Official Opening Ceremony of
Quang Duc Monastery
Friday - Sunday 10th - 12th October 2003
10 Lynch Road, Fawkner,
Melbourne, Australia,
www.quangduc.com
On Sunday 12 October 2003, day two of the Official Opening Ceremony of the Quang Duc Monastery our Members Evelin Halls and Julie O'Donnell attended the ceremony on behalf of John D. Hughes, Anita Hughes of the Chan Academy Australia - Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.
The ceremony continued at 11.00am with a procession of over 60 Monks and Nuns into the newly constructed Temple.
The Australian and Vietnamese National Anthems were played. The Most Venerable Thich Tam Phuong, Founder and Abbot of Quang Duc Temple gave an Opening Address.
Most Venerable Thich Nhu Hue, President of the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of Australia-New Zealand gave a speech and was followed by an congratulatory message by the Honorable Phillip Ruddock MP, Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.
Congratulatory messages were given by Most Venerable Thich Minh Tam, Chair of the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in Europe, a representative for The Honorable John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia and the Honorable Kevin Thomson, Shadow Minister for Sustainability and the Environment; Member for Wills.
Other congratulatory messages were given by Mr. Joe Ficarra, Mayor of the City of Moreland, Mr. Luu Tuong Quang, Lawyer and Director of SBS Radio.
An ecclesiastical message was given by the Most Venerable Thich Ho Giac, Deputy-Rector of Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation, President of Executive Council of United Vietnamese Buddhist congregation in America.
The cutting of the Inauguration Ribbon Ceremony was held for the new building and Most Venerable Thich Nhu Hue led chanting by the Venerable Monks and Nuns.
After the Official Opening of the new Temple, a Consecration Ceremony was held for the Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang for his newly announced position as the Sangha President of the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation.
Lunch was offered to all Buddhist Monks and Nuns and was followed by a performance by the singers Son Ca, Mau Don and the Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Choir.
An Australian Citizenship Ceremony was led by the Honorable Gary Hardgrave, Minister of Citizenship and was followed by a Wandering Soul Offering Food Ceremony.
The day closed with the Transference of Merit, an Official Closing Ceremony, with a farewell dinner.
Julie O'Donnell and Evelin Halls offered the Most Venerable Thich Nguyen Tang, Vice Abbot of Quang Duc Monastery a Buddhist Stupa containing special prayers and some flowers on behalf of John and Anita Hughes of our Centre.
Venerable Thich Nguyen Tang thanked Members for their participation and wished John D. Hughes long life and good health.
Official Opening Ceremony Program
Quang Duc Monastery
Sunday, 12 October 2003
11.00am: Procession (Welcoming of Buddhist Monks,
Nuns and distinguished Guests to the Multi
used-purpose Hall)
11.15am: National Anthems (Australian & Vietnamese),
Official Buddhist Hymns & a minute of Silent
Meditation for World Peace
11.20am: Introduction of Buddhist leaders, VIPs and invited
guests.
11.35am: Opening address by the Chair of the Organising
Committee, Very Venerable Thich Tam Phuong, the
Founder and Abbott of Quang Duc Monastery and
Vice-Abbot Ven. Thich Nguyen Tang, rewarding the
English translation.
11.50am: Speech by Most Ven. Thich Nhu Hue, President of
the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of
Australia-New Zealand
12.00pm: Congratulatory message by Hon. Philip Ruddock,
Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs
Dept.
12.05pm: Congratulatory message by Most Venerable Thich
Minh Tam, Chair of the Unified Vietnamese
Buddhist Congregation in Europe (from France)
12.15pm: Congratulatory message from the Prime Minister
of Australia, Right Hon. John Howard MP, (the
message read by Senator Jacinta Tchen)
12.20pm: Congratulatory message from Hon.Kevin
Thomson, Shadow Minister for Sustainability and
the Environment; member for Wills
12.30pm: Congratulatory message by Moreland City Mayor
Cr. Joe Ficarra
12.35pm: Congratulatory message by lawyer Luu Tuong
Quang, Director of SBS Radio, (from New South
Wales, Australia)
12.45pm: Congratulatory message by Most Ven Thich Ho
Giac, Deputy-Rector of Unified Vietnamese
Buddhist Congregation, President of Executive
Council of United Vietnamese Buddhist
Congregation in America
12.55pm: The Cutting of the Inauguration Ribbon on the
steps of the new building (Welcoming all Most
Venerable, Very Venerable, Monks, Nuns,
Distinguished Guests and all participants leave
the Youth Activities Hall and go out through the
East gate and come in by the Central gate., and
10 people will present to cut the Inauguration
Ribbon in celebration of the New Quang Duc
Monastery before coming up the upstairs steps.
01.15pm: Ritual chanting and prayers with Buddhist
Monks, Nuns and Buddhist members my Most
Ven Thich Nhu Hue
01.20pm: Consecration Ceremony for the Most Venerable
Thich Huyen Quang in his newly announced
position as the Sangha President of the Unified
Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation. This
session will be led by Most Ven. Thich Ho Giac
01.45pm: Offering ceremony to all Buddhist Monks, and
Nuns, and Luncheon will be offered to
Distinguished Guests and all participants
02.30pm: Buddhist entertainments performed by the
singers Son Ca, Mau Don and an all Vietnamese
Buddhist Youth Choir
03.00pm: Australian Citizenship Ceremony, leading this
session will be the Minister of Citizenship Hon.
Gary Hardgrave, (from Queensland)
04.00pm: Wandering soul offering food ceremony
06.00pm: Transfer of Merit, and Closing Ceremony and
Farewell Dinner
This program is retyped from the Official Opening Ceremony Program Quang Duc Monastery
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