Welcome to Our Parish
Welcome to the Catholic Parish of St. Therese!
Located within the Ryde Deanery, nestled in the heart of the Archdiocese of Sydney, the Catholic Parish of St. Therese encompasses a rich history of faith and service.
Originally established to provide spiritual support to Ryde Hospital, our story is deeply intertwined with the land upon which our parish stands. In 1938, the site for our parish school was acquired, and a humble house was transformed into The Chapel of the Little Flower. For a decade, this sacred space welcomed worshippers, with Mass celebrated every Sunday. On December 11, 1948, our parish was officially established, and the Blessed Eucharist found its home in our tabernacle. The Chapel of the Little Flower was then rechristened as the Church of St. Therese, honoring our beloved patroness.
At the heart of our parish lies the guiding wisdom of our patroness, St. Therese of Lisieux. She reminds us that true holiness is found not in grand gestures, but in the faithful execution of everyday acts, infused with profound love for God.
We invite you to join us on our journey of faith, as we strive to live out St. Therese's message of extraordinary love in ordinary moments.
Today, our Parish Office, located in the presbytery at 8 Inkerman Road, Denistone, serves as the hub of our administrative and pastoral activities.
Our office is open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm
Maryanne Tonkli – Parish Secretary
Maryanne, a parishioner of Holy Spirit North Ryde, is happily married to Robert. She joined the parish team as secretary in August 2024, bringing with her a wealth of administrative experience. Her deep faith is central to her life, and she’s grateful to serve in a role that allows her to assist in God's work. Maryanne finds joy in helping parishioners and ensuring the parish runs smoothly, always with a welcoming presence.
Deacon Aruna Perera
Deacon Aruna was ordained as a permanent deacon at St. Mary's Cathedral on 10 October 2016. He is an invaluable member of our parish community, offering his unwavering support and commitment to our parish.
Aruna's presence within our parish is a source of inspiration and strength for all of us. His deep faith and genuine love for God and His people shine through in everything he does. Whether it's through his pastoral care or his involvement in liturgical celebrations. We are truly blessed to have him as part of our parish family.
Fr Abraham Augusthy
I am Fr Abraham Augusthy, though I prefer to be called ‘Augusthy’. I was born in the Indian state of Kerala and after completing Year 12 at the age of 18, I joined the Missionary Society of St Thomas the Apostle to begin my priestly formation.
As part of my clerical formation and ecclesiastical studies, I completed a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in Theology from the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies. I was ordained a priest on 29 December 1991 at my home parish.
My first appointment was at Holy Cross Church, Dimapur, in the Indian state of Nagaland, where I served as Assistant Priest and Vice Principal of the parish schools. After 3 years in Dimapur, I was assigned to the Mission Diocese of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, India, where I primarily worked as School Principal in diocesan mission schools and also served as Bursar of the Diocesan Minor Seminary. To comply with government requirements for teachers, I pursued further studies and earned a master’s degree in politics and Sociology from Barkatullah University, Bhopal.
In December 1999, I was appointed to the mission in the Solomon Islands, where I served for
2 ½ years. However, due to civil unrest, I relocated to Australia in December 2002. Since then, I have served as Assistant Priest at Our Lady of Fatima, Caringbah and St Joseph’s, Belmore. In December 2009, I was appointed Parish Priest of St Bernard’s, Botany.
On 15 September 2025, I received my appointment as Parish Priest of St Therese, Denistone, effective 20 October 2025. I am truly delighted and deeply grateful for this new opportunity to serve. With faith and hope, I look forward to beginning my ministry among you at St Therese and I earnestly seek your prayers, support, help and co-operation as we continue to grow together in Christ’s love.
