Our Lady of Perpetual Help (or of Succour) or Our Mother of Perpetual Help is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, associated with a Byzantine icon of the same name, said to be 13th or 14th century, but perhaps 15th century.
Mass Times
Mondays 9.15 am and 7.00 pm
Tuesdays 9.15 am and 7.00 pm
Wednesday 9.15 am and 7.00 pm
Thursday 9.15 am and 7.00 pm
Friday 9.15 am and 7.00 pm
Saturday 9.15 am and 6.30 pm ( Vigil )
Sunday 9.30 am and 11.00 am
Vietnamese Mass 5.30 pm
The 90th Anniversary of Our Lady's Parish
6 October 1920 - 6 October 2010
The Growth of a Parish...
From the modest wooden church, which stood on land in Whitehorse Road, donated by the Pratt family and built for the princely sum of one hundred and forty-five pounds, the the modern comples of Church, Hall and School in Bedford Road - Wilana Street today is indicative of how Our Lady's Parish has grown and prospered.
A decision was made on the 6 October 1920 at a meeting of Diocesan consultants to create a new parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (originally St Mary's). On Sunday 7 November 1920, Mass was celebrated by Fr Michael Finan, the new Parish Priest of Ringwood. The Mass was celebrated in a little wooden church in Whitehorse Road known as St Joseph's. the Ringwood Catholic people were no longer dependent upon visiting priests for their sacraments. In 1923, Father John Keown followed Father Finan as Parish Priest. 1926 saw the arrival of Father John Donovan, who organised the laying of a foundation stone for a brick Church/School on land which had been purchased in Bedford Road-Wilana Street. The stone was blessed by Archbishop daniel Mannix in 1929.
Father Adiran Hughes was Parish Priest from 1931 with Father Francis O'Toole as administrator. In 1934 Father Hughes had the wooden Church was re-located to Wilana Street to be used as a class room. In 1936 Father Hughes became ill and was replaced by Father O'Toole, who remained Parish Priest until 1957, when he was succeeded by Father Scarborough.
Father Scarborough was Parish Priest during the momentous years of the '60's, actively involved in the opening of Aquinas Boys College in February 1961. The offical opening of the Church in Bedford Road took place in September 1961 as did the opening of a convent for the Dominican Sisters.
In 1966, Father Scarborough was transferred to St Ambrose Parish Brunswick. Father Randall took his place as Parish Priest. Aquinas Girls School opened in February 1967.
Father John O'Shea was appointed Parish Priest in 1969. He is best remembered for his role in establishing the Parish Council. Father O'Shea was one of the first to see the importance of lay ministry. He implemented an education program for all those interested.
History was made on the 13 November 1977, when His Grace Archbishop Sir Francis Little officially welcomed the Spiritan Fathers to Ringwood. Father Hugh Fagan was Parish Priest with Frather Con Peelo as his assistant. April 1980, Father Gogan became Parish Priest for nine years with Father Chamberlain as assistant. Father Gogan officiated at the opening of our refurbished Church on 4 March 1990. Father Peelo had returned after some absence. Father Tom Crean arrived in 1989 and was Parish Priest from that time to 1995, during some of this time Father Michael Daly was his assistant. In 1993 the people of Ringwood mourned the death of Father Con Peelo in Ireland. From 1995 to 1997, Father Paul Hopper was Parish Priest. The Parish then return to the Archdiocese and Father Greg Pritchard was apponted Parish Priest from 1997 till 2004. Father Bob Coghlan was Parish Priest until his retirement in 2006. We spent some months without a Priest, until the appointment of Father Joe Bui Duc Tien in September 2006 as our Parish Priest.
Our Parish Church is not only a beautiful place of worship, it is a fitting monument to our Lord and his Mother and a standing tribute to the hard work and dedication of past and present Priests and Parishioners.
Over the years our Parish has outgrown three Churches, fifteen Parish Priests and many Assistant Priests. Many missionaries have enjoyed rest and respite here and broadened our understanding of their missionary work.
In 1970 our Golden Jubilee theme was -
"We are a Community - Let us Build a Community Spirit"
May we be a church Community with the Spirit of caring for and sharing with each other.
In 2010 Our Lady's will celebrate it's 90th Anniversary.
Mass Times
Mondays 9.15 am and 7.00 pm
Tuesdays 9.15 am and 7.00 pm
Wednesday 9.15 am and 7.00 pm
Thursday 9.15 am and 7.00 pm
Friday 9.15 am and 7.00 pm
Saturday 9.15 am and 6.30 pm ( Vigil )
Sunday 9.30 am and 11.00 am
Vietnamese Mass 5.30 pm
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