“Ever wonder how a church ends up in multiple locations?” I ask. The story of St Thomas Aquinas Church in Springwood involves faith a family and a few moves. Today we stand at its newest location on Hawkesbury Road within the grounds of St Thomas Aquinas Primary School. But this wasn’t always the case.
The Catholic Church in Springwood started around 1839. Back then it was part of the Penrith parish. Mass was held at the Springwood Inn thanks to Thomas Boland. Later it moved to the Boland family home. The Boland family history is deeply entwined with that of St Thomas Aquinas Church.
In 1892 the Boland family donated land and money. This allowed the church to build its very own building. This first St Thomas Aquinas Church was on Macquarie Road. That location is now a rest park. The church wasn’t here at the school yet.
Around 1920 the church moved again. This time it relocated to Hawkesbury Road. It’s now the site of Aquinas Court a retirement villa. The old church building became a primary school. The Sisters of St Joseph staffed the school until the late 1970s or early 1980s.
The primary school needed more space as Springwood grew. In 1981 the first stage of the new St Thomas Aquinas Primary School opened. It opened at its current site on Hawkesbury Road within St Columba’s grounds.
Finally in 1996 St Thomas Aquinas Church found its permanent home. The current church opened within the grounds of the primary school. It was previously the site of a seminary and St Columba’s Catholic College.
Today St Thomas Aquinas Parish continues to serve the community. They offer several masses throughout the week. Parishioners can attend weekday masses and weekend masses. They also hold adoration and reconciliation. Rev Christopher del Rosario is the current administrator. The community shares the faith and love of God. St Thomas Aquinas Church also supports local Catholic schools. These schools are St Thomas Aquinas Primary and St Columba’s Catholic College. They provide education to children from kindergarten to year 12. The school’s motto is “Love One Another”. St Thomas Aquinas Church in Springwood stands as a testament to faith community and a family’s enduring legacy.