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The current crisis has been responsible for large scale change in many facets of our daily lives. When we return to onsite schooling next week, social distancing requirements will necessitate a rethink of many of our daily interactions. One such rethink will involve the housing of staff, who will need a little more space than usual. While I would be quite happy that the 1.5 metre desks we use ensure social distance by dint of their very size, extra lengths are being taken to ensure safety for all. One result of this, will be the temporary use of the Meeting Room and Chapel to accommodate a number of staff until the crisis passes. The following outlines how the area has been used over more than 60 years.

This Meeting Room and Chapel complex was originally built as the convent Chapel under the guidance of Mother Stephanie O’Neill who was Superior of the Mentone community from 1960. The former Chapel, located where the front office now stands, had become too small and the area in front of the colonnade was deemed the appropriate place for the addition. The tennis court, which occupied the space, was a remnant of the Coffee Palace and was no longer required as the ‘far courts’ had been constructed near to where the car park stands today. 

The occasion of Mother Margaret Mary Bourke’s Golden Jubilee resulted in a great many donations ‘to be reserved for the outlay of the proposed altar’ in the new Chapel. Other attempts to raise funds for its construction were more creative. A number of the sisters placed weekly entries in the Herald Wealth Words competition, in the name of ‘Breda Chapel’, hoping to win enough money to finance the project. Mother Stephanie herself, placed bets on horses after receiving tips from boarders and a local horse-trainer whose daughters attended the school. After many months of negotiations between  Mother Stephanie and architects, builders and local government planning authorities, the first Mass was celebrated on 15 August 1964. 

It was not until 5 June 1965, however, that Archbishop Fox officially opened and blessed the Chapel and altar. A brass plaque commemorating the occasion reads: “On the 5th day of June 1965, His Lordship Most Reverend Arthur F. Fox., D.D.Titular Bishop of Rhinocorura, consecrated and dedicated this chapel and altar in honour of St Brigid and enclosed therein the relics of the holy martyrs, Saints Aelidorus and Blandina.” 

The Chapel was a central focus of Kilbreda life, where regular weekly Masses were celebrated, usually at lunchtime on Wednesdays. It was also the location of many weddings of past pupils and staff members, such as current staff member, Mrs Sue Dempster.

A rebuilding program in 1996-7 saw the Chapel converted into the Meeting Room and smaller Chapel. The confessional boxes were removed as were the Stations of the Cross. Many of these fittings were taken for use in other churches. The former choir loft became a staff area known as ‘Heaven’. Access to this room was once the nuns’ entry to the Chapel from the upper floor of the convent. A solid wall created between the two was later removed to allow for more effective use of the one larger space. 

Damian Smith 

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