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Parish History
Brief History of the Parish
| 1833 | First recorded Mass in Illawarra (celebrated by Father Therry) |
| 1838 | Father John Rigney is entrusted with the pastoral care of the Illawarra Mission (which included the settlement of Jamberoo). |
| 1838 | Bishop Polding consecrates the ground for the Jamberoo Cemetery. |
| 1839 | A wooden church school built in Jamberoo. |
| 1852 | Kiama - Shoalhaven area established as a parish with Father Pierre de Jonge O.S.B. (Father Peter Young) as first Parish Priest. |
| 1858 | Saint Peter's Church Kiama, opened at a cost of 1,600 pounds |
| 1860 | Father Michael Flanagan, appointed second parish priest. The Kiama presbytery completed during this year. |
| 1863 | Shoalhaven - Ulladulla detached from Kiama and made a separate parish. |
| 1864 | Small wooden school and chapel erected at Gerringong. |
| 1867 | Shellharbour detached from Kiama parish and included in the new parish of Albion Park. |
| 1871 | Gerringong Catholics School closed. |
| 1875 | Archbishop Vaughan visits the parish and confirms 60 at St Peter's Kiama. |
| 1879 | The present St Matthew's Church, Jamberoo blessed and opened by Archbishop Vaughan |
| 1882 | Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Gerringong blessed and opened by Archbishop Vaughan. (The name of the church was later changed to "St Mary, Star of the Sea") |
| 1883 | Tragic drowning of Fathers McGrath and Clarke (both of Nowra) off Kendell's beach, Kiama. |
| 1884 | Care of parish school at Jamberoo entrusted to Sisters of St Joseph. |
| 1887 | Catholic school established at Kiama, Later that year the Sisters of St Joseph took charge of the Kiama school and the Jamberoo school was closed. |
| 1888-89 | Convent built and opened. |
| 1905 | Father (later Dean) Michael Malone appointed parish priest of Kiama (Parish Priest 1905-1914, 1916-1960) |
| 1908 | Celebrations to mark the Golden Jubilee of St Peter's Church, Kiama. |
| 1935 | Father (later Monsignor) Michael Irish begins long association with the parish as administrator (1935-1960) then as parish priest (1960-1970). |
| 1930s | Extensive renovations and enlargement of Presbytery |
| 1942 | Father Michael Malone celebrates Golden Jubilee of his priestly ordination. Archbishop Gilroy confers the title "Dean" on him, and he is presented with a gold chalice and paten by the people of Kiama. (Chalice still regularly in use at Kiama). |
| 1952 | New parish school built. |
| 1952 | Kiama becomes one of the parishes making up the newly formed diocese of Wollongong. Bishop Thomas McCabe becomes the first Bishop of Wollongong. |
| 1960 | Death of Dean Malone. Mosignor Michael Irish becomes parish priest of Kiama |
| 1963 | The new parish Church of Ss Peter and Paul is opened and blessed by Bishop McCabe. |
| 1970 | Monsignor Irish dies and is succeeded by Father Alan Robinson. |
| 1974 | St Joseph's Parish School renamed "Ss Peter and Paul". |
| 1975 | Bishop William Murray becomes second Bishop of Wollongong on retirement of Bishop McCabe. |
| 1976 | St Matthew's Jamberoo restored, and consecrated by Bishop Murray. |
| 1977 | Father Richard Hazlitt becomes Administrator of Kiama, and parish priest the following year. |
| 1981 | Second storey of new Ss Peter and Paul School block completed. (Begun in 1977) |
| 1982 | Centenary of St Mary Star of the Sea, Gerringong. |
| 1983 | Bishop McCabe dies. |
| 1984 | Father Pat Kenna succeeds Father Hazlitt as Parish Priest of Kiama. First Lay Principal (M. De Busch) of Ss Peter and Paul School. |
| 1986 | Meeting room built near Church at Gerringong. |
| 1989 | Benedictine Abbey at Jamberoo opened and blessed. |
| 1990 | Sisters of St Joseph cease teaching in Parish School but continue pastoral care in parish. New Grade 6 and Library added to school buildings. |
| 1993 | Consecration of Ss Peter and Paul Church by Bishop Murray. |
| 1995 | New block (Grade 5) of Ss Peter and Paul School. |
| 1996 | Bishop Philip Wilson becomes third Bishop of Wollongong on retirement of Bishop Murray, who makes his home in Kiama. The Gerringong Church is extended to almost double its size. Dedicated by Bishop Wilson. |
| 1999 | Meeting room and Catechist Centre added to Ss Peter and Paul Church. Extensive renovations to exterior of Church. |
| 2000 | Meeting room built at Jamberoo. |
| 2001 | Bishop Peter Ingham appointed fourth Bishop of Wollongong, following Bishop Wilson's transfer to Adelaide. Father Peter Thompson, CM Administrator of Kiama. Sister Helen Madden RSJ leaves the parish after six years as pastoral associate, bringing to an end the work of the Sisters of St Joseph in the parish. |
| 2002 | Sister Mary Louise Walsh ISSM appointed pastoral associate of Kiama Parish. Father Bernard Dowdell appointed parish priest following the retirement of Father Pat Kenna. Kiama Parish celebrates Sesquicentenary of its foundation. Father Paul Gurr O' Carm appointed administrator of parish with sickness of Father Bernard Dowdell. |
| 2003 | Father Chris Roberts appointed as Parish Priest. |
