Lightning storms across the region were no match for the power of the Catholic church apparently, as Condobolin’s church swiftly recovered from being hit by a lightning strike before it could impact 8am mass the next day. 

As storms set in across the Western Plains yesterday evening (Tuesday, 19 December), St Joseph's Catholic Church in Condobolin was struck by a lightning bolt, making it the second hit in two months. 

Condobolin’s priest Father Getulio Goncalves Neto reported to his parish that the bell tower had suffered damage, as well as the building’s electrical system. 

“It hit the corners of the tower…it was basically an explosion where some pieces of the tower fell about 60 metres away from the church,” Fr Getulio said. 

Thankfully, the damage to the outside was only decorative. 

Bricks 'exploded' from the bell tower, falling in all directipons. (Supplied)

“That’s the only corner it could’ve hit that wouldn’t damage the roof of the church…it would be much more expensive to fix the church itself.”

Weighing in at around two kilograms, Fr Getulio was thankful that no one was around during the storms to get hit by the flying bricks.

Inside, the electricity had shorted, with only the Light of the Blessed Sacrament remaining alight. 

For Fr Getulio, while the deafening ‘flash and bang’ of the lightning strike made him wary, he had prepared for the occasion. 

“Last month we were hit by lightning as well,” Fr Getulio said. 



In November, the strike damaged the church’s PA system and projector. 

Fr Getulio reassured his parish that church services will continue as normal, with no changes to Christmas services. 

“When they built it almost 100 years ago, they built a very strong church.”

“In the battle between the church and the lightning…the church won.”