Parish of St Vincent de Paul, Strathmore
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Parish of St Vincent de Paul
2 The Crossway
Strathmore 3041
Rev Anthony J Doran PP
strathmore@cam.org.au
03 9412 8460
Parish Office: Friday 9.00am to 3.00pm

History

St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and School

1889 Building of"North Park" Mansioncommenced. Built forAlexander McCracken, part owner of The City Brewery which produced "one of Australia's most popular ales". The building was later to become the Headquarters of theSt Columban's Mission#.
1891/92
"Rosebank"house was built forGeorge Page Barber and Eleanor Barber(the daughter ofThomas and Jessie Napier). This building was later to become the convent.
1922
St Theresa's Parish established.
1923
The Columban Society purchased "North Park" and "Rosebank" estates whose homesteads are now St Columban's monastery and theSisters of Charity#convent respectively. The purchase was made by Dr. Edward Maguire, Founding Father of the Columbans in Australia and first Director.

In all, three properties were purchased. The land lying both sides of Woodland Street,totalled approximately 26 acres and included a 12 acre paddock that extended from Napier Street to the Crossway (a street) and the present 4 acre grounds of St Vincent's Church and School, and about 10 acres with the North Park Mansion. The price:- 26,500 pounds. When purchased North Park was intended to be a Seminary for Columban priests and Rosebank was intended to be a Preparatory Novitiate for Columban nuns.

Most of the land around the buildings was later sold and the Columbans now retain only about four acres of the North Park Property.
1926
First Columban seminarians study at North Park.
1927
First Sunday mass for local residents is celebrated in North Park Mansion.
1936
Fr. Peter O'Brien, Parish Priest of St Theresa's purchased land from the Columban Fathers on which to build a Mass centre and school.
August 16th - The new Church school is blessed and opened.
1937
The Sisters of Charity accepted the invitation to be responsible for the school and on the 26th of January , the Foundation Day of St. Vincent de Paul School, the first pupils were enrolled. The first Sisters appointed to undertake the Catholic education of the forty pupils enrolled were Sister M. Avellino Walsh and Sister Helena Parker. Some time later Sister M. Frances Donavan joined the teaching staff, while Sister Alipius taught music on a part time basis.
1938
In January, Sister Carmel Considine was appointed Sister in Charge.
1941
The new parish of St. Vincent de Paul, North Essendon was established.
1943
Council changed the name of the area to Strathmore.
1946
Fr. Durkin was appointed as the first parish priest. The Columban Fathers administered the parish until then.
1950
St. Vincent's Parish purchases the land between the church - school and The Crossway from the Columban Mission.
1952
The new double storey wing of school was completed and a Sacristy and Sanctuary added to the original "Chapel of Ease".
1953
The Tennis Courts were built behind school by St. Vincent's Tennis Club.
St. Vincent de Paul new Church was blessed and opened bythe Archbishop Dr. Simonds. The new Church building cost about 56,000 pounds although additional site works may have taken the total cost to66,000 pounds. Parishioners had contributed 18,000 pounds during the construction. Additional donations of the marble high alter, side altars, tabernacle, Stations of the Cross, windows, baptismal font and most of the seats were also made by parishioners. The stained glass window above the high altar was a gift of Fr. Durkin and his brother, Rev. Father Durkin of East St Kilda.
The original church was converted into 3 classrooms.

The Sisters of Charity purchased "Rosebank" from Fr. Durkin for use as a Convent.
1961
The Sisters of Charity's new convent was blessed and opened in August.
1968
St Vincent's school ceases classes in grades 7 and 8.
1970
The new Parish Hall was built.
1977
Father Frank Larsen was appointed the second Parish Priest.
1986
The Sister's of Charity celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the opening of their convent.
1987
St. Vincent's school celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
Extensions to the Parish Hall opened.
1992 Fr Dominic De Giorgio appointed the third Parish Priest.
1995
A new wing of St. Vincent's School, occupying the area between the old church - school and the Parish Hall, is opened.

2007

2014

On the 26th September, Fr Peter J Ray appointed the fourth Parish Priest.

The Parish Administration Building was constructed.
2016

The interior of the Church was renovated - extending the Sanctuary, relocating the Organ to the Sanctuary and repositioning the Baptism Font to the main aisle (from the old Baptistry), realigning the pews and opening up the Narthex with a glass wall.  The new marble Altar was fashioned using the marble from the old High Altar.  The statue of St Vincent de Paul was repositioned near the eastside doors.

The new Altar was Consecrated by Archbishop Denis Hart DD on the 27th September.  The relics of St Vincent de Paul, St Peter Julian Eymard, St Pius X, St Stanislaus Kostka and St Josaphat were interned in the Altar. 
 2021    Fr Peter J Ray retired as the fourth Parish Priest of St Vincent de Paul Parish on 18th April.
    Rev Anthony J Doran appointed as the fifth Parish Priest of the Parish of St Vincent de Paul on 14 July
2022   On 1st March, Fr Tony Doran becomes Parish Priest of Moonee Ponds in addition to Strathmore, the first time in 100 years that Strathmore and Moonee Ponds are under the care of the same Parish Priest.

Parish Boundaries

St Vincent de Paul Parish Strathmore Parish Boundaries

Commencing on Melrose Drive at the three way junction of the Tullamarine Freeway, Western Ring Road and the National Railway Line;

Thence follow the Tullamarine Freeway southward and then eastward to a point in line with Carnarvon Road, and then southward along Carnarvon Road to Woodland Street;

Thence follow in a line south eastwards through Woodland Park and then eastwards into Salmon Park to a point midway between Schofield Street and Crisp Street, and then southwards to Glass Street, so as to locate all of Salmon Street and both sides of Crisp Street in Strathmore Parish;

Thence follow Glass Street eastwards and continue across the railway line along Napier Crescent to and across Pascoe Vale Road along the north side of Number 296 to Five Mile Creek;

Thence follow Five Mile Creek to its junction with Moonee Ponds Creek, and then follow Moonee Ponds Creek upstream to Mascoma Street, westward to the commencing point.

Unless otherwise stated boundaries run along the centerline of rivers, creeks, freeways, roads & streets.

Our Parish Prayer

St Vincent de Paul Parish Prayer

Loving God, through St Vincent de Paul,
we seek your guidance and constant protection,
for our parish community.

Gathered together as your people, we come as we are,
to live out the Gospel message,
in a faithfilled, welcoming and caring community.

Grant us your help in our weakness,
that we may proclaim to all, your abundant goodness.

We praise and thank you for your gifts given freely,
to share with one another.

May we never lose faith in you and always strive to live,
in a spirit of strength and gentleness. 

On our journey,
may we be an example of your love, to those we meet.

Loving God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
may you always watch over us in all we do.

Amen.

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