The spirit of thanksgiving was palpable at Woodvale Parish on Sunday, 18 May 2025, as the community gathered to mark a significant milestone – the 30th anniversary of the consecration of their Church.
The 9.30am Mass saw every pew filled, with parishioners overflowing into additional spaces, reflecting the enduring vibrancy of this northern Perth faith community.
Unfortunately, Parish Priest Fr Stan Bendkowski SDS, who began his ministry at Woodvale on 12 June 2023, was unwell with COVID-19 and was unable to be physically present. Isolating in the Presbytery House out of care for the community, Fr Stan joined the celebrations via livestream.
In a message shared during the Mass, he reflected: “There is an old proverb — ‘If you want to make God smile, tell Him your plans.’ My plans did not go quite the way I had intended, but this day will still be a celebration of God’s grace for this community.”
In a beautiful show of support and fraternity, Fr Francis Kot SDS, Vice Superior of the Salvatorians in the Australian Region, stepped in to lead the Eucharistic celebration.
He was joined by former parish priests Fr Trevor Simons and Fr Laurence Murphy SDS, warmly welcomed by parishioners who remembered them with great affection.
From the outset, the Mass was brought to life by the joyful presence of students from St Luke’s Catholic Primary School. A liturgical dance at the beginning and their harmonious voices throughout the choir, under the guidance of Mrs Olivia Robertson, elevated the celebration and brought special vibrancy to the liturgy.
In his homily, Fr Francis spoke from the heart about what truly makes a church sacred. “Most of you have an experience of building or purchasing a house.
But a building does not make a home, the people who live there do,” he said. “This church, completed exactly 30 years ago on 2 April, was just a building. But it became the house of God when you came in.”
He reminded the congregation that the Church is not just a building but a spiritual home where God’s presence is encountered.
“God lives here, but God lives among us when we come together to celebrate. Jesus promised, ‘Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am with you.’ We are one body of Christ with different gifts and ministries. That’s what makes this God’s house.”
Drawing on the wisdom of children, Fr Francis shared a touching moment from a recent school Mass.
“Two Year One students came into Church and said, ‘It’s so beautiful here,’ and ‘It’s so quiet.’ These young hearts recognised that this place is different. It is a sacred space where we receive Jesus through the sacraments and are sent out to spread the Good News.”
Fr Francis also highlighted the vital role of the priesthood in the life of the Church.
Quoting Saint John Vianney, he said, “The priest is not a priest for himself… After God, the priest is everything. Leave a parish 20 years without priests, and they will worship beasts.”
He urged the community to pray for their priests and for more vocations, echoing Archbishop Costelloe’s Vocation Sunday message: “We priests are not perfect. Pray for us and pray for many new vocations. We do not want these beautiful churches to stand empty in the future.”
A Journey Through Time: The History of Woodvale Parish
The Woodvale community’s spiritual journey began long before the Church’s construction.
Originally established as Kingsley-Woodvale Parish in February 1987, its roots were sown by Sr Joan Smith, a Sister of Mercy from Perth, who spent a gathering people together and celebrating Mass in parishioners’ homes.
The first Parish Priest, Fr Nicholas McSweeney, moved into a house on Duffy Terrace in February 1987.
He celebrated the parish’s first Mass on 28 February at Woodvale High School. At the time, around 100 families made up the parish.
Tragically, Fr Nick passed away suddenly on 2 February 1991 while preparing for Mass, aged just 58.
Fr Laurence Murphy, an Irish Salvatorian priest, succeeded him in June 1991. Fr Murphy played a pivotal role in both community-building and the construction of the parish church, which was consecrated on 2 April 1995 by Archbishop Barry James Hickey.
Fr Pat Turner followed as Parish Priest from 2001 to 2007, succeeded by Fr Trevor Simons in 2007. Fr Trevor’s ministry was deeply appreciated, but he was forced to step down in 2011 due to health reasons.
From 2012 to 2018, Fr Francisco Mascarenhas served the parish, overseeing significant developments including the air conditioning system, a columbarium, a grotto to Our Lady of Fatima, the installation of a statue of St Luke, and audiovisual upgrades.
Fr Stephen Jean Paul Victor OSM then served from 2019 until May 2023, when he moved on, and the current Parish Priest, Fr Stan Bendkowski SDS, began his service.
Looking Forward with Faith and Fellowship
During the celebrations, Parish Pastoral Council Chairperson Patricia Starkie affirmed the community’s commitment to looking ahead with faith and fellowship — dedicated to remaining a welcoming, inclusive, vibrant, and faith-filled parish where Christ is at the center of all they do, and where St Luke’s continues to be a true spiritual home.
Fr Stan’s thank you note, read aloud by Fr Francis, offered a heartfelt blessing:
“May God bless each of you for your unwavering faith, continuous support, hard work, dedication, as well as your willingness to come together and celebrate as a community.”
The morning concluded with a joyful parish morning tea, where families and friends gathered to share laughter, memories, and stories of their journey together. It was as much a celebration of fellowship as it was of faith — a living expression of the Church beyond the sanctuary walls.
A highlight of the gathering was the cutting of the anniversary cakes, joyfully entrusted to Fr Laurence Murphy — the very priest who had helped lay the parish’s foundations and who had just marked his 89th birthday.
With warmth in his voice, Fr Murphy shared a parting wish:
“I hope I’m still around in 11 years to come back and celebrate with you all again — when I’m 100!”
Amid laughter and applause, a profound sense of gratitude, legacy, and hope filled the air — reminding all present that what defines Woodvale Parish is not only the memory of its past, but the strength of its foundation for generations still to come.