60 Years of Wedded Bliss
Sadly, the weather has been changing this past week. We get one day cool and dry and then the next warm and humid. Saturday and Sunday were a mix, and mostly cloudy. But things are growing all around us. Jacarandas are starting to bloom. These are huge trees that deck themselves out in purple flowers at this time of the year, as if getting ready for Advent. They still aren't at their peak (I don't think) and so I'm waiting to share their photo until next week.
But we also have a lot of roses in bloom. These first couple are from our St. Angela's School (1,2). I love the delicate coloring, especially in this first bloom (1). It's not just a white rose bush. Shot 3 is from near a classroom. These others are from our friary garden (4-6). The purplish one is a rare shade (4)! We are also growing vegetables (7-8), but don't ask me what these are. I shot this picture because I love the contrast of the color of the stalks with the leaves (8); is it a radish?
On Sunday, I did something I don't normally do; I agreed to celebrate a mass outside the parish. We already have so many here at Our Lady of the Rosary: a 6 pm Vigil on Saturday night; 7, 9, 11 am and then 6 pm again on Sunday. So I don't need to be looking for other masses outside on the weekends. However, my provincial from the States is visiting and he agreed to take one of the weekend masses so I'd only needed to celebrate one other. Further, a couple were wanting to celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary!
The couple are the in-laws to one of my principals. (Remember I have two schools attached to the parish). Tony's in-laws were married on October 30, 1956 and wanted to celebrate their special day. We gathered at Oak Hill College's (a Catholic High School's) Chapel. It is run by the De La Salle Brothers. (I know nothing about that community except that they are a teaching Order.)
I liked the simplicity of the old chapel's interior (9). The windows were of the last turn of the century, when they could still do wonderful stained glass. Here is a trio of shots of the main rose window (10-12). Even the stations of the cross were unique and beautiful (13). Look at this lovely design that appeared over each (14). And nothing was left without "icing"; check out the ceiling (15).
The staues were life-sized, if not larger (here is Mary, 16). And these medalions appeared on the front of the altar in the order that you see here (17-19). The Tabernacle was perhaps more simple than I would've expected when compared to the rest of the interior, but it is still well done (20).
Along the sides were a dozen or so tall stained glass windows with images of saints along the lower panel of each (21). Here are some of the nicer ones I could identify: Madonna and Child (22), St. Patrick (23, with red gloves!), St. Therese (24) and St. Anne with a young Mary (25).
Later, we gathered at a country club for the party. The cake was made by the granddaughters—none of whom are professional bakers! (26) (I suspect that Aussie's are genetically better bakers or something as all their cakes look so professional! Either that, or it was bought at a bakery and they're telling me tales!) Here are some unique, eye-catching roses that were table center pieces (27-28). Finally here is a photo of John and Patricia taken on their wedding day (29), and then with me today (30). May the Lord continue to bless them and all of us!