03 AUGUST 2023
www.therecord.com.au
Edition #444
PALMYRA PARISHIONERS REMINDED TO KEEP FAITH ALIVE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AT 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Archbishop Costelloe with Palmyra parish priest Fr Benedict Lee, second from right, Episcopal Vicar, Education and Faith Formation, Fr Vincent Glynn, together with acolytes and altar servers. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.
By Jamie O'Brien
God is great and has done marvelous deeds over the long history of this parish, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has recently told Palmyra parishioners. Speaking at the Mass to celebrate the 100 anniversary of the parish, Sunday 23 July, Archbishop Costelloe explained that all current members or friends of the parish, or past parishioners, know that the parish community of today is the inheritor of the extraordinary commitment of the clergy, the religious and the laity who over one hundred years have built the community of faith. “You would also understand that it is the task of today’s parish community to keep this faith alive so that future generations will receive what we
faithfully pass on to them with gratitude,“ Archbishop Costelloe explained. “This is why Pope Francis would ask us not only to look back in gratitude, which we do in a special way today, but also to live the present moment, with all its challenges, with passion and remain open and hopeful as the future unfolds,” he said. Highlights of the past 100 years were displayed in a special video created for the anniversary by parishioner Harry Neesham, highlighting how the the suburb of Palmyra was established in 1912, when Mr J Charles bought and subdivided 425 acres and laid out a township. Families moved into the area over the next 10 years and in 1923, then Perth Bishop Matthew Gibney determined there should be a parish established.
This parish was to be serviced from North Fremantle and would extend from Petra Street to Canning Bridge and south to Spearwood. The Oblate Fathers purchased two acres on the corner of Foss Street and Hammad Street, intending to expand but subsequently agreed to sell their land to the Parish for what it cost - £150. Father Humphrey Kearin was appointed Parish Priest and upon receiving financial guarantees from 40 families the parish set out to build a hall. The hall was to serve as both school and church and the naming would be the privilege of the person donating the altar. Mr John Blencowe and his wife donated the altar and named the parish St Gerard’s. Full Text available at
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