Marist School

The Marist Bell Chapel: Honoring the Past, Ringing in the Future

Marist School is proud to introduce this year’s #iGiveCatholic initiative: The Marist Bell Chapel. The historic bell, created for St. Catherine’s Parish in Mobile, Alabama in 1914, was gifted to the founders of Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat Center in 1965. For more than four decades, the Blessed Trinity Retreat Center served as the home of Marist’s Emmaus retreats for juniors and seniors. Ringing the bell marked the close of each retreat and became a symbol of reflection, community, and spiritual growth. When the retreat center made the difficult decision to close in December 2024, the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity entrusted the bell to Marist, and it was brought to campus this summer through the generosity of a dedicated donor.

Today we have an extraordinary opportunity to give the bell a new home at the heart of campus. In partnership with J. Ryan Duffey Architect, Marist has developed a vision for a permanent Bell Chapel structure in Alumni Plaza, framed by the Ivy Street Center, the Chanel Building, and Woodridge Center. The design pays tribute to our school’s rich history by incorporating elements of our original Ivy Street campus while embracing features that reflect the Marist community of today.

The Bell Chapel will serve as a meaningful focal point for campus life. A student-led Bell Society Committee is exploring ways to incorporate the bell into both longstanding and emerging traditions. Their work will help ensure that the bell becomes a lasting symbol of unity, reflection, and spiritual growth for generations of War Eagles to come.

Your Support Matters

The estimated cost of the Chapel Bell project is $250,000. This initiative represents an important opportunity to enrich the spiritual and communal life of our campus, and community support will play a vital role in bringing the vision to life. All funds will be collected until the project is fully supported, and construction will begin once the entire amount is secured.

We invite you to help bring the Marist Bell Chapel to campus. Together, we can create a meaningful addition that honors our past and strengthens our future.

Given the significance of this effort and the impact that it will have on our campus, we are pleased to offer special recognition for leadership support. If you would like to learn more about the project and recognition opportunities, we would be happy to speak with you personally. Please contact the Marist Advancement Office at giving@marist.com or (770) 936-6424.

Please note that donations made through #iGiveCatholic are separate from Marist School’s Annual Fund.