THERESA O’Brien’s love and generosity for her parish community is never-ending.
Ms O’Brien, who died two years ago, led a quaint country life – living simply, but generously – and always taking a keen interest in her beloved Childers parish.
The people who knew her best remembered her as a “bit of a larrikin” and for her characteristic altruism, ready to whip out her pocketbook for anything the parish needed.
Fellow parishioner and friend Trish Clutterbuck said she and her late husband, Ben, had befriended her later in life.
Mrs Clutterbuck said Theresa had no television most of her life or hot water system, carting buckets at times.
Still, she said, she possessed a sharp mind, dry wit and deep devotion to prayer, especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
As the youngest in her family, Theresa spent her life caring for her parents and supporting her parish quietly, but generously.
She regularly funded church repairs, bought sacred vessels – including a thurible modelled on one in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Spain – and even waived rent for a tenant on her property while paying for his lawn mowing.
Theresa was the last of her family living in the area and had inherited several properties from her parents and siblings.
She decided to become an Eternal Guardian of her faith, leaving the sizeable O’Brien estate in her Will to the parish.
When she died, her gift combined with contributions from other families in the parish, facilitated a new grotto and garden.
Parish priest Fr Jack Ho said the grotto was a way to honour Theresa’s deep Marian devotion and to open the parish more fully to the community.
He said the new garden space was amazing.
Already, he said, they were seeing a greater sense of closeness in the community – where before people left for their homes after Mass, they now had a place to stick around and to chat.
Theresa’s gift also enabled a practical change.
Fr Ho recalled one man calling the Church in Childers as “the church with its doors shut”.
Now, the parish opens daily for 12 hours and installed a set of automatic glass doors, which means the church can keep its doors open and remain permanently accessible.
“You will not find a door shut in your face ever again,” Fr Ho said.
Fr Ho said the same man who had trouble accessing the church had found his way inside and was now an active member of the community.
Longtime parishioner and leadership team member Joe Russo said the visitor’s book had swelled since the glass doors were installed.
“It makes it such a welcoming place,” he said.
“We’re enormously grateful.
“I think she (Theresa) would be very proud of the works and I know we as parishioners are proud to have it.”
Fr Ho said Theresa’s generosity has helped the parish break through a “glass ceiling,” proving a small country community could be both creative and vibrant.
He said Theresa has gifted Childers parish more than a grotto and glass doors – she has given it a spirit of renewal and welcome that continues to draw people in.