St Mary's Parish Hall

New St. Mary’s Parish Hall

The original parish church of Seymour was commenced in 1870 with the laying of the foundation stone by Archbishop Alipius Goold on 4th December 1871. The partially completed church was blessed by Archbishop Goold in 1873 and was solemnly blessed by Archbishop Thomas Carr in 1888 (see A Brief History of St. Mary’s Parish Seymour).

Prior to 1890, Seymour was part of the Kilmore Parish. It was separated from Kilmore in 1890 and was established as a canonical parish which included the district of Tallarook.

Following the completion of the present parish church in June 1938 the original red brick church became St. Mary’s Parish Hall and remained as such until it was demolished on 21 March 1999 due to structural deterioration and 128 years of wear.

 The present St. Mary’s Parish Hall was completed in 1999 and was opened and blessed by Archbishop George Pell on Sunday 12 September 1999 with over 400 parishioners and visitors present. On the same afternoon Archbishop Pell blessed the new junior classrooms and science laboratory of St. Mary’s College.

Parish Priest: Rev Fr Eugene Ashkar.

Builder: Mr. Gerard O’Sullivan

The Sandstone Cross

The sandstone cross recessed into the façade of the New Hall was taken from above the entrance of the original parish church and transferred to the entrance of the new hall.

The new St. Mary’s Parish Hall plays an important part in the life of the parish. It provides a friendly and comfortable meeting place for parish functions and gatherings. The hall is used during school hours by St. Mary’s College for school assemblies, public speaking and debating, art and craft exhibitions, parent-teacher interviews etc. The hall, through the Parish Pastoral Care Group, provides families with a venue for morning and afternoon teas following funerals and times of bereavement. The hall is also available for hire for meetings, presentations, wedding receptions and family functions at the discretion of the Parish Priest details concerning terms and conditions of hire are available from the Parish Secretary or on this web site under application forms tab.

Contact person: The Parish Secretary, tel: (03) 94128406

Parish Priests and Assistant Priests of Seymour

1890-1895: Fr. William Harnett

1895-1897: Fr. Joseph Barry

1897-1899: Fr. Joseph Walshe

1899-1900: Fr. J. O'Neill

1900-1915: Fr. Thomas Considine

1915-1925: Fr. Michael J. Dolan

1916: Fr. T.W. O'Collins

(Seymour Military Camp)

1925-1939: Fr. P. O'Connor

1939-1946: Fr. Francis McGuire

1939: Fr. John Ryan

1946-1955: Fr. James Murphy      

1946-1949: Fr. Tom Curran

1949-1955: Fr. Kevin O'Donnell

1956-1959: Fr. Edmund Nowlan

1955-1957: Fr. Denis White

1956-1960: Fr. N. Coleman

1959-1962: Fr. George Maltby

1960-1961: Fr. David Kehoe

1961-1963: Fr. S. Camillieri

1962-1965: Fr. Patrick Garvey

1962: Fr. Bill Durkin

1962-1965: Fr. Bill McAuley

1965-1970: Fr. J. Vincent Creed

1965-1967: Fr. Eric Hodgens (Puckapunyal)

1968-1970: Fr. Joseph O'Callaghan (Pucka)

1970-1972: Fr. Robert J. Maguire (Puckapunyal)

1970-1974: Fr. Bryan Donovan

1971-1974: Fr. John Dargan

1974-1982: Fr. M. Vincent Cooley

1974-1976: Fr. John Stuart

1976-1980: Fr. John Williams

1980-1982: Fr. Frank Bellett

1982-1989: Fr. Leo Pascoe

1989-1995: Fr. Graham Redfern

1996: Fr. Greg Bennet Adm (Jan-June)

2015-2016: Fr Paul Newton (Admin)

1996-2016: Monsignor Anthony K. Toms

2016- Present: Fr. Eugene Ashkar