Winter Dinner to celebrate St Joseph’s Church centenary

St Joseph’s Church North Ward is celebrating its centenary.

A Winter Dinner will be held on July 24 to mark the occasion with a Mass on Sunday, July 25, at 8.30am with Bishop Tim presiding.

The church in North Ward is located on the site of the first Catholic Church in Townsville.

The original St Joseph’s Church was established in 1872 but was swept away in a storm on January 23, 1892.

Today’s church foundation stone was laid in 1919 with construction taking two years.

The first Mass was held at the church on July 10, 1921 at 10am by Bishop Shiel along with many other priests from the area.

The principal altar that remains today was presented by the Rooney Family in honour of their parents who died in the Yongala ship wreck.

In the early 1950s the sides were put on the church.

In the 70s the church was renovated and the new altar now faces east with pews in a semicircle around it.

More recently, the beautiful garden surroundings have been donated by dedicated parishioners.

Priest Terry Lyons was a pupil at St

Joseph’s School in the 1940s. He was baptised and made his first holy communion with St Joseph’s Church before becoming a Priest in 1965.

He was the St Joseph’s Parish Priest from 1977 until 1980 and although he is now retired in Townsville, he still fills in for mass as needed.

The church has seen several bishops over the years including Bishops Mcguire, Ryan, Faulkner, Benjamin, Putney and Harris. Priests have included Monsignor Burke, Vince Vandeleur, Mickey Mullins, Thomas Garvey, Gerry Dore, Terry Lyons 1977-1980 and Mick Peters 1980-2017.

Some of the families involved in the church over the years have included Brennan, Shoebridge, Langan, Ivett, Staunton, Moroneys, Hooper and Daly.

To keep up to date with upcoming church events visit their Facebook page, St Joseph’s Church – The Strand

The Winter Dinner will take place from 6.30pm, July 24, at the Bishop Michael Putney Hall, St Joseph’s Schools, The Strand.

Tickets are $65 and include a threecourse meal with main prepared by A Touch of Salt. For tickets email STJOEYS@TSV.CATHOLIC.ORG.AU or call (07) 4721 3765.