I saw this at Homepaddock: North Otago vs the nuns.
Its about a row in Oamaru over the moving the Altar from a chapel with no congregation and no services to a Parish with a thriving congregation where it will be put to the use for which it was made.
Of course there would be no issue at all if the people of Oamaru had kept worship alive in the chapel concerned, if a Priest was celebrating Mass at that altar on a regular basis, even if it was only weekly.
But the Chapel stands empty and forlorn, no longer owned by the Dominicans, though apparently the contents are and what's a church without a congregation?
Nothing.
Its about a row in Oamaru over the moving the Altar from a chapel with no congregation and no services to a Parish with a thriving congregation where it will be put to the use for which it was made.
Of course there would be no issue at all if the people of Oamaru had kept worship alive in the chapel concerned, if a Priest was celebrating Mass at that altar on a regular basis, even if it was only weekly.
But the Chapel stands empty and forlorn, no longer owned by the Dominicans, though apparently the contents are and what's a church without a congregation?
Nothing.
The altar should definitely be moved. There's no telling what might happen to it in the future if it isn't.
ReplyDeleteYou are right that heritage is the faith not the building.
ReplyDeleteThis chapel doesn't stand forlorn. It didn't ever have a parish in the conventional sense, but it was used by the sisters and pupils of ths school and their families.
Even though the sisters have moved the chapel is still used by the community.
the chapel is decommissioned and none of it belongs to mrs Scott.
ReplyDeletea gift is just that: a gift.
she needs to remember that
Reminds me of the fellow who ran a steam powered saw mill and various other steam powered gear.
ReplyDeleteA women visited and idignatnly told him that his equipment should all be preserved in a museum.
His reply was a blunt "what do you think they were made for"?
So I'm on the "move it" side, but more importantly wonder why so people divert so much church money away from widows and orphans (and yes, I know it was originally donated but that just shifts where the principle should be applied.)
Scrubone,
ReplyDeleteThe thing with spending money on beautiful altars, is that it helps the people realise they are in the presence of holiness. It makes a difference.
I have been in both types of churches, the ultra modern, nothing special type and the complete gothic reproductions. And in the more beautiful churches, it is quieter, people take their conversations outside and allow those inside their time of prayer after the mass, and it helps with getting into the right head space for the worship of God.
Souls need feeding moreso than bodies.
Well, that's one view. I'm from the Reformed persuasion, and find a certain level of simplicity focuses the spirit.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the people of Oamaru are thieves: they've succeeded in halting the removal of the altar, a sacred object, to a church where it will be used.
ReplyDeleteMrs Kennedy believed the Holy Name Church, where the altar had been gifted, was an "inappropriate" home for it; Karen Howlett felt Holy Name was a "church with no feeling".
Bronwyn Judge, of Oamaru, described the chapel as the "female equivalent" of the Hall of Memories at Waitaki Boys High School, encapsulating "femininity, beauty and art".
I think the altar should be moved and used for it's origional purpose - to offer sacrifice to God. It's a terrible shame the chapel was sold but it would be a waste to just leave it there and for it to not be used.
ReplyDelete