That was the decision of a group of students at a northern Michigan engineering school back in 2016.

Following the success of the first ice chapel, each subsequent iteration included more embellishment.

An altar was made from ice cut from Lake Superior. To encourage social distancing last year, students built snow pews. Read more

Dawson was one of the 52 people who signed a letter seeking assurance from the board that a Christian chapel and an office for chaplains be given priority for the new hospital.

The signatories are mainly leaders of Presbyterian congregations across the South, but also including the Anglican Bishop of Dunedin, the Right Rev Stephen Benford,

The letter calls for a "discernable Christian presence" in the new hospital.

Hospitals and the health systems in which they operate can largely be said to be an invention of the church and they certainly rely on values espoused by the church throughout its 2000-year history, Dawson said

His further concern was the Christian faith would not be primarily represented within a city founded on Christian principles and a country in which, still, the largest group of people claiming religious adherence are Christian.

New Dunedin Hospital project director Hamish Brown told the board that management had tried to provide a "neutral and respectful approach to what is a complex and sensitive issue".

The multi-faith centre approach reflected modern health practice, and there was not enough space in the proposed hospital design for two chapels.

"It is important not to get hung up on size or square metres. It is important to consider its function," Mr Brown said.

Board member Tuari Potiki said he supported the recommendation.

He said the University of Otago operated a similar multi-faith prayer room.

"I think it's inclusive; it's practical, it sends the message that we should get on with each other."

Dawson said the university situation was not comparable to the hospital, as the chaplain's room had been rebuilt for Christian ministry as part of the prayer room development.

Source

• odt.co.nz
• odt.co.nz
• patheos.com
• Image: facebook.com

Bishop Paul Martin presided at the ceremony and preached.

Those attending included emeritus bishop Basil Meeking, David Kennerley, the New Zealand leader of the Society of Mary, former Rector of St Bede's, Des Darby, twenty-five priests, many of whom were old boys.

The Rector Justin Boyle, staff and students, members of the boards of Proprietors and Trustees, representatives of the building firm and friends of the College were also in attendance.

In his homily, Martin, who was formerly the deputy Rector of St Bede's said that it was a wonderful and unusual privilege for a bishop to be able to dedicate the new chapel of a school in which he himself has taught as a priest.

He thanked those whose generous gifts of vision, money, time and talent have made an inspired vision into a tangible and visible reality.

"At one level you have been generous to the college and to future generations of the St. Bede's community. But most of all you have gifted to God a place for Him to dwell among us," he said.

"Know today the gratitude of God to and for each one of you. May you and your families be abundantly blessed for your generosity."

Boyle said the chapel is the college's most important building.

"The return of the chapel is a clear statement of who we are and what we stand for, a Catholic, Marist College, and we welcome its return," said Rector Boyle.

The dedication of the chapel marked the conclusion of a seven-year, $20 million rebuild and refurbishment of St Bede's.

Devastated by the 2011 earthquakes, the chapel was demolished.

For seven years a temporary chapel was used, while funding was secured to enable a rebuild.

The campus master plan was re-designed to place the chapel at the forefront of the school.

Source

• odt.co.nz
• stbedes.school.nz
• Image: stbedes.school.nz

Between 1776 and 1804, the local priest, Vaclav Tomasek, painstakingly gathered, cleaned and carefully arranged skeletons recovered from numerous, shallow mass graves left by the Thirty Years' War, Silesian Wars and cholera outbreaks.

Modeled off of similar ossuaries and catacombs in Rome, the chapel was intended as a shrine for the dead, as well as a "memento mori" for the living. Have a look

Its deconsecration and eventual removal is a huge disappointment to the College community and is a result of the Christchurch earthquakes.

The chapel has been closed since May 6, 2011, and while remaining earthquake prone, it was hoped that a building assessment and possible repair might spare the sacred space.

In a statement on the college's website, rector, Mr Justin Boyle described it as ‘disappointing' to lose the use of something as sacred and integral to the Catholic school.

As well as being the focus of the school's spiritual life the St Bede's College Chapel was a convenient size for wedding ceremonies of many old boys.

Located in the centre of the College, the chapel was the oldest building at St Bede's. In 1990 it was extensively altered to allow greater scope for modern liturgies.

The cost of replacing the chapel is estimated to be $4.7m, meanwhile college Masses continue in the school's Performing Arts Centre.

The chapel is not the only building to be affected by earthquake damage and in tough economic times, the College is reaching out to the community.

A preliminary estimate of the cost of replacing damaged buildings and or repairing earthquake prone buildings is $20m.

Source of item and photo: Society of Mary

Authorities told parishioners that the building was to be used "for village activities, not for worship".

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