Our Mother of Africa Chapel
The Our Mother of Africa Chapel is a shrine housed in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. It was built in the 1990s after a fundraising appeal sponsored by the National Black Catholic Congress, and was dedicated in 1997.[2]
| Our Mother of Africa Chapel | |
|---|---|
| Our Mother of Africa Shrine | |
  Our Mother of Africa Chapel  Our Mother of Africa Chapel | |
| 38°56′0″N 77°0′02″W | |
| Location | 400 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017 |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | Our Lady of Africa |
| Dedicated | August 30, 1997 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Ed Dwight |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 30 feet (9.1 m)[1] |
| Width | 10 feet (3.0 m)[1] |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Washington |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Cardinal Wilton Daniel Gregory |
It features a large bronze statue of Our Mother of Africa, a Madonna and Child figure styled with Sub-Saharan African features, designed by Ed Dwight.[2][3][4] Other sculptures flank the chapel and represent various aspects of African-American culture and history.
History
The shrine was constructed under the auspices of the National Black Catholic Congress, which had been debating about a fundraising effort and what to do with it. A series of ideas were proposed, including a new Black Catholic hymnal, an expanded liturgical program, and other possibilities.
Bishop John Ricard, SSJ, then-president of the NBCC, joined with other leaders to opt for a shrine inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, at the cost of $400,000.[2]
The chapel was placed near the back of the basilica near the bathrooms and was dedicated on August 30, 1997, before a crowd of onlookers during a Gospel Mass celebration.[2]
Description
The main feature, a bronze Black Madonna and Child, was designed by Ed Dwight, and this figure is flanked by the four Gospel authors. Nearby stands a Black Jesus crucifix carved from ebony wood and designed by Juvenal Kaliki and Jeffrey Brosk, above the chapel itself.[4]
A bas relief panel in the chapel, also designed by Dwight, depicts "the ancestors", a group of figures representing Black historical figures (including slaves).[4]
The large columns in the chapel represent the seven values of Kwanzaa, the Nguzo Saba.[4]
Other sculptors involved in the chapel artwork include Giancarlo Biagi, Jill Burkee, and Jean Wiart. Dwight was the only African-American sculptor involved.[4]
See also
External links
References
- "Architectural Details of the Basilica" (PDF). National Shrine. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
- Broadway, Bill (1997-08-31). "Blacks join in dedication of chapel". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
- "Interactive Map". National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- "Our Mother of Africa Chapel". The National Black Catholic Congress. Retrieved 2021-06-12.