This year marks the 75th anniversary of St Therese Church, better known as the Little Flower Church at West Wollongong.

In about 1922, Father John Dunne of St Francis Xavier Church purchased just over six acres of land at the Cross Roads for the establishment of a church. Before leaving for a trip overseas in February 1923 he made a promise to the West Wollongong parishioners that if they raised £100 he would build them a church at West Wollongong on his return. Just days after arriving back in Australia, Father Dunne died on March 2, 1924, in Sydney. To carry out Father Dunne's promise to the parishioners of West Wollongong, Father Cyril Callaghan called a meeting on the West Wollongong site for March 14, 1937. About 80 people attended and it was decided to build a church dedicated as a memorial to the very popular Father John Dunne and St Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower. Meantime, Mass was being said at the Mount Keira School of Arts.

In the 10 years after the subscription of £100, it had made £47 interest. By July 1937, the bank balance had risen to £311. The intentions were to have a church built and opened free of debt. The Most Reverend N. T. Gilroy, Coadjutor Archbishop of Sydney, blessed and laid the foundation stone at 3pm on Sunday, January 30, 1938.

The new church would seat 350 people. Clement Glancy of Sydney was chosen as the architect. Very shortly after laying the foundation stone, construction of the church began. It was built of brick with internal dimensions of 70 feet x 27 feet. The highest point of the ceiling would be 26 feet. At the front, behind the altar, was a wheel window made of synthetic stone and inlaid with lead light glazing. Tallow wood would be used on the floor of the nave and all the joinery would be in Pacific maple. The Marseilles roof tiles would be supported by steel roofing. Seating for 75 persons would be supported in the gallery above the narthex. The ceiling was panelled in Pacific maple and lined with Celotex thermal insulation.

It was exactly one year from the laying of the foundation stone on January 30, 1938, to the official blessing of the church on January 29, 1939, by the Right Reverend Monsignor Thomas Phelan, Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Sydney. More than 500 people, consisting of parishioners, local and out-of-town clergy, the mayor and mayoress of Wollongong, aldermen and Mrs W. A. Lang and Mr H. Lazzarini, MHR, gathered in the vicinity of the church where Monsignor Phelan was received with a guard of honour, composed of the Hibernians and Children of Mary. After the blessing of the exterior, the church doors were thrown open for the blessing ceremonies of the interior, followed by speeches.

Father Callaghan said he was pleased to have Monsignor Phelan present because he was a close friend of 40 years of the late Father Dunne. Monsignor Phelan pointed out that the church was erected in the memory of Father Dunne. He and Father Dunne had entered college together in Ireland and were ordained priests at the same time. They both arrived in Australia in 1892 on board the Ophir. He attended Father Dunne on the day he died giving him the last rites.

Father Callaghan told the parishioners that Father Dunne had purchased the land for £600 and to date the construction of the church had cost more £3000.

Though the school started not long after the church was opened, it took another 11 years before a proper school building was completed.

Information courtesy of Carol Herben OAM.  Call 0409 832 854 or email sycado6@bigpond.net.au