Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Parish
Parish Priest: Rev Joshua Whitehead
Associate Pastor: Rev Minje Kim
Parish office address:
Street: 61 Edmund Street, Shelly Beach, QLD, Australia
Postal: PO Box 595, Caloundra, QLD, Australia
Office hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 1:00pm
Vicki Howard
Beth Davies
Edgar Pitargue
Amelia Willmer
Administration
Christyna Malietoa-Brown
Fr Joshua Whitehead - Parish Priest
Fr Josh Whitehead is the Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Parish, Caloundra, appointed in December 2023. He is the fifth pastor to lead the parish and is known for his focus on parish renewal, community connection, and helping people encounter Jesus in accessible and transformational ways.
Born in New Zealand in 1981, Fr Josh grew up in a large Catholic family and served eight years in the New Zealand Army, including operational deployment to Bamyan Province, Afghanistan. Following military service, he lived and worked across Australia and the United Kingdom, experiences that shaped a strong appreciation for community, service, and the realities of contemporary life.
A period working in the mining industry and later in the health and fitness sector preceded a growing sense of vocational calling. In 2012, he formally began discerning priesthood through the Archdiocese of Brisbane, entering Holy Spirit Seminary, Banyo, the following year. His formation included a Bachelor of Theology and a Master of Theological Studies, with academic focus on synodality and the life of the Church.
Ordained a priest in 2019, Fr Josh served at the Cathedral of St Stephen before being appointed to Caloundra Parish. He was entrusted with parish leadership as Administrator in 2022 prior to his appointment as Parish Priest.
Fr Josh regularly celebrates Mass on Channel 10 and Foxtel’s Mass for You at Home and is a familiar voice for many Australians who connect with the Church through broadcast worship. His pastoral approach emphasises hospitality, listening, and mission-focused engagement, particularly for those who feel distant from faith or parish life.
Outside of ministry, he enjoys time at the coast and is an avid surfer, valuing the balance, perspective, and presence found in the ocean.
Fr Minje Kim - Associate Pastor
Fr Minje Kim is a priest of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, newly appointed as the Associate Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Caloundra, following his ministry at the Ipswich Catholic Community.
Born and raised in Busan, South Korea, Fr Minje grew up within the Catholic faith and developed an early appreciation for the life of the Church and the importance of the Eucharist. He served as a youth coordinator and musician at his previous parish in Korea, and his active involvement in ministry led him to enter the seminary in Korea. After several years of formation and completing his compulsory military service in the Korean Army, he left the major seminary and gained a variety of life and work experiences, including driving a bus in his hometown and undertaking voluntary service with people affected by leprosy. During this period, he also planned an overseas journey and eventually came to Brisbane, where he began actively discerning his vocation to the priesthood.
After his initial discernment with the assistance of Vocation Brisbane in 2017, Fr Minje entered Holy Spirit Seminary, Banyo, and pursued theological studies through Australian Catholic University. His academic interests include liturgy, pastoral theology, and theological anthropology, particularly the relationship between faith, worship, and the human experience.
Ordained to the priesthood on 29 June 2023 for the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Fr Minje has served the Ipswich Catholic Community with a strong commitment to pastoral accompaniment and helping people discover meaning and hope through the celebration of the sacraments. In his pastoral ministry, he strives to remain willing, confident, and joyful in helping others.
Fr Minje values time spent driving and enjoys playing baseball and soccer, especially with students in Catholic schools.