St Mary's Church Buderim QLD
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Who we are
As one of the largest Catholic Parishes in Australia, don't be intimidated! The size of our Catholic community, mirrors the tremendous growth in population on the Sunshine Coast. Once upon a time, our 'sleepy, little' coastal township of Maroochydore was part of the Nambour Parish and only separated as its own Parish in 1978.
Our four worshiping communities – St Mary’s Buderim, St Peter’s Coolum, Stella Maris Maroochydore and St Catherine’s Sippy Downs – create a diverse and vibrant Catholic Community that is both sensitive to each unique journey and eager to share the story of the Good News.
Our Parish Motto, developed by our four communities is, Gather, Grow, Go!
Our four worshiping communities – St Mary’s Buderim, St Peter’s Coolum, Stella Maris Maroochydore and St Catherine’s Sippy Downs – create a diverse and vibrant Catholic Community that is both sensitive to each unique journey and eager to share the story of the Good News.
Our Parish Motto, developed by our four communities is, Gather, Grow, Go!
Street Address
Church Pastor
Very Rev Peter Brannelly
Parish Priest
24 King Street
Buderim,
QLD
4556
Australia
Phone: 07 5443 3488
Fax: 07 5443 3487
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Denomination
Roman Catholic
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Church Website
St Mary's Church on Social Media
Leadership
Leader Name:
Very Rev Peter Brannelly
Leader Position:
Parish Priest
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Leader Address:
Phone:
Fax:
07 5443 3487
Leader Email:
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Leader Bio:
Peter Brannelly was raised on the Southside of Brisbane, the first born son of Kevin & Betty Brannelly, older brother of Jo-Anne, Louise and John. He was educated at the parish schools of St Joseph’s, Kangaroo Point, St Elizabeth’s, Ekibin and St Bernard’s Upper Mt Gravatt before going on to complete his primary and then secondary education at Clairvaux College.
After completing his senior year, Peter worked briefly in the bank before entering Pius XII Provincial Seminary at Banyo in 1981 to commence his studies for the priesthood. On 10 February 1989, Peter was ordained a priest by Archbishop Francis Rush at St Bernard’s Church, Upper Mt Gravatt. Fr Peter’s first appointment was as Assistant Priest to St Edward the Confessor Parish at Daisy Hill, followed by Our Lady of Lourdes at Sunnybank. On completion of his term at Sunnybank, Fr Peter was appointed Administrator of St Francis Xavier Parish at Goodna in 1994 and Administrator of St William’s Parish at Grovely in 1995.
With Archbishop Bathersby’s support and blessing, Fr Peter volunteered to work in the mission Diocese of St John-Basseterre (Antigua) in the West Indies in 1995. For the next 11 years, he was pastor of the islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda and the people of the British Virgin Islands. During this time the new church of St William’s in the capital of Road Town was built.
On his return to the Brisbane Archdiocese in 2006, Fr Brannelly served briefly at Burleigh Heads before being appointed as the foundation Parish Priest of the Jubilee Parish with the responsibility of completing the process of amalgamating the historic city fringe parishes of Ashgrove, Bardon, Herston, Newmarket, Red Hill and Rosalie. After 11 years at Jubilee, Archbishop Coleridge appointed Fr Brannelly as Dean of the Cathedral of St Stephen in July 2017. Two years later, Fr Peter was appointed as the Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Rosary Caloundra, where he served for four years and celebrated the Parish's Golden Jubilee. In 2022, Fr Peter took up his new appointment as the Parish Priest of Stella Maris Catholic Parish.
After completing his senior year, Peter worked briefly in the bank before entering Pius XII Provincial Seminary at Banyo in 1981 to commence his studies for the priesthood. On 10 February 1989, Peter was ordained a priest by Archbishop Francis Rush at St Bernard’s Church, Upper Mt Gravatt. Fr Peter’s first appointment was as Assistant Priest to St Edward the Confessor Parish at Daisy Hill, followed by Our Lady of Lourdes at Sunnybank. On completion of his term at Sunnybank, Fr Peter was appointed Administrator of St Francis Xavier Parish at Goodna in 1994 and Administrator of St William’s Parish at Grovely in 1995.
With Archbishop Bathersby’s support and blessing, Fr Peter volunteered to work in the mission Diocese of St John-Basseterre (Antigua) in the West Indies in 1995. For the next 11 years, he was pastor of the islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda and the people of the British Virgin Islands. During this time the new church of St William’s in the capital of Road Town was built.
On his return to the Brisbane Archdiocese in 2006, Fr Brannelly served briefly at Burleigh Heads before being appointed as the foundation Parish Priest of the Jubilee Parish with the responsibility of completing the process of amalgamating the historic city fringe parishes of Ashgrove, Bardon, Herston, Newmarket, Red Hill and Rosalie. After 11 years at Jubilee, Archbishop Coleridge appointed Fr Brannelly as Dean of the Cathedral of St Stephen in July 2017. Two years later, Fr Peter was appointed as the Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Rosary Caloundra, where he served for four years and celebrated the Parish's Golden Jubilee. In 2022, Fr Peter took up his new appointment as the Parish Priest of Stella Maris Catholic Parish.
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Administration
Admin Name:
Pauline Leahy
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07 5443 3487
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St Mary's Church Mass Times
Wednesday: 7:00 AM
Sunday: 9:30 AM
It's been more than a year since the last mass times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm mass times.
Please contact the church to confirm Mass Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
Sunday: 9:30 AM
It's been more than a year since the last mass times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm mass times.
Please contact the church to confirm Mass Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
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St Mary's Church Buderim Photos
St Mary's Church - Buderim, Queensland
Sunday mass
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St Mary's Church History
The first Catholic Church on the Sunshine Coast was opened on Christmas Eve in 1922. It was called Our Lady Star of the Sea and Father Wright was appointed as the Foundation priest. Fr Wright was invited to take charge of the new parish of Maroochy in 1919, as he often presided at masses at Nambour, which was then a part of the Caboolture parish.
Many parishioners who wanted to attend the opening of Our Lady Star of the Sea arrived late as they had travelled by boat from Nambour and the boat had broken down! Bishop Quinn, who had travelled from Brisbane, waited for everyone to arrive before beginning with the proceedings. Most parishioners travelled from Buderim and the Maroochy River areas by foot, boat, tram or horse and cart. The Church was located on what we today refer to as the Nambour/Maroochydore Connection Road in Maroochydore.
In 1950, St Joseph’s Church at Nambour was pulled down and its timbers were used to build the second Our Lady Star of the Sea at Baden Powell St, Maroochydore (where one of our four parish churches exists today).
With growing holiday visitors and more people moving in to the Maroochydore area, the first church was no longer able to hold the increasing number of parishioners. The timbers from St Joseph’s were used to extend the size of the church, which at that time, could only shelter up tp 170 parishioners in the Nave and across the spacious verandahs.
The third church was opened in 1964 in a special ceremony led by Archbishop Duhig and the parish priest Father Ryan. It could now accommodate more than 600 parishioners. Its main features were the numerous glass doors on either side of the church, and the amplifiers set in the roof. On either side of the alter was a sacristy and a bedroom for Fr Heffernan, who was the parish priest at the time.
In 1977, works on the Stella Maris church continued to enable the congregation to face towards the East. The church underwent renovations again in the late 1980s, and was redesigned in 1991 to include the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
Many parishioners who wanted to attend the opening of Our Lady Star of the Sea arrived late as they had travelled by boat from Nambour and the boat had broken down! Bishop Quinn, who had travelled from Brisbane, waited for everyone to arrive before beginning with the proceedings. Most parishioners travelled from Buderim and the Maroochy River areas by foot, boat, tram or horse and cart. The Church was located on what we today refer to as the Nambour/Maroochydore Connection Road in Maroochydore.
In 1950, St Joseph’s Church at Nambour was pulled down and its timbers were used to build the second Our Lady Star of the Sea at Baden Powell St, Maroochydore (where one of our four parish churches exists today).
The third church was opened in 1964 in a special ceremony led by Archbishop Duhig and the parish priest Father Ryan. It could now accommodate more than 600 parishioners. Its main features were the numerous glass doors on either side of the church, and the amplifiers set in the roof. On either side of the alter was a sacristy and a bedroom for Fr Heffernan, who was the parish priest at the time.
In 1977, works on the Stella Maris church continued to enable the congregation to face towards the East. The church underwent renovations again in the late 1980s, and was redesigned in 1991 to include the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
St Mary's Church Historical Photos
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Open our ears to hear
Blessed Lord, open our ears to hear what Thou speakest and our eyes to see as Thou seest. Give us hearts to beat in sympathy with Thine at the sight of every little child; and above all, our Lord, to understand and experience how surely and how blessedly Thou fulfilest Thy promise, "Whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me."
St Mary's Church listing was last updated on the 20th of May, 2023
