SUNNYBANK parish priest Fr Enoch Iheme heard “a very loud” sound from Our Lady of Lourdes Church and ran from the presbytery to find a car sitting on its roof in the parish car park last Sunday night.
Beneath the car was the church’s exterior cross, which stood near the entrance of the church.
Fr Iheme was among the first people to arrive on the scene and he quickly dialled emergency services.
“Both services came immediately, within two minutes they were there, which was a quick response,” he said.
Footage captured on a dashcam showed a car on Mains Road losing control and sliding through the parish grounds.
Fr Iheme said he was astonished that the people in the crash only had scratches on them.
“I was just shocked…” he said.
He said he was “grateful to God” no one was killed and that no bystanders were caught in the way of the crash.
He said the car damaged a Telstra phone booth at the front of the parish, the front fence, garden and the cross.
“The next day parishioners, wonderful volunteers, gathered around and cleared the church (of debris) ready for Mass the next day,” he said.
He said the parishioners freely responded to the need, showing their love for their church.
“People in the community see this place as a home,” he said.
He said Mains Road was a busy road and could sometimes get rowdy, but he was glad the crash did not happen during school drop-off or when the car park was full.
Fr Iheme said he hoped the parish could make the news for the positive work it was doing in the community instead of a car crash report, but acknowledged it was important for the community to know.
He said the parish has had incredible turnout at Masses with the 10.30am and 6pm Sunday Masses “chock-a-block”.
The parish is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Our Lady of Lourdes church building this weekend.
He said a church was more than “brick walls” but “living stone” and it was a significant moment for the community.
