A liturgical celebration was held Sunday, 19 February 2023, in the famed La Perouse, a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, to mark the 235th anniversary of the first Catholic Mass in Australia.
More than 200 faithfuls including five nuns, attended the solemn mass officiated by Fr. Mark Stafki before the Child Jesus and St. Joseph Church, Rockdale.
The celebration started with a traditional Latin Mass at the La Perouse Museum ground. It was followed by the procession of priest and congregation to the tomb of Franciscan friar Pére Receveur, who came to Australia in January 1788.
Fr. Stafki spoke in his homily about the beauty, history and importance of the traditional Latin Mass.
Fr Stafki said: “Imagine Australia without the sun. That is what Australia would be like without the Mass. Holy Mass is like the sun of our lives, and the first Catholic Mass on these shores was offered here.”
After the mass and procession, a large group of Filipino Catholics celebrated its 4th annual Almusalan — a breakfast picnic — at the Frenchman Bay Reserve Playground, a stone’s throw from the museum. The picnic pays homage to the community’s unique contribution to Australia: Filipino values and the Catholic faith.
Leila Ignacio, a South Sydney-based migration lawyer and a regular parishioner of the Child Jesus and St. Joseph Church, Rockdale, reflected on the day’s activity:
“We were so blessed and thankful that we have this annual commemoration of the first Catholic Mass. It was God’s Divine Providence that we were able to hold a traditional Catholic Mass on this historic site, the same Mass celebrated by Fr. Pere Receveur in 1788. The simplicity and bareness of the place made the Mass the focal point of the celebration. It was also by the grace of God that the traditional Catholic Filipino community was able to gather after the Mass.”
She further said, “This year’s gathering was meaningful as we had a chance to remember our fellow parishioner (and original driving force behind the Almusalan) who died recently, Kuya Jun Demafeliz.”
On the other hand, parishioner Marcial Navidad Jr. commented, “It’s such an honour and a great privilege for my family to be able to join the commemorative event of Australia’s first Mass held at La Perouse. The Filipino breakfast was such a great treat. We’re now looking forward to this annual celebration.”
Overall, the Filipino community is thankful to all the families who generously brought food and drinks for this event and to Fr. Stafki for recognising the community’s beautiful, unique culture and contribution to the Child Jesus and Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Rockdale.
