Dedication of New Parish Center
September 10, 2006
After a year of work, the new parish facility is ready to be dedicated. Archbishop Henry Mansell arrived to bless the work of so many hands. Following is a short photo journal of the events of that day.
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September 11, 2005. Groundbreaking for the expanded parish center.
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The official program of the day.
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Fr. Joe and Archbishop Mansell have a few words just before the Mass started. No doubt there were words of congratulations and encouragement in this conversation
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Archbishop Mansell is famous for his memory. Here he greats some of the altar servers that will be assisting him at the Mass. He has an unusual ability to remember names, and mentioned everyone involved in the celebration during his introductory remarks.
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The music starts, the choir begins the entrance hymn, and the congregation rises to greet their bishop.
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During the Mass, the archbishop walked throughout the church to bless every part with holy water, always a reminder of our baptismal vows.
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In fine voice, as always, the choir contributed greatly to the solemnity and joy of the occasion.
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Mass continued as always, with the bishop as the principal celebrant. Assisting were Fr. Joe, our pastor, and Fr. William Thuer, part time assistant. Deacon Vinnie, our most senior deacon, assisted.
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After Mass, the congregation went into the hall for additional services. The choir assembled in the atrium, and added their beautiful singing to the events around them.
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In the atrium, archbishop Mansell spoke about the work and thought that went into the new facility, and how it would be a reminder always of the dedication of the parish to it's misssion to spread the love of Jesus everywhere.
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Archbishop Mansell blessing the hall, and surrounding rooms.
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The archbishop walked to every corner of the facility, met with the staff, and blessed the rooms, and all those who would be working there. Here Mary, our Business Manager, received the archbishop in her new office. Mary was doubly blessed, since her parents had just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
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After blessing the expanded facility, bishop Mansell spent considerable time in the hall, meeting with his Southbury friends.
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Including Jeanne, a long time parishioner. When they invented the words "Hard Working", they were thinking about Jeanne.
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Also meeting the bishop, Joe is an equally hard working and faithful member of Sacred Heart. If you like a lot of the technology that we use, thank Joe.
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Our new Youth Minister, Matt, had an opportunity to meet with many of the young people of the parish.
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| To listen to the entire 11AM Church Rededication mass with Archbishop Henry Mansell, click here (warning: MP3 file is 20MB in size).
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