Praise for the King of kings

Archbishop thanks participants in `grand finale' to centenary

By Laureen McMahon

It was a fitting end to a year of celebration as the combined voices of the Vancouver Chamber Choir and the Vancouver Cantata Singers rose in a crescendo of praise to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in a performance of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah on the evening of Dec. 13 at the Orpheum Theatre.

The Messiah concert which also featured the Vancouver Chamber Orchestra with guest conductor Bernard Labadie was the fourth and final event held over the past year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Vancouver Archdiocese in 1908.

Soloists for the performance included soprano Shannon Mercer, countertenor Robin Blaze, tenor Frederic Antoun, and bass Joshua Hopkins.

A reception which followed the performance, said archdiocesan vice-chancellor Barbara Dowding, was an opportunity for the archdiocese to thank all those who served on the centenary steering committee and others who worked for close to two years arranging the special centenary events.

These included a November Eucharistic Celebration with guest celebrant Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec; a dinner-dance featuring Dal Richards and his Orchestra in October; and, last May, a rally and Eucharistic Procession at Rotary Stadium in Abbotsford, which included hundreds of schoolchildren who would be receiving their First Communion this year.

After presenting a brief overview of the history of the archdiocese, Doug Lauson, superintendent of Catholic Independent Schools, introduced Archbishop Raymond Roussin, SM, who thanked those who had helped with the planning and execution of the events marking the centenary. Each not only met its goal, he added, but was of tremendous significance because it was the archdiocese's chance to thank God for the abundance of His blessings on His people in Vancouver.

He remarked that this was the third "and by far the finest" performance of Handel's great work that he had ever experienced.

He looked forward, he said, to meeting those who had come out to share in the grand finale of the 100th anniversary celebrations.

"We thank God for the many gifts He has given us and ask Him to bless us this night. Both Archbishop Miller and I are eager to have some time with each and every one of you and to greeting old friends and new acquaintances."

Coadjutor Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, also commented on the excellence of the performance of the Messiah.

"The Messiah! What a fine and fitting time to gather. A reminder of the past while we wait for His coming at Christmas," he said.

He welcomed several honoured guests, among them Senator Gerry St. Germain and Mrs. Margaret St. Germain; the Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism; Andrew Saxton, MP for North Vancouver; newly-elected Mayor of Coquitlam Richard Stewart and Mrs. Anna Rosa Stewart; and Kim John Ok, the Deputy Consul General of Korea.

The evening was, Archbishop Miller said, a time of gratitude "for those who went before, leaving us with the legacy we hold so dear; for those who serve so faithfully at this time; and for those who will take the Church into the next 100 years."

The Church in Vancouver, he added, "is alive and well."