1926
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MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
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PARISH OF OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS BOOLAROO-WARNERS BAY |
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FOUNDED 1926 |
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DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
| PARISH CHURCH | STATION CHURCHES | OTHER BUILDINGS | RELIGIOUS ORDERS | PARISH DIRECTORY |
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| PARISH CHURCH OF OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS | ||
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| PARISH | HISTORY | CHURCH |
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 | PARISH | |
| UNTIL THE 20th CENTURY THE NORTHERN SHORES OF LAKE MACQUARIE WERE VERY SPARSELY POPULATED BUT WITH THE SETTING UP OF THE SULPHIDE WORKS AT COCKLE CREEK AND THE BUILDING OF SULPHIDE HALL THE AREA BEGAN TO GROW SUBSTANTIALLY. BY THE TIME THE SULPHIDE WORKS CEASED THE ATTRACTIONS OF THE LAKESIDE HAD BEGUN TO EXERT A PULL ON THE CITY RESIDENTS OF NEWCASTLE LEADING TO A SECOND GROWTH SPURT. TODAY THE HEAVILY POPULATED SUBURBS OF BOOLAROO, SPEERS POINT AND WARNERS BAY FORM A VIBRANT REGION POPULAR WITH YOUNG FAMILIES KEEN TO ENJOY THE FRESH AIR AND AMENITIES OF LAKESIDE LIFE. THE AREA BORDERING LAKE MACQUARIE INITIALLY FORMED AN INDETERMINATE REGION BETWEEN THE DIOCESES OF MAITLAND AND SYDNEY WITH THE FEW CATHOLICS IN THE AREA WERE MINISTERED TO OCCASIONALLY FROM LAMBTON. IN 1914 THIS INDETERMINATE AREA WAS DEFINITIVELY TAKEN INTO THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY AND MADE THE RESONSIBILITY OF THE PARISH OF WYONG. JUST THREE YEARS LATER THE FIRST CHURCH WAS BUILT AT BOOLAROO. IN 1926 BOOLAROO BECAME A PARISH WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WHOLE NORTHERN AND EASTERN SHORES OF THE LAKE. IN 1945 THE PARISH AREA WAS REDUCED WHEN BELMONT AND SWANSEA BECAME A SEPARATE PARISH. WITH A SMALLER AREA TO FOCUS ON THE PARISH (NOW NAMED LAKE MACQUARIE PARISH) EXPANDED ITS WORK IN THE RAPIDLY GROWING "FAMILY" SUBURB OF WARNERS BAY. IN 1966 THE LAKE MACQUARIE REGION PASSED TO THE DIOCESE OF MAITLAND REFLECTING THE NATURAL TIES OF THE COMMUNITIES WITH NEWCASTLE. WITH THE RAPID EXPANSION OF WARNERS BAY AND THE GENTRIFICATION OF BOOLAROO THE EQUALITY OF THE TWO COMMUNITIES WAS REFLECTED IN THE NEW MILENNIUM THROUGH THE RENAMING OF THE PARISH BOOLAROO-WARNERS BAY. CHURCH OF ST MARY | ||
| CHURCH OF ST MARY |  |
| THE FIRST CHURCH TO SERVE BOOLAROO WAS BUILT IN 1917. ARCHBISHOP KELLY OF SYDNEY LAID THE FOUNDATION STONE ON SEPTEMBER 22 OF THAT YEAR OF WHAT WAS THEN A STATION CHURCH OF THE PARISH OF WYONG. IT BECAME A PARISH CHURCH IN ITS OWN RIGHT IN 1926. THE CHURCH WAS A PLAIN BRICK BUILDING COMPRISING JUST A NAVE AND PORCH WITH RECTANGULAR WINDOWS AND AN IRON ROOF. MOCK BUTTRESSES WERE ADDED TO GIVE IT AN APPROPRIATELY ECCLESIASTICAL LOOK. DESPITE ITS SMALL SIZE THE LITTLE CHURCH OF ST MARY SERVED AS THE PARISH CHURCH FOR THIRTY-FIVE YEARS UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED BY THE PRESENT BUILDING. THE OLD CHURCH WAS USED AS A HALL FOR SOME YEARS BUT WAS LATER CLOSED UP. IT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1998. CHURCH OF OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS |
 | CHURCH OF OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS |
| BY THE LATE 50's IT WAS BECOMING OBVIOUS THAT THE LITTLE CHURCH OF ST MARY WAS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE GROWING POPULATION OF THE AREA. ACCORDINGLY A NEW CHURCH WAS PLANNED AND WAS DULY ERECTED IN 1961 WITH THE TITLE OF OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS. THE CHURCH IS BUILT USING A MIXTURE OF MODERN MATERIALS AND STYLING WITH A TRADITIONAL DESIGN. A STANDARD NAVE FORMS THE BODY OF THE CHURCH WITH A SHALLOW CHANCEL AND MODERN ELONGATED GLASS WINDOWS. THE MOST INTERESTING FEATURE IS THE PROMINENT SEMI-CIRCULAR PORCH WITH ITS FULL LENGTH GLASS PANELS. A LARGE MAST LIKE CROSS RISES FROM THE ROOF OF THE PORCH PROCLAIMING THE BUILDING'S PURPOSE. NEXT |
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| THE PLAIN EAST END SOFTENED BY THE PRESENCE OF TWO TREES. | THE FOUNDATION STONE LAID BY BISHOP MULDOON IN 1961. |
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 | THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH REFLECTS THE TRADITIONAL DESIGN OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WITH SEATS IN ROWS FACING FORWARD TO THE SANCTUARY AND A DISTINCT CHANCEL. THE SANCTUARY ITSELF WAS EXTENSIVELY REMODELLED IN 1977 TO ACCOMODATE THE CHANGES REQUIRED FOLLOWING VATICAN II. THE RESULT IS AN OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE SPACE DOMINATED BY A BLOCKY WOODEN TABLE-ALTAR, A POLISHED WOOD REREDOS AND A LARGE MATCHING CRUCIFIX ABOVE THE CENTRALLY PLACED CELEBRANT'S CHAIR WHILE TO THE RIGHT OF THE ALTAR IS THE LECTERN FOR PROCLAIMING THE ETERNAL WORD OF GOD. THE SIDE ALTARS WERE REMOVED IN THE REMODELLING AND IN THEIR PLACE ARE CARVED WOODEN WALL MOUNTED STATUES OF OUR LADY ( ABOVE ) AND ST JOSEPH (BELOW). THE WARM BRICK AND WOOD PANELLING CREATE A MELLOW WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE TO THE CHURCH. NEXT |
| TO THE RIGHT CAN BE SEEN THE CENTRAL ASPECT OF THE SANCTUARY FORMING AN AXIS THROUGH THE ALTAR TO THE RAISED CELEBRANT'S CHAIR AND ABOVE TO THE CRUCIFIX EACH A KEY PART OF THE MASS. BELOW IS THE TABLE-ALTAR COMPRISED OF A LARGE WOODEN RECTANGULAR MENSA ON FOUR SHORT BLOCKY LEGS AND DECORATED BY THE SACRED CHI RHO SYMBOL. |  | IN THE SANCTUARY TO THE LEFT CAN BE JUST DISCERNED THE OPEN PATTERN BALDACCHINO IN MATCHING POLISHED WOOD ABOVE THE CRUCIFIX. BELOW IS ONE OF THE ATTRACTIVE BAS-RELIEF STATIONS OF THE CROSS DONE IN A REALIST MINIMALIST STYLE. NEXT |
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 | AS PART OF THE REMODELLING OF THE CHURCH IN 1977 THE TABERNACLE WAS MOVED TO A SIDE CHAPEL BUILT INTO THE NORTH WALL OF THE CHURCH. THIS SPACE WAS THEN SET ASIDE FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. THE CHAPEL IS FURNISHED WITH A RIBBED WOODEN BLOCK ALTAR SURMOUNTED BY A MARBLE MENSA. THE TABERNACLE IS LOCATED CENTRALLY ON THE ALTAR AND IS SURMOUNTED BY A CROSS. TO THE LEFT OF THE ALTAR IS A WALL-MOUNTED SANCTUARY LIGHT WHILE BEHIND AND TO THE LEFT IS A LOVELY STATUE OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS. A REMINDER OF THE DEEP LOVE FOR HUMANKIND OF HE WHO DWELLS WITHIN THE TABERNACLE. THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL FORMS A QUIET REFLECTIVE SPACE FOR INDIVIDUAL PRAYER. IT IS ALSO CLOSE TO THE CONFESSIONAL LOCATED THROUGH A DOOR ON THE NORTH SIDE ENABLING A PRIVATE AREA FOR PENANCE FOLLOWING ABSOLUTION. IT IS THEREFORE AN ESPECIALLY SACRED AREA OF THE CHURCH. NEXT |
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| ^^^^ AT THE REAR OF THE CHURCH WITHIN THE PORCH AREA IS LOCATED THIS MARIAN SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR. GOLD PAPERED WALLS AND FLOWERS ENHANCE THIS AS A SPACE OF SPECIAL DEVOTION TO OUR LADY. JOINED WITH HER IN THE SHRINE ARE THE DIVINE MERCY AND BD MARY McKILLOP. >>>> UNUSUALLY THE BAPTISTRY REMAINS IN ITS TRADITIONAL POSITION AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CHURCH. LOCATED IN THE CENTRE OF THE PORCH IS THE MAGNIFICENT SANDSTONE FONT WITH ITS CARVED WAVE PATTERNS AND ANCHOR SYMBOL, A REMINDER THAT WE ARE FISHERS OF MEN. THE COVER HAS A LOVELY BRASS DESIGN RISING TO A CROSS HANDLE. TOP STATION CHURCHES |
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| STATION CHURCHES | |
| WARNERS BAY | |
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| CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP, WARNER'S BAY | ||
 | STATION | |
| WARNERS BAY, NESTLING ON THE LAKE MACQAURIE SHORELINE, BEGAN LIFE AS HOLIDAY LOCATION FOR CITY DWELLERS BUT SOON GREW INTO A BUSTLING SUBURB OF YOUNG FAMILIES DESIRING AN ATTRACTIVE LIFESTYLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. TODAY THIS PROFILE CONTINUES IN AN AREA NOTED FOR ITS YOUTH FACILTIES AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS. INITIALLY RESIDENTS OF WARNERS BAY ATTENDED THE CHURCH AT BOOLAROO BUT BY THE 1950's THE NEED FOR A LOCAL MASS CENTRE AND SCHOOL WAS RECOGNISED. BY THE LATE 1900's WARNERS BAY HAD BOOMED TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT IT HAD MORE MASSES THAN THE PARISH CHURCH QUALIFYING IT FOR EQUAL BILLING WITH BOOLAROO IN THE PARISH NAME. HISTORY | ||
| FIRST CHURCH OF ST MARY |  |
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| IN 1953 A CHURCH HALL DEDICATED TO ST MARY WAS CONSTRUCTED ON LAND AT WARNERS BAY TO SERVE AS THE MASS CENTRE FOR THE NEW COMMUNITY ( ABOVE LEFT ). A SIMPLE WEATHERBOARD STRUCTURE WITH A PORCH, TWIN SACRISTIES AND PLAIN SQUARE WINDOWS IT PROVIDED A PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR THE GROWING NUMBER OF FAMILIES MOVING TO WARNERS BAY UNTIL 1976 WHEN THE NEW CHURCH WAS BUILT. TODAY THE BUILDING REMAINS ON THE SITE AND CONTINUES TO BE USED BY THE SCHOOL TODAY ( ABOVE RIGHT ). CHURCH | |
| SECOND CHURCH OF ST MARY (CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP) |  |
| FUND RAISING WAS SOON BEGUN TO PAY FOR A NEW CHURCH AND BY 1975 AN AMOUNT OF $94,000 HAD BEEN RAISED. THE CHURCH WAS DESIGNED BY TERRY DALY AND WAS OPENED IN LATE 1976. ALTHOUGH KNOWN AS ST MARY'S CHURCH IT WAS DEDICATED TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP. UNLIKE THE CHURCH AT BOOLAROO THE NEW ST MARY'S WAS DESIGNED FROM ITS INCEPTION TO EMBRACE THE NEW LITURGY. IT COMPRISES A SINGLE WORSHIP SPACE WITHOUT ANY DISTINCT ARCHITECTURALLY DEFINED DIVISIONS AND, WITH ITS PYRAMID ROOF, RESEMBLES A HUGE TENT. THE CHURCH IS CONSTRUCTED OF BRICK IN THE SHAPE OF A LOZENGE WITH OPAQUE GLASS PANELLING PROVIDING SOFTENED LIGHT TO THE INTERIOR. THE FRONT WALL HAS BEEN UNDERCUT TO PROVIDE A TYPICAL MODERN INNOVATION - A DRIVE-WAY MARKED BY THE MASSIVE SQUARE FRONT PIER THRUSTING THROUGH THE ROOF. NEXT |
 | THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH MAKES EFFECTIVE USE OF THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE CHURCH TO DIVIDE THE SPACE FUNCTIONALLY RATHER THAN ARCHITECTURALLY. THE MAIN ENTRANCE IS THROUGH THE NORTH CORNER LEADING INTO A SMALL NARTHEX AND THEN VIA A SECOND SET OF DOORS INTO THE NAVE. DIRECTLY IN FRONT IS THE SANCTUARY MARKED OFF FROM THE REST OF THE CHURCH BY A RAISED PLATFORM. THE EAST AND WEST CORNERS PROVIDE SIDE ENTRANCES ALLOWING EASY ACCESS. THE NAVE SEATING COMPRISES TWO BLOCKS FACING FORWARD AND TWO ANGLED INWARDS ON A SLIGHTLY SLOPING FLOOR GIVING ALL-ROUND SIGHT-LINES TO THE ALTAR. THE SANCTUARY ITSELF FOCUSSES ATTENTION ON THE ACTION OF THE MASS THROUGH THE PROMINENT TABLE-ALTAR AND THE IMPOSING CENTRALLY PLACED CELEBRANT'S CHAIR. TO THE LEFT OF THE ALTAR IS THE AMBO WHILE ABOVE THE ALTAR IS AN ATTRACTIVE BACKLIT CRUCIFIX SUSPENDED FROM THE ROOF. THE WHOLE SANCTUARY IS OPEN TO THE CONGREGATION AND AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNAL WORSHIP AREA. NEXT |
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| A VIEW ACROSS THE SANCTUARY SHOWING THE PLACEMENT OF ALTAR, CELEBRANT'S CHAIR, CREDENCE AND AMBO. | THE PLAIN TABLE-ALTAR DECORATED WITH DARK GREY-TILED LEGS AND THE TWO MODERN COLOURED GLASS CANDLE-HOLDERS. |
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| TO THE LEFT OF THE SANCTUARY IS THE BAPTISTRY AREA WITH ITS MODERN FONT IN THE STYLE AS THE OTHER FURNISHINGS. | THE CRUCIFIX ABOVE THE HIGH ALTAR. NEXT | TO THE RIGHT OF THE SANCTUARY IS THE MODERNISTIC TABERNACLE WITH SYMBOLS REPRESENTING THE HOST AND CHALICE. |
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| TRADITIONAL FORMS OF CATHOLICM PIETY - THE ICON OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR AND OUR LADY AND THE SACRED HEART. NEXT | ||
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| TOP STATION CHURCHES OTHER BUILDINGS |
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| OTHER BUILDINGS | ||
| IN 1926 WHEN BOOLAROO BECAME A PARISH EFFORTS IMMEDIATELY GOT UNDER WAY TO PROVIDE THE USUAL RANGE OF BUILDINGS REQUIRED BY THAT STATUS. A PRESBYTERY WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THAT YEAR AND SHORTLY AFTER THE BROWN JOSEPHITES ARRIVED TO ESTABLISH A CONVENT AND CONDUCT A PARISH SCHOOL. THE RAPID GROWTH OF YOUNG FAMILIES IN WARNERS BAY LED TO THE OPENING OF AN ADDITIONAL SCHOOL THERE IN 1958. IN 1961 THE PARISH PURCHASED THE OLD BOOLAROO PICTURE THEATRE, DEMOLISHED IT AND ERECTED A PARISH HOUSIE HALL ON THE SITE. IN 1978 A NEW PRESBYTERY WAS ERECTED NEXT DOOR TO THE PRESENT CHURCH. MAJOR CHANGES OCCURRED IN THE 80'S AND 90's WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE BOOLAROO SCHOOL FOLLOWED BY THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD CHURCH AND FIRST CONVENT WITH THE SISTERS MOVING INTO THE OLD PRESBYTERY WHICH THEN BECAME THE NEW CONVENT. IN 1994 A COTTAGE, NAMED CRESSY COTTAGE AFTER THE THEN PARISH PRIEST, WAS PURCHASED NEXT DOOR TO THE WARNERS BAY CHURCH TO USE AS A HALL AND SOCIAL CENTRE. THE COTTAGE WAS REPLACED IN LATE 2007 BY MODERN BRICK MEETING ROOMS AND A HALL ATTACHED TO THE CHURCH BUILDING. | ||
| BOOLAROO PRESBYTERIES | BOOLAROO HOUSIE HALL | WARNERS BAY CRESSY COTTAGE |
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| PRESBYTERIES, BOOLAROO | ||
 | THE FIRST PRESBYTERY IN BOOLAROO WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1926, THE YEAR THE PARISH WAS ESTABLISHED. IT WAS A LARGE RAMBLING COLONIAL STYLE HOUSE WITH A WIDE VERANDAH ALL ROUND LOCATED NEXT TO THE ORIGINAL CHURCH BUILDING IN SEVENTH ST ( BELOW LEFT ). IN 1978 AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW PRESBYTERY THE SISTERS MOVED IN AND IT BECAME THE NEW CONVENT. IN 1978 IT WAS DECIDED TO BUILD A NEW PRESBYTERY NEXT TO THE 1961 CHURCH IN MAIN ROAD. THE NEW BUILDING WAS A MODERN BRICK BUNGALOW ( LEFT AND BELOW RIGHT ) WITH EASY ACCESS TO THE CHURCH. A CROSS PICKED OUT IN COLOURED BRICK SIGNIFIES THE BUILDINGS PURPOSE. THE BUILDING WAS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER 1978 BUT WAS NOT OCCUPIED UNTIL APRIL 1979 BY THE THEN PARISH PRIEST. NEXT | |
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| TOP OTHER BUILDINGS HOUSIE HALL | |
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| HOUSIE HALL, BOOLAROO | ||
 | WHEN THE NEW CHURCH WAS MOOTED IN THE 1960's IT WAS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE PARISH OBTAIN A VENUE FOR HOUSIE TO AID FUNDRAISING FOR THE PARISH. THE OUTCOME WAS THE PURCHASE IN 1961 OF THE OLD PICTURE THEATRE A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN FROM THE CHURCH. AFTER DEMOLITION OF THE THEATRE A NEW HALL WAS THEN BUILT WHICH SERVED FOR MANY YEARS AS A SOCIAL VENUE AS WELL AS THE LOCATION OF THE POPULAR HOUSIE NIGHTS (LEFT). WITH THE MOVE TO OTHER FORMS OF FUND-RAISING AND THE DECLINE IN POPULARITY OF HOUSIE NIGHTS THE HALL BECAME REDUNDANT AND WAS LATER SOLD. IT WAS THEN USED AS A CHILDREN'S PARTY VENUE FOR A TIME AND IS CURRENTLY FOR SALE. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS CRESSY COTTAGE | |
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| CRESSY COTTAGE, WARNERS BAY | ||
 | THE EXPANDING CONGREGATION AT ST MARY'S AT WARNERS BAY QUICKLY BECAME A CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY WHICH REQUIRED A PLACE TO MEET AND SOCIALISE TOGETHER OUTSIDE THE NORMAL SERVICES OF THE CHURCH. ACCORDINGLY THE OLD WEATHERBOARD COTTAGE NEXT DOOR TO THE CHURCH WAS PURCHASED IN 1994 FOR THIS PURPOSE. IT WAS NAMED CRESSY COTTAGE AFTER THE THEN PARISH PRIEST FR HARRY CRESSY. IT QUICKLY BECAME A VENUE FOR THE POST-MASS MORNING TEA AND FOR OTHER SOCIAL GATHERINGS. THE BUILDING, A SIMPLE WEATHERBOARD BUNGALOW SURROUNDED BY A DENSE SCREEN OF TREES AND BUSHES, WAS DEMOLISHED IN 2007 TO ALLOW THE REDEVLOPMENT. IN ITS PLACE NEW PARISH AND MEETING ROOMS WERE CONSTRUCTED ATTACHED TO THE CHURCH. TOP OTHER BUILDINGS RELIGIOUS ORDERS PARISH DIRECTORY | |
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| RELIGIOUS ORDERS |
| SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH OF THE SACRED HEART NSW PROVINCE |
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| RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS | |
| ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL BOOLAROO | ST MARY'S SCHOOL WARNERS BAY |
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| PARISH DIRECTORY | |
| PARISH CHURCH 84 MAIN ROAD BOOLAROO 2284 PHONE: (02) 4958 2031 FAX: (02) 4958 7932 EMAIL: boolaroowarnersbay@ozemail.com.au WEBSITE: boolaroowarnersbay.cathparish.com.au | PRIMARY SCHOOL ST MARY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL BAYVIEW ST WARNERS BAY 2282 POST: PO BOX 306 WARNERS BAY 2282 PHONE: (02) 4948 8770 FAX: (02) 4948 9470 EMAIL: admin@warnsby.mn.catholic.edu.au WEBSITE: warnsby.mn.catholic.edu.au |
| STATION CHURCHES ST MARY WARNERS BAY BAYVIEW ST WARNERS BAY | |
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| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
| MUCH OF THE INFORMATION AND SOME PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE WERE OBTAINED FROM THE THE CATHOLIC PARISH OF BOOLAROO / WARNERS BAY 1917-2002 PRODUCED BY THE BOOLAROO-WARNERS BAY PARISH. IT IS HERE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH GRATITUDE. |
