Bright-eyed children wearing yellow construction hats were front and centre at the blessing of the grounds of the soon-to-be St Luke’s Catholic Church in the fast-growing Elara Estate in Marsden Park.
The blessing ceremony on Sunday 9 March followed the 10am Mass, and invited parishioners to offer prayers at the site of the soon-to-be new parish building.
The blessing ceremony on Sunday, 9 March, followed the 10am Mass and invited parishioners to offer prayers at the site of the First Stage of the Church Building project, which includes the Parish Hall, Parish Office, and amenities.
The new parish building will mark the first significant step towards a permanent church. It will become the new location for Mass celebrations and other parish gatherings, which are currently held in the performance centre at St Luke’s Catholic College.
St Luke’s Parish Priest, Fr Gayan Thamel blesses the site. Image: Anna Amos Three/Two/One Photography
St Luke’s Parish Priest, Fr Gayan Thamel, reflected on the significance of this milestone, highlighting the remarkable journey of the faith community since being established as a Parochial District in 2018, and later, becoming a full Parish in 2025.
“With hearts full of gratitude and hope, we come together to mark the beginning of the first stage of our church building project,” Fr Gayan said.
The occasion held special significance for Fr Gayan, as it marked exactly one month since he was appointed Parish Priest by the Bishop of Parramatta, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv. Fr Gayan is also the Episcopal Vicar for Migrant Chaplaincies since 1 October 2023, something that greatly benefits the culturally diverse Marsden Park Parish community.
This moment also honoured the lasting legacy of pastoral care established by the former Pastoral Director, Deacon Tony Hoban, and his wife, Annette, who were the first to nurture and guide the community.
Parishioners gather for the blessing ceremony following Mass. Image: Anna Amos Three/Two/One Photography
“With hearts full of gratitude and hope we gather to begin the first stage of our church building project,” Fr Gayan said.
“This project is not just about bricks and mortar, but a physical sign of our faith and our desire to create a sacred space where God’s presence will dwell among us.”
“This building will serve as home for our worship: a place of welcome and hospitality, and a witness to God’s love in our community.”
As part of the blessing, a string of joyous children in yellow construction hats followed Fr Gayan in a winding procession as he sprinkled holy water on the land off Frontier Avenue (Gate 4).
“They are the future of the Church, so it’s good to get them involved,” Fr Gayan said.
Children prepare for the blessing ceremony in yellow construction hats. Image: Anna Amos Three/Two/One Photography
The participation of children in the St Luke’s faith community and new building project was evident both during the Sunday Mass and Blessing of the grounds.
After Mass, during the popular ‘Blessing of the Children,’ Fr Gayan had invited young volunteers from the congregation to take turns at the microphone and share their reflections on the Gospel readings of the day.
Their loud, confident voices captivated the attention of the 600-strong congregation, embodying the spirit of St Luke’s where every voice is heard and valued.
Their ability to share the Gospel message so poignantly visibly impressed Fr Gayan, who joked about feeling redundant.
Parishioners work together
The phrase “many hands make light work” has never been truer than at St Luke’s Parish. You only have to watch the smiling volunteers setting up and packing down more than 500 chairs after every Mass to see the dedication and support each person brings to the parish.
Married couple Ofelia and Nars Lumba not only attend Masses and parish events, but actively participated in supporting the parish. Ofelia was a church reader during the Mass, and her husband Nars is Chair of the St Luke’s Parish Pastoral Council.
Ofelia reflected on their active participation in the context of the theme for this Year of Jubilee.
A string of joyous children in yellow construction hats followed Fr Gayan as he sprinkled holy water on the land. Image: Anna Amos Three/Two/One Photography
“We are all Pilgrims of Hope and this is a good sign of it,” she said.
“It’s the work of many hands … with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”
Nars said the building project meant a lot to the local faith community.
“Like for everyone in this estate, it’s the dream of having your own house.”
Nigerian-born parishioner Perpetua Ndulue agreed, saying, “The unity in this community is something anyone can vouch for.”
She emphasised that everyone works together at St Luke’s.
“It’s so wonderful!” she gushed.
Image: Anna Amos Three/Two/One Photography
The future of the Church in Marsden Park
The St Luke’s Parish building project will be staged, starting with the delivery of a new parish building that will serve as a temporary church. It is the first step towards a permanent church being constructed on the parish grounds in the future.
The new parish building will feature a large hall, parish office and amenities, and is expected to be completed in August 2025.
The project will officially commence with a Sod Turning Ceremony attended by the Bishop of Parramatta, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, which is scheduled to happen later this month. Stay tuned for more information on this exciting building project.
View the full gallery of photos on our Flickr page.
