“Anniversaries are an opportunity to look back with gratitude, to look around us with pride at all that has been achieved, and to look forward, full of prayer for hope for the future, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB said recently.
Addressing the congregation gathered at St Paul’s Church in Mount Lawley for the 70th anniversary Mass of the Parish on Sunday 20 September, Archbishop Costelloe also paid tribute to the “long and faithful service” of St Paul’s former priests – Fr Tim Deeter, Fr Greg Donovan and Fr Mariusz Grzech who joined him as concelebrants.
Taking to the lectern to deliver the homily, Fr Tim told all gathered, “it is not this church building that makes you a community.”
For some 27 years before the parish was formally founded, he reminded them, Catholics from the Mount Lawley and surrounding areas would gather wherever they could to celebrate Mass.
“So, remember your past with gratitude,” he said. “Repeat all the good things done by your forebears, which have brought you to this happy day – 97 years after the first gathering for Mass at the Learoyd Street School and 70 years after the formal foundation of Saint Paul’s Parish.”
Referring to the gospel of the day – the parable of the workers in the vineyard – Fr Tim urged the community to “remain attached to Christ, the true vine.”
Similarly, he said it was important to establish, maintain and model a strong sense of community as it had tangible benefits for everyone, particularly young people.
“When our (young people) see the adults coming together…they feel secure in their own faith and realise they are members of a living and vibrant community,” he suggested.
In this way, “everyone who is a member of this parish…is welcome to join in the Lord’s blessings,” he added.
Reflecting on the names of the original parishioners that adorn the plaques on the church pews, Fr Tim said the celebration was an opportunity to honour the past, take pride in the present and “pray for those who will follow you in the future.”
The large number of people who “have been working hard behind the scenes to prepare for our celebration” were recognised by Fr Mariusz who spoke at the end of the Mass.
“A parish does not simply happen, a parish has to be built, and not only with bricks but with people,” he suggested.
Similarly, he paid tribute to all who had served in the parish’s various ministries over the years.
“That is part of the beautiful witness that we have at Saint Paul’s: the faithfulness, the humility, the quiet invitation, and those who keep the foundation of our parish grounded in the faith and prayer,” he said.
Evidence of this faith was perfectly illustrated by Daniel, a Year Six student at St Paul’s Primary School, who shared that he had received all four of his sacraments – baptism, reconciliation, first holy communion, and confirmation – in the parish.
“Receiving these sacraments,” he said, “has helped me understand my faith more deeply and feel more connected to God and our parish community.”
Daniel is now a regular altar server at Mass.
Echoing Fr Tim’s belief regarding the importance of community, Daniel said he was “grateful for the way our parish welcomes young people and helps us grow in our relationship with God” and he thanked the parish priests past and present for their “guidance and encouragement and support throughout my faith journey.”
“As we celebrate 70 years of (our) parish, I feel very lucky to be part of its story. I hope our parish continues to be a place where people come together, support one another, and grow in faith for many more years to come,” he added.
Speaking prior to the cutting of the anniversary cake, Fr Mariusz said while society was increasingly secular and there was a lack of the Christian understanding of God, it was not necessarily a time to “batten down the hatches.”
“It is time (however) for renewed zeal. Perhaps the old Catholic model of prayer, study, and action is an important model for us to follow now more than ever,” he suggested.
“Our patron Saint Paul speaks very appropriately to us on this anniversary: be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your work is not in vain.
“Seventy years ago, others began this work. Now it’s our turn to continue in their stead,” he concluded.
As it so happened it was not just the parish that was celebrating a milestone as Fr Mariusz was then presented with a cake in celebration of his birthday.
A church built on community
The Parish of Mount Lawley was formally established in September 1956, with Monsignor John Wallace appointed its first parish priest. Monsignor Wallace placed the new parish under the patronage of St Paul.
As there were no church or presbytery buildings at the time, Masses and other services were initially conducted in the nearby school buildings.
By January 1957, plans and tenders for a church and presbytery were underway, although financial constraints required a smaller church than originally envisioned.
Ill health forced Monsignor Wallace to resign in February, and on 30 June 1957 Monsignor Thomas Lenihan was formally inducted as the new parish priest.
The new presbytery at 106 Rookwood Street was ready for occupation in July.
During July, August and September 1957, parishioners undertook an extraordinary fundraising effort, donating church furnishings worth £3500, with more than 150 families contributing.
Monsignor Lenihan played a central role in the campaign, while parish children collected sixpences towards the main altar, beneath which the names of parishioners were placed.
The major milestone came on Sunday 27 October 1957, the Feast of Christ the King, when Bishop John Rafferty officially opened and blessed the new St Paul’s Church.
Monsignor Lenihan celebrated the first Mass in the church at 9.30am, marking the beginning of a permanent spiritual home for the Mount Lawley parish community.
The Record of 31 October (1957) reported that Monsignor Lenihan said the “new church was a worthy dwelling place for Him…the King of Kings…Christ the King looked with affection upon the ranks of the Church militant gathered there that morning.”
