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[[File:Madonna Della Strada Chapel 6.JPG|thumbnail|right|Madonna Della Strada Chapel at Loyola University Chicago.]]
'''Madonna della Strada''' is a [[chapel]] on the [[campus]] of [[Loyola University Chicago]] in the neighborhood of [[Rogers Park, Chicago]]: it is named after a painting of the Virgin Mary, known as [[Madonna Della Strada]], enshrined at the [[Church of the Gesù]] in Rome, the mother church of the [[Society of Jesus]] (the Jesuits).

==History==
The Chapel was the dream of Father James Mertz, S.J., who raised the money for its construction. The Madonna Della Strada Chapel is the main chapel on the Lake Shore Campus of Loyola University Chicago. The chapel was built on the lakefront with the waters of [[Lake Michigan]] directly at its front doorstep.  The church was designed and built at a time when it was anticipated that [[Lake Shore Drive]] would be extended and pass directly in front, but that project was abandoned.<ref>[http://chicagopatterns.com/patroness-of-the-road-that-never-was-loyolas-madonna-della-strada-chapel/ Morris, John. "Patroness of the Road that Never Was: Loyola’s Madonna della Strada Chapel", ''Chicago Patterns'', August 8, 2014]</ref> The chapel was designed by architect [[Andrew Rebori]] in the Art Deco Style and opened its doors to the Loyola University Chicago Community in 1938.<ref name=special>[http://www.lib.luc.edu/specialcollections/exhibits/show/hidden-loyola/madonna "Madonna Della Strada Chapel", Loyola University Chicago Digital Special Collections]</ref> Because of scant record keeping, it is not certain which of the several artists and designers were responsible for each of the artworks and decorations at the Chapel, but Chicago's [[Edgar Miller (artist)|Edgar Miller]] did figure prominently in the process and execution of many of the works.

Several chapel churches in [[Latin America]] were named after the chapel church in [[Chicago]], as a tribute to Loyola University Chicago Jesuit and student missionaries.

==Stained glass windows==
The seven stained glass windows on the north side of the nave represent the seven colleges that existed when the Chapel was built.
* Saint [[Thomas Aquinas]] - Arts & sciences
* [[Saint Luke]] - Medicine
* [[Saint Anne]] and Mary - Nursing
* Saint [[Thomas More]] - Law
* [[Saint Matthew]] - Business administration
* Saint [[Vincent de Paul]] - Social Work
* Saint [[Saint Apollonia|Apollonia of Alexandria]] - Dentistry

The seven stained glass windows on the south side of the nave illustrate the principal ministries of the Jesuits.
* Saint [[Peter Canisius]] - Education
* Saint [[John Francis Regis|Francis Regis]] - Spiritual Life
* Saint [[Francis Xavier]] - Foreign Missions
* Saint [[Ignatius of Loyola|Ignatius]] - The Spiritual Exercises
* [[Saint Joseph]] - Ministry to the Dying
* The [[Blessed Virgin]] - Sodality of Our Lady
* The [[Sacred Heart]]

==Renovations==
Renovation of Madonna della Strada began in July 2006 and concluded in August 2007.<ref name=special/> A cooling system and mechanical ventilation system were installed.<ref>[http://www.elaraengineering.com/index.php/projects/detail/madonna_della_strada_chapel/religious_buildings/35 "Madonna della Strada Chapel", Elara Engineering] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140904182559/http://www.elaraengineering.com/index.php/projects/detail/madonna_della_strada_chapel/religious_buildings/35 |date=2014-09-04 }}</ref>
  
==Katheryn "Kay" Stamm Memorial Organ==
A new pipe organ by Goulding and Wood was built and installed in 2008. The Katheryn "Kay" Stamm Memorial Organ has 70 [[Pipe organ|ranks]] distributed over three [[manual (music)|manuals]] and pedal and played via a terraced console located in the rear gallery.<ref>{{cite web|title=Madonna dela Strada Chapel|url=http://www.gouldingandwood.com/opus-list/opus-47.html|publisher=Goulding and Wood|access-date=10 December 2013}}</ref>

The chapel hosts an annual "Midnight Organ Blast" at midnight on Halloween, featuring eerie melodies.<ref>[http://loyolastudentdispatch.com/tag/madonna-della-strada-chapel/ Berger, Jordan. "Loyola organist blasts Halloween tunes", ''Loyola Student Dispatch'', November 1, 2012]</ref>

The Loyola University Department of Sacramental Life hosts a series of free organ concerts on the third Sunday of each month.<ref>[http://blogs.luc.edu/artsalive/portfolio/organ-concert-series/ "Arts Alive", Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Madonna Della Strada]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Madonna Della Strada Chapel, Chicago}}
*[http://www.luc.edu/sacramental_life/Madonna_Della_Strada_Chapel.shtml Madonna Della Strada Chapel] at Loyola University Chicago
*[http://www.lib.luc.edu/specialcollections/exhibits/show/hidden-loyola/madonna/windows Stained glass windows, North wall]
*[http://www.lib.luc.edu/specialcollections/exhibits/show/hidden-loyola/madonna/windows-continued Stained glass windows, South wall]

{{Loyola University Chicago}}
{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago}}
{{Chicago Landmark places of worship}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Art Deco architecture in Illinois]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Chicago]]
[[Category:Loyola University Chicago]]
[[Category:Chicago Landmarks]]
[[Category:University and college chapels in the United States]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1938]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic chapels in the United States]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United States]]
[[Category:Society of Jesus in Illinois]]