MEMORIES from the past and visions for the future will be shared when members of the Catholic faith and wider community come together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of St Brigid's Parish.
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Sesquicentenary committee chair Carole O'Connor said a range of activities would be staged throughout the year, including musical evenings and a celebratory mass and dinner.
Mrs O'Connor said photographs and memorabilia were being collected for displays to record the history of the parish from inception to the current day.
She was also keen for people to come forward with personal perspectives.
"The sharing of stories, memories and viewpoints will be an important part of the sesquicentenary celebration process," Mrs O'Connor said.
"We are interested in hearing from a wide range of people who have been connected with the church and the parish."
Mrs O'Connor has been involved with St Brigid's for 25 years.
She does pastoral work for the church and is part of its sacramental program.
"For me the church is more than somewhere to practise my faith. It is about community and people."
Mrs O'Connor said the historic sandstone St Brigid's Church had been an important landmark since the early 1870s.
The new church, opened in 1990, was also a significant building.
"The old church served the community well but it became very crowded as the parish grew," Mrs O'Connor said.
"A modern design was adopted for a new, larger church. People were very pleased with the result. The church has a lovely atmosphere and is very welcoming.
"It provides a peaceful setting for personal prayer, liturgical celebrations, baptisms, weddings and funerals as well as school liturgies, civic ceremonies and ecumenical celebrations.
"The old church is still well used by the parish and the community."
Other churches in the St Brigid's Parish include St Laurence's in South Dubbo, Holy Name of Jesus at Geurie and Our Lady of Lourdes at Ballimore.
"The Lourdes Hospital chapel is also an important part of the community," Mrs O'Connor said.
"The Daughters of Charity started Lourdes House in the early 1960s. In the beginning it was like a nursing home. It later became a hospital and today is operated by Catholic Healthcare.
"Lourdes is highly regarded for its services, including rehabilitation and palliative care."
Mrs O'Connor said other Catholic organisations and services established within the parish included the St Mary's Villa (formerly known as Ozanam Villa) and Holy Spirit aged care facilities, the St Vincent de Paul Society, CYMS football club, the St John's, St Pius X, St Laurence's and St Mary's primary schools and St John's secondary college.
