Tuesday 17 April 2012
On Sunday 25 March 2012, Holy Spirit Church Ringwood North celebrated its 40th Anniversary with a joyful open air Mass followed by picnic rug lunch and family entertainment barn dance led by ‘Bushwahzee Band’– the date marking the beginning of the parish. Hundreds of past and present parishioners, along with visitors and invited guests, packed Holy Spirit Parish, in Ringwood North, to commemorate 40 years of worship and pastoral care. More than 500 people attended the Holy Mass.
Fr Kevin Mogg concelebrated the Mass with current parish priest, Fr Shibu Joseph sac and former Holy Spirit parish priest Fr Allen Mithen and other priests who had supported the parish in many of its past sacramental celebrations. The homily during the Mass reminded all of the need for a genuine relationship with God: "I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." The strength of parish life is in the connection – our relationship to Jesus Christ in community and with each other through the Church. Working together in the unity of God's Spirit, we're able to accomplish all that God would have to do and be.
What started as a cleared pine paddock back in 1972 where Mass was celebrated in the open, has now become a dynamic community, with links and services that reach beyond the parish and school population. Today, the parish reaches out to the various needs of the society through various programs, including sporting clubs, St Vincent de Paul, support to the local nursing homes and the parish community fete - a celebrated local event. The happy community also comes together for spiritual events– Holy Eucharist, baptisms, marriages and other sacraments. The parish has been served by priests Fr Jim Nippard, F. Kevin Mogg, Fr Allan Mithen, Fr Eugene San sac and Fr Shibu Joseph sac. It is now under the care of the order of Pallottines. A display of historical events of the parish going on in the church depicting the beautiful thoughts on the parish from its beginning. To mark the Jubilee, a logo was designed by Deanne Frangeskakis, a parish youth with her own graphic talents and a Jubilee prayer was also composed by Lyn Thwaites. The Parish pastoral council along with the parish staff has arranged many parish programs to continue to celebrate the Jubilee throughout the year.
“The 40th Jubilee was an opportunity to recognise and celebrate faith and the growth of the community and a joyful walk down the memory lane. All this reminds us that there is so much to give thanks for and celebrate” Fr Shibu Joseph, the parish priest said regarding the occasion.