Amid the hustle and bustle of high school life, there is one place on Marin Catholic High School’s campus where students can find solace — in the magnificent St. Francis Chapel.

The chapel is a refuge for the whole community. Spiritual liturgies and activities in this sacred space include Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and prayer and meditation. Sports teams and clubs also gather in prayer throughout the year, including the Marin Catholic football team who have a special Mass together on Fridays in the fall before their games.

Msgr. Steven Otellini was chaplain of Marin Catholic when construction started on a new project in 2000, necessitating a new location for the chapel on campus. While praying about the best place to build the new chapel, he picked a spot with a beautiful view of Mount Tamalpais. He decided to design the space after St. Francis’ Canticle of Sun, celebrating the patron of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, while also honoring the beautiful creation visible from the chapel location.

Perhaps the most striking part of the chapel is the stained-glass window behind the altar. The design works in parts of the Canticle of the Sun and the life of its author while still making visible Mt. Tam and the wetlands below.

Full story at SF Archdiocese.