The carillon of bells at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church in Mullewa rang out to announce the commencement of the 100th anniversary of the Laying of the Foundation Stone on Saturday 14September.
A crowd of 300 people gathered to be part of this milestone event, with Mass celebrated by Geraldton Bishop Michael Morrissey and concelebrated by Geraldton Emeritus Bishop Justin Bianchini, Mullewa Parish Priest Fr Robert O’Byran, Geraldton Director of Heritage, Fr Robert Cross, and fellow Geraldton clergy Fr Brian Ahearn, Fr Larry Rodillas, Fr Bernard Balaraj and Fr Joel Nyongesa.
The Choir of St Mary’s Cathedral Perth along with several choir members from SFX Cathedral Geraldton, joined by two violinists, all under the direction of St Mary’s Cathedral Director of Music and Principal Organist Jacinta Jakovcevic, filled the choir loft and provided the musical backdrop for the Solemn High Mass.
Several locals and past parishioners served the Mass, read the Readings and Prayers of the Faithful, and brought up the offertory gifts.
Following the Mass, Bishop Morrissey launched a Commemorative book which had been compiled by Kerry Marriott and Tony Critch entitled ‘Laying the Stone’. The book is available from the Monsignor Hawes Heritage Centre Museum in Geraldton.
Fr Robert Cross announced that Monsignor Hawes can now be called ‘Servant of God John Cyril Hawes’ as the process of inquiring into his life to determine whether or not he might one day be declared a saint has commenced.
On behalf of the Monsignor Hawes Heritage Incorporated, Fr Robert Cross also launched the OLMC Church Precinct Project, a major fundraising campaign to restore and conserve the Mullewa Church and Priesthouse.
A community mosaic was also installed to commemorate the anniversary and was unveiled by Mayor Jerry Clune and Nils Hay from the Midwest Development Commission, assisted by Lara Dalton MLA representing the Minister for Regional Development.
The Mosaic was blessed by Bishop Morrissey, with Natalie Hillier from the Mullewa CRC thanking the Commission for funding the Project.
Following lunch, which was served in the OLMC School Grounds, a tour was conducted to Mass Rock and the Pioneer Cemetery where wreaths were laid on the graves of two children, Iris McDermott, who passed away at the school, and Selby Arnold, an altar boy of Fr Hawes, who drowned in the Railway Dam 100 years ago.
This was a joyful occasion for the many past residents of Mullewa who returned and renewed friendships formed through their association with the community of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, and had been inspired by the spirituality and resilience of the founding Parish Priest and architect/builder of the Church Mgr John Hawes.