Contents

2 Early years on the West Coast3 Churches of St Mary of the Angels4 Churches Interiors5 Statue of St Mary6 Modestus Henderson7 Fathers 1878-18948 Fr Pedar Jorgensen9 Father Patrick Leo Kelly10 Construction of the 2nd St Mary’s11 Fathers 1937-196112 Fathers 1961-198113 Fr Laurie Quinn15 New Church construction and grounds17 Church Windows19 Fr Leon Quinn20 World Youth Day Cross comes to Port Lincoln21 Fr Brian Mathews22 Assistant Priests23 Janie deLacey24 Archdeacon Memorial School and Early Scholars25 Sisters of St Joseph26 St Joseph’s School

New Science labs and JP roomsNew Admin and classroomsNew Kelly CentreNew GymNew Resource Centre

34 Timeline

St Mary of the Angels ParishPort Lincoln

As God’s church here on earth is made, not of buildings, but the people of God, sotoo the history of the church of Port Lincoln and Eyre Peninsula, and the priests

who ministered to them.

The first priest to visit Port Lincoln was Bishop Murphy, the first Bishop of Adelaide. In1851 much of the male population of Adelaide had headed for the Victorian Gold fields,giving the Bishop time to visit the outposts of his Diocese.He stayed for only a few weeks with the resident magistrate, who lived at ‘Ravendale’,

Porter Bay and celebrated Mass and administered the sacraments in Captain Bishop’sstore, Tasman Tce, where the Lincoln Hotel now stands.In January 1866, Father O’Connor and Father Theodore Boengart, two young priestscame to celebrate Mass in the Court House. It was not for another two and half years thatEyre Peninsula would see another priest.

In the last three months of 1868, Father Hinteroeker, an Austrian Jesuit travelledthrough the peninsula baptizing 66 babies and 13 converts. He conducted baptisms inStreaky Bay, Perlubie, Venus Bay, Lake Hamilton, Port Lincoln, Happy Valley,Warrow and Korunda. He also visited Flinders Island where he received Isaac Bryantinto the church and baptized his and Mary’s four children. He also in many casesbaptized several children of one family, lining the whole family up to ‘be done.’

St Mary of the Angels

June 29th 1986

February 28th 1926

August 29th 1869

St Mary of the Angels, Port Lincoln

St Mary of the AngelsChurch Interiors

1869-2011

Opened August 29th,1869.

Bishop Shiel

Parish PriestFr Modestus Henderson

Opened February 28th,1926

by Bishop Spence

Parish PriestFr PL Kelly

Opened June 29th1986

by Bishop F.P.DeCampo

Parish PriestFr Laurie Quinn

St Mary of the Angels

In January 1869 Fr Modestus Henderson arrivedin Port Lincoln to take charge of the Eyre PeninsulaMission. He immediately began a tour of the EyrePeninsula baptizing those requiring the sacrament.Fr Henderson was a Capuchin Franciscan Friarfrom Kadina. On March 29th 1869 a notice (to theright) appeared in the Southern Cross. Postagestamps came in by the thousands and Fr Hender-son purchased a block of land of about 20acres onwhich to build a Church and Presbytery with an areafor a Catholic Cemetery. Bishop Sheil came to laythe foundation stone of the new Church. Unfortu-nately no one had remembered to prepare a stone,so one was borrowed from the abandoned site of anAnglican Church at Kirton Point.

Fr Henderson named the church after St Mary ofthe Angels near Assisi. Being the Mother Church ofthe Franciscan Order, this was a church that wasespecially loved by St Francis. The original churchthere was dedicated to Our Lady, but became ‘StMary of the Angels” after angelic singing was al-leged to have been heard in the church or a woodnearby.

Fr Henderson had chosen what he thought wasthe highest point of the Church land to build the newChurch. Records at the Government Office in Ade-laide had been destroyed and it was later discov-ered that the Church had been built on a part of aGovernment Reserve. The error was rectified by anact of Parliament ten years later when an extra tenacres was transferred to the Port Lincoln CatholicChurch.

In the four years he was stationed in Port Lincoln,Father Henderson travelled on horseback through-out Eyre Peninsula, ministering to the Catholic peo-ple. He even went to Port Augusta, then as far northas Blinman Mines and Siding Rock Mines near Bel-tana.He left Port Lincoln in Oct 1872 and left SouthAustralia for England in 1874. In 1889 he was sentto America on missionary work for twenty years andthen died at the age of 90 in 1931 in England.

PORT LINCOLN MISSION OFST MARY OF THE ANGELS

FATHER HENDERSON makes an APPEAL to

the Public on behalf of his MISSION. It is onequite recently established in a part of the countrywhich has never had a resident pastor previously,and only the rare visits of priests on three formeroccasions. It has an extent of 400miles in widthand 150 miles in length, a great portion of whichis desert country where a missionary is exposedto extraordinary privations and even loss of life inattending to the scattered population who wouldotherwise live and die without the Word of Godand bread of life. There are not 500 Catholics inthe whole district, and all, with very few excep-tions, shepherds or belonging to the laboringclasses. Father Henderson has to reside in PortLincoln, but he has no house! no school!! nochurch!!! and no horse nor paddock in which hecan keep one. He, therefore, very earnestly asks asmall trifle in aid from the Catholics of SouthAustralia, who have become proverbial for theirunion, energy and their readiness to help eachother. If everyone will send him a few postagestamps he will soon have a church in honor ofOur Lady. In her name, therefore, do not refusehim, for never was missionary priest in SouthAustralia more destitute of human resources thanhe finds himself in this immense district.

_________

Bishop’s House, March 17, 1869We cordially recommend this mission to the char-ity of the faithful of our diocese and earnestlyhope that every Catholic will do something solarge a district being without a priest and so largea number of Catholics having to live and diewithout the sacraments.

+ L.B.SHEIL

Bishop of Adelaide

Fr Modestus Henderson1869 –1872

Fr Edward Kenny and Fr John Power both spent severalmonths in the area.On Sept 9,1894, Bishop CA Reynoldsarrived from Adelaide with Sister Evangelista and two Sisters

of St Joseph’s to open up a schoolin the township. The Sisters remained in PortLincoln for twelve years.

They battled on without a full time priest until 1884 whenFr Edmund Phelan was appointed.

Father Edward Kenny1881

Fr Phelan was stationed in Port Lincoln until Oct,1894. Hevisited the Catholic people of Eyre Peninsula regularly. Heusually went as far north-west as Streaky Bay, often sayingMass for only a few people, but in Sept, 1893, the recordsshow that he said mass in Fowlers Bay. He frequentedFranklin Harbour area on the east coast, staying with familiesat Carpa, Cowell, and Cleve.

A strong community was established at Colton and on Nov15th 1891, Fr WJ McEvoy (sent by His Grace ArchbishopReynolds) opened St Aidan’s at Colton.

Little is known about Fr Phelan, although he was described inthe Southern Cross 15 Nov,1891 as the ‘respected and be-loved priest of Port Lincoln.’

Father EdmundPhelan 1884-1894

Father O’Sullivan1878

Father George Williams1881

In May 1881, Fr George Williams was ap-pointed but due to ill health he only stayed ashort time.

In Dec 1894, Fr Pedar M Jorgensen arrived atPt Lincoln. Fr Jorgensen, formerly a DanishLutheran had a degree in pharmacy. He cameto Gawler in South Australia in 1871 and dur-ing the next five years while he worked as achemist he became a Catholic. He then stud-ied for the priesthood at St Aloysius College,Sevenhill, the college of St Kieran, Kenny, Ire-land and the Urban College of Propaganda inRome, where he was ordained in 1882. Onceordained he worked in the Brompton area ofAdelaide for eight years before moving toYorketown to take charge of the mission forthe next three and a half years and then to PtLincoln.

Fr Jorgensen, brought along his eleven yearold adopted daughter, Janie de Lacy who re-mained with him until his death in 1916 andthen with Fr Kelly. She stayed for 42 yearsand was known and loved by everyone. Janieworked with the whole community of Port Lin-coln.

Fr Jorgensen was buried in the Cemetery inthe Church grounds. He had travelled exten-sively over the Eyre Peninsula, reaching out tothe Catholic families in the Far West.

Father Pedar M Jorgensen1894-1916

“Fowlers Bay is 400 miles west from PortLincoln. There are many good peoplethere but it would be hard to beat those onthe ‘stations.’ Well I had been to Fowlersbay and sorry I was to leave it and on myway back I was told of a camp at the ‘DogFence’ where there were 4 Catholics. Iborrowed a fresh pair of horses, campedwith the dear fellows in the tent you see tothe left and had Mass early in the morningunder the mallee bushes. It was lovely.The sun was rising and gilding everything.The birds were singing the ‘hallelujah cho-rus’ even better than they do in St Pat-rick’s, West Terrace. The ‘dome’ above uswas more glorious than that of St Peter’s (Ihave seen it) the stillness of the bushcould only be understood by those whoknow it and love it. It was grand!”

An excerpt from the book by Margaret M Press,‘From Our Broken Toil’

It is reprinted from a report byFr Jorgensen in the ‘Southern Cross’

It is no wonder that Fr Jorgensen was a lovedand welcome visitor throughout his vast mis-sion. He battled ill health to bring the gospeland the sacraments to the people of EyrePeninsula. He suffered asthma and frequententries in the mission and station journalsmake brief mention of his illness.The records also show that on severaloccasions he was Godfather to children beingbaptised. It may have been that parents in iso-lated areas knew no other Catholic to ask, or itmay have been that they wanted to give theirchildren the best possible start on the road toheaven.

Father Jorgensen with Janie de Lacey

Father Patrick Leo Kelly1916-1937

In January 1904, Fr P.L.Kelly was sent to be-come assistant priest to Fr Jorgensen who stillmade periodic journeys to Streaky Bay andCowell until his death in 1916. Fr Kelly was thenappointed Priest in charge by ArchbishopSpence. Fr Kelly was born in Mintaro and aftermartriculating he gained a first class honoursdegree in Mathematics at Adelaide University.He spent a year as a professor then joined theGovernment Survey Department and spentsome years in various parts of the state. In1896,while at Innamincka on the Queensland border,he had the distinction of fixing on the map ofSouth Australia the exact position of Burke’s treeand grave.

He then went to the Australian Seminary at Manly , Sydney where he was ordained after sixyears. He spent a year in Adelaide before he was sent to Port Lincoln. Fr Kelly often travelled upto 1500miles in each trip around Eyre Peninsula with his buggy and team of four horses. He al-ways recorded the number of miles covered on his return. On one occasion when he had a sickcall to Streaky Bay, he records driving 170 miles in 29 hours. He stayed a night with the settlersand mass was celebrated in the kitchen, barns, huts, tents or even in the open with the buggyserving as an altar.As recorded in the Mission and Station Journal In 1911 he went as far as Eucla, celebrating masswith the whole town whether Catholic or not.

On August 25th, 1912, Dr Norton, Bishop of the Port Augusta Diocese, opened the church of StLeo the Great at Tumby Bay. He was replacing Dr O’Rielly, Archbishop of Adelaide, who was un-able to come, due to ill health. Dr Norton then continued on to Streaky Bay with Fr Jorgensen andFr Kelly and opened St Canute’s was named after the Danish King and Martyr, as a tribute to FrJorgensen, himself a Dane

Following the death of Fr Jorgensen in 1916, Fr Kelly carried on alone for two years. In Febru-ary, 1918 Fr B.C.Crowley was appointed assistant and remained for two years. It was twelveyears before another assistant, Fr J Honor came for twelve months. In 1925 the ‘new church’ ofSt Mary of the Angels was built and opened by Archbishop Spence on 28th February 1926.The Sisters of St Joseph had left in 1886 to go to Sydney in support of Mary MacKillop but re-turned in 1926. The school had fifty six students that year. Quarters were built for the accommo-dation of boarders in 1925-1926 and a new Presbytery on 29th January, 1927.

The Church of St Andrew at Cummins named after the apostle, and also Fr Henderson, whosebaptismal name was Andrew, was opened by Archbishop B Killian on 30th March 1935. On the6th October, 1937 Fr Kelly and Jane de Lacy left Pt Lincoln. It was reported that the biggestcrowd ever to assemble on Brennen’s Jetty up to that time, gathered to farewell these two lovedand respected citizens of the West Coast.

The newspaper described Fr Kelly as the ‘Patriarch of Eyre Peninsula.’

Fr Kelly was appointed an Archdeacon in 1938. He died on 21st Oct 1943 and was mournedthroughout the whole state.

Opened by Bishop Spence February 28th, 1926

St Mary of the Angels

Presbytery Constructionin 1928

Laying of the Foundation Stone 1925

Father Kelly’s first carSt Mary’s Jubilee 1939

Fr PP Kelly1937-1938

Fr PP Kelly, the nephew ofFr P.L Kelly arrived as anassistant priest in 1934 andstayed until 1939. Duringthe period 1935—1941 Fr ATuite and Fr D Ruane werealso assistant priests.

From 1938 t0 1940 Fr VBarry was Parish Priest untilhe left to become an ArmyChaplain,

Fr P Walsh then acted asParish Priest until 31st May,1940, when Fr W Nesdalearrived. He remained for 20years. At that time theParish of Port Lincoln wastransferred from theDiocese of Adelaide to theDiocese of Port Augustawhich became the presentPort Pirie Diocese.

Fr Nesdale was born in 1894 in Skibbereen, CountyCork, Ireland.In 1919 he was ordained at Propoganda College,Rome. He served in various areas in the north of thePort Augusta Diocese before being appointed to PortLincoln. While in Port Lincoln, he established a Sum-mer School for Religious Instruction for children in theout lying districts of the peninsula.On Dec 7th, 1952, the most Rev Bryan Gallagher,Bishop of Port Pirie , formally blessed and opened thenew Archdeacon Kelly Memorial School in Port Lin-coln. In his address, the Bishop said that wherever hewent on the West Coast people recalled with pride andgratitude the priestly work of ‘Fr Kelly.’ The school hadmore than 100 students at the time.

Despite indifferent health Fr Nesdale spared no effortin serving the people of the Parish. He was instrumen-tal in starting the Wells System of collection securingincome. He also started the St Vincent de Paul with 8men, Archie Patterson being one. In 1957 he was ele-vated to the rank of Monsignor and in 1959, he intro-duced the Wells System of Church Fund Raising. Asa result, the new Convent and Boarding School wascommenced in 1961. Due to ill health, Monsignor Nes-dale was transferred to Georgetown, a much smallerParish.

Fr W Nesdale1940-1961

Fr Vin Barry1938-1940

From 1961 until 1965 Rev Dr FV J Walsh was the ParishPriest. In 1963 the large Parish of Port Lincoln was subdi-vided. The new parish of Cummins / Tumby Bay wasformed with Monsignor P Coffey as Parish Priest and FrV Shiel was appointed to the new Parish of Cleve / Lock /Elliston and Cowell. Port Lincoln was then reduced to thesize it is today.The first ordination to be conducted on the West Coastwas that of Fr John O’Hara who was ordained for the Co-lumbian Fathers on July 13th, 1963.In 1965, Dr Walsh was transferred to Renmark,

Rev Dr FVJ Walsh1961-65

Monsignor Coffey1965-1972

Monsignor P Coffey then moved to Port Lincoln andremained for seven years. During this time, he cleared theremaining debt on the convent and began improving theChurch grounds building the peripheral fence.He made improvements to the interior of the Church, the old

Convent, the Presbytery and the existing school. In 1969new classrooms were completed to which Mgr Coffeyshould have the credit for the concept and design of theschool expansions. He also organized for the oval at theschool to be created.

In 1972, Monsignor Coffey was replaced byFather W Wauchope who was ordained at Port Pirie in1953. He came from Whyalla and remained for nine years.During those years, two more priests were ordained inPort Lincoln. Fr Paul Bourke’s ceremony took place in theCivic Hall on the 6/9/1975 as the existing church was toosmall and Fr John Watherston’s ceremony took place inDec 1978 in the courtyard of the school.The new Matriculation Centre, Administration area andOpen Space area of the school were built during FatherWauchope’s time as Parish Priest. In 1981 he transferredto Renmark.

Fr Bill Wauchope1972-1981

Fr Laurie Quinn1981-1999

Father Laurie Quinn replaced Fr Wauchope.Fr Quinn was born at Mt Bryan in 1931 andordained in Burra in 1963. He came to Port Lincolnfrom Loxton in 1981.In 1982 Father Quinn introduced the Parish Develop-ment fund to assist in clearing the school debts tomake way for the new church. He also introduced ascheme whereby parents of children in St Joseph’sSchool, who were not involved in the Parish PlannedGiving Programme were able to contribute to thecapital costs of the school.The main achievement Father Quinn will be remem-bered for however, will be the building of the newSt Mary of the Angel’s Church. It was built on theoriginal site Modestus had chosen in 1869 as thehighest point on the Catholic Church land, then over-looking the town and harbour.

When the new church was built, a blessed sacrament chapel was included where the current tab-ernacle sits The larger church meant fewer masses were needed and more people in the Parishmet each other. The existing church then became the hall, complete with a kitchen and toilets andlater a meeting room.A great historian of the church, Laurie tried to help the history stay alive by laying various plaquesand acknowledgements to those who went before him around church grounds. He introduced theRenew programme in 1985 and the affects of this are still continuing to the present day.

Various ministries were created so parishioners would become more involved and own thefuture of the church. The welcoming group, the music, readers and children’s liturgy were some ofthese. The hospitality group was created and the tradition of Sunday breakfasts, Mothers and Fa-thers day breakfast began. It was a great way for parishioners to get to know each other and wel-come newcomers and visitors. He also initiated home prayer groups, encouraged Marriage en-counter, supported St Vincent de Paul hospital visitors and supported Cathy Loudoun who offeredNatural Family planning. Father Laurie was transferred to Burra in 1999.

Keeping the history alive

Commemorating theModestus Henderson

Commemorating the Priests ofthe area with stone from thedifferent areas they covered.

A garden and cairn in remembrance of Janiede Lacey’s contribution to the Parish

Offering prayers for those lost at Seaat the monument

Construction of St Mary of the Angels1986

Laying thefoundation Stone by

Bishop deCampo

Raising of the Cross

The New Altar

Fr Leon Quinn2000-2008

Father Leon Quinn came from Berri to Pt Lincoln in2000. He was brought up in the Midnorth of SouthAustralia. Father Leon brought in the new arrange-ment of the Church bringing the priests chair for-ward and closer to the people. He also had renova-tions done to bring the sanctuary and altar closer tothe congregation. The Baptisimal font was placedon the other side of the church to bring it closer tothe sanctuary. Father Leon loved his art and sym-bolism and designed the fish in the floor tiles toconnect the tabernacle to the font and had thechurch recarpeted. He used the pattern of thewoodwork to symbolize the net behind the fish.Fr Leon was responsible for implementing goalgroups to increase the involvement of parishionersboth older and younger . He supported these groupsin implementing their goals such as an educationprogramme for parishioners to understand mentalillness. CAFÉ was set up by one of the goal groupsthat encouraged people to come together to discusstheir faith. A youth group was created to get theyoung involved and to feel supported.

Fr Leon supported the World Youth Day activitiesincluding the bringing of the cross to our church.Father Leon was transferred to Pt Pirie in Jan 2009.

World Youth Day Cross comes to Port Lincoln2008

The Cross and Icon aboard theship coming into the town jetty.

The Cross and Icon on thetown foreshore

The Icon in the ChurchThe Cross in the Church

St Joseph’s School Resource Centre. 2011

The leadlight window, celebrating the spirit of Mary MacKillop alive today in Pt Lincoln through theParish and the School adorns the Centre. The window was designed by Gail Donovan andconstructed and installed by Vince Rushby.

The St Joseph’s School Resource Centrewas opened and blessed on the 27th ofMay, 2011. The celebration began in StMary of the Angels before moving into thecentre. This was a government funded con-struction so in attendance along with FrBrian Mathews,Sr Joan Barry and Sr Catherine Mead wasSenator Annette Hurley, Kathy McEvoy, theDirector of Catholic Education in the PortPirie Diocese and Michael Preece, the as-sistant director. Members of the board, Par-ish Councilors, the local mayor and theschool children all attended .

Mr Mark Stanley of the school board said”We benefit today as a community of faith bythe completion of this facility. Today as wegive thanks, we ask God’s blessing of seek-ing , learning and teaching what is true. Wepray that the Students will find in us andtheir teachers the image of Christ so thatthey in turn will be able to enlighten othersthroughout Life“

Fr Brian Mathews2009-

Father Brian first came to Port Lincoln as an assis-tant priest to Father Laurie Quinn from 1998 -1999.As a youngster Fr Brian was brought up in CrystalBrook and was a metallurgist with BHP beforeentering the priesthood. He returned to serve asParish Priest in Port Lincoln in 2009.

Fr Brian was involved in the local celebrationsfor the canonization of Mary of the Cross MacKillopand organized for the etched church windows tocommemorate her sainthood on the 17th October2010.Father Brian re-established a Parish council and

worked with them to prepare the church for notonly financial security in the years to come but forthe next era when fewer priests would be avail-able. He trained lay ministers to lead the parish inworship when a priest was unavailable. Fr Brianhad maintenance done for the presbytery, thequadrangle and updated the church technology.Fr Brian instigated the 25th Anniversary celebra-tions of the new church and put great thought intopreserving some of the history of our Parish.

1881-George WilliamsEdward KennyJohn Power

1904 PL Kelly1918 BC Crowley1932 J Honnor1934 PP Kelly1935 A Tuite1939 D Ruane1941 M Mc Curtin1942 JL Casey

GK Carmody1943 M Kineavy1947 D Lomergon1949 RI Pope1950 M Kineavy1952 W Thomas1953 M Kineavy1955 A Hackett1956 L Dundon1960 N Canny1961 A Head1964 F Cresp1965 E Hurley1968 A Noonan1972 A Camerlari1973 R. O’Leary1977 A Redden1981 C Warnock

P Quirke1986 J Dowling1989 J Stewart James1992 C J O’Neil1994 S Ardill1998 B Mathews2000 P King2002 Sahji Joseph

St Mary of the AngelsAssistant Priests

Janie de Lacey

Janie’s Sunday school class

In 1895 Janie deLacey, adopted daughter ofFather Jorgensen, arrived in Port Lincoln. Sheassisted him as a housekeeper and nursed himduring illness.She became a respected and well known iden-tity in Port Lincoln and the surrounding districts.She served the Parish for 42 years and sup-ported Father Jorgensen until his death in 1916and then with Father Kelly until they left forBrighton in 1937.Janie was an accomplished musician andpainter and passed these on to the youngpeople of the Parish.The keynote of Janie de Lacey’s life was love.She loved the poor, being one herself andhelped them with loving cheerfulness. The sick,the bereaved, the sorrowing, the injured andsuffering all entered into the love of Janiethrough her prayers and actions. She loved withaffectionate respect, the Priests, Bishops andNuns whom she knew. She also took on civicinterests. She played the piano, participated inthe Girl Guides since its inception and was aleader of the Brownies and a member of theJunior Red Cross Society.Janie died in 1961 at the age of 77 in the Prov-

ince, Adelaide, where she was living as a guestof the Sister’s of St Joseph whom she loved andhelped so well during many years at Port Lincolnand elsewhere.In Port Lincoln, she was simply known as Janieand was she was referred to as “the noblest per-son I have ever known in my life”… “she showedwhat a true follower of Christ is..” “We’ll neversee another like her.”Her friends considered it a privilege from God tohave known her.

Janie withFather Jorgensen

Janie withFather PL Kelly

Tom Maxwell

Tom Maxwell was honouredby the Pope John Paul ll. Hewas presented with the CrossPro Ecclesia Et Pontifice (forChurch and Pope). The hon-our recognized a lifetime ofapostolic involvement in thechurch at Parish andDiocesan level, includingmany years with the Societyof St Vincent De Paul. Tompassed away on the 12thApril 1999 and the table in thefoyer where Parish rosters,newsletter and informationare available is fondly calledTom’s Table.

Bill and Maureen Holland presenting thegifts of the Diocese of Port Pirie to PopeJohn Paul ll in Adelaide 30/12/86

The First Wedding in the Church was that ofTim Hurley and Genevieve Pedler

The re interment of Archdeacon Kelly9/12/1986

Archie Patterson wasone of the original men whobegan the Society of St VincentDePaul in Port Lincoln in thetime of Fr W Nesdale.

Original scholars ofSt Joseph’s Schoolwith Father Kelly.

Boarders with Fr P.L.Kelly and Janie

Archdeacon Kelly Memorial SchoolEstablished 1952

Rear: Mr Danzic, Fr PL Kelly, Mr P RussellMesdames O’Rorke, Tyler, Woods, Theakstone, Watherstone, Miss McNamara

Sisters of St JosephPt Lincoln

1874– 2 sisters arriveSr Hilda McNamaraSr Evangelista Weir1877 M Mary MacKillopSr Josephine McMullenSr Raphael McKeownSr Faith DanielsSr Alberta MurphySr Raymond Smyth,Sr Matilda RogersSr Kevin HughesSr Irene Ryan1926Sr Fergus BrosnahanSr Michele RyanSr Francis BertrandSr Matthias O’RiellySr Mercedes SchockerSr Antoinette O’LoughlinSr Dolorosa TuckerSr Barbara BuckleySr Paula Patton,Sr Philomena Lyddy,Sr Leonie HaydonSr Rita BrosnahanSr Gabrielle BuckleySr Augustine DittmerSr Marie Louise CroninSr Julian DooleySr Noelene MahoneySr Marie Rose DohenySr Thomasine WillisSr Eunice BarrySr Joseph Carmel Crowe,Sr Robert AitkinSr Antonia HaleSr Andrina ForemanSr Maria Goretti FitzgeraldSr Francis Borgia MillerSr Marietta Bolitho

Sr Carmelitta ThompsonSr Elizabeth SchultzSr Tressa KerinSr Agnes WalshSr Constance ConroySr Andrina ConnellySr Julianna HarradineSr Margaret MurphySr Malachy Boylan

Sr Immaculata NormanSr Fidelis CaruanaSr Magdalen TraversSr Angela MorrisonSr Loyola DunlopSr Edward HannonSr Michael Joseph O’DeaSr Pauline ConroySr Verona QuinnSr Anthony O’DeaSr Michelle CrespSr Catherine ClarkSr Juanita FeehanSr John Vianney BoyleSr Angela TonkinSr Michele MadiganSr Anne PilkingtonSr David DowdSr Margaret Cresp

Sr Paschal MaherSr Josephine McArthurSr Gertrude DickinsonSr Bernadette CullinanSr Bernadette MilneSr Theresa SwiggsSr Helen SheedySr Maria Ann GravesSr Caroline DugganSr Basil TraversSr Moira Agnes Miller

Sr Kathleen PurcellSr Sheila McCreanorSr Moya McGarveySr Marie McCannSr Teresa CooperSr Genevieve RyanSr Lillian GirardiSr Margaret KennySr Moreen FeatherstoneSr Carmel ThomasSr Pauline SchutzeSr Bernadine HansberrySr Ursuline HoileSr Anne Marie HannonSr Helen DukeSr Maria HennekamSr Josephine HuppatzSr Marie TaylorSr Josephine DubielSr Elizabeth MurphySr Kenise NeillSr Moira ByrnesSr Catherine MeadSr Julianne MurphySr Marie EganSr Joan BarrySr Marcella MyersSr Margaret TullySr Ann Leesue

Sr MichelleCresp

Sr Mary Byrne OP

Sr JosephineHuppatz

Sr Helen Duke

Sr Joan Barry

Sr Margaret Tully

Sr Ann Leesue

Sr Maria Hennekam

Sr Catherine Mead

Sr Catherine Clark

Sr Moreen Featherstone

Sr Liz Murphy

Sr MargaretMurphy

Sr Josephine Dubiel

Sr Eunice Barry

Sr PaulineConroy

Sr CatherineClark

Sr AnthonyO’Dea

Sr VeronaQuinn

Sr LoyolaDunlop

Sr MargaretCresp

MotherDennis Earle

Sr AnnPilkington

Sr BernadetteMilne

Sr MariaDickinson

Sr Marie AnneGraves

Sr TheresaSwiggs

Sr BernadetteCullinan

Mary MacKillop

Sr Margaret Kenny

When the Parish of Port Lincoln was established in 1869, Fr Henderson became the first parish priest. In1872 when he left there was no one appointed until 1881 and it was during these seven years that theJosephites arrived. On Sept 8th 1874, Sr Hilda McNamara and Sr Evangelista Weir arrived in Pt Lincolnand immediately established a school which included provision for boarders. The sisters remained for 12years and did not return until 1926, 40 years later. Mary MacKillop came to Port Lincoln to spend time withthe sisters in 1877. Among the sisters appointed at this time according to letters of the sisters were Sr Jose-phine McMullen, Sr Raphael McKeown, Sr Faith Daniels, Sr Alberta Murphy, Sr Raymond Smyth, SrMatilda Rogers, Sr Kevin Hughes and Sr Irene Ryan. The same letters reveal the loneliness, the difficultiesof the journey to Adelaide, in terms of physical discomforts and particularly the cost. The fare of £4 was be-yond their resources and the sisters suggested to Mary that perhaps if she called at the Company’s officethey might reduce the fare to £3. Journeys at Christmas time were particularly difficult as they needed toplan months ahead so that the families of boarders could also make arrangements as many lived a dis-tance away. The infrequent and difficult journeys to Adelaide did not necessarily solve the loneliness. SrHilda had not seen her mother for 9 years as the family was too poor to travel from their home in Clare tovisit. The other sisters were trying to find ways of enabling Hilda to get to Clare.

While the physical and social demands of the local area took much energy the sisters were also deeplyconcerned about what was happening to the congregation. It suffered much pain during the mid 1880’s andthis might even have been more devastating than Mary’s excommunication. The pain was felt by the sistersin Port Lincoln. The Sisters during this time received a formal visitation from the Vicar General. The pur-pose of the Visitation was to investigate the lives of the sisters as claims had been made that they were notliving as Religious should and therefore were not authentic Religious Order. The process was very de-manding on the sisters who had no one to assist or advise them. The letters refer to the banishment ofMary MacKillop from Adelaide and the fear amongst the sisters that when the Bishop visited in May 1885they would be obliged to make a choice to break with Mary MacKillop and come under the rule of theBishop or to leave the Congregation. The sisters chose to join Mary MacKillop in Sydney. In order to raisethe £7 that it would take to get the 3 sisters to Adelaide, they planned to sell the furniture privately and thenleave quietly, as it would never do to let it be publicly known that the sisters had to leave the colony.” Theconcerns about their personal future and that of the Congregation , combined with a lack of support for thework, contributed to their final decision.

In 1926 the story evolves when Sr Fergus Brosnahan, Sr Michelle Ryan, Sr Francis Bertrand, Sr Mer-cedes Schoker, Sr Matthias O’Rielly took up residence in the old presbytery and used the old church as aschool as the new church had been completed. The school continued to provide day school for boys andgirls and boarding for girls. In 1952 the Archdeacon Kelly Memorial school was completed. In 1961 the newconvent, including the boarding facility was completed. During 1989 this building was renovated and shortlyafter the sisters vacated the convent section to allow for the additional space for boarders including boys.The sisters moved into the present convent. In 2011 Sr Joan, a much loved sister in Port Lincoln for 19years was transferred and it is yet to be seen if there will ever be another sister here in Port Lincoln.

Dedication and Opening of the new convent 1961 and boarding school for girls.

St Joseph’s Day Presentation for Sr Joan andSr Margaret Tully from St Joseph’s School, 2005

The Schools of St Joseph’s exist today as they continue a quite distinctive way, of living the Gospel. It isabout the bold revelation of God. It is about the heart of the founder Mary MacKillop, aglow in one period ofhistory beating on in us in another day, another age and another context. The dimension of the Gospel, thatfire in the eye of God that captured Mary MacKillop and drove her and her followers to do what they did—totell us God is love, He is present in all circumstances ,and in all we meet. to tell us God’s love is for every-one, no matter what brand they wear on their forehead, it is for the poor, the marginalized and the isolated.It is a message to be revealed in a spirit of simplicity, humility, hard work and an utter respect for the rightsand dignity of others. It is a service that develops in people the knowledge and skills to participate withconfidence and with dignity in life so that they too may see life as love and service for others. This is theheart of why those young women came in 1874 and 1926 and why others have come after.

Our Evolving Story, Sr Catherine Clark. RSJ

Convent of St Joseph’s Pt Lincoln 1990

Sr Joan Barry with St Joseph’s School firstlay Principal, Mr David Mezinec

Sr Bernadine Hansberrygiving music lessons

Sr Joan Barry and Dana Hurrell

Sr Catherine Clark –on the job

Sr Margaret Tully relaxing with Staff

Sr Liz Murphy keeping in touch

Sr Ann Leesue giving a blessingwith Fr Brian Mathews.

Sisters for the People

Sr Eunice Barry with baby Erin and Kym, Ann and Luke Rowe

Erection of theSister Maria Anne Room.

Sr Maria Anne Graves wasin

Pt Lincoln for 12 year from1975-1987

Erection of theSchool Sciencelabs

Erection of theJunior Primary Open

Space Units

Expansion of St Joseph’s School 1969

New Classrooms

The Official Blessing and Opening of the NewAdministration, Distance Education Centre and

Classrooms. 1994

The New Administration Centre

Bishop deCampo blessed and opened the buildings on the 23rd October 1994

St Joseph’s School Gymnasium

Opened by Bishop Hurley15/02/2004

Bishop Hurley opened St Joseph’sfirst gymnasium. Within the build-ings, besides the gym are musicperformance, theory and computingrooms, a Performing Arts Centreand a PE theory room. New tenniscourts were also laid.

Bishop Eugene Hurley

Former Principal Sr Josephine Huppatzalong with Sr Shirley O’Loghlen, Sr Mar-garet Kenny and Sr Joan Barry were someof the sisters that attended.

Sister Catherine Clark,formerly Sr Patricia was asister on the schoolstaff from 1969-71 and thePrincipal from 1979-85.Sr Catherine talked of theevolving story of MaryMacKillop and the sistersof St Joseph.

Kelly Centre

Opened Oct 20th 2006by Bishop Hurley

In 2007 a decision to replace the Archdeacon Kelly MemorialSchool was made, as it could no longer accommodate or lenditself to new teaching methods and the modern classroom.The original stone was used to create the walls and pillars andthe original cross was placed in the wall of the St Joseph’sSchool Resource Centre. It was aimed to draw the new withthe old and to remain as a mark of respect of those who wentbefore. In speaking the Principal said ”Today we celebrate thecommitment and vision of the Sisters of St Joseph and thepioneers of the Parish, especially Archdeacon Kelly and thehopes we have for our young and our commitment to buildinga strong future. “ Sr Christine Rowan declared the openingand Bishop Hurley unveiled the plaque.

St Mary of the AngelsA Parish allowing time for :

Celebration - of the old and the new

Having Fun and sharing love

Reflection- about the past and the future

Individual growth

Saying goodbye and paying respect to those lost

Thanks for family and opportunityStaff Retreat

St Joseph’s DayMother’s Day

Respect for those lost

Easter re-enactmentCelebrating our family

Prayer Gardenrespecting thosegone before usand a place for

quiet contemplation.

Year Parish Priest Assistants Sisters of St Josephs

1869-1872 ModestusHenderson

1874 –1886Sr Hilda McNamaraSr Evangelista Weir1877 Mary MacKillopSr Josephine McMullenSr Raphael McKeownSr Faith DanielsSr Alberta MurphySr Raymond Smyth,Sr Matilda RogersSr Kevin HughesSr Irene Ryan1886 Sisters Leave

1878 Fr 0’Sullivan

1881 Fr George Williams

1881 Fr Edward Kenny Fr John Power

1884 Fr Edmund Phelan

1894-1916 Fr Pedar Jorgensen Fr P.L. Kelly 1904Sr Fergus Brosnahan 1926– 32Sr Michelle Ryan 1926-30 48,49, 58-60Sr Mercedes SchokerSr Matthias O’RiellySr Francis BertrandSr Antoinette O’Loughlin 1933-37

1916-37 Fr Patrick L Kelly

1937-1938 Fr PP Kelly

1938-1940 Fr V Barry F A Tuite 1935Fr D Ruane 1941

Sr Dolarosa Tucker 1938-43Sr Raffrael ByrneSr Vincent BarrySr Bernadette Conoly

1940 Fr P Walsh

1941-61 Fr W Nesdale Fr M McCurtin 1941-42JL Casey 1942GK Carmody 1942-43M Kineavey 1943-44,50-51,53-55D Lonergan 1947-49RI Pope 1949-51W Thomas 1952-53AJ Hackett 1955-62L Dundon 1956-61N Canny 1960

Sr Barbara Buckley 1942-44, 51-56Sr Gabrielle Buckley 1945-48Sr Loyola Dunlop 1944-48, 67-71Sr Leonie Haydon 1944Sr Paula Patton 1944Sr Philomine Lyddy 1944-48Sr Michelle Ryan 1948-50Sr Rita Brosnahan 1945-50Sr Augustine Dittmer 1948-50Sr Marie Louise Cronin 1949-50Sr Julian Dooney 1950-53Sr Richard White 1954,55Sr Thomasine Willis 1951-53Sr Noelene Mahoney 1951,52Sr Marie Rose Doheny 1952Sr Eunice Barry 1954-57, 66-68Sr Antonia Hale 1956– 61Sr Andrina Foreman 1956Sr Elizabeth Schultz 1957, 77Sr Marietta Bolitho 1957-64Sr Francis Borgia Miller 1957,58Sr Tressa Kerin 1958-62Sr Carmelita Thompson 1958,59Sr Francis Conroy 1960

Fr BC Crowley 1918-1920Fr J Honnor 1932Fr PP Kelly 1934-39

Year Parish Priest Assistants Sisters of St Josephs

1961-65 Rev Dr FVP Walsh Rev Fr. A Head 1961-64Rev Fr F Cresp 1964-65

Sr Agnes Walsh1960-65Sr Constance Conroy 60-64Sr Andrina Connelly 1962-67Sr Julianna Haradine 1963-64Sr Margaret Mary Murphy 1965-69Sr Malachy Boylan 1965Sr Immaculata Norman 1965

1965-72 Msg PatrickCoffey

Fr.E Hurley 1965-68Fr A Noonan 1968

Sr Anthony O’Dea 1968-71Sr Verona Quinn 68,69Sr Pauline Conroy 67-70Sr Michael Joseph O’Dea 66,67Sr Angela Morrison 66,67Sr Fedelis Caruana 66Sr Michellle Cresp 1969-78Sr Magdalen Travers 1966Sr Edward Hannon 67Sr Catherine Clark 69-71, 79-85Sr Karen Briggs 1971Sr Margaret Kenny 1971Sr Sheila McCreanorSr Juanita Feehan 1970-71Sr John Vianney Boyle 1971Sr Angela Tonkin 1970

1972-81 Fr WilliamWauchope

R O’LearyM Cameleri

Sr Ann Pilkington 1972-74Sr David Dowd 1972Sr Michelle Madigan 1972Sr Gertrude Dickinson 73-74Sr Margaret Cresp 1972-77Sr Bernadette Cullinan 73-76Sr Paschal Maher 1973Sr Theresa Swiggs 1974--75Sr Bernadette Milne 1974-75Sr Robert Aitkin 1973Sr Maria Anne Graves 1975-1987Sr Helen Sheedy 1975Sr Caroline Duggan 1975Sr Moira Agnes Miller 1976Sr Moya McGarvey 1976-77Sr Helen FeehanSr Kathleen Purcell 1976Sr Genevieve Ryan 1978-80Sr Paula Cooper 1977-78Sr Lillian Girardi 1978-82Sr Moreen Featherstone 1978-84Sr Pauline Schutze 1979Sr Genevieve Ryan 1978– 80Sr Bernadine Hansberry 1979—86Sr Ursuline Hoile 1980

1981-99 Fr Laurie Quinn Fr C Warnock 1981Fr Paul Quike 1981-86Fr T Dowling 1986-88Fr John Stuart-James 89-92Fr Chris O’Neill 92-94Fr Steve Ardill 1994-98Fr Brian Mathews 98-99

Sr Carmel Thomas 1981-84Sr Nancy Hannon 1981-86Sr Helen Duke 1982-86Sr Marie Hennekam 1983-88Sr Marie Taylor 1985Sr Josie Huppatz 1985-89Sr Kenise Neill 1987Sr Moira Byrnes 1988-89Sr Josephine Dubiel 1988-95Sr Julianne Murphy 1990-92Sr Catherine Mead 1990-92, 96-99Sr Marie Egan 1990-91Sr Elizabeth Murphy 1993-95Sr Marcella Myers 1995-97Sr Mary Byrne( Dom) 1993-2002

2000-08 Fr Leon Quinn Fr Peter KingFr Shaji Joseph

2009- Fr BrianMathews

Sr Margaret Tully 2001-2005Sr Ann Leesue 2007-09Sr Joan Barry 1993-2011