Photos: Matt Kirby
By Paul Dobbyn
CELEBRATIONS at St Brigid’s Church, Red Hill, reached a climax last Sunday with a Centenary Mass packing the huge and iconic building to overflowing.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge hailed the church “sailing serenely on Brisbane’s skyline” as “a monument to Easter, the calm beyond all storms, the life that is bigger than death”.
“Therefore this church points not only to the past but also to the future,” he said.
“Silently it assures anyone with eyes to see there is a hope that does not deceive.”
Archbishop Coleridge also paid tribute to “the generous working folk” whose donations had helped build the church.
“St Brigid’s stands as a monument to paradox … this church is very grand, even aggressively so, but it is built by the pennies of the poor.
“St Brigid’s is nothing if not flamboyant but it is the work of humble faith.”
Parish priest Fr Peter Brannelly, shortly before the start of Mass, escorted recently appointed Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey to his seat.
“What was Brisbane’s best kept secret has been revealed quite a bit this year,” Fr Brannelly said.
“After four years in planning to celebrate the centenary, couldn’t have asked for anything better – perfect weather, wonderful music and once again, as with other events these past weeks, great crowds.”
The renowned St Brigid’s choir sang parts of the Mass.
Traditional hymns including Panis Angelicus added to the sense of occasion.
Faith of Our Fathers provided a fitting conclusion to the Mass, celebrating this “Big church on the hill” and its deep connections to the tradition of Brisbane’s Catholic faith history.
A celebratory morning tea followed.
Jubilee parish associate pastor Fr James O’Donoghue said “some 6500 cakes and nibbles were baked for the occasion”.
St Brigid’s centenary year, launched on April 27, has been marked with a series of events, most recently an open day on July 27.
The Open House event included an art exhibition, a history display, church tours and stained-glass colouring activities for children.
Listed as a heritage building by the National Trust, St Brigid’s Church will be part of the Brisbane Open House event on October 11 and 12.
Archbishop Coleridge’s dedication and blessing of the Archbishop James Duhig bronze memorial sculpture in an alcove at the back of the church also recalled a significant link to the church’s past.
Among other highlights on the day was an historical display featuring paintings of St Brigid’s by local artists as well as photographs from the parish’s early days.
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