New St. Peter, Covington, chapel brings Christ within school walls

By Peter Finney Jr.
Clarion Herald

Catholic elementary schools always have ready access to their parish church for Mass and other sacraments, but St. Peter School in Covington is now in rare company within the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

In what once served as a religion classroom, Archbishop Gregory Aymond dedicated the new Our Lady of Grace Chapel on the first floor of St. Peter School, long a dream of principal Michael Kraus.


The chapel seats 36 and is available for teachers and students to drop in for prayer or quiet time and will be used occasionally for Mass, adoration and morning prayer assemblies. The classroom space was freed up when the school recently opened a new two-story building.

Kraus recalled his days as a student at Archbishop Rummel High School when he often made use of the small chapel. He said the idea that Jesus is present within the physical boundaries of the school sends a powerful message.

The altar and reredos were hand-crafted by former St. Peter parishioner Ben Hudachek, who did the carpentry in his Florida garage.

The chapel was also one of last major decisions former pastor Father Otis Young made just before his retirement as pastor. Father Young and long-time parish pastoral minister Ruth Prats were tragically murdered in 2022.

A painting of Father Young rests prominently at the chapel's main entrance.

"Father Otis gave his blessing and signed off on this chapel as one of his final blessings as pastor," Kraus said. "This chapel is quite simply the presence of Christ. A lot of times we take for granted how much kids are longing for quiet time with Christ, and you see this with all age groups. It's just a witness."

The chapel was paid for through fundraisers and a major donation from Gordon and Anne Stewart, who have five grandchildren currently attending the school.

"Michael and I were speaking of the best way to help children battle the evil in the world today," Gordon Stewart said. "There is so much coming at them through TV, movies, the internet and on and on. It was obvious that giving children a strong faith to rely on through their journey is paramount. What better way to help kids than having 'Jesus on campus' in a chapel."


Archbishop Aymond said he did not know of many Catholic elementary schools that have a large, dedicated chapel within the school itself.

"It's unusual to have a chapel in the middle of a school – and how powerful that is because the school is all about Jesus," Archbishop Aymond said before anointing the altar and walls of the chapel with sacred chrism. "It's all about Jesus the teacher, and Jesus, the one who loves us."

"Jesus is immediately present to them," said Father Daniel Brouillette, pastor. "Our adoration chapel is across the street, and there are people coming and going, and it's filled to capacity. What a blessing it is to have such easy access to the Blessed Sacrament here. So, while we have the church, there's no way you can replicate the presence of our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist in our school home."

"I think it's really beautiful," said Naomi Angelette, a seventh grader and member of the student council. "It's an opportunity for kids to come in here and pray more than they would usually do. I think it's important because it can bring people together."

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