Mater Chapel Blessing – Jemalong Residential Village

Residents, staff, local community members and Catholic Healthcare representatives have attended the formal Blessing of the Jemalong Residential Village Chapel in Forbes. 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 name is in recognition of the Sisters of Mercy and their dedicated contribution to health and aged care in the Forbes region.

The blessing 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. 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, and the Mercy Sisters were delighted to attend and meet with staff and residents from Jemalong.

A design feature of the Chapel is its beautiful stained glass windows. They are over 100 years old and were handmade in France. They used to feature in the Forbes Mater Aged Care Home and were carefully moved to Jemalong in 2019 when all the residents of the Forbes Mater moved to the new Jemalong site.

A morning tea with light refreshments served by the staff to residents and guests followed the ceremony.

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