May 16, 2019
The release of peace doves this weekend will mark the end of a long year of preparations for Penny Curtain and her fellow parishioners at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Kumbia.
The Church is celebrating 100 years with a full program of events that will kick off on Saturday night with a Centenary Dinner.
On Sunday, Archbishop Mark Coleridge will lead a concelebrated Mass at the church with at least seven priests, all of whom have had a connection with Kumbia.
The St Mary’s Fire Pit Band will provide the music, with many Kumbia residents involved in parts of the Mass.
Other ceremonies will include the blessing and unveiling of a plaque by the Archbishop, and the planting of an advanced Bottle Tree.
Afterwards the reunion will continue with a picnic lunch and story sharing.
The church was built in 1919 just after the end of World War I, and in keeping with this theme, doves of peace will be released to the strains of the hymn, “Prayer of Peace”.
The release of the doves after Mass is the part of the celebration that Penny Curtain has been looking forward to most.
“We have had to get the birds fit to make sure that they all get home safely,” Penny said.
“They’ve all come through their training very well and I’m proud of them.”
Penny expects the doves will enjoy circling over the South Burnett town before finding their way back to Boyneside, a 12km flight.
“These birds can fly hundreds of kilometres so they should be fine with this run, but you still need to have them ready,” Penny said
Our Lady of Peace Church has been the focal point for Catholic people to gather in Kumbia every Sunday for the past century to share their joys and sorrows, and to give thanks for the many blessings bestowed on them and the district in which they live.
Many people from all over Queensland and interstate will be coming back to join in the celebrations, and the reminiscences.
In addition to individual contributions and donations from parishioners and friends, the South Burnett Regional Council and AGL have both contributed funds for the publication of a book to mark the centenary, “Moments in Time”.
Copies will be available over the weekend.
Mass will begin at 10:00am on Sunday and everyone is welcome.
- Related article: Centenary Caps Year Of Fundraising
