Welcome all – and thank you for being
here on this magnificent night.
The story began in 1904 – just around
when Msgr. Thompson began his service as a priest. It continued in 1960 when a
Hall was built for Mass and in 1965 when a new school was opened. In 1988 a new church was opened and then, in
1992 – probably around the time Father James was born, there was another birth as
the Parish of St. Denis gave birth to the Parish of St. Columba. St Columba in
turn would give birth to St. Kateri Mission in 1998, becoming a full Parish in
2002.
So today, as we celebrate the 25
years of St. Columba Parish and the 113 years that the good News has been
proclaimed by this faith community, it is truly a time to give thanks for the
wonders that God has accomplished!
Let us pray!
Eternal and loving God, today we give
thanks to You for Your goodness through all the years of prayer, witness and
service in this Parish of St. Columba. We give You thanks for Your grace in
calling us to be Your people, for Your love revealed to us in Christ Your Son,
for Your gift of the Spirit and the joy of salvation.
For the Church universal, of which
our parish is a visible symbol, together, we say - We thank you, Lord.
For your presence whenever two or
three have gathered in your name, We thank you, Lord.
For our parish church where we may be
still and know that you are God, We thank you, Lord.
For our school and religious
education program where so many children have been taught our Faith, We thank
you, Lord.
For the fulfilling of our desires and
petitions as you see best for us, We thank you, Lord.
For our past and a vision of the
future that lies ahead, We thank you, Lord.
For the gift of the Holy Spirit and
new life in baptism, We thank you, Lord.
For the pardon of our sins when we
have fallen short of your glory, We thank you, Lord.
For the Holy Eucharist in which we
have a foretaste of your eternal kingdom, We thank you, Lord.
For the blessing of our Marriage Vows
and the crowning of our years with your goodness, We thank you, Lord.
For the gift of so many priests,
deacons and religious sisters who have served us, We thank you O Lord
For the faith of those who have gone
before us and for our encouragement by their perseverance, We thank you, Lord.
For all the benefactors of our parish
who have died in the peace of Christ and are at rest, We thank you, Lord.
For the fellowship of all your
saints, and especially St. Columba, our patron, We thank you, Lord.
O God, from living and chosen stones
you prepare an everlasting dwelling place for your majesty. Grant that in the
power of the Holy Spirit those who serve you at the parish of St. Columba may
always be kept within your presence. This we pray through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
forever and ever. Amen.
Bless us, O Lord . . .
