St Colman's Catholic Church

News of the day

Cloncurry Advocate, Friday 6 July 1951, page 1

Visit of Pilgrim Statue

The Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima was welcomed in Cloncurry on Tuesday, 3rd July from 7.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. A long line of cars and other motor vehicles formed a procession from the Air Port to St Colman's Catholic Church, where the Statue was officially welcorned and installed in an especially prepared shrine within the Sanctuary of the Church. This Shrine was beautifully decorated by the Sisters of St Joseph.

Upon the arrival of the TAA plane, the Statue was carried by Senior Members of the Children of Mary and placed upon an artistically prepared float. Warren Hegarty. (Francisco), Evelyn Palethorpe (Lucia), and Patricia Purtill (Jacinta), representing the three peasant children to whom Our Lady revealed herself at Fatima, knelt in prayful attitude around the Statue.

Meanwhile, the long line of motor vehicles was efficiently marshalled into processional order by two smartly uniformed Constables, O'Connor and Watson, and, escorted by the police car, the Float, driven by Mr. Jack Butt, and immediately followed by the Official Car, driven by Mr. C. Trenfield,.and the car conveying the Children of Mary in Regalia, driven by Mr. Joe Bakhash, led the dignified procession to the Church. The Float, which was decorated by the Sisters of St. Joseph and Mrs. J. Butt, and designed in the shape of an arch, overlaid with  blue and white satin and festooned with pink roses, with suitable shrubbery depicting the scene of the apparitious in the Cova da Ina, near Fatima, presented a beautiful spectacle as it drew up beside the Church.

From there, the Statue, surmounted by a richly bejewelled golden crown donated by a Rajah of India, was carried by the Children of Mary, through a Guard of Honour, formed by the Catholic men and the Convent School Children, into the Church and to the Shrine.

The Shrine was an artistic triumph, with a background of blue and white drapery and framed with satin ribbons of the same colour. These were donated by Mr. Joe Smith and flown from the South for the occasion. Chrysanthemums from Mount Isa and gorgeously coloured gladioli, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson, completed the decorations. When the Statue had been enthroned Father Demoutiez O.M.I., recited the Official Prayers of welcome. With Mrs Crooks at the organ, the Choir sang appropriate Hymns of Our Lady and, during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that followed the enthronement of the Statue, rendered beautiful and inspiring music.

At the conclusion of Holy Mass, The Reverend Father Demoutiez O M.I., gave a most enlightening address on the object of the Pilgrimage and stressed the urgent need of peace and harmony among all Nations.

Continuous Rosaries in honour of Our Lady, were offered by the Faithful until 12.30 p.m. when Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament was given by the Parish Priest.  

Throughout the morning, a marked revival of devotion and the spirit of prayer, was in evidence and it is felt that the visit of the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady has conferred abundant graces and blessing upon the Parish.

Following the Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the return Procession to the Air Port, observed the same order as that upon arrival, and a large crowd of grateful people farewelled the Statue and the distinguished party which had honoured us and had made Cloncurry the last official port of call in Queensland.

Background

St Colman of Stockerau -

Feastday: October 13
Patron of Austria; Melk; patron of hanged men, horned cattle, and horses; invoked against plague and for husbands by marriageable girls; invoked against hanging; invoked against gout
Death: 1012

Courtesy of Catholic Online

 

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