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大家好：
今個星期，多謝教友Philiomena McBriens 跟我們分享她在聖莫尼加的回憶。歡迎大家繼續來稿。
主內平安
莫靖龍神父
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我們McBriens一家人在1958年6月加入在堂區。那時家中成員只有Pat､ Philomena､ Lynete 和 Kevin，後來加入了Michael和 Matthew。那時的聖莫尼加是座落於Church St和North Rocks Road交界的白色小教堂。
當時本堂神父Father Wynne正在籌募建堂經費(信封收集運動) ，一班熱心男教友如Occy Wall､ Kevin Sullivan､ Jack McFadden (Occy 和 Kath's 的女婿) ､Jack Death､ Ted McCaffery､ Bob Arthur Tommy Jones､ Tom Rigney 和 Jack Fraser (很多名字已忘記) 等都在幫忙，現在很多已回天家。
他們常常作出家訪，邀請教友慷慨捐獻，當時新教堂在舊教堂旁邊動工興建。同樣的一班男教友逢週六，在禮堂舉辦各種活動，有很多教友參與，亦為堂區籌募了很多經費。
Pat是活動新手，他常常到處游走專責找換金錢。一個星期天，正準備清洗他的襯衫以去除污漬和煙味時，竟然在他的襯衫口袋裡發現50 英鎊，真是詫異﹗在週六晚，Pat主動交回金錢。堂區一向都是由Father Wynne點算金錢的，過了一會兒，他大聲說：「但是﹐數目竟然準確無誤﹗」如果有懂會計的教友幫忙，點算工作一定容易多了。
我們曾經見到Church Street的橋樑被水淹過﹔現址Bunning (以前的羊毛加工場)背後的Mills Creek水位滿溢North Rocks Road，洪水更淹到新建的教堂大門口，有幸現今的防洪設施已成功防止這些災害。
至於學校已經歷了三次重新發展，我們的四個孩子在50和60年代先後就讀聖莫尼加小學。我和一些婦女如Mrs Wall, Shelia Sullivan, Pat McFadden & Eileen Daly以及其他人在學校的小食部幫忙。當女兒Lyn的孩子開始到聖莫尼加上學，我亦偶爾在學校小食部幫忙。由家長負責的小食部後來關閉了，因為很多母親需要出外工作。
在眾多教友的協助下，Father Wynne 還建立了其他堂區，如座落Winston Hills 的 St. Paul､North Rocks 的Christ the King 和 Baulkham Hills 的Our Lady of Lourdes。
主佑
Philomena
(此乃教友文章之意譯，內容以英文為準)
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Hello Everyone:
This week we have Philomena McBrien to thank for contributing her memories of St Monica’s.
Peace in Jesus
Fernando
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The McBriens arrived at St Monica's in June 1958. Pat, Philomena, Lynette and Kevin. Later to be joined by Michael and Matthew.
St Monica's little white Church was still on the corner of Church St and North Rocks road.
Father Wynne was organising the Wells System (envelope collection.) The men of the Parish, such as Occy Wall, Kevin Sullivan, Jack McFadden (Occy and Kath's sons-in-law) Jack Death, Ted McCaffery, Bob Arthur Tommy Jones, Tom Rigney & Jack Fraser. All good men, now resting in Peace. Forgotten but, very important to the Parish at that time.
They went to the Parishioners homes and asked them to give generously towards building the new Church, where we are today.
The new Church was built alongside the old one.
The same men ran the Housie on Saturday nights in the hall. Very well attended and a great source of finance.
Pat was new and used to wander around changing money. One Sunday, I went through his shirt pocket to wash the shirt and get rid of the smoke smell, and there in the pocket was 50 Pounds. Shock!
Next Saturday night, Pat handed the money in. Father Wynne always counted the threepences and after a little while, he exclaimed, "But, the books balanced!"
Having Accountants on the job was a great help.
We have seen the bridge on Church Street flooded over & the Mills Creek behind Bunnings (where the Woolen Mills used to be!) overflowing North Rocks road and up to the steps of the new St Monica's Church. Flood mitigation has helped prevent that these days.
We have seen the school re-invent itself, 3 times. Our 4 children all attended in the 50's and 60's and I along with the wives of the Housie counters, such as Mrs Wall, Shelia Sullivan, Pat McFadden & Eileen Daly, plus lots of others helped in the tuckshop. When Lyn's children attended St Monica's, I backed up again. Tuckshop was closed as a result of Mothers needing to go to work.
Father Wynne also established St Paul's at Winston Hills, Christ the King at North Rocks and Our Lady of Lourdes at Baulkham Hills. He had a great bunch of advisers who were a great help to him.
God Bless.
Philomena.
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