Our Lady Chapel at Gilmour Academy

Our Lady Chapel at a Glance

Our Lady Chapel is the Catholic chapel at the heart of the Gilmour Academy campus in Gates Mills, Ohio. Gifted in 1995 by philanthropist Fred Lennon and served since its founding by Father John Blazek '58, C.S.C., the chapel anchors daily life at this independent, Catholic, coed day and boarding school in the Holy Cross tradition. Daily Mass is celebrated on campus, and weekend Masses are open to the public.

History and Dedication

Completed and dedicated in 1995, Our Lady Chapel was the gift of Fred Lennon, a manufacturer, philanthropist and longtime Hunting Valley resident. The dedication was a turning point in the development of the campus: the same year, the Cedar Road (Sustar) Entranceway was completed. A 20th anniversary celebration was held on Sunday, September 13, 2015, when Bishop Roger Gries, O.S.B., and Father John Blazek concelebrated an anniversary Mass before about 250 friends of the chapel moved to the Athletic Center for brunch. Former chapel musicians returned for the occasion and current students produced videos about the chapel's history.

• Dedicated 1995
• Donor: Fred Lennon of Hunting Valley
• 20th anniversary Mass: September 13, 2015, concelebrated by Bishop Roger Gries, O.S.B., and Fr. John Blazek '58, C.S.C.
• Anniversary events included student video project and return of former chapel musicians

The Icon of Our Lady of Gilmour

Within the chapel is a Vatican Marian icon, originally known as Our Lady of Vladimir. It was gifted and blessed by Pope John Paul II, who personally rechristened the image Our Lady of Gilmour. The icon is treated by the community as a singularly holy treasure that gives the chapel a special character among Catholic houses of worship in Northeast Ohio.

• Originally titled Our Lady of Vladimir
• Renamed Our Lady of Gilmour by Pope John Paul II
• Gifted and blessed by the Holy Father

Father John Blazek '58, C.S.C. — Chaplain

Father John Blazek is a Gilmour Academy alumnus of the Class of 1958 and a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.). He has served at Gilmour since 1979, returning to his alma mater after earlier ministry at St. Edward High School in Lakewood. At Gilmour he has taught math, theology and computer science, coached numerous sports teams, and now serves as campus minister. He is the only priest Our Lady Chapel has ever known, having led it since its 1995 dedication. In his own words, the chapel has become 'the heart of community gatherings here.'

• Gilmour Class of 1958; salutatorian
• Attended the University of Notre Dame; joined the seminary
• Holy Cross priest (C.S.C.)
• Returned to Gilmour in 1979
• Sole chaplain of Our Lady Chapel since 1995
• Teaches math, theology and computer science; coached multiple sports

Livestream and Online Worship

For those unable to attend in person, the chapel's Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass is livestreamed on the Gilmour Academy website (gilmour.org/olc) and on Facebook at 'Our Lady Chapel at Gilmour Academy.' The Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. Mass is also livestreamed each year. A library of previously recorded Masses is accessible from the livestream page.

• Sunday 10:00 a.m. Mass livestreamed weekly
• Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. Mass livestreamed annually
• Livestream page: gilmour.org/olc
• Facebook: Our Lady Chapel at Gilmour Academy

Convocation and Student Prayer

Our Lady Chapel is woven into the rhythm of student life at Gilmour. Each weekday morning, students in grades 7–12 gather in the chapel for Convocation and prayer, and Catholic Mass is celebrated daily. The chapel's role as the spiritual heart of the Upper School is reflected in its location — directly across from the Athletic Center rear exit — and in Father John's description of it as 'the heart of community gatherings here.'

• Daily weekday morning Convocation for grades 7–12
• Catholic Mass celebrated daily on campus
• Chapel serves as the spiritual center of the Upper School

Community Life and Events

Beyond weekly Masses, Our Lady Chapel hosts a range of community gatherings that bring together Gilmour families, alumni, and friends of the chapel from the wider Gates Mills area. The annual Chapel Picnic is a recurring highlight, and milestone events such as the 20th anniversary in 2015 have drawn hundreds of supporters to the campus.

• Annual Chapel Picnic
• Friends of Our Lady Chapel gatherings (e.g. 20th anniversary, 2015)
• Anniversary liturgies celebrated with the diocesan bishop

Location and Visiting

Our Lady Chapel sits at the heart of the Gilmour Academy campus in Gates Mills, Ohio, within the Upper School and directly across from the Athletic Center rear exit. The mailing address is 34001 Cedar Road, Gates Mills, OH 44040. Visitors are invited to call the chapel office at (440) 473-3560 for the current weekday Mass schedule, and the Gilmour Academy main line is (440) 473-8000.

• Address: 34001 Cedar Road, Gates Mills, OH 44040
• Located in the Upper School, across from the Athletic Center rear exit
• Chapel office: (440) 473-3560
• Gilmour Academy main: (440) 473-8000

Gilmour Academy and the Holy Cross Tradition

Our Lady Chapel exists within the broader mission of Gilmour Academy, an independent, Catholic, coed day and boarding school serving toddler through Grade 12 in the Holy Cross tradition. Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross live in community on campus in the Holy Cross House and Murphy Residence Hall. The chapel is described by the school as anchoring the Gilmour community in the Holy Cross tenets of building family and embracing diversity, and it extends an invitation to worship to Gilmour families past and present and to the community at large.

• Gilmour Academy: independent, Catholic, coed day and boarding school
• Grades toddler–12 in the Holy Cross tradition
• Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross live in community on campus
• Chapel mission: building family and embracing diversity