Archbishop Prowse Commemorates 50 Years of St. Thomas Aquinas Charnwood

In a heartfelt homily, Archbishop Prowse led the congregation in commemorating the 50th anniversary of St. Thomas Aquinas Charnwood, focusing on the blessings that have shaped the parish.

The Archbishop paid tribute to the late Fr. Neville Drinkwater, the parish’s founding priest, celebrating his legacy of “sincere compassion, kindness, and humility”.

This month would have marked Fr. Neville’s 100th birthday, adding a layer of poignancy to the ceremony and underscoring his lasting impact on the community.

Archbishop Prowse likened the parish’s milestone to a rowing team on Lake Burley Griffin, advancing while drawing lessons from the past.

Founded 50 years ago, St. Thomas Aquinas began its journey when Fr. Neville Drinkwater was appointed the first parish priest.

Recalling those early days, Fr. Neville remarked, “I couldn’t find the area. There were no streets here, no houses, no shops.

The nearest shop was Jamison.” His vision and perseverance laid the foundation for a thriving parish.

Mass was initially celebrated in a house on Companion Crescent, Flynn, with just 25 congregants; later, services moved to Flynn Primary School before the St. Thomas Aquinas parish school was built.

The current church, opened by Archbishop Francis Carroll in 1989, was designed by renowned architect Romaldo Giurgola and realized by builder and parishioner Cesare De Franeschi.

During his homily, the Archbishop highlighted future objectives, including collaboration with the Kippax community to form the Parishes of West Belconnen and a renewed focus on evangelisation.

He called upon parishioners to cultivate a welcoming atmosphere and to actively engage others, thus becoming “an invitational parish.”

The Archbishop urged the community to reflect on their charism and consider “serving in humility” as a guiding ethos inspired by leaders like Fr. Neville and Sr. Colleen Howe.

In closing, he expressed hope and gratitude for the parish community, affirming faith in their ongoing service and growth.

With the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart now overseeing pastoral care, new opportunities for collaboration between Charnwood and Kippax have emerged. While each remains an independent parish, they operate collectively as the Parishes of West Belconnen.