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| About Us Our Chapel |
Mother M. Alfons Schmid, cofoundress of the School Sisters of St. Francis, was responsible for this magnificent Milwaukee landmark. In the early 1900s, Mother Alfons had a dream of building a chapel of incomparable beauty. It would adjoin the convent, erected in 1891, and it would be dedicated to the permanent service of God. She commissioned Milwaukee church architects Peter Brust and Richard Philipp to pursue the project. Philipp traveled to Europe to study the noted cathedrals before this perfect example of Italian Romanesque Revival came to life on the drawing board. The chapel, with its excellent acoustics and exquisite beauty, was built to provide a magnificent environment in which to pray and experience sacred music. The chapel was dedicated on March 19, 1917.
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Mother Alfons was a woman who understood the relationship between aesthetics and God. Music and art were an integral expression of her spiritual life. Her initiative in fostering the arts shaped a legacy that continues today. Through the School Sisters' teaching, works of art, published compositions, performances and their involvement in professional organizations, our commitment to the arts became nationally recognized.
Mass is celebrated in St. Joseph Center Chapel with our community of sisters who live in the motherhouse. The public is invited to join us at liturgy, a weekly prayer for peace, seasonal events, and other celebrations vital to the life of our Franciscan community. Contact Sister Nedine Ferris, St. Joseph Center Facility Director, for information about events and tours of the chapel. Sister Nedine can be reached by emailing nferris@sssf.org
Facts About St. Joseph Center Chapel
The chapel is Romanesque in style and cruciform in 
design. It is 200 feet long and 90 feet wide at its greatest breadth. The dome rises an amazing 70 feet above the sanctuary. Construction began in 1913 and was completed in three years and seven months. The chapel seats 500 people. Since the 1970s, it has been a favorite setting in the Milwaukee arts community for choral and instrumental concerts. The excellent acoustics and exquisite beauty of the chapel provide a breathtaking and prayerful environment in which to experience and savor music.
Altars
Three altars dominate the main body of the chapel. Constructed of pure Italian Carrara marble, each altar is exquisitely carved and inlaid with multi-colored stones. The high altar displays the statues of the saints held in particular esteem by the School Sisters: St. Francis, St. Joseph and St. Clare. The tabernacle is surmounted by two marble lions symbolizing the kingship of Christ.
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Mosaics
The beautiful mosaics in the chapel were created in Innsbruck, Austria. The mosaic above the high altar represents Christ giving the keys of the kingdom to St. Peter. The eight masterfully executed wall mosaics highlight other saints and scenes from the Bible. Below the main altar is a mosaic rendition of the Last Supper. The sanctuary floor and candlesticks also feature intricate mosaic designs.
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Statues
The statue to the right of the high altar is St. Jude; to the left of the altar stands St. Philomena. Marble statues of the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Virgin occupy places of honor on the side altars.
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Windows
There are 115 windows of stained glass imported from Innsbruck, Austria, that illuminate the chapel. Arranged in groups and tiers, the windows depict Jesus and Mary, the saints and Christian symbols.
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Reliquaries
The sepulchre under the Sacred Heart altar contains a gold casket encasing the bones of St. Leoninus. There are seven large reliquaries in the chapel. Hundreds of other authenticated relics are displayed in a small room off the chapel gallery.
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Stations of the Cross 
This one-of-a-kind set was hand carved of hard maple in St. Ulrich, Switzerland.
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Pews
Crafted in fumed oak, the "pierced work" shows a Byzantine influence.
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Sacristy
Nine paintings in this sacristy were created by our School Sister artists. The scenes represent the seven sacraments. Members of the clergy and School Sisters of St. Francis who lived at that time appear in these original paintings.
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Chapel of Perpetual Adoration
This architectural gem is located directly behind the sanctuary of the main chapel. Columns of Colorado marble support the balcony. Art glass windows portray scenes from the lives of saints especially devoted to the Holy Eucharist.
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Marble
Marble was imported from Italy, Switzerland, France, Greece and Mexico as well as from quarries in the United States.
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Chapel Choir Organ
In 1981, a three-manual Casavant organ was installed to replace the Schaefer organ that had been in the chapel since 1917. The 35-rank Casavant is of classic design. It serves both as an instrument for worship and for concert use, blending strengths of solo and accompaniment functions. The original organ case of fumed oak was designed and carved by E. Hackner & Sons of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
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Chapel Memorial Fund
The large plaque bearing names of persons memorialized by gifts to School Sisters of St. Francis is centered on the chapel entrance wall and flanked by the Milwaukee landmark designation. The Chapel Memorial Fund was established in memory of Ruth West on April 24, 1984. Memorial gifts of $500.00 or more, honoring persons living or deceased, are used to maintain our chapel.
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