By Fr. Jeff Johnson, SJ
For decades, Jesuits and our companions entering the chapel at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, were greeted by a beautiful symbol of faith, a wrought iron and mosaic depiction of the Triumphant Christ. For generations of Jesuits, The Victory of Christ was a touchstone for prayer, reflection and the quiet moments that shaped our spiritual lives.
Today, this beloved piece finds new life at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston, a continuation of its sacred purpose and a bridge between generations of Jesuits and those they serve.
A Familiar Presence in the Chapel
For those who prayed before this artwork at St. Charles College, the memories are likely vivid. The figure of Christ – his head, hands and feet outlined in vibrant mosaics – seems to draw the eye and the heart upward. Around him, symbols of the Eucharistic sacrifice connected the sacrifice of the cross to the altar below, while wrought iron and mosaic elements speak of the Holy Spirit, the apostles, the evangelists and the sacraments.
Installed above the altar upon construction of the chapel in the early 1960s, the artwork was part of a broader effort to make the chapel a place of profound spiritual resonance. Designed by Delio Garza of the University of Southwestern Louisiana, it was complemented by a wrought iron baldachin in the same style and wrought iron Stations of the Cross by Wilfert Church Art Studio. Together, these elements created a space where liturgical symbols and modern artistry met in harmony.
A New Chapter in Houston
When St. Charles College’s chapel underwent a significant renovation recently, our beloved Victory of Christ found a new home at Strake Jesuit in Houston. The school’s art museum recognized its historical and spiritual value and began a project to restore and relocate the piece.
The restoration, entrusted to Byron “Marty” Kessler, revealed the brilliance of the original mosaics and the craftsmanship of the wrought iron. Kessler’s careful work revived the vibrant colors and intricate details that had captivated generations in Grand Coteau.
The restoration was about more than just preserving art; it was about preserving the spiritual legacy embedded in the piece.
In 2024, after several months of planning and preparation, The Grand Coteau Victory of Christ was installed on a limestone wall in the bell tower of the Chapel of St. Ignatius at Strake Jesuit. This new location, bathed in natural light, emphasizes the mosaics’ colors and creates a dynamic visual experience for those who encounter it.
A Place for New Prayer and Old Memories
As the Victory of Christ resumes its role as a focus for prayer, it carries with it the echoes of countless prayers offered in its presence. For those who once knelt before it in Grand Coteau, its reappearance is like meeting an old friend – familiar, comforting and filled with shared history.
For the students, faculty and visitors at Strake Jesuit, it is a new invitation to encounter Christ. Situated in the bell tower of the chapel, it draws hearts upward and reminds all who see it of the triumph of Christ over sin and death – a truth that resonates as powerfully now as it did decades ago.
While its location has changed, the mission of The Grand Coteau Victory of Christ remains the same: to draw people closer to God through its beauty and symbolism. For Jesuits who have prayed before it, it’s a chance to recall the graces received and the prayers whispered in its presence. For those encountering it for the first time, it is an invitation to participate in that same tradition.
As we reflect on the journey of this sacred artwork – from Grand Coteau to Houston – it’s worth remembering the Jesuit ideal of finding God in all things, even in the movement of history and the restoration of old works. In its new home, The Grand Coteau Victory of Christ continues to inspire prayer, reflection and a deeper encounter with the mysteries of faith.
For those who know it well, may its reappearance stir gratitude. For those meeting it anew, may it open the heart to the God who triumphs through the Cross.
Father Jeff Johnson, SJ, is the president of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory of Houston. He made his novitiate in Grand Coteau.