Parish News

Second Meeting St Brigid’s Church

150th Anniversary Working Party

Tuesday, June 25th

Our first meeting was all about getting to know each of the Working Party Members, and we all went away to pursue different directions/actions that came out of that meeting. We reported back at each of the Masses in the parish the same weekend as the Minutes were attached to each of the School Newsletters.

The Working Party is made up of Fr Vincent, Jenne Wallace, Eddie Gardiner, Joanne & Craig Holmes, Bernie Floreani, Paul Lawry, Gerard Carroll, Joe Farrugia and Trish Armstrong. Please feel free to contact any member of the Working Party to offer your support or to be a contact for sharing memorabilia or information.

The focus of the Working Party has the common goal of promoting and building a sense of belonging and ownership across our parish as well as promoting ongoing awareness and knowledge about our parish in its past, present and into the future. As we started to solidify some of our ideas, was the importance of broadening the support base for our Parish Faith community and that this important event would give us an opportunity to open up to members of our Parish to share their gifts and talents. We do have a date so please mark Sunday, February 9th, 2025 on your personal calendars… A week after school starts back we hope!

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 30th

• We will be working with the schools as we further investigate the physical History Trail we might develop around St Brigid’s Church but also how to extend this by using QR Code Technology to make our stories available on Parish and School websites.
• We would love to set up a Display of memorabilia but need the support of not only the current parishioners and school families but your extended families who have a past link to our parish. We are looking for photos, brochures and other memorabilia linked to St Brigid’s. It’s amazing what photos taken inside the church or outside for weddings, baptisms, First Communions and Confirmation tell us about our church and clergy at the time.
• Need to organise for Family Orders of Pavers. Again current families have past family members who had strong links to our parish and would like to have their name represented as we remember our 150 year anniversary.
• Need volunteers to form a Paver Ordering Committee so this can get moving
• If we considered using Food vendors on the day…..do you have any contacts?
• If you have streaming experience similar to how we are able to access funerals at or after the event, please make contact

We are all about celebrating St Brigid’s Church 150th Anniversary but it’s important to remember that our families are connected to that story and who knows better about your family’s connection than you and your loved ones.

We ask all members of our Parish Faith Community to take time to think about possible ways that we could mark this very special occasion. Maybe something you have experienced or seen in another place and time or it may be linked to your skill set and could ensure that the success of the day is guaranteed by what you can offer. To help us plan for moving forward please write your idea down and email to trishannarmstrong@gmail.com or phone on 0417 526 945. 

Many thanks

Working Party for 150th Anniversary of St Brigid’s Church, Gisborne