Chapel of the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace
Rue Gustave Boël 152
7100 La Louvière
Church, Chapel | 1931 | Neoclassical | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 8.00 - 18.00
Tue 8.00 - 18.00
Wed 8.00 - 18.00
Thu 8.00 - 18.00
Fri 8.00 - 18.00
Sat 8.00 - 18.00
Sun 8.00 - 18.00
Religious offices
Sunday 9 am
Description
Originally, this chapel was part of the monastery of the Poor Clare nuns built in 1930.After 1945 it was opened to the local public. The entire building was bought by the parish of Saint Joseph in 1993 and it now has a pastoral centre, a diocesan library and a social assistance centre.
The chapel is still open for the faithful. The wrought iron grill at the entrance depicts the Last Supper. There are many statues of saints such as Claire, Francis and Colette in places of honour inside. In the old monastery’s cloister there are beautiful and moving ceramics by Max Van der Linden recounting episodes in the life of Saint Francis.
asbl Utopie
Photos
Remarkable elements
The Last Supper
In the Franciscan alley, the main entrance to the monastery, visitors are greeted by a representation of the multiplication of the loaves, symbolising the sharing of the Word and of goods. It is a work by Jean Estienne de Trivières made of curved, welded and coloured concrete reinforcing bars.
Votive offerings
The numerous votive offerings on the walls bear witness to the devotion to Our Lady of Grace.
Our Lady of Grace
Our Lady watches over the good people of the city.
Good Lord of Mercy
The statue represents the Good Lord of Mercy. It was traditional to pray and express human misery before it. The base has a hole for offerings.
Oratory of the Poor Clares
The former oratory of the Poor Clares can be used either as an oratory or a meeting place, depending on pastoral needs. Recently renovated, it is an elegant Gothic hall with four bays. The stone ribs are supported by eight columns topped with hooked capitals. They delimit a central aisle and two sides lined with stalls. The vaults are filled with terracotta bricks.
Ceramics
The cloister is decorated with seven ceramics by Max Van der Linden illustrating various episodes from the lives of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, closely linked to Utopia's charitable activities.
