Religion
Darcy's Confirmation
Congratulations to Darcy, who made his Sacrament of Confirmation last Sunday morning!
Day in the Diocese
Today we have 10 representatives from Stage 3 attending 'Day in the Diocese' in Wagga. The Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga 'Day in the Diocese' is a Diocesan gathering for selected Stage 3 primary school and Stage 5 & 6 secondary college students to celebrate the 2025 Jubilee Year with Bishop Mark and each other. The gathering of young people is in response to the Jubilee Year’s call to be Pilgrims of Hope.
It exists to provide young people, and their accompanying staff, in our Catholic schools an opportunity to encounter Jesus, be empowered to be hope-filled disciples in the world today and celebrate the Church in our Diocese.
Our Stage 3 students have been working hard to create messages of Hope to celebrate this special event. Aziel and Dakota's Poster (below) was chosen to send to the Day in the Diocese. All of the posters will be on display around the school as we continue the journey as Pilgrims of Hope this Jubilee Year.
In the Hope in the Environment workshop, the students made their own mandalas created from nature, that represent their journey in life so far.
Sacrament of Reconciliation - Year 3
The children in Year 3 and their parents are asked to attend the Reconciliation Information Evening being held in the Year 3 classroom next Wednesday evening, 10th September at 6pm.
This will be the beginning of preparations for the Sacrament that the children will be receiving early next term.
The Year 3 children will then host the Parish Mass on Saturday 13th September in St Joseph's Church at 6pm as they commit to their preparations for this Sacrament. All are welcome to attend.
Term 3 Important Dates
Wednesday 10th September
Sacrament of Reconciliation Parent Information Evening: Year 3 children and their parents
6pm in the Year 3 Classroom
Saturday 13th September
Sacrament of Reconciliation Commitment Mass: Year 3 children
6pm in the Church
Wednesday 5th November
Sacrament of Reconciliation: Year 3 Children
6pm in the Church
Father's Day
Happy Father's Day to all the fathers, grandfathers and father figures in our school community for this Sunday!
'Together' Magazine - August Edition
Kind regards,
Kellie Salmon
Religious Education Coordinator
The story behind the new Presbytery for St Joseph's Parish: 16 Kitchener St, Junee
The original Catholic Presbytery, the home for the Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Parish, was at 17 Kitchener St, Junee. At various times, up to three priests would have lived there. After Monsignor Michael Burgess decided to make the Convent of Mercy (21 Kitchener St) the presbytery, the original Presbytery was leased to the Principals of St Joseph’s School, Mr Paul Wilson and Mrs Jane Addison and their families. Eventually it was decided to sell the original Presbytery, and now Sarah and David Macaulay and their daughters live in this historic building. (The entrance to St Joseph’s School for the children who arrive on the buses or who walk is 19 Kitchener St and the Church building is 23 Kitchener St).
The Convent of Mercy was built in 1952 for 9 Sisters of Mercy. It contains 28 rooms/spaces and Mons Michael Burgess, Fr Matt Austin and Fr Michael Mikulek lived in this building for nearly 25 years. When I arrived in Junee in January 2023, I was expected, like my predecessors, to live in the Convent. I fairly quickly decided that one person living in such a big building would be impossible to make feel homely. It was decided that I would move into a nearby unit in Hilton Place and explore the options of building a new Presbytery. The Convent has now been leased to workers from PNG and employed by Junee Lamb.
After much deliberation among many parties from the Parish and the Diocese of Wagga Wagga, it was decided to award the contract to build the new presbytery to Troy Raulston of Raulston Family Homes. Work began on the site on 1 September 2025. Those of you who drive your children to school would have noticed the building works. The building works will have an impact on the parking arrangements that people have been used to.
There is scope to park behind the church and between the building site and the home of Bernadette and John Reeves. I have confidence that new pathways will be found to solve the parking needs of the community.
It is hoped that the building of the presbytery (and an investment house next door) will be completed by late April/early May 2026. If you have any questions you would like answered about this significant parish project, please contact me at junee@wagga.catholic.org.au or pull me up as you see me walking around the parish precinct.
Fr Paddy
3 September 2025
Junee Catholic Parish has a new Facebook Page. Please click below to follow along with Father Paddy!