Keeping the light of faith shining in Burnie

By Wendy Shaw

A procession, special Mass, games, historic photo display and shared lunch were all part of celebrations marking the 135th anniversary of Burnie’s St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church.

Although the anniversary of the blessing and opening of the church was back in January, the parish celebrated on the feast of Our Lady Star of the Sea on 27 September, with past and present parishioners joining in the festivities.

Parish Administrator Fr Jessie Banez said it was a chance to reflect on the evolution of the parish.

“Each year brings a different experience and an opportunity for reflection, as the Holy Spirit inspires us to grow,” he said.

“Yet there is one thing that remains unchanged—our family spirit which is inherent to the Burnie-Wynyard Parish community. 

“Each year is an opportunity to discover our passion as we are led by the Spirit, to celebrate and to give thanks for the blessings of Mary, Star of the Sea, who guides us through life’s storms and keeps the light of faith shining.”

Mass began with a procession from outside the church to the sanctuary featuring a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Many parishioners and children joined the procession, carrying flowers as offerings.

 “As a growing parish, Burnie-Wynyard brings together people from many backgrounds and reflects the true image of the Church,” Fr Jessie said.

“Reuniting long-standing parishioners with newer members … strengthened our sense of being one parish family. Sharing food around the table also gave people the opportunity to exchange stories, moving from the altar table after Mass to the banquet table for a shared meal.”

The feast day is celebrated each year to express gratitude for the many graces the parish has received, Fr Jessie added.

Judith Jones has been a parishioner at Star of the Sea all her life and the parish community has a special place in her heart.

The mother of five and grandmother of ten was baptised there ‘and received every other sacrament there’, including marriage. Her children were baptised there and the funerals of her husband and son, Simon, were also held there.

“The church is magnificent and beautiful, and so easy to be in God’s presence there,” she said.

“The parishioners and priests in this parish have been parishioner-minded. It has always been a family-orientated church.”

Her extended family have many connections with the parish. Her father moved to Burnie in 1939 to work at the pulp mill. He volunteered with the St Vincent de Paul Society and was a Knight of the Southern Cross. Her nephew, Marist priest Fr Kevin Redmond, celebrated his first Mass at Star of the Sea Church after his ordination at Burnie Civic Centre in 2005.

She is grateful for the love and support from the parish following the death of her son earlier in the year.

Mrs Jones said the anniversary celebrations were wonderful.

“It was very friendly with all the different generations there—really lovely,” she said.

“There was a magnificent spread of food for the crowds, and the kids had a wonderful time.

“This is a wonderful parish to be part of.”

Fr Jessie thanked parishioners for decorating the church and arranging flowers, bringing tasty home-cooked food, the children’s choir for leading the singing at Mass, sacramental coordinator Kim Yap and parish volunteers for logistics and organising games, Paul and Nora Maguire for lending a tent, Justin Maguire and friends for providing an outdoor barbecue, and dancers from Wynyard who performed alongside singers during the entertainment program. Generous parishioners donated a variety of prizes for the games.