All Saints Parish History
In 1982, the Brisbane Archdiocese purchased land in Fahey's Road East, Albany Creek, with the intention of establishing a church and a school.
On 4 January 1986, All Saints became a Parish in its own right, with Father Ron Mollison being appointed as Parish Priest. The first Mass of Albany Creek Parish was celebrated on Epiphany, 5 January 1986 - see first newsletter below.
Previously, the Parish was part of Our Lady and St Dympna's Parish Aspley, and the Holy Spirit Parish, Pine Rivers.
To commemorate our 25th anniversary in 2011, a time capsule filled with historical parish and other artefacts was buried for 50 years, and it will be opened in 2061 by parishioners, who were school students in 2011.
Masses
Originally, there was only an 8.00am Sunday Mass, celebrated at the Community Centre in Ernie Street, Albany Creek, but quickly, more Masses were held in the Chapel (6pm Vigil, 7.30am, 9.30am, 5.30pm). The Chapel, an extension to the original residence on the property, was blessed on 15 February 1987.
Monday Mass was also held at 11 Dukamp Street, the home of the Sisters of Mercy, from 1988 until 2012.
Parish Name and Logo
In February 1987, parishioners were given the opportunity to suggest a name for the parish.
Saint Alban and Saint Andrew (Patron Saint of Scotland, known as 'Albany' in Gaelic) were two of the 35 names considered. All Saints was favoured, because it included all Saints, from Our Lady to the least-known Saint in heaven; it was all-encompassing.
All Saints' logo represents Jesus at the centre of the community. The stylised design includes a river motif, connecting All Saints to its location, Pine Rivers (which amlagamated to form Moreton Bay Region in 2008). The green colour reflects the green surrounds of the parish.
Parish School
All Saints Parish School was the initial building project and with the aid of a grant from the Commonwealth Schools Commission, building commenced in 1988.
The school opened in 1989, with Sr Veronica Ekerick as Principal, and classes of Preschool, Years 1, 2 and 3. By the commencement of the 1993 school year, classes ranged from Preschool to Year 7.
In 1996, the school became a full two stream school, and in 2007, the school welcomed the first intake of children into the Prep Year. Year 7 classes ceased in 2014, when the students became part of secondary education. All Saints is one of the largest primary schools in the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
The Out of School Hours Care program was established in 2016, for students from Prep to Year 6 and is administered by the parish.
Albany Fair began as a Fete in 1990 and became one of the largest in the area. Covid restrictions caused cancellation in 2020. Profits were shared 50-50 between the church and school.
Church
On 1 August, 1993, a Parish Consultation Meeting facilitated by Fr Barry Copley, determined which aspects parishioners hoped for in their church building, through 'our personal relationship with God, our relationship as a community with God, and our relationship as a parish community with the community at large'. Further consultation occurred with Fr Tom Elich from the Liturgical Commission, about the liturgical requirements in design.
Heathwood Cardillo Wilson were chosen as the Architects and given a Brief, and parishioners were informed at Masses on 21, 22 August, 1993. A Parish Paraliturgy was held on 30, 31 October and a Parish Consultation weekend on 27, 28 November presented the first sketches.
Some of the considerations in the planning and design of the church were: a tiered floor; a warm, intimate space for 500 people; acoustics; video projection; choir and music area; Blessed Sacrament and reconciliation chapels; bapistry; underneath carpark; and the exterior materials (to integrate with school buildings); the twelve sturdy concrete columns and tilted roof of the porte cochere (welcoming, as reflected in the parish logo).
The Church Building Committee (Peter Castleton, John Doody, Sr Veronica Ekerick, Fr John FitzHerbert, Kaye Fox, Fr Ron Mollison, Geoff Skehan) met with Roger Heathwood in the school common room each month from February 1994 to August 1996. Various experts joined the meeting at relevant times.
Milson Projects Pty Ltd were chosen as the Builders, and they began the project on 04 September 1995. The total cost was estimated at $1,160,000: $928,000 Building; $123,800 Fees; $108,000 Furniture and fitting. The ADF assisted with Loan arrangements, and the parish launched a Capital Campaign with a target of $300,000, over three years, to achieve the goal of a 450-seat church, with extra 100 seats in the external gathering space, 35 undercover car parks and a special building fulfilled the vision: Welcome to all; come join us in friendship, and together as a community, we will experience intimacy with God in an open, joyous relationship.
Vestments (chasubles and stoles) for each liturgical season and altar linen were designed and made to suit the style of the new church. Western red cedar (similar to the front wall the original Chapel) and silver ash were used for some of the louvres, walls and furniture.
26 April 1996 saw the culmination of many years of praying, planning, wishing and working, with the blessing and dedication of our new church building, celebrated by Archbishop John Bathersby. The church gives a focal point to celebrate as a 'God-centred community'.
The Blessing and Dedication of the Church was on Friday, 26 April 1996 at 7.30pm. Archbishop Bathersby led the procession from the old Chapel - with everyone singing 'We Rejoice' written for the occasion by Michael Mangan. At the closed doors of the new Church, Roger Heathwood (architect) and George Gall (builder) handed over the plans and keys to Archbishop Bathersby, and the church doors were opened. The Anointing, Incensing and Light of the Ambo, Altar and Church, together with the Inauguration of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, were very significant parts of the ceremony.
In 1999, the first part-time paid position of Parish Secretary was filled, and two part-time Secretary positions were created in 2004. A part-time Youth Coordinator was appointed in 2001, and a part-time Sacramental Coordinator position was begun in 2017.
Parish Centre
In October 2003, consultation meetings began to determine space requirements for a new parish centre. Major considerations were: offices for Parish Priest, Pastoral Associate, Parish Manager, Parish Secretary, Youth Coordinator; rooms for meetings, interviews, counselling, young people's activities; kitchen (catering for up to 100 people), hospitality areas and toilet amenities; multi-media and audiovisual equipment.
The Parish Centre planning group originally consisted of Alan Forbes, Suzanne Murphy, Dermot Mallon, Anne Frawley-Mangan and Jennie O'Neill. A public forum for parishioners was held on Sunday, 10 July 2005, so that they could contribute their ideas about what they envisioned for the parish, and how they might use the parish centre. About 50 parishioners attended and a plan prepared by Architect, David McCabe, was enthusiastically endorsed.
A Survey to gather information was given out on 01 October 2005, with a letter from Fr Ron. There would be a Building Fund campaign led by Peter Castleton - with the aim of raising $300,000 in a Capital Campaign - in the form of planned giving, completely separate from the two collections normally taken at each Mass. It was projected that by mid-2007, the church debt would be paid off. Regular givers were visited and asked to contribute for a 5-year period for a certain amount of money eg $1000 (over time, or a lump sum). More debt for the parish bothered some people, but the need for greater opportunity for the parish with a multi-functional building was stressed.
By February 2006, final plans were with the Architect and final archdiocesan approval was near; the project was to begin in April, at a cost of about $1,300,000. A Permit was needed, and Grant Applications were lodged successfully with the Community Benefit Funds of Jupiters Casino (purchase of kitchen and dining equipment) and the Queensland Government ($15,075 towards the purchase of tables and chairs). There was financial assistance from the Archdiocese to help buy other furniture, tables, chairs and crockery.
Archbishop Bathersby blessed and officially opened the Parish Centre (together with the School's Preparatory Block and Multi-purpose Learning Area) at a 6pm Mass on Thursday, 01 November 2007 - All Saints Day.
To commemorate our 21st anniversary in 2011, a time capsule filled with historical parish and other artefacts was buried for 50 years, and it will be opened in 2061 by parishioners, who were school students in 2011.
Sisters of Mercy
The ministry of the Sisters of Mercy to All Saints Parish from 1988 until 2015 is acknowledged with much gratitude. On 27 December 1987, a request for a house for sale, handy to the church land, was advertised in the parish newsletter, for Sisters Veronica Ekerick and Sandra Lupi. A house was purchased at 11 Dukamp Street and the Sisters moved in on 11 March 1988.
Sister Veronica Ekerick was the first Principal of All Saints School. Sr Veronica left the school and parish in 1995 after seven years as Principal, and went to Chile for Mission work.
Sister Sandra lived in the Convent until 1994, when she was elected as a member of the Congregation Leadership Team, Sisters of Mercy, Brisbane. She led the parish through consultative workshops, in order to help create the vision and direction of the parish.
Sister Patricia McCormack joined the parish in 1995 and started the school music programme for Years 1 to 7. She retired from classroom teaching in 2000, but continued to be involved in RCIA, Liturgy, Music, St Vincent de Paul and the Parish Pastoral Council.
Sister Deborah Flaherty joined All Saints School in 1996 and was Student Counsellor. She was also involved in coordinating the Hospital visitation at Prince Charles Hospital.
Priests
Fr Ron Mollison was All Saints' first Parish Priest, taking up residence in the original building from 4 January 1986, then moving to the Presbytery in Willow Street in 1994/5. Fr Ron retired because of ill-health in 2020.
Ronald Edmund Mollison was born at Mansfield (Coorparoo) Hospital on 28 August 1939. His parents were Robert, an electrician born in Scotland, and Eleanor (née Grayson), a nurse and teacher. He was the youngest of four children, after Robert (1927), Stephen (1930) and Eleanor (1935).
Fr Ron attended St Thomas’ primary school at Camp Hill and then Villanova College, Coorparoo until 1957.
After leaving school, he took on an Optical Apprenticeship, with an optometry option (his brother, Bob, was an optician). He wanted to be a racing car driver, but he didn’t want to be hurt so badly! He considered being a stonemason or blacksmith, but, in 1962, he decided to enter the Seminary, with a growing conviction towards becoming a priest. It wasn’t about what he wanted to be – it was what God wanted.
Fr Ron was ordained to the Priesthood and celebrated his first Holy Mass on 29 and 30 June 1968. He became Assistant Priest at St Patrick’s, Laidley from 1969 to 1971 and ministered to the four churches in the parish. In 1972, he moved to Holy Rosary Parish at Windsor, then in late 1972, to St Pius X’s Parish at Salisbury.
From mid-1975, Fr Ron was at St Mark’s Parish, Inala, until the end of 1977, when he became Chaplain at Greenslopes Repatriation General Hospital (Holland Park) and Rosemount Rehabilitation Repatriation Hospital (Windsor) until 1984.
In 1985, he became Secretary to Archbishop Rush and was an Associate Pastor at St Stephen’s Cathedral. He took Saturday evening Mass at the Cathedral, before coming to Albany Creek, where he became the inaugural Parish Priest from Saturday, 04 January 1986. Because of the close proximity, Fr Ron was often called upon to minister to patients and their families at Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside.
From 2009, Very Reverend Ron Mollison was Dean of neighbouring parishes: Kedron, Keperra, Stafford and Wilston. In 2010, the Archdiocese sent him to Rome for a Clergy Conference to mark the end of the Year for Priests.
Fr Ron remained Pastor at All Saints for 34 years until 2020, when he suffered a significant stroke and moved into St Vincents Aged Care at Carseldine.
Fr Ron had a huge interest in motor racing and ‘anything that involved wheels’. He owned a 1958 MG ZB Magnet and a Studebaker. He always watched ‘Bathurst’ and went to the race. He visited the Indianapolis 500 Speedway (gifted to him by All Saints parishioners), helped celebrate Mass in the pit lane at the Gold Coast Indy circuit, and competed in the Leyburn Motor Sprints.
Having a great love of music, Fr Ron played and sang with his guitar, owned a gramophone and many CDs. He was creative and designed and/or constructed parish items such as candelabra, Christmas crib, Easter cross mechanism, cross/crucifix and an Advent wreath holder.
Parishioners were always amazed by his memory, and how he knew each by name.
With gratitude and love for your very generous goodness, Fr Ron.
Father Ron Mollison
Fr Josekutty Vadakkel of the Order of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) served as Parish Priest at All Saints Parish Albany Creek from 16 May 2020 until 9 April 2023. Fr Josekutty came from Kerala in India and had worked for 9 years in the Archdiocese of Brisbane before his appointment to All Saints Parish. Immediately prior to commencing at Albany Creek, Fr Josekutty had been Pastor at Yeronga Parish (2016 - 2019) and also had served for 6 years as First Year Formator at Holy Spirit Seminary in Banyo.
Fr Joson Antony of the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (MCBS) began as Parish Priest at All Saints, Albany Creek on 16 April 2023.
