Our Lady Help of Christians, Star of the Sea Church in Perth WA was established by Fr. Augustine Cummins, CSSR (1915-2006).
The indefatigable Redemptorists wrote this in his memoir:
"For $45,000, the traditional Catholics of Perth bought an old, badly run-down Anglican Church in Jolimony, which needed a lot of repairs and renovations as well as certain additions. For that reason it could not be used immediately. However, Br Alban and I decided to cross over to the West in order to direct operations. We departed from Adelaide 17 March 1986 by car and trailer, and arrived in Perth three days later on the 20th. Two of my parishioners in Adelaide drove a furniture van filled with our belongings."
When Fr Cummins and Br Alban arrived in Jollimont in 20 March 1986, they offered hospitality by Miss Diane Fox and the Roselles gave them the use of a house where he offered a Mass the next day. Fr Cummins recounted:
"Brother and I spent the next two years living in a flat in Curry St, about five minutes' walk from the church (disused Anglican Church, St. Hugh's) while it was being renovated and extended."
He further said:
"The altar had been given to me by the Christian Brothers in Melbourne; initially I used it at Wongarra"
After the renovation of the church was completed, the first Mass was said:
" I said the first Holy Mass (Maundy Thursday) in the church (Our Lady Help of Christians, Star of the Sea) in Jolimont in 1988.
Interestingly, Fr Cummins remembered how Divine Providence worked out for them:
"Br Alban recalls a local gentleman coming into the sacristy afterwards to donate $5000"
Fr Cummins was able to provide daily Mass and the sacraments at Jolimont for his little congregation until it soon grew to about 90 faithful for Sunday Mass. Archbishop Hickey of Perth even gave Fr Cummins permission to what he was doing even though he was working in conjunction withbthe SSPX.
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| Fr Augustine Cummins, CSSR and Br Alban, FMS |
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| Interior of the Our Lady of Christians, Star of the Sea Church |
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| Fr Augustine Cummins, CSSR and Br Alban during a low mass |
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| Our Lady Help of Christians, Star of the Sea Church |
References:
The Story of the Life of Fr. Augustine Cummins, CSSR: Taken from his Recollections and Photographs
The Story of the Life of Fr. Augustine Cummins, CSSR: Taken from his Recollections and Photographs
A Life in the Service of Catholic Tradition: An Interview with Rev Fr Augustine Cummins, CSSR