Where History Meets a Living Faith

Article by Siji Dominic with research by Archivist Annie Pawley

The little white church of St Francis of Assisi sits like a postcard against the green pastures of Benambra- originally known as Omeo Plains. A part of the Bairnsdale Parish in the Diocese of Sale, it’s a place where history runs deep—reaching back over 140 years to a time when the high country was a rugged frontier.

A Legacy of Pioneering Faith

The story of the Catholic faith here began not with stone and timber, but in the homes of pioneering families. Before any formal structure existed, Mass was celebrated on the property of the Pendergast family, who were so devoted that they eventually donated the land where the church stands today.

The first church was constructed in 1882 when the area fell under the Sandhurst Diocese. By 1887, spiritual care for this alpine community became a shared effort between the Sale and Sandhurst Dioceses, until it was finally incorporated into the Diocese of Sale in 1910.

As the community grew, so did its landmarks. A second church, designed by the notable architect A.A. Fritsch, was built in 1929. That building served the faithful for four decades until the current church was constructed and subsequently blessed by Bishop Fox in December 1969.

A Table for Strangers

Last Sunday, I discovered that what makes this church truly special isn't its architecture or the alpine scenery; it is the people within its walls.

I arrived for Mass to find out illness had kept the priest away, leaving the small community to gather on their own, as they often must in the high country.

There were four visitors to the parish this sunday who were total strangers to each other and to the locals, but that didn't matter. Instead of the usual "back pew" experience, the congregation of six locals simply pulled up enough chairs for all of us around a central table. We sat together around the table for a Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion.

More Than a Congregation—A Family

The liturgy was simple and prayerful, but the chat afterwards was where the heart of Benambra really showed. "For me, it’s fellowship," one woman explained. "We are family. We look out for each other."

The Living Church

It’s easy to look at a small rural congregation and see "diminishing numbers." But sitting around that table, I didn't see a community in decline. I saw a group of people who had found a much more personal connection to their faith.

We stayed for quite a while, two groups of visitors and six locals, just getting to know one another. St Francis of Assisi isn't just a landmark for travellers; it’s a living example of what it means to be the Church.