MARY’S MOUNT HISTORICAL WALK

Station H – St Emilie de Vialar Chapel and Breezeway Walkway Art

In 1944, due to rapid student growth, the Sisters built four temporary classrooms from timber and asbestos. By 1952, a new brick and tile school building was opened, and the temporary classrooms became a chapel.

In 1965, the temporary chapel was replaced with a brick and tile chapel, used for various religious ceremonies. It was refurbished and consecrated as St Emilie De Vialar Chapel in 2011.

A covered walkway between the chapel and St Joseph’s Hall now displays mosaic artwork created by the year six students of 2011, showcasing Mary’s Mount’s rich legacy of art and craft teaching.

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Breezeway Walkway Art

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St Emilie de Vialar Chapel

By 1944 due to the War, student numbers were growing so fast that the Sisters had to build four temporary classrooms. These were constructed of timber and asbestos as bricks were in short supply as well as many other essentials. The classrooms were hot in summer and freezing in winter.

By 1952 a new brick and tile school building was dedicated and opened by Bishop Goody and the temporary classrooms became a school chapel. This building had large classrooms, high ceilings and thick brick walls to keep out the heat and cold. The classrooms have provided learning hubs for Three-year-old Kindergarten to Year Sevens over nearly seventy years.

The temporary chapel’s days were numbered and by 1965 the Sisters had replaced it with a brick and tile chapel that faced into the quadrangle/playground. Class Masses, Liturgies, Baptisms, Weddings and Year 7 Graduations as well as Parish Sunday Mass in the 1970’s have meant it has been well loved and well used. By 2011,the year of our 90^th Anniversary, painting and refurbishing brought it up to date and it was consecrated, St Emilie De Vialar Chapel after the SSJA founder.

Breezeway and Walkway Art

Between the chapel and St Joseph’s Hall is a covered walkway, which was open until St Joseph’s Hall was erected. This now displays mosaic artwork of various historical sites at Mary’s Mount. Each piece was designed and completed by the year six students of 2011 and reflects the great legacy of art and craft teaching that has been part of Mary’s Mount for the last 50 years.