A Short History but a Strong Tradition

The first European settlers arrived in the district we know today as Mill Park around 1838 and they brought their Christian faith with them. This district remained a rural community until the mid 1970’s and was part of St. Peter’s Parish, Epping. With the development of the Mill Park estate the area was placed under St. Damian’s parish Bundoora. Local Catholics worked with the parish priest Fr. Patrick Creed to form a local catholic community.

The first public mass in Mill Park was celebrated in the old bluestone church in Plenty Road (formerly the Janefield Presbyterian Church) on the 10th December 1978. An immediate need was a Catholic primary school in the area. St. Damian’s Parish with the support of a Mill Park committee succeeded in opening St. Francis of Assisi School in February 1980. The next step was to have Sunday Mass celebrated in Mill Park. The local catholic community worked very hard to set up what we call today "The Hall" as an area for Sunday Mass in 1983.

In January 1985 Archbishop Little established St. Francis of Assisi Parish and appointed Fr. Eugene Ahern as first parish priest. The birth of the parish was marked with a wonderful Parish Day, the highlight being Mass celebrated on the back of a truck with a huge congregation gathered around. Many remember fondly the early Masses in the "chapel" of the parish house then at 78 Roycroft Avenue – the chapel being actually the converted garage.

The spirit of the community was fostered by the open house and the social hours which brought our many nationalities together. The fellowship of St. Francis we alive and well in Mill Park. Highlights of those early years were the Renew Programme and the Journey Scripture Courses. Perhaps the most talked about even was the Service of Fire, Light and Water on Holy Saturday Night 1985 which attracted a huge crowd plus eight fire engines called mistakenly because a neighbor thought the school was on fire.

Fr. Eugene engaged Sr. Judith Peart in 1987 as the demands for pastoral care increased. She did outstanding work in many areas of parish life for six years.

The present parish house was built in 1988 with the chapel which became a focus for prayer in the parish, as it was open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. The church was opened in February 1995. The spirit of the parish was reflected in the design of the church. While reaching toward God in worship with the tower and its cross, the building was an expression of faith open to the community with outstretched arms of the colonnade.

In 1993 Sr. Patricia Robertson took over as pastoral associate in in July Fr. Ted Cumbo was appointed as our first assistant priest. Fr. Albert Yogarajah came to St. Francis in 1998 remaining until 2001. Fr. John Pothiyittel followed him in 2001. In 2003 Fr. Brendan Lane and Fr David Cartwright arrived to replace Fr. Eugene Ahern. Fr. Arsenio Tuazon joined Fr Brendan in 2006. He was replaced in 2007 by Fr. Eugene Ashkar who did great work particularly with our young in the parish. In 2009 the parish welcomed Fr. Anthony Girolami as our new parish priest after Fr. Brendan was appointed Rector of Corpus Christi Seminary College.

Since 2012, we are now the parish of both Mill Park and South Morang. During 2013 and 2014 the Church underwent major renovations and the re-opening of the refurbished church was held on May 17th 2014, celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart.