Goddard to reopen with concert in January

The Jan. 26 concert will be the first "Noon Hour Concert Series" event in the newly-renovated chapel. It will also be the first opportunity for the public to see the changes to Goddard's interior.

The Black Catholic Choir is a program sponsored by Archdiocesan Office for Black Catholics, which was established in 1988.

The concert is the first in a series of events intended to draw attention Goddard once the renovations are complete. Other events include the resumption of the Wednesday "Reflections", featuring speakers who address spiritual and philosophical issues and the renewal of wedding vows on the first Saturday of every month, starting in July.

The chapel will be officially rededicated on Mar. 13 with the presentation of the Russell Lectureship to Reverend Peter Gomes, the pastor of Harvard University's Memorial Church.

Peter Gomes has been the pastor of Harvard's Memorial Church for 25 years, is a professor of theology at Harvard and a best-selling author.

"We wanted someone in religious circles," said University Chaplain Fr. David O'Leary. He selected Gomes because of his scholarship and his dedication to the university chaplaincy. "He is the grandfather of all university chaplains in the area," O'Leary said. "He was my first choice."

The Russell Lectureship is the oldest continuing lectureship at Tufts, first given in 1873. The 2002 recipient was South African Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Desmond Tutu. In past years, the Russell Lectureship hasn't been given "due to fundraising issues." O'Leary is hoping to make the presentation of the Lectureship an annual event once again.

The recipient of the award is selected by the University Chaplain and confirmed by the associate chaplains and the University President. The Chaplaincy would like to start a second lectureship but requires more funding for it.

Along with the "Noon Hour Concerts", Goddard will feature special concerts with its newly-restored Hook & Hastings organ. "The restoration of a Hook & Hastings organ is quite an event in itself," O'Leary said.

A new fundraising campaign, the Friends of Goddard Chapel, will begin soon, with the intent of raising money for future renovations of the building. Among other things, O'Leary wants to add air conditioning in order to attract more summer weddings to the chapel.

The chapel first opened in 1882 with a donation from Mary Goddard in honor of her late husband. The renovations, which have kept the chapel closed this semester, include structural reinforcements, removing the screens which previously covered the pipes of the organ, and replacing the original stained glass windows opposite the organ.

Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox services will resume in Goddard at the beginning of next semester.