On Sunday 19 November, St Malachy’s Nagambie, one of the founding parishes of the Diocese of Sandhurst, commemorated its 150th anniversary. It was a joy-filled occasion which echoed with nostalgia and community spirit, bringing generations of clergy and parishioners together to celebrate the historic occasion.
The celebrations commenced with Mass celebrated by Bishop Shane Mackinlay. Former priests of Nagambie Fr Tony Hill joined Fr Rene Ramirez RCJ and Fr Ruel Desamparado, who are now serving Nagambie and other priests of the Rogationist Fathers to concelebrate with Bishop Shane.

After Mass, the congregation gathered under the shade of a magnificent Moreton Bay Fig to witness the blessing of the Kearns Centre, a community centre for the whole Nagambie community, in what was the original presbytery.

The congregation then gathered next door at St Joseph’s Primary School where they enjoyed a display of photographs and memorabilia as well as refreshments. Before a celebratory cake was about to be cut, Monsignor Frank Marriott, a former parish priest of St Malachy’s, spoke fondly of his time at Nagambie to a delighted audience. His joke about the cakes in the old days never being as good as the cake of the day was mockingly considered ‘unfunny’ by the cake-makers of yesteryear, who obviously were familiar with the humour of Monsignor Marriott!

As parishioners shared memories with old friends, and enjoyed retracing the steps of their childhood, it was clear that the heart of the Nagambie celebrations lay in the reunion of those who still call St Malachy’s home and those who have left Nagambie, but never quite left St Malachy’s. It was very apparent that, for all who were present, the parish has played a significant role in their lives and holds a special place in their hearts.

Helen, now a resident of Melbourne, grew up in Avenel where she attended Avenel Primary School. She recalls Fr George Shanahan visiting her school to give Religious Education lessons and prepare students for their sacraments. “Fr Shanahan would travel to Avenel to say Mass every second Sunday, and the Avenel kids came here to St Malachy’s for our First Hoy Communion,” said Helen as she reminisced with photographs of her First Holy Communion.

Helen was joined by Nagambie local girls, Maureen (Moz) and Pam, to be photographed in front of St Joseph’s School office, recreating a photograph of the day they celebrated their First Holy Communion so many years ago.

Maree Findlay is obviously very proud of her parish community. She has the rare privilege of being a student, teacher and now Principal at St Joseph’s Primary School in Nagambie. Maree has recorded a fascinating series of oral histories as part of the school’s 100th anniversary celebrations last year, including stories from a Josephite Sister who taught at St Joseph’s.

Former Principal of St Joseph’s Primary, Sue Dean was also present at the celebrations. Now retired, Sue played an active role in the conversion of the original presbytery into the Kearns Centre.

Jennifer Finnigan proudly explained a photograph of St Malachy’s debutantes in circa 1937, which included her mother Josephine Furlong. “My mother met my father, Patrick Finnigan, at a ball in Nagambie. My Dad was from Costerfield; he’d travel up for the dances. They married in 1942 at St Malachy’s. My great grandfather came out from Ireland and settled in the area; my family have been parishioners here for a very long time,” said Jennifer.

At the door of the school, a history of St Malachy’s Parish was available for sale. Written by parishioners Rhonda Robinson and Mel Arnold, it provides a history of the Parish and associated schools over the last 150 years. This history skilfully recounts the intriguing story of Fr Kearns’ abrupt departure from the parish and Diocese, and the amusing story of the missing foundation stone.

In the forward of this book, Diocesan archivist, Dr Donna Bailey, writes “The gift of the laity in building communities such as St Malachy’s Nagambie is often underrated, but without them there would be no story.”

History has never stopped repeating. The laity in Nagambie, along with their priests continue to build community. Today, they are reaching out, providing a space for all people in Nagambie to come together and connect in a community hub, The Kearns Centre, named after their first parish priest.

As time goes by, it will be interesting to know, to what sights and sounds that majestic Moreton Bay Fig in the grounds of St Malachy’s bears witness. One can only imagine.

Return to Sandpiper e-News issue 68 (4 December 2023)