Newly renovated Ranelagh church blessed and consecrated

By Josh Low

The blessing and consecration of the altar and church building of St Mary of the Cross in Ranelagh was celebrated by the Huon Valley Parish community last month.

Held on Wednesday 21 May, the occasion came following a period of renovation and restoration which began late last year with the help of St Joseph Affordable Homes.

Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Julian, who was joined by concelebrants, Huon Valley Parish Priest, Fr Warren Edwards, and Fr John Joseph Martin LEB of the Little Eucharistic Brothers of Divine Will.

Included in the Rite was the prayer of dedication and anointing of the church and altar, with a relic of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop – a piece of her coffin in which she was buried, deposited in the altar and sealed within.

In his homily, Archbishop Julian emphasised that church buildings are more than just assembly places for the community, but where God dwells.

“They are a place which is reverenced by our prayerful silence and well as by our active participation in the sacred liturgy.

“We need sacred places where we are more easily induced to prayer and the pondering of spiritual things,” he said.

“May we always be reminded of the important place of the sacred in our world. That we need holy things that engage us with spiritual realities.

“I pray that the consecration of Mary of the Cross Church, Ranelagh, be a means by which all who enter it will be drawn more deeply into the mysteries of our faith.”

Huon Valley Parish Priest, Fr Warren Edwards, thanked all involved in the renovations, and said the occasion was a wonderful celebration of the completion of the works that were done.

“To have a proper sanctuary, altar, lectern and tabernacle all in its place is most fitting,” he said.

“The Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord in the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith.

“So if we’ve got the symbols pointing in the right direction, then hopefully minds and hearts will follow in that direction.”

Huon Valley parishioner Tanya Robbie was involved in the renovation process and hopes the church may be a place where people grow closer to God.

“It was a great blessing to have the opportunity to have some input into the new sanctuary,” she said.

“I wasn’t a big fan of the church building itself the way it was originally, so to be able to transform it into a beautiful place where God can be and where we can meet with God has been great.

“If it brings people closer to God, then I think that’s a wonderful thing.”