Half A Century and Still Shining!
By Pollyanna Foreshaw
Golden Celebrations are always just that! Golden in memories and in the rituals accompanying those memories. It was a full congregation that welcomed a con-celebrated Mass led by the Vicar General of Broken Bay, the Very Reverend David Ranson, when Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Wyoming celebrated its Golden Jubilee. The Gospel carried aloft and the retinue of priests, including past parish priests entered to the beat of djembes; a solemn but smiling group of children led the offertory in a measured liturgical dance; the choir sang and the Responsorial Psalm rang sweet and true “I shall live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life” and the Eucharist united us in “the Source and Summit of the whole Christian life” (Lumen Gentium III).
It’s rather unusual to have two parish churches in close proximity with the same name but it is the history of this Wyoming Parish. The original site of Our Lady of the Rosary church completed in 1892, was in Donnison St, Gosford. The current church, replete with pews, statues and Stations of the Cross from the original church and still part of Gosford Parish, was blessed by Bishop James Carroll on the 27 November 1966. Father Phillip Murphy became the first Parish Priest in 1973. It was wonderful to see Fr Jack Robson, a past parish priest recognised by the elderly parishioner beside me, con-celebrating.
Parish priest, Fr Peter de Souza made sure that the shared meal after the Eucharistic feast continued to involve the wide Parish family: the food prepared and served, the chairs set out, the trio of fruit cakes baked and decorated - all by parishioners. Fr Bill Stephens led Grace, Michelle Perry, Deputy Principal of the school, proposed the Toast and Dr Ranson and Fr Bill and local Federal and State member of Parliament: Emma McBride and David Mehan, and special guest Thea Dowsett (former Parish Secretary for 35 years), supervised the cutting of the cakes. In the midst of dining the Marilag Dance Troupe performed colourful cultural Philippine dances celebrating nature’s bountiful gifts. What better way to finish the evening than with the blessing preserved in the Bulletin: Praise be to God for this church and the way God has used it to bless each one of us and so many over these 50 years. May God continue to lead and guide this congregation through you. Many blessings to you all!