Celebrating 70 Years of St Bernadette Parish
Dear Parishioners,
Next Sunday, we will come together to celebrate a very special moment in the life of our parish: the 70th anniversary of St Bernadette Parish.
As I reflect on these seventy years, I am filled with gratitude. In 1956, when our parish was established, this part of Sunshine North looked very different. There were paddocks, few houses and very few roads. Yet, families who came to live here began something that would grow into a community of faith.
Our parish pioneers came from many backgrounds. Some were Australian-born, while others had arrived from Italy, Malta, Poland and other countries. They brought different languages, cultures and traditions. More importantly, they all shared a deep love for their Catholic faith. Through their sacrifice, generosity and commitment, they built not only a church and school, but a spiritual home for generations to come. Today, we are the beneficiaries of their faith and dedication.
Together with you, I am particularly grateful for all those who have contributed to the life of St Bernadette’s over the years: our former parish priests and religious, our school community, parishioners, families, volunteers and benefactors. We also remember with gratitude those who have gone before us and now rest in God’s presence.
Our 70th anniversary is therefore more than a celebration of the past. It is an opportunity to recognise the many blessings God has given us and to ask how we can continue this story into the future.
One of those blessings is our diversity. We come from different countries, cultures and generations, yet we belong to one family in Christ. Many cultures, one family in Christ. This is something we need to treasure and continue to strengthen.
As we prepare for our anniversary celebration, I invite every member of our parish family to give thanks to God for the past seventy years and to pray for the years ahead.
May St Bernadette continue to be a vibrant, faith-filled, joyful and welcoming community of missionary disciples, bringing Christ’s love to one another and to the wider community.
With gratitude for our past and hope for our future, let us celebrate together!
God bless you all.
Fr Silvio