Sunday, June 29, 2008

OMPH Feastday 08 (5)..the celebration.

The weather on Saturday evening was perfect. There was a cool breeze and everything went smoothly. Fr Joe's request to alot of the volunteers to pray for good weather was apparently answered.


All the volunteers and parishoners were on time as usual.

Candles for the procession were on sale by the hospitality ministers...


the choir was warming up....

overall the pace was well planned and relaxed.....


..almost time ...

..everyone was ready...

..lets move out..

..the float bearers were from the Rangers Camp...


..the crowd at 7pm...

..estimated at 3000.. ( click on the photos to enlarge)


..the altar .....

The priests, readers, ministers, altar servers.....

.. the eucharistic celebration....

..the view from the back looking towards the altar....

..communion stations....

..communion...

..the crowning of the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.



..the Consecration of Families ( totalling 8,449)

..the procession around the church begins..

parishoners taking part in the procession....



..altar servers .. "a cross we carry high "

just before benediction....


parishoners saying a prayer before the shrine before going home....

it was a long evening and there were alot of thirsty parishoners...

the altar servers posing for their annual photo....

until next year...

cheers!

kk

Saturday, June 28, 2008

OMPH Feastday 08 (4)...the morning of the feastday

At church at 9am...the volunteers had already arranged the chairs for the evening mass...


..youth power..the future is here.....

..the view from the 1st floor..note the space in between the blue chairs is reserved for the choirs..the blue painted square in front of the blue chairs is reserved for the projector...

..wardens discussion during rehersal...

..servers rehersing...

...altar servers polishing the altar ornaments....
..inside the church a healing service was going on...for the sick and elderly..Mark 10..'The Blind Man' of Jericho called out to Jesus..Son of David ..have mercy on me..Jesus said to call the man over and asked him what he wanted.."I wish to see" he replied.."Go!..because of your faith you are healed"..and instantly Bartimaeus could see....

..the healing service used to be held in the evenings together with the feast day celebration..due to the long service and also the time of day alot of the elderly found it difficult to attend.. 2 years ago the service was brought forward to the morning and the response has improved greatly since.

..at St Gerard's cafe..volunteers preparing the fellowship breakfast for after the healing service

..the fellowship meal.....

the float of Mother Mary ..ready for the eveing....

..siboriums..polished for the evening mass....



all is ready for the evening service.....

keeping the flowers fresh for the evening......


kk.