PHOTO BY AUDRA MEE

To the words of All Are Welcome, Archbishop Denis Hart opened the ceremony to celebrate the solemn dedication of St Francis Xavier Church, Corio, 21 years after the church was opened.

With the building of the Xavier Centre, the church can finally be set aside solely for worship. Building on the inspired work of their founding parish priest, Fr Ron Lowe, the community brought to completion the work begun many years ago under the guidance of current parish priest Fr John Healy.

In preparation for the dedication of the church building, new altar furniture was designed by Smith and Tracey and created by Spence Joiners of Colac. A devotion space was created for the statue of Mary and Engelbert Piccolruaz has carved a statue of St Francis Xavier. Above the cross and candles for dedication, icons of the four Evangelists, designed by Marice Sariola, were placed. Stations of the Cross designed by Darryl Van Der Meer, a parishioner, are a feature along the back wall of the church.

In preparation for the anointing of the altar, relics of St Ignatius of Antioch, St Anastasia and St Peter Julian were sealed in it, an ancient feature of the dedication of an altar.

It was truly a night of prayer and celebration as the church was filled with song and symbol. At the end of the ceremony the choir sent the community forth with the words of Shine, Jesus, Shine. Fr Healy thanked all those involved in preparing the church for dedication and invited all to supper in the new Xavier Centre.