The mass of St. James
church was celebrated by Joseph Alameda, the bishop, on its 185th
anniversary wherein the bishop highlighted the power of love and said that it
is the most powerful force in the world. He pointed out that a number of songs,
poems, stories and novels have been written on love. He emphasized the fact
that Mother Theresa is known throughout the world because of her love to Jesus
Christ and the love that she shared with the poor and homeless.
St James Church was built
in 1825. And certainly the church has gone through lots of trouble in the years
and yet it stood firmly, may it be in the hashed sun or in the gustiest winds
or even in the flooding rains. It lies near the jail reservoir and the Thane
Head Post Office in Thane.
The church has significance
in its rich Gothic architecture and tall pillars. The church which was managed
by the Government until the dawn of Independence is now under the
administration of the Bombay Diocesan Trust Association. The naming of St.
James Church was made in the memory of James a disciple of Jesus Christ.
St. James church celebrated
its 185th anniversary on the 25th July, 2011, with lunch.
The ceremony of communion coincided with the anniversary of the church. The
annual parish feast of St. James Church was celebrated with great devotion, joy
and merriment by the parishioners at 9.30 am. Prior to the morning mass priest
John Fernandez distributed candles to honour the founders, donors, members of
the parish, pastoral council and to the Bishop.
The church was filled to
the capacity with the parishioners and the neighbouring parishioners that they
had to set up a pandal in the church compound. The choir’s melodious singing
enhanced the spiritual atmosphere of the mass. The choir was coordinated by
Mrs. Julie Philips and the organ was played by Alan Abraham.
The white marble alter in
front of the church’s entrance was surrounded with ruby red roses along with
the glittering candles around it. The chandeliers on the wooden ceiling right
in the centre couldn’t stop sparkling upon us even in the early morning bright
sun. The main entrance of the church has 6 pillars measuring 15 feet were all
covered with ribbons and balloons. The church was newly painted in red and
yellow colour making it look like all new over and again.
People were dressed in
their best Sunday clothes. Right from the young girl wearing a pink frock with
a ribbon on her head to her grandfather in his black and white tux.
At the end of the mass, Father John thanked the bishop and
the priest guests for being a part of the celebration of the annual parish
feast. He also expressed gratitude to all those who helped in making the
celebration a grand success. A four tier scrumptious chocolate cake was brought
in and was later cut by the bishop and was distributed to the parishioners
along with a glass of wine.
The feast was organized in a newly levelled ground.
According to the parishioners it was for the first time that such an
arrangement was being made as on previous occasions the feast used to be at
some other place due to lack of space inside the church premises. The buffet
consisted of Indian and Chinese cuisine. There was a fair selling religious
article which was filled with people who made purchases and the amount
collected would go to the needy.
Thus, St. James church had its 185th birthday.
No comments:
Post a Comment