We celebrated Pentecost this weekend. Since Pentecost was when the apostles received the Holy Spirit, it’s the Church’s “birthday.” It’s also our parish’s anniversary: Queen of the Most Holy Rosary parish turns 76 this week! Even though it was the Ottawa Race Weekend, parishioners braved the road closures and detours to attend Saturday and Sunday Masses.
After the Sunday Mass we ate delicious sandwiches, cake, and other treats prepared by parishioners and the always-helpful Coffee Sunday crew.
And the church wasn’t the only one with a birthday: it was also Blacky’s big day! So of course, we sang to him. Laurie, on behalf of the Pastoral Council, welcomed everyone to the Coffee Sunday. She reminded us that whether you are new to Holy Rosary or a longtime parishioner, everyone is welcome here!
On the occasion of our parish’s birthday, the Parish Pastoral Council has written to Archbishop Marcel Damphousse about Pastoral leadership at our Church.
Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful.
In case you missed it…
In this week’s bulletin Susan took us back to the founding of Holy Rosary parish in 1947:
It was not a coincidence –the Marian Congress, the parish establishment and the Celebration of the Pentecost all happened this week in our history. Happy Birthday to Our Parish!
Our 76th Anniversary, May 25th, as the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary parish. And now a little history…With our first parish priest, Rev Phillip C. Harris (1947-52, several hundred families from St. Mary’s were asked to form the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary parish in 1947. Previously, the parish buildings had housed an orphanage, and were used by the military from 1939-1945, for reportedly “secret” work. The Rectory House housed the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corp barracks. Canada was starting to boom as World War Two servicemen and servicewomen were returning home from the far corners of the world to marry and start families. After many years of war, sacrifice and heartbreak, people, especially new immigrants, and refugees, were looking to the future, hopefully a peaceful one. Yet, tensions were rising with the Soviet Union and the western countries.
The 1947 population was 12.6 million compared to the expected 39.5 million by Jan 2023. Although there was still some food rationing, high inflation was here. A loaf of bread was about .13 cents (roughly $1.52 in today’s dollars). The coins in our pockets called pennies! January 1, the Canadian Citizenship Act 1946 came into effect which meant we were officially Canadians and not just British subjects. The Toronto Maple Leafs won their sixth Stanley Cup by defeating the Montreal Canadians4 games to 2. Times were “a-moving.”
Celebration of the past, present and future is an integral part of our history. We have an exciting future with our proposed partnership with Mathew House, a charity that welcomes and supports refugees. Keep this project in your prayers!