The Roman Catholic parish church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, with which All Saints has many links, marks its 50th anniversary this year. This article from the Archdiocesan newspaper, Flourish, reports on a celebratory Eucharist.
OUR Lady of Perpetual Succour parish in Broomhill was founded in 1962 and the church building opened three years later in August 1965.
Archbishop Philip Tartaglia
To mark the 50th anniversary of that opening, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia joined the parish community as it gathered for the Eucharist on Sunday 30 August. He was welcomed by Fr George Gillespie, parish priest for 20 years, and joined by Fr Benny Connell, long-serving hospital chaplain based at the Mitre Road presbytery.
Archbishop Tartaglia recalled all the graces and blessings bestowed on the life of the parish through all the celebrations that have taken place in the church over the past half century. He spoke of baptisms, weddings, funerals, the first Communions, Confirmations and Confessions, as well as ordination which have been part of the daily and festive life of the parish.
While the opening Mass on 29 August 1965 was ticketed to maintain the 450 capacity, the golden jubilee had no such restriction. Archbishop Tartaglia encouraged young families especially to keep strong in their faith, despite the distractions, and to help grow the church again in the Broomhill area.
He thanked all the parishioners who down the years have sustained the life of the parish and maintained the church as a place of prayer and gathering.
Set just off busy Balshagray Avenue, the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour catches the eye with its vivid decorative mosaic of Our Lady and the infant Christ set in an A-frame canopy above the porch. Inside, the church also houses stunning stained glass by the French master Gabriel Loire.
On his visit, Archbishop Tartaglia paid tribute to the priests who have served Our Lady of Perpetual Succour from the first parish priest, Fr Patrick Smith, to Fr Gillespie who continues to serve beyond possible retirement.
