A History of St Anne’s, Bindoon

The dedication of St Anne’s Church took place on the 25^th July 2004, 60 years after Bindoon’s original Church was destroyed by a cyclone. Today, without the dedication and hard work of parishioners St Anne’s Church would not be providing the Christian community in this part of the parish with a place to pray, hear the Word of God, receive the Sacraments, and celebrate the Eucharist. Below is a the story of how this beautiful Church came to being…

1908 – 3 Acres of land donated by Messrs. Hooley and  Walsh for use as Church ground.

1909 – Foundation Stone Laid for St Benedict’s Church.

1910 – St Benedict’s Catholic Church is blessed and opened in Bindoon

1913 – First Burial at the Catholic Cemetery

1943 – The Church building is destroyed in a cyclone which swept through the area.

1974 – Last burial at Catholic cemetery.

2002

29^th July: A fund raising raffle arranged by Father Paul and a group of parishioners to build a new Church on the original site begins. A net amount of $74,000 was raised thanks to the dedication and wonderful work of parishioners. This enabled planning to start for the new Church.

2003

May: Cleaning of recycled bricks begins in earnest. Almost 30,000 ‘wirecut’ bricks are cleaned by local parishioners and members of the ‘Legion of Mary’.

14^th August: Footings for the new Church are laid on the eve of the ‘Feast of the Assumption’.

14^th September: ‘Feast of the Triumph of the Cross’. The parish receives a large donation  from Mr Stapeen Balenovic, who emerged as a wonderful benefactor for the construction of the Church.

15^th September: Bricklaying commences on the ‘Feast of Our lady of Sorrows’.

 

2004

 

January: Church furnishing takes place, including a Baptismal Font, Marble Altar, Pews and numerous other items kindly donated by Moora parish. These came from Our Lady of Lourdes Church at Bindi Bindi, which was closed down. The Tierney family from Bindi Bindi were of great help.

 

25^th July: On the eve of the Feast of St Joachim and St Anne, Archbishop Barry J Hickey consecrated the new St Anne’s Church in a solemn dedication mass.

2009

26^th July: On the 26th July 2009 the parish celebrated the 5th anniversary of St Anne’s. The Feast of St Anne, 5th Anniversary Mass included a Marian Procession and blessing of the Grotto. Mass was celebrated by Bishop Sproxton with Father Paul Fox.