In 1892 the Goodna district became a parish and Father Thomas Hayes was appointed as the first Parish Priest. He initiated the construction of a Presbytery and Parish School. The Sisters of Mercy were invited to run the school in response to a request by the Catholics of Goodna. They wanted sisters to teach their children the catechism. As the sisters had to travel daily from Ipswich, a convent was built for them in Goodna. The school was dedicated to St Patrick and regular classes began in 1910.
In 1924 Fr Thomas Keating was appointed to Goodna as Parish Priest. Soon after his arrival, the name of the church was changed to St Francis Xavier. The Sisters of Mercy were committed to the education of children of Goodna through the years of the depression, the war years and the post war immigration era. During this time many students were from the Wacol Migrant Centre. As a result the school developed a reputation for providing excellent education for students from a diversity of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.
The first Principal to be appointed following the withdrawal of the Sisters of Mercy, was Mr Jim Toohey. During the life of the school many physical changes have taken place with new buildings and facilities being added to meet the changing needs of students. The original building was replaced in 1987.
The present Principal, Mrs Kellie Jacobsen and Parish Priest, Fr January Mckude and Fr Paul , have continued the tradition of providing modern learning and teaching facilities vital in the current educational system. A preschool was opened in 2002. An extension to this building was completed in 2006. Preparatory Year commenced in 2007. In 2009 the Clarke Wing was completed which included Administration offices and an additional four classrooms. The Illidge Wing was completed in 2010 which now houses our year one classes and a prep class. Under the Building the Educational Revolution Project McAuley Hall and tuckshop facilities were completed in 2011. The Tomasi building was completed in 2022 and houses the Year 5 and 6 classrooms with a flexible learning space attached. Named after Fr Tomasi a past parish priest.
The school has continued with its proud tradition of providing quality education to children in the parish from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Today the parish embraces the suburbs of Goodna, Gailes, Wacol, Bellbird Park, Redbank, Redbank Plains, Carole Park, Camira and Collingwood Park. The school has an enrolment of approximately 500 students. The traditions, hopes and dreams of the original Catholics of the Goodna district inspire the present-day school community to continue the faith education of the children in this area.© Brisbane Catholic Education, St Francis Xavier School Goodna.
© Brisbane Catholic Education, St Francis Xavier School (2024)