Page 18 - Bulletin 13 2009

15

Star of the Sea Convent

In 1906 Father Duignam drew up plans with the Right Reverend Bishop Rooney, the
Co-adjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Western Cape, for constructing a convent behind the

Catholic Church in St. James. The concept was for a convalescent convent with medical

facilities for sick nuns, similar to the ‘health farms’ of today.

It appears, from available records and notes of various discussions while constructing
the convent, that Fr. Duignam was both architect and builder. He was already a man of

60 years but had boundless energy. The plumber on the site, Mr J. D. Robertson, had
this to say in an article Looking Back.

Many a time when inspecting building operations, Father Duignam
and I would climb into the scaffolding. From these heights he would

observe the labourers at work, and woe betide any one of them who

was not working as diligently as the Reverend overseer wished.

The convent design incorporated facilities for as many nuns as possible, with each nun
having her one small room - known as a sleeping apartment, but referred to by some

nuns as ‘cells’. The larger rooms were used for invalid nuns who were in need of
medical attention. Bishop Rooney wanted the convent built to a much smaller design

but Fr. Duignam insisted on a larger design, especially regarding the balcony and it was

due to his foresight that we have today this magnificent building on the slopes of the St.
James mountains.

The convalescent concept was based on the firm belief that St. James, with its sea air,

was an ideal site for all those sick and weary. When Cecil Rhodes bought a cottage on
the Main Road Muizenberg in 1899, to recuperate from the heat and strain of travelling

from the interior, this belief was firmly established. That Britain had chosen

Muizenberg as a convalescent camp for the soldiers during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-
1902) also proved beyond doubt that this area was an ideal health resort. This reputation