Yes, It Has Been Worth It

When St. Peter Claver Chapel opens this spring at Loyola High School in Detroit, the city will welcome its first new Catholic place of worship in more than sixty years. Contemporary and filled with light, the chapel occupies 5,220 square feet and seats 200 worshippers.

Father Gilbert Sunghera, SJ, a former adjunct professor of architecture at the University of Detroit Mercy; and Sr. Esther Mary Nickel, RSM, the director of sacred worship for the Archdiocese of Detroit, collaborated on the design.

The new worship space replaces the school’s former chapel, which suffered a roof collapse in 2018. The project was made possible by a $9 million fundraising initiative called Empower Loyola: A Campaign for Exceptional Sons. Other aspects of the campaign include a scholarship fund and faculty retention fund, as well as the construction of a new welcome center and student courtyard.

New growth for the school mirrors a city rejuvenated. According to United States Census Bureau data, Detroit has grown in population for the first time since 1957. The city has also seen an increase in economic investment and development.

As the first female and first African American president of Loyola High School, Dr. Deborale Richardson-Phillips sees the chapel’s opening as a significant milestone. “It represents not only a renewed commitment to Catholic education, but also a powerful symbol of community revitalization and hope. It’s a welcoming space where people can gather, connect and build a sense of belonging.”

Now approaching the end of her first year, she has high expectations for her faculty, staff and students. “My vision for Loyola High School of Detroit, rooted in the Jesuit tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola, is to be recognized as a preeminent Catholic high school for males facing the challenges of an urban environment. I literally want to be on the list of schools in the country that people call when they want to know how you form and educate urban males.”

Richardson-Phillips’ appointment provides an inspiring example for the school’s majority African American student body of about 150. “I want them to know that leadership can and does look like them, that barriers can be broken, and that their voices and aspirations matter.”

The passion that Richardson-Phillips holds for Detroit and Loyola High School’s students is evident. “Detroit is a place of rich history and boundless potential, and Loyola High School is part of its heartbeat,” she says. “I hope to contribute to the city’s ongoing renaissance, fostering leaders who will shape its future with faith, integrity and purpose.”