OUR Lady of the Way Parish at Petrie, north of Brisbane, celebrates “50 years of faith” today, November 9.
“It is with a deep sense of gratitude and joy that we celebrate these 50 years of faith,” associate pastor Fr Chima Ofor said as the parish prepared to mark its golden anniversary.
“I humbly wish to thank all those whose hard work, love and sacrifice enabled us to achieve this landmark.
“We now look to the future in joyful trust and hope.”
For the past six months, Fr Ofor has been working alongside parish priest Fr Dave O’Connor, who is on leave.
Fr Ofor said when he took up his appointment in Petrie in May he “immediately felt this deep sense of welcoming and hospitality that is very much alive in the parish”.
“I can’t recall the number of ‘rock star’ morning teas that were organised to welcome me in the parish,” he said.
“This deep sense of hospitality helped me greatly in settling into the community.
“Now I feel like I have been in the parish for more than a year.
“Often times, parishioners will approach me asking if I would recall a particular event or celebration that happened in the parish last year. And my reply has always been, ‘I wasn’t here last year’.”
Fr Ofor said Petrie parish was “one with an obvious peculiar story – a story that revolves around a deep sense of community, evangelisation and mission outreach”.
“And there are ministries in the parish that make these special features of the parish truly alive,” he said.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge will celebrate Mass at Our Lady of the Way Church at 9am today for the parish’s 50th anniversary.
He was also to celebrate a Mass of Confirmation on Saturday night (November 8).
The Dayboro and Petrie communities of the parish will come together for the anniversary Mass. No Mass will be celebrated in Dayboro this weekend.
Parish secretary Angela Smith said priests and religious who had served in the parish in the past would also attend the anniversary Mass, as well as priests from the Brisbane Northern Rivers Deanery and former parishioners.
She said Our Lady of the Way Primary School and Mt Maria College, Petrie would be involved both in the Mass and the mini carnival that would follow.
Mrs Smith said memorabilia would be on display, and the parish would be selling commemorative port and a commemorative 2015 calendar.
The calendar will include “photos of priests past and present, and photos of buildings – then and now”.
“People (attending the Mass and carnival) can have a look around and see how we’ve changed,” Mrs Smith said.
“It will be quite a surprise for people who haven’t been here for a while – what a difference there is.”
The parish will have an anniversary dinner at Norths Leagues and Services Club, Kallangur, on November 15.
