St Mary Magdalen’s Parish

“A church on barren land?” you might ask. Yes, right here, where St Mary Magdalen’s Parish stands today, once stretched four acres of undeveloped land. Imagine a time before the paved roads and streetlights we see today, when Melbourne’s suburbs were just beginning to take shape. It was into this landscape, back in 1953, that Father James Vincent Creed stepped to establish St Mary Magdalen’s Parish. Archbishop Daniel Mannix had given him a vision: to create a spiritual home for the families settling in the rapidly growing areas of Ashwood, Jordanville, and Chadstone. Many of these families were those who, despite serving their country, weren’t eligible for War Service Housing Loans. Father Creed began his mission with Sunday Masses held in the Holmesglen Migrant Hostel’s Community Room, a testament to the community spirit of those early days. Soon, a house on Waverley Road was purchased, becoming a temporary chapel for weekday services. The parishioners, eager for a dedicated place of worship, poured their hearts and souls into the construction of a church. Weekends were dedicated to building, and by Christmas of 1953, even though incomplete, St Mary Magdalen’s Parish Church held its first midnight Mass. The heart of St Mary Magdalen’s Parish expanded in 1954 with the official registration of its school. The Presentation Sisters played a crucial role, nurturing not just the minds of the children, but also the spiritual well-being of the community. The church we see today, grand and awe-inspiring, was a later addition to the parish. It was a project started by Father Michael Kelleher and completed by Father Michael Quigley, a symbol of continuity and shared vision. In 1990, this “new church”, as it’s still affectionately referred to, was consecrated, marking another milestone in the journey of St Mary Magdalen’s. Through the decades and the changing needs of its people, St Mary Magdalen’s Parish has remained a beacon of faith, community, and service.