Mundaring Parishioners have this month celebrated the 90th anniversary of Sacred Heart Church, in a special Mass celebrated by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.
In the presence of some 250 past and present parishioners, Archbishop Costelloe was joined for the Mass by concelebrants, Parish Priest Fr John Daly, former Parish Priest Fr Phillip Fleay and assisted by Deacon Paul Reid.
“If I was to summarise the vocation of the Christian – that’s all of us whether we’re bishops, priests, deacons, religious laypeople, whoever we are – we’re all called to be together, a community of priestly people,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
Established as a parish in 1949, the Sacred Heart Church was officially blessed and opened by Monsignor Verling on Sunday January 22, 1933. Until that point, it had previously been part of the Toodyay and Midland parishes.
Historical records mark the day as a ‘Red-Letter day’ for the parishioners who saw the realisation of their long and sincere desire for a church in their locality, with the cost of the church coming to some $1140.
Many donations in kind were also made including from Mr H DeGrancy, who donated the altar in addition to the donations of vestments and sacred vessels from various religious orders and priests.
Holy water fonts were donated by the builder, Mr G Orsi and Mr B Marino and long-time parishioner and benefactor Mrs Mary Reddy donated a picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
It was Mrs Reddy and her husband John, who bought and donated the land on which the Sacred Heart Church stands today.
When Mrs Reddy passed away in 1949, she also left her property and house to the Church, which became the presbytery. Her original property is the land that surrounds the church to this day.
Parish Priest Fr John Daly said the parish has been gifted with many blessings over the past 90 years.
“The Lord has provided a wonderful history, filled with numerous faithful people who have given their time, their skills and donations and for that we are all very grateful,” Fr Daly said.
“I pray that future generations will be inspired to live a faith-filled and meaningful relationship with God, through the Mundaring Parish, always ready to demonstrate his love and mercy,” he said.
Continuing his homily, Archbishop Costelloe explained what it means to be a priestly people.
“A priestly people will be a group of people who are prepared and willing and doing their very best to offer themselves for the sake of others. We’re all called to do that,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“…that we must see ourselves as offering our lives to those we love, to those we encounter every day so that their lives are better, because we offer ourselves make ourselves a gift to others,” he said.
Archbishop Costelloe concluded by highlighting that every time we do something for someone else, especially when it costs us something, it’s a priestly action.
“We’re sharing in the priesthood of Christ who offered Himself and gave Himself completely for the people. This is what it is to be a Christian. It is what it is to be a Christian community, a parish community, in our Catholic tradition,” he said.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, Archbishop Costelloe also blessed special wooden crosses for parishioners to remember the occasion.
