Canberra - A New Year, a new parish and a farewell.

Fr Chung receiving the blessing from parishioners

Parishioners of the Parish of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, West Belconnen, gathered on 1 January 2026 to mark the beginning of a new year with Mass at St Thomas Aquinas Church, Charnwood. In addition to the celebration of the new year, parishioners had another event to acknowledge as on that day, the new parish formed from the merger of the parishes of St John the Apostle, Kippax and St Thomas Aquinas, Charnwood began its life under the care of the MSCs with Fr Tru Nguyen msc as parish priest.

Tableau in front of the altar

After much work and discernment during 2025, parishioners voted to call the new parish formed from the merger, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish. Symbolic of the merger was the tableau in front of the altar at Mass showing the pictures of St Thomas Aquinas and St John with a statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the middle. Fr Chung Tran msc who presided at the Mass prepared the tableau and a beautiful liturgy to give gentle recognition to the day. Other more formal ceremonies marking the parish beginning will be held with Archbishop Prowse and the MSC Provincial Fr Stephen Hackett, joining the parish on the week-end of 14-15 February.

Parishioners of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, West Belconnen, singing the Irish blessing over Fr Chung.

Parishioners also said farewell to Fr Chung who left Canberra the following day after nearly three years as assistant priest. They sang the Irish blessing, a tradition in St John’s parish, to pray for him and wish him well in his next appointment.

With thanks to Elizabeth McDonald.