Commencing on 7th Jan 2020, works will be underway to repair several areas around the church. Due to the extensive nature of the works and for the safety of our parishioners, a few areas around the church will be affected and cordoned off. In the process of these works, it is regrettable that certain arrangements like weddings and the use of the wake room may be affected. However, we will try our best to accommodate requests and to minimise disruptions. So, we seek the patience and understanding of parishioners as we work towards restoring God’s house here at St Mary’s.

Areas affected:

PEACE GARDEN
There will be NO ACCESS to the Peace Garden, the ramps to La Verna wake rooms will be closed alternatively. Extensive hacking and drilling works will be carried out to get to the base layer to rewaterproof the base, replace and realign the sky lights slabs, repair the cracks and drainage along the walkways in the Peace Garden. Unfortunately, the wear and tear are affecting the Columbarium as well. Access to the skylights and structures holding the skylights will be from the Columbarium and so parts of the Columbarium maybe cordoned off at times. We estimate this to last about 6 months. In the schedule of works, we may experience construction noise in February and March. This may affect wakes if La Verna is booked during this time. No hard works will take place in the weekends. Works will take place mainly on weekdays.

ST CLARE HALL
We will be replacing the air-conditioning units in St Clare Hall. This involves the replacement of the condenser units, the replacement of the ducting and copper pipes that are concealed in the false ceiling in the hall, lowering the old units and disposing them. We will have to cut open the false ceiling, remove the old ducting and old copper pipes and replace them. Unfortunately, the St Clare Hall will need to be closed. We estimate the time frame for this to be between 9th March and 27th March. All these works were prior approved and scheduled by Friar Clifford who served as the appointee by the Franciscans and the Parish. They are taking place because it is overdue and after 20 years we cannot allow the gift of the property to deteriorate further. It perhaps is timely as we celebrate our Jubilee and a reminder that these works “to repair my Church” is a physical reminder that we all need to repair the living body of Christ, we his church. Perhaps we could do this by our understanding, patience and forgiveness in the inconvenience we may experience!

Pax Et Bonum