Christ the King Day Chapel
This small, monastic, worship space is also part of the present building complex. It provides a close, intimate space for smaller gatherings for weekday Mass, intimate weddings and funerals, and for weekly Adoration and quiet contemplation. The tabernacle for the Blessed Sacrament is housed here.
Christ the King Day Chapel
Named after the small Catholic Church in Water Valley, Alberta— Christ the King Parish, which was closed by the Diocese in 2001—our Day Chapel features "The Tree of Life Crucifix" created by renowned sculptor John Collier (see below for more details). The chapel also features some beautiful stained glass windows and a tabernacle to house the Eucharist.
Parishioners attend weekday Mass in the chapel and also use it for quiet contemplation and prayer, for the lighting of votive candles, and for Tuesday and Saturday Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
On Sundays (October to May) children in Kindergarten to Grade Two are invited to join their leader for the "Children's Liturgy" in the Chapel while regular Mass is going on in the main worship area (the Hall). The Liturgy of the Word for the children is celebrated using age-adapted readings bringing the Word of God closer to the children's level of understanding. Just before the Eucharistic Prayer and Communion portion of the Mass, the children return to their parents in the main worship area.
See more details about the Chapel below.
The Tree-of-Life Crucifix
John Collier, Sculptor
“The Tree of Life” Crucifix
In October, 2013, Warren Harbeck parishioner and local journalist, wrote in The Kolbe Times an article entitled, "Sacred Art at St. Mary's Church–Cochrane." Here is an excerpt from that article:
"Perhaps no finer example of the importance of sacred art for this parish is to be found in the Day Chapel, immediately to the right upon entering the main doors. There, over three metres high, stands The Tree of Life Crucifix by renowned American sculptor John Collier, chief artist for the Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero, New York City.
"Its distinctive tree-and-branch cross holds an equally distinctive corpus: a tattered, whipped, and fallen Jesus.
"Collier’s inspiration for The Tree of Life Crucifix is found in the biblical accounts of three trees, he says:
'(1) the tree of life in the Garden of Eden, from which Adam and Eve were alienated by sin;
(2) the tree on which Jesus, 'the second Adam,”' was crucified to counter the human alienation from God brought about by the first Adam; and
(3) the tree of life referred to in the conclusion to the Book of Revelation – the tree in the holy city of the new heaven and earth, on either side of the river of life that flows from the throne of God, whose leaves 'are for the healing of the nations.'
"In these three trees represented in his crucifix, Collier embraces God’s grand story of reconciliation. 'The healing journey of salvation is complete,' he says. 'Access to the first tree of life has been restored in the new reality of the third tree. God once again is intimately present with His people'.
"God Himself became the Artist of history doing something beautiful for humanity – indeed, for all of creation – and invites all future artists to participate in that beauty.
"Was it not in that sense that Pope John Paul II famously addressed artists in 1999? Recall his words: 'May your art help to affirm that true beauty which, as a glimmer of the Spirit of God, will transfigure matter, opening the human soul to the sense of the eternal.'
That priority certainly underlies John Collier’s commitment to sacred art. 'Human beings have always made art about what they think is important,' he says. 'I think our Lord is important. I make art about Him.'"
"Thy Will Be Done": A Painting by Richard Hook
DID YOU KNOW?
The Christ the King Day Chapel, a spartan, monastic space without decoration, is a place to meditate and contemplate solely on the powerful image of Jesus On The Cross without any other focus or distractions.
As you enter the Chapel the "THY WILL BE DONE" painting by Richard Hook (1914-1975) invites you to contemplate Jesus in His agonizing time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane only hours before He would endure the cross, and to contemplate His words of selfless surrender to the will of His Father for our salvation, the hope of resurrection, and the joy that lies beyond.
(For inspiration, read: Matthew 26:36-46; Hebrews 12:2-3; and Philippians 2:5-11)
More from the Day Chapel