Religion
St Vinnies Winter Appeal & Pyjama Day
Tomorrow is our annual St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal to support those in our local community facing hardship during the coldest months of the year.
To kick things off with some warmth and fun, we will be holding a Pyjama Day tomorrow, 3rd July. Children are invited to come to school snug in their favorite PJs in exchange for a gold coin donation.
Alongside this, we warmly invite families to contribute donations of warm winter items. We are collecting both new and good-quality second-hand items, including:
- Jumpers and jackets
- Warm blankets
- Sleeping bags
A gentle reminder: If donating pre-loved items, please ensure they are clean, in good condition, and free from any rips, tears, or stains.
All physical donations can be brought directly to the school office. These items will be formally presented and donated to our local St Vincent de Paul branch during our Whole School Mass on Friday, 3rd July at 9:30am in the church.
Thank you in advance for your incredible generosity!
Save the Date: Grandparents Day
Kellie Salmon
REC & Year 2 Class Teacher
The Story Behind the New Presbytery
First Presbytery
The original Catholic Presbytery, the home for the Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Parish, was at 17 Kitchener St, Junee. It was built in 1895. At various times, up to three priests would have lived there. The original Presbytery was leased to the Principals of St Joseph’s School, Mr Paul Wilson, Mrs Jane Addison and their families.
Eventually, it was decided to sell the original Presbytery and now Sarah, David 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.
Second Presbytery
The Convent of Mercy was built in 1952 for 9 Sisters of Mercy. Monsignor Michael Burgess decided to make the Convent of Mercy (21 Kitchener St) the presbytery in 2003.
It contains 28 rooms/spaces and Mons Michael Burgess, Fr Matt Austin and Fr Michael Mikulek used this building as a presbytery.
The Convent has now been leased to 9 workers from Papua New Guinea employed by Junee Lamb, providing a source of income for the Parish.
Third Presbytery
When I arrived in Junee in January 2023, I was expected, like my predecessors, to live in the Convent/Second Presbytery. 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 at 1/21 Hilton Place and explore the options of building a new Presbytery.
Fourth Presbytery
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 has had an impact on the parking arrangements that people have been used to when attending the church.
Bishop Mark Edwards OMI blessed and opened the new presbytery on the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, 1 May 2026.
It is hoped that the building of the presbytery will be completed in the next few weeks. 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
St Joseph's the Worker Catholic Church Parish Priest