Chapel on the Rock - An Indestructible Shrine

Chapel on the Rock

"Upon this rock I'll build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
~ Matthew 16:18

On a pitch black night in 1916, Monsignor Joseph Bosetti was lured deep into the Rocky Mountains by the fiery afterglow of a falling star. Bosetti was unable to locate the meteor’s impact but he did find divine inspiration.

Bosetti stumbled upon a dramatic rock formation that filled his spirit with visions of grandeur. He became obsessed with building a remote church balanced right on top of those rugged crags.

Of course money or a lack thereof was an issue so without any funding, the construction project was delayed for twenty years. Bosetti’s dream came true after Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Malo donated land and architect Jacques Benedict finalized the design.

The chapel was built from native stone that was hauled in from the surrounding area by mule-drawn carts. This natural material allows the structure to blend perfectly into the environment, offering a seamless transition between earth and heaven.

Entrenched below the impressive Mount Meeker, the wilderness setting is absolutely breathtaking. As for the sanctuary, it’s detailed with elaborate stonework, adorned with statues and the windows are fitted with stained-glass.

The church was completed in 1936 and officially christened as the Saint Catherine of Siena Chapel. Other structures were added and by 1987 the meadow was transformed into the Saint Malo Religious Retreat and Conference Center.

Pope John Paul II hiked through the area, prayed in the chapel and blessed the site during World Youth Day. Since that remarkable visit in 1993, the hardened house of worship has been virtually indestructible.

In 1911, a devastating fire roared through the neighboring forest spewing flames that licked the church’s edge. The conference center was completely destroyed but miraculously, the stone structure survived unscathed.

Two years later, torrential rains produced devastating mudslides that flowed down from the high peaks into the valley just missing Saint Catherine’s by the slimmest of margins. Once again the sacred rock persevered in a pristine state.

Despite the wrath incurred by such natural catastrophes, the holy shrine has managed to hold its rocky ground. Still perched precariously today, the resilient Chapel on the Rock has become an obvious symbol of hope during the midst of disaster.

A remote church in the mountains

Built from native stone

It blends into the environment

Impressive Mount Meeker

The wilderness setting is breathtaking

Elaborate stonework, statues and stained-glass

A hardened house of worship

A holy shrine

Hope during the midst of disaster