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Saint
Francis Xavier church celebrated its centenary in 1992, however its
history is longer than that. Initially it was part of Ipswich Parish
and with the progress over the years became a separate parish in 1892.
The building was built of stone hewn at Goodna at a quarry opposite the
cemetery. This same quarry provided the stone for the Brisbane School
of Arts and St Patrick's Church in Fortitude Valley.
Saint Francis' was originally known as St Patrick's until sometime in
the 1930s and the school name was changed in 1948. The school
celebrates its centenary in 2010.
(Source:
http://www.home.gil.com.au/~tmacey/VinceHanley/index.htm)
The
first couple to be married in the Catholic Church was Thomas Smith and
Mary Kelleher, who were married by the late Father Horan. The Smiths
lived in Logan Road,
Dingo Hill (Gailes), and raised a family of 5 sons and 7 daughters,
some of whom still live in the Goodna, Ipswich and Brisbane districts.
(Source:
http://www.goodna.info/history/pricemem.html)
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 St Francis
Xavier Church circa 1960
(Source:
http://www.home.gil.com.au/~tmacey/VinceHanley/index.htm)
In 2006, the Parish Pastoral Council
addressed the need for a Meeting facility to cater for the needs of
parishioners and the Out of School Hours Care Service. Fund-raising was
introduced to meet the cost of $200,000.
On Saturday 3rd
March the parish Centre at St Francis Xavier’s Goodna was dedicated
in the memory of Fr Ron Illidge. The Centre now known as the Ron Illidge
Centre was blessed and dedicated by Fr Peter Casey dean of the South
Country Deanery.
Fr Ron was parish priest in
Goodna between 1975 and 1985, during which time he replaced the old
dilapidated timber presbytery with the present low set brick structure,
added the pergola to the side of the church and introduced RCIA to the
parish as a pilot parish in the Archdiocese. Fr Ron died in December 2004
after a long illness.
Members of Fr Ron’s family
including his brother Terry and his wife Dallas, with a number of nieces
and nephews were present. Also fro Fr Derek Furness a class-mate and long
time friend of Fr Ron, traveled from Dalby for the occasion. Councilor
Paul Pisasale the Mayor of Ipswich, Deputy Mayor Victor Attwood and
Councilor Paul Tully represented
Ipswich City Council.
Our
Parish is a contributing member of the network known as the
Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.
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Brisbane
Catholic Archdiocese
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