The Marist Chapel at St. Peter Chanel

As part of the redecorating project For Such a Time as This, we created an adoration chapel in the underutilized space to the right of the altar. In honor of Sacred Heart’s history and relationship with the Marist community the chapel has been named – The Marist Chapel of St. Peter Chanel. The chapel is a beautiful, serene space and parishioners and visitors may now share in the Exposition of the Eucharist each Tuesday following the 12:10 Mass.

Marist History at Sacred Heart

There is a long, deep historic relationship between the Marist community and Sacred Heart. Many graduates of the Marist School have fond memories of Sacred Heart when the school was located next to the church on what was then named Ivy Street.

Recently, a letter written by our Rector and Pastor, Father John Howren, and co-signed with him by the Most Reverend Joel M. Konzen, SM, Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta, was sent to the Ivy Street Alumni of the Marist School. Bishop Konzen is a former principal and president of the Marist School and will be honored with a stained-glass window in one of the chapel’s doors.

The letter, with excerpts seen below, recognizes the special relationship between that community and Sacred Heart and invites them to participate in supporting the Marist Chapel. 

Dear Friends of Marist School,



In 1897, the Bishop of Savannah invited members of the Society of Mary to build a new church and establish a school to serve the needs of Atlanta’s growing Catholic faithful. On May 1, 1898, a beautiful new parish church was blessed and named Sacred Heart of Jesus. Soon afterward, the new pastor, Rev. John E. Gunn, SM, embarked on the establishment of Marist College, which opened in 1901 and provided Catholic education for the next 61 years on the Sacred Heart campus. Since 1898 and 1901, many changes have taken place for both Sacred Heart and Marist School, respectively, and each has continued to flourish by persistent faith and preparation for the future.

In 2025, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus continues with the missionary zeal that the Marists instilled 127 years ago – to prepare the soul for future generations to grow in the Faith of Jesus. Today, the Basilica is engaged in revitalizing parish life and renewing its church with traditional beauty and relevance for a new generation. In so doing, it is celebrating and cementing the inextricable connection between the Marists and Sacred Heart by creating the “Marist Chapel of St. Peter Chanel.”

We share this with you, humbly appealing to your love for Marist and all that it has been and will be…and we are asking for your participative support to achieve this vision of a worthy “Marist Chapel” at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart – your school’s very own cradle.



Please prayerfully consider making a gift to support the construction of the new Marist Chapel of St. Peter Chanel. If you would like to make a gift to preserve a significant part of our Marish history, please visit:

www.basilicaATL.org/donate-to-the-marist-chapel-of-st-peter-chanel/.

Thank you to the Marist community for their support of the Marist Chapel of St. Peter Chanel.

Our goal is to create a welcoming environment that supports the various liturgies that occur within it, is balanced and appropriate for a Basilica, follows current liturgical guidelines, and respects the history of Sacred Heart.