St Dominic's
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Welcome to St Dominic's

Preaching and celebrating the Good News of Jesus

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History

In 1924, the Dominican Fathers took possession of Sir John Higgins' residence (now the front section of the Priory) and the first Parish Mass was celebrated in the front parlour on March 16th that year. Twenty nine people were present.

Also in 1924, Archbishop Mannix laid and blessed the foundation for a new red brick church-school, returning shortly afterwards to open the building. For many years now this building served as the Parish Centre, and it is fondly remembered as our first Parish Church. 

St. Dominic's Parish School, which had opened in 1925, was taken over by the Dominican Sisters towards the end of 1926. So virtually from the very beginning, the Dominican Fathers and Sisters have together served in this parish.

The early parishioners worked enthusiastically to build a new church to cater adequately for their growing parish. In 1936, the first sod was turned for the church which we know today, and it was officially blessed and opened on March 14th, 1937.

In 1958, the final extensions to the church, including the addition of a bell tower and a doubling of the length of the nave, were concluded. Finally, with the entire edifice fully paid for, it was solemnly dedicated and the altar consecrated by Archbishop Symonds on 31st March, 1960. Under the altar were placed relics of St Clement, pope and martyr, and St Dominic.

In 1998, we celebrated the centenary of the arrival of the Dominican Fathers in Australia - they went first to Adelaide - and in 1999 the 75th anniversary of the foundation of our parish. Unfortunately, in 2020, celebrations for the 60th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Church had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 epidemic.


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The banner at the top is a detail from the stained glass windows in the church.  The dog is an heraldic symbol of St Dominic. A legend tells that when his mother was pregnant, she dreamed that she gave birth to a dog, with a fiery torch in its mouth.  It ran around the world, setting it on fire. 
There is also an old Latin pun.  "Domini canes" means "dogs of the Lord", while "Dominicani" means "Dominicans".
St Dominic was in fact named after St Dominic of Silos, sometime abbot of a famous Benedictine abbey near our saint's birthplace of Caleruega, Spain.  The name "Dominic" means "the Lord's man."