for Catholic Churches in Cincinnati and around the country. Additionally, Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Cincinnati livestreams their Sunday 11:00 a.m. Mass. Bellarmine Chapel livestreams their 5:00 p.m. weekday Masses and Sunday 9:00 a.m. Mass.
SPRING SEMESTER MASS SCHEDULE:
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Sunday, January 18 |
NO MASS |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Break |
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Sunday, January 25 |
NO MASS |
NO MASS due to SNOWSTORM |
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Sunday, February 1 |
7:00 p.m. |
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Sunday, February 8 |
5:00 p.m. |
Super Bowl Weekend |
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Sunday, February 15 |
7:00 p.m. |
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Wednesday, February 18 |
12:00 p.m.: Mass w/ distribution of Ashes |
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Sunday, February 22 |
NO MASS |
Mid-Semester Break |
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Sunday, March 1 |
7:00 p.m. |
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Sunday, March 8 |
NO MASS |
Spring Break |
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Sunday, March 15 |
NO MASS |
Spring Break |
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Thursday, March 19 |
12:15 p.m. |
Feast of St. Joseph |
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Sunday, March 22 |
7:00 p.m. |
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Sunday, March 29 |
7:00 p.m. |
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Sunday, April 5 |
NO MASS |
Easter Break |
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Sunday, April 12 |
7:00 p.m. |
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Sunday, April 19 |
7:00 p.m. |
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Sunday, April 26 |
7:00 p.m. |
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Sunday, May 3 |
7:00 p.m. |
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Friday, May 8 |
5:30 p.m. |
Baccalaureate Mass Graduates please be in the Classroom Building |
Weddings in the Mater Dei Chapel
To be married at the Mater Dei Chapel, either the bride or the groom (or both) must be Catholic. Weddings in the Mater Dei Chapel are by exception, since the usual place for a Catholic wedding is your home parish church. Couples must obtain special permission from their pastor to have their wedding at Mater Dei Chapel.
Weddings are usually held during Ordinary Time or the Easter or Christmas seasons (avoiding Holy Days), but they can also be held during the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent. The bride or groom must be one of the following:
- An alumni of the university
- A current student at the university
- A faculty or staff member of the university or their children
Contact Information
For more information on renting Mater Dei Chapel for a wedding, please click our Wedding information form here, or submit a Wedding request form here. For questions or for more information on renting Mater Dei Chapel for other events, please contact our Chief Mission Officer, Joe Shadle, at joe.shadle@msj.edu or 513-244-4844.
Additional Guidelines and Information
The chapel seats 800 people. There is no food or drink permitted in the Chapel. All buildings and grounds of the University are smoke-free environments.
Mater Dei Chapel may also be rented out for other events, such as retreats and funerals. A portion of each rental fee for Mater Dei Chapel goes to the restoration fund for the Chapel.
