Bishop Adams helps Sister Annette cut the birthday cake. Photo / Dave Murdoch
It was a weekend of celebration for parishioners and visitors as St Joseph’s parish in Dannevirke celebrated its 125th Jubilee.
More than 100 people came along for the celebration, the culmination of several months of build-up, which included a quiz and a concert.
Two masses were held over a Saturday and Sunday earlier this month, both attended by the new Bishop of Palmerston North Rev John Adams.
He says it was his first official function and he was still learning the ropes.
The congregation was nevertheless very impressed by his wisdom and humour as he led and closed proceedings assisted by Bishop Peter Cullinane and Monsignor Bryan Walshe which made for an interesting morning of worship.
After Saturday Mass, there were group photos in the Church and a luncheon in St Joseph’s Hall followed, starting with the cutting of the 125th Birthday cake.
Children from the school put on a very well-rehearsed kapa haka performance.
Some of the parishioners then adjourned to the Mangatera Cemetery where prominent past members of the church were honoured.
Sunday Mass included Patrick Power singing Panis Angelicus after which the congregation retired to have a morning tea featuring the cutting of a second birthday cake.
The weekend’s events matched the sunny and warm weather, friendships were renewed, new ones made and visitors caught up on the changes to the landscape devoid of the palms and the presbytery and heard about the church’s plans for the future, when it will celebrate its 150th.
Dave Murdoch is a part-time photo-journalist working for the Bush Telegraph and based at Dannevirke. He has covered any community story telling good news about the district for the past 10 years.
The Astill's 22-seater bus to Hastings already has 19 students booked for the ride.