Cronulla, NSW - St Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic

History and Architecture:

The Church was officially established as a parish in 1924. The start of the parish, like many parishes in Australia, was with the home church or the domestic church. In the early twentieth century a small group of Catholics gathered in the house of Agnes and Albert Giddings. After several years, Agnes and Albert Giddings donated a piece of land on which a small church was then built in the name of St Aloysius Gonzaga, a youthful Jesuit saint. The name of the street where the first church and school were located was and is still referred to as Giddings Ave.

The current Church was blessed by Cardinal Freeman in November 1965.

A Foundation stone reads, " Laudetur Jesus Christus His Eminence Norman Thomas Cardinal Gilroy Archbishop of Sydney laid and blessed the Foundation stone of this church raised in the honour of St. Aloysius 13th January 1963".

A wall plaque reads, " A.M.D.G. The Parish Church of St Aloysius Gonzaga was solemnly dedicated by His Eminence Edward Bebe Cardinal Clancy A.C. Archbishop of Sydney on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the foundation of this Parish 29th January 1999 Rev Fr Michael Mc'Lean Pastor Rev Fr John M. Knight Assoc Pastor Donated by St Aloysius College Milsons Point 21st June 1999".   

A full history can be seen here.