History

Missions/Parishes Responsible for Gymea’s Catholic Community	1887-1957
Hurstville-Kogarah Mission	1887-1916
St Declan’s Parish, Penshurst	1916-1924
St Aloysius Parish, Cronulla	1924-1934
St Patrick’s Parish, Sutherland	1934-1951
St Mary Star of the Sea, Miranda	1951-1957

Key dates in the history of Gymea Parish

1931	Fr. Henry McDonald celebrates First Mass at Gymea School of Arts
1948	Fr. Patrick McManus starts purchasing land at Gymea
1952	Meeting at the O’Reilly family home to pursue plans for a Gymea Church. The first (timber) St Catherine’s Church opened later that year.
1953	Fr. HW (Mick) Slattery purchases additional land at Gymea
1954	Sisters of St Joseph of Orange, California open St Catherine’s School, Gymea. Sr Marie Therese Johnstone CSJ is appointed Principal.
1958	The Establishment of Gymea Parish and appointment of Fr. Edward (Ned) Wilkinson as first Parish Priest.
1959	Opening of Second St Catherine’s Church
1961	Blessing and Opening of new St Catherine’s Parish School
1972	Fire destroys several classrooms and amenities at St Catherine’s school
1978	Mr Des Connolly appointed first lay Principal of St Catherine’s school
1979	Fr. William (Bill) Hannon appointed second Parish Priest
1989	Fr. Hannon blesses site of new Church building
1990	Dedication and Opening of third St Catherine’s church by His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Clancy
2004	Fr. John McCaffrey appointed third Parish Priest of Gymea. Due to illness, was forced to retire early in 2005.
2005	Monsignor Brian Rayner OAM appointed fourth Parish Priest of Gymea.
2008	Golden Jubilee celebrations of Gymea Parish; Opening of new school buildings
2018	60th Anniversary of Gymea Parish, 45th Anniversary of Mgr Rayner’s Ordination
2019	Completion of further renovations to St Catherine’s school

2021 – 30 July – Rev. Monsignor Brian Rayner OAM retires as Parish Priest

2021 – 1 August – Reverend Father Greg Morgan is appointed fifth Parish Priest of Gymea