St Peter Julian's Catholic Church

The St Peter Julian's Catholic Church and Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation, Haymarket is in the St Mary's Cathedral Parish and the Archdiocese of Sydney. The church site was acquired in April 1952, by Fr Thomas McNevin, who belonged to the Blessed Sacrament Congregation. The Blessed Sacrament Congregation was founded in Paris by Fr Peter Julian Eymard in May 1856 [Fr Peter Julian Eymard was canonised by Pope John XXIII on 9/12/1962]. It had its first Australian foundation in Melbourne in 1929, and this was its first foundation in Sydney. The intention was to establish a monastery and chapel. The former furniture store was converted into a chapel and the warehouse became a monastery, housing ten brothers and four priests. The Church of the Blessed Sacrament was blessed by Cardinal Gilroy on 30/8/1953. Plans for redevelopemnt of the site began in 1959. On 29/4/1963 the monastery was ready for occupation and a Mass was celebrated in the Lady Chapel. The second stage of the project included a new church and sacristies, kitchen, stores and workroom above, and a paved garden on the roof. The new church was dedicated to Fr Peter Julian on 17/3/1964 by Cardinal Gilroy. In July 2008 the church was closed for refurbishment and re-opened on 28/3/2009, and dedicated in May 2009. More historical information/photographs of the church/congregation are invited. Photographs uploaded 1/6/2018 & 10/8/2020.

For more of the Church story see - https://meetings.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/documents/s20630/Attachment%20C3%20-%20St%20Peter%20Julians%20Catholic%20Church%20and%20Monastery.pdf