Blessing of the Stations of the Cross and the Feast of the Sacred Heart celebrations
By Donna Cooper
Parishioners of the central wheatbelt parish of ‘Lord of the Harvest’ attended the blessing of the Stations of the Cross in the grounds between the Bencubbin church and the presbytery last Friday evening, 1 July 2011. The parish comprises the towns of Beacon, Bencubbin, Koorda, Mukinbudin and Trayning and a crowd of some 60 people attended the event.
The blessing was followed by Mass, in celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, after which the Bencubbin church is named. At 5pm, in the clear and cold evening air, parishioners from all centres, visitors from Brunswick, guests from other Christian faiths and people from overseas gathered at the 1st Station for the Blessing Prayers and processed behind Fr Chien around the Way of the Cross as he sprinkled each Station with Holy Water.
The Stations are a ‘work-in-progress’ created by parish priest, Fr Chien Quyet Nguyen. The pillars on which each Station stands are formed from stones donated by local farmers. Each Station is made of concrete, the basis of which is a slab onto which Fr has sculpted the cement pictures. He has spent many hours praying and meditating while sitting outside in his garage-come-workshop creating the pictures. In preparation for the Feast of the Sacred Heart, there has been a frenzy of activity to get some of the Stations finished. Fr Chien was very keen to have a blessing on this feast day. Consequently, those Stations that were ready have been painted and now look like bronze sculptures.
Started over two years ago, and with the help of many people, this beautiful artwork is not only an asset to the continued nurturing of the Christian faith in the parish, but an attraction for the town as well. People from other towns, from other faiths or no faith, overseas, men, women and children have played a part in helping Father with his artwork.
Within the garden space, Father has planted five olive trees, representing the five centres that make up ‘Lord of the Harvest’ parish. In the next few weeks, there will be signs erected explaining each Station. These have been very kindly donated by John Pauley of Wheatbelt Signs. Pea gravel has been laid along the path and Father has also added his touch to the aesthetics by beautifying the area with plants etc.
After the blessing, Mass was celebrated in a near-full church. During his homily, Fr Chien explained some of his thoughts behind his creative work. When he arrived in the parish in February 2006, he came to see that farming, and the relationship it has with nature and the weather, is very much part of this parish’s life. Consequently, he initially built a grotto at the front of the Bencubbin church dedicated to Our Lady Help of Christians. It is a reminder to all who visit the grotto or drive past the church to ask for her intercession on their behalf. With the past droughts, Father could see the hardship and suffering of his parishioners, and decided to build the Stations of the Cross to help the people realise that Jesus too understands these trials of life – and is with them all the way.
Congratulations to Fr Chien and all who have helped him to build this place into what it is today. Father still has further plans for the area, so it isn’t complete. What we see is the work of a humble man who has great love for, and faith in, God and who very much loves and serves his parish just as Jesus, the Good Shepherd does.