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New three-dimensional mappingtechnology is being used by thePontifical Institute for ChristianArchaeology to study Rome’s Christianarchitectural history. The project, ajoint initiative between the Vatican andthe Swedish Heritage Board, involvestaking thousands of digital scans ofa structure and using them to build athree dimensional virtual recreation. Thehigh-resolution model can then be usedby archaeologists for detailed analysisand interpretation of a building. Theteam is currently working on a studyof the Lateran baptistery, located nextto the Cathedral of Saint John Lateran.The baptistery has been in continualuse since the fourth century, when, it isclaimed, the Emperor Constantine wasbaptized in its octagonal font.The Baptistery at Saint John Lateran isundergoing 3D mapping.Enrollment is up in seminaries acrossthe U.S. The Theological College inWashington, D.C., is at maximumcapacity with ninety students for the2011-2012 school year. The PontificalCollege Josephinum in Columbus,OH, currently has 186 seminarians,the highest level since the 1970s. SaintPaul Seminary School of Divinity at theUniversity of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul,Minnesota, has its largest new class since1980. In all, the United States has over3,600 post-baccalaureate seminarians,a net increase of four percent since theprevious year. Father Phillip J. Brown,rector of the Theological College inWashington, says he is impressed by notonly the numbers, but by the “qualityand spirit of the men who are coming… we’re seeing a real renewal of thepriesthood.”Sacred Architecture Issue 21 2012Photo: Allie CaulfieldThe newest chapel at the Basilica of theImmaculate Conception is dedicated toOur Lady of Lebanon.A Marionite chapel dedicated to OurLady of Lebanon is the newest sidechapel in the Basilica of the NationalShrine of the Immaculate Conceptionin Washington, D.C. 300 people werepresent for the dedication of the chapel,which coincided with the fiftiethanniversary of Our Lady of LebanonMaronite Seminary in Washington, D.C,and the fiftieth anniversary of priesthoodfor the seminary’s rector, ChorbishopSeely Beggiani. The stone interior of thechapel, designed by Louis R. DiCocco IIIof St Jude Liturgical Arts Studio, reflectsthe design of Lebanon’s stone churches.The floor contains a Cedar of Lebanondesign. A Syriac cross adorns the altar,and images of the crucifixion and thefour evangelists are found behind thealtar, as well as images of Saint Maronand Our Lady of Lebanon.WThe Our Lady of the Sierras Shrine wasdestroyed in the 2011 fire.Efforts to restore a shrine devastated bywildfires in Arizona last June areunderway, with the hope that the workwill be finished by Easter. The OurLady of the Sierras Shrine, located in theHuachuca Mountains, was completelygutted by the fire, but the damagedPhoto: Serge MelkiPhoto: sonoranconnection.blogspot.comNewsciboria and tabernacle were able to besalvaged. A 75-foot Celtic cross, a 31-footstatue of Our Lady of the Sierras, andtwo marble statues of angels on the sitealso survived the fire.Construction continues at Our Lady ofthe Annunciation Abbey at Clear Creekin Oklahoma, designed by ThomasGordon Smith Architects. In December2011, the Benedictine monks completeda sizeable portion of their new abbatialchurch, including a Great Portal. AndrewWilson Smith is currently carving thetwelve Apostles on the lintel. The abbeywas founded in the Diocese of Tulsa in1999 by Notre-Dame de Fontgombault,a French abbey of Solesmes. The monkshope to resume construction in 2013 toserve monastic needs.Limestone column capital carved byAndrew Wilson Smith at Our Lady of theAnnunciation Abbey7Photo: Andrew Wilson SmithPhoto: Andrew Wilson Smith