Whitford Parish community have last month come together in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the parish.
Commencing with Mass in a large tent on the school oval celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton on Sunday 20 October, the community later gathered for lunch and fellowship.
Joining Bishop Sproxton was Parish Priest Fr Cyprian Shikokoti and Assistant Fr Francis Tran, former parish priests Msgr Tim Corcoran and Fr Geoff Aldous, as well as Fr Greg Donovan and Kenyan visiting priest Fr Alfred Lwangu.
Also present for the occasion were several Mercy Sisters, led by Sr Carmel Wringe RSM, who played an integral part in the formation and development of the parish.
Speaking to The Record, Fr Shikokoti said celebrating the anniversary has been a good opportunity to reflect on God’s goodness in our lives, embrace the present with joy, and look forward to the future with renewed courage and hope.
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to lead our parish community during this significant moment in its history, following in the footsteps of dedicated clergy like Fr McSweeney, Msgr Tim Corcoran, Fr Geoff Aldous and their assistant priests,” Fr Shikokoti said.
“Their legacy has laid a strong foundation for the vibrant community we are today in this northern corridor,” he said.
The history of the parish dates back to 1971, when the area that was to become Whitford Parish comprised of Hillarys, Kallaroo, Padbury and Craigie, along with the existing suburb of Mullaloo.
The first of many houses were built that year and as it only took about four to five months to build a home at that time, the population grew quickly.
The nearest churches during those days were Our Lady of Grace in North Beach and St Anthony’s in Wanneroo.
Servite priest Fr Carlo Marchetti OSM of Wanneroo Parish commenced saying Mass on the feast of the Transfiguration in August 1972 at Springfield State School and was later joined by foundation Parish Priest Fr Nick McSweeny from Kilkenny, Ireland.
John Rayner was the first acolyte, serving the parish continually and faithfully until he passed away in 2024.
A house on Camberwarra Drive was purchased as the temporary presbytery and Fr McSweeney celebrated daily Mass in the closed-in carport.
Once Craigie Primary was built, Sunday Mass was moved to the classrooms. This became the parish community home until Whitford Catholic Primary finally opened its doors with the library the last unofficial home.
In 1976 Mercyville aged care opened under the expertise of Sr Camillus Jackson RSM. Sr Camillus filled the roles of manager, nurse, gardener – with the help of fellow Sisters aged in their eighties – and supervisor of staff.
In latter days, the MercyVille Chapel was made available to the parish for weekday Masses and meditation groups.
In 1978, Sr Mary O’Connor RSM was appointed Foundation Principal of Whitford Catholic Primary School, taking up the onerous task of starting a school with students without classrooms ready.
In May 1981, Archbishop Lancelot Goody opened the doors of the new Church. At that time, there were some 1800 Catholic families known to reside in the area.
The title of Our Lady of the Mission was intended to express the universal mission of the Church and not merely evangelisation overseas.
In June 1988, a Liturgy of the Word service was introduced at 9 am on Monday mornings. This was led by some of the now retired acolytes in the Parish, including John Loreck and John Kilgallon.
In 1990, when Fr Brian Limbourn became Assistant Parish Priest, he offered to celebrate a Mass at 9am on Mondays and this became the regular practice until recent times.
Fr Shikokoti concluded by highlighting the Whitford parish community owes immense gratitude to our Archbishops — the late Archbishops Goody and Foley, Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey, current Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, and Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton and the Archdiocese for their unwavering support of our Catholic identity, which forms the core of who they are as a parish.
“Today, we celebrate each and every parishioner of OLM, our primary schools — PCPS and WCPS — our Catholic colleges, and above all, our enduring faith in Jesus Christ that has sustained us over these past 50 years,” Fr Shikokoti said.
“I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Parish Pastoral Council, parish staff, and countless volunteers who have dedicated their time and effort behind the scenes to plan and bring these celebrations to fruition,” he said.
