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Queensland had been a separate colony for only one year when James Quinn became the first bishop of the new diocese, covering the whole state with its sparse scattered population. St Stephen’s was the center of church life (no parishes were established) and priests were sent from there to mission stations. Archbishop Dunne took over in 1882 and by 1887 there were eight churches in Brisbane and 27 stations ‘having no church at present but attended at fixed dates’. Parts of the current parish surrounds were among the stations visited every three months.

The first Catholic church in our area was St Lawrence, Fig Tree Pocket, and Mass was also celebrated in the Pacey home at Brookfield. This was visited by priests from Sacred Heart Church, Rosalie, who also attended St Michael and All Souls (Toowong) and St Lawrence’s. Mass in private residences at Upper Brookfield, Pullenvale and Long Pocket continued as well.

The Jesuits arrived in Toowong in 1916 and for almost ten years ministered in an area covered by the present parishes of Toowong, Kenmore, Indooroopilly and St Lucia. The last three of these became a separate parish in 1924, and the first Catholic chuch in the Kenmore area was the original St Catherine’s on the corner of Grandview and Moggill roads.

Archbishop Duhig purchased the current OLR site in 1958, when the new parish of Kenmore, under the guidance of Fr Gerry Nichol, was cut off from Indooroopilly. In 1961, Fr Tom Carroll came to the Kenmore parish and so began the rapid development of the parish we know today. A school and temporary church were opened in 1963. The school grew at an amazing rate, initially under the guidance of the Brigidine sisters from Indooroopilly. Soon the need for a new, larger church was painfully obvious and the efforts of Fr Carroll ensured that sufficient money was raised so that the new church was opened in July 1969.

In 1993 a steering committee was formed and a master plan was developed to build St. Catherine’s at Moggill. The new Mass and Community Centre was opened on 22 May 1995 by Archbishop Bathersby.

The following time line gives an out outline of our parish development, but says nothing at all of the strong community spirit that has grown. Ours is still a very large parish indeed. In his foreword to The OLR Story, Fr Neil writes :

‘Often imperceptibly, perhaps at times unwittingly, OLR has been transforming itself into the kind of people-oriented parish envisioned by Vatican II. Now is the time to name that identity and to celebrate it.’

Time Line

1860 Brisbane became a diocese, Bishop Quinn first Bishop.

1873 Opening of St Laurence's, Fig Tree Pocket.

1880 Masses advertised in The Australian at Indooroopilly and Seventeen Mile Rocks.

1887 Catholic Directory lists Mass Stations at Gold Creek, Brookfield and MacAlroy's at Moggill.

1893 Floods.

1915 Rosalie parish looked after St Laurence's and St Michael and all Souls Toowong.

1916 Toowong became separate parish under the Jesuits and takes over this area.

1926 Indooroopilly becomes separate parish which includes this area.

1920s Closure of St Laurence's.

1952 Opening of St Catherine's, Pullenvale.

1958 Archbishop buys land at Kenmore.

1961 Father Gerry Nichol arrives.

1961 First public mass at the house/church - 2 April.

1961 Father Tom Carroll appointed Parish Priest - September.

Five children receive their first communion.

First Marriage in OLR parish.

First Baptism in OLR parish.

1962 St Vincent de Paul starts.

Foundation stone of church/school laid - 3 November.

1963 School opens - Official opening 3 March.

Grades 1-4 and Pre-school.

1964 School Grades 1-5;

Class rooms and Swimming Pool.

1965 School Grades 1-6;

French School.

1966 School Grades 1-7.

1969 Opening of Church - 13 July.

1973 Mother de Montford leaves.

1974 Father Egan assistant priest.

Floods.

1977 Ladies' Conference of St Vincent de Paul starts.

25th anniversary of Father Carroll's ordination.

1978 Father Bill O'Shea assistant priest.

1979 Father Carroll receives recognition at New Year Honours List.

1982 First RCIA.

Paul McGrath becomes principal of School.

Last of the religious sisters leave.

1983 Father Flynn arrives.

1986 Silver Jubilee of Parish.

1989 New School wing - December.

Sale of St Catherine's.

1990 Father McKeon arrives - January.

Father Wagner replaces Father Carroll - August.

1991 Father Flynn leaves for Adelaide.

1994 Thirtieth anniversary of the ordination of Father Wagner.

1994 Father McKeon leaves for Redcliffe. Father Michael Campbell arrives.

1995 Father Neil Byrne replaces Father Wagner.

2009 Father Francis Onwunali replaces Father Byrne.

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