Our Beloved Marayong

Historians say that Aborigines from the Dharug tribe lived in the area we now know as Marayong.  There is no record how they got there. How long were they the predominant tribe in the area? Did they share the area with other tribes or did they fight others to claim the area for themselves? Nevertheless, the word Marayong is derived from an Aboriginal word ‘Marriang’ meaning “emu” or “place of cranes” in the Dharug language and was the name the Aborigines gave to the area.  This probably inspired New South Wales Government Railways to name the railway station “Marayong” when it opened in October 1922, although the area was still part of Quakers Hill.  But in 1926 the local  Progress Association applied to have Marayong made a suburb, in its own right.

Marayong  was mostly a rural region with market gardens and poultry farms at the turn of the 20th century. Urbanisation started in the 1960s with Housing Commission (public housing) estates predominantly south of the railway line and an industrial area was to the north of the railway line. To service people’s natural need to worship God, this period also marked the genesis of the development of what was to become our beloved Polish Catholic Church at Marayong. The following videos, produced by Sister Ewa Pliszka and narrated by our Priest, Rev Dr Antoni Dudek document a conspectus of these beginings. The photos were arranged by Mrs Barbara Madry and Mrs Helen Minol. Technical assistance was provided by Mr Bogdan Rabantek.

Blessed Pope John Paul the Great,  said in his address to the Polish community of Melbourne (November 28, 1986):  “People who remember where they come from, people who value their traditions, can make a valuable contribution into the life of every country “. This chronicle is dedicated to those who remembered – people who had faith in God and the Fatherland.  Marayong is their achievement. These photographs don’t represent everything that happened in Marayong. They only illustrate part of the development and help to refresh our memory and feelings of gratitude towards those who were the pioneers.

Marcus Tullius Cicero wrote that great works have small beginnings. This was to be confirmed in a remarkable manner, in relation to the Polish space at Marayong.  Three Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (Sisters Jolanta, Casylda and Louisa) arrived on the 26th August, 1954 to care for destitute Polish children. They came from America to answer the plea of the Building Committee for the Polish Childrens’ Home.  Fund-raising enabled the purchase of a neglected farm to house the Sisters. Life returned to the farm.

Two new buildings were constructed in 1957. One was used to house the Sisters and the other became the Childrens’ Home.  The Polish Saturday School  was formed in the same year. Children who attended Australian Schools on weekdays, acquainted themselves with the culture and language of their parents at the Polish schools. The Sisters also engaged in activities at the local St Andrews Parish and in 1967 opened the High School at Marayong in the name of the Holy Family.

Polish Scouts gathered at Marayong from its inception. The centenary of Polish Scouting was celebrated here in 2010.

A decision was made in 1988 to close the now redundant Polish Childrens’ Home and open a day care centre:  the Holy Family Children’s Center. In 2008 the Long Day Child Care Center was opened which was a significant sign of the Sisters of the Holy Familyof Nazareth’s incessant concern for the family. Thus ended the first stage in the reconstruction at Marayong.

Brother Albert’s Home was given to house 30 residents in 1977 . This was in response to the sign of the times: Polish people were beginning to age. Marayong was the place that enabled them to be close to the Church, under the care their chaplains and the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

In 1990 the Polish Nursing home was opened under the care of the Holy Family. This was the place for the most seriously sick Polish seniors.

12 homes were released in 1993 as part of the Aged Care village under the patronage of Blessed Franciszka Siedliska, the foundress of the order of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Another 16 homes were constructed in 2008. The Polish Aged Care Village now comprises 28 homes.

2009 marked the completion of the new nursing home: Holy Family Aged Care Services. The existing nursing home was extended to house a total of 90 residents. The first to be housed here were residents of the former Brother Albert’s Home. Today, the Center provides care to 146 residents. The aged service profile developed at Brother Albert’s Home is being continued at the new Center and its fundamental mission is to provide a family atmosphere between the residents and workers.

Norman Cardinal Gilroy consecrated Our Lady of Czestochowa Church at Marayong on 27th December, 1966 which also marked the millennium of the Baptism of Poland. A beautiful House of God was built in the shape of hands clasped in prayer. A House of God that brings honor to those who sacrificed their lives  fighting for the independence of Poland. Likewise to those who decided to remain in Australia forever. A House of God that welcomes everybody whose  Mother awaits them – everybody’s Mother: a heartfelt Mother – Our Lady of Jasna Gora.

Many Bishops and Cardinals have visited this Church: Cardinal Rubin and Archbishop Wesoly amongst others. In 1973, Karol Cardinal Wojtyla prayed in this Church with his countrymen: Blessed Pope John Paul the Great, himself.

All this germinated from the small step back in 1953 when the Polish community bought 10.5 hectares of land and entrusted it  to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in 1955.  In this manner, Polish emigrants have their own place on Australian soil. Many of them see Marayong as their second home: a place where they feel comfortable.

Cognizance of this provided the impulse of massive teams of volunteers who sacrificed their precious time, each according to their own ability, to work in the development of this place. Buildings come and buildings go but such spontaneous outburst of sanctification is the work of the Catholic Church in spirit: the body of Christians who profess the faith of Christ and believe in all the teachings of Jesus, united under one visible head, the Pope, who is the vicar of Christ on Earth. This fusion of the physical with the spiritual Church creates an indestructible fortress of good securely protecting believers against the corrosive forces of evil! It represents a symbol against which all hell trembles in fear!

The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth served and prayed with the Polish community since the begining of Marayong. Polish Chaplains commenced their service in 1961 with Priests from the Society of Christ. Both the Sisters and the Priests deserve special thanks for their Apostolic service and spiritual care for those that developed and continue to build Marayong.

So, the Pope asked the Polish community to remember and to build their lives on this memory, during his meeting in Melbourne in 1986. Blessed John Paul the Great: we ask you to bless our Marayong!

Click the twitter, facebook and like buttons, below if you recognise yourself or members of your family amongst the mass of happy volunteers in the above videos, that helped build our beloved Marayong.  Also, share with us by commenting in the box below, your memories of those pioneers.