A Mass celebrated by Bishop Terry Brady, auxiliary bishop of Sydney, on 9 August drew to an end a year of celebrations marking the foundation of St Patrick’s parish, Sutherland.
Bishop Brady joined parish priest Fr John Knight and Fr Michael Lanzon in concelebrating the Mass in the 33-year-old church.
“We had a wonderful celebration of families and parishioners,” Fr John said.
“Parish, primary school and college all joined together to celebrate the completion of this milestone anniversary.”
In presiding over the Mass, Bishop Brady was “very much mindful of the wonderful heritage that we have here at St Patrick’s, beginning with our founding parish priest, Fr Tom Dunlea, who was also the founder of Boys Town”.
The anniversary was an occasion to honour the “wonderful rich tapestry of the lives of so many parishioners that have been part of building up the parish over 80 years”.
“Together with the religious sisters and brothers, the Sisters of Mercy, the Presentation Sisters and the Christian Brothers, they have all played an integral role in creating and strengthening this community.”
St Patrick’s is now looking to the future, the priest said. It plans to “build on the wonderful foundation as each generation does, going from good to great, to be a community of evangelisation, and to continue to spread the Good News for generations to come”.
Spiritually, the parish door is always open, he said “so that people can come and feel welcome, and build their relationship with God who gives so much”.