Parish History

Holy Spirit Parish was canonically erected by Archbishop Redmond Prendiville in 1960. The first Parish Priest was Father Thomas PHELAN, a native of country Kilkenny in the south east of Ireland. He studied at St Kieran’s College where he was ordained to the Priesthood. He came by ship to Perth in 1949 and served as assistant priest at Northam and at St Mary’s Cathedral, as administrator of Cottesloe Parish for six months and as “locum tenens” in Armadale Parish for a further six months.

The Parish comprises all of City Beach which is a long and narrow strip of land, a section of Wembley Downs on the eastern boundary and a section of South Scarborough on its northern boundary.

The Parish boundaries are as follows: on the west side the boundary is the Indian Ocean; on the north side the boundary is Ventnor Street and Sonia street leading into Weaponess Road, the western side of which forms part of the eastern boundary of the Parish. This leads into Cobb Street, part of which forms also, part of the northern boundary until it meets Glenelg Ave. The eastern boundary is formed by Glenelg Avenue, Arundale Street, Stockdale Crescent, and Brix Street, leading into the Wembley Downs Tennis Club and Wembley Downs Golf course which with Reabold Hill completes the eastern boundary of the Parish. On the southern boundary it tapers away to a point near Woolaston Anglican College and Conference Centre which is the last point of development north of Mount Claremont.

When the Parish was instituted negotiations took place with the Perth City Council to obtain a suitable site. Negotiations were prolonged as the area had to be surveyed. These negotiations were finalised after a few years and the land was purchased by the Archbishop at a cost of eleven thousand pounds (£11,000.00). At that point in history this sum of money constituted quite a big debt. At the time of the inauguration of the Parish it had a Catholic population of only fifty five families. Twenty three Catholic families lived south of the Boulevard and forty two Catholic families north of Empire Avenue. There were no roads linking the two sections. A “track” west of the golf course was used as an access to the Boulevard – to put it mildly this access track was extremely rough. Empire Avenue extended only from Brompton road to Weaponess Road. Development was very slow due in part to a Perth City Council policy to develop a very limited number of home-building sites twice a year. There was no access to the Church site for a few years. Brompton Road divided two councils – e.g. Perth City and Stirling but eventually both councils combined to build part of Brompton.

The Empire Games were held in Perth during November of 1962. Housing for the competing athletes was built on some of the land between the Boulevard and Empire Avenue thereby opening up that area and giving easier access to the Boulevard. These houses were sold by tender through the Rural and Industries Bank – the highest price being seven thousand pounds (£7,000.00). During 1960 the Parish Priest lived with the Dominican Fathers at St Dominic’s Church and later that year moved to St Joseph’s Orphanage or Catherine McCauley Centre as Chaplain. The following year (1963) he looked after St Cecilia’s Parish and was helped on week-ends by Priests from the Society of Missionaries to Africa, one of whom (Father Con Murphy) taught at the Marist Brothers, Subiaco while their school at Beaconsfield was being built.

Holy Spirit Presbytery was built during 1964, having been designed, free of cost, by a young architect from the Public Works Department. Prior to this Mr. McDonald, with Mike Fitzhardinge, likewise an employee of the Government Public Works carried out survey work and planned the location of the future buildings. The northwest corner of the 3¼ acre block was particularly high, commanding a magnificent ocean view and this was an easy choice as the location of a future church.

Mr. Fitzhardinge had just qualified as an architect and was anxious to do something apostolic. The Parish Priest felt that Mike was heaven-sent and felt the most pressing apostolic action would be to design the initial stages of the Holy Spirit SchoolChurch. The Presbytery had been completed having been built by sub-contracting the various trades and with the help of Parishioners most prominent of whom was Gerry Brennan who with the Parish Priest prepared the ground to bring the water along to the northern perimeter of the block a distance of about three hundred feet and acquiring a good tan in the process. The Presbytery was built, by sub-contracting labour, at a cost of five thousand six hundred pounds (£5,600.00). Busy-bees with laying foundations and nailing down floors greatly reduced costs.

The next project was the designing and building of the HOLY SPIRIT School-Church. Gerry Brennan and the Parish Priest were anxious to overcome some of the problems in contemporary Church-Schools. The traditional design was that of three rooms running in the same direction with folding partitions separating the rooms so that the area could be opened up for Sunday mass. The result was that the teacher in the middle class room worked under difficult conditions and voice levels as the positions were far from being noise-proof.

After a meeting, which lasted into the early hours of the morning, a better design was conceived. It was in the shape of the letter T. The top section of the T consisted of three rooms, the middle room being set up as a Chapel, flanked by two class-rooms with black-boards at extreme ends to minimise noise levels, the Chapel acting as a noise-break. The stem of the T comprised a verandah and a third class-room. The huge timber doors, acting as the north wall of the Chapel and the south wall of the third class-room swing around on casters to open up the whole area for Sunday Mass in a cruciform shape of a church. The design was convenient also for school masses.

This building was erected also by the sub-contracting method as quotes received seemed beyond the capacity of the level of Parish income. Again many Parishioners were generous with their time, all of which accumulated to sizeable savings. A quote for £16,500.00 had been furnished. This did not include ground works and retaining walls. The site was very uneven. Several feet of earth had to be removed to furnish a level spot for the school foundations. Fortunately this soil was able to be pushed into the section on the south side of the school as much of that section was below the level of the road. Excluding excavations and retaining walls, the first section of the HOLY SPIRIT School-Church was built at a cost of eleven and a half thousand pounds (£11,500.00).

The school was commenced in February of 1965 with an enrolment of thirty three children in a combined class of grades on and two. Grade two received their first Holy Communion on the Feast of Christ the King (October 1965).

The first school Principal was Sister Mary Dominica of the Dominican Order of nuns who had agreed to staff our school. Sister Dominica lived at their Scarborough convent in Lalor Street. A roster of parents provided transport to and from the school each day. Sister Dominica enjoyed a very high reputation for her teaching skills and was regarded as one of the best junior-primary teachers in W.A. Reports from the Education Inspectors were very encouraging. Fees were then schillings per family per week which was an indication of the spirit of sacrifice the sisters at the convent made in order to provide a Catholic education for children of the area. It was a difficult task trying to develop the grounds because of the winds and the quality of the grounds which was seen as hungry sand. Many busy-bees were held. Money was scarce and with mortgages and small families there were limitations.

Watering had to be carried out manually for the first few years. A Parents and Friends Organisation was set up at the opening of the school year with Gerry Brennan as President and Mrs. Wally Slaven as Secretary. Their main function was raising money for school equipment and providing some social activity. Soon after this there was a move by the Parents and Friends in the Catholic school system to put pressure on governments or school-aid.

HOLY MASS was first offered in Holy Spirit School-Church in February 1965. Prior to this mass was offered each Sunday in Government schools in City Beach and Wembley Downs. The latter school had two adjoining rooms divided by a folding partition which gave extra room for the Sunday congregation. Co-operation between the School Principal, Mr. McLean, and the Parish was excellent. He allowed us to use the school grounds for our annual Fete which was a very appreciable source of income and we were able to hold a few meetings there.

Mass was also celebrated in City Beach Primary School, Marapana Road and later at the City Beach High School, Reabold Hill. Being a High School this building had some larger rooms, e.g. a library. The facilities available in the High school were shared with the Anglican community on Sunday mornings. In 1966 there was a very small intake for Grade One children, only sixteen pupils, bringing the enrolment to forty nine for Grades one, two and three. Unfortunately another Religious teacher was not available, so Sister Dominica had a difficult task but she coped very well. It was evident then that a greater financial drive was needed to cope with the obvious need to employ lay teachers.

A representative of a Professional Fund raising Organisation (named Wells) was invited to present their plan. Twenty seven men attended the meeting and after lengthy discussion it was decided not o engage their service. The Parish Priest called for a volunteer or a nomination of one of the Parishioners to conduct a fund-raising campaign. After further discussion it was decided, with very few abstaining or rejecting voices, to ask the professional company to carry out a programme. This campaign proved very successful with the result that the income was doubled.

A second teacher was employed at the beginning of the school year of 1967. Her name was Mrs Kathleen Binks who taught in Government schools for a number of years. Some of her grandchildren were being educated at Holy Spirit school. Our increased income through the envelope system gave new hope. There were other signs of hope and progress at this time. We now had money to spend on the grounds with the result that we were able to sink a bore and reticulate the grounds of the school and presbytery.

The Public Works Department estimated quite accurately the depth of boring required to strike water which happened at a depth of one hundred and fifty feet. This eliminated a considerable amount of manual watering and shifting of sprinklers. About this time there was a big break-through in what came to be known as Government State Aid. Private schools and Parish/Convent schools in particular welcomed the action of the State Government to grant $10.00 per pupil to private schools.

This brought about through pressure from the Parents and Friends Organisation which invited politicians of both parties to meetings and rallies to point out the urgency of financial assistance lest the Catholic school system would collapse. It was a brave move by the State Government (Liberal and Country Party) to innovate the scheme. There was some opposition from the public but it was soon apparent that the principle of aid to private schools would remain and increase.

During 1967 two new class-rooms and a store-room were added to the existing structure. Not many teachers were available but we secured the services of a young Jewish girl, Miss Zeitlier, who had graduated from Teachers Training College and appointed to a school in the north of the State. For family reasons she declined to accept that position. In spite of a different religious back-ground she fitted in very well. The employment of lay teachers in increasing numbers meant a big drain on Parish finances. In 1967 the Parish Priest built and sold a duplex house and the profit practically covered the cost of a teacher. He continued this project the following year with similar results. During 1965 a larger store-room was built on the western side of the toilet block. Part of it was used as a library. At the end of that year Sister Dominica was transferred to Holy Rosary School Woodlands as Principal as well as being in charge of education in Dominican schools throughout the State of W.A. as she had been during her stay at Holy Spirit School. During 1968 a new car, the first, was purchased for Sister Dominica. She appreciated this move greatly as previously she depended on voluntary rostered people not only for transport to and from the school but for various necessary trips during school time on Holy Spirit School business and for her role as consultant to other Dominican schools in the metropolitan area and sometimes week-end visits to their country schools.

Sister Dominica’s successor as Principal of Holy Spirit School was Sister Gemma, a very gentle person, truly committed to her faith and to holiness, dispositions which had a wholesome effect on the pupils. Sister Gemma did not enjoy good health and being such a conscientious person with a great love for the pupils her task was a difficult one. Like Sister Dominica, it was a privilege to work with her. Her interest was her pupils in their walk with the Lord. With increasing numbers it was becoming quite a task to be a full-time teacher and at the same time to run the school but she accomplished it conscientiously. With her gifts she was destined to move into the High school system. Sister Gemma was succeeded by Sister Mary Rosarie Keenan whose previous appointment was in a Dominican school in Canberra. Sister Rosarie was from Victoria. Her father died when she was quite young, so her mother had a difficult task but she was blessed by god in that Mary (Sister Rosarie) and two more of her daughters entered different Religious Orders e.g. Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of Charity.

Sister Rosarie’s gifts were soon becoming evident with a great knowledge of and love for education, an excellent understanding of children enhanced by a very gentle nature which evoked a positive response from pupils. She demanded in a quiet way a standard of excellence from teachers and in this she had satisfactory results. Like her two predecessors her interest in the school and the pupils was paramount. She was frequently working there on week-ends and during school holidays. She was anxious that the school should not be a burden financially to the Parish. Like her predecessors she had an excellent working partnership with the Parish Priest, Parents and Friends Organisation and the School Board. The School Board formed in 1969 was a new organisation formed to handle the Government subsidies which were beginning to increase and the Government needed that kind of organisation to handle their monetary contributions to the school rather than to the Parish. The Secretary (inaugural) of Holy Spirit school was Max Pinner, at that time a non-Catholic but whose spouse and children were Catholic. Max was Principal of the new Kapinara Government School situated about a kilometre from Holy Spirit school. With common interests and kindred spirits between the two Principals there was a good working relationship between the two schools. During these years the Parish continued to pay off the debt on the buildings and help out with on-going running costs. Professionally organised fund-raising programmes were carried out every three years, beginning in 1966. The previous programme in 1963 was Parish conducted. The first professional campaign in 1966 was a great success with the result that the 1969 campaign organised by the same professional fund-raising organisation (Wells, Australia) was welcomed and again was very successful. Each of these campaigns gave fresh hope and Parishioners were looking forward to the planning and building of a sacred edifice for worship, even though the school-church provided an atmosphere of intimacy, which was appreciated by many. Nevertheless a Church-School lacks comfort and the spiritual atmosphere which a church edifice can generate.

During 1972 the planning for the new church of the Holy Spirit commenced. The highest point of the site, i.e. the north-western corner of the block, was planned from the beginning as the most fitting site for the Lord’s House. The highest point of the site commanded very wonderful views of the ocean and of Rottnest, particularly as it overlooked a great deal of vacant land. But to make room for the new church and to have level foundations quite a bit of excavation and land-levelling had to be undertaken. In spite of this, it was anticipated that the Church structure would be a land-mark and a witness to the work of the Lord and a testimony to the faith of a people living in materialistic times in a fairly secularist society. Prior to the planning the Parish Priest went to the Archbishop, Dr L.J. Goody, seeking permission to spend up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) on the project which was a huge sum of money but such an excellent site demanded a special structure. The Archbishop reluctantly agreed, possibly because Holy Spirit Parish had a good track record for raising money to pay off the school debt while at the same time paying teachers’ salaries. A committee was formed as the Building Committee with Ray Wicken as chairman who in civil life was State manager of L.J. hooker, a company involved in development. There were three architects, e.g. Tony Shepherd from the Hobbs, Winning and Leighton firm of architects, Mike Fitzhardinge who designed the initial building of Holy Spirit Church-School and now married and resident in the Parish. The third architect was Murray McDonald who designed and drew the plans of the Presbytery. He worked with the W.A. Government. Other members of the Committee were Barry Robinson an engineer, Gerry Brennan long time parishioner and enthusiastic worker for the school. The final person of the committee was Des Fitzgerald, a dentist who was very involved in fund-raising and very anxious to have a “proper” church. Two leading architectural firms, i.e. Forbes and Fitzhardinge as well as Hobbs, Winning and Leighton were represented in the Parish through Mike Fitzhardinge and Tony Shepherd. It was agreed that both firms submit to the Committee sketches of a church to suit the position of the block and in accordance with the Parish priest’s desire for a fan-shaped Church with a round wall as the entrance, so that the congregation would be close to the altar which would be highlighted.

The Committee unanimously accepted the sketch presented by the firm of Forbes and Fitzhardinge – Mr Fitzhardinge and Mr Shepherd absented themselves from this meeting to allow unhampered discussion. The successful firm had presented a beautiful model which captivated the imaginations of the Committee members. The Forbes and Fitzhardinge firm were given the commission to continue and finalise the plans and drawings for the new church. Mr. Geoff Ward, also on the Building Committee, was appointed Quality Surveyor. Tenders were called in November of 1972 following an estimate by the QS a few months earlier of one hundred and twenty eight thousand dollars ($128,000).

This necessitated another meeting for the Parish Priest with the Archbishop who had to be convinced that this debt could be serviced satisfactorily. When quotes for the building came through they ranged from nearly two hundred thousand dollars (i.e. $196,000) down to one hundred and fifty six thousand dollars ($156,000) the lowest tender. There was opposition in the Parish to the size of the commitment and an element of dissenters was organising against it and calling for a general meeting of Parishioners.

The Parish Priest contacted by letter all identifiable givers asking for a vote to which there was a big response with an overwhelming majority in favour of building the church. Following the shock minimum quotation, the Parish Priest, together with a Parishioner/Public Accountant, named Bill Cawley, who was very actively involved in the Planned Giving Programmes, spent a number of hours studying the feasibility of embarking on this financial undertaking. The possible income and foreseeable expenditure over the next decade of years were examined. After allowing generously for contingencies each year they were convinced that the undertaking was sustainable and could be eliminated within ten years. Armed with such a detailed and professional statement the Parish Priest again approached Archbishop Goody. After a thorough examination of the document the Archbishop agreed if the Parish Priest was happy to undertake it. Earthworks commenced and foundations were laid during February of 1973.

The steel fabricators who had quoted on this section of the construction withdrew at this stage thereby necessitating another steel firm to fabricate and supply the steel. This resulted in a three to four month delay when work could not continue. When the brickwork commenced, the builder, G. Robinson, encountered new difficulties when the first batch of brick-layers abandoned the job because of the difficulty of coping with the curved walls. Another batch of tradesmen was hired but they later withdrew for the same reasons. It was a case of third time lucky but their price was very much higher. There are approximately a quarter of a million bricks in the building. There were other delays in the course of construction.

The building was completed, inside carpeted from wall to wall with pews of Nyatoh timber installed by the end of March 1974. The Holy Spirit Church was blessed and opened for worship by Archbishop Goody on Sunday march 31st 1974. The concelebrating Priests were Father T. Phelan (PP), F.W. Walsh (Cathedral A.D.M.), P.P. O’Mare (Dianella), R. Healy (Cottesloe), J. Dowling (Leederville), J. Mullins (North Beach), F. Dillon (Scarborough, his family lived in Holy Spirit parish), Fr P. Kelly (Clovendale), N. McSweeney (Pontifical Missions Office Director), Fr B. Maxwell (Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Doubleview), Fr Eugene Perez (O.S.B. of New Norcia) who supplied in the Parish for some months while Father Phelan was absent on a visit to his family in Ireland.

Other visitors for the occasion were Father Phelan’s niece from Ireland, Alice Phelan, representing the family, also present was the Attorney General for Ireland, Declan Costello who happened to be on an official Government visit to Australia. Canon Riley of the St. Christopher’s Anglican Parish in City Beach represented his congregation. Following the Dedication Ceremony there were refreshments and a light supper in the school grounds. A portable dance floor was hired and a D.J. for entertainment. After nearly twenty years of transforming a school into a church each week-end people appreciated the new structure and the comfort for Sunday worship which ensued.

Mass continued for sometime to be celebrated in St Christopher’s Anglican Church to cater for people in that area as had been happening for a couple of years previously. It was soon discontinued and the programme of masses for the week-end (at Holy Spirit Church) was 1. Saturday vigil mass, 6 p.m.; 2. Sunday, 7 a.m.; 3 Sunday, 9:30 a.m.; 4. Sunday, 7 p.m. The church was the venue for an ecumenical carol service before Christmas of that year. A vigil mass (Rock mass) was celebrated on Christmas eve with a huge attendance. It was the first Christmas vigil mass to be celebrated so early in the evening, 7 p.m. The format appealed to young people – and not so young – and the atmosphere was tremendous. The music, band and singers came mainly from Siena High School. The music was composed by a student named Margaret Scharf who was about to enter the Dominican Order of Nuns. The group was appropriately named the Word. There was a huge ovation at the conclusion of the mass. Their presence for the following year was by applause. A renewal of Faith Programme was conducted in the Parish the following year which was well attended.

The format used was one developed by the Catholic Enquiry Centre of Sydney. About one hundred parishioners participated through home meetings. Each group concluded with a home mass. Meanwhile the finances continued and people were generally faithful to their promised commitment. A fresh Planned Giving Programme was conducted in 1975. The Federal Government about this time declined to allow contributions to Church buildings to qualify for tax-deductibility. However this did not affect the quality of financial response from parishioners. Following the building of the church, the school community acquired an extra room which had been the semi-permanent chapel.

A new concept in education was being tried here called the cluster system which met with some success in the U.K. It was an “open” concept type and the design of the school allowed for this experiment. However after some trial it was not pursued and the open area of the school was closed off by new brick walls, leaving six classrooms. As the number of teenagers increased there was a strong movement for a place of recreation and entertainment. Socials were organised to be held in private homes every Friday night. The Parish Council in 1979 embarked on the building of a Parish/school hall. It was built on a cost plus basis by a local builder, Jim Doherty of Supreme Homes.

The hall together with two meeting rooms (divided by a folding partition) and toilet block were blessed in June 1980 and opened by His Worship the Mayor of Perth City Council, namely, Fred Chaney. This function was preceded by a mass celebrated at 5:30 p.m. which was attended by a packed church. A buffet meal was enjoyed by everybody in the new hall. Each family brought a “basket tea” which was placed on the tables and shared by all. Liquid refreshments (amber) were supplied by the Parish. With the advantage of the two meeting rooms two new organisations were introduced i.e. the Catholic Women’s League and the St Vincent de Paul Society. Sometime previous to this the latter had opened its doors to female membership. Ross Willcock was the inaugural President of the Conference and Margaret Laurie the first secretary. It soon became a very active Conference and membership rose in excess of twenty (20) people. The young people under the guidance of C.P.Y met socially after mass on Sunday nights.

The building programme continued with the addition of a Pre-Primary class-room in 1983. The Parish and school borrowed finance ($56,000.00) from the Archdiocesan Development to be repaid over a ten year period. The few years prior to this new PrePrimary class-room, the room furthest north on the school was used as a Pre-Primary, Miss Firth being the teacher. The money for this project was borrowed at a rate of 12% but the State Government subsidised this interest through the Catholic Education Office. The original staff-room and administration area was becoming inadequate because of increased staff and the need for a secretary. Negotiations began with a committee representing the Catholic Education office and State Government.

After a number of meetings and negotiations the Government agreed to give a grant towards the cost of a new administration wing consisting of a Principal’s office, staff-room, sick-bay, photocopying and filing room and Secretary’s office. Part of the conditions for the grant was that the two meeting rooms be available as a library, thereby duplicating as a library and meeting room. As this was a necessary condition of securing a grant the Parish reluctantly agreed to the proposal even though it foresaw the problems that could ensue from shared facilities. The school was given a grant of eighty thousand dollars. The Parish and School borrowed sixty five thousand dollars ($65,000.00) from the Archdiocesan Development Fund with a Government subsidy for the interest on borrowed capital. The new facility was blessed by Archbishop Foley and opened by the Minister of Education in the State Government, Robert Pearce. This Administration block on the western side of the school has access from the roadway to the church and leads internally to the library and through the library to the school/Parish hall.

The numbers in school enrolment were building up in the mid to late eighties and it was found necessary to build a new class-room for Year Seven. This was completed during 1998 together with a small meeting room under the same roof. Bridging finance was arranged through the Archdiocesan Development Fund and on completion a low-interest rate loan was granted by the Government with quarterly annual repayments of five thousand five hundred and forty dollars (5,540.00) over a period of ten years. The building was designed and supervised by Angelo Scatena, parishioner and architect who is very generous in giving his advice and time in Parish affairs. The class-room was blessed by Fr Phelan on August 15th 1988. Sister Rosarie represented the Dominican Sisters. The school has been quite a financial drain on the Parish but it has also brought many blessings.

Teachers have been very dedicated. Numbers have never been much above the hundred enrolment. This in turn has given a spirit of intimacy. Children’s masses are always vey well prepared and popular. Teachers adhere very well to the guidelines in religious education. Committed parents who advocate adherence to orthodoxy in R.E. are satisfied with the teaching in this area. We are blessed every year with an active parents and Friends Organisation in raising money for equipment and smooth running of school as well as providing some social interaction. Likewise the Parish Council meets regularly each month. They organise groups of helpers e.g. liturgy, social, financial, maintenance. Representatives from groups attend the meetings e.g. school-board, P and F Organisation, Rosary Group, Catholic Women’s League, Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community.

The maintenance committee has been very active in recent years updating and resurfacing grounds and building extra parking space on the wet side of the Church. Tiles on the Church had to be replaced as there were problems with the tiles from the beginning and no expert seemed to be able to locate the source of the problem, much less fix it. A W.A. architect who had spent a number of years in France advised and arranged for the delivery of French tiles which were installed. They proved very successful. The ceiling was affected by the leaks and when the committee is satisfied that no drop of rain can penetrate the roof or walls, the ceiling will be sprayed again with vermiculite. One of the spiritual practices which has happened in recent years is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament three days a week, accumulating to forty two hours of prayer each week.

Apart from the rostered Custodians of the Blessed Sacrament per hour, many other people come to spend time with Our Lord. About this time we received an extremely beautiful gift for the Church – a tapestry of the Last Supper. It was given to Holy Spirit by Mr Alister McLean, an extremely kind and generous parishioner who lived in City Beach. The tapestry was woven in wool by a Sister in Sydney and it took 300 hours to complete at a cost of $3,000. The tapestry was framed and mounted at the front of the altar. A few years after this Father Phelan, on one of his trips to Ireland, observed a beautiful mosaic of Madonna and Child in one of the Churches there. Father managed to locate the artist and arranged for a similar mosaic to be shipped to Australia – City Beach, Perth! It is indeed something very special and has been put up on the wall just right of the tabernacle.