Above: Parish priest Father Bernard Mahony with Catholic Bishop of Sale Jeremiah Coffey as he speaks to the gathering before declaring the buildings open.PAKENHAM’S Catholic community celebrated the opening of new facilities at St Patrick’s School and Parish on Sunday.
The Most Reverend Jeremiah Coffey, Bishop of Sale, opened the St Patrick’s community development at a ceremony to bless and open the buildings at 2.30pm.
The complex, divided in two parts, includes a new administration building for St Patrick’s Primary School and a new parish centre with a hall, kitchen, meeting rooms, offices and playgroup facilities.
The project has been funded locally, and a significant bequest made to the church by Ellen Mulcahy, who was a parishioner of St Patrick’s for many years, contributed significantly to the $4 million project.
“Parishioners have given generously to the church over many years and we are grateful to past parishioners as well, many of whom have passed on,” Parish priest Father Bernard Mahony said.
About 500 parishioners and guests attended the ceremony and afternoon tea.
The decision to build the complex came five years ago after a survey of parishioners was undertaken by the Parish Pastoral Council.
Parishioners were asked to write a wish list for what they would like to see in the St Patrick’s Parish community.
The results of that survey showed a need was felt for a community centre.
Parents, teachers and children at St Patrick’s Primary School were asked about their needs for the following 10 years.
“It is expected that the school numbers will double from just over 300 to between 500 and 600 pupils over the next five years,” school principal Mick O’Brien said.
Fr Mahony said Sunday was the culmination of planning and forward thinking.
“Gone are the days of church halls used for half a dozen events a year,” he said. “Now a facility must offer more for a wellrounded opportunity for use by many diverse groups and the needs of a thriving faith community.”
Mr O’Brien said the school had vastly improved facilities as well being able to make use of the parish hall.
Fr Mahony said preschoolage children and their parents were already making good use of the playgroup facility in the parish centre.
“Importantly, the project is enlivened by some significant architectural sculptures and other artworks,” he said.
“These works help to focus our thoughts.”
A square has been created between the school and the parish with a colonnade in which the words of John 17:21 – May they all be one Father, as you are in me and I am in you – have been inscribed in a ribbon of iron.
Presentation Sister Maria Lazzaro was one of the speakers at the opening, with many of the Presentation Sisters, who previously ran the parish school, returning for the celebration.
