Mary Help of Christians - Altona

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Mary Help of Christians
97 Railway Street North
Altona, Vic 3018

Archpriest Michael Kalka JP

altona@cam.org.au

(03) 9398 2964

Office Hours: Tue, Wed, Thurs – 9am to 2pm

Links

Parish Facebook Page

Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Catholic Church in Australia

St Mary's Primary School

St Vincent de Paul Society

Vatican News

Mary Mackillop International

Caritas Australia

Emmanuel College

Mount St. Joseph Girls' College

Domus Australia - pilgrimage centre in Rome

Some important dates among many

History

Mary Help of Christians Church was established in early 1921. It was originally housed temporarily in halls at different locations. The church obtained independent status as a parish in 1942. A permanent church building was completed on the present site in 1965.

The narthex was added in 1993 and is an ideal place for welcoming people to our Church Community. It is also used as a meeting place for some of the Church Groups.

There are two special areas, which offer parishioners quiet places for rest and reflection – The Blessed Sacrament Chapel and the Memorial Garden.

The Blessed Sacrament Chapel

The Blessed Sacrament Chapel was opened in 1982. It contains the metal tabernacle that was originally used by the Presentation Sisters and earlier, the Josephite Sisters.

The chapel is used for a number of activities, such as Rosary Recitals, prayerful Meditation and contemplation. The Chapel is located to the left rear of the main church building and can be entered by following the pathway along the left side of the church.

The chapel is 8.30 am to 6 pm in winter and 8.30 am to 8 pm during daylight saving time.

Memorial Garden

Surrounded by beautiful plantings, statues and water features the layout and seating of the garden provides a tranquil place for meditation and repose.

Children from St Mary’s Primary School are also encouraged to hold learning sessions with their teachers in the Memorial Garden.

The Memorial Garden was officially opened in May 2001. It was designed and developed by Gino Gammaldi. There are plaques in the Garden which name all the benefactors, past clergy, past school principals, patrons and officiating Bishops. Father Clem Cafarella was the Parish Priest at the time and was instrumental in allowing for this very special development to proceed. The garden is paved with pavers engraved with the names of departed loved ones and also with pavers of parishioners who are still very much a part of the Mary Help of Christians community.

The garden is also open to the general community. Entry to the garden is through the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

Some important dates among many:

Year	Month	Date	Event
1921	August	14	Mass celebrated for the first time in Altona, in the old Progress Hall.
1927	March	6	Archbishop Mannix blessed and opened the first St. Mary’s Church Hall.
1928	January	31	St. Mary’s Primary School opened in the Church Hall.
1936	June		Fr. Ken Morrison appointed as Altona’s first Administrator.
1942	September	5	Mary Help of Christians Parish Altona was established, with Fr. James English as Administrator.
1950	March	12	Mary Help of Christians Church/School in Railway Street was blessed and opened by Archbishop Mannix.
1952			Rev James Nooney became Altona’s first Parish Priest.
1956			New Presbytery built in Railway Street.
1957	March		The first community of Sisters of St Joseph was formed in Sargood Street.
1959			The first issue of ‘Loreto’, the parish monthly magazine, was published.
1960			St. Paul’s College was established.
1961			Fr. Gerald Dowling was appointed as Altona’s first Assistant Priest.
1964	March	4	Mount St. Joseph Girls’ College opened.
1965	February	2	St. Paul’s College opened.
1965	March	14	Mary Help of Christians Church was blessed and opened by Bishop Arthur Fox.
1970	March		St. Mary’s Ladies Auxiliary held their first meeting.
1970	May		Fr. Brendan Torr appointed as Altona’s second Parish Priest.
1972	March	20	The Altona Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was formed.
1975	November	19	The first Parish Council held its first meeting.
1975			St. Vincent de Paul Store in Railway Street opened.
1980	December	21	The Sisters of St. Joseph were withdrawn from St. Mary’s School.
1982	May	24	The Blessed Sacrament Chapel was blessed and opened by Archbishop Frank Little, commemorating the 40^th Anniversary of the establishment of the Parish.
1987	January		Fr. Clem Cafarella became Altona’s third parish Priest.
1987			The Meditation Group was formed.
1988	September		Lucy Sammut begins work as parish Secretary
1989			The Sisters of St. Joseph return to St. Mary’s School and a convent was opened in McBain Street.
1989			St. Mary’s Senior Deb Ball.
1990	March	1	Sister Clare McDermott became St. Mary’s first Pastoral Associate.
1990			Ina Archer volunteered as office assistant until 2016
1992	September	5	St. Mary’s Parish celebrated its 50^th Anniversary. Archbishop Frank Little presided at the Golden Jubilee Mass on Sunday, August 23^rd, 1992
1993	September	4	Narthex opened and blessed by Bishop Peter Connors.
1993	February	27	Marycare launched. (assisting parishioners in need).
1994	December		Sr. Clare McDermott completed 5 years service of the Parish as Pastoral Associate.
1995	April		The first issue of ‘St. Mary’s Connection’ Magazine was published.
1995			Sister Yvonne Hart commenced work as Pastoral Associate.
1997	February	23	First Children’s Liturgy Session.
1999	February		Gino Gammaldi appointed as Parish Manager.
2001	May	24	Memorial Garden opened and blessed.
2003 to 2006	December		Christmas Card Programme launched by Fr. Clem. Christmas Cards delivered to every home in Altona.
2008	February		Richard Hallett commenced work as Pastoral Associate.
2008	July	6	Fr. Clem Cafarella celebrated his Golden Jubilee of Ordination.
2008			New Co-educational college Notre Dame Campus opened.
2011	May	1	St. Mary’s Parish was joined in partnership with St. Leo’s parish, North Altona. Fr. Paul Tru became the parish’s fourth Parish Priest.
2011	August		Sister Yvonne Hart completed 13 years service of the parish as Pastoral Associate.
2014	October	5	Fr. Shabin Kaniampuram appointed as Administrator.
2015	September	5	Fr. Shabin installed as the parish’s fifth Parish Priest by Archbishop Denis Hart until February 2018.
2015	July	30	Maureen Fogarty commences as book-keeper
2016	September		St. Mary’s facebook page was launched.
2018	February	11	Archpriest Michael Kalka is now the sixth Parish Priest of Mary Help of Christians, Altona.

Year	Month	Date	Event
1921	August	14	Mass celebrated for the first time in Altona, in the old Progress Hall.
1927	March	6	Archbishop Mannix blessed and opened the first St. Mary’s Church Hall.
1928	January	31	St. Mary’s Primary School opened in the Church Hall.
1936	June		Fr. Ken Morrison appointed as Altona’s first Administrator.
1942	September	5	Mary Help of Christians Parish Altona was established, with Fr. James English as Administrator.
1950	March	12	Mary Help of Christians Church/School in Railway Street was blessed and opened by Archbishop Mannix.
1952			Rev James Nooney became Altona’s first Parish Priest.
1956			New Presbytery built in Railway Street.
1957	March		The first community of Sisters of St Joseph was formed in Sargood Street.
1959			The first issue of ‘Loreto’, the parish monthly magazine, was published.
1960			St. Paul’s College was established.
1961			Fr. Gerald Dowling was appointed as Altona’s first Assistant Priest.
1964	March	4	Mount St. Joseph Girls’ College opened.
1965	February	2	St. Paul’s College opened.
1965	March	14	Mary Help of Christians Church was blessed and opened by Bishop Arthur Fox.
1970	March		St. Mary’s Ladies Auxiliary held their first meeting.
1970	May		Fr. Brendan Torr appointed as Altona’s second Parish Priest.
1972	March	20	The Altona Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was formed.
1975	November	19	The first Parish Council held its first meeting.
1975			St. Vincent de Paul Store in Railway Street opened.
1980	December	21	The Sisters of St. Joseph were withdrawn from St. Mary’s School.
1982	May	24	The Blessed Sacrament Chapel was blessed and opened by Archbishop Frank Little, commemorating the 40^th Anniversary of the establishment of the Parish.
1987	January		Fr. Clem Cafarella became Altona’s third parish Priest.
1987			The Meditation Group was formed.
1988	September		Lucy Sammut begins work as parish Secretary
1989			The Sisters of St. Joseph return to St. Mary’s School and a convent was opened in McBain Street.
1989			St. Mary’s Senior Deb Ball.
1990	March	1	Sister Clare McDermott became St. Mary’s first Pastoral Associate.
1990			Ina Archer volunteered as office assistant until 2016
1992	September	5	St. Mary’s Parish celebrated its 50^th Anniversary. Archbishop Frank Little presided at the Golden Jubilee Mass on Sunday, August 23^rd, 1992
1993	September	4	Narthex opened and blessed by Bishop Peter Connors.
1993	February	27	Marycare launched. (assisting parishioners in need).
1994	December		Sr. Clare McDermott completed 5 years service of the Parish as Pastoral Associate.
1995	April		The first issue of ‘St. Mary’s Connection’ Magazine was published.
1995			Sister Yvonne Hart commenced work as Pastoral Associate.
1997	February	23	First Children’s Liturgy Session.
1999	February		Gino Gammaldi appointed as Parish Manager.
2001	May	24	Memorial Garden opened and blessed.
2003 to 2006	December		Christmas Card Programme launched by Fr. Clem. Christmas Cards delivered to every home in Altona.
2008	February		Richard Hallett commenced work as Pastoral Associate.
2008	July	6	Fr. Clem Cafarella celebrated his Golden Jubilee of Ordination.
2008			New Co-educational college Notre Dame Campus opened.
2011	May	1	St. Mary’s Parish was joined in partnership with St. Leo’s parish, North Altona. Fr. Paul Tru became the parish’s fourth Parish Priest.
2011	August		Sister Yvonne Hart completed 13 years service of the parish as Pastoral Associate.
2014	October	5	Fr. Shabin Kaniampuram appointed as Administrator.
2015	September	5	Fr. Shabin installed as the parish’s fifth Parish Priest by Archbishop Denis Hart until February 2018.
2015	July	30	Maureen Fogarty commences as book-keeper
2016	September		St. Mary’s facebook page was launched.
2018	February	11	Archpriest Michael Kalka is now the sixth Parish Priest of Mary Help of Christians, Altona.

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History

Some important dates among many: