St Brigid’s ‘nurturing faith through the generations’

By Wendy Shaw

The enduring faith of generations of parishioners and the dedication of priests and religious were recalled at the 115th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of St Brigid’s Catholic Church at Wynyard.

About 100 people attended a Mass, evening meal and history presentation on 30 May.

The foundation stone of the present church was laid by Archbishop Patrick Delaney on 28 May, 1911. It marked the start of work on replacing an earlier church built in 1876.

The substantial ‘new’ church, now regarded as an icon of the Northwest was constructed in ‘distinctive Romanesque style’ and completed in 1912 under the leadership of parish priest Fr Thomas Joseph O’Donnell.

Long time St Brigid’s parishioners Les and Nellie Allen praised the forethought and dedication of Fr O’Donnell.

Mr Allen explained: “The original plans were said to be too big and grandiose.”

According to Fr Terry Southerood’s book, Planting a Faith in Tasmania, Archbishop Delaney told Fr O’Donnell to reduce the size of the proposed building. However, once the Archbishop returned to Hobart, Fr Delaney reverted to his original plan for “an imposing church on a grand scale”.

Mrs Allen said this was “the best thing he ever did—we fill that church at funerals etc.”

“It is in the centre of Wynyard and it is an icon,” she said.

“The convent, church and presbytery are all a standout [feature] for Wynyard and all are heritage listed.”

The history of the church is linked with that of the Catholic school, run for many years by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and later by the Sisters of St Joseph before lay staff took over in the 1980s, as well as the hardworking priests who served the parish with deep faith and empathy.

Mrs Allen also highlighted the supportive faith community as an important part of what is distinctive about St Brigid’s.

Mrs Allen was one of the 11 Rimmelzwaan children, who had been parishioners since their parents arrived in Tasmania from the Netherlands in the 1950s.

“I picked the brains of my sisters about the early days,” Mrs Allen said.

“What I learned from them was … there were six nuns in the convent. They taught every subject in all classes to those children, and in external exams in year 10 they all passed. The nuns’ knowledge was extraordinary.

“The kids were taught well and discipline was good.”

Mr Allen has a long involvement with the church finance group and helping out with working bees and Mrs Allen assists with the church flowers.

Burnie-Wynyard Parish administrator Fr Jessie Banez said the anniversary was a reminder of the “efforts of the founding priests, whose journey was marked by challenges, yet ultimately led to the creation of this magnificent place of worship, an enduring sign of the people’s faith and God’s grace”.

“Remembering the foundation of this church is more than honouring a building,” he said.

“It is also about recognising the joy, sorrow and struggles of the many people who have worshipped here.

“Their quiet prayers, heartfelt hopes, celebrations and answered petitions are the true treasures that form its foundation.

“The sacraments received by the faithful stand as a living testimony to the faith the church has nurtured through the generations.”

After Mass, the community gathered at St Brigid’s Church Hall to share food and memories, look at old photos and hear a talk from historian Dr Ian McFarlane.