04 AUGUST 2022
www.therecord.com.au
Edition #394
APPLECROSS PARISH CELEBRATES 70-YEAR HISTORY AND RENEWS COMMITMENT TO BEING A MISSIONARY COMMUNITY
Left to Right: Fr Philip Fleay, Fr Peter Whitely VG, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and Fr Nelson Po cuts the cake at the celebrations. PHOTO: MICHELLE TAN.
By Michelle Tan
St Benedict’s Church in Applecross celebrated its 70th anniversary with a week of festivities featuring special masses, morning teas, and a cocktail evening. The final celebratory Mass at 9.30am on 31 July was celebrated by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, alongside Father Nelson Po who has been the Parish Priest since 2016. Former Parish priests Vicar General Fr Peter Whitely VG (2003 -2013), St Charles Seminary Rector Fr Phillip Fleay (2013-2016), CEWA Religious Education Director, Deacon Mark Powell (Former St Benedict’s School Principal for 7 years), and Father John Paul Maiko (current resident priest) were also present for the occasion.
The richness of the diverse and multi-cultural nature of the parish community was demonstrated in the displays of historical artifacts, photographs and expressed in the prayers of the faithful delivered in different languages. The St Benedict’s choir and music ministry were also joined by Aquinas College Schola Cantorum with director Hugh Lydon. The choir was present in acknowledgment of their connections with the parish through choir scholarships. This collaboration was further testimony of the parish’s influence on the wider community. At the conclusion of the Mass, Fr Nelson presented special plaques to the family members of foundation Parish Priest, Fr Albert Lynch, as well as the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions who first established
the St Benedict’s School. In his homily to an overflowing church, Archbishop Costelloe reflected on the gift of the parish and invited parishioners to “look back with gratitude, and to look around us and particularly to look forward with hope, not so much in ourselves, certainly that but much more basically, in God and God's presence with us.” Reflecting on the journey of the Plenary Council, Archbishop Costelloe shared that “We're beginning to understand more deeply that the mission of the Church and the responsibility rests in the hands of all of us, not just the bishops because we're all baptised.” Full Text available at
www.therecord.com.au 1