Shrine Disappears!

Recently the shrine which had been erected in the former baptistry to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour at St Brigid's church Gwynneville, under the former Dean of the Cathedral, Fr. G Schmidtzer has mysteriously disappeared.

The shrine had consisted of a baroque style altar and a print of the Our Lady of perpetual help. Drapes were behind the framed print and a votive lamp hung before it. One of the more tasteful shrines of this kind in the diocese some parishoners have expressed surprise at it's dismatling.

The image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is now on the floor against the side wall but what has become of the altar? The former baptistry is now home to two plaster statues one of the Sacred Heart and the other of Our Lady, poorer representations than the ones now prominently placed in the main body of the church (they could very well be the original statues).

In any event there placement in the chapel is a pointless duplication and certainly raises some questions - :

1. Has the new Dean arbitrarly removed the shrine?
2. Or after wide consultation found that so great was devotion to the images now replicated in the chapel that it was necessary to have two lots?
3. Has Fr. Schmitzer decided to retrieve the baroque altar for some other use?

If anyone know's the back ground to the shrine's dismanteling, Wollongonensis would be very happy to hear from you.

Gwynnville Patronal Feast

The Patronal Feast of St Brigid was observed last Sunday at Gwynnville (in the Wollongong Diocese) with a Missa Cantata at 3pm.

A Choir made up of local and imported (from Sydney) members under the direction of Stephen Smith rendered beautifully the proper and ordinary chants of the Mass (Missa XI - Orbis Factor). Additionally two motets were sung; Alma Redemptoris Mater of Palestrina at the Offertory and Ave Verum of Byrd at communion. The concluding hymn was "For all the saints" by R. Vaughan Williams - all the verses were sung at the instance of the celebrant Fr J. Stork!

The fledgling choir is scheduled to sing again on the first sunday of March and on every first Sunday thereafter.

The choir master is looking for new members - so if you are interested please contact;

Stephen Smith on Mobile No. 0423099131
or email: primicerius@gmail.com

Patronal Feast of Gwynneville - Missa Cantata - Sunday 1st of February 3.00pm, according to the "More Ancient Use"

Bridget (Brigid, Bride, Bridey) of Kildare was born around 450 into a Druid family, being the daughter of Dubhthach, court poet to King Loeghaire. At an early age, she decided to become a Christian, and she eventually took vows as a nun. Together with a group of other women, she established a nunnery at Kildare.

She was later joined by a community of monks led by Conlaed. Kildare had formerly been a pagan shrine where a sacred fire was kept perpetually burning.Rather than stamping out this pagan flame, Bridget and her nuns kept it burning as a Christian symbol. (This was in keeping with the general process whereby Druidism in Ireland gave way to Christianity with very little opposition, the Druids for the most part saying that their own beliefs were a partial and tentative insight into the nature of God, and that they recognized in Christianity what they had been looking for.)

As an abbess, Bridget participated in several Irish councils, and her influence on the policies of the Church in Ireland was considerable.Many stories of her younger days deal with her generosity.

TWO VERSIONS OF ST BRIGID'S PRAYER

"I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.

I would like an abundance of peace.

I would like full vessels of charity.

I would like rich treasures of mercy.

I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.

I would like Jesus to be present.

I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.

I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts."

&

I wish I had a great lake of ale for the King of kings, and the family of heaven to drink it through time eternal.

I wish I had the meats of belief and genuine piety, the flails of penance, and the men of heaven in my house.

I would like keeves of peace to be at their disposal, vessels of charity for distribution, caves of mercy for their company, and cheerfulness to be in their drinking.

I would want Jesus also to be in their midst, together with the three Marys of illustrious renown, and the pople of heaven from all parts.

I would like to be a tenant to the Lord, so if I should suffer distress, He would confer on me a blessing. Amen