2024 is a significant year for St Alipius’ Church in Ballarat East. With the broader community we are remembering the 170th anniversary of the Eureka rebellion including the involvement of Fr Patrick Smyth and the Catholics of the Ballarat Goldfields. 2024 is also the 150th anniversary of the opening of the existing St Alipius’ Church in Victoria Street. Mass was first celebrated on the Ballarat Goldfields at Brown Hill in 1851 before relocating to the existing Victoria Street site in 1853, where the tent-church-school (as captured by artist Eugene Von Gerrard) was erected. These anniversaries are providing parishioners with opportunities to acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of our history as well the opportunity to look to the future with hope and healing.
All are welcome to gather at St Alipius Church for 6.00pm Mass on Saturday, December 14, 2024. Following the Mass we will gather for a BYO picnic tea in the Church grounds with a bbq available. Hot and cold drinks will be available. Photographic displays from across the years are being collated as well as ‘people of St Alipius’ being recorded. For more information please contact the parish office, ph. 5332 6611.
For catering purposes, we would ask that you RSVP to the parish office no later than December 7.
Image: St Alipius tent school, by Eugene Von Guerard (Ballarat Historical Society Collection.)