Our Lady Queen of Peace church in Gladesville opened its doors on a glorious day to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the laying of its foundation stone by Archbishop Michael Kelly.
Among the former locals returning for the Mass and to reminisce over morning tea was the main celebrant himself, Holy Cross College Ryde alumnus Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP.
Joining him were dignitaries including State Member for Lane Cove Anthony Roberts MP, Ryde Mayor Trenton Brow and Councillor Roy Maggio, Principal of St Charles Borromeo and Our Lady Queen of Peace primary schools Frank Cohen, and Principal of Holy Cross College Ryde Phillip Stewart.
In short remarks before the Mass the archbishop pointed out the church’s special connection to the earliest Catholic faithful of Sydney, with the cedar for the cross in its Blessed Sacrament chapel coming from the home of James Dempsey in the Rocks.
The Dempsey home was a gathering place for Catholics of the colony to pray when they had no priest or churches.
Now part of the bustling Ryde-Gladesville parish, Fr Edward Gell established the church and school on Victoria Road in Romanesque style to serve the area’s growing number of families at the request of Archbishop Kelly.
Prior to that, Marist priests from Villa Maria Church at Hunter Hill and priests from Ryde visited Gladesville’s Catholics in their homes to minister to them.
The son of an architect, Fr Gell had expertise in building, according to a parish history compiled for the centenary.
So with much support—including donations from readers of The Catholic Weekly precursor Freeman’s Journal—he worked until his blistered hands were bleeding.
He also advocated for the parish to be dedicated to Our Lady Queen of Peace in honour of all killed in the Great War, and out of trust in her ongoing protection from violence and the effects of war.
A century on “it is clear what it was all for” said Archbishop Fisher in his homily.
“In the words of our readings it was to encourage the people of this district to turn away from anything not of God and towards all that is.
“Through faithful priests and people, through many ministries of Word, Sacrament and Charity, you have opened the door of salvation to the people of Gladesville and beyond.
“Ryde-Gladesville is one of Sydney’s most buzzing parishes and its two churches proudly host so much you can be proud of.”
Parish priest Fr Greg Morgan FMVD was a concelebrant along with assistant priests Frs Stephen Drum FMVD and Daniele Sollazzo FMVD, and others who have served in the area including Monsignor Kerry Bayada and Frs Paul Monkerud, Roberto Castillo and Tony Corcoran SM.
Also present were representatives from the Patrician Brothers, Marist Sisters and Mercy Sisters who have long served in the district.
Among the longest serving parishioners enjoying the day was Margaret Brand, who grew up and was married in the parish. Her family was active in music ministry and the local St Vincent de Paul conference among their many good works.
More recently, Sally Kim, 25, is part of the young adult group at St Charles Borromeo church and serves a variety of ministries, including youth ministry, in the parish.
“I love what I do. It takes a lot of effort, time and energy especially helping the kids to come together, learn, serve and begin to know the Lord better, but we’re doing this truly out of God’s love and to give back to the church,” she said.
Fr Morgan said he felt blessed to have the good fortune to be “at the helm of such a pretty church to worship in and minister to.
“With all the ‘sabre rattling’ going on in our world today, and the rise of new world leaders who do not hesitate to sacrifice their young to both further grandiose ideals and restore lost national boundaries, some of it a little too close to home for comfort, the purpose of its consecration as a Sanctuary to the Mother of the ‘Prince of Peace’ its purpose seems to me as relevant today as it ever was to Fr Gell just over a century ago,” he told The Catholic Weekly.
“It has also been fantastic to have His Grace Archbishop Anthony Fisher preside this with us for the celebration.
“His homily was inspiring, and his presence among us as a staunch defender of our faith in such a complex world has been a real gift.”