About Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel (Aquinas College) · Grand Rapids, Michigan
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel is the Catholic chapel at the heart of Aquinas College's campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A 250-seat sanctuary designed in the Dominican tradition, it was completed and dedicated in October 2017 as the first building in the college's 140+ year history constructed specifically as a chapel. Served by Dominican friars and the Campus Ministry team, it is the central space for Mass, the sacraments, prayer, and spiritual life for the Aquinas community, and is located in the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
- Established
- 2017
- Patron
- Our Lady Seat of Wisdom
- Rector
- Fr. Robert (Bob) Keller, O.P. (Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
Why belong here
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel is the spiritual home of the Aquinas College community — a 250-seat sanctuary built specifically for Catholic worship at the heart of campus. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors gather here for daily and Sunday Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, liturgical ministries, and prayer, all served by Dominican friars and a dedicated Campus Ministry team. Whether you're looking to grow in prayer life, get involved as a lector or musician, or simply find a quiet place to step away from the busy week, the chapel offers a place to belong, be formed in faith, and encounter Christ in the Dominican tradition.
Mass times at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel (Aquinas College)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 6:15 – 6:45 p.m.
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, Thursday: 3:30 – 4:15 p.m.
- Saturday: 3:30 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish (next door)
- Summer and by appointment — email [email protected] or Fr. Bob ([email protected]) / Fr. Jordan ([email protected])
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel is a 250-seat Catholic chapel located at the heart of Aquinas College's campus. Completed and dedicated in 2017, it is the first building in Aquinas College's 140+ year history constructed specifically as a chapel. The chapel serves as the central space for Mass, prayer, worship, and spiritual life for the college community, and sits as a focal point across the great lawn from the Holmdene building.
- 250-seat sanctuary with flexible seating and a dedicated choral space
- Reconciliation room, meeting and prayer rooms
- Music storage and sacristy
- LEED Certified
- Designed in the Dominican tradition
History of the Chapel
Since its founding in 1886, Aquinas College had celebrated Mass and other liturgical events on campus — most recently in Bukowski Chapel, which was often at capacity for Sunday Mass. In spring 2014 the College decided to design and build a permanent on-campus chapel, listing it as an 'aspirational project' in the 2015 Campus Master Plan. Construction began in 2016, and the chapel was dedicated on October 7, 2017, as a $4-million, 7,200-square-foot building designed by JNKA Architects and built by Erhardt Construction.
- 1886: Aquinas College founded; Mass celebrated on campus in existing spaces
- 2014: College decides to build a permanent chapel
- 2015: Chapel listed in Campus Master Plan
- 2016: Construction begins (designed by JNKA Architects)
- October 7, 2017: Chapel dedicated
- 2019: Adjacent Our Lady of Fatima Shrine most recently renovated
Architecture & Design
The chapel was designed in the Dominican tradition by JNKA Architects, a Park Ridge, Illinois firm specializing in faith-based design. TowerPinkster served as the engineer of record, providing engineering, site planning, landscape design, interior design, and construction administration. Erhardt Construction of Ada, Michigan served as the builder. The building incorporates sustainable design principles in order to achieve LEED certification.
- Design Architect: JNKA Architects (Park Ridge, IL)
- Engineer / Interior / Landscape: TowerPinkster
- Construction: Erhardt Construction (Ada, MI)
- Size: 7,200 square feet
- Cost: approximately $4 million
- Location: intersection of Wege Way and Elderberry Lane
The Dominican Friars & Campus Ministry Team
The chapel and the Aquinas College community are served by Dominican friars (Order of Preachers) and a dedicated Campus Ministry team. Chaplains Fr. Bob Keller, O.P. and Fr. Jordan DeGuire, O.P. regularly celebrate Mass, hear confessions, lead retreats and prayer talks, and walk with students in faith. They are joined by Br. Andrés Maria Trujillo, O.P., and Sr. Mary Ann on the pastoral care team. Michael Ingram serves as Campus Ministry Director.
- Fr. Robert (Bob) Keller, O.P. — Chaplain, Campus Ministry — [email protected] — (616) 632-1031
- Fr. Jordan DeGuire, O.P. — Chaplain, Campus Ministry — [email protected]
- Br. Andrés Maria Trujillo, O.P. — Dominican friar
- Sr. Mary Ann — Pastoral Care
- Michael (Mike) Ingram — Campus Ministry Director
- Zoebelle Bean — Liturgical Ministry Coordinator — [email protected]
Liturgical Ministry
Students are encouraged to be involved in the Mass, whether or not they have previous experience. Training is provided for all liturgical ministry roles. Those interested can contact Liturgical Ministry Coordinator Zoebelle Bean.
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Sacristans
- Greeters / Ushers
- Cantors & Musicians
Pastoral Care & Counseling
Fr. Bob, Fr. Jordan, Michael, and Sr. Mary Ann are happy to meet with students seeking pastoral care or counseling. Anyone interested can reach out to a member of the Campus Ministry team to set up a conversation.
- Pastoral Care meetings with friars and Sr. Mary Ann
- Counseling referrals through Campus Ministry
- Faith-and-fellowship socials (e.g., after-Mass gatherings in the Moose)
Our Lady of Fatima Shrine
Adjacent to the chapel, on the south end of the Holmdene Lawn, stands the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, an outdoor devotional space. Originally dedicated in 1950 after students raised funds in memory of members of the Aquinas community who died in World War II, the shrine has served as a place of prayer and reflection for more than 75 years. Surrounded by natural landscaping, it remains an important spiritual landmark and gathering space within Aquinas's wooded campus setting, with its most recent renovation in 2019.
- Originally dedicated in 1950
- Honors Aquinas community members who died in WWII
- Most recent renovation: 2019
- Outdoor Marian devotional space
Getting Involved
There are many ways to plug into the life of the chapel and the Aquinas College Catholic community. Beyond attending Mass and receiving the sacraments, students can join Liturgical Ministry as lectors, altar servers, sacristans, greeters, cantors, or musicians; take part in faith-and-fellowship socials after Mass; and grow in prayer through groups using Bishop Robert Barron's 'An Introduction to Prayer'.
- Serve at Mass through Liturgical Ministry
- Join prayer groups and faith talks
- Attend after-Mass socials
- Contact Campus Ministry at [email protected]