Gippsland Catholics to Celebrate 175 Years of Faith and Heritage in Yarram

YARRAM, VIC — The Catholic Parish of Yarram will mark a significant milestone this November, celebrating 175 years of Catholic life across the Gippsland region.

A special anniversary Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at St Mary’s Catholic Church on Commercial Road, Yarram. Bishop Greg Bennet, will join parish priest Father Darren Howie, and other priests of the Diocese of Sale, as principal celebrant for the occasion.

The celebration traces the origins of the local faith community back to 1851, when Gippsland was officially established as a Catholic Mission. Father David Holohan was appointed as its first priest, stationed at Tarraville alongside assistant Father Joseph Martin. Father Martin later became the region's first resident priest and founded Gippsland’s first Catholic school at Tarraville.

By 1854, under the leadership of Father Patrick Verling, the region saw the construction of St Patrick’s Church in Tarraville—the very first Catholic church in Gippsland. Over the subsequent decades, this early coastal outpost served as the foundation for a network of churches, schools, convents, and parishes that ultimately developed into the Diocese of Sale.

While St Patrick’s Church was demolished in the 1940s, a tangible piece of its history survives: floorboards salvaged from the original structure were crafted into a tabernacle that remains preserved today.

Following the celebratory Mass on November 15, attendees are invited to gather at the St Mary MacKillop Hall for light refreshments, a brief talk exploring local history, and an exhibition of historical memorabilia. Guided tours of St Mary’s Catholic School will also be held throughout the afternoon.