Restoration of the Old St. Michael’s Church
& Reconsecration to the Chapel of Our Lady of Ephesus
Reviving Faith, Restoring Heritage
Support us in our efforts to restore the Old St. Michael’s Church and reconsecrate it as the Chapel of Our Lady of Ephesus
Copyright @ Basilica of the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception
About the Project
The original St Michael’s Church at Baulkham Hills was built between 1844 and 1848. A small, beautiful sandstone Chapel, as the parish grew and the new church was built to accommodate the larger community, the old chapel fell into disrepair and neglect.
In an effort to conserve the church’s rich legacy as well as rebuild and restore it as a place of worship, solidarity, community, and more, we will reconsecrate the church in devotion to Our Lady of Ephesus, Queen Assumed into Heaven, Mother Mary.
The story of our Lady Of Ephesus: Bringing the Sacred Spirit of the House of Virgin Mary to the Southern Cross
The House of Virgin Mary, on the outskirts of the historic city of Ephesus, Turkey, is where, according to The Vatican, Mary, Mother of God, spent her last days. It is also, by many accounts, the site of the ‘Assumption of Mary’.
House of Virgin Mary · Selcuk, Ephesus, Turkey
We will be releasing 1000 brass plates to be placed against the inside back wall. With each donation of $1000 or more, you can have your family name inscribed. The plates will face the altar and be in the presence of prayer. All funds from this effort will contribute to the restoration project. Each plate will be about 100mm x50mm in size with the names of your family inscribed. Please book quickly as we will not exceed 1000 plates.
A book of all other donations will also be recorded by hand and ink and kept in the Chapel.
Old St. Michael’s Church : A Strong Link with Mother Mary.
Archbishop Kelly, in 1925, donated 50 tons of the sandstone used to build St Mary’s Cathedral towards the construction of the old church. Established in 1917, the Church was first administered by the Benedictines and came under the care of Parramatta and subsequently North Parramatta parish. Baulkham Hills became a parish in its own right in 1917, Rev E. McNamara being its first Parish Priest.