Dedication of new church in Melbourne pulls a crowd

Surrounding streets were packed as more than 600 parishioners of St Catherine of Siena, Caroline Springs, gathered recently for the dedication of their newly completed church, reports the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Inside the ceremony on Sunday September 22, there was standing room only, as parishioners waited with eager anticipation for the ceremony to begin. 

The enthusiastic church choir stood ready and waiting donning matching outfits, including sky blue stoles for the occasion.

As the hymn House of God rang out, Archbishop Denis Hart processed into the church with Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Long OFMConv, parish priest Fr John Tollan and 14 other concelebrating priests.

Archbishop Denis Hart began the Mass by expressing his delight at being present to dedicate the new church to the worship of God.

'Indeed, this is truly a holy place,' he said. 'The beautiful ceremonies of dedication indicate that this is really a place set apart, where the perfect sacrifice of the Mass, the perfect worship of the Sacraments, and the prayers of the faithful are united with the preaching of the Word of God to draw God’s holy people to him.'

Following his greeting, the Archbishop carried out the traditional Blessing of the Water. He then passed through the main body of the church sprinkling the people and the church walls with the holy water. He returned to the sanctuary to sprinkle the altar.