C A T H O L I C P A R I S H E S
of
WANGARATTA and
KING VALLEY
Acknowledgement of Country: As we gather as a community, we think of the traditional custodians of this land, the Pangerang People of the Yorta Yorta Nation. We would also like to pay respect to elders past and present. As it was along the banks of the Ovens and Kings Rivers that Pangerang People lived harmoniously for thousands of years. We continue to walk towards reconciliation and recognise the continuing connection to Country of the Aboriginal people.
History of Our Lady’s Parish Church, South Wangaratta
(From Paddock to Parish- Kevin Howard)
In the mid 1940’s the majority of the Wangaratta area, known as Yarrunga, was open paddocks over which it was planned to develop a major government housing estate, to accommodate the expected numbers of returning ex-servicemen and the anticipated influx of workers required for the new aluminium factory. The initial planning was for 700 new houses; however, future demand saw this increased to more than 1,100 houses.
In the early 1950s the Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s at the time Monsignor Mahony, foresaw the impact of this dramatic suburbanisation and took action to obtain land in White Street.
Father Hussey (late Monsignor), who succeeded Monsignor Mahony, purchased a building from the State Electricity Commission and had it transported from Mt. Beauty to Wangaratta and re-erected as temporary church on the property. Fr. Hussey placed this new Church under the patronage of Our Lady Mother of God, which subsequently became the official title of the new Parish.
The Parish was officially created by Bishop Stewart on 28th March 1958 and Fr James Byrne, who was assisting in the Yarrawonga parish, was appointed as the first Parish Priest.
History of St. Joseph’s Church, Glenrowan
(From Paddock to Parish- Kevin Howard)
Prior to 1887 and the construction of their own church, residents of the Glenrowan and Greta are generally attended Sunday Mass in Moyhu or Wangaratta. In 1886 a meeting of parishioners decided to build a new church in Glenrowan and elected a committee to undertake the task.
The first Mass was celebrated on the 29th April 1887 and the church was officially opened and dedicated to St. Joseph the Workman by His Lordship, the Co-Adjutor Bishop of Sandhurst Right Rev Dr Reville, on the 14th July 1887.
Over the years the old building gradually deteriorated until further maintenance was not practical and a new church was the most obvious solution, so on Easter Sunday 1970 almost exactly 83 years after its opening Fr Byrne celebrated the last Mass in the old Church and brought one era to a close and opened a new page in the church history of Glenrowan.
It was a great day for Glenrowan parishioners when their new church was officially opened and rededicated to St. Joseph the Workman on 8th November 1970 by the Most Reverend Bernard D Stewart, Bishop of Sandhurst.
