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From crumbling convent to Catholic art studio: A new light in Atlantic City, New Jersey

July 25, 2026 · 1 min read

A Catholic art studio is beginning to blossom in an unexpected place. Cappella Studio in Atlantic City, New Jersey, aspires to be a light in the darkness of the city, reaching out to those on the periphery and centering the art on the good, true, and beautiful.

“Atlantic City exists at the edge of the world. In many ways it is a forgotten- about place on the periphery,” Jim Dessicino, who founded Cappella Studio, told EWTN News. “People go there to gamble away their fortunes or to disappear into vice, and with that comes desperation, homelessness, and poverty.”

“It is in places such as this that Christ is most needed,” he continued.

The abandoned convent there was going to be sold — and likely razed to the ground. But Dessicino saw that it could be something more.

“When I entered that chapel for the first time, I knew I had the opportunity to emulate St. Francis during his special jubilee year called by Pope Leo XIV,” Dessicino said.

“In 1205, kneeling in prayer and searching for his purpose in the crumbling Church of San Damiano, St. Francis heard the voice of God say: ‘Francis, go rebuild my church, which you see has fallen into ruin!’” he recounted.

“The chapel in…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (4) 🌐 Translate comments

Иван Виноградов

Интересная история. Жалко было бы, если бы снесли старый convent с часовней. Хорошо, что Dessicino вспомнил про святого Франциска и вместо сноса решил сделать студию искусства. У нас в Минске тоже пару заброшенных зданий при храмах спасли, всегда радует, когда такое оживает.

Мариана Тодорова

Да, добре че Dessicino не е оставил convent-а да го съборят. Като чета за тази стара капела и как я е превърнал в студио за католическо изкуство, си мисля за нашите изоставени манастири около Велико Търново – също бяха на ръба. Интересно как точно историята на свети Франциск и Сан Дамиано го е подтикнала, това е най-хубавата част.

Petro Nako

Po e lexova me vëmendje. Është mirë që Dessicino nuk e la të shembnin atë kapelë të vjetër në konventin e braktisur, por e ktheu në studio arti katolik. Më kujtoi si ne në Korçë, kur rinovuan një ambient të vjetër pranë kishës sonë për të bërë punishte për ikona – disa drurë dhe bojëra të thjeshta, por tani shërben për shumë njerëz. Pyes veten nëse do të kenë edhe kurse për fëmijët atje.

Ruth Wilson

That's a neat story about the old convent chapel. I like how Dessicino took the St. Francis line about rebuilding the ruined church and actually did it with paintbrushes instead of just prayers. We have a couple of empty church buildings here in Portland that could use the same treatment instead of sitting boarded up.