The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose celebrated the completion of an $10.8 million renovation of their chapel and care center with a dedication Mass. The 18-month construction project updated the chapel to facilitate participation as defined by Vatican II, with movable chairs replacing choir stalls. It also included seismic retrofitting, safety improvements, and updated systems. Major upgrades to the care center included private bathrooms in all 26 rooms, more gathering space, new nursing facilities, and easier chapel access. Seventeen of the Sisters living in the residence are over 90 years old.

1.
May 9, 2005 VOL. 43, NO. 9 Oakland, CA
ASt. Paschal Parish –
50 years of community
prayer
History of St. Paschal
Parish
Parishes involved in
Habitat demonstrate
homebuilding with
heart
Dominican Sisters
dedicate
renewed chapel and
care center
U.S. Senators
introduce bill
for embryonic stem
cell research
Settlement talks
continue in abuse
cases against
dioceses in Northern
California
Church pro­life official
hails House bill on
parent notification of
interstate abortions
St. Bernard Parish
succeeds in getting
Oakland police to
promise officers
Dominican Sisters dedicate
renewed chapel and care center
By Voice staff
The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose
celebrated the completion of their $10.8 million
chapel and care center renovation with an April 3
liturgy and Open House at their Motherhouse in
Fremont. Bishop Emeritus John Cummins
celebrated the Mass.
During the 18­month construction project, the
chapel, where the Sisters gather daily for prayer
and Mass, was redesigned to facilitate active
participation as defined by Vatican II.
Movable chairs replace the traditional choir stalls
to accommodate the physical needs of the
Sisters.
In addition to liturgical changes, the chapel
underwent seismic retrofitting and other
improvements to meet current safety standards.
The heating, lighting and sound systems were
also brought up­to­date. Armando Ruiz was the
principal architect and liturgical designer.
Major improvements to the care center, now
called the St. Martin Residence, included private
handicap­accessible baths in all 26 rooms,
enlarged space for social gatherings, new
nursing facilities, and easier access to the chapel.
Sister Maria de la Luz Munoz Tovar pours
water from the baptismal font into a bowl
held by Sister Patricia Ann Smith for use in
the sprinkling rite. The circular font with
marble fins includes a hand­blown glass
bowl from which persons entering the
chapel can take water to bless
themselves.

2.
Robert Kennedy, Jr.
tells environment story
Earth Charter
energizes nuns
into action
Oakland priest is
eyewitness to papal
installation
COMMENTARY
•The Blessed Virgin
has long history as
Our Lady of the
Californias
• Election of Benedict
XVI means end to
doctrinal
accommodation
• Papal death and
election speak to the
mysteries of
existence
• Pope can unite with
Muslims by pointing
to Jesus
OBITUARY
Father Gerald Dybdal
Seventeen of the Sisters living in the remodeled
residence are over 90 years of age.
The Mission San Jose Dominicans were founded
more than 125 years ago and currently have 270
members. They are teachers and administrators
in several schools in the Oakland Diocese and
provide pastoral services in local parishes, social
service agencies, and hospitals.
They also serve in nine other dioceses and
archdioceses in the U.S. and in schools and
parishes in Mexico. A small group of Sisters live
in Germany.
Sister Lilly Fitzpatrick holds the incense
bowl for Bishop John Cummins as he
prepares to incense the altar, made of five
hardwoods from various parts of the
world.
Bishop Cummins pours holy oil on the altar
during the dedication rite. The oil is from
the olive trees on the Sisters’ property.
The chapel’s original Schoenstein organ is
seen behind the bishop.

3.
Bishop Cummins gives his final blessing in
the chapel which has new lighting,
skylights, and refurbished stained glass
windows of Dominican saints.
Sister Sylvia Conant, sacristan (left), and
Sister Elizabeth Jane Wilson place a linen
cloth on the altar before Bishop Cummins
concelebrates the Mass with Father
Charles Corso, chaplain (left), and Msgr.
Manuel Simas, pastor of St. Joseph
Parish. Sister Wilson made the altar cloth.
The large bubinga wooden cross holds the
corpus from the original chapel. The
hardwood floor includes borders
influenced by the leaf and fruit of the olive
tree.

4.
The tabernacle, given to the Sisters in
1925, is now set in a Eucharistic pillar
comprised of three tall bubinga wooden
arms with leaf­like ends reminiscent of
olive branches. It can be seen by those in
the chapel as well as those entering from
the care center (right).
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