Lay Involvement in Australia’s Oldest Church
St Brigid’s at Miller’s Point Sydney
by Beryl Prescott, MLA, Chair of Church Volunteers
HISTORY
 Tucked away behind The Rocks, St Brigid’s at 14 Kent Street Millers Point, has been continually functioning as a church since 1835 to the present day. It was originally built as a “Roman Catholic School House, to be occasionally used as a Chapel.” The identity marks of the c o n v i c t s who built it can still be seen in the bricks. At first lay teachers taught in the two school rooms, one for boys and one for girls during the week, with Mass celebrated on Sundays.
In March 1843, The Christian Brothers took over the School for boys only, but they withdrew and returned to Ireland in 1847 over disagreements with Archbishop Polding. Lay teachers again took care of the school. In 1857 St Bridget’s (as it was known then) became part of a newly-established parish centred around St Patrick’s in Grovenor Street. In 1868 St Patrick’s parish was entrusted to the Marist Fathers. In 1874 a separate parish of St Bridget’s was established but in 1879 it returned to the care of the Marist Fathers.
The Sisters of St Joseph were in charge of the school and hall in 1880 and a nearby orphanage until 1888. The Sisters of Mercy then took charge of the school until its closure in 1992.
From 1901 St Bridget’s was fully incorporated into St Patrick’s parish and in 1933 the present spelling – St Brigid’s was adopted. The upper storey was constructed for school, allowing the original ground floor to be used exclusively as a chapel.
 Lay Involvement
Beryl Prescott and Dawn Caruana (pictured at left) were part of the original committee and are still members of the current one. Beryl is President/ Treasurer and Glen is Secretary. Two members are absent from the photo Annabel Murray and Judy Taylor. This committee keeps the church going. It meets regularly to organize church happenings, to fund raise and to assist with Liturgies.
For the last 50 years plus, laity have been involved in many ways, assisting the Sisters when St Brigid’s School was operating and continually supporting the Fathers. They have always cared for the church being responsible for cleaning, laundering, floral arrangements – flowers grown in their own gardens. A committee of lay Marists is still involved in assisting with the running of St. Brigid’s. Like our early laity we support the Fathers with preparations for Weddings, Baptisms, Burials and with what ever other help we can give including providing a cuppa after Sunday Mass and a barbecue monthly. Weddings are very popular owing to the centre aisle, and the warm comfortable feeling people have on entering St. Brigid’s.
The Marist Sisters first contact was in 1907 when three Marist Sisters, en route to begin their mission in Fiji, slept in the small vestry. Since 1974 the Marist Sisters have ministered as pastoral assistants. Sr Gemma Pearson sm, now in her 20th year of organizing liturgies, giving grief support, teaching scripture in Fort St school and taking Holy Communion to the sick in hospitals and hostels, retires in April THANK YOU SISTER! Our two wonderful alter servers Mai & Phong who have attended and served Sunday Mass for many years, recently trained three new servers.
 D’arcy, Chang, Phoung, Toan, & Mai faithful Sunday Altar Servers CONGRATULATIONS Phoung & Mai!
Music Ministry Anita Fry on guitar & Suzie Whitaker on keyboard have provided the music and led the singing for the past 13 years for Sunday Masses at St Brigid’s congregation.. Both teachers they were drawn to this caring parish by the intimate community spirit that warmly welcomes strangers, celebrates new life, supports each other in difficulties and comforts the sick.
Anita and Suzie’s harmonious and joyful singing uplifts the spirits of this congregation which come from various parts of the greater Sydney area. | |
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News March 2009 |
