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J U B I L E E S 2 0 1 6 |
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I
arrived in Eagle Vale/Claymore in January
1989. I was blessed to have Aldo Malavisi
as my Assistant. We were not a Parish but still
attached to St John’s Campbelltown and Fr
Bryan Jones was the Parish Priest. The school,
St Mary’s, was thriving under the guidance of Br
Phillip.
It was only in its third year. The Oblates had
been here about six or seven years and those
men who preceded Aldo and I had done the
hard work of knocking on doors and building
up a Community. There were Oblates such as
Frs John Coakley, Tony Maher, Paddy Dwyer,
Vin Ryan, Noel Geraghty and others. Fr John
Sherman OMI was the Provincial at that time
and he wrote to Bishop Murray suggesting that
he visit him to discuss the terms of the contract
between the Oblates and the Diocese. The
Bishop discerned that Fr John was coming to
terminate the contract and remove the Oblates
since they had been here for so long and not
running a permanent established Parish. Thank
God for misunderstandings like this. Bishop
Murray contacted Fr Bryan and negotiations
began. Fr John was simply coming to renew the
contract. The Parish was formally established as
independent and Oblate. I will never forget the
Mass celebrating the occasion on 15 August.
It was such a great and happy event. We had a
feeling of US being INDEPENDENT. We were
a Parish. We were a Parish and were officially
named MARY IMMACULATE.
There was a great sense of Community from
then on. The cooperation between the Parish
and School was living reality of Church alive.
My annual nightmare came when enrolments
for Kindergarten arrived and we had to refuse
some children fromwonderful Catholic families
because there was no room. I remember the
many Pastoral areas which grew and developed
as the early years progressed. Our catechists
in the State Schools, the massive undertaking
in the Sacramental Programme, the RCIA and
the many who became Catholics (15 one year
and 11 the next). There were many nationalities
who blended in so well that we held a regular
International Night which was always a great
success.
One thing which impressed me about those
early days was the enthusiasm and dedication
of the Parishioners and Parents from the School.
There were many social gatherings, fundraising
events, and generally a wonderful sense of
COMMUNITY. There were difficulties too but
they resolved themselves with time.
I would like to place on record the debt we owe to
St John’s Parish, Campbelltown. Their generosity
and kindness helped us to start our Parish on
a solid financial basis. Fr John Sherman was so
impressed he spoke at all Masses at St John’s
conveying our Oblate and Parish appreciation
for their support.
To this wonderful Parish I offer my gratitude
and sincere appreciation of the many Blessings
and Graces I have received while being here.
Continue the Spirit of Family and Faith
Community which was so evident over the years
and is blossoming today. God Bless you and
may Mary, our Mother, keep you faithful and
zealous.
Fr Donal Madigan OMI
Founding Parish Priest and our current Assistant Priest