By Emilie Ng
CHERMSIDE West parish has won local radio station 4KQ’s Christmas lights competition for the sixth time since 2004.
St Gerard Majella’s Church won the category for best church or community group display in the radio competition, open to any resident or organisation across south-east Queensland.
Parishioners began work on the lights display in August to ensure the $75,000 Christmas experience was “bigger and better” than previous years.
This is the 11th year St Gerard Majella’s Church has been decked in beaming colourful lights thanks to more than 100 volunteers.
The Christmas lights display is part of a 26-night parish festival that includes live entertainment, food and “old-fashioned Christmas market”, and is open to the public.
Parish priest Fr Gerard McMorrow said the festival was more than just a parish fundraiser.
“The purpose of the festival other than as our major fundraiser, is to reach out to the wider community and make all feel at home at St Gerard’s,” Fr McMorrow said.
“My favourite quote from Pope Francis is, ‘May the Church be the place of God’s mercy and love, where everyone can feel themselves welcomed’.
“A visit to see the lights has become a much anticipated annual event to many large groups of elderly people as well as many hundreds of families not only from the local area but also from places well and truly beyond the boundaries of greater Brisbane.
“It’s a happy time for all who visit for whomever you are, wherever you’re from and whatever your beliefs, you will be made most welcome at St Gerard’s Christmas Festival.”
Parish manager Kate Scutt said more than 11,000 people “wander in” to the festival each year.
“But we couldn’t do it without the community,” Mrs Scutt said.
Chermside West parish’s lights festival finishes on December 23 but the lights will stay on until December 26.
