restored Lourdes Chapel

On Wednesday 4 May 2011 at 7 pm, the renovated Lourdes Chapel in the Kerkhofstraat in Steendorp will be inaugurated. The consecration is preceded by a Eucharistic celebration at the chapel and preceded by Monsignor Luc Van Looy, bishop of Ghent, and by Dean Julien Schreyen van Temse.

KWB Steendorp took the decision in May 2010 to give the Lourdes Chapel a thorough renovation and to appeal to many volunteers for this. As is usually the case, all kinds of defects came to light, so that the façade and roof had to be completely demolished and rebuilt.

This renovation can be called particularly successful thanks to the efforts of many. The parishioners of Steendorp should be especially thanked here for their financial donations. The parochial government also made a mild donation.

The municipality of Temse provided logistical support as the chapel is located in the Gelaagpark-Roomkouter site.

The construction of the chapel dates from 1936 and was also built by volunteers. They received financial support from the parish and material support from the brick kilns of the time. A remnant of this is the fence that was manufactured in the forge of the brickyards and which was now sandblasted to be placed back in the chapel. A first renovation dates from 1986 and was also realized by KWB Steendorp. Rainwater caused a lot of damage and a renovation had to be done to save the chapel. A mild donor delivered the stones and pans. Another mild donor paid for the pavement in front of and behind the chapel. The paint and the bench that will be placed behind the chapel are also sponsored.

Dozens of volunteers, both self-employed and KWB'ers, have contributed to the renovation of the chapel, for which many thanks. +/- 1100 hours were spent on the construction, finishing and restoration of the O.L.V. statues and the statue of Bernadette. The restoration of the statues was done by the neighbor next to the chapel.

A special thanks goes to the nearest neighbors and the neighbor, who provided a cup of coffee during the construction works and to all the people who came to 'place' a word.

Info:

Rene Wittock

Gregor Legein