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PARISH PASTORAL CENTRE - THE VISION COMPLETED
Just ten short months after the site was cleared and the pile drivers began sinking the foundations, some 500 plus Parishioners gathered in glorious weather (except for a short sharp shower) to witness the opening and blessing of our new Parish Pastoral Centre. Fr.Sammon performed the opening ceremony and the building was blessed by our Bishop Thomas McMahon. A specially commissioned stained glass icon of Our Lady which is dedicated to the memory of Monsignor Creede provides a fitting focal point in the main front window of the building. In addition to the stained glass icon in memory of Monsignor, The Parish Hall in the Centre is named Hemming Hall, in Memory of Cannon James Hemming, who first proposed the building of a Parish Hall in the 1950's
One of the Main Meeting Rooms has been called the Booker Room, in memory of Canon Basil Booker, the first Parish Priest, who oversaw the construction of the Church. Due to technical problems the floor in the main hall could not be completed in time for the opening but the four upstairs meeting rooms and kitchen together with the downstairs conference room and fully equipped state of the art main kitchen were ready for use.
Parishioners were given guided tours and many expressed amazement at what had been achieved. There was praise for the interior layout and the exterior was considered by many to have blended beautifully with the existing Church and Presbytery. A short time after the opening ceremony the main hall floor was completed and the building was fully functional. Meetings of various parish groups were already in full swing and our First Communion, Confirmation, RCIA and other sacramental programmes were moving in. 0n 16th October we received the sad news of the death of Monsignor Creede and a special Memorial Mass was celebrated in the Church on the evening of 5th November. Following the Mass Parishioners were invited to refreshments in the Pastoral Centre hall. It was perhaps fitting that the first major use of the hall was to remember and celebrate the life of the Priest who had served us for thirty years. In achieving our vision there are many to be thanked: Father Pat for his great courage and determination in leading the project; those on various committees who worked tirelessly, especially in the final few weeks, to ensure everything was ready; and of course all our Parishioners who gave Father Pat their support, financially and prayerfully. The best possible way to thank Father Pat is to make the dream a reality: use it, care for it, support it and most of all, ensure that it helps us grow and develop as a vibrant Catholic Community.
PICTURES OF THE PARISH CENTRE BEING BUILT OPENING PICTURES OF PARISH CENTRE INSIDE THE PARISH CENTER (NEW)
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