By Olivia Bunter and Claire Kelly
The Aquinas College community celebrated the blessing of the Chapel of St Thomas Aquinas on Sunday 12 May following the completion of renovation works to the historic chapel that began in August 2018.
Geraldton Bishop Michael Morrissey was the principal celebrant of the Mass, joined by fellow Aquinas alumni Fr Greg Donovan, in the presence of past and present students and staff, their families, and the wider community.
In his homily for the occasion, Bishop Morrissey shared his memories of commencing at Aquinas without a chapel on site.
Bishop Morrissey said he witnessed the progressive construction of the Chapel of St Thomas Aquinas that has been at the heart of the Aquinas campus for more than 50 years.
He further reflected that Mass celebrations in the newly completed Chapel, as an older student at the college, were special memories for him.
The heritage-listed building is located on the property in Salter Point, Perth, and officially opened on 12 August 1966, having celebrated its 50th anniversary three years ago.
Aquinas College Headmaster, David McFadden, said the Chapel of St Thomas Aquinas renovation project increased the chapel’s capacity to 660 people from the former 350.
“The extension of the chapel enables whole-school Masses to be celebrated across the College, as well as key events such as the Year 12 Graduation Mass,” Mr McFadden said.
“The Chapel is once again metaphorically and physically at the centre of College life.”
The Chapel of St Thomas Aquinas renovation project began in August 2018, which included moving the northern wall of the chapel and internal works.
During the Chapel’s completion, weekly Mass was celebrated in the College’s Learning Centre, while whole-college Mass was held at the Br Paull Centre.