Portable Chapel Allows for Adoration

Earlier this spring Father Jason Palermo, a quasi-maestro of project building, found  himself in a conundrum.

As the statewide chaplain for the Catholic Daughters of American, Father Palermo, who is the pastor of St. Joseph Church in French Settlement and St. Stephen the Martyr Church in Maurepas, was charged with coordinating the spiritual activities for the biennial convention, which was planned at the Alexandria Convention Center in Alexandria. Naturally, liturgy planning was included among his responsibilities but setting up a place for eucharastic adoration was also included.

He was told that traditionally a room in the convention center was set aside for prayer, minus the traditional trappings of a small chapel.

“I’m like ‘oh, that’s fun,’ “ Father Palermo said with his good natured humor. ”I don’t have anything against adoration but I have always found it difficult at other conventions to pray in the exhibition hall environment.”

He suggested establishing a setting that did not have the conference center feeling. But as the discussion with convention leaders, Father Palmer threw out the idea of building a portable chapel, one that could be constructed in sections and travel to venues where Catholic conventions were held and adoration was requested. Father Palermo immediately recognized he had taken on his next challenge and met with Deacon Leon Murphy and Deacon James to discuss the idea. But there was one more call to make and that was to  St. Stephen maintenance director Jason Cates. 

Cates and Father Palermo were fresh off of an intense construction project of replacing the platform on the altar at St. Joseph to increase seating capacity and were still recuperating.

After a bit of convincing Cates signed on and four weeks out from the April convention and, armed with a $4,000 Team Heaven  grant and wood donated from a parishioner, construction began.

Father Palermo cranked up a table saw that had been previously donated and the chapel rapidly took shape in the fireworks building. Long tables where Father Palermo does his many woodworking projects were used to cut the panels and members of the St. Joseph and St. Stephen CDA chapter began painting.

The result is a dazzling 12-foot by 16-foot building featuring photos of stained glass windows that have been pressed onto Plexiglas, giving the appearance of an authentic window.  Remarkably, the four-foot by eight-foot ceiling has as its wallpaper the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

The chapel includes 13 panels and a roof structure which Father Palermo called a “design feat in itself.” The ceiling includes four cross beams and foam panels to fill in gaps.

The chapel also includes a four-foot opening on the front, and inside features Father Palermo’s personal altar, which  was crafted from 250-year-old cypress by Joe Daigle, when Father Palermo was serving at St. Isidore Church in Baker.

At its tallest point the chapel stands 12 feet high.

Once completed the next challenge transporting it to Alexandria, which was accomplished via a trailer donated for that particular trip, and have it set up in time for the beginning of the CDA convention. Assembly time takes about three to four hours, and with only three minutes to spare the chapel was ready, replete with monstrance in place.

Chapel hours coincided with convention hours and adorers worked in shifts.

“The ladies loved it,” said Father Palermo, his voice reflecting a deep sense of pride sprinkled with a dash of relief. “It was well attended. Curiosity  led people to it and they came back. It was there to lead people to Jesus.”

Father Palermo said he is pleased with the result, considering “it was probably the first time in Louisiana someone built a portable chapel with this amount of detail involved in it.”

Modifications are next up, especially along the roof structure. Also under consideration is potentially using a different material on the roof panels.

Stenciling in stats onto the ceiling is also a priority.

“I foresee (the chapel) really made for the use of the greater church,” Father Palermo said. “I foresee this being used at Catholic conventions and youth gatherings where you would like to have adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and create the environment of a miniature church. 

Anyone interested in using the chapel for their Catholic event can call St. Joseph. Father Palermo said a small stipend will be charged to recoup transportation and setup costs. 

For more information, contact Father Palermo at 225-698-3110.