The parish of Gingin/Chittering is about to hit its fundraising stride with news that Archbishop Barry Hickey has approved the building of a new parish church in Chittering to be named after the Divine Mercy.
Five years after the completion of the much-lauded St Anne’s Church in Bindoon, Parish Priest Fr Paul Fox said that the new church will be somewhat similar to it in style but much bigger owing to the expected long-term population growth in the area.
Speaking to The Record last week, he hopes the church will be an inspiring place of worship and of pilgrimage.
“Our aim has to been to design a most beautiful church which is uplifting and yet very functional for the liturgy; a place of welcome,” Fr Fox said.
“St Anne’s in Bindoon, built out of local stone, has proved that most people appreciate this style of architecture, as indicated by the steady stream of visitors each day to the church. The whole community, regardless of religious denomination is very proud of St Anne’s; we hope that the new Divine Mercy church will prove to have the same attraction.”
The church has been designed by Peter Anthes with 3D rendering of the plans currently underway. The Divine Mercy Church will be built on Maryville land donated to the archdiocese by the Prendiville Group. This site will also be home to a Catholic school as expected population growth in the area materialises.
When completed, the church will be the first in the archdiocese to be named in honour of the Divine Mercy. This devotion derived from the diary, “Divine Mercy in my Soul” by of Polish nun, St Faustina Kowalska, details revelations she received up until her death in 1938. St Faustina was canonized by Pope John Paul II on the 30th April 2000. The name was adopted because of the strength of devotion to the Divine Mercy in the Parish. Fr Paul has appealed for donations and prayers, an appeal Archbishop Hickey has endorsed in his letter of approval.
“We have a generous benefactor but will need many more donations to make this church a wonderful reality.”
Donations for the Divine Mercy Church can be sent to Divine Mercy Church Building Fund: 39 Brearley Street, Bullsbrook, WA 6084 or by calling 9571 1839. For more information, including Archbishop Hickey’s letter of approval, visit www.ginginchitteringparish.org.au.