A Hothouse Chapel in Hurricane Alley ("Ugly As Sin" At Ave Maria U.)

CruxNews.com ^ | 3/26/2004 | Michael Rose

[livius]

LOL! Well, I certainly hope that's never replicated in real life...

[AAABEST]

How was it? How did the choir sound? That must have been a surreal experience.

It was pretty wild.

I had just seen the choir the night before at the Naples Phil all dressed up, so their was a definite contrast in more ways than one.

There was also a fierce wind that was knocking over and breaking some of the glass.

Here are a few pics from the event.

[livius]

I agree. There's a definite lack of focus in the "church in the round" model - to say nothing of the rejection of thousands of years of temple/church architecture.

But I guess that rejection was probably the whole point of the church in the round.

[Unam Sanctam]

Yeah, I suppose it's the old "let's worship ourselves as community" pablum.

[AAABEST]

Here's another pic of the interior:

[ELS]

Is that supposed to be the choir loft above the main floor? Where is the organ?

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

You are more optimistic than I am.

Religion aside, I hope your property is zoned commercial. You stand to make some good money.

[Bigg Red]

Good heavens! It looks like a greenhouse -- a very ugly greenhouse.

[AAABEST]

I'm not sure what's what in the pic.

[AAABEST]

It's not zone commercial (everything is ag or residential in the area), but it's 2 rental properties which could be good also.

Although it is a blessing of sorts monetarily, I'm more concerned with this being a blessing that glorifies God and is good for our church. I would bulldoze the property in exchange for such if I somehow could.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I'm more concerned with this being a blessing that glorifies God and is good for our church. I would bulldoze the property in exchange for such if I somehow could.

Hmmm. I wonder if you could build some traditional resource for Ave Maria students who want to practice traditional Catholicism. It appears there will be nothing of the sort on campus.

[Maximilian]

Quite obviously the chapel is inconsistent with Ave Maria’s reputation for embracing authentic Catholic culture and tradition.

I'm not sure where Michael Rose got the idea that they have this kind of reputation. What I've heard from many different people is that Ave Maria is basically the permanent campus of World Youth Day. It's far from anything close to "Catholic culture and tradition."

A fine institution like this Ave Maria doesn't deserve a modernist monstrosity like this.

It looks to me like the monstrosity of Ave Maria University is getting a building that symbolizes them very well. The whole project is a megalomaniac fantasy. The church building represents that superbly.

[Maximilian]

Unfortunately, you were exactly right in your prediction about this university.

Thank you for that acknowledgement.

I am disappointed in Father Fessio.

What were you expecting? Father Fessio is NOT a traditional Catholic.

[Maximilian]

We don't know what Fr. Fessio thinks of this. Though he is chancellor, he may have little to no control over this aspect, since Monaghan is the "big man."

And you think this makes things better? Doesn't this sound like a perfect recipe for disaster? And a overturning of the proper and traditional hierarchy in all church-related projects? Doesn't this mean that the entire foundation of the whole project, and not just the design of this church, is fundamentally unsound?

[AAABEST]

LOL. If I had the money I would love to build a Society chapel.

One thing I will be doing is letting as many as I can know about our Chapel in Fort Myers and also spreading the word regarding traditional Catholicism whenever I have the opportunity.

[Maximilian]

I'm not quite sure what to make of this whole endeavor yet.... signals are mixed but seems promising.

It sounds to me like you're being taken for a ride. Like the rest of the neo-Catholic enterprise, it's built on direct-mail fundraising rather than on faith and grace.

[Maximilian]

Here's another pic of the interior:

I don't get it. Where is the altar?

[AAABEST]

I'm not sure. I think the pic is of the rear of the church where the choir would be seated, or some sort of mezanine.

In any case I'm taking a "wait and see" on this whole thing.

[AnAmericanMother]

No way that candle stayed lit! (seems like there's always a wind when you're trying to deal with candles etc. outdoors.)

Could the choir be heard at all in the open air? How many people were there?

[Land of the Irish]

I don't get it. Where is the altar?

Your looking towards the rear of the church. See the huge cross?

It'll be the first split-level, double decker church that I've heard of. Maybe the most generous donors will get seated in the mezzanine.