Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Dardanup
by Elaine Teague
Title
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Dardanup
Artist
Elaine Teague
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The Catholic Parish of Dardanup was the first outside Perth, and was within that Diocese on its establishment. Local pioneer Thomas Little donated land in 1852, the foundation stone for the first church was laid in 1854 by Abbot Salvado, Founder of the Benedictine Abbey at New Norcia, and that church was in use by 1857.
It served the Catholics of the district until 1938, when the present “new” church was completed – itself 70 years old, in 2007. St Louis’ Church in Boyanup dates from the early 1900’s, and is the second church within the parish.
In 1979 the old church was restored and transformed into a Hall; it was named for benefactor Thomas Little, and is currently in daily use by the students at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Primary School.
Between the Thomas Little Hall and the parish church there stands the handsome 1922 building which was the Convent of Mercy and first parish school. It served the Sisters and parish in that capacity until 1974, and was then used for a variety of parish and school purposes.
Significantly, in 1977, it became the new home for Carmelite Nuns, brought into the Diocese of Bunbury from Thailand by Bishop Myles McKeon. These Nuns now have their own Monastery in neighbouring Gelorup. The old convent has been beautifully adapted as a Retreat House, and is in constant use.
Presently, the Diocese of Bunbury operate Retreat House. We are always pleased to receive guests – of any denomination or none – who may be in need of “time out”, or who may need gentle accompaniment on their spiritual journeys. From time to time formal retreats, usually over a week-end, are conducted.
© Copyright Elaine Teague all rights reserved.
Uploaded
March 16th, 2020
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