A familiar landmark for commuters traveling into Boston from the north, The Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea towers over Route 1 at the crest of Powder Horn Hill.
St. Michael's Chapel at The Soldiers' Home, Chelsea
The Home serves the residential, medical and spiritual needs of roughly 500 veterans through operations funded entirely by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
While the main complex of medical buildings and dormitories was first established in 1882, the spiritual anchor of the facility, St. Michael’s Chapel, was dedicated in 1961 by Cardinal Cushing to serve the needs of WWII veterans.
St. Michael’s is staffed by a full time Catholic chaplain, and offers daily services and religious programming. Military banners placed by Amvets proudly line the walls between the chapel’s stained glass windows, joined by national flags honoring Chelsea’s Irish and Italian immigrant populations.
A lovely rose window rescued by St. Michael’s chaplain from the shuttered Our Lady of Hope Center in Balmville, NY is prominently featured in an alcove to the right of the alter.
In the Quigley Memorial Hospital adjacent to St.Michaels, the Florence Jewish War Veterans Chapel and an Ecumenical Meditation Room both provide weekly services.
For more information: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/che/
