1939
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LISMORE
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PARISH OF ST PETER THE FISHERMAN CAMDEN HAVEN |
| FOUNDED 1939 |
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DIOCESE LISMORE |
| PARISH CHURCH | STATION CHURCHES | OTHER BUILDINGS | RELIGIOUS ORDERS | PARISH DIRECTORY |
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| PARISH CHURCH OF ST PETER THE FISHERMAN, LAURIETON | ||
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| PARISH | HISTORY | CHURCH |
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| PARISH | ||
| CAMDEN HAVEN IS A HOLIDAY AREA AT THE MOUTH OF THE CAMDEN HAVEN RIVER COMPRISING SEVERAL SMALLER SETTLEMENTS THAT HAVE GROWN INTO A SINGLE CONURBATION STRETCHING FROM THE BEACHSIDE TOWN OF NORTH HAVEN TO THE HIGHWAY TOWN OF KEW AND THE RAIL TOWN OF KENDALL. TODAY ITS POPULATION CONSISTS PRIMARILY OF HOLIDAYMAKERS, YOUNG FAMILIES AND RETIREES. THE CAMDEN HAVEN AREA ORIGINALLY CONSISTED OF SEVERAL STATIONS BELONGING TO TAREE PARISH IN THE DIOCESE OF MAITLAND. IN 1939 THE PARISH OF KENDALL WAS CREATED WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMBOYNE, STEWART'S RIVER AND LAURIETON. BOUNDARY CHANGES IN 1976 RESULTED IN THE PARISH BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE DIOCESE OF LISMORE. BY THE EARLY 80's IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE COMMERCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE OF THE AREA HAD SHIFTED FROM KENDALL TO LAURIETON. ACCORDINGLY IN 1984 WHEN THE NEW CHURCH WAS COMPLETED AT LAURIETON THE PARISH CENTRE WAS MOVED THERE AND THE PARISH RENAMED CAMDEN HAVEN. FIRST CHURCH | ||
 | FIRST CHURCH OF ST PETER | |||
| THE FIRST CHURCH IN LAURIETON WAS A SMALL WOODEN 'GODBOX' OPENED BY DR MURRAY, BISHOP OF MAITLAND IN 1899. ONLY HOLDING ABOUT 40 PEOPLE AND LOCATED A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN TOWARDS LAURIETON ON A RISE ABOVE THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD, IT WAS REPLACED IN 1953 BY A LARGER CHURCH AND CONVERTED INTO A SUPPLEMENTARY HALL FOR THE OVERFLOW ON HOUSIE NIGHTS. IT EVENTUALLY BECAME SOMEWHAT RICKETY AND DANGEROUS AND IT WAS DEMOLISHED SOMETIME IN THE LATE 60's. THE ONLY REMAINING SECTION IS THE WHITE CROSS LOCATED AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE KEYHOLE GARDEN. THE PHOTO TO THE RIGHT SHOWING BOLD ST IN THE EARLY 1900's WITH THE CHURCH ON THE RIGHT IS THE ONLY KNOWN PHOTO OF THE CHURCH AVAILABLE. SECOND CHURCH | ||||
| SECOND CHURCH OF ST PETER | ||
| BY THE EARLY 50's POPULATION GROWTH AROUND LAURIETON MADE THE OLD CHURCH INADEQUATE FOR THE NUMBER OF LOCALS AND HOLIDAY MAKERS WHO FLOCKED TO THE AREA. ACCORDINGLY IN JANUARY 1958 A NEW CHURCH CUM HALL WAS OPENED AND BLESSED BY BISHOP TOOHEY NEXT DOOR TO THE ORIGINAL CHURCH. BUILT OF WEATHERBOARD THE NEW CHURCH HALL COULD SEAT 200 AND WAS EQUIPPED WITH SLIDING DOORS TO CLOSE OFF THE SANCTUARY ALLOWING THE BODY TO BE USED FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES SUCH AS DANCES AND HOUSIE NIGHTS. FURTHER EXTENSIONS WERE MADE IN 1968 BUT THE NEED FOR A LARGER AND MORE FORMAL CHURCH WAS SOON OBVIOUS. IN 1985 AFTER THE THIRD LAURIETON CHURCH WAS OPENED THE OLD SITE WAS LEASED OUT AND THE CHURCH HALL MOVED TO THE NEW SITE AND ERECTED ACROSS FROM THE NEW CHURCH WHERE IT CONTINUES TO SERVE AS THE PARISH HALL. CHURCH OF ST PETER THE FISHERMAN |
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 | CHURCH OF ST PETER THE FISHERMAN | |
| BY THE 1980's IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT LAURIETON WAS A MORE APPROPRIATE LOCATION FOR THE PARISH CHURCH AND THE DECISION WAS TAKEN TO DEVELOP THE EXISTING LAURIETON SITE INTO THE NEW PARISH CENTRE. AS A RESULT THE PARISH COMPLEX NOW PRESENTS A VERY MODERN APPEARANCE. A NEW SCHOOL WAS OPENED IN 1980 AND A MODERN CHURCH OF WHITE BRICK DEDICATED TO ST PETER THE FISHERMAN IN 1984. THE NEW PRESBYTERY WAS OPENED IN 1985. BEGINNING IN 1995 A REFLECTION GARDEN, THE BRAINCHILD OF THE PARISH PRIEST, FR JOHN CASEY, TOOK SHAPE AND IS NOW A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION. THE CHURCH IS BUILT IN A STYLE HARMONISING WITH THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE LOCALITY. IT IS RELATIVELY LOW WITH A HIP ROOF AND AN ATTRACTIVE PORCH. EXTENSIVE USE HAS BEEN MADE OF GLASS PANELLING TO PROVIDE BOTH LIGHT AND VIEWS OF THE GARDEN SURROUNDS. A MODERN METAL FRAME IMAGE OF THE CHURCH PATRON, ST PETER, ADORNS THE FRONT WALL OF THE PORCH. AN UNUSUAL FEATURE IS THE HEXAGONAL SACRISTY TO THE LEFT OF THE ENTRANCE. STANDING GUARD AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CHURCH IS THIS CRENELLATED BELL TOWER WITH A LOVELY MEDIEVAL STYLE MURAL OF OUR LORD (LEFT). | ||
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<<<< AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CHURCH GROUNDS IS THE MILLENNIUM CROSS, A FOUR METRE HIGH CELTIC CROSS INSTALLED AND BLESSED IN 2001. THE CROSS ANOTHER INSPIRATION OF FR JOHN CASEY IS BASED ON THE CROSS OF SCRIPTURES OF CLONMACNOIS IN IRELAND AND IS ONE OF SEVERAL IN THE DIOCESE. IT IS ENGRAVED WITH 19 SCRIPTURAL IMAGES AND SEVEN RECORDING THE HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LISMORE. THE METAL FRAME IMAGE OF ST PETER, PATRON OF THE PARISH, HOLDING THE KEYS OF HEAVEN AND THE SHEPHERD'S STAFF. AHEAD OF HIM ARE FISH REPRESENTING HIS ROLE AS A FISHERMAN. >>>> NEXT |
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| THE DESIGN OF THE CHURCH WAS UNIQUELY INTENDED TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF LAURIETON BEING PLANNED TO ACCOMODATE A REGULAR GONGREGATION OF 270 PEOPLE WITH WIDE VERANDAHS FOR THE OVERFLOW VISITORS IN PEAK HOLIDAY PERIODS. BUILT IN WHITE KOSCIUSKO BRICK WITH ALL GLASS WALLS ON TWO SIDES IT GIVES A FEELING OF SPACIOUSNESS IN ITS NATURAL BUSH SETTING. NEXT |
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| THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH IS FILLED WITH LIGHT FROM THE SIDES AND FROM THE LARGE CLEAR GLASS WINDOWS TO EITHER SIDE OF THE SANCTUARY. IN PLACE OF THE TRADITIONAL SIDE ALTARS, THE STATUES OF THE SACRED HEART AND OUR LADY ARE MOUNTED BESIDE THE WINDOWS. DESPITE THE MODERNITY OF THE CHURCH THE SEATING ITSELF IS VERY TRADITIONAL IN ITS PLACEMENT. THE SANCTUARY ITSELF HAS BEEN DELIBERATELY KEPT PLAIN AND UNCLUTTERED. THE ALTAR IS OF THE SAME BRICK AS THE CHURCH ITSELF WHILE A CARVED WOODEN CRUCIFIX HANGS JUST BENEATH A STAINED GLASS "EYE-WINDOW", THE SOLE DECORATIVE EFFECT IN THE UNADORNED EAST WALL. BENEATH THE CRUCIFIX IS THE CELEBRANT'S CHAIR WITH THE TABERNACLE TO THE SANCTUARY'S RIGHT. NEXT | ||
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| APART FROM THE STATUES OF OUR LADY AND THE SACRED HEART IN THE SANCTUARY, THE DECORATION OF THE CHURCH IS MODERN AND MINIMALIST IN KEEPING WITH THE CONCEPTS OF LIGHTNESS AND AIRINESS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE CHURCH'S ARCHITECTURE. THIS INCLUDES BOTH THE PLAIN SANCTUARY AND THE NAVE. AMONG THE EXAMPLES OF THIS MINIMALIST APPROACH TO DECORATION ARE THE BEATEN BRASS STATIONS OF THE CROSS MOUNTED ALONG THE ARCHITRAVE. THESE ARE HEAVILY STYLISED FOCUSING ON THE KEY SYMBOLS OF EACH STATION RATHER THAN REALISTIC PORTRAIT-TYPE REPRESENTATIONS. SHOWN AT RIGHT IS THE ELEVENTH STATION OF THE CROSS - "JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS". NEXT |
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THE TABERNACLE, HOUSE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, IS POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SANCTUARY IN KEEPING WITH MODERN LITURGICAL DESIGN IDEAS PREVALENT WHEN THE CHURCH WAS BUILT. AS SEEN BELOW LEFT IT IS CLOTHED IN RED FOR THE PATRONAL FEAST OF ST PETER. TO THE RIGHT IT CAN BE SEEN VEILED IN WHITE AND EMPTY IN PREPARATION FOR THE VIGIL SERVICE TO BE HELD ON EASTER SATURDAY. A WHITE CURTAIN BACKS THE TABERNACLE WHICH SITS FREE-STANDING ON A WOODEN ALTAR-LIKE CORNER BASE. AN ATTRACTIVE BRACKET SANCTUARY LAMP INDICATES THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST TO THE FAUTHFUL. NEXT |
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| STATION CHURCHES | ||
| COMBOYNE | KENDALL | STEWART'S RIVER |
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| CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL, COMBOYNE | |
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| THE PRETTY MOUNTAIN VILLAGE OF COMBOYNE LIES ON A LUSH PLATEAU RISING BEHIND KENDALL. BYPASSED BY THE MAIN ROADS, IT HAS PRESERVED A PEACEFUL OLD WORLD QUALITY IN COMPLETE CONTRAST TO THE BUSTLE OF THE COASTAL CENTRES IN THE PARISH. ORIGINALLY THE INHABITANTS OF COMBOYNE WOULD TRAVEL DOWN TO UPPER LANDSDOWNE TO ATTEND MASS. LATER WHEN THE LITTLE STATION CHURCH WAS OPENED IN 1918 A PRIEST WOULD VISIT FROM TAREE OF WHICH PARISH THE VILLAGE THEN FORMED A PART AND STAY OVERNIGHT WITH A LOCAL FAMILY. BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION, COMBOYNE BECAME A STATION OF THE NEW PARISH OF KENDALL (NOW CAMDEN HAVEN) IN 1939. TODAY A SMALL BUT FAITHFUL GROUP KEEPS THIS LOVELY LITTLE CHURCH ALIVE. CHURCH | |
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| ON OCTOBER 14, 1917 BISHOP DWYER MADE THE FIRST EPISCOPAL VISIT TO THE TINY VILLAGE OF COMBOYNE TO LAY THE FIRST STONE FOR THE CHURCH ON LAND DONATED BY MR THOMAS JONES. HE RETURNED A YEAR LATER TO BLESS AND OPEN THE CHURCH. BUILT OF OILED TIMBER (BELOW IN 1918) THE CHURCH IS A TYPICAL RURAL GODBOX COMPRISING A NAVE, PORCH AND CHANCEL. IT WAS RE-PAINTED AND FULLY RENOVATED DURING THE 1990's. NEXT | |
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 | THE SIMPLE ROSEWOOD INTERIOR HAS CHANGED LITTLE OVER THE YEARS. TO MEET THE LITURGICAL CHANGES OF VATICAN II A TABLE ALTAR WAS INSTALLED BUT THE BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL CARVED WOODEN ALTAR WAS RETAINED. TRADITIONAL STATUES OF OUR LADY AND THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS AS WELL AS AN ATTRACTIVE SET OF STATIONS OF THE CROSS PROVIDE THE ONLY OTHER DECORATION. NEXT |
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| vv THE ORIGINAL PRE-VATICAN II ALTAR WHICH HAS BEEN RETAINED IN ITS ENTIRETY IS THE SPECIAL TREASURE OF THE CHURCH.vv TOP STATION CHURCHES KENDALL | ||
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| CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST. KENDALL | |
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| THE LITTLE TOWN OF KENDALL NESTLES ON THE BANKS OF THE CAMDEN HAVEN RIVER TO THE WEST OF LAURIETON. IT OWES ITS EXISTANCE TO THE RAILWAY LINE. KENDALL WAS THE STOP OFF POINT FOR THE CAMDEN HAVEN DISTRICT. TODAY, WITH ITS NEIGHBOUR ON THE HIGHWAY, KEW, IT IS VIRTUALLY AN OUTER SUBURB OF THE CAMDEN HAVEN CONURBATION. ORIGINALLY A STATION OF TAREE, IN 1939 IT BECAME A PARISH IN ITS OWN RIGHT COVERING THE WHOLE CAMDEN HAVEN VALLEY. IN 1984 IT REVERTED TO A STATION WHEN THE PARISH CENTRE WAS MOVED TO A FAST GROWING LAURIETON. FIRST CHURCH OF ST JOHN | |
| CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST, CAMDEN HAVEN | |
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| THE FIRST CHURCH IN THE CAMDEN HAVEN DISTRICT WAS A WOODEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTED IN 1880 ON LAND DONATED BY MR DAN WILLIAMS THE LOCAL HOTEL KEEPER AND DEDICATED TO ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST. THE SITE WAS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RIVER SOME 400 METRES UP THE HILLSIDE OPPOSITE THE SETTLEMENT OF CAMDEN HAVEN (NOW ROSS GLEN) AND APPROXIMATELY 4 KM SOUTH OF PRESENT DAY KEW. IT IS SAID RESIDENTS HAD TO SWIM OR ROW ACROSS THE RIVER TO ATTEND MASS. EVENTUALLY IT BECAME TOO SMALL FOR THE CONGREGATION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GROWTH OF THE RAILHEAD NEARBY. AS KENDALL WAS DEEMED A MORE SUITABLE LOCATION FOR THE NEW CHURCH, THE OLD CHURCH WAS CLOSED AND SOLD. IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY MOVED TO KENDALL WHERE IT WAS CONVERTED INTO A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. THE OLD CHURCH STILL EXISTS TODAY ALTHOUGH VARIOUS ALTERATIONS AND RENOVATIONS HAVE MADE IT HARD TO RECOGNISE, WITH ONLY THE HIGH PEAK OF THE NAVE ABOVE THE VERANDAH INDICATING ITS PRESENCE. CHURCH OF ST JOHN, KENDALL | |
 | CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST, KENDALL |
| THE CHURCH OF ST JOHN KENDALL WAS BUILT OF BRICK IN 1917-18 ATOP A SLIGHT RISE OVERLOOKING THE TOWN. IT CONSISTED OF A NAVE AND CHANCEL WITH SIMPLE POINTED WINDOWS AND MOCK BUTRESSES. IN 1946 A SACRISTY AND A NARTHEX-STYLE PORCH WERE ADDED. IN 2001 A SMALL REFLECTION GARDEN AND MILLENNIUM CROSS WERE ADDED TO THE RIGHT OF THE SACRISTY. NEXT | |
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<<<< THE CHURCH SEEN THROUGH THE TREES WHICH SHADE THE CORNER OF THE HILL. THE MILLENNIUM CROSS WITH THE REFLECTION GARDEN AT HE BACK. >>>> NEXT |
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| THE SPARSE YET BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH IS GIVEN A SPLASH OF STAINED GLASS LIKE COLOUR BY THE TAPESTRIES ADORNING THE CHANCEL WALL, THE WORK OF FR JOHN CASEY. THE ALTAR (BELOW) IS A PLAIN TABLE SHAPE HERE DECORATED FOR THE NATIVITY SEASON. IN KEEPING WITH THE LITURGICAL CHANGES OF THE POST VATICAN II PERIOD THE TABERNACLE HAS BEEN RE-LOCATED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RE-MODELLED CHANCEL AND SANCTUARY AREA. |  |
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| THE TAPESTRIES (<<<< >>>>) BY FATHER CASEY ARE A SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE DECORATION OF THE CHURCH. | ||
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| WHEN THE CHANCEL WAS RE-MODELLED THE STATUES OF OUR LADY (LEFT) AND THE SACRED HEART (RIGHT) WERE MOVED INTO THE SANCTUARY FROM THEIR POSITIONS RIGHT AND LEFT OF THE CHANCEL ARCH AND THE TABERNACLE (CENTRE) LOCATED THERE INSTEAD. NEXT | ||
 | THE SIMPLE NAVE OF THE CHURCH WITH THE LOVELY WOODEN BARREL-LIKE CEILING AND THE TWO UNUSUAL DIAMOND WINDOWS SET HIGH IN THE WEST END AND BELOW TWO BRIGHTLY PAINTED STATIONS OF THE CROSS. TOP STATION CHURCHES STEWART'S RIVER |
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| CHURCH OF ST JAMES, STEWART'S RIVER | |
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| STEWART'S RIVER IS A SMALL LOCALITY SET AMONGST TREE CLAD HILLS OFF THE MAIN HIGHWAY SOUTH OF KENDALL. ORIGINALLY A LOGGING SETTLEMENT IT IS NOW A QUIET RURAL FARMING AREA. STEWART'S RIVER WAS ORIGINALLY A STATION OF TAREE BECOMING ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL STATIONS OF KENDALL, LATER CAMDEN HAVEN, PARISH IN 1939. STEWART'S RIVER ALWAYS HAD A STRONG CATHOLIC PRESENCE EXPRESSED IN THE CONFIDENT BUILDING OF A NEW CHURCH IN 1964. SADLY DUE TO A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF PARISHIONERS IT WAS CLOSED IN 1989 BUT TODAY IN A TESTAMENT OF FAITH IT HAS BEEN RE-OPENED TO AGAIN SERVE THE SMALL CATHOLIC COMMUNITY. FIRST CHURCH | |
| FIRST CHURCH OF ST JAMES |  |
| THE FIRST CHURCH OF ST JAMES AT STEWART'S RIVER WAS BUILT IN 1898 FROM LOCALLY SAWN WOOD SLABS. IT WAS LOCATED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PRESENT CHURCH. ORIGINALLY CONSISTING OF A SIMPLE NAVE, A REAR SACRISTY AND PORCH WERE LATER ADDED. IT SERVED THE PEOPLE OF THE AREA FOR SOME 70 YEARS UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED BY THE PRESENT BRICK CHURCH. AFTER COMPLETION OF THE NEW CHURCH, THE OLD CHURCH WAS SOLD AND DEMOLISHED. THE BEAUTIFUL ROSEWOOD TIMBER WAS SUBSEQUENTLY USED TO BUILD A BARN ON A LOCAL FARMSTEAD. SECOND CHURCH |
| SECOND CHURCH OF ST JAMES |  |
| THE NEW CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1964 IN BLONDE BRICK, AND MAINTAINS A TRADITIONAL FEEL WITH ITS WIDE NAVE AND DISTINCT CHANCEL AND NARTHEX. IT PROCLAIMS ITS ALLEGIANCE FROM THE OUTSET WITH THE WHITE CRUCIFIX OVER THE ENTRANCE DOORS. NEXT | |
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| OF SPECIAL INTEREST IS THE STONE SET BESIDE THE PATH WITH A PLAQUE DEDICATED TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, AGAIN THE WORK OF FR CASEY. A RURAL TOUCH IS THE PRESENCE OF A GALVANISED-IRON WATER TANK AT THE REAR OF THE SANCTUARY. NEXT |
| THERE IS A SIMPLE YET ELEGANT SANCTUARY IN THE CHURCH WITH A SANDSTONE ALTAR AND REREDOS. THE TABERNACLE IS BUILT INTO THE REREDOS, UNUSUALLY OFF-CENTRE TO ACCOMODATE THE CRUCIFIX. OF SPECIAL NOTE ARE THE ALTAR RAILS WHICH UNLIKE IN MANY OTHER CHURCHES HAVE NOT BEEN REMOVED. TOP STATION CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS |  | |
 | THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS ARE PAINTED AND SIMILAR IN STYLE TO THOSE IN THE KENDALL CHURCH. | |
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| OTHER BUILDINGS | ||||
| AS A SMALL PARISH KENDALL HAD ONLY A FEW ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS. APART FROM THE CHURCH ITSELF, THERE WERE THREE SEPARATE PRESBYTERIES IN USE AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE FIRST, BUILT IN 1939 BECAME THE CONVENT IN 1952 WHEN THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH ARRIVED TO CONDUCT THE PARISH SCHOOL. THE SECOND, LOCATED ON A CORNER OPPOSITE THE CHURCH IN JACKSON ST, WAS BOUGHT AND BLESSED IN 1952 BUT, LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM AN ENGINEERING WORKS, IT PROVED TOO NOISY. IN 1967 THIS BUILDING WAS SOLD AND THE LAST KENDALL PRESBYTERY PURCHASED IN LAUREL STREET. ONE OF THE FINEST HOMES IN KENDALL, IT WAS SOLD IN THE 1980's WHEN THE PARISH WAS MOVED TO LAURIETON. FOLLOWING THE TRANSFER TO LISMORE DIOCESE IN 1976 STEPS WERE TAKEN TO MOVE THE PARISH CENTRE TO LAURIETON. THE PARISH SCHOOL WAS THE FIRST TO MOVE BEING TRANSFERRED IN 1977 AND RENAMED ST JOSEPH'S COMMUNITY SCHOOL (NOW ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL). IT UNDERWENT SEVERAL MAJOR EXPANSIONS DURING THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO CATER FOR AN INCREASING NUMBER OF STUDENTS. IN 1977 ST JOSEPH'S PRE SCHOOL WAS ALSO OPENED CLOSE TO THE SCHOOL AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY ASPECT OF THE ENLARGED CAMPUS. IN 1985 A NEW LAURIETON PRESBYTERY INCLUDING A MODERN PARISH ADMINISTRATION OFFICE WAS OPENED. A PRIVATE RESIDENCE FOR THE PARISH PRIEST WAS LATER BOUGHT A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. AN OUTLET OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY HAS OPERATED IN LAURIETON SINCE THE 1960's. 1995 SAW THE BEGINNING OF A UNIQUE ADDITION TO THE PARISH, THE REFLECTION GARDEN, WHICH IS NOW A MAJOR LOCAL ATTRACTION. | ||||
| KENDALL PRESBYTERIES | LAURIETON PRESBYTERY | LAURIETON PRE SCHOOL | LAURIETON ST VINCENT DE PAUL | LAURIETON REFLECTION GARDEN |
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| PRESBYTERIES, KENDALL | ||
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| THE FIRST PRESBYTERY, KENDALL, LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE CHURCH. IT WAS BUILT IN 1939 BY MR WALTER KINDLE AND OPENED BY BISHOP GLEESON. IN 1952 IT BECAME THE CONVENT. | THE SECOND PRESBYTERY, KENDALL, IN JACKSON ST. IT WAS PURCHASED FROM MR LEN STEINMETZ AND BLESSED IN 1952. THE DEDICATION PLATE IS NOW ON THE DOOR OF THE OLD CONVENT. | |
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| THE THIRD PRESBYTERY, KENDALL, IN LAUREL ST. THIS BEAUTIFUL BRICK HOUSE WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT AROUND THE SAME TIME AS THE CHURCH. IT WAS PURCHASED IN 1967 AND SERVED AS THE PREBYTERY UNTIL 1985 WHEN THE NEW LAURIETON PRESBYTERY WAS OPENED. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS LAURIETON PRESBYTERY | ||
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| PRESBYTERY, LAURIETON | |
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| IN KEEPING WITH RECENT CONCEPTS OF A PARISH COMMUNITY THE MODERN PRESBYTERY INCLUDES OFFICES FOR THE PARISH STAFF, A PARISH LIBRARY AND MEETING ROOMS. IT WAS OPENED AND BLESSED BY FR LEO DONNELLY, VICAR GENERAL OF THE DIOCESE IN 1985. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS ST JOSEPH'S PRE SCHOOL | |
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| ST JOSEPH'S PRE SCHOOL, LAURIETON | |
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| ST JOSEPH'S PRE SCHOOL ORIGINATED FROM INVESTIGATIONS BY FR CLEM DICK, PP AND SEVERAL PARISHIONERS IN 1976 AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CONCEPT. THE PRE-SCHOOL WAS BUILT IN 1977 AND IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND THE CHURCH AND CAN BE ACCESSED BY A LOVELY RUSTIC BRIDGE WHICH HARMONISES WITH THE REFLECTION GARDEN SETTING OF THE CHURCH AND SCHOOL. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY | |
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| ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, LAURIETON | |
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| THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY WAS ESTABLISHED IN KENDALL IN 1960 AS A BRANCH OF THE TAREE CONFERENCE. AT THE TIME IT OPERATED FROM PRIVATE HOMES BUT WITH THE FORMAL TRANSFER TO CAMDEN HAVEN IN 1973 A PART-TIME STORE WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE REAR OF ST PETER'S CHURCH HALL. IN 1984 THE FIRST REAL COMMERCIAL OUTLET WAS OPENED IN THE CENTREPOINT ARCADE IN LAURIETON FOLLOWED BY A MOVE TO LARGER PREMISES IN THE VILLAGE CENTRE IN 1986. THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE SOCIETY SAW THE OPENING OF THE PRESENT CENTRE, A MODERN PURPOSE-BUILT BUILDING IN LAKE STREET, EARLY IN THE NEW CENTURY (ABOVE). TOP OTHER BUILDINGS GARDEN OF REFLECTION | |
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| GARDEN OF REFLECTION, LAURIETON | ||
| IN 1995 THE FIRST BRICKS WERE LAID FOR THE CURVED "WALL OF SAINTS" BEHIND THE PARISH CHURCH AT LAURIETON. IT WAS CONSTRUCTED BY VOLUNTARY LABOUR WITH BRICKS DONATED BY PARISHIONERS. FROM THIS SMALL BEGINNING HAS GROWN THE GARDEN OF REFLECTION, A WELL ORGANISED OUTDOOR SCULPTURAL DISPLAY SET AMONGST TREES, FLOWERS AND ATTRACTIVE WATER FEATURES. THE INSPIRATION FOR THE GARDEN CAME FROM A VISIT TO ROME IN 1994 BY THE THEN PARISH PRIEST, FR JOHN CASEY. FR CASEY, AN AMATEUR SCUPLTOR, TOOK LATEX MOULDS WHICH HE LATER USED TO MAKE COPIES OF GREEK AND ROMAN SCULPTURAL REMAINS. THE GARDEN BEGAN AS A BUSH SETTING FOR FR CASEY'S RELIGIOUS AND CLASSICAL CARVINGS. |
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SINCE THEN THE GARDEN HAS GROWN WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL GARDENS SURROUNDING A CENTRAL LAKE AND SHRINE. WORKS BY OTHER LOCAL SCULPTORS, OR DONATED BY PARISHIONERS HAVE JOINED THOSE BY FR CASEY. AN ONGOING WORK, IT HAS BECOME A ATTRACTION FOR BOTH CATHOLIC AND NON-CATHOLIC VISITORS TO LAURIETON. THE DOMINATING FEATURE OF THE "BOTTOM GARDEN" IS THE LARGE COLUMN SURMOUNTED BY A STATUE OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. BEHIND THE COLUMN CAN BE SEEN A COPY OF THE BELVEDERE TORSO, THE ORIGINAL OF WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE VATICAN MUSEUM. THE LOWER GARDENS |
| THE LOWER GARDENS | |
| THE GARDEN BEGINS WITH THE WALL OF SAINTS, 24 STATUES OF SAINTS IN THE STYLE OF CHARTRES CATHEDRAL BY FR CASEY. THE DETAILED PICTURE SHOWS (L TO R) ST JOHN OF THE CROSS, ST THERESE OF LISIEUX, BD MARY MCKILLOP AND A TEMPORARY STATUE INTENDED TO BE REPLACED BY MOTHER THERESA OF CALCUTTA AT SOME FUTURE TIME. NEXT | |
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 | <<<< BEYOND THE WALL OF SAINTS LIES THE KEYHOLE GARDEN. NEXT JUST AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE GARDEN IS THE ORIGINAL WHITE WOODEN CROSS FROM THE FIRST LAURIETON CHURCH. WHEN THE CHURCH WAS DEMOLISHED THE CROSS WAS PLACED ON THE GRAVE OF A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE PARISH IN 1996 AFTER THE GRAVE WAS REDEVELOPED IN 1991. >>>> |
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| BEYOND THE KEYHOLE GARDEN LIES THE "SUNKEN GARDEN" SURROUNDED BY AN ATTRACTIVE COLONNADE. NEXT |
IN THE CENTRE OF THE GARDEN IS A FISH FOUNTAIN. IN THE CENTRE OF THE COLONNADE IS A COPY OF RODIN'S "THE THINKER". NEXT |
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 | <<<< BEHIND THE BELVEDERE TORSO IS A SMALL GARDEN WITH THIS STATUE OF ST JUDE THADDEUS HOLDING THE CLUB WITH WHICH HE WAS MARTYRED. THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE WAY AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE GARDEN IS A SIMPLE YET ATTRACTIVE CLASSICAL STYLE GREEK ROTUNDA. >>>> |
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| THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE WAY | |
| THE CENTREPIECE OF THE GARDEN IS THE LARGE ORNAMENTAL LAKE AND THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE WAY. INSPIRED BY THE LAKE TEMPLE AT THE VILLA BORGHESE IN ITALY, THE SHRINE FULFILLED A DREAM OF A YOUNG FR CASEY AS A SEMINARIAN IN ROME TO BUILD A GREEK-STYLE TEMPLE IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY. THE TEMPLE IS BUILT IN AN APTERAL PROSTYLE WITH A GABLED ROOF AND COLUMNED FRONT AND IS SIMILAR TO THE TEMPLE AT PAESTUM. THE SHRINE IS ALWAYS OPEN FOR PRIVATE PRAYER. NEXT | |
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 | THE FIBREGALSS STATUE OF OUR LADY OF THE WAY IS A COPY OF AN ORIGINAL WOODEN CARVING AND WAS IMPORTED FROM ITALY. IT WAS THE DONATION OF MANY CAMDEN HAVEN PARISHIONERS. THE UPPER GARDENS | |
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| THE UPPER GARDENS | |
| THE VIA DOLOROSA, AN ALLEY MARKED BY THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS, LEADS PAST THE LAKE AND BACK TOWARDS THE CHURCH. NEXT | |
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 | <<<< TOWARDS THE END OF THE VIA DOLOROSA IS THIS LOVELY IMAGE OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM SET IN A SIMPLE STONE NICHE. NEXT ON THE OTHER SIDE TOWARDS THE BRIDGE IS A CLASSICAL STYLE NICHE WITH A BYZANTINE ICON OF OUR LADY AND THE HOLY INFANT. >>>> |
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 | THIS ARCH IS ONE OF THE NEWER FEATURES OF THE GARDEN. THE REVERSE SIDE SHOWS A NORMAN STYLE TYMPANUM. NEXT |
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<<<< IN THE UPPER GARDEN LIES THIS PRETTY AVENUE OF BUSTS MOUNTED ON COLUMNS LEADING UP TO A LARGE SCULPTED URN PLACED IN THE CENTRE OF A CIRCULAR GARDEN. NEXT PROCEEDING BACK TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH IS THIS CRUCIFIX REMINISCENT OF THE CALVARYS WHICH DOT CHURCHYARDS IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD. >>>> |
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 | <<<< >>>> JUST PAST THE CALVARY IS A WHITE STONE DISPLAY FRAME WITH THE ICON OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP ON ONE SIDE AND A WELL-KNOWN ICON OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH ON THE OTHER. NEXT FROM HERE THE PATH LEADS TO THE ROSE GARDEN SET IN A CIRCLE WITH BRICK ROMANESQUE ARCHES PROVIDING GATEWAYS INTO THE GARDEN FROM THREE SIDES. AN UNUSUAL PATH LEADS TO THE ENTRANCE COMPOSED OF WHITE STONES THE FIRST OF WHICH IS APPROPRIATELY IN THE SHAPE OF A CROSS. vvvv |  |
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| TOP STATION CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS RELIGIOUS ORDERS PARISH DIRECTORY | |
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| RELIGIOUS ORDERS |
| SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH LOCHINVAR CONGREGATION |
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| RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS | |
| ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL KENDALL | ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL LAURIETON |
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| PARISH DIRECTORY | |
| PARISH CHURCH 421 OCEAN DRIVE LAURIETON 2443 PHONE: (02) 6559 8354 FAX: (02) 6559 6457 EMAIL: parish@laurieton.org WEBSITE: www.laurieton.org | PRIMARY SCHOOL ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL OCEAN DRIVE LAURIETON 2443 PHONE: (02) 6559 9466 FAX: (02) 6559 6765 EMAIL: sjplaur@lism.catholic.edu.au WEBSITE: sjplaur.lism.catholic.edu.au |
| STATION CHURCHES OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL COMBOYNE HILL ST COMBOYNE ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST KENDALL CNR JACKSON AND LAUREL STS KENDALL ST JAMES STEWARTS RIVER HANNAMS VALE RD STEWARTS RIVER | OTHER SERVICES ST JOSEPH'S PRE SCHOOL OCEAN DRIVE LAURIETON 2443 PHONE: (02) 6559 9531 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY 18 LAKE ST LAURIETON 2443 PHONE: (02) 6559 8319 |
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| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
| SOME OF THE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE WERE OBTAINED FROM THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE CAMDEN HAVEN PARISH PRODUCED BY THE CAMDEM HAVEN PARISH IN 1989. IT IS HERE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK SR MARGARET GEATCHES, ARCHIVIST OF THE LOCHINVAR SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH WHO PROVIDED FURTHER PHOTOS AND INFORMATION, AND THE PARISH PRIEST, PARISH STAFF, AND PARISHIONERS WHOSE HELP WAS INVALUABLE. A SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO FR JOHN CASEY, FORMER PRIEST OF CAMDEN HAVEN WHO DID MUCH OF THE SPADE WORK IN TRACKING DOWN THE HISTORICAL PHOTO OF LAURIETON CHURCH AND WHO WAS UNSTINTING IN PASSING ON HIS OWN HISTORICAL RESEARCH. |
