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Ground Breaking in West Park |
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| Holy Cross Home | Centenary Home | Corner Stone | OHC |
The
Holy Cross Magazine
May
1902
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On Wednesday
noon, April 16, one of the professed Fathers of the Order of the
Holy Cross broke ground at West Park for the first building for
the use of the Community. It was a perfect Spring day. A faint haze
veiled the more distant mountains, but the river was in clear light.
About us nature was waking from the deadness of winter and germinating
for the fruitage of this opening year. And the turning of the sod
for another Religious foundation seemed to betoken the work of the
same Life-giving Spirit renewing the face of the earth with trees
of the Lord's planting, whose fruit can be garnered only in eternity.
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The function was a very simple one - the invocation
of the Blessed Trinity, a prayer for the work, for the workmen,
for funds for the building, the “Our Father” and “The Grace of our
Lord.”
The plans are nearly complete, so that the building
is already going on steadily, ten men being employed at present,
and we hope that the corner-stone may be laid in early June.
All will see from the inside of the cover of this
number we have not yet received pledges for nearly the amount that
will be required. We hope that, in addition to what we have in hand,
enough will come in to enable us to put up the walls and roof the
building in, before next winter. After that we must wait, for some
years perhaps. We are not building for ourselves, bur for the glory
of God, and with the hope of being able to extend his blessings
to the Church at large. It may well be that He sees us to be as
yet unworthy to do Him honour in this wise, and unfitted to be His
instruments in wider activities towards others. If so, we can only
redouble our own efforts after holiness and ask more earnestly for
the prayers of our friends.
A few of our associates have expressed a wish
that some person of wealth would give us a large gift. Probably
that is not really to be desired, although we appreciate the kindness
that prompts the wish. Such a beneficence would, under present conditions,
very likely result from motives that would bring but little blessing
to the giver or the receivers. Much better that this “holy habitation”
should be built by those of whom the Apostle speaks, “the poor of
this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath
promised to them that love Him.” Such as these have already given
to us most generously. And they will continue to give, because they
will continue to pray.
It is expected that the yearly Retreat of the
Oblates of Mount Calvary will be held at Holy Cross House, Westminster,
June 9-13. Any priests, deacons or candidates for Holy Orders who
may desire to join in the Retreat are asked to write to the Father
Superior as soon as they can do so.
The building fund stands now as fourteen thousand,
one hundred and twentyseven dollars. This as actually received,
exclusive of what has been pledged.
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