When the Parish of Boolaroo was established 100 years ago, it took root in communities where life was shaped by hard work and close ties. Families relied on one another. Neighbours looked out for the children next door. Faith was not something separate from daily life, it was woven through it. 

From the beginning, the church stood at the heart of the community. It was where babies were baptised, couples stood hand-in-hand to be married, and loved ones were farewelled with prayer and song. In moments of great joy and deep sorrow, people gathered together, surrounded by faith and by one another. 

Over time, those humble beginnings became something enduring. Through changing seasons and shifting circumstances, the parish has remained a steady presence, shaping lives, nurturing faith and grounding its people in service, compassion and care. 

On Saturday 14 March, the story of the parish – a story a century in the making – came alive in centenary celebrations that honoured the living faith of its people. 

As the sun dipped toward evening, parishioners arrived at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, greeting one another with warm embraces and quiet smiles for Mass. Presided over by Bishop Michael Kennedy, it drew together people whose lives had been marked, in one way or another, within this parish community. Every pew seemed to hold a story. Every face reflected on a century of baptisms, weddings and farewells. 

 In his homily, Bishop Michael gave voice to what many were feeling. He reminded the congregation that the Church is more than bricks and mortar; it lives in its people, in their faith, and in the way that faith is carried into the world. His words offered reassurance and hope, grounding the day not in loss, but in what endures. 

The date of the celebrations was intentionally chosen. Almost exactly a century to the day, an infant named Kelvin James Hodges was the first to be baptised in the parish. Just days before, the first couple, Lily and Albert Snowden, stood before the altar to be married. From the very beginning, this parish has stood at the centre of life’s most significant moments, and that pattern has continued faithfully across generations. 

Looking out over the congregation, Fr Darryl was struck not only by the historical significance of the occasion, but by the strength and spirit of the people gathered before him. 

“I was most grateful to look out at our parish community and for this event to feel like a true celebration,” he said.

 

That sense of celebration was felt throughout the church. For parishioner Marie Osborne, who has been part of the parish for 17 years, the day carried a distinct energy. 

“The whole event felt joyful, and there was a real positive energy in the place,” she said. 

In the weeks leading up to the centenary, there had been a sense of heaviness for some, as the reality of the church’s closure in May draws closer. But something shifted on the day itself.

“I spoke to one lady who said that after the celebrations, she felt a lot better about the changes,” Marie said.

Throughout the Mass, small moments quietly honoured the depth of shared history. Longstanding parishioner Anne Clancy carried the cross in the procession, a simple and deliberate gesture that honoured her lifetime of faith and service. Original baptismal records were brought forward, their worn pages carefully preserved, bearing names from another time. They offered a tangible link to those who came before and a reminder that this story has always been carried by people. 

After Mass, the celebration continued at St Mary’s Church Hall, Warners Bay. Over shared food, laughter and conversation, memories flowed easily. 

Storyteller and local history enthusiast Jacob Ure offered a reflection on how the local area has changed and how, in many ways, it has remained the same over the past century. 

Fr Darryl’s address echoed the spirit of the day, honouring not only history, but the quiet faithfulness that has sustained the parish for a century. He shared stories that spoke of the times and of the deep love parishioners held for their parish and churches. He recalled past debates about ‘special dangers’ such as children attending picture shows, working on Sundays, and weekend dances, as well as discussions about whether to build a new church or a new hall. In the end, a new church was built, and Our Lady Help of Christians Church opened in 1961. 

Representing one of the parish’s longstanding families, Sallyanne Stanbridge offered a toast, honouring the generations of faith that have shaped the parish. 

For Marie, that faithfulness is what continues to define the community. 

 

“I have always found the church to be welcoming and inclusive,” she said. “You do need to do your bit, though. If you make the time to go to church and be with people, you will be warmly welcomed by the community.” Marie Osborne

Now, as the parish enters a time of change, there is both celebration and a gentle letting go. While Our Lady Help of Christians Church will close its doors at the end of May, the story will not end there. 

Fr Darryl summed it up simply and powerfully. 

“As we celebrate 100 years, we thank the priests, religious families and parishioners who sacrificed so much,” he said.  

“We remember those who built churches with their hands and sustained them with their faith, and we honour those who were baptised, married and farewelled from these sacred spaces,” said Fr Darryl. 

The story of the parish of Boolaroo lives on in the people, and in those who will carry their faith forward into new spaces and new expressions of community.