Rector's Reflection - 

Spirit & Vision Part 1

The Spirit and Vision of Bishop Eugene de Mazenod are

Planted in Australia

Part 1

When Eugene de Mazenod was named Bishop of Marseilles in 1837, he was destined to minister to the broader church. This new role allowed his enormous missionary zeal and having a heart as big as the world, to affect, not only the French Church but the whole world. 

The first request for an Oblate Mission in Australia came from the Bishop of Perth in 1845, but Bishop Eugene was not able to respond.  The beginning of that chapter of the Oblate story in Australia was to wait roughly 50 more years when in 1894 the first Oblate missionaries arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia from Ireland.

The original inhabitants of the land on which the City of Fremantle is built are the Whadjuk Noongar people. Fremantle, as it is known today, officially 'began' in April 1829. The area was considered as a site for a possible British settlement in 1827, when Captain James Stirling, in HMS Success, explored the coastal areas near the Swan River with his favourable report being welcomed by the British Government. As a result, Captain Charles Fremantle of HMS Challenger, a 603-ton, 28-gun frigate, was instructed to sail to the west coast of Australia to establish a settlement there. Captain James Stirling named this new settlement after Captain Charles Fremantle. 

On the evening of Thursday July 19, 1894 three Oblates were welcomed to Australian shores by 350 people at the Port of Fremantle. These first Oblates arrived under the supervision of Fr Gaughren OMI, the Anglo-Irish Provincial (pictured above) who was accompanied by Fr Daniel O’Ryan OMI, and Fr Roger Hennessy OMI. 

The Oblate Mission in Australia had now begun with Irish and English Oblates by responding to the Bishop of Perth, Matthew Gibney’s request to direct St Kevin's Industrial School at Glendalough (left) from 1897 until 1922.

The seaport parish of St Patrick’s, Fremantle, with the added request to preach missions throughout the Perth Diocese, was entrusted to the pastoral care of the Oblates. 

The parish of St Patrick’s Fremantle was created around 1850. The foundation stone of St Patrick’s church was laid on 17th March, 1898 and the church was consecrated two years later. Today, the Fremantle parish includes St Patrick's Basilica, Fremantle; St Anne's, North Fremantle; St Patrick's Care Centre, Hospital Chaplaincy and previously chaplaincies at Fremantle Prison and Notre Dame University.

St Patrick’s Church is one of five churches in Australia with minor basilica status which was granted in 1994.

In 1968, the foundation of Mazenod College, Western Australia was born of a dream – a dream to establish Catholic education for boys in the hills of Lesmurdie above Perth. Land clearing began in May 1965 and the foundations of the first Mazenod College building were laid four months later. The first College building was finished in May 1966.

The actual start of Mazenod College was February 14th, 1966 with thirty-one boys. Mazenod College provides Catholic secondary education to boys in the Archdiocese of Perth. The College's boarding facilities draw in students from around Western Australia. 

The story of St Patrick’s Community Support Centre, Fremantle (left), started in 1972, when a frail and elderly man appeared at the door of the Presbytery seeking help. He was cold, hungry and in serious need of care. Brother Ignatius Hannick OMI, with the support of his fellow Oblates, quickly set about establishing a soup kitchen to address the growing need for help amongst many in the community.

Shortly afterwards, with donations of food and support from volunteers – the first meals service commenced in the original school (now the Parish Hall - above). It was in this spirit that St Patrick’s Community Support Centre was born. Today, it is one of Western Australia’s leading not for profit organisations helping the homeless.

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate currently serving these faith communities:

Fr John Sebastian Ramesh OMI, Fr Wijewickrama OMI, Fr Anthony Colbert OMI, Fr John Archbold OMI, Fr Michael McMahon OMI, Fr William Ousley OMI. 

Fr Harry Dyer OMI

Rector