A Chaplain’s Thoughts: Sacred Spaces
By Rev. James F. Quigley, O.P. ’60
Associate Chaplain, National Alumni Association
Why come to Providence College? I guess for many reasons: a family legacy, academic reputation, courses of study, name recognition, athletic programs, or to be with friends. Maybe it was geographically convenient or financially accessible. These are some legitimate and good reasons for becoming a PC student. But surely there should be another reason. You came to Providence College because it is a Catholic college sponsored by Dominican friars. You didn’t have to be Catholic, but you should have aware of — and freely participated in — experiences that exemplify the Catholic identity that shapes the environment, educational philosophy, lifestyle, and moral code of the PC community.
Being open in this way allowed you to enter the Dominican intellectual tradition as a way to interpret reality. And we hope that Catholics and other Christians grew in a spiritual life riveted on the person of Jesus Christ and his gospel.
The Catholic and Dominican identity of Providence College is boasted proudly in a variety of ways. A vivid example is the sacred spaces on campus, icons that publicly remind all of who and what is the heart of this community.
One can make a kind of pilgrimage to these sacred spaces by visiting campus. The façade of the administrative center of campus, Harkins Hall, is dominated by sculptures of the Blessed Mother Mary and Saints Dominic, Thomas Aquinas, Albert the Great, and Catherine of Siena. They capture the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and the mission of the Dominican Order, while pointing to the great theological tradition and spirituality of the Order of Preachers.
Traveling the campus, you come to the Dominican priory of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Dominic Chapel with its marvelous stained-glass windows, the Veritas flame at Calabria Plaza, sculptures of St. Martin de Porres, patron of racial justice; St. Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers; and St. Thomas Aquinas, the brilliant theologian. A cemetery for more than 120 Dominican friars points to the order’s dedication and commitment to the college’s mission. A walk on campus can become a kind of “pilgrimage.”
To make these spaces even more accessible, we have created a web page. A wonderful resource for those who cherish our shared traditions, the page features descriptions of 11 college landmarks, along with a brief reflection and a prayer associated with each one of them.
I invite you to join us, on campus or online, to gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and sacred relevance of the campus we call home.
For a print version of Sacred Spaces, email alumni.providence.edu
