Our History

Our parish began officially on Sunday the 9th of November, 1980. The first Divine Liturgy was served in the hall of St. Therese's Catholic Church, on the corner of Sutherland and Coward Streets. Fr Nicholas Marketos was appointed as the Parish Priest and thus began the work of the parish in our community.

 

After 12 months, the parish bought the existing Anglican church at 13-15 Tunbridge Street, Mascot, and together with the assistance of the Parish committee, the Ladies Philoptohos and of all our parishioners, the parish began to grow spiritually. Groups were organised for hospital visits; a youth fellowship was created, and a senior citizens' group began to meet weekly.

 

Due to the limited seating capacity in the "old" church, the parish bought a plot of land on Coward Street, beginning the building of the "new" church of St. Catherine's. On the 7th of February, 1993, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of blessed memory, laid the foundation stone, and a year later, on the 6th of February, 1994, Archbishop Stylianos officially opened the new church of St. Catherine's for the glory of the Triune God.

 

Fr. Nicholas, known for his Godly zeal, organised the parish into a spiritual centre where many Orthodox faithful would find solace and comfort. Apart from being a father confessor, he organised numerous functions to support orthodox missionary work in Madagascar and Indonesia.

 

On the 25th of November, 1996, during the visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Australia, Fr Nicholas was awarded the Cross of the Patriarchate for his services to the Archdiocese and to the wider Australian community.

 

On the 27th of November 2010, the Archdiocese approved Fr Nicholas' retirement from active parish duties and Fr Athanasios Giatsios was appointed as parish priest of St Catherine's Church. Fr Athanasios' ministry at St Catherine was highlighted with his overseeing the preparations for the consecration of the church. His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia presided over this sacred moment on the 25th of November, 2021.

 

The Future

Saint Catherine is a dynamic and growing parish. Our fellowships and seniors' groups are pivotal missions of our parish. Together with the Ladies Auxiliary, these groups minister to those in need through the organisation of charitable initiatives, social welfare visits to hospitals and outreach to the poor and needy. 

Our parish is focused on connecting orthodox students of the local public schools with their local church by offering Special Religious Educations lessons (Scripture Teaching), organising liturgies and visits for their spiritual needs. Visits to our church are organised in conjunction with the local schools, so that we can introduce the Orthodox faith to non-Orthodox children as well. Our parish also offers spiritual support to students of the local universities, nursing homes and hospitals.

The Greek language is taught on Saturdays in our Language School. Families wishing for their children to be enrolled are invited to contact the parish office for details.

Greek Dancing classes are offered by the Hellenic Lyceum at St John's Anglican Church (339a Maroubra Road, Maroubra, NSW, 2035) on Mondays at 6:00pm. Cost of lessons can be confirmed with the instructors. For more information contact the parish office.

If you are willing and able to support the mission of our parish in any way, please contact the parish office or our parish priest.