Five Dock’s Catholic community ended months of 100th anniversary events with a spectacular weekend of celebration and public witness of the feast of All Saints.
Parish priest Father Matthew Solomon and assistant priest Father Nicholas Rynne celebrated an evening Mass for the parish’s feast day of All Hallows’ on 1 November, which drew hundreds to the church.
After a barbeque dinner about 200 parishioners formed a procession to take four special statues of popular saints – St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, St Joseph, St Anthony of Padua and St Therese of Lisieux – through the streets of the inner west suburb.
The following day saw a gala dinner at Aqua Luna in Drummoyne attended by more than 300 people including members of the various parish and outreach groups, priests past and present, Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas and local MP John Sidoti.
Celebrations to mark the parish’s centenary was launched in February with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Anthony Randazzo, and included a colour fun run in March, a large Good Friday outdoor procession, community day, a 100 League social outreach fundraiser, and special Masses and dinners with past parish priests.
Chair of the centenary committee Louisa Gatto said that it had been a year to bring the community together and that the parish hoped to build on its momentum.
“All we are trying to do is support people’s growth in faith and closeness to God,” she said.
“All the events were very well received and well attended and last weekend was just fantastic.”
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