Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy


The chapel is dedicated to the Mother of God of Mercy, whose image on the altar is that of the miraculous Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn in Vilnius, a former Carmelite shrine. The first Carmelites who settled in Munster after World War II and founded this monastery in 1952 were closely associated with that Sanctuary. The central image painting by Fr. Kazimierz Szarkiewicz portrays Mary when she carried the Infant Jesus in her womb. 

Another representation of Mary, the figure of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel you can see above the main entrance to the chapel. The inscription below it reads: "Salve Regina", and is an ancient Marian hymn’s title (Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy…), which encourages us to trust in her protection and intercession.

There are depictions of St. Teresa of Jesus (1515 - 1582) and St. John of the Cross (1542 - 1591) on the altar. These saints renewed the Carmelite Order in 16th Century Spain giving rise to its new branch, the Discalced Carmelites; therefore in our communities we consider them "spiritual parents." Their images are also displayed in stained glass, on which you can also see St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and other images of the Virgin Mary: Our Lady of the Scapular, Our Lady of Czestochowa and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Our religious community gathers here for daily prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours, meditation, and Holy Mass.

 

1A. Monastery
1B. St. John Paul II Hall
2A. Figure of Our Lady of Ludźmierz
2B. Arcades

2C. Jubilee Cross
3. Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy
4. Office
5. Gift Shop
6. Restroom
7. Banquet Hall
8. Grotto of Mother of God
9. Grotto of the Lord’s Tomb
(Station XIV)
and Calvary (Station XII)
10. “Scala Sancta” (Holy Stairway)
11. Highlander’s Chapel
12. Picnic Areas

 

I-XIV  Stations of the Cross

 

A. St. Raphael Kalinowski Statue
B. St. Maximilian Kolbe Statue
C. St. John Paul II Statue
D. Statue of St. Therese with Her Father
E. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Statue
F. St. Bernadette Statue
G. Our Lady of Lourdes Statue
H. Sacred Heart Statue