Notre Dame Sydney ready to open

In three weeks the Sydney Campus of the University of Notre Dame Australia will open its doors to its 400 foundation year students. (Classes commence Monday, 27 February 2006). Co-located with the historic St Benedict’s Parish at Broadway, the University has transformed a rundown inner-city site to its rightful position, historically, culturally and as a significant Sydney city landmark. The University’s Sydney Campus spokesman, Damian Gleeson, says the former parish and school buildings and presbytery have been sensitively and beautifully restored to form an impressive Campus. ‘A core part of the redevelopment is a major facelift to St Benedict’s Church. The first church on the site, built in 1838, serviced the then predominantly Irish colonial community. The historic church – once one of Sydney’s largest parishes – will be reopened in a few weeks to serve peoples from a wide range of nationalities and inner-city students in what is now a university precinct. ‘St Benedict’s is also noteworthy for being the parish church of the late Cardinal Gilroy and several generations of his family. ‘The University very much appreciates the support of the Parish Priest, Fr John Neill op and his parishioners during the restoration period and will work closely together to make this historic site a thriving centre for the church’s mission. ‘The spirit of excellent co-operation at what is the state’s first University Parish, bodes well for Notre Dame’s second proposed Campus at Darlinghurst,’ Mr Gleeson said. At the end of January 2006 the Broadway Campus held the first of several enrolment sessions for foundation students. Students enrolled for courses in Arts Business, Education, Law and Nursing – moreover they experienced first hand Notre Dame’s culture of friendship and personal attention. Students and staff alike are looking forward to an important year of fellowship and scholarship. Reflecting the flexible nature of courses, many students have elected for double degrees, such as Arts/Business, Arts/Education and Business/Law. There has been strong demand for communication studies, as both an elective unit and through the integrated Marketing and Public Relations Degree, the only one of its kind in NSW