Timeline: 1970-1979

1970-1979

Date Event
November 22nd, 1979 Meeting in Bunbury to discuss implications of Pope John Paul II’s exhortation Catechesis Tradendae
November 3rd, 1979 Formal application letter from Bishop McKeon to change diocesan boundaries to included Mandurah and Pinjarra in Bunbury Diocese
August 19th, 1979 Invitation of Polish Salvatorian priests to work in Bunbury Diocese
June 10th-July 7th, 1979 Second cycle of 3-year priests’ renewal course
May 29th, 1979
Special day of celebrations for WAY’79, WA Anniversary Year (150th).

Fr Ned Kenny appointed Vicar General

Completion of renovations and construction at the Catholic Youth Camp, Busselton

April 23rd-May 20th, 1979 First session of a 3-year cycle of courses towards priests’ renewal
March 8-12th, 1979
Clergy Conference at Redemptorist Retreat House, North Perth. Sessions on preaching, retirement, Internal Forum, Acolytes and training, Catechetics, Albany Aboriginal Hostel.

Bishop Mckeon announced he would vacate the “palace” to allow it to become the Parish House and would live temporarily in a flat at St John’s, then in a house on Spencer Street.

January 1979
Trial period begun in which Bishop McKeon of Bunbury was deemed Vicar General over the parishes of Mandurah and Pinjarra for twelve months.

Fr John Walsh installed as parish priest of Mandurah, John Fitzgerald in Pinjarra

December, 1978 Ordination of Fr Greg Childow at Apex Youth Centre, Albany by Bishop McKeon
March 6th-10th, 1978
Clergy Conference at Franciscan Retreat House, Victoria Park. Topics included hospital visitation, preparing to die and pastoral care of the bereaved, marriage preparation, health education and diet, plus a river cruise. Combined venture at Priests’ Conference for River Cruise with students from Bunbury Diocese attending boarding schools in Perth, initiated by Fr W. K. Glover.

Discussion of proposal from Perth for Mandurah and Pinjarra parishes to transfer to Perth.

1978 New classroom built at western end of St Joseph’s School, Waroona
October, 1977 Resolution for all priests to participate in Theological Renewal being blamed over a three year period 1978-80 by the Perth Senate and Catholic Pastoral Institute
May 31st-June 2nd, 1977
Live in workshop at Jarrahdale Village on “determining psychological and moral guilt!”

Modifications to Dardanup Convent prior to the Carmelite Sisters taking up residence.

Committee of enquiry about possibilities of the Diaconate. Fr Morrison and Bishop McKeon to liaise Coordinating committee for spiritual training and commissioning of acolytes set up, with Frs R. Hardiman, K. Johnston and Tony Lawless SSS

March 7-11th, 1977 Clergy Conference at Franciscan Retreat House, Victoria Park. Topics included Reconciliation, Catholic Pastoral Institute staff, Bunbury Catholic Welfare (Sr Glenys), Marriage Encounter (Fr D. Conlan), Confraternity of Chritian Doctrine in State schools (Bro Andrew). Election of a single committee to administer Sick Priests Fund and the AMP Provident Fund. Diocesan policy to have Acolytes in parishes
August 6th, 1977 Death of Pope Paul VI
Election of Pope John Paul I
Death of Pope John Paul I
Election of Pope John Paul II (Karol Woytilaya)
January 1977
Beginnings of Marriage Encounter weekends in Bunbury Diocese.

Introduction of the Ministry of Instituted Acolytes in the Diocese of Bunbury

November 1976
Beginning of Marriage Encounter in WA.

Arrival of 10 Carmelite Sisters from Bangkok, Thailand, to set up an enclosure at the Dardanup Convent. Initially to live in Nedlands.

April 1976 Establishment of the Office of the Christian Family and Ethnic Services in Bunbury lead by Sr Glenys Yeoman, SJG in Victoria Street, Bunbury
February 1976
Introduction of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers into Bunbury – Frs Tony Lawless, Brian Morrison and Fr Joe Gerin, working in Bunbury chapel and in parishes, and on radio

January 1976 Two week Renewal Course run by the East Asian Pastoral Institute at St Thomas More College with participation by Bunbury priests, religious and laity
September 7th, 1975
Archbishop Goody blessed State Two extensions of the Mandurah Church.

Visit of Fr Negri (Provincial) and Fr Sullivan (Bursar) of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation with a view to a foundation in the diocese for parish missions and a chapel in Bunbury

June 1975
Dr Russell Hardiman appointed Director of Catholic Education for Bunbury Diocese.

Aboriginal Hostel established in Albany (Tintinara) to offer accommodation for boys to attend high school, under Fr Brian Tierney of the Pallotines

1975 Holy Year
First university courses, in-service training, and adult education offer by the Catholic Pastoral Institute of WA, in Bunbury dioceses and elsewhere in WA.

Introduction of the Franciscan Sisters to Bunbury Diocese to serve Aboriginal apostolate and other needs, based in Wagin.

Introduction of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers to Bunbury Diocese and establishment of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers to Bunbury Diocese in CBD.

November 1974 Appointment of Dr John Prendiville SJ as Foundation Director of the Catholic Pastoral Institute of WA. Purchase of a house in Gnowangerup as new Presbytery
July 14th, 1974 Opening by Hon G. Gewar and Blessing by Bishop Myles McKeon of nine new units for Star of the Sea Homes, Esperance
March 11-14th, 1974
Inaugural meeting of the reconstituted Senate of Priests at Priests Conference.

February 1973 Constitution of School Boards for Systemic Catholic Schools distributed by CEO. Instruction of the Dominican Sisters from the Philippines to St Vincent’s Hospital, Bunbury
Lent 1973 Launch of Project Compassion as a particular aspect of the Penitential Season of Lent
January 1973 Availability of the new three volume edition of the Liturgy of the Hours (Breviary) in English
December 1972 – January 1973 Four Bunbury priests (Frs FitzSimons, Dwyer, Hardiman and Faulkner) took part in a five week Institute of Pstconciliar Spirituality and Training programme of Movement for a Better World. Fr Hardiman seconded to the inaugural Australian Promoting group of Movement for a Better world
December 9th, 1972 Ordination of Fr Ian Johnston in St Joseph’s Church Busselton
November 24th, 1972 Announcement of a major cycle of appointments to fixed terms in parishes
November 1972 Arrival of Majellan Brothers for Youth Aposotolates in Bunbury Diocese
April 1972 Appointment of Miss Colleen Schutz (School teacher) as YCW full-time worker in Diocese
1971 Purchase of Money Street block of flats for possible use by retired priests. Balance paid by Mr Frank Devlin
August 3rd, 1971 Clergy Conference in Katanning to discuss issues of youth apostolates in Bunbury
April 1st, 1971 Inaugural meeting of the Senate of Priests of the Diocese of Bunbury held in the Chapter Hall of St Patrick’s Cathedral Bunbury
January 1st, 1971 Opening of Parish/Town Seafarers Centre in Esperance
January-February 1971 Visit to Bunbury Diocese by a group of Majellan Brothers for the young people of the parishes through coffee shops, camps and retreats
December 1970 Closure of St Joseph’s Convent School Margaret River
November 1970 WA Conference of Bishops established a Catholic Institute Constitutive Committee to plan the needs of training of Catholics in WA
Bibliography