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Community Corner

Our Lady of Guadalupe to be Dedicated Saturday

The congregation will celebrate the new church's opening with Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia.

If there are any words of advice for Saturday’s dedication of Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic Church, it’s get there early.

Church officials expect at least 2,000 people to attend the 4 p.m. dedication ceremony led by Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia.

Following the dedication, the church, at Cold Spring Creamery and Durham roads, will start holding religious services at the new facility.

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The church’s website offers some helpful suggestions to those planning to attend the Mass of Dedication.

On Saturday, church parking areas will open at 3:15 p.m., with access from both roads. Overflow parking will be available at the day care center and Rite Aid shopping center on Cold Spring Creamery Road, Cold Spring Elementary School and District Court offices, both on Durham Road.

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Carpooling is encouraged.

Check with a parking attendant if you require special assistance or handicapped parking.

Those attending will assemble in the outside courtyard prior to the ceremony. A formal opening will be delivered by Cardinal Rigali, who will then lead the congregation into the church. Ushers will direct people to fill the pews.

Seating is available for 1,200 people, with standing room for the rest.

Since the dedication Mass is expected to take at least two hours, church officials suggest leaving infants and toddlers at home. No food or beverages should be brought into the church or post-dedication reception area either.

A reception will follow outside in the tented area.

The last tip: If meeting Cardinal Rigali, he is addressed as “Your Eminence.”

Prior to construction of the church, parishioners had been celebrating weekend Mass at either Holicong Middle School or Central Bucks East High School.

As of Saturday, all Masses will now be held at the new church.

A revised schedule will be put into place. The weekend mass schedule will be as follows:

Saturday Vigil Mass: 5 p.m. (instead of 5:30 p.m.)

Sunday Masses: 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. (instead of 10 and 11:30 a.m.).

Daily Mass at 8 a.m. will continue to be celebrated Wednesday through Saturday. There will be no Mass Mondays, and Tuesday Mass will be held at 4:30 p.m.

The Rev. Msgr. Joseph P. Gentili heads Our Lady of Guadalupe.

A $7 million capital campaign for the construction project includes funds for the church, a 109-seat chapel, parking lots, walkways, site work and infrastructure enhancements. A Parish Ministry Center is contingent upon funding.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish formed 11 years ago with nearly 2,000 families.

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