A special birthday – today !!!

29th May, 2024

And we have a special birthday in the house today !!

On this day in 1910, our Grand Pipe Organ was solemnly blessed at the High Mass to much acclaim.

Built by the legendary Australian organ builder Josiah Eustace Dodd (1856 – 1952) at his headquarters in Adelaide, she was the largest pipe organ in Western Australia at the time. There was quite a lot of excitement in the city of Perth about this new instrument which can be seen from the press reports of the day: ‘the Roman Catholic Community can be congratulated on the possession of a magnificent instrument…Dodd has built some of the most favourably-known organs in the Commonwealth, and this his latest achievement ranks among his very best work’. (The West Australian, May 30, 1910)

Let’s give thanks for the gift of music; and especially on this day, let’s remember with great gratitude all of those who have been thus far involved in her building, refurbishments and continuing maintenance and care; and of course, our organists and musicians through these past 114 years !!

Happy birthday – and here’s to the next 114 !!!