Mary Immaculate parish at Bossley Park had double cause for celebration this month—its patronal feast and the installation of Fr Danai Penollar as the parish priest.
Bishop Richard Umbers was principal celebrant at the Mass and ceremony, with Fr Penollar, Cronulla parish priest Fr James McCarthy, Filippino chaplain Fr Nards Mercene and recently-ordained Fr Menard Gaspi as concelebrants.
Fr Gaspi, a priest of the Parramatta diocese, was the first person baptised at Mary Immaculate to go on to become a priest. He was also named after Fr Mercene, who is a friend of his parents.
The Mass was proceeded by a procession of a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes through the primary school grounds and followed by a multicultural feast and performances by the students.
A firework display capped off what has become one of many new highlights on the parish calendar.
Fr Penollar has served the community for the last two years as its administrator and has made parish renewal his priority.
He’s introduced regular parish pilgrimages, excursions and retreats, walking groups, a revamped sacramental program and a highly popular First Friday’s devotion which includes the sacrament of anointing of the sick.
“The last Census showed that half the people in the boundaries of the parish are Catholic, and they’re not all in the pews yet but we’ve hit the ground running and now have got to keep the momentum going,” he said.
“There’s activity galore here including many prayer groups and I’ve challenged them to keep welcoming new, younger members as prayer is really key to its life.”
In attendance at the milestone celebration were dignitaries including the Federal member for Fowler Dai Le, Member for Prospect Hugh McDermott, Member for Cabramatta Tri Vo, Mary Immaculate Primary School principal Beverly Coffey and acting assistant principal Jilliane Ripepi.
Police Inspector George Zeitoun representing Superintendent Craig Middleton, head of the Fairfield City Police Area Command, also attended on the day.