Catholic education is for life; providing a spiritual vision for every student, staff and parent. At St Joseph’s, we are enriched by the vision of Catherine McAuley that has been passed down to us. We participate in the proud Mercy history which spans more than 175 years.
In 1936 when St. Joseph’s opened its doors for the first time, with Sr Mary Thecla as principal, it was located in what was then an ‘outpost’ of St. Patrick’s Parish Mackay. Many stories could be told of the early struggles in the school’s history and the pioneering work done by the Sisters of Mercy. They laid a solid foundation based on the Mercy values that still stands true today, of hard work through all we do and a genuine love of God and respect for one another. Other significant figures in establishing St. Joseph’s School were early parish priests, Fr. Barney Cahill and Fr. Bill McAlister who with the help of parishioners initiated significant fundraising events including NORFAIR to assist with the school’s finances.
Through the changing facets of school life, St. Joseph’s has consistently been regarded as the ‘Family School’ with a genuine connection made to our patron saint- St. Joseph and the ‘Holy Family’. As our Mission Statement suggests, our school attempts to nurture the development and growth of each child in an atmosphere of care and concern, whilst still providing an all-round excellent education through positive partnerships with our school community. Today, St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School is one of four primary schools and one secondary school that are part of St. Joseph’s Parish. We offer children from Preparatory to Year Six a Catholic education in an innovative, progressive and holistic environment. By following our school vision statement and our Mercy values we live out our school motto “With Christ We Grow”.
As a Catholic Primary School within the Diocese of Rockhampton, our St. Joseph’s School Community strives to live out the Gospel values in all dimensions of our school. Through a commitment to quality, inclusive, Catholic education, we work together to foster and enhance the Diocesan Mission Directions, in an attempt to create a dynamic faith and education community. We share in the Mission of the Church, providing knowledge and rich experiences of our Catholic Faith, empowering all to know God’s love in their daily lives.
