A LOCAL church is turning 150 this year, and parishioners have decided to mark the occasion in a special, indelible way.<\/p>\n
St Bernard\u2019s Church in Bacchus Marsh officially turns 150 on 23 June, the date the church was blessed and opened in 1874.<\/p>\n
A paver sale project recently concluded, with over 200 pavers engraved with the names of parishioners planned to be laid out the front of the church, as a permanent reminder of the church\u2019s members at the time of the milestone.<\/p>\n
St Bernard\u2019s Parish member Margot Short said it was an exciting time for the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, we\u2019re very excited, and we want to commemorate the occasion in the best way possible,\u201d Ms Short said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve formed a \u2018150th Committee\u2019, and we wanted to do something to commemorate the occasion that would be a lasting thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cOrders have closed, and we have a six-week wait before they arrive. And of course, we want to have them before we have the Mass on Sunday 23 June, which will be at 11 o\u2019clock.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret Love, a fellow parishioner and passionate studier of the church\u2019s history, said there are other ways in which St Bernard\u2019s will celebrate and acknowledge the 150th<\/sup> anniversary as well.<\/p>\n