ST MARY OF THE ANGELS CHURCH

PORT LINCOLN       CATHOLIC

PAUL SCOTT

HISTORY

 

An excellent official history can be found as a pdf document at

https://www.pp.catholic.org.au/__files/f/2228/History%20Port%20Lincoln%20.pdf

 

Other local reports are given below.

 

History
St Mary of the Angels was first established in 1869 by Father Henderson and opened by Bishop Shiel. The second church building was established by Fr Leo Kelly and opened by Bishop Spence in 1926. The current church was established through the work of Fr Lawrie Quinn and opened by Bishop DeCampo in 1986. It initially serviced the majority of Eyre Peninsula but now it works in the city and the close surrounding districts.

St Mary of the Angels shared its parish grounds with St Joseph’s School and boarding facilities, and previously the Sisters of St Joseph. The sisters, including Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop were part of this Parish from 1874 until 2011. St Mary of the Angels has a congregation of over 300 families. It has many established ministries that include Lectors, Hospitality, Musicians, Special Ministers, Children’s Liturgy, Hospital visitors and Leaders of the liturgy. There are opportunities to participate in other areas such as collection, flower arrangement, prayer groups, CWL, St Vincent de Paul and Fred’s Van.

https://www.pp.catholic.org.au/about-our-parishes/port-lincoln

 

Pt Lincoln celebrates 150 years [2019 Report]
The name of St Mary of the Angels was given to the first Catholic Church in the town on August 29 1869 by Fr Modestus Henderson, a Capuchin Franciscan friar who came from Kadina to take charge of the Eyre Peninsula Mission. He arrived in Port Lincoln in January 1869 and launched an appeal to establish the Port Lincoln Mission. He requested that people send in a few postage stamps, promising that soon there would be a fine church in honour of Our Lady. In her book ‘By Horse and Buggy: A History of the Catholic Parish of Port Lincoln’, Helen McCormack writes that postage stamps came in by the thousands and Fr Henderson purchased a 20-acre block of land to build a church and presbytery with an area for a Catholic cemetery. Bishop Sheil laid the foundation stone of the new church in August 1869.

The anniversary celebrations began with a memorial Mass for deceased parishioners, bishops, priests and Religious of the parish on Thursday August 29. The Mass was celebrated by Emeritus Bishop Eugene Hurley, former Bishop of Port Pirie. Following the Mass, a memorial was dedicated to Fr Laurie Quinn who was parish priest of Port Lincoln for 19 years. The following night a jubilee youth Mass and parish youth group presentation was held and on Saturday evening Bishop Greg O’Kelly SJ confirmed children in the parish. More than 200 parishioners and guests attended the Jubilee Mass celebrated by Bishop O’Kelly. Guests were later entertained by Charlee Watt, Dana and Kylie Hurrell and dancers from Odette’s School of Dance while enjoying lunch in a marquee. Parish priest Fr Ben Mkuchu reminded those in attendance that ‘we are literally standing on the shoulders of those who went before us’ and acknowledged the strength of persistent faith shown by the founding parishioners. A vote of thanks was given to all the visiting clergy, in particular Fr Steve Ardill, who worked tirelessly to bring the celebrations to fruition.

Some of the memorabilia on view included footage of the 1939 Solemn Mass held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the City of Port Lincoln; a display and history of a chair that was commissioned and used by Fr Patrick Kelly in the early 1900s, and the papal medallion awarded to Mr Tom Maxwell, generously loaned by his family.

https://thesoutherncross.org.au/news/2019/09/24/pt-lincoln-celebrates-150-years/

 

THE FIRST CHURCH
The steamer ‘Lubra’ brought on her last trip Bishop Shiel and the Rev Father Henderson. On Sunday the Bishop confirmed some young people in the long vacant Baptist Chapel, which the Roman Catholics took the use of some months ago. In the afternoon the Bishop, in full canonicals, attended by the Rev Mr Henderson, his crook-bearer, and three boys in white surplices walked to the ground lately bought. There, with the rites and ceremonies peculiar to the Church to which they belong, he laid the foundation stone of a place of worship about to be built. [Ref: Adelaide Observer 4-9-1869] Unfortunately no one had remembered to prepare a stone, so one was borrowed from the abandoned site of an Anglican Church at Kirton Point. [Ref: St Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic Church & Parish History] The Catholic church is to be opened before long. Mr R Anderson was the contractor and builder for both the church and the minister’s residence. Situated on a rise at the rear of the township, it presents a pretty appearance and the builder has creditably finished both church and residence. [Ref: South Australian Register 24-1-1870] On Sunday, January 30, the new Roman Catholic Chapel at Port Lincoln was opened with the usual imposing ceremonies by the Revs J Smyth, Vicar-General, Archdeacon Reynolds, and Father Henderson. A description of the building has been previously given, and the exterior appearance reflects great credit upon Mr R Anderson, of Wallaroo, who was the contractor, faithfully carried out the design and specifications of the architect. The interior fittings, made under a separate agreement by another tradesman, are substantial in construction and elegant in style. [Ref: Evening Journal 2-2-1870] Father Henderson had chosen what he thought was the highest point of the Church land to build the new Church. Records at the Government Office in Adelaide had been destroyed and it was later discovered that the Church had been built on a part of a Government Reserve. The error was rectified by an act of Parliament ten years later when an extra ten acres was transferred to the Port Lincoln Catholic Church. [Ref: St Mary of the Angels Parish Records] The golden jubilee of the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Port Lincoln, was celebrated on Sunday 31 August (says the Southern Cross) the fiftieth anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone by Bishop Shiel. Of all those who assisted Father Henderson to build the church 50 years ago, only 14 survive. These 14 were invited to dine with the missioner at the presbytery on Sunday, and a happy reunion took place. Father Kelly presided and extended a hearty welcome to all. The jubilarians recounted incidents typical of the hardships endured 50 years ago by that great missioner, Father Henderson. [Ref: Chronicle 20-9-1919]

THE SECOND CHURCH
A very large assemblage gathered on Sunday afternoon at the site of the new Catholic Church and Convent to witness the laying of the foundation stone by Archbishop Spence. Nearly £900 was donated during the proceedings toward the reduction of the debt, which being additional to a large sum already in hand will greatly diminish the cares of those responsible for the new edifices. [Ref: Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune (Cowell) 14-8-1925] On Sunday the new Roman Catholic Church and convent school were opened by Archbishop Spence. There was a very large gathering of members of the Church, many of whom travelled long distances to be present at the ceremony. The Archbishop was assisted by several priests. This was a red letter day in the history of Roman Catholicism on the West Coast, and certainly one for the town. The new buildings have cost upwards of £6,000 and on Sunday the amount collected on the spot was more than £900, which makes the building almost free from debt. [Ref: West Coast Sentinel (Streaky Bay) 13-3-1926]

THE THIRD CHURCH
The present St Mary of the Angels ... . The newest church was opened 29 June 1986 by Bishop F P DeCampo. The church of 1925 is now the hall.

https://www.flickriver.com/photos/129023979@N05/48846095173/