Mass for You at Home (Mass online)
Chaplain: Fr Martin Ignacio Gutierrez Rodriguez CS
Contact:
Latin American Catholic Community
Phone: 3369 2000 (Tue, Wed & Thu | 9am-3pm)
Email: lachaplaincyoffice@gmail.com
Website: https://www.catolicosbrisbane.org.au/
Mass in Spanish (Archdiocese of Brisbane)
or go to Capellanía Católica Latinoamericana de Brisbane
(Subject to COVID-19 restrictions; contact community)
Background:
The Latin Americans started arriving in Australia in big numbers in the ’70s (from Chile) and in the early ’80s during the days of civil wars in Central America. Most of these arrived under the Refugee or Humanitarian Grounds. It was around this time that the few religious/social gatherings gradually progressed into a more regular and coordinated events.
Meanwhile, as we may all know, the Spanish navigators were familiar with the shores and islands of Australia and New Guinea 200 years before Captain Cook arrived on the eastern coast of Australia. Settlement would have occurred during the gold rush in mid-19th century.
For many years since 1995, the Latin American Community have been gathering for Sunday Mass and other activities at St Ita’s Church in Dutton Park. The Community moved to St Michael’s Parish in Dorrington for a short period in 2002 and finally settled in Acacia Ridge in 2003. Once again, in 2016, the Community moved base and was made welcome at St Finbarr’s Church in Ashgrove.
Past Chaplains and Priests
Fr Antonio Portela until 1995
Father Angel Garcia MSC until 2000
Father Ruben Nadalich SSp / Fr Peter Doyle SSC (assisted)
Father Lauro Rufo CS
Fr Maurizio Pettena CS
Fr Hector Zuniga CS
Fr Luigi Usubelli CS
For a quick guide on general culture (per country) visit SBS Cultural Atlas.