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Mass
for the sick
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Candles
signifying 50 years
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Guests
enjoy the buffet in the
marquee
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On Sunday, 12th
September 2004, the parishioners of the parish of Holy Cross, Gendros,
Swansea, under the guidance of our Parish Priest, Fr. Sebastian OSB, celebrated
the Golden Jubilee of the arrival of their Church at Gendros. The first
Church, Our Lady Queen of the Universe (now used as the parish hall), opened
on the Gendros site in 1954 and the present Church, Holy Cross, was opened
on the Eighth of December 1989.
The preceding
week had begun with a short service at St. Joseph’s Cathedral on Sunday
5th September led by Canon Michael Flook (now Cathedral Administrator but
who was parish priest at Gendros when the present church was built), and
was followed by Benediction at Holy Cross. Then each evening throughout
the week, Mass on various themes was celebrated by visiting priests: Canon
Pelosi, Fr. Clancy, Canon Michael Flook, Canon 0’Donnell, and Fr. Ross
Patterson. Saturday was a Mass for the sick and in the evening, a Solemn
Vigil Mass, concelebrated by Fr. Sebastian, Fr. Joseph and
Fr. James.
The Mass of the
Holy Cross on Sunday, attended by over 400 parishioners and special guests,
was concelebrated by several Priests led by Bishop Mark Jabalé and
his predecessor Bishop Daniel Mullins.
Our Parish at
Gendros is now served by a group of Benedictine Monks from Kerala, India
and all of the celebrants wore gold vestments, symbolically embroidered,
sent from Makiyad for the Special Celebration and made by a group of Religious
Sisters.
Two new hymns
were specially written for the Golden Jubilee, by Donna Hurley/Sr. Eugenie
and Fr. Sebastian, with music written by Teresa Hacche, the leader of the
choir at Holy Cross. As usual, the choir performed to their very high standard,
filling the church with their wonderful sound. Rhian-Haf Bevan played the
harp.
Despite the inclement
weather on the day, a special atmosphere ensued after Mass at a superb
buffet lunch, prepared by a group of parishioners and served to the 400
people present in an adjoining Marquee. Live background music was provided
by two excellent musicians, Steve and Ian Simmons and a rolling picture
show, prepared by Paul Phillips, played on a screen, tracing family celebrations
and Parish events over the last 50 years. It really was a wonderful, memorable
day, enjoyed by all present!
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