The
warmth of the greeting for Father "O" expressed the people's joy
in getting for their pastor the man they know and loved so well, close friend
and assistant to Father Ray, who in his four years of service at St. Cecilia's
had already established himself as friend, advisor, co-worker and initiator of
programs under the Ceciliaville banner.
As described the following day by Nancy Manser, Religion Writer of the Detroit News; "Applause rang out and became a standing ovation when Father Francis J. Granger, vicar of the West Inner City Vicariate, installed Father Olszewski as the new pastor. 'No words of mine are needed after that,' said Father Granger, smiling. 'God bless you all.' "More applause came as Father "O"...embraced Parish Council members Clifford Snyder and Bill Dorsey when they gave him the church keys and scriptures. Watching from the front pew were the families of Father Ellis and Father Olszewski.
A PORTRAIT OF FATHER ELLIS
At the same ceremony, a portrait of Father Raymond N. Ellis, placed with the other illustrious portraits in the mural of the Black Christ, was also dedicated. Painted by artist DeVon Cunningham, who had done the original mural and sculpted the church's Black Madonna, the portrait was placed in a space that seemed to have been waiting for it just to the right of Christ.
FATHER "O" ADDRESSES HIS PARISH
Addressing his parish for the first time as pastor, Father "O" declared that the spirit of Ceciliaville is going to live, to continued. "We're going to have Father Ellis here in a greater capacity than ever before. Together we are going to love, to be servants with one another and love one another and so find the truth that will bring us to the freedom and independence everyone desires."
Place Father Ellis' picture in the mural was not to created an idolatry, he said., Rather, "the whole concept of the mural is a spirit of unity, of cooperation, the desire to bring all things to Jesus who is the center of unity."
Continued
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