St Joseph's College Geelong Chapel

St Joseph’s College Geelong

College Chapel

The Chapel has served the local parishioners since its establishment in 1903 and St Joseph’s College students since the College was opened in 1935.

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From The Opening Of The Chapel The St Joseph’s Chapel is of a federation gothic revival style and is one of Geelong’s notable historic buildings.The building is listed with the Australian Heritage Commission Register at the National Estate and classified with the National Trust of Australia (Vic.). The Chapel has served the local parishioners since its establishment in 1903 and St Joseph’s College students since the College was opened in 1935.

The Chapel is a reminder of what the College has provided for past students and remains the cornerstone of future Catholic education at St Joseph’s.

The church, which is in the Gothic style, is of brick with a slate roof. The exterior is set off with Melbourne facings, and an artistic effect is produced by the large proportion of coloured cement used. There are three entrances, two of which are on the west side. The church, which has seating accommodation for 300, faces south.

On the south-east corner is a spire, 75 feet high, and the top portion is finished in terra cotta work. Well ventilated and lighted, the church presents a pleasing appearance interiorly.The inside measurements are 64 feet in length to the altar rails, and 32 feet in width.The sanctuary is 10 feet long. The walls throughout are plastered. The ceiling is of kauri, laid diagonally, and the principal timbers are used in the roof. Four large lights have been let into the south wall of the building, and on the east and west sides there are eight double mullion and three single lights, which are of cathedral and antique glass, splendidly inlaid with figured emblems.

Three lights over the sanctuary are the gift of Sir Rupert Clarke, and cost 50 pounds. The central light represents the Sacred Heart and the other two are representations of the Blessed Virgin and St Joseph. They are artistically finished, and make a pleasing addition to the ornamentation of the church.

The walls are 19 feet high, and from the floor to the ceiling the height is 34 feet and to the ridge 41 feet.The sacristy is 10 feet by 8 feet, and the porch on the western side is 9 feet long by close on 6 ft wide. A hexagon tile door has been laid down, the design being a particularly attractive one.

The total cost is about 2000 pounds. With the church attached to the orphanage, the Christian Brothers may fairly claim to possess one of the finest institutions of the kind in the State.

The plans of the church were prepared by Messrs. Laird and Barlow, who supervised its erection. The contract was let out to Messrs. W. Murphy and Son, who carried it out most satisfactorialy. The carpentry work was done by Messrs. J. C. Taylor and Sons, the painting by Messrs M’Rorie Bros., and the cathedral lights and tiles were respectively supplied by Mr Montgomery, of Melbourne, and the Australian Tile Co., Mitcham. Mr W. H. Payne constructed the seats. The foundation stone was laid on August 30th by the Venerable Archpriest McKenna.

‘St Augustines Church:The Opening Cermony’, Geelong Advertiser, 2 May, 1904.

Look up Peter Chapman “St Josephs College Chapel’ and some additional notes by W. J. Smith in Investigator, vo 27, no. 1, March 1992, pp14-19.

Offcially opened by the Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Thomas Joseph Carr, on 1 May, 1904.

Indigenous ‘Touchstone’ Carpet The Carpet was designed in Geelong and manufactured in the United Kingdom

by Brintons. The design represents the four touchstones of a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice Tradition - Inclusive Community, Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality and Justice & Solidarity.

This carpet also provides a link between the two College Chapels at St Joseph’s, as the same carpet is also laid in Mary’s Chapel at the Year 9 Westcourt Campus and has been reprinted with the permission of the artist, Vicki Clarke of Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria.

Liberating Education

Justice & Solidarity

Gospel Spirituality

Inclusive Community

Chapel Renovations The Chapel was completely renovated in the 1990s as the first project of the newly formed St Joseph’s College Foundation. Also in the same decade Sunday Massses for the parish community were discontinued.

Stained glass windows donated by Sir Rupert Clarke featuring representations of Our Lady, Sacred Heart and St Patrick remained, but statues of them were removed and presented to a community in the Philippines. The original Stations of the Cross which adorned the Chapel walls since 1956 were gifted to St Augustine’s Highton.

The Blessed Sacrament was removed, but the Chapel is still regularly used for Mass, liturgies and the occasional past student wedding. The Chapel remains the spiritual heart of St Joseph’s College and is a place of reflection for St Joseph’s students.

Chapel 1940s

SJC Frontage 1930s

Chapel 1940s

Restoration appeal Major Donors

The Chapel Windows

LANTERN

MONEY BAG

SWORD & CLUB

REED

….So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches and weapons….

...Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over…

…Then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs who had come from the chief priests, the scribes and the elders….

…Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him saying “Hail, the King of the Jews!” They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head….

Mark 14:43

Matthew 27:29-30

John 18:3

Matthew 26; 14-16

CHALICE

THE LILY

…Jesus said “Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering away from me.

Not my will, however, but your will be done”….

…The Just man shall blossom like the lily…

Luke 22:42

Hosea 14:6 Catholic tradition applies this saying to St Joseph.

CROSS & INSCRIPTION

GARMENT & DICE

…Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”

…After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots…

Luke 23:38

Matthew 27:35 “They divided my garments among them, And for my vesture they cast lots.”

SPEAR & LANCE ….A bowl was there, full of cheap wine; so a sponge was soaked in the wine, put on a sprig of hyssop, and lifted up to his lips. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit…One soldier thrust his spear into Jesus’ side, and at once blood and water poured out…

John 19: 29-30, 34.

HAMMER & PINCERS …There they crucified him…

John 19:18

NAILS

THE PELICAN

….When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right and the other on his left…

…This is my body, given to you. This is my blood, poured out for you...

Luke 22: 19, 20

Luke 23:33.

The Australian Pelican, in times of need, is known to peck her breast till the blood flows in order to feed her babies, giving them the gift of life. This deeply images the celebration of the sacrificial meal Jesus offers us in the Eucharist, giving us our spiritual life.

PILLAR & SCOURGES …Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged….

John 19:1

ST JOSEPH’S INITIALS - SJ …When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph….she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to end the engagement quietly.

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son, and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” ...When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home….

Matthew 1: 18- 21, 24

SAINT BRIGID & SAINT PATRICK FEMALE AND MALE PATRON SAINTS OF IRELAND Both these images reflect the heritage of the first Catholics in Australia, and the Irish heritage of the Christian Brothers. St Brigid lends her name to the Brigidine Sisters, who own and run Clonard College.

THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

…Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”…

…Shoulder my yolk and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart…

Luke 3: 34-35

Matthew 11:30

THE LAMB OF GOD …Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”…

Revelation 7:10

JOSEPH - FATHER OF JESUS, JESUS & MARY - MOTHER OF JESUS The Holy Family are centrally featured above the tabernacle.

Whilst peoples understanding of ‘family’ have changed as the years, the notions of love, support and community still ring through in what St Joseph’s College seeks to create amongst our students.

The windows here were donated by Sir Rupert Clarke.

St Joseph’s College Geelong 135 Aphrasia Street Newtown,Victoria 3220 Phone: 03 5226 8100 Fax: 03 5221 6983 Email: sjcoffice@sjc.vic.edu.au

www.sjc.vic.edu.au St Joseph’s College is proud to be a part of:

We acknowledge that we are educating on the traditional land of the Wadawurrung people and honour and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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