Busselton

Busselton is one of the oldest parishes in Western Australia. Priests from Perth, especially members of the Benedictine Order, visited Vasse (as Busselton was called) from the 1830s onwards. The first recorded Baptism was in 1848; the officiating clergyman being Bishop John Brady. The first Marriage in 1851, between John Hurford and Brigid Larkins was a “notable” event as four years later Brigid became the first woman hanged in the new goal in Perth; her crime – the murder of her husband. The building of the first church commenced in 1866 and was completed in 1868 but while the little band of Catholics now had a place of worship, there was still no regular celebration of Mass. Priests from Bunbury visited three or four times a year at the most. After considerable lobbying, Bishop Martin Griver agreed to appoint a priest and on 26 February 1885, Fr Anselm Bourke became the first Parish Priest. His duties took him from the Vasse through Margaret River to Augusta, Yallingup, Nannup, Bridgetown, Donnybrook and other settlements along the way.

Before he was transferred Father Bourke built a presbytery wich remained in use until the present parish house was built in 1953. Over the years, priests came and went (since 1885 there have been 27 parish priests and assistants.) The longest serving of these was Father Joseph MacCormack (1917-1932), the driving force behind the building of the present church of St Joseph. By the 1930s the little stone church had become too small and, on 3 September 1933, a new church was blessed and opened by Archbishop Clune. The exterior has changed little in 64 years, but in 1971 sweeping renovations were made to the interior and in 1994, stained glass windows were installed. The windows, designed by local artist Marice Sariola and donated by parishioners, depict the days of Creation. The windows portray the six days when God created the heavens and earth, while the seventh day, on which He took for himself as a day of rest and prayer, is represented by the church itself. Father Charles Cunningham, appointed Parish Priest in 1937, enlisted in the AIF in 1942 as a Chaplain. He saw service in New Guinea and the Islands and for “conspicuous gallantry” in a jungle battle, was award the MBE (Military Division).

Just after the turn of the century, one incident had a dramatic effect on the parish. Father Patrick Clune (later to become the first Archbishop of Perth) conducted a Mission. Apparently the attendance was poor and Fr Clune reported to his Bishop that “the faith in the little corner of the Lord’s vineyard is at a decidedly low ebb.” “the only way to rectify this, he said is to place an order of Nuns in the district”, and he insisted they be the Sisters of Notre Dame des Missiones.

In March 1903, three Sisters arrived in Vasse and within a few days had opened a school and commenced teaching. Although they withdrew from Busselton in 1922, their place was taken by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, who are still present in the parish today.

The year 1985 saw St Joseph’s Primary School relocate to a nearby site and in 1994, MacKillop Catholic College was also built. These two schools, among the most modern in the Diocese, offer a comprehensive education program to children from pre-primary to secondary years. The children of the Dunsborough area have not been forgotten; their school – Our Lady of the Cape, was opened in 1996. Mass was first offered in Dunsborough in a private house. In 1957, a wooden building, originally used as a school room, was moved out to Dunsborough to become the Church of the Star of the Sea. The little church served the congregation well for over 30 years, but it became evident in the early 1990s that it was too small. In March 1991, Our Lady of the Southern Cross Church was blessed and opened by Bishop Peter Quinn. This beautiful church, with a modern interior, ahs a strong emphasis on flexibility for the 1990s and beyond – a church to serve the Dunsborough congregation for many years to come.

The needs of the Busselton-Dunsborough Parish are catered for by a number of organizations, including: a Deacon, eight Acolytes, 22 Ministers of the Eucharist, the Liturgy Committee, assisted by organists and singers and two Pastoral Associates. A dedicated Parish Pastoral Council heads the list of organizations, which include the Legion of Mary; CWL; several prayer Groups; Marriage Preparation; Marian groups; RCIA Program; Men’s Youth and YCS Groups; Children’s Liturgy and Playgroup; St Vincent de Paul and Rosalie Cottage (which helps young mums); involvement with the State School Chaplaincy and finance & Planning Committee.

Seven vocations to the priesthood or religious life have come from St Joseph’s Parish and this meritorious effort can be attributed in no small way to the presence for over 90 years of a Catholic school in St Joseph’s Parish. The year 1998 marked 150 years of Catholic life in Busselton. From Bishop Salvado’s list of 73 Catholics in 1854, there are now 850 Catholic families.

Patch Story
Picturesque Geographe Bay from Busselton to Dunsborough joining our two communities.

Love – God’s love for all of us and ours for each other.
Peace – In our time and in the future.
Hope – For more understanding of all Nations towards each other.
Joining Hands – Light and Dark reaching out together in Love and Hope for future Peace between all cultures.