Honors Capstone
History of Dominican's Chapels
by Adriana Sigala
In 1889, the Sisters moved to San Rafael from Benicia to build a school, a Motherhouse was constructed along the block of Grand Avenue. The Rosary chapel was a room built on the north side of the motherhouse on the second floor. The Sisters prayed or had small masses during the day. The Rosary chapel was beautiful, it had room for several hundred people, and the students often went to worship with the Sisters for religious services. Unfortunately, on July 12, 1990, the Motherhouse was burnt down and only remains of the chapel were left.
​
As the college grew, Meadowlands, Fanjeaux, Pennafort, and Edgehill Mansion were all dormitories, and each of these dormitories had a smaller chapel inside. Around the 1930s, in Meadowlands, where Dr. Ramsey’s office is at, a chapel was established.
​
On October 16, 2010, Edgehill Mansion reopened and dedicated it to the Dominican Alumni and Heritage House. The new chapel that currently stands in Edgehill Mansion is named St. Catherine of Benincasa after the Dominican Saint and Doctor of the Church, Catherine Benincasa. She is known for living her life by serving the needs of others and having deep contemplative practices. Overall, the chapel is very functional and open to various religions.
Rosary Chapel, 1934. Photograph Collection, Dominican University of California Archives, San Rafael, CA
Meadowlands Chapel, 1930s. Photograph Collection, Dominican University of California, Archives, San Rafael, CA.
St. Catherine Benincasa Chapel, 2019, Personal Collection, Dominican University of CA, San Rafael CA
Stained glass window of St. Catherine Benincasa Chapel, 2019, Author’s Personal Collection, Dominican University of CA, San Rafael CA.
The stained-glass window that is in the St. Catherine Benincasa’s Chapel is a result of reading her writings that talked about the power of the Spirit flame of faith. It was made by an alumni Elizabeth Devereaux who has her own glassmaking shop in Chico, California. She used an Austrian glass bowl, which was hand blown to form the glass window. In it, there is a holy spirit design that lets some of the outside light come into the chapel.
​
​
Edgehill Mansion was bought off from Mr. William Babcock’s wife Julia after he passed away. In August 1920, the Dominican College seniors moved into their new residence hall. While in Edgehill Mansion, around the late 1920s-1950s, just half of the current chapel was the chapel at that time.
Click here for the rest of the story!
Edgehill Chapel, 1930s. Photograph Collection, Dominican University of California, Archives, San Rafael, CA.