#1 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chapel - Coraopolis

Our first traveling Mass was a visit made to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) Chapel in Coraopolis, PA. This lovely chapel centers on the beautiful grounds of the mother house of the Felician Sisters in Pennsylvania. It also functions as the chapel for one of the top high schools in the area, OLSH High School.

The Felician Sisters mother house is not easy to find - after making your way through the booming metropolis of Coraopolis (sarcasm!), you head up a steep, snakey Montour Road for a few miles until you come across the attractive wrought iron gates of the mother house. The trip is well rewarded, however, after you climb a series of steps into the chapel - it is a breath-taking vision of old-church sensibility.

EXTERIOR (Grade: A) - the outside of the chapel was simple, yet pretty, with red/brown brick and some simple statuary.

INTERIOR (Grade: A) - the outstanding feature of the chapel is its dark wooden reredos on the altar. The intricate gothic-style carvings of angels, spires, quatrefoils, and other time-honored church decorations keep your mind on the celebration of the Mass, rather than the other distractions that can typify Mass in the 21st century. Interior statuary is tasteful; the Stations of the Cross our large, prominent, and intricately decorated.

MUSIC (Grade: C) - the music was mostly post-Vatican II (i.e., the likes of Schutte, Haugen, and Haas), as has become de rigueur with almost any order of sisters in the United States, even an order like the Felicians who have maintained the habit. There was an organ, and even a very tasteful trumpet accompaniment.

LITURGY (Grade: A) - the liturgy was very faithful, the Mass very reverential, and the celebrant delivered a solid, if uninspired, homily.

OTHER (Grade: B) - the altar was served by an always-smiling deacon (no yawning teen altar servers here!), and the missals and hymn books were available in the pews. The pews, with ample padding, were very comfortable.

It was very nice to attend Mass with so many religious sisters! We heartily recommend a visit to OLSH chapel - you won't find it printed anywhere, but Sunday Mass is at 9:00am, and is followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.