Catholic Healthcare celebrated the grand opening of St Hedwig Retirement Village on Saturday, 25 May 2024.
“The blessing and opening event was truly delightful. It was a pleasure to see over 200 people come together to experience the wonderful facilities of St Hedwig Retirement Village, which provide our residents with a fantastic quality of life,” said Josh McFarlane, CEO of Catholic Healthcare.
“We are immensely proud of the redevelopment of St Hedwig Retirement Village, which perfectly embodies connected Catholic communities through its strong bond with nearby St Hedwig residential aged care,” said Mr McFarlane.
The Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, blessed and opened the village.
“I congratulate Catholic Healthcare, which has worked in close partnership with the two German-speaking communities, St Raphael and St Christophorus, in bringing about such a marvellous expanded facility for the residents, present and future,” said Bishop Long.
Mr Stephen Bali, MP, the State Member for Blacktown, was in attendance and, in his opening address, spoke of the importance of St Hedwig for the community.
St Michael’s Primary School choir gave a rousing rendition of Bruno Mars’s ‘You Can Count Me’ to entertain the crowd and provide all with a sausage sizzle.
There was German cultural dancing in a nod to St Hedwig’s German-speaking Catholic founders.
St. Hedwig residents held a cake stall, selling their home-baked, which raised $1000 for the village.
Village manager Jenny Roberts said, “I’m really enjoying helping the residents settle into their new homes. The apartments are designed with a focus on comfort and security, where our residents can live independently but with peace of mind knowing that our home and community team and the on-site aged care home will support them should their needs change in the future.”
The redevelopment has refreshed the existing site, which has a residential aged care home on-site. Stage one of the redevelopment consists of 72 contemporary apartments and wonderful lifestyle amenities and gardens.
With thanks to Catholic Healthcare.