About All Saints Blackbutt South

Three Faith Communities, One Catholic Parish

All Saints Blackbutt South is a vibrant Catholic parish in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, bringing together three faith communities across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie: St Columba’s at Adamstown, St Kevin’s at Cardiff and St Philip’s at Kotara.

While each community has its own church, traditions and local connections, together we form one parish family united by our Catholic faith and a shared commitment to Christ.

Our parish mission expresses this simply:

Listening to God’s Word. Growing in Faith. Reaching out to All.

These words continue to shape who we are: a community centred on prayer and the Eucharist, strengthened through the Sacraments and called to put our faith into action through service to one another.

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Our Parish Story

All Saints Blackbutt South was formally established on All Saints Day, 1 November 2006, when the Catholic communities of St Columba’s Adamstown, St Kevin’s Cardiff and St Philip’s Kotara came together to form a single parish.

Contemporary parish records described the new All Saints Parish as three faith communities sharing one Parish Priest, one vision and one mission under Jesus Christ.

The choice of All Saints Day was particularly fitting. In the Catholic tradition, the Solemnity of All Saints celebrates the communion of saints and reminds us that holiness is not reserved for a select few. Every Christian is called to follow Christ and bear witness to the Gospel in the circumstances of everyday life.

That same spirit of unity continues within All Saints Blackbutt South today. Three communities, each with its own identity and history, share in the life and mission of one parish.

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Our Three Faith Communities

St Columba’s, Adamstown

Located in Lockyer Street, Adamstown, St Columba’s serves the Catholic community of Adamstown and surrounding areas.

The church takes its name from St Columba, the sixth-century Irish abbot and missionary whose work helped establish Christianity throughout Scotland. His legacy of faith, learning and missionary service provides an enduring example of taking the Gospel beyond the walls of the Church.

Today, St Columba’s remains a place where parishioners gather for Mass, prayer, the Sacraments and community life. It also shares a close connection with Catholic education through neighbouring St Columba’s Primary School and the wider Catholic educational community in Adamstown.

St Kevin’s, Cardiff

Located at 226 Main Road, Cardiff, St Kevin’s has long provided a spiritual home for Catholics in Cardiff and the surrounding Lake Macquarie community. The All Saints Parish Office is also located nearby at St Kevin’s Cottage.

St Kevin, or Cóemgen of Glendalough, was an important figure in early Irish Christianity. Remembered for his life of prayer, simplicity and devotion to God, he founded the monastery at Glendalough, which became an important centre of Christian faith and learning.

In that tradition, St Kevin’s Cardiff continues as a place of worship, fellowship and service within the wider All Saints parish family.

St Philip’s, Kotara

St Philip’s, located at 31 Vista Parade, Kotara, is the third of our parish's faith communities and is also home to the parish presbytery.

The church is dedicated to St Philip the Apostle, one of the Twelve Apostles called by Jesus. In the Gospel of John, Philip responds to Christ's call and then immediately seeks out Nathanael, inviting him simply to “Come and see” (John 1:46).

That invitation remains deeply relevant to parish life today. The Church exists not only as a place for those who already believe, but as a community that welcomes others to encounter Christ for themselves.

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One Parish Family

The formation of All Saints Blackbutt South brought three established Catholic communities into a closer relationship.

Rather than losing their individual identities, Adamstown, Cardiff and Kotara became three expressions of one parish community, sharing clergy, ministries, resources and a common mission.

Today, parish life encompasses much more than Sunday Mass. The Diocese lists activities within All Saints Blackbutt South including Children’s Liturgy, Marian devotions, Eucharistic Adoration, Christian meditation, family groups, choirs, craft and gardening groups.

Through worship, prayer, faith formation, friendship and practical service, parishioners of different ages and backgrounds are encouraged to participate in the life of the Church and use their gifts in service of others.

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Our Catholic Faith

At the heart of All Saints Blackbutt South is our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The celebration of the Eucharist is central to parish life. Through Mass, prayer and the Sacraments, we gather as God's people to hear His Word, receive His grace and be strengthened for our Christian mission in the wider community.

Our faith does not end when Mass concludes. The Gospel calls us to carry Christ's love into our homes, workplaces, schools and neighbourhoods.

For All Saints Blackbutt South, this means striving to be a parish in which people are welcomed, faith can deepen and those in need encounter compassion and practical support.

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A Parish Called to Serve

Service has an important place within the identity of All Saints Blackbutt South.

The parish's own history emphasises the words of Christ in Matthew's Gospel:

“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.”
Matthew 20:28

This understanding of Christian service is reflected in the pastoral vision of Parish Priest Fr Joseph Figurado, whose ministry has been characterised by the motto “humble service with a smile.” Fr Joseph came to Australia in 2017 and was appointed Parish Priest of All Saints Blackbutt South for a six-year term beginning on 1 March 2021.

It is a simple principle with a profound Catholic meaning: our relationship with Christ should lead us towards one another.

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Growing Together in Faith

The Catholic parish has always been more than a geographical boundary or collection of church buildings. It is a community of people journeying together in faith.

At All Saints Blackbutt South, we seek to provide opportunities for people at every stage of that journey, from children and families discovering the faith to lifelong Catholics seeking to deepen their relationship with God.

Through the celebration of the Sacraments, Catholic education, prayer, parish ministries and community activities, we seek to nurture a faith that is lived as well as professed.

Our parish is also connected to the wider mission of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, of which All Saints Blackbutt South forms part of the Newcastle Deanery and Blackbutt Pastoral Region.

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A Welcoming Catholic Community

Whether you have lived in the area for decades, have recently moved to Newcastle or Lake Macquarie, are returning to the Catholic faith after time away, or are simply interested in discovering more about Christianity, you are welcome at All Saints Blackbutt South.

You do not need to know everything about Catholicism before walking through our doors.

Come to Mass. Spend some time in prayer. Meet members of our community. Ask questions. Discover opportunities to become involved.

Across Adamstown, Cardiff and Kotara, you will find three faith communities with one shared purpose: listening to God's Word, growing in faith and reaching out to all.

Our Churches

St Columba’s Catholic Church
Lockyer Street, Adamstown NSW 2289

St Kevin’s Catholic Church
226 Main Road, Cardiff NSW 2285

St Philip’s Catholic Church
31 Vista Parade, Kotara NSW 2289

For current Mass times, parish activities and contact information, visit the All Saints Blackbutt South website