The Road to becoming a recognised parish has not always been smooth for Pater Noster in Myaree, making the celebration for its 50th anniversary all the sweeter.
The small parish, flanked by the large parish of Applecross, applied several times for permission to build a church, only to be rejected by the diocesan planning committee on the grounds that the parish was not viable.
In 2002, Fr Larry Reitmeyer was appointed to test the parish’s viability and to recommend whether to build a church or suppress the parish.
At the time, Mass had been held in the homes of parishioners and school classrooms in the absence of a proper church, transforming two classrooms into a Mass centre.
Many parishioners longed for a worship space that could rightly be called a church.
The parish community responded to Fr Larry’s challenge with great enthusiasm, proving they could raise enough money and sustain the finances of the church.
After a long campaign of fundraising and organising, an official church of the parish was completed and consecrated in 2007.
A celebratory Mass was held at the church to celebrate its 50th anniversary last month.
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe concelebrated the Mass with parish priest and chaplain to the Korean community, Fr Joseph Lee, and chaplain to the Indonesian community, Fr Siriakus Ndolu, while Deacon John Kiely assisted at the altar.
Three choirs – Indonesian, Korean and Pater Noster – were combined under the efforts of choir mistress Ann Chew to perform a combined showcase marking the celebration.
Fr Joseph’s sister, Sylvia, performed a traditional Korean dance, adapted to express a Christian story, which depicted total commitment and devotion to Jesus and God.
In her homeland of Korea, Sylvia is a professional Christian liturgical dancer in the traditional Korean style.
An after-Mass morning tea was attended by the principal and deputies of parish school Mel Maria as well as the Mayor of Melville, Janet Woollard.
Sister Eileen Johnson represented the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, who staffed the fledgling parish school in 1963, before they were replaced by the Sisters of Mercy Australia, represented by Sr Joan Smith and Marie Fitzgerald.