The Parish of BungareeA Community of Communities

Co Pastor & Moderator:  Fr Justin Driscoll

Co-Pastor:   Fr Shaiju Mathew MST

Parish Coordinator:   Cathy Prunty

Administrative Assistant:  Natalie Gleeson

Finance Officer: Jackie Wrigglesworth (Phone 5337 7128)

Parish Safeguarding Officer:  Cathy Prunty  (Phone 0437 505 517)

CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS

St Mary’s Primary School – Clarke’s Hill

St Brendan’s Primary School – Dunnstown – closed at the end of 2023 as reported in e-News

PARISH LEADERSHIP TEAM
Damian Ryan (Chair)
Barry Sheehan
Dianne Reynolds
Chris Frawley
Dom Prendergast
Marty Forbes
Clare Scanlon (Principal, St Mary’s Primary School Clarkes Hill)

Ministry District:  Ballarat East, Bungaree and Gordon Parishes  

From April 10th, Bishop Paul has appointed Fr Matt Restall and I to the parishes of Ballarat East, Bungaree and Gordon, forming a Ministry District across our three parishes and the eight local Church and School communities of Ballan, Ballarat East, Bungaree, Buninyong, Clarke’s Hill, Dunnstown, Gordon and Springbank. We will work with Cathy Prunty, Natalie Shannon  and Bernadette Prestwood in the Ballarat East Office and Aileen Toohey in the Bungaree and Gordon Parish Offices as well as the Principals of our Catholic Schools – Troy Strybosch (St Joseph’s Bakery Hill), Jayne Bosworth (St Brigid’s Ballan), Emily Clarke (St Alipius’ Ballarat East), Mark Hogbin (St Francis Xavier Ballarat East), Clare Scanlon (St Mary’s Clarke’s Hill), Paul McDowell (St Patrick’s Gordon), Ethan Corfee (Emmaus Mt Clear) and Steven Mifsud (Damascus Mt Clear and Dunnstown). In the Diocese of Ballarat, a Ministry district is the term used in our pastoral planning document Looking Forward, to describe the sharing of resources between parishes, with the aim of working in collaboration to further the mission of Christ that has been entrusted to the Church. Our emphasis and focus is on mission, looking forward, outward, with the joy of the Gospel.

In this next chapter, our new Ministry district provides us all with an opportunity to exercise genuine synodality, that is, walking together in faith, building a culture of encounter and accompaniment, discerning the way forward by genuine dialogue, listening to each other with prayerful openness to the Holy Spirit.

I look forward to walking with you as a pilgrim in faith, together as servants of the Gospel, joyful missionary disciples.

Fr Justin Driscoll

About

St Michael’s Parish was established in 1890.  This is a rural area with many small communities including Bullarook, Bungaree, Claretown, Clarkes Hill, Dean, Dunnstown, Fiskens Hill, Glen Park, Leigh Creek, Mollongghip, Navigators, Pootilla, Warrenheip and Yendon.

Parish Planned Giving

Be a part of the Planned Giving Program to ensure the financial survival and future growth of your parish.

The Planned Giving Program is the major source of income for the parish. Your financial contribution will ensure we continue to manage the ongoing and increasing expenses in our parish, including, pastoral programs, insurance, wages, utility rates and church maintenance.

To ensure a regular and reliable income for the parish, we request you to make a periodic pledge either, weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Your considered financial gift will make an enormous difference to continuing the work the parish.

For Parish Planned Giving or to donate click here.

WEEKLY HOMILIES

Weekly homilies from Frs. Justin Driscoll and Shaiju Mathew will be made available on this website.  The homilies will be updated weekly.

1st Week of Advent Year A S. Mathew

1st Sunday of Advent Year A 2025 J. Driscoll

Feast of Christ the King S. Mathew

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C S. Mathew

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica S. Mathew

Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed Bishop Paul 2025

All Souls’ Day 20025 S Mathew