The Ceremony

May 4, 2002
3:00 p.m.
St. Francis Chapel
on the campus of John Carroll University

Rev. Casimir R. Bukala, S.J. '54, celebrant

The Wedding Party

Matron of Honor
Katherine Litwinowicz, friend of the bride

Best Man
Andrew Close, brother of the groom

Bridesmaids
Juli Cachat, friend of the bride
Laurie Heinle, sister-in-law of the bride
Kelly Close, sister-in-law of the groom

Groomsmen
Allen Heinle, brother of the bride
Russell Heinle, brother of the bride
Dennis Heinle, brother of the bride

Flower Girl
Katie Shaughnessy, cousin of the groom

Ring Bearer
Zachary Litwinowicz, godson of the bride

The Chapel

Saint Francis Chapel is named for St. Francis Xavier of the Society of Jesus, and is the main student chapel at John Carroll University. The location was set aside in 1923 for a 5,000 seat Gothic chapel designed by Cleveland architect Bloodgood Tuttle, that was too magnificent ever to leave the drawing board. In 1929 foundations were dug for a 1,000 seat Memorial Chapel which the Depression kept from completion.

In 1947 a wooden frame building was erected on the abandoned foundations and used for ten years as a gymnasium and then as the offices of the School of Business. It was painted to resemble the brick of the rest of the campus, but the color was never true and it became known affectionately as the "Pink Barn." In 1970 the building was renovated, faced with brick and became the Fritzsche Religious Center with a small chapel and a multipurpose room where Sunday masses were said. Finally the entire building was renovated by architect Peter van Dijk and dedicated by Bishop Anthony M. Pilla on December 10, 1987.

Partitions were removed to open up generous space and reveal the original wooden trusses of the roof structure. Skylights and a narrow clerestory were cut to admit more natural light. A new facade of Indiana limestone in a basket weave pattern provided a setting for the St. Cecilia rose window, the patroness of organists surrounded by angel musicians. The window, made in Munich in 1906, was salvaged from St. Martin's Slovak Church in downtown Cleveland which was torn down to make way for an exit ramp for what is now Interstate 90. Modern abstract windows, designed by Charles Lawrence and crafted locally by the Poremba Studio admit light softly to the body of the chapel. Cold Spring green granite, piercing the facade and side wall delineates an intimate Eucharistic chapel, within but on a different axis from the larger room. The green slate floor of this Lady Chapel is from Vermont and further sets this area apart from the main chapel which is roughly floored in black Pennsylvania slate.

The alcove of the Lady Chapel enshrines an enamel and copper icon of the Virgin and Child, its design based loosely on the seal of Archbishop John Carroll, by Mary Ellen McDermott of the Cleveland Institute of Art. The tabernacle and candles are the work of the late silversmith Solve Hallquist. Local artist Pamela Argentieri crafted the silver evangelary cover and electroformed copper holy water basins, one of which bears the ancient palindrome NIYON ANOMHMATA MH MONAN OYIN [Wash your sins, not just your face].