Short history of St Mary's
- 1895: Moonee Ponds Parish was established and a small wooden church in gothic style was erected in St Leonards Rd, Ascot Vale, to relieve the pressure upon the Essendon district.
- 1912: Ascot Vale becomes a parish and Fr A. May is appointed as first Parish Priest and takes up residence in the temporary presbytery at 123 St Leonards Rd.
- 1913: Archbishop Carr opens new school, presbytery and renovated church on 23 February.
- 1916: Foundation stone of new brick presbytery laid by Archbishop Carr on 16 July.
- 1917: New hall acquired in St Leonards Rd.
- 1919: Fr Bakker takes over from Fr May as Parish Priest.
- 1924: Guild Room erected as Men’s Club.
- 1927: Sisters of Our Lady of Sion arrive to take over St Mary’s School from the Sisters of Mercy. Convent opened and blessed by Archbishop Mannix.
- 1932: The Legion of Mary, brought to Australia by Fr Bakker, holds its first meeting in Australia (and Oceania) at St Mary’s on 8 May.
- 1934: Foundation stone of new church laid by Archbishop Mannix on 1 July.
- 1938: Brick Romanesque church completed, and opened by Archbishop Mannix on 15 May. Souvenir Brochure of Opening of new St Mary’s Church, 15 May 1938
- 1945: First Mass offered in Maribyrnong in the Public Hall.
- 1946: Dedication of St Mary’s Church on 24 May, Feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians.
- 1947: Land for St Margaret’s Church purchased.
- 1949: St Margaret’s Church building purchased from Broadmeadows Army Camp and sited on the land.
- 1950: Fr Bakker dies aged 81, and is buried in a grave in the shadow of the church he built. Fr P. J. O’Doherty becomes Parish Priest.
- 1957: Junior School opened at St Margaret’s.
- 1962: Temporary church completed at Avondale Heights; Mass is provided by priests of Ascot Vale.
- 1963: Sacrificial Giving introduced.
- 1966: Gymnasium opened in guild hall.
- 1968: Fr J. O’Shea introduced Mass facing the people and the original wooden altar was painted to match the marble high altar and placed on refurbished and carpeted platform.
- 1973: New convent built on the site of the old Guild Hall, with the sisters moving in in 1974. Old convent in Roseberry St demolished.
- 1975: New altar and lectern purchased by Fr Tom Jones and carpeted platform extended.
- 1976: Fire destroyed Old Hall.
- 1977: New Hall built on site of old convent.
- 1982: Fr Sam Dimattina becomes Parish Priest.
- 1988: St Margaret’s School is renovated and refurbished.
- 1993: St Mary’s School completely renovated, painted and refurbished.
- 1999: Monsignor Aldo Rebeschini becomes Parish Priest.
- 2002: After a time as Administrator, Fr Jim Clarke becomes Parish Priest.
- 2005: New main altar for St Mary’s installed.
- 2006: Sound system upgraded and ceiling painted at St Mary’s.
- 2008: New carpet and restoration of kneelers at St Mary’s.
- 2010: Fr Justin Ford becomes Parish Priest. New hall and classrooms at St Mary’s School; new Meeting Area and classrooms at St Margaret’s School.
- 2011: New extended playground at St Mary’s School. Reorientation of sanctuary and pews at St Margaret’s.
- 2012: New organ at St Mary’s.
- 2013: Redevelopment commences at St Mary’s School.
- 2014: Painting, new carpet at St Margaret’s. Parish website launched.
- 2015: Redevelopment of St Mary’s School completed. Opening of MacKillop Building, St Margaret’s School.
- 2016: Promulgation of Preservation Church Account to support St Mary’s Church.
- 2019: Roof restoration of St Mary’s Church.
- 2020-22: Covid pandemic triggers extended closures of churches and restrictions on congregations.
- 2021: 5.9 magnitude earthquake on 22 September causes two angel statues to fall from the high altar dome, narrowly missing the Parish Priest celebrating Mass and damaging a third angel statue at ground level. ‘Melbourne Catholic’ article: ‘Earthquake damages 80-y-o marble statues’ Security Camera footage of earthquake
- 2022: Repair of earthquake damage in St Mary’s with installation of three replica angel statues.
- 2023: Redevelopments completed at St Margaret’s School. Fr Desmond Moloney becomes Parish Priest.