Special anniversary set in stone

A LOCAL church is turning 150 this year, and parishioners have decided to mark the occasion in a special, indelible way.

St Bernard’s Church in Bacchus Marsh officially turns 150 on 23 June, the date the church was blessed and opened in 1874.

A paver sale project recently concluded, with over 200 pavers engraved with the names of parishioners planned to be laid out the front of the church, as a permanent reminder of the church’s members at the time of the milestone.

St Bernard’s Parish member Margot Short said it was an exciting time for the community.

“Of course, we’re very excited, and we want to commemorate the occasion in the best way possible,” Ms Short said.

“We’ve formed a ‘150th Committee’, and we wanted to do something to commemorate the occasion that would be a lasting thing.

“Orders have closed, and we have a six-week wait before they arrive. And of course, we want to have them before we have the Mass on Sunday 23 June, which will be at 11 o’clock.”

Margaret Love, a fellow parishioner and passionate studier of the church’s history, said there are other ways in which St Bernard’s will celebrate and acknowledge the 150^th anniversary as well.

“We will also celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the blessing and opening of St Bernard’s Church with a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Peter Comensoli, of the Melbourne Archdiocese,” Ms Love said.

“A church history focussing on the work of the people and priests who have been part of the parish since the 1840s has been a major 150^th anniversary undertaking. This 300-page full colour book will be launched after the June 23 Mass.

“The print run will be limited, so prepaid orders must be lodged to secure a copy. The book will cost $75. Order forms are available from the church office, at the Sunday Masses and may be downloaded from the St Bernard’s Parish website.

“A special event prior to the Mass will be the installation of the Foundation Stone from the St Laurence O’Toole Chapel – our first place of worship – in St Bernard’s Church. The fragile sandstone block still has its 1850 date showing.

“It is fitting that that this much-travelled stone, laid by the Catholic pioneers in the town in 1850, be given a permanent home.

“Many of those pioneers were the same people who raised funds and built the present church.”

For more information on the church and its history, visit the ‘St Bernard’s Catholic Parish, Bacchus Marsh’ Facebook page, or the St Bernard’s Bacchus Marsh website.