News from the Central West
16 August, 2024
Bell Tower Structure witnesses to Catholic Presence
Although the former St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Muttaburra was decommissioned on 29th January 2023, and the building sold earlier this year, a permanent physical sign of the Catholic presence in the district remains. Thanks to the hard work of local parishioner Jenni Gray and her family, the Church Bell and tower, external wall cross, and one of the entry gates have been incorporated into a bell tower sculpture that is located along the town’s growing sculpture walkway. Fr Bang travelled to Muttaburra for their Sculpture Festival and officially unveiled and blessed the sculpture on Saturday 27th July 2024.
Accompanying the sculpture is a plaque incorporating elements of Catholic history in Muttaburra, but more importantly the structure serves as reminder that the Catholic faith continues in the community, despite the absence of a Church building. This is not the first time this has happened in Muttaburra’s history! While the first recorded Catholic marriage was in 1882, and the first Bishop’s visit in 1887, the first Catholic Church in Muttaburra wasn’t opened until 1894. In January 1943 this church was destroyed in a storm, forcing Mass to be held in the town’s hall until construction of the current building was completed in September 1948. The sacraments in Muttaburra will again be held in the hall and other gathering places around the district.
