Short history of St Andrews Parish
In the 1970’s the need for new a Catholic School and Church to serve the fast – growing catholic families, who were settling into the South of Clayton corridor in the new home developments.
Gathering of the faithful at St Peters.
All parishioners who lived south of the railway line and south of Centre Road Clayton areas. Were invited to meet at St Peters and walked to site of the new school. 1981 The School became a permanent change for Clayton South area which revealed the formation of St Andrews’ Parish. 11th October 1981 the first Mass was celebrated in the temporary chapel. 30 children received their First Holy Communion at this Mass. In 1989 the process of building a Permanent Church began: Fr Martin Dixon commissioned Architect Paul Archibald to design and build the new church. It was as the Church building started to take shape the parish community also grew into a vibrant Parish. Under the guidance of the Parish Priest and parishioner responding to the call to come and attend the weekly working bees for the church gardens, and the hand making of the Altar, lectern, tables, seats and the processional cross, as well as many other opportunities for parishioners to use their skills.
Come and Meet St Andrew whose feast day is November 30th, and St Andrew is the patron for the Parish in Clayton South.
These three icons depict St. Andrew life story,
Andrew, like his brother, Simon Peter, was a fisherman. He became a disciple of the great Saint John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” Saint Andrew understood that Jesus was greater. At once, he left Saint John to follow the Divine Master. Jesus knew that Saint Andrew was walking behind him, and turning back, he asked, “What do you seek?” When Saint Andrew answered that he would like to know where Jesus lived, Our Lord replied, “Come and see.” Saint Andrew had been only a little time with Jesus when he realized that this was truly the Messiah. From then on, he decided to follow Jesus. Saint Andrew was thus the first disciple of Christ. Next, he brought his brother Simon (Saint Peter) to Jesus and Jesus received him, too, as His disciple. At first the two brothers continued to carry on their fishing trade and family affairs, but later, the Lord called them to stay with Him all the time. He promised to make them fishers of men, and this time, they left their nets for good. It is believed that after Our Lord ascended into Heaven, Saint Andrew went to Greece.