Sedona Catholics celebrate chapel anniversary

By Catherine Hanley
The Catholic Sun

SEDONA — More than 100 local Catholics celebrated the 50-year anniversary of the Chapel of the Holy Cross last month.

Marguerite Brunswig Staude, a devoted Catholic woman, originally envision the chapel as a place to find God through the arts.

Although Brunswig Staude died in 1988, her husband and son were at the celebration, which included a Mass in the chapel June 15.

The history of the chapel began in 1932, when dreams of building a modern gothic-like cathedral devoured Brunswig Staude’s thoughts.

She studied under renowned artists in Greece, Italy, Paris, Mexico and the United States. Yet it was in New York City that she dreamed of building a cathedral.  

A cruciform style dominated the original sketches she shared with Lloyd Wright — son of Frank Llyod Wright — who created an architectural model respecting Brunswig Staude’s sculptural format.

Working together for over a year their plans were printed and ready to implement.

But her attempts to build the cathedral in Los Angeles and Budapest, Hungary failed. Brunswig Stuade’s construction efforts paused for 25 years.

After marrying Anthony Staude in 1938 the couple purchased a Sedona ranch in 1941 as a vacation home. It was here that Brunswig Staude’s dream dramatically changed from building a cathedral to building a chapel dedicated to finding God through art.

After modifying the construction plans, ground was broken in April 1955 after gaining support from church leaders, politicians, and the Sedona residents. The Chapel of the Holy Cross completed construction in 18 months.

“I had no idea of the significance of her work, nor the spiritual impact it would have for people all over the world who visit here,” said John Raphael Staude, Anthony and Marguerite’s son. “It wasn’t until I was almost 30 that I began to realize its true meaning.”

Charles Reaume, administrator of the chapel, presented Anthony Staude and Fred Coukas, the chapel’s construction superintendent, plaques of appreciation at the ceremony.