SHU students lend a hand in chapel cleaning

Instead of priests wearing robes and holding chalices, college students wearing jeans and tee shirts held mops and brooms. Instead of incense and candles, the smell of Pine-Sol and Murphy’s Oil Soap emanated from St. Joseph’s Chapel on September 16, 2006.
Among the workforce of around 90 people that signed up to take part in Labor of Love, a service project sponsored by Seton Hill University’s Office of Campus Ministry, 11 students decided to take part in the cleaning of St. Joseph’s Chapel.


By Amanda Cochran,
Editor-in-Chief
Instead of priests wearing robes and holding chalices, college students wearing jeans and tee shirts held mops and brooms. Instead of incense and candles, the smell of Pine-Sol and Murphy’s Oil Soap emanated from St. Joseph’s Chapel on September 16, 2006.
Among the workforce of around 90 people that signed up to take part in Labor of Love, a service project sponsored by Seton Hill University’s Office of Campus Ministry, 11 students decided to take part in the cleaning of St. Joseph’s Chapel.
The group arrived at 8:30 a.m. and worked for nearly two hours, cleaning, according to Karen Ricco, area coordinator of residence life, �everything within reach.�
Everything within reach is a big job in the chapel, however.
Wooden pews, candle holders, sculptures, floors and pulpit were all scrubbed, scoured and dusted by the adamant crew of SHU students.
The crewmembers were surprised to find that the chapel isn’tas tidy as it looks.
Carrie Caroselli, a senior, said the crew found a variety of items in the hymnal holders. Wrappers, tissues, Teddy Grahams, gum, a tube of Chap Stick, and even an incomplete set of acrylic nails were stuffed into the chapel’s cracks and crevices.
�It’s kind of gross,� said Mary Jane Steib, a junior.
However, Steib added that she liked working in the chapel, because it �feels like home.� Steib, who is a Catholic, said the religious aspect of the job was an attraction for her.
Chris Vail, a freshman, agreed. �I wanted to be here,� he said. �I got to know the chapel better; I�m thinking about exploring my religious side more.�
Tiffany Brattina, a senior, was the coordinator of the chapel service project. She said she was happy to see so many people involved in campus ministry.
�I hope people stay involved in campus ministry past Labor of Love,� she added.
View this writer’s profile.