University officials gather to break ground on a renovation to the chapel and for the new Iversen Center for Faith. (Justin Amaker/TommieMedia)

The St. Thomas community gathered Thursday to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Iversen Center for Faith and Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas renovation. Construction for the center began this April and will be completed by fall 2020.

Mark Gregg, a university trustee, presented the opening and closing statements, followed by remarks from Vice President for Mission Rev. Larry Snyder, President Julie Sullivan, professor and art history department chair Victoria Young and donors Al and Brenda Iversen.

Blessings were offered by chaplain and director of campus ministry Rev. Lawrence Blake, associate chaplains Rev. Medhat Yoakiem and Sadaf Shier, and Rabbi Amy Ariel.

The renovated chapel and new center will include a multipurpose gathering room, an amphitheatre and rooms for interfaith worship.

The renovations and expansions will be completely funded by donors and no tuition dollars will be used. The chapel is the third-oldest building on campus, after Cretin and Ireland Halls, and is the first building to undergo a major renovation of this kind.

Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.