Five years after a fire almost completely destroyed the chapel of the Sisters of Charity in Heule (West Flanders), the building has been completely renovated. 'A great deal of thought went into the renovation and the future of the chapel. We are very pleased with the result,' the sisters say. A diptych featuring a striking Adam and Eve catches the eye of the attentive visitor.
Religion & Philosophy
Gay Adam and Eve adorn renovated Sisters of Charity chapel (VIDEO)
Colin Clapson
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The chapel is used not only by the sisters, but also by the pupils of the adjacent school. 'That is one of the reasons why we gave careful thought to the renovation and the future of the chapel,' the sisters say.
'Eucharistic celebrations are no longer held here,' explains Sister Bernadette. 'There are 14 Sisters of Charity still living here, and since the fire we have been holding celebrations in our small house chapel.'
Lesbian Adam and Eve
In this space for reflection, a diptych hanging directly opposite one another catches the eye. Depending on the angle from which you view the work, you see a different image.
‘These are two works that embody our guiding principle: Deus caritas est, or God is love. In essence, it is a reimagination of the original story of Adam and Eve. For centuries, that story was about a white couple.’
‘Now, when you walk past the diptych, the viewer sees a different Adam and Eve each time: a gay couple, a lesbian couple, a younger or older couple, or a couple with a different skin colour. Our society is evolving and is very diverse. We, as a congregation, are happy to embrace that,’ the sister continues.
The chapel was gutted by fire in April 2021 (VIDEO).
