BY PRISCILLA GREEAR

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Pastor Msgr. R. Donald Kiernan of All Saints Church in Dunwoody asked the Knights of Columbus to build a chapel for parishioners who wish to pray throughout the week in a quiet, intimate place.

The Knights Council 11042 joyfully accepted the request to build a place to pray to replace the makeshift chapel formerly located in the church’s cry room.

They converted the religious articles room by the vestibule into the Our Lady Of the Knights Chapel, named after the society’s patroness.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue led a dedication ceremony Feb. 8 in which he blessed the chapel. At the ceremony Msgr. Kiernan thanked the Knights who worked on the project. George Novac, the project committee chairman, presented chapel keys to the pastor before about 50 Knights.

Msgr. Kiernan later said he and parishioners had previously been praying in the sanctuary where they experienced distractions typical of any church such as organ and choir rehearsals and the janitor working.

“Every time I went in there to say prayer, somebody was tapping me on the shoulder,” he recalled. “I can say my prayers (in the new chapel) without anyone distracting me. It’s just a great convenience.”

Its primary use is for private prayer, Msgr. Kiernan said, “when people want to stop in for prayer. We’re very proud of what (the Knights) did.”

Novac described the Knights’ enthusiasm for the renovation project.

“Part of our goal is to support the pastor and this is what monsignor asked us to do and our objective is always to promote the Catholic faith. It just makes us feel very good that we were able to do this.”

The Knights formed a building committee in October 1997 and began renovation through subcontractors in August 1998. The Knights worked about 20 hours a week until they completed the chapel in January. General contractor for the 400 square-foot room was Sam Portis, while Richard Holcomb handled fund raising and Robert Greene oversaw interior decorating.

Behind a clear stained-glass door with a cross and red trim, the chapel has a new altar, paneling and chairs of cherry wood named after the 12 apostles. Panel lights installed above the crucifix, altar and baptismal font provide various levels of light.

The Knights completely financed the over $25,000 project with, among other contributions, various members paying $1,000 for memorial plaques on the altar, crucifix and chairs. Novac said although it was difficult to design the chapel in a room with no square corners “we were able to complete a beautiful room that’s useful.”

“Everybody wants to use it now and we are very pleased,” Novac said. He said one teacher who could only come to church on Saturdays told him, ‘Now I can come on Saturday morning and have some place that is quiet where I can sit and pray.’”

In addition to being available for prayer whenever the church is open, the chapel will be used for monthly exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and for baptisms, weddings and Mass for small groups. Novac said there have already been a lot of baptisms there, adding that his grandson was the first person to be baptized in the chapel in December.

Msgr. Kiernan noted that the chapel has a more intimate atmosphere for baptisms and other ceremonies.

“The acoustics would be a lot better. To use that chapel and the chairs that are in there would make the people more a part of the ceremony.”

Now parishioners have a place to pray that is free from distractions.

“I think everybody’s really grateful for the Knights completing this project,” Msgr. Kiernan said.

CHAPEL DEDICATION -- In a solemn ceremony Feb. 8, Archbishop John F. Donoghue dedicates the new Our Lady Queen of the Knights Chapel at All Saints Church, Dunwoody. Standing at the altar with the archbishop are, left to right, Deacon Raymond Egan and Msgr. R. Donald Kiernan, pastor.
Photo by Michael Alexander