Cottesloe Mosman Park Parish community have last weekend been blessed with the re-opening and blessing of their newly renovated hall on Sunday 2 March.
Celebrating the occasion was Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton who was joined by Parish Priest Fr Marcelo Parra-Gonzalez, Assistant Priest Fr Grzegorz Rapcewicz, Redemptoris Mater Seminary Rector, Fr Michael Moore SM and Midland Parish Priest Fr Rodrigo Da Costa-Ponte.
More than 500 people from across Perth came together for the occasion, including builder Peter Colli, his family and building team.
Originally opened as a parish and school hall on 8 November 1925 by then Archbishop Patrick Clune, the building was said to have cost about £4000 pounds.
It was built to cope with the growing intellectual and spiritual needs of the young generation of Cottesloe.
At its peak, it was housing 130 students; the school closed in 1962 with students sent to Loreto in Claremont.
In his homily for the occasion, Bishop Sproxton recalled his own experience with his own teacher, Peter Mitchell, who instilled in him the values of the Gospel through the educational approach “Making Jesus Real.”
Highlighting the relational aspect of Jesus’ teachings, Bishop Sproxton described the dynamic between a teacher and their students, urging the community to view Jesus as the ultimate teacher whose lessons carry through to everyday life.
“The best teacher knows the content and can pass it on so we can understand,” he remarked, drawing a parallel to how faith leaders should engage with their communities.
In a touching note, Bishop Sproxton also conveyed Pope Francis’ recent messages of hope and renewal, especially poignant as the Pope battles illness.
Bishop Sproxton shared insights from the Holy Father’s letter marking the beginning of Lent, calling it a journey of conversion and hope reminiscent of the Hebrews’ exodus from Egypt.
This journey, according to Pope Francis, should be one of communal support and self-examination, questioning daily whether one’s actions contribute to a shared journey of faith and hope.
Sharing his experience for the occasion, parishioner and builder Peter Colli said the parish now has a tasteful, welcoming hall that all can be proud of, most importantly for the future.
Some of the renovations of the hall included, the removal of all external render, new toilet block with new plumbing fixtures and re-location of the kitchen with major kitchen upgrade, increase incoming power, removal of the old ceiling and replace with new ceiling, new air-conditioning, new audio and projector system, new internal and external lights and a new security cameras and alarm.
“I am very proud to announce on behalf of everyone involved, that we have completed the project four months in advance and 20 per cent under budget,” Mr Colli said.
“This couldn’t have happened without a strong team effort and I’m very grateful to all of those involved,” he said.
In addition to the parish finance team, construction team, Mr Colli also expressed his thanks to Fr Marcelo and Fr Grzegorz for their continued forward thinking.
“To leave our parish in a better place, long after they leave. I’m sure you would agree, he has inspired many of us,” Mr Colli explained.
“This project has delivered a strong sense of fulfilment, proudness and giving back to our parish,” he said.
In blessing the newly renovated hall, Bishop Sproxton commended the collective effort that made the renovation possible, calling the facility a “very beautiful and functional asset” for the parish and neighbouring communities.
He expressed confidence that the new hall would become a hub for workshops and faith formation, enhancing the parish’s capability to host and support a variety of church functions and community gatherings.