Lumen Christi Catholic Parishes Wollongong
Three Parishes at a Glance
In the 1830s, the nearest churches to the Illawarra were located in Campbelltown and Appin. Once the Saint Francis Xavier church was built in 1838 people were able to get to Mass from as far away as Bulli. As population centres grew throughout the Illawarra new churches were built at Kiama, Albion Park and Bulli. Then, throughout the twentieth century more churches were built to cope with the rapid growth in populations. Today, there are sixteen parishes along the coastal strip from Helensburgh to Kiama. Some of these parishes have more than one church. Most of them have just the one priest.
In the latter decades of the twentieth century our society has undergone enormous social transformation. Transport has made access to the churches much easier and, today it is not uncommon for parishioners to move from parish to parish. As our society continues to progress we need to find new ways of being church that are relevant to our circumstances. We are committed to our Cathedral Church as well as elevating Saint John Vianney to the status of Co-Cathedral. At the same time we are taking advantage of our common heritage, as well as our geographic proximity, to create a pastoral region.
The combined parishes of the Pastoral Region now has a Catholic Population of 12,000 (2006 Census - total population of 42,500), making it the fourth largest parish in the Diocese of Wollongong (after Camden, Nowra and Shellharbour) and the 35th largest parish in Australia.
[1] Saint Francis Xavier’s church was established by Monsignor John Rigney in 1838. This was the first Catholic place of worship in the Illawarra. Archbishop Polding had a fondness for the Illawarra. The existing church was begun in 1848, was extended at the turn of the century and, again, in the 1930s. In 1951 the church was raised to cathedral status when Wollongong was declared a diocese by Pope Pius XII. The first Bishop, Thomas McCabe and his successor, William Murray, had plans for the construction of a new cathedral. However, after the restoration projects of Bishop Philip Wilson in 1999 and Bishop Peter Ingham in 2009, the current Bishop decided not to proceed with this plan. With a rapidly expanding region in the Macarthur and the downturn in the world economy Bishop Peter confirmed his decision by dedicating the Cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier on 16 March, 2010, on the death anniversary of Archbishop John Bede Polding, one hundred and sixty-two years after the church was begun.
Over the years the Wollongong parish has given birth to other parishes. In this sense, Saint Francis Xavier is truly the mother church of all the parishes in the Illawarra. In 2006 there were approximately 4,300 Catholics in the parish. It has an ageing population. One feature of the parish is the high percentage of visitors who come to the Masses.
[2] The first Balgownie church was erected in 1908 and it seated 120 people. This church – along with the old School of Arts in Elliotts Road and the old Council Chambers on the Princes Highway - served the people of Balgownie and Fairy Meadow until Fairy Meadow was established as a parish in 1947. Father W. Neilson was the first parish priest but Father W. McCormack, “the builder”, built the present church of Saint John Vianney, the school, the Convent and the present church of Mater Dolorosa. In 2006 there were approximately 6,300 Catholics in the Fairy Meadow/Balgownie Parish. There is the strong presence of the Italian Community who have weekly Sunday and Thursday Mass. The Vietnamese Community celebrates Mass every Sunday and every first Friday. The new Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School will open its doors on the Fairy Meadow site in 2012. It will combine the best of the Good Samaritan tradition at both Saint John Vianney and Saint Francis Xavier’s schools.
[3] Saint Brigid’s Parish, Gwynneville began in 1948. After using the local community hall, a decision was taken to build a church servicing the areas of Gwynneville and Keiraville. Father John Evans was the first pastor. In more recent years the parish has been served by the priests residing at the Cathedral. In the last ten years or so the parishes of Saint Francis Xavier and Saint Brigid have moved more closely together: there is one Pastoral Council and one Finance Council. In 2006 there were approximately 2,000 Catholics in the Gwynneville parish. Situated near the University of Wollongong, there are a growing number of young families moving in to the parish. There is a weekly Spanish-speaking Mass and every second Sunday the diocesan Latin Mass is celebrated. Students from around the world make up the choir for the Sunday Mass. There is also a vibrant Children’s Liturgy.
In the latter decades of the twentieth century our society has undergone enormous social transformation. Transport has made access to the churches much easier and, today it is not uncommon for parishioners to move from parish to parish. As our society continues to progress we need to find new ways of being church that are relevant to our circumstances. We are committed to our Cathedral Church as well as elevating Saint John Vianney to the status of Co-Cathedral. At the same time we are taking advantage of our common heritage, as well as our geographic proximity, to create a pastoral region.
The combined parishes of the Pastoral Region now has a Catholic Population of 12,000 (2006 Census - total population of 42,500), making it the fourth largest parish in the Diocese of Wollongong (after Camden, Nowra and Shellharbour) and the 35th largest parish in Australia.
[1] Saint Francis Xavier’s church was established by Monsignor John Rigney in 1838. This was the first Catholic place of worship in the Illawarra. Archbishop Polding had a fondness for the Illawarra. The existing church was begun in 1848, was extended at the turn of the century and, again, in the 1930s. In 1951 the church was raised to cathedral status when Wollongong was declared a diocese by Pope Pius XII. The first Bishop, Thomas McCabe and his successor, William Murray, had plans for the construction of a new cathedral. However, after the restoration projects of Bishop Philip Wilson in 1999 and Bishop Peter Ingham in 2009, the current Bishop decided not to proceed with this plan. With a rapidly expanding region in the Macarthur and the downturn in the world economy Bishop Peter confirmed his decision by dedicating the Cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier on 16 March, 2010, on the death anniversary of Archbishop John Bede Polding, one hundred and sixty-two years after the church was begun.
Over the years the Wollongong parish has given birth to other parishes. In this sense, Saint Francis Xavier is truly the mother church of all the parishes in the Illawarra. In 2006 there were approximately 4,300 Catholics in the parish. It has an ageing population. One feature of the parish is the high percentage of visitors who come to the Masses.
[2] The first Balgownie church was erected in 1908 and it seated 120 people. This church – along with the old School of Arts in Elliotts Road and the old Council Chambers on the Princes Highway - served the people of Balgownie and Fairy Meadow until Fairy Meadow was established as a parish in 1947. Father W. Neilson was the first parish priest but Father W. McCormack, “the builder”, built the present church of Saint John Vianney, the school, the Convent and the present church of Mater Dolorosa. In 2006 there were approximately 6,300 Catholics in the Fairy Meadow/Balgownie Parish. There is the strong presence of the Italian Community who have weekly Sunday and Thursday Mass. The Vietnamese Community celebrates Mass every Sunday and every first Friday. The new Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School will open its doors on the Fairy Meadow site in 2012. It will combine the best of the Good Samaritan tradition at both Saint John Vianney and Saint Francis Xavier’s schools.
[3] Saint Brigid’s Parish, Gwynneville began in 1948. After using the local community hall, a decision was taken to build a church servicing the areas of Gwynneville and Keiraville. Father John Evans was the first pastor. In more recent years the parish has been served by the priests residing at the Cathedral. In the last ten years or so the parishes of Saint Francis Xavier and Saint Brigid have moved more closely together: there is one Pastoral Council and one Finance Council. In 2006 there were approximately 2,000 Catholics in the Gwynneville parish. Situated near the University of Wollongong, there are a growing number of young families moving in to the parish. There is a weekly Spanish-speaking Mass and every second Sunday the diocesan Latin Mass is celebrated. Students from around the world make up the choir for the Sunday Mass. There is also a vibrant Children’s Liturgy.