AS floodwaters peaked in Maryborough engulfing the city, St Mary’s Church parish priest Fr Lucius Edomobi was forced to abandon plans for Ash Wednesday – the first time in 150 years that the heritage-listed church has not marked the holy day of prayer and fasting.
“I’ve been warned by the police not to come out or I will be evacuated,” Fr Lucius Edomobi, said, using a phone app to send photos and voice messages from inside the church presbytery.
“I’ve been locked up inside a room, without power since Saturday.
“The water level is huge and it is going to take some days to recede.”
With more than 800 Maryborough households without power, the Mary River peaked overnight at 10.3m, below the 2013 Cyclone Oswald high mark.
Floodwaters started receding slightly this morning (Tuesday), but have remained above the major flood level of 9m.
A purpose-built flood levee has protected the city’s CBD from major inundation.
Fr Edomobi said most St Mary’s parishioners were impacted by the flood, the second to hit Maryborough in six weeks.
He was forced to take the extraordinary step of postponing Ash Wednesday Masses – a serious blow to tradition.
On February 4, St Mary’s was packed as the tight-knit Catholic community in Maryborough celebrated the 150th anniversary of the first Mass held in the church.
“Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, which is very important for us and our faith – but people will be very disappointed to hear that for the very first time we are moving it,” Fr Edomobi said.
“We have decided to cancel the Ash Wednesday service and move it to the weekend. We will now have Ash Sunday in Maryborough.”
