Celebrations in Polish community

Published: 1 December 2002

A group of girls in Polish national costume outside Our Lady of Victories Church at Bowen Hills

THE Polish community in Brisbane gathered to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Society of Christ missionary order last Sunday.

Brisbane Auxiliary Bishop John Gerry was a special guest at the celebrations which centred around a Mass in the prominent white, hilltop Our Lady of Victories Church at Bowen Hills, which has one of the city's best vistas of the Brisbane River and suburbs.

The Polish religious order came to Australia in 1959 and arrived in Brisbane in 1972 to take over responsibility for the Bowen Hills church which had already become a home base for the Polish community.

Bowen Hills parish priest Fr Stanislaw Wrona said the order has a presence wherever Polish people have migrated around the world.

'Our apostolate is to go where Polish people are living and to support them spiritually and culturally,' he said.