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On this day O' Beautiful Mother .... a Crown and a new Jubilee stage |
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Clear weather throughout contributed ...... |
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to a wonderful evening |
It was such
a grand occasion celebrating 50 years of the Parish of Our Mother of Perpetual
Help.
The evening
of the 25th June 2022 was a wonderful, cool and clear evening
totally suitable for holding a 50th Anniversary celebration.
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The congregation had gathered early .... |
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...listened to the choir rehearse.. |
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while souvenirs were distributed |
As the
congregation gathered there was a deep appreciation for the fine weather. Almost
everyone whom I spoke to said their prayers for good evening had been answered.
From the
start till the end of the evening the weather didn’t disappoint. The two
thousand chairs placed outside was almost filled.
Before the
start time of 7pm Fr Patrick Massang sang three songs and warmed the congregation’s
hearts.
The rest of
the evening was most pleasant from the choir, homily, the procession, crowning
of Mother Mary to the social media message from Singapore and Australia till
the Benediction was lovely. The evening experience after a two year absence was
superb.
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the strains of the Shofar signaled the start of the Mass |
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Fr Gerard Louis gave the final theme of the Synodal Church: Mission |
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The congregation had grown ...... |
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..almost all of the 2000 chairs had been taken |
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...as the sun set for the evening |
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...the Eucharistic celebration |
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...an orderly communion |
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... a social media message from Singapore, Australia ..... |
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..and Dato Bishop Sebastian Francis |
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the Crowning of Mother Mary |
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the Icon is taken around the neighborhood ..... |
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...followed by the Priests and ministers ... |
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...and parishioners in a candlelight procession |
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..the Icon returns .... |
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then Benediction |
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The end of the night and everyone wants a memory ...
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Young and ... |
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friends and family |
The church
was officially blessed and opened on the 15th of April 1972 by then Archbishop
of Singapore Rt Rev Gregory Yong. It’s first Parish priest was Rev Fr James
Wallace who oversaw the early structure of the Parish eg the Parish Council and
the Fund Raising Group.
Since March
the parish has been given an upgrade. The outdoor stage used for the annual
procession was upgraded and now is known as the Jubilee stage, the new set
of roof tiles has replaced the old, extra drainage has been done to overcome
flooding and the car park has been resurfaced.
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On this 50th Anniversary of OMPH Church |
I noted too that
the shrine of Our Blessed Mother had been given a Crown. Bravo it is most suitable on this 50th anniversary of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church.
JAG