A Thumbnail Sketch of the Rockhampton South Parish

Towards the latter part of the last century, the Southside of Rockhampton consisted of seven parishes:

• Cathedral parish with St Joseph’s Cathedral, St Patrick’s church, Alma Street and Mary Immaculate church, Depot Hill;
• South Rockhampton parish with St Peter’s church, St Paul’s church, Gracemere and St Malachy’s, Bajool;
• Wandal parish with St Vincent’s church;
• West Rockhampton parish with St Francis Xavier church and St Stephen’s, Alton Downs;
• St Theresa’s parish with St Theresa’s church;
• Neerkol parish with St Joseph’s and Sacred Heart, Westwood;
• Mt Morgan parish with Sacred Heart, Mt Morgan and St Anne’s, Wowan.

St Patrick’s, St Francis Xavier and St Joseph’s, Neerkol closed towards the end of last century or very early this century. 

Towards the end of the 1980s, parishes were beginning to ‘cluster’ in an unofficial way.  South Rockhampton and West Rockhampton parishes ‘clustered’ with the Cathedral parish and the ‘Cathedral Team’ was responsible for the life of the respective communities. Several of the ministry groups began either operating across all communities, or at least meeting together regularly for support and formation.  Various forms of Pastoral Planning Groups or Parish Councils existed in the Southside parishes. 

In 2000, informal conversations with representatives of the various communities began regarding the clustering of Cathedral, Wandal, South Rockhampton, West Rockhampton and Neerkol parishes.  At this stage also, at the request of the Bishop, formal Parish Pastoral Councils were formed in the area – either in a parish, or, in the case of South and West Rockhampton and Neerkol – a combined Council.

At this time also, a Diocesan Staffing and Shaping committee had been working on the concept of clustering for the various areas of the diocese.  In 2003, serious discussion began on the Southside with a view to formally becoming a cluster.  As many groups were already either working as one, or communicating frequently for support and formation purposes and for sharing of resources, this step was welcomed by most.  At this stage, Mt Morgan was invited to be part of the discussion even though they still had a resident priest.  

A southside gathering was held in April 2003 to provide formal input and allow discussion across all communities regarding the possibilities offered for clustering.  From that day, people were offered the opportunity to become members of an interim group that would look at what would be required for us to become a formal cluster and the development of a process.

By October 2003, the group had come to see the concept of one parish on the Southside as a very real option – with one Parish Pastoral Council, one Finance Committee and ministry groups that would operate to varying degrees across the whole parish – with some still needing to have sub-groups operating in local communities.  The Bishop gave his blessing to this move and the next few months were spent in preparing all communities for the formation of one parish with nine worshipping communities.

Those from the interim group who wished to, now became members of the new Parish Pastoral Council, along with some members from previous individual parish councils, etc.  At the same time, a Finance Integration Group was formed including members of the various Finance Committees to ensure the smooth transition of the financial side of parishes becoming one.

We celebrated the formation of the Parish of Rockhampton South at the Pentecost Sunday Mass in 2004.  At this Mass the Parish Pastoral Council members were commissioned and the parish and school leadership teams recognized, along with the nine worshipping communities within our new parish.

A parish assembly took place in August 2004 to look at ways to ensure that each community would maintain its own identity and local life, but that all communities would feel a part of the whole parish and that gradually we would get to know our fellow parishioners from across the whole of Rocky South.

During 2005, St Stephen’s and St Malachy’s were closed and sold. 

At the start of 2007, Mt Morgan and Wowan became part of the Parish of Rockhampton South, this being celebrated at the Pentecost Sunday Mass.

During 2007, the Depot Hill community celebrated the final Mass in Mary Immaculate church, which has since been sold.