Our Story
Sacred Heart Parish was established in 1965 with Fr Bernard Edghill as Parish Priest.
In 1957 Bishop F. A Henschke, Bishop of Wagga Wagga, purchased four 5 acre blocks in different areas of the city for the purpose of establishing parish churches and schools.
Bishop Henschke with Monsignor Des Lane
and Father Wilf Plunkett at Coreen
In 1957 Bishop F. A Henschke, Bishop of Wagga Wagga, purchased four 5 acre blocks in different areas of the city for the purpose of establishing parish churches and schools.
In 1957 on the block in Lake Albert Road an army hut made of corrugated iron transferred from Kapooka Barracks became the Mass Centre for that part of the Cathedral Parish, which was then under the administration of Monsignor Des Lane.
In 1960 a school building was erected on the site and was named Sacred Heart Catholic School Kooringal. It housed three classrooms and a large room which became the centre for Mass. The army hut was turned into two classrooms.
When the present Parish Centre was erected in 1978, the army hut was sold to a farmer at Malebo Hill. What was the original Mass Centre became the school library until 2008 when it was turned into two classrooms.
In 1990 it was decided that another Primary School was needed. This resulted in Mater Dei School being built on property south of Lake Albert owned by the Diocese for many years. Mater Dei Catholic College was established in 2004.
Clergy
Fr Andrew Grace
2024 - Current
Fr. Grace arrived in our parish on Monday 29th January. He
has been the Parish Priest in Griffith since 2009. He was previously in
Darlington Point and the Albury area before that.
Fr. Grace brings a wealth of experience to Sacred Heart. Fr. Grace is originally from Sydney and grew up in the Strathfield area.
He is a keen golfer, surfer and supporter of the Manly Sea Eagles and Collingwood Magpies.
2023
Fr Bradley Rafter
I was born on January 30 1977, the youngest of 3 children. In 2002 I completed an apprenticeship in Greenkeeping. I joined Vianney College Seminary in 2006 and was ordained on April 5, 2013 at St. Michael’s Cathedral where I spent the rest of that year. I then spent 2014-15 in Griffith and 2016-21 in Narrandera.
Bishop Edwards then asked me to take on the role of vice rector and first year formator at Vianney College where I spent 2022; I also was the Administrator of Lockhart in 2022. In 2017 I was commissioned as a Chaplain in the Australian Army. I currently work every Wednesday, and some evenings, at Kapooka with the recruits doing their basic training. I am also studying Pastoral Supervision part-time through St. Mark’s Anglican church. I hope to finish my studies mid 2023. At the end of 2022 Bishop Edwards asked me to start learning the Extraordinary Form of the Mass for the Latin community at Mt. Erin. By March it is expected that I will be offering that Mass at 11.30 each Sunday. My hobbies include: gym training, music and sports. I am a passionate Wests Tigers and Richmond Tigers supporter (don’t judge me) and New Orleans Saints in American Football.
I will be the Administrator here only for 2023 and I am very excited about this. I am still the vice rector at Vianney and will take up that position again fulltime at the and of this year. Thanks to all of the parishioners of Sacred Heart for making me feel so welcome. I look forward to getting to know you over the next 12 months. Let’s pray for each other.
