A Sacred Gift: Mother Seton School Celebrates Completion of St. Joseph’s Chapel

Alisha Yocum

The bell of the newly completed St. Joseph’s Chapel rang out through the crisp December air on December 3, as Mother Seton School (MSS) in Emmitsburg celebrated the chapel’s completion with Mass and a dedication ceremony.

The latest addition to the school was made possible through the donation of TJ and Donna (Fitzgerald) Demmon in memory of their son, Christopher, who was killed in a tragic car accident in 1991. Donna and Christopher were both alumni of MSS.

Construction began in June by Conewago Enterprises, but Dean Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Heavy Timber Construction, who is Donna’s brother, was highly involved in the construction aspect of the project. Dean explained that the roof structure was intended to emulate the ceiling that is in the auditorium, but the bell had special meaning to him. The search led him to Ohio to find the perfect bronze bell to fit the smaller bell tower. Originally made for a chapel in Troy, New York, in 1916, the bell can be heard for a few miles when rung.

Inside the chapel, several meaningful and historic elements reflect the school’s community spirit. A cross made of western red cedar hangs at the front of the chapel. All students and faculty signed their names in pencil on the cross before a gold overlay was applied, preserving the signatures for decades to come.

“It helps all of us to be vested in the project,” Fitzgerald said.

Additional features include light fixtures salvaged from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Thurmont during renovations in the 1970s and Stations of the Cross from the Sisters’ convent in Emmitsburg. Numerous donated pieces contribute to the chapel’s historic charm and sense of continuity with the community’s past.

Upon entering the chapel, visitors’ eyes are drawn to the stained-glass windows at the front, which depict Saints Francis of Assisi, Elizabeth Ann Seton, the Blessed Mother, and St. Joseph.

“We have wanted a sacred space in the school for a number of years,” MSS Principal Kathleen Kilty said. “We are blessed that the Demmon family approached us with this beautiful gift.”

Kilty said the chapel will allow the school to hold Mass and prayer services for smaller groups of students in a dedicated sacred space.

Archbishop William E. Lori from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, who led the service and blessed the chapel, said, “This is a building that will bless future generations.”

Donna Demmon shared that Christopher was just eight years old when he was diagnosed with cancer, recalling the day he received his first hospital treatment as the moment her heart “broke into pieces.”

“Today takes my broken heart and puts it all back together,” Donna expressed.

For the Demmon family and the Mother Seton School community, the chapel represents more than a new building. It is a place where faith and healing meet, transforming loss into a gift that will touch the lives of students for years to come.

TJ and Donna (Fitzgerald) Demmon make a donation to cover the costs of the new St. Joseph’s Chapel at Mother Seton School.

Donna (Fitzgerald) Demmon poses with a picture of her son Christopher. The chapel was built in his memory.

Students and faculty at Mother Seton School hold Mass as part of the dedication of the new chapel.