One of those important anniversary celebrations was the Dedication of the Church and Consecration of the High Altar. These pictures show the construction of the original church building, and the subsequent blessing and dedication,, which I thought might be of interest to those who are perhaps unfamiliar with those early days of the parish.
Beginning the foundation
Pouring the concrete slab
Placing the medal of Our Lady of the Atonement at the site of the high altar
Raising the first wall
Placing the butresses
Building the tower
The tower, and the wall of the Lady Chapel
The walls from inside the structure
The roof beams, looking toward the high altar
The entrance in the tower, looking toward the Lady Chapel
The building takes on its shape
The spire being assembled on the ground
The spire being placed on the tower
The spire almost in place
The spire in its place, and the exterior structure nearly completed
The original church, completed
Gathered before the High Altar, to prepare for its Consecration.
Praying the Litany, before the Consecration of the Altar.
The Prayer to Consecrate the Altar.
Placing the Relics of St. Thomas Becket, and Anointing the Altar stone.
The Archbishop giving his personal Rosary
to be placed in the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Placing the linens on the newly-consecrated Altar.
Opening the Triptych.
Celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
on the newly-consecrated Altar.