Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church

The Catholic community of Our Lady Help Of Christians began to take shape in 1985 when Fr. Paul Ryan took up permanent residence in Ambarvale.

Although Mass was being celebrated prior to Fr. Ryan’s arrival, his move to Ambarvale was the first formal step towards the development of the Parish Centre at Rosemeadow, as the area soon after came to be known.

In 1986, Fr. Adrian Van Klooster became the area’s second priest. During Fr. Adrian’s time, the church was built and officially blessed and opened by Bishop W E Murray, Bishop of Wollongong, on March 1, 1987.

On 8 December, 1994, the Parish Of Our Lady Help Of Christians, incorporating St. Bede’s Church at Appin, was canonically erected by Bishop W.E. Murray, Bishop of Wollongong. Fr.  Christopher Sarkis was appointed as the Parish’s first Parish Priest.

Since his arrival at Rosemeadow, Fr. Sarkis had a dream for a new church for the parish. Work on the new church began in July 2017 and was completed in early 2019.

On Sunday 3 September 2017, the parish celebrated Foundation Day with the Blessing of the land on which the church was to be built. The Most Reverend Bishop Peter Ingham – Bishop of Wollongong celebrated the 10.00am Mass, after which parishioners processed up to the land for the official blessing and dedication of the site for the new church.

The first Mass was celebrated in the church on 23 February, 2019. Friday 8 March, 2019, saw the Solemn Dedication of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish Church. The Principal Celebrant was The Most Reverend Bishop Brian Mascord – Bishop of Wollongong. Fr. Sean Cullen acted as Master of Ceremonies. Over 1,100 people were in attendance at the Mass.