It was with joy
that the community of the sisters at Strathfield participated in the
solemn re-opening of the newly refurbished parish church of St.
Dominic’s, Flemington, the parish of the Sister Disciples.
The Church had
been closed for two months for this work to take place and
even though many thought it impossible to finish so much in so short
a time, the Parish Priest Fr Anthony Robbie knew that it could be
done.
Parishioners and
visitors could be seen awestruck as they entered the Church for the
celebrations and comments could be heard of applause for a job well
done. The ceremony commenced at 6.00 pm , the usual time for the
Sunday Vigil Mass with the Cardinal George Pell, as main celebrant.
Priests from nearby parishes and further afield came to concelebrate
and support Fr Robbie on this occasion, as did a full Church, with
many people standing, in an overwhelming response from parishioners.
The presence of
the seminarians was greatly felt, not only in their assistance with
serving at the Mass but also in the singing, with the Seminary
Schola leading the Congregation in the singing of various parts of
the Mass and the Litany of the Saints in Latin.
There was an
opportunity to meet afterwards in the Parish Hall, which up until
that evening had been used as the Church during the renovations.
With much generosity from people, the hall was cleaned and prepared
for refreshments, which had all been provided by the parishioners
themselves.
It was clear
that Fr Robbie has a vibrant parish, working together in supporting
him as the parish priest and in their contribution in making it a
functioning parish. The Sister Disciples on this occasion donated
the altar cloths for two altars: the main altar and a side
Marian altar, each comprising three altar cloths.
When the altars
were anointed with oil by the Cardinal, it was given to the Sisters
to clean the oil from the altars and to vest the altars in
preparation for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. A wonderful privilege
indeed!
ENGLISH 
ITALIANO