Embedded Files
The story of how St Joseph's Church came to be built, and the history that shaped it.
Curtin’s original plan of St Joseph’s Church
A Vision Takes Shape
The story of St Joseph's Church begins with a growing congregation and a priest with a vision. By the late 1960s, the parish had outgrown the school hall where Mass had been celebrated since the 1950s. Fr. William O'Shea, the parish's first priest, was determined to build a church worthy of the community, and to give it a character deeply connected to his Irish heritage and the Catholic faith.
After some deliberation and with Archdiocesan approval, Fr. O'Shea commissioned the distinguished architect Kevin J. Curtin & Partners to design the new building. Curtin was already well regarded for his church commissions across Australia and would go on to consider St Joseph's his finest work in Canberra. A design was produced in 1971, with full documentation following in 1972.
The Lottery That Built a Church
Funding came from parishioner donations and — in a story that has passed into parish legend — the proceeds of a lottery ticket. Through much of the 1960s and early 1970s, the men who ran the parish's weekly housie night put the loose change from each evening towards two lottery tickets: one for themselves, one for the parish. In 1972, the parish ticket won the Sydney Opera House Lottery prize of £200,000. It is a tribute to those men that they confirmed without hesitation that it was the parish's ticket that had won.
Opening and Consecration
Construction was completed in 1973, and the church was consecrated by Archbishop Cahill at its opening in October of that year, entirely debt-free. The result is considered Kevin Curtin's finest work in Canberra and one of the most architecturally significant Catholic churches in Australia. The building is notable for its striking circular form set on a square bluestone platform, its dramatic origami-like roof, and its extraordinary collection of artworks — all shaped by Fr. O'Shea's deep personal involvement in every detail of the design.
To explore the architecture, design and artworks in detail, visit Our Architecture page.
The Altar
The altar at St Joseph's is far more than a piece of liturgical furniture, it is a carefully conceived work of sacred art. Conceived by Fr. O'Shea, designed by Canberra architect Morrie Mitchell, and built by a local craftsman, it takes the form of a ship: the barque of Peter. The monogram amidships comprises the Greek letters Chi and Rho, bracketed by Alpha and Omega, Christ, the beginning and end of everything.
Embedded in the marble altar top, adjacent to a relic, is an authentic segment of Mass Rock from County Kerry, Ireland. It is a memorial of the Penal Laws, when Mass had to be celebrated in secret. The last celebrant on that rock, Fr. Thaddeus Moriarty, was captured and executed. That fragment of stone connects this Canberra church to centuries of Irish faith and sacrifice.
The Artworks
The interior of St Joseph's is enriched by an extraordinary collection of artworks, each with its own story. The two windows flanking the sanctuary, depicting 'The Annunciation' and 'St Joseph and the Young Christ', were made by the celebrated Dublin studio of Harry Clarke Stained Glass Ltd, commissioned in 1972 and installed in 1973. They were personally chosen by Fr. O'Shea. The large stained glass windows at the front of the church were designed by distinguished Australian artist Leonard French, whose geometric compositions were conceived as a complement to the Harry Clarke windows' figurative style.
The mosaics were designed and installed by Dominican priest Fr. Maurice Keating. The carved timber reredos behind the altar features intricate carvings of the rosary and a raised central section bearing a wooden crucifix. During the time of Fr. Bartley, stained glass work was added at the base of the tower, providing a stylised representation of the Holy Trinity: the Burning Bush, the Crown of Thorns, and the Dove.
For a full description of the stained glass, roof, nave and architectural features, see Our Architecture page.
The 2007 Fire and Restoration
In August 2007, an arsonist lit a fire that devastated the church. The blaze travelled up through the tower, which acted as a chimney, destroying much of the roof. Remarkably, the pews, stained glass windows and most of the interior artwork survived, as did the altar and the carved reredos. The adjacent Parish Centre, badly damaged, was demolished.
Kevin Curtin's original drawings were used to guide a painstaking restoration that respected the building's design and retained as much original fabric as possible. The original light brown steel roof was replaced with bronze-coloured steel.
Reopening and Heritage Recognition
After nearly two years of closure, the church was reopened and blessed by Archbishop Coleridge on the Feast of St Joseph, 19 March 2009, a moment of profound joy for the whole parish, and one reported by the ABC.
In 2017, St Joseph's Catholic Church was formally listed on the ACT Heritage Register by the ACT Heritage Council, which recognised the church's outstanding architectural significance and its place in Canberra's history. It stands as an excellent example of Late Twentieth-Century Ecclesiastical Style (1960–) architecture, strongly expressing the defining attributes of that tradition, and bearing a special association with the life and work of renowned Australian architect and Canberran Kevin J Curtin.
The church stands today as it did in 1973: a place of beauty, faith, and community, well maintained, and continuing to serve the people of O'Connor and beyond.
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