Welcome to the Parish of St John Paul II, Toorak & Armadale

We are a Catholic made up of the communities of Our Lady of Lourdes, Armadale and St Peter’s Catholic Church, Toorak. Drawing on the blessings we’ve been given to serve others and share the light of Christ in a world longing for meaning. We desire to grow in faith through sacraments, sacred liturgy, formation, and cultural encounter.

Our Patron Saints

Pope St John Paul II, our parish patron

St John Paul II

Colorful stained glass window depicting Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernadette

Our Lady of Lourdes

Stained glass depiction of Jesus Christ handing the keys to St Peter the Apostle.

St Peter the Apostle

Fr Dean Mathieson, giving a homily at his parish, St Peter's Catholic Church, Toorak

Our Parish Priest

Fr Dean Mathieson serves as the parish priest of St John Paul II Parish, bringing to his ministry a deep love for theology, sacred liturgy, and the life of the Church. His pastoral focus is on helping people encounter their faith through the sacraments, offering opportunities for formation, and fostering a parish life.


Our Parish Team

    • Parish Secretary:
      Madeline Dimasi

    • Pastoral Associate:
      Delisa Gonsalves

    • Business Manager:
      Frank Glynn

    • Communications & Publications Administrator:
      Gabrielle Yuen

    • Young Adult Minister:
      Annie Van Rensburg

    • Director of Music & Organist
      Conrad Helfrich

    • St Peter’s Organist
      Danuta Southern

    • Our Lady of Lourdes Organist
      Phillip Byrnes

    • Cantor at both Churches
      Kristian Gregory

How to Get Involved

We’d love to welcome you into the life of the parish. You are welcome to come along to one of our parish events, regular activities or groups. Or share your gifts by volunteering with us, joining a ministry, or experience the beauty of our sacred music program.

Volunteering
and Ministry

Sacred Music
Program

Parishioners engaged in conversation, with plates of food and glasses of water in front of them, in a well-lit room with large windows.
Fr Dean Mathieson introducing the live-stream speaker for the Truth Goodness Beauty Project's Faith and Culture Sessions, held at the parish centre.

Parish Groups and Regular Activities

Events hosted
at the Parish

Our Sacred Music program at St John Paul II Catholic Parish
Toorak Op Shop
Vintage black-and-white photo of Armadale House

Our History, A Living Legacy

Our parish has a rich and historically significant story. From its earliest beginnings, the Catholic presence in Armadale and Toorak has grown through faith, dedication, and the generosity of many. We honour that history—not simply as a record of the past, but as the foundation of who we are today. The churches and chapels built over generations continue to serve as places where we gather, worship God, and welcome others into community. We remain grateful for the faith that came before us, and for the blessing of such beautiful spaces in which to live it out.

Person holding a smartphone displaying a religious organization's logo and address.