TestBuzz

WELCOME to the blessing of the refurbishment of Saint Bridget’s Catholic Church, Greythorn. The church was first blessed on August 1, 1980. The Parish Priest was Father John O’Shea, who wrote on that occasion, “A Church is a special kind of building. It is not merely the meeting place for the faith community – the house of the church, but it says something in itself and reflects to a very real extent the community it serves.”

I trust that what has been achieved, in this second phase of the church’s life, also reflects the community that it serves now and in the future.

Archbishop Frank Little DD, then Archbishop of Melbourne, first blessed the Church and congratulated the parish community on the achievement.

“Congratulations on this achievement with and for your people.” Thirty-five years later we are delighted to have Bishop Terry Curtin, the precious parish priest, now Auxiliary Bishop for the Northern region of Melbourne, to bless the renovations. On both occasions it has been the generosity and courage of the people that brought these ventures to success.

The refurbishment is a reconceptualisation, mainly of the liturgical space and narthex, based on the use of light and liturgical structures. The use of light was an innovative part of the history of Greythorn from Father O’Shea and has been retained by washing the main walls with contemporary lights in a white luminous tone.

This captures the theme of the Resurrection, previously expressed in the icon of the ‘empty tomb’, donated by the Maloney family.

That theme inspired the central artwork, the crucifix, designed by Anthony Russo from Orchard Designs, which stands large in the light of the rear wall, behind the altar.

The other liturgical elements, the ambo and baptistery, blend with the existing altar, sculptured from sandstone and sourced from Gosford, NSW. The presidential chair is local and contemporary, made by a Richmond company.

I believe that the refurbishment is both an investment in the future and a confirmation of the sacrifice and contributions of parishioners. We are a community that looks forward, as Pope Francis says, with the Joy of the Gospel.

 

The narthex contains aspects of the patrimony of the parish and will soon house the names of donors to the past and present church. It has been my honor to coordinate the efforts of so many people in refurbishing the Church.

 

I wish to thank the Project Managers, Mr Mario Landini and Mr Dao Tran; liturgical artists, Orchard Designs; Projector and Sound, Tasman AV; Builders, Ridge Developments Pty Ltd; Electrician, CPR Electrics; Flooring, Harkness Interiors; Tiles, Master Tilers & Ceramics.

 

I trust that the result is a worthy completion of the initial plans presented in outline at the 2014 Stewardship.