1960
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MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE
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PARISH OF ST MICHAEL NELSON BAY |
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FOUNDED 1960 |
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DIOCESE MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE |
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PARISH CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL |
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| PARISH | CHURCH | |
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 | PARISH |
| NELSON BAY TODAY IS A BUSTLING TOURIST RESORT AT THE MOUTH OF PORT STEPHENS AND IS THE MAJOR TOWN IN THE DISTRICT. pRIOR TO THE 1960's HOWEVER IT WAS A PEACEFUL FISHING VILLAGE DATING BACK TO THE 1880's. IT TOOK OFF AS A TOURIST RESORT IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20th CENTURY AND TODAY HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 5000 INHABITANTS. THE PARISH OF NELSON BAY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1960. PRIOR TO THAT IT HAD BEEN A STATION CHURCH OF STOCKTON. THE PARISH TOOK PART IN THE GENERAL GROWTH OF THE TOWNSHIP AND TODAY IS BLESSED WITH AN ACTIVE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY. NEXT |
| CHURCH |  |
| THE PRESENT CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL WAS BUILT IN 1978 REPLACING AN EARLIER CHURCH BUILT IN 1962. IT IS ESSENTIALLY A MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING WITH ONE SIDE FORMING A HALL AND THE OTHER THE CHURCH. A FOLDING WALL PROVIDES A MEANS OF OPENING THE CHURCH OUT FOR MAJOR FESTIVALS. THE BUILDING ITSELF IS SQUARE WITH A CENTRAL SKYLIGHT AND SPIRE. A DRIVE-THROUGH PORCH IS MARKED BY A LOURDES GROTTO JUST ACROSS FROM THE MAIN ENTRANCE DOOR. NEXT |
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 | THE INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH IS SHAPED AROUND THE SANCTUARY IN KEEPING WITH THE LITURGICAL IDEAS OF THE 70's. THE SANCTUARY ITSELF IS SPARSELY FURNISHED. IT IS DOMINATED BY THE PLAIN TABLE-LIKE ALTAR WITH AN ASCENDING CHRIST CRUCIFIX DOMINATING THE WALL. TO THE LEFT IS THE TABERNACLE AND CELEBRANT'S CHAIR WHILE THE AMBO IS TO THE RIGHT. FURTHER RIGHT BEYOND THE SANCTUARY IS THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP AND THE FONT. ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE NAVE IS A MARIAN SHRINE AND A POLISHED WOOD STATUE OF ST PETER. AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH ARE CARVED EBONY STATIONS AND A PAINTING OF OUR LORD IN GETHSEMENE. NEXT |
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