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Newport Parish Celebrates Centennial A Knights of Columbus purple- and white-plumed color guard lead a procession from K of C headquarters-the site of the first Catholic church in Newport-up the hill to the magnificent St. Mary Star of the Sea Church as hundreds gathered inside to celebrate its centennial. The procession harkened back to Aug. 1, 1909, the day the church was dedicated. On Aug. 16, 2009, the procession included red- and white-clad altar servers, lay persons, priests and two bishops dressed in white vestments who endured near-90-degree heat to walk the short distance under bright sunshine to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the granite church that sits prominently on a hill overlooking Lake Memphremagog and the mountains of Quebec. The procession made its way up to the church, past pots of brightly colored seasonal flowers and plants that lined the walkways and steps. Some people gathered outside to photograph the sight as participants waved, smiled and reached out to greet onlookers, some of whom they knew from long-ago service at Newport's only Catholic parish. "We have gathered here today to celebrate an auspicious event, the 100th anniversary of this church, dedicated on Aug. 1, 1909," Bishop Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Burlington, told the congregation that filled the large church. "Throughout all these years, this magnificent church has been made a holy place, a sacred place, because of the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament." During the pastorate of Father Antoine P. Clermont, several parcels of land above the first church on Prospect Hill were acquired for the new church. This property at the top of Prospect Street is now called Clermont Terrace. Father Clermont planned for the new church to be built of local granite, Romanesque in style, flanked by twin granite towers in which would be hung bells of silver. A portrait of Father Clermont was displayed in the front of the church during the centennial celebration with the words, "visionary and designer of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church." Excavation for the church began in 1903, and the cornerstone of the church above the foundations was laid in May 1904. Because little work could be done in the winter and because of a work stoppage due to lack of money, the church was not fully constructed until 1909. The church is about 114 feet long and 72 feet wide. The two towers are 105 feet high. On the day of the dedication, The Express & Standard reported, "Never before in the history of Newport was such a spectacle presented to the populace who beheld it; probably never again in our Village will its equal in triumph and splendor be looked upon with the admiration and wonderment that greeted this army of followers of the cross-- indeed the array seemed like that of the crusaders who went to rescue the Holy Sepulcher from Moslem ascendancy." In its own way, the celebration of the 100th anniversary was splendid. "It's a wondrous event," said Vocationist Father Michael Reardon, pastor. Sister Monique Couture, a provincial councilor of the Daughter of the Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, said her order is part of the history of the parish, having come to Newport in 1905. Members of the order staffed the former Sacred Heart elementary and high schools. "Our histories have been so enmeshed and interwoven," she said. Three sisters still live in the convent, visit the sick and participate in the life of the parish. Parishioner Rosemarie Hartley said the celebration of the centennial was "uplifting and inspiring" and was a way to respect the work of their ancestors who built the church. Her sister, parishioner Rosalie Leblond, said the celebration would give an example of faith to the next generation, just as the early parishioners exemplified their love of God and their faith in building the church. Leblond was a member of the decorating committee for the event. She said there had been similar decorations in the church 100 years ago including blue tulle draped from the highest point of the sanctuary. And in keeping with its French-Canadian heritage, the second reading of the centennial Mass was delivered in French. In his homily at the Mass, Bishop Matano emphasized the importance of the Eucharist. "Here the Lord's promise is most perfectly fulfilled: ‘Know that I am with you always, even until the end of time.' For 100 years the faithful have come together to bring their concerns, hopes and aspirations to God," he said. "Today we remember the countless number of people who have gone before us and now dwell with the Lord. It was in this church that they were strengthened and fortified in their earthly journey toward the heavenly Jerusalem. Through the reception of Holy Communion, they touched divinity and received a foretaste of that world to come." Over these 100 years, the Most Holy Eucharist has been and remains the heart and center of Catholic life in the parish. The bishop said, "It is Jesus Himself who tells us: I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will not have life in you.' These words of Jesus Himself could not be clearer: Jesus tells us that union with Him, a union perfected in our reception of His body and blood in Holy Communion, is what truly gives us life and confers upon us our human dignity as the sons and daughters of God. All other aspects of life pale in comparison to the life that is ours in Christ." Belief in the real presence of Christ, body, blood, soul and divinity, the very One received in Holy Communion, is what identifies Catholics, the bishop said, "uniting ourselves with our ancestors in the faith who first celebrated the Eucharist in the very shadow of Christ's earthly ministry." He continued, "On this solemn occasion, we are issued the challenge to renew and to strengthen our relationship with Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. It is in knowing and in loving the Eucharistic Christ that we will have the means to understand life, to find security, to be a people with roots. It is Christ who sustains and supports us in the many trials, changes, and happenings of our human existence." From this sacred place memories upon memories have transformed the material used to build this church into a living edifice alive with the presence of the living God, Bishop Matano said. "As we look to the future, the faith must continue in you, the parishioners, and in your children and grandchildren, and even in those not among us, whose absence causes sadness and to whom we extend a renewed invitation to come home." Said parishioner Joanne Nolin, "The Eucharist is very important to me, and my faith journey has been made special to me because of the nurturing I receive at St. Mary's." Joining numerous priests of the Diocese of Burlington as concelebrants was Bishop Edgar da Cunha, a Vocationist priest and Auxiliary Bishop of Newark. Claude Pouliot, another parishioner, enjoyed seeing people at the celebration. "This is a very good day, an awesome day," he said. "We remember with great gratitude the faith of those who have gone before us and look forward with hopeful expectation of what is to come," Father Reardon said.
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