Sunday morning mass at Mary Help of Christians Church in Altona came with a slight twist this week.
Along with the usual formalities, parish priest, Father Michael Kalka, blessed new specialist disability accommodation which has been built on the church grounds on the corner of Sargood and Railway streets.
“As a church we’re going to dedicate the two buildings for the care of the disabled and as a church we’re going to ask God’s blessing on everyone who will call those buildings home and also those will care for them,” Father Kalka said last week in the lead up to the October 5 blessing and opening service.
Guests, including those involved in the planning and building for the accommodation over the past five years, were invited to the service and offered a tour of the two, three-bedroom units afterwards.
Built by specialist disability accommodation provider, St John of God Marillac, on land where Father Kalka once lived, the units have an open-plan layout with spacious living area, a kitchen with an adjustable bench, dining space, private ensuite and study nook, while outside are landscaped gardens and barbeque facilities.
“We’ve provided the land and they’ve provided the funding,” Father Kalka said of the arrangement with St John of God Marillac, who will also operate the accommodation on the church’s behalf for the next 60 years.
“It’s a very practical way for the local church to be engaged with the local wider community,” he said.
“I believe that specialist disability accommodation is always needed and I also believe that it needs to be provided if possible, in a wide range of suburbs and settings.
“The bonus for our site is that within 600 metres they’ve got the train, the shops, the beach, all the local services of the Pier Street area.”
With capacity for six residents, plus a full-time carer, the accommodation will welcome its first occupants in the coming weeks, with St John of God Marillac responsible for deciding who they will be.
