History of our Parish
CHRONOLOGY (1958-1989)
1958 A five acre block was purchased by Fr. Joseph Noonan, Parish Priest of Fawkner.
1960 First building on the site – a three roomed school, to be used as a Mass Centre on Sundays.
1961 St. Matthew’s School opened.
1963 Extension of the classroom block to six rooms.
1964 April 25 – Father Kevin Ryan appointed as first Parish Priest.
First church built, with first Mass therein Christmas Midnight mass.
Presbytery built.
1965 Hall completed.
1966 Ladies Netball commenced.
1967 Junior classrooms built.
Fr. Luciano Secolari appointed as assistant priest.
First Parish Ball.
1968 Father Kevin Eaton replaced Father Secolari.
Little Athletics introduced.
1970 Father Frank O’Loughlin replaced Father Eaton.
First recorded Pastoral Council formed.
1972 Father Paul Kane succeeded Father Ryan as Parish Priest.
Craigieburn section of the parish transferred to Dallas parish.
Father O’Loughlin left for study overseas in Sept.
Father Frank Buhagiar replaced him in December.
1973 First Parish Picnic to Tooroorrong Reservoir.
First Mass in Campbellfield on July 29 at the State School.
1974 First St. Mathew’s Thooruna Art & Craft Show.
1975 Tennis courts built.
1976 Sisters of Mercy took up residence in Jennifer St.
Father Gerry Medici replaced Father Buhagiar.
1977 Father Paul Kane celebrated his Silver Jubilee of Ordination in July.
1978 Parish Mission.
1979 Father Medici replaced by Father Joe Giacobbe.
Work began on a Mass Centre at Campbellfield.
First Mass in an almost completed building, was on Christmas Day 1979.
Tennis Clubrooms built.
1980 A Church Feasibility Committee met frequently to plan for a new Parish Church.
1981 Last Mass in the first church was celebrated on November 3rd.
1982 Construction of the new church carried out.
Archbishop Little consecrated the church on October 31.
1983 Father Joseph Mielak replaced Father Giacobbe, but his stay was very short.
Father Frank Barone appointed in February.
1984 St. Matthews’s Musical Society was formed.
1987 Mercy Sisters left St. Matthew’s School at the end of the year.
1988 Parish Centre started and completed.
1989 Father Sylvester Chao replaced Father Frank Barone.
Silver Jubilee celebrated on Sunday April 23rd.
Clergy : past and present:
Fr. A.K. Ryan: P.P. April 25, 1964 - March 4. 1972
Fr. L. Secolari January, 1967 - January 1968
Fr. K. Eaton January 1968 - January 1970
Fr. F. O'Loughlin January 1970 - September, 1972
Fr. P. Kane P.P. March 4, 1972 - February, 2008
Fr. J. Briglia October, 1972 - November, 1972
Fr. F. Buhagiar December, 1972 - January, 1976
Fr. G. Medici January, 1976 - January, 1979
Fr. J. Giacobbe January, 1979 - January, 1983
Fr. F. Barone February, 1983 - January, 1989
Fr. S. Chao January, 1989
Fr. A. Camilleri 2000 - August, 2005
Fr. S. Kandarapally P.P. February 8, 2008 - August 2014
Fr. T. Mathew P.P. August, 2014 - December, 2017
Fr. F. Galdo P.P. December, 2017 -