Sparkling celebration for Silver City’s sole surviving church
Celebrations marking the 130th anniversary of the opening of the landmark St Fursaeus Catholic Church at Zeehan continue on Sunday, 21 November.
Past and present West Coast parishioners are expected to gather as Archbishop Julian celebrates Mass at the weatherboard church in the former mining boom town known as ‘Silver City’.
This follows a Mass at St Fursaeus on 25 April to mark the anniversary of the laying of the church’s cornerstone.
Archbishop Julian will concelebrate Mass with West Coast parish administrator Fr Amalorpavaraj Devadoss and retired priest Fr Graeme Howard, who grew up in Zeehan.
Fr Howard, of Blackmans Bay, celebrated his first Mass at St Fursaeus Church following his ordination in July 1962 and remains a regular visitor back to the stomping grounds of his youth.
Blessing the church at the April celebrations: West Coast parish administrator Fr Amalorpavaraj (Amal) Devadoss (left), parishioner Eleanor Phelan, Chris Dowler, of Zeehan, Fr Graeme Howard, who grew up in Zeehan, and Mrs Pat Casey, who has been a parishioner at St Fursaeus Church for more than 70 years.
“This church opened in 1891 and is the only one still open in the town,” Fr Howard recalled. “The history of the town is caught up in the building – it is a landmark of the town and of the West Coast.”
When the church celebrated its centenary in 1991, the New Standard reported: “A centenary Mass and debutante ball were highlights of celebrations for the centenary of St Fursaeus Church, Zeehan, recently.
“The debutante ball was held in the Gaiety Theatre, and Archbishop D’Arcy celebrated Mass in the 100-year-old church. A picnic barbecue lunch in the church grounds followed.
“The parish priest, Fr Mark Freeman, welcomed former parishioners and West Coast people who attended.
People travelled from around Tasmania to attend celebrations at St Fursaeus Church, Zeehan, in April. Pictured seated (front right) is Mrs Pat Casey, Zeehan’s oldest Catholic parishioner.
“Zeehan’s historic Catholic church was built by Cork-born priest Fr Timothy O’Callaghan, who was given charge of the Zeehan Mission by Archbishop Daniel Murphy on 24 January, 1891.”
Now the church is set to celebrate its next milestone. Parishioners, led by Eleanor Phelan, from nearby Dundas, have worked hard throughout 2021 organising celebrations and church repairs to coincide with the 130th anniversary.
Mrs Phelan said: “The church is just beautiful. It is one of the oldest weatherboard churches still in existence.
“I just love being here. It is a special church inside too.”
Mrs Plelan said that as well as Holy Mass on 21 November, there would be a memorabilia and photo display, souvenirs on sale and a lunch at noon at the Cecil Hotel.
Flashback to April: Retired priest Fr Graeme Howard, of Blackmans Bay, who grew up in Zeehan, and West Coast parish administrator Fr Amalorpavaraj (Amal) Devadoss, cut the celebration cake.
Fr Howard concelebrated Mass at St Fursaeus Church on 25 April with Fr Devadoss and took part in blessing the church as part of 130th anniversary festivities.
The church’s cornerstone was laid in April, 1891, and the first Mass was celebrated in November 1891. Archbishop Julian is expected to celebrate Mass at Zeehan in November.
When Fr Howard recalls the church, his memories are inevitably tied up with the congregation – many were his relatives – and the priests of the day. His anecdotes are laced with deep affection, humour and no small amount of West Coast pride.
“My memories [of St Fursaeus] go back to the 1940s, attending Mass with my mother, father, brothers, grandmother and aunties who lived close to us,” he said.
Historic occasion: West Coast parish administrator Fr Amalorpavaraj (Amal) Devadoss, parishioner Eleanor Phelan, of Dundas, Fr Graeme Howard, of Blackmans Bay, and parishioner Chris Dowler, of Zeehan at the April celebrations.
“Sunday was always time when we would go to Mass, picking Grandma up on the way, and invariably, arriving late. The parish priest was an Irish priest, Fr Joe Cullen: He died in Roseberry and is buried in Zeehan. He would wait for us [to arrive]. Grandma would then have to go through her handbag and get out her rosary beads, put her walking stick in place and get settled. Fr Joe Cullen would wait for her to get organised. But the next priest was different – he did not wait.”
Incidentally, two brothers of Fr Joe were also priests. Fr Arthur Cullen, was priest at Cygnet and Monsignor John Cullen was at St Joseph’s in Hobart.
“Fr Joe was as a lovely gentle man and so easy to get on with. He was there a long time, well over 20 years. He didn’t want to leave. Nobody ever wants to leave Zeehan, of course,” Fr Howard said.
“The church was a big part of our lives, growing up.
Mrs Pat Casey, who has been a parishioner at Zeehan’s St Furseaus Catholic Church for more than 70 years, attends the April celebrations.
“Sunday night was Benediction. My brother and I, and my cousins, we would serve. We would go there and get dressed up. Then we would ride our bikes home in rain, and throw stones on policeman’s roof on the way past.
“There was a real gathering of people there for my first Mass almost 60 years ago.
“My parents are buried there, my aunties and my grandparents on my mother’s side are buried there too. It has been a part of our lives.”
Fr Howard suggested that ‘more talent and religion’ – and a considerable number of priests – hailed from the West Coast of Tasmania than anywhere else in Australia.
“Priests who go there [to the West Coast] never want to leave,” Fr Howard added.
Fr Howard said that up to 40 people had attended Mass on 25 April with some travelling from Hobart. This was followed by a prayer at the foundation stone, with 27 then going out to lunch at nearby Hotel Cecil.
“We are all now looking forward to the big celebration at the end of November, marking 130 years since the first Mass,” Fr Howard added.