Awaiting guests: St Catherine’s Church in Moggill is preparing for large numbers to celebrate 20 years since retired Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby opened and blessed the small church.
By Emilie Ng
NAMING churches after St Catherine is a tradition in Moggill in Brisbane’s west.
The area’s first Catholic Church was named St Catherine in memory of Catherine O’Brien, a relative of the O’Reily family who donated the land for the church.
Mrs O’Brien was also an early settler in Moggill, but died at 73 when her skirt got caught on an open fire in the area.
Indooroopilly’s parish priests celebrated Mass in the old St Catherine’s Church for Moggill locals during the 1950s and 1960s, but life in a separate parish ended in the 1970s when Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Kenmore, opened in 1969.
St Catherine’s Church was in poor condition and eventually sold in 1989, with money from the sale going towards the building of a new church in the area that held onto the first church’s name.
Former Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby opened and blessed the second St Catherine’s Church, Moggill, 20 years ago – on May 22, 1995.
St Catherine’s Church is part of the Kenmore parish.
Parishioners will celebrate the 20th anniversary since the new St Catherine’s Church opened on March 7.
Bishop Brian Finnigan and Kenmore parish priest Fr Francis Onwunali will concelebrate the anniversary Mass from 5.30pm.
Past parishioners are invited to be guests at the anniversary Mass.
Contact the parish office on 3878 6655 for more information.
