50 years celebrated in Newcastle parish

50 years celebrated in Newcastle parish

24 August 2016

THE 50th anniversary celebrations in the Parish of Newcastle/Bryansford have come to an end. 

The one-year programme marked the opening in 1966 of the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption on the Downs Road, Newcastle.

The events included a barbecue, a pilgrimage to the summit of Slieve Donard, a Corpus Christi Camino journey to ancient church sites around Newcastle and a gala evening. Other highlights were a modern Lenten mission presented by Fr Brendan McManus SJ, author of Redemption Road, a pilgrimage to western Turkey in the footsteps of St Paul (led by Fr Colin Crossey), a Christmas carol service, a youth pilgrimage to Rome and a thank-you lunch for parish volunteers. 

To celebrate 50 years of sacred music the existing organ was enhanced by Skrabl, a leading organ builder from Slovenia. A double CD album (REJOICE) of all the choirs, singers and musicians associated with the church was launched in June. A total of 250 were involved for one year in producing the 30 tracks. 

The special year ended with a Mass of Thanksgiving on August 15 to mark the Feast of the Assumption. The Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Noel Treanor, joined in the celebrations. The Bishop and Fr Jim Crudden PP reflected on the past 50 years and looked ahead to the challenges facing churches in the next 50 years.

Fr Jim expressed his gratitude to Fr Francis Harper, a retired priest from Kilcoo, who concelebrated the Mass. After his ordination in the early 1950s he served in many parishes in the Diocese throughout his long career. His father was the first sacristan in the church.

He also thanked the special guests who attended the weekend’s events: Filipino folk choir based in Belfast, Dr John Rowntree, Organ Consultant, and his wife, Julia, representatives from Skrabl Organ Builders in Slovenia and Mark Mooney and Cara McCann, harpists and singers from the Holy Family Parish, Belfast. 

A magazine which looks back to the building of the Church and parish life over the last 50 years will be published. All the archives from the past 50 years will be uploaded to the parish web site.

Fr Jim and Fr Colin are grateful to those who organised or participated in the various events. They wish to thank the members of the sister churches in Newcastle who joined in the celebrations.

More information is available on the parish website at www.parishofmaghera.com.