10 LUMEN | FEATURE
THE CHAPEL FROM 2017
Ms Koh Bee Liang was commissioned to renovate the chapel so as to allow creative space to meet different religious needs . To achieve our objective , the raised sanctuary with the altar were demolished . Ambo and lectern were removed . The tabernacle was repositioned to the side . The pews were taken out and replaced with chairs . The walls that separated the two vestries were demolished .
THE ALTAR Weighing about 200kg , the table is made of salvaged original KTM railway sleepers . The distressed sleepers were first shaven of surface rot . Large holes , which once held bolts to secure the sleepers in the ground , were filled with
similar wood and wood putty before they were
sanded and stained darker to even out the tones . The sleepers were put together by hand and tools by Mr Peter Boo and Mr Clement Arokiasamy in Penang whose hobby is to collect discarded used wood that can be turned into furniture . It is also meaningful that wooden railway sleepers were used to construct the altar top as Singapore and Penang are closely connected with the Lasallian educational mission since 1852 . Six Brothers arrived in that year in Singapore and three of them were sent to Penang to start the educational mission .
The support of the altar has four panels . Each panel is mounted with an artistic mosaic piece that depicts 5 loaves and 2 fish . “ Jesus took the bread , gave thanks to God , and distributed it to the people who were sitting there . He did the same with the fish , and they all had as much as they wanted .” ( Jn 6:11 )
THE PLATFORM The altar stands on a platform that is mobile . This way , the position of the altar can be adjusted to have more sitting space . it is structurally built to accommodate up to a ton in weight and has 9 hidden wheels symbolizing 9 choirs of angels holding up the ‘ floating ’ mobile platform . 4 holes with stainless steel finish allow the repositioning of cross and candle sticks .
SAN DAMIANO CROSS Made of volcanic ash from Philippines , the altar crucifix is a gift from Bro Michael Broughton . Mr Peter Boo made a metal frame to hold the crucifix securely before mounting it on a hardwood pole .
THE TABERNACLE ( The tent of the Lord ’ s Presence - Exodus 33:7 ) In line with the ‘ flux of motion ’ theme , the tent can be viewed in 2 ways - being set down to welcome our Lord or being raised up to reveal Him . A disc of light gives the sign of the presence of God . The ‘ tent ’ is a powder-coated 5mm aluminum plate laser-cut with lines to give the hard material the draping look of a heavy fabric . Mounted on a soft blue-grey partition board and independent of the drum , it reminds the viewer of the shroud , which wrapped Jesus at death and the swaddling cloth , which wrapped Jesus at birth as depicted in the Nativity .
SHRINE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
The shrine of our Blessed Mother reflects her role as mother and her presence in different Gospel events .
The 12 small hidden wall lights symbolize the disciples gathering in the Upper Room on Pentecost Day with her . The vine with grapes recalls the wedding of Cana when Mary request Jesus to perform his first miracle ( John 2:1-10 )
STATIONS OF THE CROSS The stations are now carving from pine wood depicting the Via Dolorosa . These wooden panels came from St . Xavier ’ s Institution , Penang . The pine sculptures yellowed with age was stripped , treated and darkened to brown to add warmth to the predominantly blue and white chapel .
DONORS ’ PLAQUES The names of donors are transferred from the marble structures outside the chapel to the glass panels in the chapel . The names are sandblasted on tempered glass arranged to form a subtle cross to reflect a Christ-centered community .