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On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the building of Holy Rosary Church the parish celebrated Masses of Thanksgiving on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on the October 4-5, 2014 weekend.

With permission of The Most Rev. Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., D.D. Bishop of Hamilton, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary was transferred to the weekend Masses making it possible for the parish to give thanks to Our Lord and Our Lady for all the many graces and blessings. 

In honour of the anniversary, The Most Rev. Daniel Miehm, D.D. Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton presided at the Saturday 5 p.m. Mass with families and friends of the parish in full attendance. In tribute to Our Lady, Bishop Daniel, blessed the newly designed Rosary that was unveiled for the first time.

The Rosary was built by Mr. Steve Kitras (Kitras Glass) in Fergus and made possible by Ex Corde Foundation.   The Rosary is made of glass in shades of colour that sparkle in the light.  It is displayed for veneration at the interior foyer of the church.

Bishop Daniel graciously thanked the parish for its long service and devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary reminding all present that Mary was a woman of prayer and action.

The celebration formally began at Friday morning Mass prior to the weekend.  At each Mass the Rosary was recited and led by students, youth, and family members.  The tradition will be to recite the new parish Rosary annually on the weekend prior to the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.  Parishioners and friends dedicated a bead in honour of a loved one and their names were offered aloud.    Precisely 308 souls were offered.   Their names are inscribed on the South wall of the foyer where all the mysteries of the Rosary are also displayed.

rosary-blessing

On Friday evening, a musical concert was given in tribute to a full church.  It was directed by Mr. Stephen Roloson (Choirmaster) and Mr. Bartosz Hadala (Lead Accompanist) with Guelph Symphony Instrumentalists and choir members of Holy Rosary and parishes and churches in Guelph.   A moving Te Deum was sung.

priests-holyrosaryThe celebration also marked the 100th anniversary of the Jesuits in Guelph at Ignatius College and Loyola House, the 200th Anniversary of the restoration of the Society of Jesus, the bringing to completion the final renovations to the church,  and the payment of all the $1.6 million cost.

With gratitude Fr. Bernie Carroll, SJ, former pastor, was given tribute and thanked for initiating the renovations, and all who generously helped bring the project to reality.

Fr. Boyd, SJ, pastor, gave final tribute to Fr. Martin Royackers, SJ, a Jesuit priest, from Parkhill, Ontario, who was tragically killed in Jamaica while serving his people.   Fr. Boyd declared the Holy Rosary Food Pantry in his honour that now bears his name.  The weekend celebrations were a blessed moment in the history of a parish. 

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