Residents, staff, local community members and Catholic Healthcare representatives have attended the formal blessing of the Jemalong Residential Village Chapel.
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The ceremony was a formal Liturgy of Blessing of the Chapel and also marked the official re-naming of the Chapel to the 'Mater Chapel'.
The Chapel has been named in recognition of the Sisters of Mercy and their dedicated contribution to health and aged care in the Forbes region.
The chapel features the beautiful stained glass windows that used to be in the Forbes Mater Aged Care Home.
These windows are more than 100 years old, Catholic Healthcare said in a media release, and were hand-made in France.
They were carefully moved from the former site in 2019 when all the Mater residents were moved to the newly expanded Jemalong Residential Village on Edward Street.
The blessing of the new Chapel was conducted by Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia Forbes, and assisted by Reverend Simon Apablaza, local Parish Priest of St Laurence's Parish Forbes.
In a special service for all attendees, the ceremony included a liturgy, prayers and a series of hymns as accompanied by the Jemalong Residential Village staff on vocals and the Uniting Minister as volunteer on piano.
Directors of the Catholic Healthcare Board and Trustees including David Robinson, Stephen Teulan and Dr Peter Steane MSC, as well as Catholic Healthcare's Interim CEO, Belinda Moyes, the Mayor of Forbes Council, Phyllis Miller OAM, were delighted to attend and meet with staff and residents from Jemalong.
Also in attendance were representatives from the Sisters of Mercy, Sr Carmel Carroll, Sr Michelle Farrugia and Sr Elizabeth Young.
A morning tea with light refreshments served by the staff to residents and guests followed the ceremony.
