Mass for the Centenary of Sandringham Parish

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Sacred Heart Church, Sandringham,
on Saturday, 18th March, 2006

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On this day one hundred years ago, the first Sacred Heart Church was blessed by Archbishop Carr.  Eight years later, Sandringham became a parish.

One hundred years is a wonderful milestone.  Today in the Gospel Jesus foretells his own death and resurrection.  We are reminded that the life of our parish is the unfolding of a Covenant between God and us, his people.  We know that Jesus has the words of everlasting life as we thank him for the times past in the history of our parish and as we seek to embrace the life of the future – one with Jesus who is risen, because present and future will be our gift.

From notable pioneers, Michael and Margaret Quinn, through seven Parish Priests – Fathers William Mangan, Leo Hartnett, Patrick O’Connor, John Kelly, John Scarborough and Jim Coakley – to the present pastor, Father Frank O’Loughlin, through the Presentation Sisters (1912-1988), generations of families, many groups which reach out from the strong sacramental life of our Church, the faithful of Sandringham have journeyed.

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Tonight I am deeply conscious that we are part of an ongoing story of more than one hundred years in Sacred Heart Parish, Sandringham.  This story exists because, in the words of Exodus, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  You shall have no gods except me.”

One hundred years of Mass, Sacraments, reflecting on the Word of God and teaching it, gathering for the Eucharist, and going out in mission to embrace the people of our suburb are richly reflected in all that you have been able to do over these years.

The Parish boasts the Nagle Kindergarten, Fernhill Hostel, Saint Vincent de Paul-partnership with East Timor, Credit Co-Op, Basketball and Youth Clubs.  Your Centenary magazine gives many milestones – two churches, three schools, forty-four parish groups with formation in faith – all are indicative of your commitment to deepening faith, prayer and service.

The engaging historical display, of which Father O’Loughlin has spoken to me with such enthusiasm, is a reminder to all of us that history is part of a continuity.  On this Sabbath day, which we keep holy by the Eucharist, pledge of the Lord’s resurrection and eternal life, we draw close to him who has the words of everlasting life.  We know that we live by “a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God”.  (1 Corinthians 1:23)

In the Gospel Acclamation the limitless love of God, which comes first, the God, “who loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that all who believe in him might have eternal life”  (John 3:16), is a reminder to us that what takes place in this church is eternal in its dimension, reaching into the lives of people over one hundred years – in parish and school, young and old – bringing its own influence to the people of Sandringham and the surrounding areas, being the pledge of God’s unfailing faithfulness.

It is in this faithfulness that we find our true home and we join with our brothers and sisters, our parish priest, Father Frank O’Loughlin, and so many friends to thank the God who gave us his blessings.

Yet we must remember that we are not merely looking to the past.  The Eucharistic Acclamation, “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again”, we remember the activity of Christ in the past and present and we see that we are part of that activity of Christ in the future.  Our deep faith and openness to the mystery of Christ’s dying and rising is a challenge to die to self and to live with him in newness of life.  May this newness of life and the hope it gives enrich us as we thank God for all that he has given.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.