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BRIEF HISTORY OF PARISH
Our Lady’s Parish Sunshine was originally part of the Footscray Parish.
The first Mass celebrated in Sunshine (as we know it today) was in Braybrook Junction, the original name of Sunshine. The Mass was celebrated in the home of the Stationmaster in the year 1903. The Stationmaster’s house was in located Sun Crescent, near the site of the present Sunshine Police Station.
The celebration of the mass occurred in many places such as the Braybrook State School and The Mechanics Institute before settling into its present location in Monash Street.
In 1909 Catholic families begun raising money to build their church. Land was purchased in Monash Street at a cost of 160 pounds. The Church building was erected at a cost of 750 pounds and was Blessed and Opened by Archbishop Carr on the 7th December 1913.
On the 8th December 1927 Our Lady’s became a parish in its own right. The first Parish Priest
was Fr. P. Fennessy.
On St. Patrick’s Day 1939 the original wooden church of Our Lady’s was burnt to the ground. On the same day in 1954 another attempt was made to burn down the new church.
The present brick church of Our Lady’s was Blessed and Opened on the 26th January 1941 by His Grace, the Most Rev. Dr. Mannix, Archbishop of Melbourne.
Much development has taken place over the years with a new presbytery and parish center being built in the 1960’s. Mariana hall was completed in 1959 and in 1960, Our lady’s Youth Center comprising tennis courts and pavilion, basketball courts and a scout hall. A convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph was purchased in 1927.
Since the beginning of Our Lady’s has been generously served by Priests from the Melbourne Archdiocese. (A list of parish priests follows) In 1996 the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (a short history of the Oblates can be found later) undertook the pastoral care of Our Lady’s.
The congregation at Our Lady’s has certainly changed from its original beginnings. The congregation is now very multi cultural with people from very diverse backgrounds including – Anglo/Celts, Maltese, Italians, Vietnamese, Filipino, Polish Spanish, Indian, Sri Lankan, Hungarian etc.
Today the parish has about 1,000 catholic families with a weekend congregation of between 1,300 to 1,400.
PARISH PRIESTS OF OUR LADY’S SUNSHINE:
Fr. P.E. Fennessy 1927 – 1935
Fr. F. Ryder 1935 – 1949
Fr. J. Egan 1949 – 1956
Fr. B. Murphy 1956 – 1989
Fr. B. Lane 1989 – 1996
Fr. L. Keelty OMI 1996 – 2002
Fr. H. Dyer OMI 2002 -
BRIEF HISTORY OF PARISH SCHOOL
Our Lady’s School, as it is affectionately known, was established in 1920. Miss Archer, the head teacher, worked tirelessly in the school for two years. Miss McMahon subsequently took charge with Miss Walsh, Miss Dempsey and Miss Morgan as part of the staff.
The first building housed the whole school for many years. Over the years the same building served as a tennis pavilion, parish meeting room, TV room.
In 1928 the Sister of St. Joseph took over the pastoral care of the school and continued to do so until January 2002.
The main wing of the school (along Monash Street) was built and opened in 1934. The addition of the second storey building was opened in 1958. A full refurbishment of the school took place in 1986. A new toilet block, staff room and a preparation room were added.
The Tuck shop was built in 1992. In 1999 new classrooms were developed at the southern end of the property.
The lane way that divided the school was eventually purchases in 1998 so as redevelopment and safety of the children could take place. The most recent building development occurred in 1999 when Bishop Grech and Fr. Lewy Keelty OMI, PP, blessed the new junior block.
In late 2002 redevelopment of the school had once again commenced. This involved the demolition of the old convent and the original classrooms along Monash Street. A new administration building, four new classrooms and a refurbishment of some of the present rooms and corridor in the two-storey building will be completed in July 2003.
BRIEF HISTORY OF MISSIONARY OBLATES OF MARY IMMACULATE
The world offered so much to Eugene de Mazenod. Through his father he was nobility. Through his mother he was wealthy. But within nine years of his birth his world changed.
The French Revolution made Eugene and his family political refugees for twelve years. His family fled France, his parents separated, and his inheritance disappeared.
On his return to his homeland at the age of twenty, he sought to find his place in the new France. It was a time of growing disillusionment, but Eugene’s gaze was drawn more and more away form himself to the pressing needs of the spirituality and materially needy and the needs of the Church. He decided to do something about it. He became a priest.
Fr. De Mazenod set about rebuilding a world of Christian values. From village to village he went preaching, bringing the Word and the sacraments to all, visiting prisons, and offering the poor a renewed sense of their dignity. Others, inspired by his vision and energy, joined him and in 1826 a new religious family – to be called the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate – came into being.
Even while Bishop of Marseilles, Eugene cared for his Oblate family. He sent his men on missions throughout Europe, to the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. Today they extend to every continent working in over 65 countries.
The Church recognized Eugene’s life of virtue and on December 3, 1995 Pope John Paul 11 declared him a Saint.
The Oblates came to Western Australia in 1894, to the parish of Fremantle, and then to other works. They moved to the Eastern States of Australia in 1926, to Sorrento and to places further afield.
In later years the Australian Oblates have gone as missionaries to both Indonesia and China.
Further information on St. `Eugene de Mazenod and of the Oblates Outreach within the Australian context can read in www.oblates.com.au
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