Our story so far -page 2.......
The infant years of St Williams was in the era when the Church was on the verge of change and to quote Fr Daley we were ready to rush out and take the Vatican II changes. We did just this in every sense of the word. We are the People of God working collaboratively to build the Kingdom of God in our small area of the world and beyond. We have been blessed with prayerful, gifted pastors to lead us - Frs Brian Daley, Jim Smith, Tom Elich, John Kilinko, Denis Scanlan, Luke Reed, John Barlow, Ian Wren, Houng, Morgan Batt, James ODonoghue John Hong, for a short period of time, Erik Quinteros and Patrick Lim, Stephen Byrnes and our present parish priest Frank Lourigan. With these pastors and generous parishioners who have given financial and material support and time abundantly, we are here today, proud of our home parish and looking to the future.
In the beginning we were financially challenged, but - spirit filled! At another time the notice in the newsletter stated that our financial situation was in distress. Balancing the budget always presents challenges and today, our Parish Adminstration and Community co-ordinators, Planned Giving and Finance Team and Collectors ensure that our needs are met and our dreams take shape. How were we able to move forward so strongly in those early days? From the stories told it was the faith and prayer of the people

Parish Administration

Finance Team

Planned Giving Team

Samford Co-ordinators Group

Collectors

Prayer Groups

Meditation Group

Charismatic Group

Divine Mercy Friday

Rosary Group

Tuesday Prayer Group

The Parish continues to offer the opportunity to celebrate Eucharist each day and for the community to join in communal prayer, with dedicated prayer groups, a meditation group and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Each day of the week, groups know that where two or three are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of them. In the very beginning it was the desire of families to educate their children in the catholic tradition that gave life to this parish.
Today St Williams School, 53 years old, is joined by St Andrews, established at Ferny Grove 25years ago. And to meet the needs of the 21st century families, both schools support After School Hours Care. To evangelise is the call to all of us Baptised into Christ. This happens in as many varied ways as there are possibilities in each of our lives. Each of our ministries and outreach projects hold the possibility.

Children's Education

St Williams School

St Andrews School

OSHC St Williams

OSHC St Andrews

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Evangelisation

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Religious Instruction

Catechists in the State Schools

Catholics Returning Home

Guided by the Spirit, the Parish introduced the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for our little ones. Encouraging the seed of Gods Word to grow and blossom. In another area of parish life, devoted catechists make their way into the local State Schools with the Ecumenical Team planting the seed of Gods love for lifes journey. As we all know our journey of faith can be broken and sometimes bumpy. Catholics Returning Home welcomes with understanding and love and offers the possibility for the seed of faith to be refreshed and nourished.

Among the magnificent qualities of this parish is its care of each other and the extension of fellowship and support to those beyond our parish. Over our 50 years, groups have evolved to meet the needs of the time.....Majellan, Young Companions, Antioch, YCS, Holy Name, Coffee & Cupcakes, Confraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and more.

And so this awareness and evolution continues, meeting the needs of the time... Play Group and the Seniors Bingo and Social Club. The news and views behind the airwaves of YYY and the meeting of disciplined minds at Mah Jong. We call ourselves a Parish Family. Built upon the 100s of families that live throughout the area, with 16, 000 plus Catholics on the Commonwealth Census.

Community Outreach

Parish Radio YYY

Social Club

Play Group

Mah Jong

Family Group Movement
The Family Group Movement endeavours to establish a sense of belonging and community growth in our Parish. It is a potent pocket of people- power that on one hand organises and distributes $1000s of Christmas Hampers each year and on the other offers a cuppa after mass on a Sunday.

Even before the Parish began Fr George Nugent established a Saint Vincent de Paul Confraternity to meet the needs of this emerging community. Visiting and offering assistance when needed. Today this ministry continues. The traditional charisms of the Society being complemented by the bread run and Food Bank hampers, the operation of the church shop and the successful venture of the monthly St Williams Markets. The markets together with supporting the Conference financially, offer an outlet for local artisans and the opportunity for fellowship, evangelisation and simple good fun.

Our Parish Life is like a jig saw puzzle. Each piece neatly fits into another extending the mission in yet another direction, giving comfort, deepening spiritual growth, opening up new opportunities for the poor, encouraging us to be more aware of justice, and nourishing and educating our community. We leave here each Sunday with the words ..Go in peace to love and serve the Lord and we take the Good News to our home and workplaces and everywhere else we go.

The St Vincent de Paul Confraternity

The Bread Run

The Church Shop

The Market Team

Adult Faith Education

With education our awareness of the possibilities to go in peace to love and serve the Lord increases. The Adult Faith Education Team is a piece of our parish family jigsaw which ensures we have the opportunities to grow in knowledge of scripture and tradition and the impact of social issues.

 

Over the years the hearts of this community have opened with compassion, justice and love as the plight of groups and individuals have come to our attention. Our parish with our trust in God and our people, became involved in the resettlement of Vietnam refugees. With this came the Basic Community saving Scheme which continues today.

 
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