Attadale hits its half century with joy

19 Dec 2012

By The Record

Flanked by past parish clergy and current acolytes and servers, Bishop Donald Sproxton was on hand with St Joseph Pignatelli Parish Priest Fr Sean Fernandez, at left, to join in the 50th anniversary celebrations for the Attadale parish church.

It’s been a big year for St Joseph Pignatelli Parish in Attadale which celebrated the 50th anniversary of its church earlier this month.

On December 9, 1962 the church of St Joseph Pignatelli was blessed by Archbishop Redmond Prendiville.

The parish had been founded eight years earlier with the Jesuits as the first parish priests.

It was this connection which led to the church being dedicated to St Joseph Pignatelli SJ.

It was the first church dedicated to the famous Jesuit saint.

The parish was also blessed with the presence of the Sisters of Mercy over the years and two schools continue to play a  significant role in its life: Mel Maria Catholic Primary School and Santa Maria College.

The fiftieth anniversary of the church was commemorated by the parish with a Mass presided over by Bishop Don Sproxton.

It was an occasion to give thanks for all those who have contributed to the life of the parish over fifty years and for those who make up the Attadale parish family.

Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Sproxton were Fr Sean Fernandez, the parish priest, his immediate predecessor, Fr Geoff Beyer, and Fr Ted Miller who grew up in the parish.

Mr Greg Stinton, the principal of Mel Maria, and Mr Ian Elder, the principal of Santa Maria, participated in the Mass.

The Mass was lent an especially festive air by the choir of Mel Maria Primary School.

In his homily, Bishop Sproxton drew on the image in the Gospel of John the Baptist as a voice in the wilderness, to talk about the beginnings of the parish of Attadale: the parish was planted in the then wilderness of Attadale.

After the Mass, Bishop Sproxton blessed the new-ish buildings of the Attadale campus of Mel Maria Primary School.

The congregation repaired to the parish hall for a cup of tea.

Bishop Sproxton was also called upon to judge a children’s art competition; it wasn’t an easy task given the talent on display.

Everyone agreed that it was a splendid celebration.