Our Parish Time Line

1977
Early committee formed by Fr John Cross, parish priest of St Joseph's Boronia to look at establishing a separate parish and school to serve the developing Wantirna area.
1978
Approval and planning for commencement of first stage of the school (not named St Luke's until 1979).

May: Commencement of Masses at Regency Park state school (this was to continue through until August 1979). Request by Fr Cross to Sisters of St Joseph to provide sisters for this new parish.

18 December: Bishop Eric Perkins celebrates Mass at Regency Park primary school and afterwards leads congregation up the hill to bless the site and plant trees.

1979
Establishment of St Luke's school - staff and community.

27 January: Sisters of St Joseph, Aileen Shanahan and Mary Ryan arrive and move into house (purchased by Boronia parish in 1978 for $48 000) in 15 Haileybury Court, Wantirna. Sisters' appointment, called a 'Frontier Team', is for a five-year term, to finish at the end of 1983. Their mandate is to work in collaboration with the priest/s and parishioners to establish the school and parish community, then handover to parishioners.

6 February: St Luke's school begins at start of school year in temporary premises at St Joseph's, Boronia. Initial enrolment of 116 children with Sr Aileen as principal. Teachers are Paul Crilly, Jacqie Raymer, Carmel Morris, Geraldine Richards and Sr Mary (RE Coordinator and Adult Faith Education and parish pastoral ministry). Construction commences of new school building at Stokes Road, Wantirna. Daily Masses are celebrated in St Joseph's Convent - open to parishioners.

10 May: Parish meeting at convent where parish boundaries are defined. Parish is divided into 15 regions.

10 August: Meeting of parish team with Bishop Perkins and two priest consultants to discuss if St Luke's will become a parish in its own right, or remain attached to St Joseph's.

12 August: First Mass held in school building.

20 August: School building ready for occupation in the last week of Term 2.

21 October: Official blessing and opening of school by Archbishop Little; blessing of St Joseph's convent.

9 December: First group of First Communion candidates from St Luke's school. First baptism in St Luke's parish. Paul Broussard is baptised during Mass.

1980
8 January: Official letter from Archbishop Little declaring the formation of the new parish of Wantirna from parts of Bayswater and Boronia parishes.

July: First group of candidates for Confirmation from St Luke's school.

1981
May: Stage 2 of school (junior building) completed for beginning of Term 2.

16 August: Stage 2 of school is officially opened by Rev Dean Wall.

September: Saturday and Sunday Masses celebrated in Stage 2 of school.

1982
21 March: Blessing and opening of parish chapel, community centre and priest's residence by Archbishop Little. Saturday and Sunday evening Masses and daily Masses are celebrated in the community centre. Due to ill-health, Sr Aileen leaves St Luke's and is replaced in Term 2 by Lay Principal, Mrs Carmel Lucas (former Viceprincipal).
1983
Because of growing numbers, Sunday Masses increased to four Masses - all are celebrated in the school. Wahid Riad sent to St Luke's for his pastora1 year. Sr Mary prepares to leave St Luke's at the end of the year and hands over the school REC role to Paul Crilly, the state schools' catechists program to Caroline Parry, and leadership roles in other aspects of parish life to those who have been prepared for this.

December: Sr Mary finishes her five-year ministry at St Luke's.

1984
Stephen Cope is new principal of St Luke's school (1984-91).

5 June: Bishop Perkins blesses the proposed church site and prayer balloons are released as soil is turned over to commence construction of the church.

2 July: Building of church commences by Reid Wood & Associates.

5 August: Archbishop Little blesses the foundation stone.

24 December: First Christmas Mass held in an unfinished church.

Return to top of page

1985
March: Parish picnic to Ferny Creek.

Easter: Church completed prior to Holy Week and Easter services are held in the new church. First baptism is held in the new church with Matthew George baptised on Easter Sunday.

17 August: Wahid Riad is ordained at St Patrick's cathedral. Wahid celebrates first Mass of Thanksgiving at St Luke's after completing his pastoral year at St Luke's under the guidance of Fr. John and Sr Mary.

15 September: Consecration of new church of St Luke by Archbishop Frank Little.

1987
27 January: Fr John leaves St Luke's.

28 January: Fr Maurie Cooney arrives at St Luke's as administrator.

1990
15 September: Bill Peperkamp is ordained as deacon by Bishop Perkins at St Luke's Wantirna.
1991
23 February: Parish fete.

31 August: Fr Bill is ordained to the priesthood at St Patrick's cathedral.

1 September: Fr Bill's Mass of Thanksgiving is held at St Luke's. Volunteers from the parish design a special backdrop quilt symbolising Bill's faith journey (this was later nicknamed 'Bill's Doona').

1992
March: First of nine successive annual Labour Day camping trips to Paradise Valley (near Glenmaggie) of St Luke's families (1992-2000). Evelyn Morgan- Brooker becomes new principal of St Luke's school (1992-1996).
1993
30 June: Fr Maurie Cooney'sterm as administrator ends.

1 July: Fr Michael Miles is appointed as administrator. School administration building refurbished.

1994
Maria Newbigin commences as pastoral associate.
1995
21 June: Fr Michael Miles' term as administrator ends.

22 June: Fr Tim Tolan appointed parish priest.

1997
Nola McCarthy is acting principal at St Luke's school.
1998
Stephanie Eynon is appointed principal of St Luke's school (1998-2006).

May: Family Ministry course graduation - five from St Luke's - Vivian Allard, Maree Davis, Helen Wood, Geoff Tracey and Cathy Carroll Browne.

1999
Leadership Ministry team formed - Geoff Tracey, Fiona Gribbin, Fr Tim, Marg Booth, John Wain, Chris Williams, Gerard Corbett, Sheila Thompson, Maria Newbigin.
2002
September: RCIA program commences with six candidates.
2003
Church and surrounds require repairs. Harvest quarterly magazine commences with initial team of Geoff Tracey, John Edwards, Brian Lewis and Alf Norman.
2004
April to August: Parish office extension and renovations to presbytery.

October, St Luke's Day: Extensions and renovations blessed by FrTim.

2005
October: Maria Newbigin resigns as pastoral associate.
2006
5 February: 25th anniversary celebrations, including Mass celebrated by Sir Frank Little and special guests Sr Aileen and Sr Mary. Mass includes presentation of time capsule followed by celebrations in parish and school grounds.

May: Ladies' Brunch - Guest speaker is Stephanie Eynon.

September: Men's Brunch - Guest speaker is William Green (WEG).

15 October: St Luke's day celebrations, and launch of publication to commemorate this special day.

2008
15 April: Sadly, Fr Tim Tolan passes away after illness.

July: A representation of our parish youth make their pilgrimage to Sydney to join in the celebration of the Papal Mass for World Youth Day.

August: Fr. Vel Maglica is welcomed to St. Luke's as our parish priest

2011
June: A successful Thanksgiving/Stewardship renewal campaign is run.

Return to top of page