WHO WE ARE

Here to Glorify God

A. Short Glimpse of the Parish

Our Lady of the Rosary (OLR) Kensington NSW is a parish of the Archdiocese of Sydney under the care of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC). OLR Kensington became a separate parish in 1906 from within Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) Parish Randwick.

At its establishment - and for many of the years since - OLR Kensington has been ministered by the MSC, such that the parish has been and continues to be very much developed, animated and inspired by the charism and spirituality of the MSC Founder, Fr. Jules Chevalier. Father Chevalier believed in God’s love (Credidimus Caritati) and wanted to ensure the world of God’s love. He also had a strong devotion to Our Lady, since he had an extraordinary experience of God’s providence through Mother Mary at the time of the MSC foundation. The MSC mission is to proclaim God’s love through our daily lives and to bring people to know and love God through Mother Mary (Per Mariam ad Iesum: Through Mary we come to Jesus). The sisters of the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (DOLSH) – who share the influence of Fr. Jules Chevalier with the MSC in their foundation - have been ever present in the parish and influential not least because of the schools established within the parish.

Other religious congregations in the parish community are active in performing teaching, religious instruction, liturgy and other ministries. Parish based social ministries include the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the MSC Mission Office Board and the DOLSH Overseas Aid Office.

As a community who believe in God’s love, we commit ourselves to:

Showing to the world that we are loved by God (identity).
Welcoming people to our worship community (celebration of life and love).
Supporting the poor and the needy ones.

PERSONNEL OF THE PARISH

Committed to Instilling Faith into All Congregants

FR. Peter Hearn MSC

Parish Administrator

Father Peter Hearn, MSC, has had a remarkable journey in his vocation. Raised by his aunt after his mother's early passing, he attended St Patrick’s Primary School in Port Fairy, Victoria, where his love for music flourished under the guidance of the Good Samaritan nuns. He later attended MSC Monivae Secondary College, where he was recognized for his musical talents .

After completing secondary school, Peter worked in the public service while studying part-time at Melbourne University. In 1968, he entered the Novitiate at Douglas Park and was professed in 1969 at OLSH Randwick. His desire to help poorer communities, inspired by the MSCs' mission, led him to pursue the priesthood, and he was ordained in 1976.

Father Peter's early ministry included teaching at Daramalan College in Canberra and working with the Aboriginal community in Port Keats (now Wadeye), Northern Territory. His work there involved assisting in the transition from mission stations to government settlements, focusing on education and healthcare.

Throughout his career, Father Peter has held various appointments, including his significant role as parish priest of Randwick. His dedication to his community and his passion for cross-cultural experiences have been hallmarks of his ministry .

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MARIA CAETANO

Parish Secretary

Maria was appointed Kensington Parish Secretary in August 1999 and has enjoyed being a part of the Kensington Parish Community lead by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. To date, one of the highlights of working at Kensington Parish has been World Youth Day 2008, the preparation for that event, meeting the people from overseas that were housed within the parish and of course attending WYD Mass. ‘It’s not every day you can say you attended Mass said by the Pope!!!

Parish Pastoral Council

To know more about our Parish Pastoral Council, please contact Parish Secretary.