Community
5 November, 2025
Parishes set to combine
THE three Catholic parishes within Corangamite Shire are set to merge in coming months, with plans to form one parish of seven communities.
The Camperdown (Camperdown, Lismore and Cobden), Timboon (Timboon and Simpson) and Hampden (Terang and Mortlake) Parishes will all fall under one administrative umbrella while retaining their individual pastoral committees.
St Patrick’s Catholic Parish Father George Kuruvila said the three parishes are a continuation from when Terang had three priests, Camperdown had two and Mortlake, Timboon and Simpson each had one priest.
“We can see there is a decline in numbers at the same time there is a decline in numbers in the clergy,” he said.
“That’s why, for administration’s sake, we’ve decided to form one parish.
“Directly, there will be no changes parishioners see.
“The type of services they get will stay the same – there will be no decline or termination of services offered now.
“Each parish currently has its own finance committee and a pastoral committee – from here, we will have a common finance committee, and each community will have their own pastoral committee to decide their liturgies.”
The finance and pastoral committees have come together recently for a meeting to learn more about the plans, with Fr Kuruvila still working through the early stages of the merger.
“At the moment, I don’t know where the centre of the parish will be, or what the name of the new parish will be,” he said.
“We’re aiming at two different names – a geographical name and a name connected to the church.
“For the religious name, we are aiming for a common name for the whole area – we can’t use St Patrick, St Thomas or St Colman because they are connected to one community.
“We will be keeping suggestion boxes in each community asking for the names for the new parish.
“We will give three months for the name, then we will have a committee for the new-look parish.”
Camperdown Parish financial committee chair Gerard Gleeson said the merger will reduce administrative costs for the area, improving services for the Catholic community.
“With the ageing population and diminishing numbers, it will bring a better service to the community by streamlined administration,” he said.
“Things such as property maintenance and insurance will be easier to manage, and every parish will be represented in the new committee.
“I’ve been the chair of Camperdown Parish’s finance committee for about seven years, and I’ve seen the costs of running a parish would eventually become impossible due to our diminishing numbers and ageing population.
“There was no priest in Timboon or Terang – it was all being run out of Camperdown until Father George came.
“He only has to attend one meeting – it’ll allow him to do more home visits, more aged care facility visits and more.”
Mr Gleeson said all communities within the three parishes will continue to be equally represented under the merger.
“Father George has a big job ahead of him, and I think it’ll work,” he said.
“It’s a natural progression that has been happening all across the state.
“It’s not downsizing – it’s a lack of clerical numbers that has brought this on, and it’s not the fault of the parishes.
“It’s a big task to get all the insurances put into one – initially, it’ll be a lot of work, but it will reduce the workload.”
The merger is predicted to occur in July 2026.