Saint Mary's Catholic Church Maryborough

Parish within the canonical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

History

• 1852 First mass in Maryborough Home of Sergeant (constable) William McAdam, 1852 at Baddow.

• 1858 wooden church/school A school house built on present presbytery site early 1858, masses celebrated here when priest visited.

First parish priest: Reverend Father Paul Tissot 1861- 1875• FR Paul Tissot the First pp 1861. (born Lyons, France, 1801). He was an Assumptionist Priest.

• Land from James Cleary formally transferred to Archbishop Quinn on July 15, 1869.

• July 6, 1870 - April 1880 srs of St. Joseph. • Sisters of Saint Joseph arrive to run school for fr tissot.

• Foundation-stone, new church opened at 3pm. Thurs, July 291869,

• Building of St. Mary's Church 1869-1872

• ***St. Mary's Church completed and blessed 4 feb 1872.

• Blessed Archbishop Quinn. Opened Sunday 4th feb 1872. St marys. Architect: Chas Tiffin. Rev Paul Tissot pp (1861-1875)

• Benefactor James Cleary dies aged 78, Friday, 26 April 1872. J. Cleary was buried from St. Mary's Church, for which he had generously donated the land.

• FR Tissot departs for Brisbane on route to France, sat 10th july 1875. (he died in paris 16.02.1895. )

Second parish priest: Reverend Father Thomas O'Brien (july 1875-1878)• july 1875 fr thomas obrien appointed pp .

• 24th feb 1878 Sacred Heart Church Tiaro opened.

• Thomas O'Brien pp dies suddenly while on visit to Bundaberg June 1878 at 4pm on Wed 12th June 1878.

• 1878-9. FR Hanley administers parish until suddenly transferred to Bundaberg parish, parishioners upset with this. March 1879.

Third parish priest: fr john o'reilly (1879- 1898)

• 1879 new pp FR John O'Reilly.

• April 1880 srs of St Joseph depart. Apparently the school was closed for a short time in between the two orders leaving/ arriving.

• Thurs 1st April 1880 Sisters of Mercy arrive.

• St Mary's extension: 1884-1885

• ***New extensions blessed: 10th may 1885.

• 1884 church enlarged. Architect F.D.G.stanley. May 1885 the enlargements completed. Consecration by Bishop Dunne 11am. Sunday 10th may 1885. Fr john o'reilly pp.

• First presbytery built, plans drawn May 1887, where hall now stands

** 1888 (Sunday sept 2, 1888, Archbishop Duhig blessed and opened the christian brothers school). This school was amalgamated in 1979 with the Mercy Sisters Girls Secondary to form the new St. Mary's College (read out section - from history book).

. 1888-The parish established a secondary boys school, inviting the christian brothers to staff the college on its present site in 1888. In 1979 the college became co-educational by the amalgamation with the Sisters of Mercy's St. Mary's High School for Girls established on the site now occupied by St. Mary's primary.

• ***new convent built 1892 ----- blessed sun 27th aug, 1893.

• 1898-FR Reilly transferred bris. Died feb 4th 1904. Aged 63.

Fourth parish priest: fr philip brady (1898-1922)• FR Philip Brady pp (he was assistant prior)

• 1912 organ installed. In 1912 Brady had organ and blower installed 900 pounds cost.

• ***march 1913 Duhig blessed new bell.

• FR Brady died June 21, 1922 ahed 62 yrs.

Fifth parish priest: fr patrick brady (1922- 1925).

• FR Patrick Brady pp (brother of philip). His name on foundation stone of school (blessed march 22, 1925, bp duhig. ) adjacent to the old convent, • moved to Brisbane end 1925, died 1951.

Sixth parish priest: dean john francis mccarthy (later monsignor) 1926- 1941. • Mons John Francis McCarthy 1926.

• Extension II to the church: 1936 (march 22 1936-Sunday, November 29th 1936).

• ***extension of church blessed (finished) Sunday, March 22, 1936• remodelled St Marys. Sunday, March 22, 1936, Archbishop Duhig laid foundation stone for extensions (yet to be done). Duhig blessed the finished work Sunday, 29th November 1936. It was in this extension that the church was internally turned around and the entrance was now Adelaide St. It was at this time that the cockerel was added. Mons died 29th May 1941. Architecht P.O.E Hawkes, H.G. Neilsen, builder.

• ***1936 stained glass.The huge, beautiful stained glass window was made by R.S. Exton and co. of Brisbane at this time (1936) and designed by William Bustard (1894-1973). It was donated by the Corser brothers.

• the stained glass window above the high altar was donated by Mr. Stellmach.

Seventh parish priest: fr martin jordan (later mondsignor) (1941- 1957)• Mons Martin Jordan new pp July 1941. Died 17th april 1957. (the grotto was erected in 1951 in memory OG Nephew of Mons Jordan, nephew killed in active service with us in Korea)

Eighth parish priest: FR Robert Lyons (later monsignor) (1957- 1978)• FR Robert Lyons appointed 1957.pp. • 1977 wooden flooring replaced with concrete.

• 1958 Aramara became part of parish, the church there was built, blessed, and opened in 1950. Aramara church only one in parish with a spire.

• ***parish hall and presbytery 1973

• 1972 new presbytery and hall decided to be built. In 1973 they were built. 21st October 1973 arch rush blessed it. Lyons retired May 1978Ninth parish priest: fr guilford lyons (1978- 1989)• FR Guilford Lyons. Appointed June 1978.

Tenth parish priest: fr harry bliss (1989-june 2002)• harry bliss 1989- june 2002,• ***-organ full resoration, 1989-1991. Rededicated 4.08.1991• - • ***church restored 19.02.1993. Architects - Hurst and Harris Pty. Ltd. Builders Bellero Constructions. Rev Harry Bliss pp (1989-2002)• . • heritage rm 1994• ***jubilee wall hanging 24/5/2000. Cabinet crafted by brian white and sons Chris and Lucas. Cabinet funded by gaming machine community benefit fund.

Eleventh parish priest : FR Anthony Mellor (june 2002- january 2005)• father anthony mellor 3/6/02- jan 28th 2005.

Twelfth parish priest: fr paul kelly (29th january, 2005- present)• FR Paul Kelly. Official appointment 29th january 2005- (arrived Maryborough parish around 1 feb 2005)-to the present.

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sources:

Local History Book: 100 Years and More - Catholicism in Maryborough 1849-1980

[http://www.marycatholic.com Church website]