The Parish of Wee Waa was established in 1893. Three early priests can be recalled: Fathers O’Sullivan (1894), J. Austin (1895), and J. Byrne (1896). Up until the 1928 period, not only were the centres of Wee Waa, Burren Junction, Gwabegar, and Pilliga served from this Centre, but the parish was extended to include Lightning Ridge, Walgett, Carinda, Collarenebri and Rowena. (8). This meant that Burren Junction parishioners had to be content with irregular services being held on any day of the week that the priest could get there.
The following “Comet’s Visit” to the Namoi Echo of 22nd July 1905, records the arrival at Burren Junction on 27th inst. (9). The Catholic Collector advises that J. O’Connor will hold mass there on the 28th at 8.30 a.m.
By 1905, community members were making plans to build a church in the town, as the Wee Waa Echo 22nd July 1905 reports that a ball being held in the Railway Refreshment Room “in aid of the proposed new R.C. Church”. (10). It is not known the precise date of the church’s completion but it was completed by about 1911. It is thought that Leo Houlihan was one of the first to be married in the church.
Further additions near the altar, where the register is kept, were made in the 1930’s.
Some marriage ceremonies that have been performed in the church have been those of Webb to Carroll (May), Dollie Murphy to Gordon Duncan and Len Webber to Richard Webber in 1930.
The donations have continued to maintain the church through fundraising and support of the congregation over the ensuing years. Some of the Priests who have served the Burren Junction congregation are—
Fathers:
J. Austin – 1895
J. Byrne – 1896
F. Hogan – 1898
J. McDermott – 1920
T. Harrigan – 1923
P. Cox – 1924–31
L. Mahony – 1932
S. Burchell – 1934
James G. Maron – 1935–37
C. Donleavy – 1937–43
P. Doherty – 1938
J. O’Connor – 1944–45
P. McGrath – 1946–1952
James G. Maron – 1953–1966
M. Foley – c.1966
K. Nolan – c.1967
R Buckhorn - c 1967
S Campbell - c 1972
R McKervey - C 1974
B Frize - 1978
E Kennedy - 1992
T Wilkes - 1994
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