St Stephen Catholic Chapel: Difference between revisions

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'''St Stephen the Martyr Catholic Chapel''' is a Roman Catholic chapel operated by [[Catholic Family Services]] and the [[Diocese of Birmingham]] at 1515 [[12th Avenue South]] adjacent to the campus of [[UAB]].
'''St Stephen the Martyr Catholic Chapel''' is a Roman Catholic of the [[Cathedral of St. Paul]]. It houses [[Catholic Family Services]] and the Birmingham Catholic campus ministry and is located at 1515 [[12th Avenue South]] adjacent to the campus of [[UAB]].


St Stephen Catholic Parish was founded in [[1991]] by [[Frank Muscalino]] as an outgrowth of an existing campus ministry. Initially it primarily served mostly foreign nationals working as graduate researchers or staff at [[UAB Medical Center]].
St Stephen Catholic Parish was founded in [[1991]] as a non-territorial parish for Catholic ministry under [[Frank Muscalino]]. It was as an outgrowth of an existing campus ministry operated out of a house on the site.. Initially it primarily served mostly foreign nationals working as graduate researchers or staff at [[UAB Medical Center]].


When Muscalino was reassigned to [[St. Patrick’s Catholic Church]] in Adamsville in the early 2000s, the parish was joined for two years with [[Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church]] and served by Fathers [[Greg Biitner]] and [[Bryan Lowe]]. After this its parochial status was removed and it became a chapel of the [[Cathedral of St. Paul]]. From 2018-2021 the chapel was led by Father [[Joshua Altonji]]. In August 2021, Fr. [[Justin Ward]] will become the chapel’s sacramental minister.
When Muscalino was reassigned to [[St. Patrick’s Catholic Church]] in Adamsville in the early 2000s, the parish was joined for two years with [[Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church]] and served by Fathers [[Greg Biitner]] and [[Bryan Lowe]]. After this its parochial status was removed and it became a chapel of the [[Cathedral of St. Paul]]. From 2018-2021 the chapel was led by Father [[Joshua Altonji]]. With the appointment of the [[Bryan Jerabek]], rector of the cathedral, as campus minister in summer 2021, Sunday masses ceased to be celebrated at St. Stephens. Weekday masses on Thursday, continue. The last Sunday mass was celebrated on August 15, 2021, by Fr. [[Justin Ward]].


The chapel is unique among Birmingham Catholic churches, in that the altar is in the middle of church. Initially the congregation sat around the altar on all sides. Also initially there were no kneelers in the church. The congregation stood for all prayers. This reflected the progressive liturgical thought in the Roman Catholic Church in the decades after the Second Vatican Council. Fr. Muscalino also explained it reflected the congregation’s international character, since kneeling was not as common in many countries as it was in the United States. Later, after it was merged with the cathedral parish, the tabernacle was moved in front of the organ and kneelers were provided.
The chapel is unique among Birmingham Catholic churches, in that the altar is in the middle of church. Initially the congregation sat around the altar on all sides. Also initially there were no kneelers in the church. The congregation stood for all prayers. This reflected the progressive liturgical thought in the Roman Catholic Church in the decades after the Second Vatican Council. Fr. Muscalino also explained it reflected the congregation’s international character, since kneeling was not as common in many countries as it was in the United States. Later, after it was merged with the cathedral parish, the tabernacle was moved in front of the organ and kneelers were provided.
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==References==
==References==
* Hearn, Sidney. (November 18, 2020) [https://magiccityreligion.org/2020/11/18/christ-of-nations-in-st-stephen-the-martyr-catholic-church/ “Christ of the Nations in St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church: Symbol of Faith or Race”] ''Magic City Religion''  
* Hearn, Sidney. (November 18, 2020) [https://magiccityreligion.org/2020/11/18/christ-of-nations-in-st-stephen-the-martyr-catholic-church/ “Christ of the Nations in St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church: Symbol of Faith or Race”] ''Magic City Religion''  
* Jerabek, Bryan (July 23, 2031) [http://www.stsbhm.org/uploads/4/6/5/8/46585371/20210723_letter_to_community_members_from_fr_jerabek.pdf Letter to the Saint Stephen Community] Saint Stephen the Martyr Chapel website.


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 16:54, 30 July 2021

St Stephen the Martyr Catholic Chapel is a Roman Catholic of the Cathedral of St. Paul. It houses Catholic Family Services and the Birmingham Catholic campus ministry and is located at 1515 12th Avenue South adjacent to the campus of UAB.

St Stephen Catholic Parish was founded in 1991 as a non-territorial parish for Catholic ministry under Frank Muscalino. It was as an outgrowth of an existing campus ministry operated out of a house on the site.. Initially it primarily served mostly foreign nationals working as graduate researchers or staff at UAB Medical Center.

When Muscalino was reassigned to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Adamsville in the early 2000s, the parish was joined for two years with Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and served by Fathers Greg Biitner and Bryan Lowe. After this its parochial status was removed and it became a chapel of the Cathedral of St. Paul. From 2018-2021 the chapel was led by Father Joshua Altonji. With the appointment of the Bryan Jerabek, rector of the cathedral, as campus minister in summer 2021, Sunday masses ceased to be celebrated at St. Stephens. Weekday masses on Thursday, continue. The last Sunday mass was celebrated on August 15, 2021, by Fr. Justin Ward.

The chapel is unique among Birmingham Catholic churches, in that the altar is in the middle of church. Initially the congregation sat around the altar on all sides. Also initially there were no kneelers in the church. The congregation stood for all prayers. This reflected the progressive liturgical thought in the Roman Catholic Church in the decades after the Second Vatican Council. Fr. Muscalino also explained it reflected the congregation’s international character, since kneeling was not as common in many countries as it was in the United States. Later, after it was merged with the cathedral parish, the tabernacle was moved in front of the organ and kneelers were provided.

From the 1990s into the 2010s, a distinctive crucifix known as the “Christ of the Nations” was suspended over the altar. Its four sides depicted Jesus as multiple races.

References

External links

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