St Joseph's History Update
As work continues to produce a parish history to mark the centenary of St Joseph's Church in 2021, our research efforts have continued apace over the past couple of months, with recent focus on:
- Mary and Samuel Stewart, who hosted the first mass in their home in late 1849; their Irish origins have been explored, and our investigations and request for information were mentioned during Sunday Mass from Monasteverin, their home town in County Kildare
- The early missionary priests; we have come across information that contradicts some of the 'origin myths' of the establishment of the Catholic Church in Queensland, and in Dalby
- the second St Joseph's Church (1886-1917) which was demolished due to termite infestation; we are finding information about this building very difficult to come by. Apart from some photos and very brief mentions in the press of the time, there seems to be little else. If your family has knowledge of this church, or of ceremonies held there and so on, please let us know.
- the early Catholic schools and teachers before the Sisters of Mercy arrived in 1877
We have also been given access to some wonderful family photos and stories, but would be happy to see more! Specifically, we would be keen on seeing material about the YCW, Holy Name Society, Legion of Mary, Knights of the Southern Cross, the Hibernian Society, or any of the parish sporting teams from days gone by.
Covid19 restrictions have made some research and interviewing difficult to manage, but as restrictions ease, we hope to be more involved with this aspect.
If you have an interesting anecdote, or an knowledge of an important event you thin might be missed, please get in touch!
Damien Morgan