The Vietnamese Catholic Community in Sydney Archdiocese commemorates Saint Mary MacKillop and attends the blessing of Stations of the Cross.
On the Sunday morning Oct. 17, the canonisation day of Saint Mary MacKillop, 6000 Vietnamese Catholics and representatives of other denominations from several states gathered at the Vietnamese Catholic Pastoral and Pilgrimage Centre in Bringelly, Sydney to honour the first saint of Australia and to attend the inauguration ceremony of Stations of the Cross and the statue of Our Lady for Boat People.
Bishop Julian Porteous, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, presided over the Blessing of statues before a fantastic procession was held to honour Saint MacKillop and Our Lady of La Vang. The march started from Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, and ended at the new podium where Bishop Julian and dozen Vietnamese priests concelebrated a Thanksgiving Mass.
The new podium, built on a lake, contributes significantly to the beauty of the landmark.
When the statues of Our Lady of La Vang and Saint MacKillop arrived at the podium, Bishop Julian; Fr. Toàn Nguyễn; Mrs Wendy Waller, Mayor of Liverpool; and Mr Giang Hoan, chairman of the Church Council, cutted the silk ribbons to inaugurate the new podium.
During the Thanksgiving Mass, the combined choir of St. Paul Le Bao Tinh including 200 members performed a wide variety of music in a gospel style. The Catholic Youth Association performed a dance for reflection of offering.
In his homily, Bishop Julian spent a great length of his sermon on moved stories relating to Saint Mary MacKillop and Our Lady of La Vang, and Vietnamese Boat People.
Before the final blessing, Bishop Julian read the Decree of Plenary Indulgence of 7 years for the Vietnamese Catholic Pilgrimage Centre from Vatican. Father Paul Van Chi Chu helped to translate read it into Vietnamese.
After Mass, the distinguished guests and the whole community enjoyed a joyful party.
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Bishop Julian Porteous, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, presided over the Blessing of statues before a fantastic procession was held to honour Saint MacKillop and Our Lady of La Vang. The march started from Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, and ended at the new podium where Bishop Julian and dozen Vietnamese priests concelebrated a Thanksgiving Mass.
The new podium, built on a lake, contributes significantly to the beauty of the landmark.
When the statues of Our Lady of La Vang and Saint MacKillop arrived at the podium, Bishop Julian; Fr. Toàn Nguyễn; Mrs Wendy Waller, Mayor of Liverpool; and Mr Giang Hoan, chairman of the Church Council, cutted the silk ribbons to inaugurate the new podium.
During the Thanksgiving Mass, the combined choir of St. Paul Le Bao Tinh including 200 members performed a wide variety of music in a gospel style. The Catholic Youth Association performed a dance for reflection of offering.
In his homily, Bishop Julian spent a great length of his sermon on moved stories relating to Saint Mary MacKillop and Our Lady of La Vang, and Vietnamese Boat People.
Before the final blessing, Bishop Julian read the Decree of Plenary Indulgence of 7 years for the Vietnamese Catholic Pilgrimage Centre from Vatican. Father Paul Van Chi Chu helped to translate read it into Vietnamese.
After Mass, the distinguished guests and the whole community enjoyed a joyful party.