ENTRY INTO THE CHAPEL
As you enter the large wooden chapel doors from the Gathering Space into the Chapel alcove, the first beam above reads in Latin "Ite Ad Joseph" which translated means "Go To Joseph". Santa Teresa de Jesus (of Avila) popularized this quote from the Old Testament (Genesis 37:iff) where she reminds people to go to Joseph as protector and defender in time of need. Upon entering the alcove, another beam reads "Esta Capilla Se Fabrico En 2003" which means "This chapel was erected in 2003". Above the beam is a bronze bell (the only new bell in our parish) which was cast in Europe. It was christened "Josefina". It depicts the young life of the parish with playing children at the top of the bell. The year of dedication and name of the community and chapel are also cast on the bell.

Also in the alcove on the left is a nicho with a shelf that holds the holy water font, which is the work of Tom Joyce, who also created the Baptismal font in the main church. This font was also made from precious metals donated by parishioners. The nicho was constructed to exhibit sacred art which pertains to the particular liturgical season being celebrated or the saint whose feast is being celebrated on any given day.

INTERIOR OF CHAPEL

Along the northern wall and bathed in light, a magnificent bronze image of the crucified Christ, sculpted by Huberto Maestas of San Luis, Colorado is set against a  framed wall of glass with a backdrop of a breathtaking view of the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) Mountains, a scene both majestic and prayerful.

To the right of the large window are two traditional nichos. One contains the image of La Conquistadora, Our Lady of Peace (Patroness of Santa Fe and New Mexico) so that young brides and grooms who marry in the chapel can leave their bridal bouquets as an offering to the Mother of God seeking her intercession in their new married lives.  This piece was crafted by accomplished santero Alcario Otero.  She is encased in glass adorned with tinwork crafted by Bonifacio Sandoval. 

The other nicho contains the retablo of the image of St. Katherine Drexel by santera Arlene Cisneros-Sena. Mother Drexel was canonized in 2000 and is very special to Santa Feans. She significantly impacted New Mexico having founded St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe in the late 1880s and dedicating her life and wealth to educating Native American children across the region.

On the east side of the chapel is a beam which reads, '¡Ave María Purísima! ¡Concebída Sin Pecado Original!' which translates to 'Hail Mary, Most Pure! Conceived Without Original Sin!' This is a prayer used to gather the Hermanos Penitentes' (a devout lay Catholic brotherhood of Spanish-American men) attention before beginning important events. Rosemarie Sparky Griego and Pat Gurule-Griego carved and painted all the texts in the beams. The wall below is made up of folding doors which can open from the main sanctuary which allows for overflow seating during large gatherings for the Sacred Liturgy.

Along the viga ceiling of the Chapel are two rows of carved wooden corbels. These corbels were carved by forty-eight families/individuals who volunteered to carve religious symbols representing their families and/or their spirituality and ministry. The beam on the west end (over the St. Joseph shrine) is inscribed with a very special Northern New Mexico prayer which is started in the main sanctuary. It reads, "Los Dulcisimos Nombres de Jesús, María y José"; which translates as: "the Most Sweet Names of Jesus, Mary and Joseph". This prayer is recited by the Hermanos Penitentes as they enter their moradas (houses of prayer).

The St. Joseph shrine includes a retablo, reredos or colateral that is housed in a small bay with a polygonal apse similar to that of the main sanctuary's Marian shrine. A retablo can mean an an altar screen in Spanish or a two-dimensional panel as well.  The word reredos is an Italian word that also means "altar screen" and has become an English architectural term.  The retablo in the St. Joseph shrine features traditional architectural accoutrements including gessoed pine panels that contain scenes from the mysteries of life of St. Joseph (which mirror the popular "mysteries" of the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary). The altar screen panels depict the following narrative scenes:

• The Annunciation of the Angel to Joseph
• The Marriage of the Virgin Mary and Joseph
• The Flight into Egypt
• The Adoration of the Magi
• The Circumcision of Christ
• The Finding of the Christ Child in the Temple of Jerusalem
• The Holy Family

The Holy Trinity also appears in the rematé or cupil (crowning rosette) of the altar screen as well as the Tree of Jesse. There are also two outlined figures representing 'Faith and Justice' - for Joseph was a 'Just Man' (Mt. 1:19) and 'Defender of the Faith'. The traditional altar screen and table also house the award-winning bulto of "San José con El Niño Jesus". This bulto of St. Joseph is the collaborative work of internationally known santero (saint carver), Dr. Charlie M. Carrillo, and his uncle Jimmy Trujillo. Carrillo built and fashioned the bulto and Trujillo applied wheat and vegetal straw and appliqué to the statue.

Two  nichos also flank the altar screen and contain two bultos that depict El Trànsito de San José (the happy death of St. Joseph) and El Pedimiento de la Posada (Mary, pregnant with the baby Jesus, in search of lodging in Bethlehem). These bultos were crafted by accomplished santero Gustavo Victor Goler. The shrine is encased with an altar rail that surrounds the floor of the bay that is fashioned of traditional tamped earth. This shrine memorializes, celebrates and ritualizes the ancient devotion to St. Joseph in New Mexico.