LAST Wednesday, Sept 7, in what was mainly a school celebration, we honoured our patroness, Saint Bridget. The children brought forward the St Bridget Cross and Vision Statement of the School in procession.
In my homily I spoke of the history of Bridget. But, for those interested, I am including today a brief history of our parish:
1911 Surrey Hills parish established,
1949 Five acres (2.02 ha) of land purchased for the future St Bridget in Sweyn St at a cost of 1250 pounds.
1957 Church/School built on site
1959 Balwyn Parish separated from Surrey Hills and given the care of St Bridget’s Greythorn.
1961 St Bridget’s becomes a parish in its own right. Fr Pietzsch appointed first parish priest
1963 Presbytery built, blessed and opened
1964 A block of four brick classrooms added to school
1968 Three terrapin classrooms acquired
1974 Fr McLaughlin appointed parish priest,
Frank Doolan appointed first lay-principal at St Bridget’s school
1978 Fr J O’Shea appointed parish priest
1980 St Bridget’s new church built, blessed and opened – November 7
1984 Fr P Ryan appointed parish priest
1986 Solemn dedication of the church, and blessing of new school library by Archbishop Frank Little
1989 Installation of pipe organ
2008 Fr Terry Curtin appointed parish priest
2015 Fr Dennis Rochford appointed parish administrator
2015 Church refurbishing and renovations completed – November