^{Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, second from right, with builder Ryan Secola, building Site Supervisor Sam Bruno, Scarborough Parish Priest Fr Benedict Lee (third from right) and Architect Tim Lanigan. Photo: Jamie O’Brien.}

By Natashya Fernandez

Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has last weekend told Scarborough parishioners to look to Jesus, listen to his words, treasure them in their hearts and put them into practice.

The Archbishop was speaking to the more than 250 parishioners who were attending Mass to mark the blessing of the new entrance and consecration of the new Altar at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

The Mass on Sunday 23 July was celebrated by Archbishop Costelloe and concelebrated by Parish Priest Father Benedict Lee and former Parish Priest, Fr Henry Byrne.

The monumental renovations that involved much consultation was initiated by Director of Centre for Liturgy, Sr Kerry Willison RSM who visited the Parish Council a few years ago to workshop ideas on Sacred Art and Architecture.

The Archbishop said the Mass was a very special occasion for the parish and everyone in the community.

“I am very happy to be here this morning for this very special occasion and particularly as we consecrate the new Altar.

“The consecration of the Altar is a very solemn and important moment in the life of any parish. “The Altar in many ways is the pulsing heart of any Church,” the Archbishop said.

^{Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has last weekend told Scarborough parishioners to look to Jesus, listen to his words, treasure them in their hearts and put them into practice during the blessing and consecration of renovations at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Photo: Jamie O’Brien.}

The renovations included bringing the sanctuary forward with a locally handcrafted wood ambo and Altar, a fully refurbished foyer, new flooring and carpets.

A narrow window behind the sanctuary has been created and positioned to allow a stream of light to flow into the Church, joined by a steel beam and a suspended crucifix symbolically and literally holding the church together.

Architect Tim Lanigan, who designed the renovations explained to The eRecord said that this was the first church renovation he has been a part of.

“It is by far one of the most rewarding projects I have been involved in.

“I've always wanted to design a Church so this has been a great experience.

“I felt very comfortable working with Fr Lee and the parish committee and being familiar with the liturgy enabled me to explore design options with a degree of confidence.

“I believe a Church should inspire a sense of awe for worshippers but still maintain a sense of intimacy with Christ.

“I hope we've come some way to enhancing that experience at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church,” he said.

Mr Lanigan added that the dramatically suspended cross above the sanctuary was part of a broader design to create a better space.

“Natural light is so important in defining space particularly in places of worship, so we installed a slot window where the cross had previously hung and then suspended it in front of the opening to amplify the presence of Christ within the space and to draw the eye upward,” Mr Lanigan explained.

^{Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB during the consecration of the new Altar at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Scarborough Parish on Sunday 23 July. Photo: Jamie O’Brien.}

Archbishop Costelloe said that as the altar is the main place in any Catholic church and is the only object in the Church which is consecrated.

“The pouring of the sacred Oil of Chrism, and the anointing of the whole Altar with it, highlights for us that the Altar is a powerful and eloquent symbol of Christ and of his sacrifice of himself for our sake.

“It is for this reason that the priest kisses the altar at the beginning and end of each Mass - not, as many people think, because it contains the relics of the saints but rather because it is both the table around which we gather for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper and the Altar on which the Lord’s body and blood, sacrificed for us, are offered.

“In the sacred building which is the Church, the Altar is the sacred place where the Lord’s death becomes present to us and from which we enter into a profound communion of love with the one who gave his life for us as we receive his body and blood in Holy Communion.

“It is this, all of this, which is the source of that faith, that energy, that love and that commitment which enable us to make the Church the healer of wounds and warmer of hearts that the Lord calls us and need us to be,” the Archbishop explained.

^{Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has last weekend told Scarborough parishioners to look to Jesus, listen to his words, treasure them in their hearts and put them into practice during the blessing and consecration of renovations at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Photo: Jamie O’Brien.}

“The woman to whom this parish is especially dedicated, Mary Immaculate, is remembered in John’s Gospel as the one who said to the stewards at the wedding feast in Cana, ‘You do whatever he, Jesus, tells you to do’. 

“Mary says the same thing to us this morning. It is her message to you as a community dedicated to her. Look to Jesus, listen to His words, treasure them in your hearts and put them into practice.

“My prayer for this parish is that you will continue to gather week after week, year after year, around this altar, this symbol of Christ’s love for you, and in doing so grow in your readiness to listen to Him, to love Him and to follow in His footsteps,” Archbishop Costelloe concluded.