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Growing out of a renewed commitment to the spiritual needs of all patients — regardless of ethnicity and religious background — the hospital sought to transform its predominantly Christian chapel into a space that could be embraced as “sacred” by all.
With the participation of medical, administrative and pastoral care staff and the Interfaith Council of Greater Dandenong, concepts for a universally sacred space were developed. In such a space, participants said they hoped that one could “hear the silence” and “find refuge” amidst the frequent stress of hospital circumstances.
Transformation began with the wall that separates the sacred space from a busy hospital corridor. By skewing it a few degrees off the orthogonal “norm”, it announces a space unlike any other in the hospital. The same wall is given the task of “communicating”, not only with those who choose to visit the sacred space, but also with those who just pass by. It “speaks” through the only images of the place … four evocative, but life-celebrating, abstract paintings by Patrick Negri, sss. Two (“Absence” and “Emptiness”), offer a comforting countenance to those in the corridor. Two others (“Presence” and “Fullness”), put their arms around those who move inside. They interact with the only symbols in the space … the universal symbols of water, light and life.
Visitors are welcomed by the “books of wisdom” of the world’s seven major faiths. A smaller, private space is offered for counselling and family gatherings. A larger space offers the flexibility to accommodate the needs of all faiths and those of no faith at all … from Muslim prayer to Catholic Mass and from group meditation to a simple pause for individual reflection.
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