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OUR DIOCESAN COMMUNITY 

News around the Diocese - No. 24 - April 2008 

Commitment to Youth 

Seeds of Hope 

Life in Peru 

Appreciating that change is a constant in our lives 

is the focus of this issue of ODC. Times of change can 

be times of stress, apprehension, concern, loss and 

anxiety. Yet times of change always come bearing gifts, 

new people come into our lives, new facilities bring 

renewed enthusiasm for our ministry and mission, 

situations can be changed by the outreach and 

commitment of people. This we can see all around us 

in the communities of the Diocese and we give thanks 

that it is so. 

NOTHING IS PERMANENT 

BUT CHANGE. (Heraclitus) 

Change in Cororooke 

Welcome a Pilgrim 

We are the Catholic Church in the Ballarat Diocese. 

We gather in the name of Jesus 

from the Murray to the Sea 

in interwoven faith communities. 

Spirit-filled, we celebrate and share our journey 

reaching out to nurture all God’s people. 

Draft Vision Statement for the Diocese

Diocesan Publications Through the Years 

2008 marks the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the diocesan publication ‘Our Diocesan Community’. 

When it began in 1988 as a small black and white publication, it was continuing a strong tradition of a Diocesan 

print communication which began with the magazine ‘Light’. 

The first Diocesan periodical ‘Light’ will be fondly remembered by older members of the community. ‘Light’ was 

commenced by Bishop James P. O’Collins with the drive and enthusiasm of Fr. Jim McInerney, later Monsignor 

McInerney. The first edition appeared in February 1948 with Monsignor McInerney as editor until 1979 when 

Fr. George Pell, now Cardinal Pell, took over the editorship. Fr Pell continued work on ‘Light’ until 1985 when 

Fr. John McKinnon became editor until the journal’s demise in December 1986. 

Light won several significant awards as a Catholic journal and was an important link for parish communities 

throughout the diocese. It catered for a wide range of interests including literary and faith matters. Lucille 

Quinlan’s and Frank Bongiorno’s columns were regular features over the years. In the early 1970s Light was 

awarded “Best Editorial appearing in a Roman Catholic periodical in Australasia”. Another journal, A Diocesan 

Forum edited by Fr Kevin Murphy appeared from 1972 until 1974 with a particular emphasis on education. 

After the closure of Light it was quickly realised that with a diocesan community as 

widespread and diverse as Ballarat’s, some form of print communication was essential. 

A sub-committee of the Diocesan Planning Committee was established with Mr 

Des Brennan of Buangor as editorial coordinator. Under their direction the Diocese 

commenced publication of a bi-fold newsletter Our Diocesan Community in 1988. 

Known by the anagram ODC, this soon grew into a four leaf, eight page format. 

After a review of ODC by the Diocesan Pastoral Council in 2000, a new Editorial 

Committee was established and Our Diocesan Community began anew in 2002 with 

a new revised format as an A4 twelve or sixteen page colour/black & white journal 

published four times a year. Diocesan communications expanded further in 2006 with 

the introduction of an e-journal known as E-News in 2006 and the launch of the Diocesan 

website in 2007 which now includes an electronic version of ODC. 

Beginning in 2008, ODC will be a sixteen or twenty page journal published three times 

this year, and linked with the Diocesan website and Diocesan E-News, provides further 

new ways of recognising the importance of communication as a link between the 

communities of the Diocese. The life of the parishes and communities of the Diocese is 

a rich and varied one and through ODC and the other forms of communication we are 

all able to share and give thanks for this. 

Michael Taffe – Diocesan Archivist 

Mary Ward: an Inspirational Leader 

Loreto College, Ballarat has received a bronze sculpture on the life and charisma of Mary 

Ward, founder of the Institute of the Virgin Mary (IBVM). The sculpture is tribute to the four 

hundred years of Loreto education which will be celebrated in 2009. 

Another six sculptures will be displayed at each of the six Loreto Schools around 

Australia. 

Adelaide Artist, Ms Meliesa Judge was selected from a competitive national search to 

depict the reformation woman who introduced powerful new concepts into her turbulent 

times. Mary Ward addressed women’s capacity to educate, to motivate, to lead and to take 

action so as to change society from within. 

Ms Potter, Loreto College Principal said, “our sculpture evokes the spirit of Mary Ward the 

artist has captured - Mary Ward stepping strongly forward to embrace change and her 

destiny. This sculpture is a work of art and adds to our heritage and will also contribute to 

the heritage of the Ballarat community.” 

Ms Meliesa Judge, Artist, stated, “in so many ways this sculpture is the work of an entire 

community. So many people contributed ideas, insights, research and enthusiasm. Loreto 

brought me their vision and I became their inspired hands.” 

A presentation and unveiling of the Mary Ward Statue took place on Friday, February 1 at 

9.30am in the front gardens of Loreto College. 

2 

Our Diocesan Community - April 2008

New General Instruction 

of the Roman Missal 

The new General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) 

is to take effect in Australian Churches on Pentecost 

Sunday. 

The General Instruction, which was approved by the 

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in May 2007, 

will take effect in parishes on May 11, 2008 (Pentecost 

Sunday). The Bishops voted to implement the new GIRM 

on Pentecost Sunday and will prepare people for the 

new measures with materials prepared by the Bishops’ 

Commission for Liturgy. 

In essence, under the new GIRM, Catholics in Australia 

will be asked to make two changes to the way Mass is 

celebrated. 

The first change relates to POSTURE. 

At present when the priest invites the people to pray at the 

Preparation of the Gifts the congregation remains seated 

until it has responded, “May the Lord accept the sacrifice 

at your hands to the praise and glory of His name, for our 

good, and the good of all His Church”. The congregation, 

up to now, has then stood for the Prayer over the Gifts. 

From Pentecost Sunday, May 11, the congregation will be 

asked to STAND when the priest invites the congregation 

to pray, “Pray brethren that our sacrifice may be acceptable 

to God the Almighty Father”. 

The second change relates to a GESTURE. 

The Australian edition of the GIRM says: 

“When approaching to receive Holy Communion, the 

faithful bow in reverence of the Mystery that they are to 

receive” (GIRM 160). The communicant might bow just 

before receiving Holy Communion or perhaps while the 

person in front of them is receiving Holy Communion. Such 

a bow can be done simply, without disrupting the flow of 

the Communion Procession, which is a most important 

ritual act in the celebration of the Mass. 

marking a milestone 

The high regard in which St. Joseph’s 

Church at Yambuk is held was 

shown when 170 people recently 

packed the small church for its 75th 

anniversary. 

The anniversary, which also 

celebrated 150 years of Catholic 

education in Yambuk, included a 

lunch at the Yambuk Public Hall that 

involved the telling of many tales 

about the church’s history. Speakers 

included Pat Crowe, Bob Bowman, 

Des Crowe and Ron Bartlett, 

all of whom had been involved with the church for many years. The 

congregation also welcomed the return to clerical duties of parish priest 

Father Eric Bryant who had been recuperating after surgery. 

The anniversary was marked with the launch of a booklet, ‘St. Joseph’s 

Church Yambuk 1932-2007’, that was compiled by Craig Gubby. The 

church’s committee thanked Mr Gubby for his work and for all those 

who helped make the day a success. About 120 copies of the 28-page 

booklet were sold on the day and it continues to sell well. 

A 75th anniversary cake was cut by Moya Croft who travelled from 

Perth to attend the event. The celebrations also included a St. Joseph’s 

tradition, the planting of rose bushes on significant occasions. 

To mark the 75th 

anniversary, Father Bryant 

planted a rose bush with 

one of the church’s oldest 

parishioners, Ron Bartlett, 

and one of its youngest, 

Bernard Sinnott. Members 

of the extended Carroll 

family planted a rose bush 

in memory of their aunt, 

the late Good Samaritan 

Sister, Sr. Mary Ethelburga 

(Hannah Carroll), who grew 

up in Yambuk. Sister Mary 

Ethelburga was one of an 

“abundant harvest” of men 

and women from Yambuk 

who entered the priesthood 

and religious life. 

The church is the second St. Joseph’s to be built in Yambuk with its 

predecessor also serving as a school. St. Joseph’s School operated 

from 1857 with a new school opening in 1938 and continuing until 1952 

when it closed for lack of a teacher. The former St. Joseph’s school 

building is currently used as a parish hall. The church retains an active 

congregation with services on a monthly basis. 

Everard Himmelreich - ‘The Moyne Gazette’ 

The Bishops Commission for Liturgy acknowledges that 

as with any change, it will take some time to become 

accustomed to the change in posture and the new 

gesture. “Some will be quicker than others in making the 

change, but with a little patience and quiet concentration 

there should be no confusion or disruption to the flow of 

the Mass”. 

The Diocesan Liturgical Commission has prepared a 

brochure on the changes which is now available in all 

parishes of the Diocese. 

The Booklet - ‘St. Joseph’s Church Yambuk 1932-2007’ is available at 

$10-00 posted from: 

Mrs. Margaret Leddin, 4577 Princes Highway, Yambuk 3285 

Our Diocesan Community - April 2008 

3

Festival of Portugal in Warrnambool 

At midday on the 2nd March, a beautiful sunny Sunday in Warrnambool, Fr John Fitzgerald 

celebrated Mass together with Fr Jose Guadalupe, a priest from the Australian Portuguese 

community. The venue was the Portuguese Padrao situated on Cannon Hill which overlooks the 

sea. A ‘Padrao’ is a large stone cross inscribed with the coast of arms of Portugal and placed as a 

mark of discovery related to Portuguese exploration. It was a spectacular backdrop for the Mass. 

This Mass was an important part of the FESTIVAL OF PORTUGAL which was held in the city 

during the weekend. The Festival celebrates the exploration of the eastern coast of Australia by the 

Portuguese explorer Cristovao de Mendonça in the sixteenth century. The Festival, which is held 

every couple of years, is considered by older Portuguese immigrants as a time to celebrate their 

Portuguese origins and to pass on their cultural heritage to their Australian born children. 

During the 19th Century there were sightings by early settlers of an ancient shipwreck, known as 

the ‘Mahogany Ship’, in the sand dunes west of Warrnambool. Many now believe this to have 

been a ship from Mendonca’s fleet. The wreck has not been seen for many years but for this 

reason the Portuguese community has an affinity with Warrnambool and regards it as their ‘second 

home’ in Australia. Several years ago, in recognition of this, they built the Padrao on Cannon Hill 

with a cross and memorials to Henry of Navarre 

(Henry the Navigator) and Vasco de Gama. 

An estimated 2000 people travelled to Warrnambool for the Festival including the 

Portuguese Ambassador from Canberra and the Consul from Melbourne. On Saturday 

evening the Portuguese community gathered at the Arts Centre for a dinner dance and 

on the Sunday afternoon, after the Mass, they gathered again for a cultural experience 

(dancing and music) which gave the opportunity for all to taste Portuguese food and 

for the Warrnambool community to mingle with the very friendly Portuguese people. It 

was a wonderful experience for all concerned. 

Mary Lancaster 

Left to right: 

Portuguese Consul, Fr. John Fitzgerald, Portuguese Ambassador, Fr. Jose Guadalupe 

SEASONS OF CHANGE 

Change has well and truly settled over the Parish school of St. Aloysius in Redan. 

The school continues to undergo a dazzling metamorphosis that began with the 

development of two new senior classrooms. The classrooms incorporate leading 

technologies with the introduction of SmartBoard technologies, a ‘Thin Client’ network 

alongside several stand alone workstations. 

A beautiful mosaic, designed 

and created by Sue Larkin with 

help from the students of St. 

Aloysius, depicts the journey 

of our school and its close links 

with the goldfields, the Loreto 

nuns and our community. This 

key feature of our senior classrooms also reflects many values of our community – 

our welcoming nature, our commitment to providing a sound educational experience 

and our motto of ‘Fidelity’ which refers to faithfulness to God, each other and to our 

teaching and learning. 

The areas surrounding our classrooms have had a facelift also. Our magnificent tree 

now includes a passive garden – a gentle place of quiet for children to retreat to. This 

stands proudly alongside our new ‘life size’ chess board and chess pieces. This is an 

area of challenge and harmony for all. 

Thanks to our wonderful, hard working Parents & Friends Association we now have 

shade sails over the entire Adventure Playground This is a much appreciated safety 

feature of our changing environment. 

During the Term 1 school holidays, four of our existing classroom will undergo a 

substantial refurbishment which will include new carpet, lino, bench tops, cupboards, 

dedicated computer areas and , of course, SmartBoards. 

Liz Zelencich - On behalf of the St. Aloysius’ school community. 

4 


BALLARAT DIOCESAN PASTORAL COUNCIL 

Report of Meeting 1 - 2008 

The first full meeting of the Diocesan Pastoral Council for 2008 

took place at Our Lady Help of Christians, Wendouree on Friday, 

February 29 – Sunday, March 2. Present members of the Council 

are: Bishop Peter Connors, Sr. Margaret Brown (Secretary), Fr 

Justin Driscoll, Mrs. Gabrielle Ewing, Mr. Des Free, Mrs. Loretta 

Kaval, Sr. Anne McMillan (Executive Officer), Mrs. Genevieve 

Passlow, Fr Barry Ryan (Vicar General), Mrs. Margaret Simonds, 

Ms. Fiona Tonkin (Chairperson), Mr. Tony Torpy. Sr. Marie Davey is 

Minutes Secretary. 

DIOCESAN WEBSITE 

The meeting began on Friday evening with a workshop held at 

Damascus College, Ballarat, introducing the members of the Council 

to the content of the Diocesan Website, the Network possibilities 

and the Exchange facility within the website. Members will use the 

Exchange facility for on-going work between meetings. 

BISHOP’S REPORT 

World Youth Day - Bishop Peter reported on the progress of the 

youth in the Diocese towards World Youth Day in July. A successful 

leadership gathering was held in Halls Gap. At this stage 200 young 

people from the Diocese are to attend WYD. A significant number of 

young people from other countries will be coming to Ballarat for the 

Days in the Diocese prior to WYD and 400 from the Netherlands will 

be coming to the area after the event. 

General Instruction of the Roman Missal - Two changes in the 

celebration of the Mass will be introduced on Pentecost Sunday, 

2008. Leaflets are being produced to assist in the promotion of this 

and will be distributed to parishes and schools. 

Vocations - Visits by Vocations Committee to Monivae College & 

Camperdown Regional College will occur in Vocations Awareness 

week. Jim McKay (to be ordained Deacon at the end of this year) & 

John Corrigan are in the seminary at present for Ballarat. 

REPORTS 

Reports were received from the Faith Formation and Spirituality 

Reference Group, the Social Justice Reference Group and the 

Environment group. All groups are working on their areas of focus 

for 2008 and are to be commended for their commitment and 

contribution to the life of the Diocese. 

A report was also received form the Pastoral Ministry Office (including 

the Pastoral Planning Reference Group). Points from this report: 

• Website access is growing – requests for membership are 

coming In gradually – the focus for 2008 will be the use of the 

website by Diocesan parishes and groups; E-news – continues 

to be published fortnightly and contributions are invited from 

parishes and Diocesan groups; 

• Our Diocesan Community will be produced three times during 

2008; 

• Cororooke & Timboon – these Parishes are working with the 

Pastoral Ministry Office in a transition stage; 

• Ballarat – a first phase of awareness raising of the need for 

future planning in the Ballarat city area has commenced. 

DIOCESAN ORGANISATIONAL PLAN 

A preliminary Diocesan Working Plan outlining 2008 priority areas 

was presented for discussion. Areas are: 

• Ministry to Young People 

• Formation for Mission 

• Communications 

• Resourcing for Mission 

• Education & Welfare 

DIOCESAN GATHERINGS 

The Regional gatherings held last year were seen to be of value 

and the decision was made to continue these in 2008 in the 

three regions of the Diocese as follows: 

Tentative Locations & Dates: (Still to be confirmed) 

August 3 – Ballarat 

August 17 – Birchip 

August 24 – Warrnambool 

Proposed program: 

NEXT MEETING 

Gather for lunch 12.30pm 

Meeting - 1.30pm – 4.30pm 

Focus on Diocesan Working Plan 

Invitation to Parish Councils & Teams & other 

interested people. 

The next full meeting of the Diocesan Pastoral Council will take 

place on September 11, 12, 13 - venue to be arranged. 

CONCLUSION 

The members joined the Wendouree community for Mass 

on Saturday evening. The meeting concluded with lunch on 

Sunday at 12 noon. 

EMBRACING CHANGE 

WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN 

On Wednesday, February 13, the St Alipius Parish 

School community gathered to stand in solidarity with 

all Australians as we, as a nation, recognised the pain 

caused to Aboriginal families whose children were taken 

from them. Within a simple ritual we ceremoniously 

placed ‘hands’ in our central courtyard as a symbol of 

our commitment to: 

• Building bridges towards reconciliation 

• Looking for things that unite us 

• Opening our hearts to forming relationships that 

empower and enable others. 

I’m sure that many of our children were unaware of the 

depth of emotion that went with this day – but I hope that 

in years to come they might remember the time that they 

each placed a cut-out of their hand in a circle and prayed 

for a brighter future for all Australians. My fervent hope 

is that they grew in understanding that to say ‘sorry’ 

shows strength and opens doors to reconciliation. 

Eileen Rice - Principal 


5

Retaining our identity in the face of constant change 

The Emmanuel College community in Warrnambool officially welcomed 216 new Year 7 students and 21 new staff members into 

the College at the Opening Mass for 2008. Making the transition from Primary to Secondary education is a major event in the lives 

of the young Year 7 students. A major worry for many students concerns friendship groups, so a Camp is held as soon as practicable 

in Term 1 to allow the Year 7 students to get together and get to know each other as a group. The students quickly find new friends 

through participating in a range of activities including swimming, surfing, cycling, canoeing, walking, team-building activities and a 

concert. The aim of Emmanuel College is to ensure that the students feel safe, secure and happy in their new surroundings as they 

make the leap to secondary school. 

These major changes in the lives of the Year 7 students have been paralleled by changes being undergone by Emmanuel College 

as a whole. Emmanuel College has grown disproportionately to the growth of Warrnambool’s population and a record number of 

applicants for Year 7 were unable to attain a place at the College for Year 7 2008. Emmanuel College has transformed from being 

Warrnambool’s small school to having the second largest school population in Warrnambool. Major changes such as this have meant 

that the College has had to stay focussed on ensuring that Emmanuel retains the characteristics that parents and students love about 

their school. 

One of the things about Emmanuel that has been most valued by parents has been the size of the College. How will growing 

enrolments impact on this view? The answer from parents and students is that we need to value and retain the multi campus 

structure. At present this structure sees Years 7 to 10 located at the Ardlie Street Campus and the senior students at Canterbury 

Road. This not only allows the College to retain its small-school atmosphere – the senior campus fosters relaxed and adult interaction 

between staff and students, helping to prepare senior students to make the transition from the school environment to the adult world 

of tertiary education and the workforce. The benefits of increased enrolments such as greater subject choices, more extra curricular 

options and better facilities must not be overlooked. 

Other factors that contribute to retaining the small-school feel includes reducing the number of teachers Year 7 students interact with. 

The teachers have the opportunity to get to know their students well and this bring pastoral care benefits. There is a whole-school 

approach to pastoral care. There is an approach to recognising student achievement that means that students are never reduced to a 

number. For example, our tradition is to congratulate all of our graduates as a group, recognising that the options for senior students 

are now very wide. The majority of students choose the academic path while others choose the VCAL, VET or Apprenticeship path. 

All of these areas of achievement are valid and all students are to be congratulated on achieving to the best of their ability. We will 

never let our students and their successes be determined by a number. Really listening to parents, students and the wider Emmanuel 

College community is the key to retaining everything that is really valued about the College. 

Change is a constant at Emmanuel College but 

another constant is our emphasis on the traditions 

of the school’s founders. The Mercy tradition of 

extending loving kindness to others is complemented 

by our respect for Edmund Rice and his dedication to 

recognising the needs of youth. Emmanuel College will 

continue to build on the past, while constantly looking 

to the future and constantly listening to parents and 

students to ensure that our College, while constantly 

changing, retains its identity and its great traditions. 

Emmanuel Opening Mass for 2008 

welcomed new students and staff to a 

year of great change. Pictured are College 

Captains Daniel Barling and Hannah Ryan 

with Father Lawrence O’Toole. 

our diocesan community 

A joint publication of the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat and the Catholic Education Office of Ballarat. 

The Editorial Committee of Our Diocesan Community wishes to thank the many people who have contributed to this issue. 

We also acknowledge the support through sponsorship of the Catholic Superannuation Fund, Catholic Church Insurances and the 

Ballarat Catholic Development Fund. 

EDITORIAL BOARD 

Fr. Gerry Baldock, Sr Anne McMillan, Mr Allen Moloney, Sr Geraldine Mugavin, Mr Peter Schreenan, Mrs Carla Woodruff. 

During 2008, ODC will be published in April, August and November. 

All contributions to ODC may be forwarded to: 

OUR Diocesan community, 

PO Box 576, Ballarat 3353 

Phone: (03) 5337 7159 Fax: (03) 5333 5148 Email: odc@ballarat.catholic.org.au 

6 


Change at the Resource Centre 

First there was a Card catalogue, then there was AIMS (on-line 

catalogue) and now there is e-LIBRARY (on-line catalogue). 

You can find us just as before (see address below) and a 

HELP Sheet is readily available on the web site to assist you in 

navigating the new system. 

Anyone may search the catalogue but if you wish to check your 

own loans, reserves, overdues or wish to place a booking on-line 

you will need your own barcode and password. 

Ring Jenny at the Resource Centre to request an ID Card with 

all your details. 

BENEDICTUS: A BOOK OF BLESSINGS. 

John O’Donohue, 2007 

‘We have fallen out of belonging. Consequently, when we 

stand before crucial thresholds in our lives, we have no rituals 

to protect, encourage and guide us as we cross over into the 

unknown. For such crossings, we need to find new words. What 

is nearest to the heart is often farthest from the word. This book 

is an attempt to reach into that tenuous territory of change 

that we must cross...’ In sharing words of profound grace and 

wisdom, master storyteller John O’Donohue’s Benedictus offers 

blessings to shelter us as we confront the many challenges we 

face on our journey through life. 

CHANGE IS A CONSTANT 

AT MARIAN COLLEGE 

In the last ten years 

the enrolment at 

Marian College 

has gone from 300 

students to nearly 

470 students. This 

rapid increase 

in numbers has 

required constant 

change from the 

College to keep meeting the individual needs of all students. 

Marian College is not a small school any more and curriculum 

development needs to reflect the diversity in pathways that the 

students have available to them. Pastoral care approaches 

have had to evolve to ensure that the wellbeing of growing 

numbers of students is being met. One of the biggest changes 

that the growth in population has caused is that we don’t fit! 

We outgrew our school hall years ago and school assemblies 

are held outside. 

TIME FOR A CHANGE:a fresh look at spirituality, sexuality, 

globalisation and the church. Donal Dorr, 2004 

This book is a response to the hunger for a spirituality which 

both touches the heart and appeals to the intelligent mind. Donal 

Dorr explores in depth the nature of spirituality, both in its worldly 

aspects, and as an intimate relationship with the Creator, with 

Jesus and with the Holy Spirit. He explains why a lot of people 

searching for a satisfying spirituality, have become disillusioned 

with formal religion. 

CHANGE BY DESIGN - :the strengths of shared leadership 

Card Set from St Luke’s Innovative Resources, 2006 

Change by Design uses questions to challenge us to think about 

how we can enact shared leadership in our groups, teams, 

organisations and companies. It is a great tool for keeping fairness 

alive in the way we participate and include others in any process 

of change. It recognises that change happens best when those 

who are affected are given the opportunity to let their leadership 

qualities shine. It also recognises that leadership does not come 

automatically with a particular position, but rather, leadership is a 

shared responsibility and can be brought to the change process 

by anyone, at any time. 

Jenny Kingston at:- 

BALLARAT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE 

5 Lyons Street South, 

P.O. Box 576, Ballarat 3353 

Ph: 03 5337 7149 

Fax: 03 5333 5048 

E-mail: 

jkingston@ceo.balrt.catholic.edu.au 

Website: 

www.ballarat.catholic.org.au 

(Click on SERVICES) or http:// 

www.ceo.balrt.catholic.edu. 

au/library 

We have struggled to fit into the Church of the Immaculate 

Conception in Ararat and it has been standing room only for 

the past couple of years since our school numbers exceeded 

the seating capacity in the church. The renovations and new 

layout of the church after the devastating fire at this time last 

year only allows seating for about 300. So for the first time, we 

celebrated our Opening Mass in the outdoors on the tennis 

courts. Father Brendan and Father Wally adapted well to the 

changed environment and the students participated brilliantly 

in the open-air setting. A wonderful start to the school year. 

THANK YOU! 

I would like to thank people 

around the Diocese for their 

prayers, cards and good 

wishes which I have received 

over the time of my recent 

illness. They have helped in 

a big way to my full recovery 

and it is greatly appreciated. 

Fr. Gerry Prunty 


7

DAMASCUS 

COLLEGE 

RODE R.A.G.E 

(Ride against Global Emissions) 

Over the summer break, Ballarat’s seminarians, JIM 

MCKAY and JOHN CORRIGAN, travelled overseas for 

formative apostolic experience. 

Jim travelled to the Philippines for five weeks, joining 

Filipino seminarians in their studies and also spending time 

living at a local parish. He encountered a measure of hope 

among people in apparently ‘hopeless’ situations which 

deeply moved him. The prayerfulness of the people, and 

their extraordinary love and devotion to Our Lady, served 

to deepen Jim’s own commitment to prayer. 

From the 15th-18th of March this year, in support of the Victorian 

Government’s Black Balloons “You have the power to save energy” 

campaign, our Damascus College Ballarat Energy Breakthrough 

Team (EBT) embarked on a four day adventure to raise awareness 

of the simple and affordable options available to ordinary people and 

communities to make a big difference. The Team cycled their solarpowered 

vehicle across four states to increase awareness about the 

‘You Have the Power. Save Energy’ campaign travelling from the 

Sydney Opera House to Ballarat in 24 hours. 

A team consisting of Damascus 

College staff, students, parents 

and volunteers worked together 

in preparation for the trip and 

on the four day adventure. The 

State Government provided 

$10,000.00 for the project. The 

team was farewelled at the 

Sydney Opera House, bringing 

a letter from the Mayor of 

Sydney to be presented to the 

Mayor of Ballarat on their return 

on Tuesday 18th. As can be 

seen in the photos they were 

also rode into Canberra (a little 

over the speed limit maybe??) 

and were welcomed by Ballarat 

MHR Catherine King and Peter 

Garrett, the Federal Minister for 

the Environment. 

TRAVELLING 

SEMINARIANS 

“The kids are trying to prove 

that a person can do something now,” team co-ordinator Mark McLean 

said. The project involved increasing awareness and fundraising. Money 

raised will support the Caritas Australia sustainable food program, the 

Australian Technology Association’s solar project in East Timor and the 

World Vision Smiles program. 

8 

Home again! The EBT outside the Ballarat Town Hall with Principal Tony 

Duggan (centre left) and Mayor of Ballarat Stephen Jones (centre right). 

John spent six weeks in Papua New Guinea, much of 

the time at the Melbourne Overseas Mission at Kanabea. 

The faith of the people there is profound, and though they 

are among the world’s poorest, their hospitality is quite 

remarkable. The holy example of the missionaries inspired 

in John a desire to join them, but he promises to channel 

such fervour into this diocese! 

Jim and John resumed their seminary studies back in 

Melbourne in February, joining 46 others. The enrolment at 

Corpus Christi College has not been so high since the early 

eighties. The site at Carlton was expanded over summer 

to accommodate the new numbers. Hopefully, one of the 

fruits of World Youth Day will be a further increase in the 

number of men discerning a priestly vocation. 


THE WORLD IS COMING TO BALLARAT! 

Get involved and share the spirit of WYD08 

‘Days in the Diocese’ is the lead up celebration to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney in July. From July 10-14, Ballarat will be 

playing host to over 200 pilgrims from around the world. Then, after World Youth Day, over 400 young Dutch people will be coming 

to stay. These young people from around the world will visit Ballarat as part of their journey to Sydney to celebrate their faith and 

learn about our unique part of the world. These young people will be given an experience of the local church and culture by staying in 

local communities and with local families. This is our chance to feel the spirit of WYD08, to make new friends and share in a unique 

experience. This is your chance to feel first hand the spirit of WYD by being part of the “HOMESTAY BALLARAT” program by opening 

your home to the pilgrims of the world on their once in lifetime adventure to Australia. 

Days in the Diocese is a celebration of faith, culture, life and friendships. During their stay in Ballarat pilgrims will be involved in a 

program of activities that encompass all of these things including liturgical celebrations, a day of social service and social events. 

Days in the Diocese will not only help prepare these international groups for WYD08 but it will inspire our local pilgrims and leave a 

lasting legacy in our city. 

Our Diocese will be welcoming pilgrims from a number of countries including groups from Ireland, Nepal, USA, Canada, Pakistan and 

East Timor. It’s now up to us to find welcoming homes for them. A large number of homes will be need to help us to give these young 

pilgrims the once in a lifetime pilgrimage they have been planning, preparing and hoping for. It’s going to be a big effort, but we can 

do it! 

The Ballarat Diocese are looking for individuals and families be a 

part of the HOMESTAY BALLARAT program - to open up their homes 

and provide hospitality in the form of friendship, accommodation, 

meals and transport to these pilgrims. Each house will be asked 

to host a minimum of two pilgrims. Let’s show these pilgrims a big 

Aussie welcome to our unique part of the world. Now’s the time to 

get involved! 

WHERE DO YOU FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION? 

WYD- Did you know? 

Go to: www.ballarat.catholic.org.au 

Email: youth@ballarat.catholic.org.au 

Call: Stacey Atkins on 5337 7172 

• Nearly 300 pilgrims have registered to attend WYD as part of the Ballarat Diocese group. 

• Regular Ballart updates are available on the website www.ballarat.catholic.org.au 

• That WYD Sydney is building over 1,000 temporary showers. 

HomeStay Ballarat 

• SBS will broadcast the major events from Sydney. The final mass, celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI will be live. 

• Local pilgrims are engaging in formation sessions, fundraising and social events to prepare for WYD08. 

April 6 marks 100 days until WYD08- Now’s the time to support your local pilgrims. 

Divine Mercy Sunday 

Once again “Divine Mercy Sunday” was celebrated at the beautifully restored Church of 

the Immaculate Conception in Ararat. It was a joyful celebration with people in attendance 

from Ararat, Horsham, Stawell, Mary borough, Hamilton, Creswick, Dunkeld, Westmere and 

Rupanyup. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament commenced at 1pm and Father Brendan 

Davey made himself available for Confessions. During the afternoon the Rosary and the 

Chaplet of Divine Mercy were recited. 

Preceding the Mass, the congregation processed through the Church praying the Stations of 

the Cross which were on loan from Marian College. In 2001 the Year Nine students of the 

College, under the tutelage of artist Geoff Todd and assisted by a government grant (an 

Odyssey project), had painted and interpreted the Stations with very impressive results. The 

congregation was moved by their involvement. 

The culmination of the afternoon was the celebration of Mass, at the conclusion of which, those 

in attendance enjoyed afternoon tea and the opportunity to purchase Divine Mercy material. 

Our celebration will assuredly bring many blessings to those in attendance. 

Libby Shea, Ararat. 


9

BLESSINGS - NEW BUILDINGS - NEW BEGINNINGS . . . Ballara 

St. Alipius Parish School, Ballarat East 

The blessing of a new school facility is a privileged occasion for any community. 

For us at St Alipius Parish School, Ballarat East, the blessing and opening of our 

new Administration Wing and student amenities was a time to celebrate another 

stage of a rich and rewarding journey. As a faith community we had an opportunity 

to gather, not just in appreciation of these facilities – fine as they are – but to 

celebrate that these buildings allow us to grow as a community committed to the 

Gospel. In 1853 the Catholic families of Ballarat East gathered in a tent which was 

both a church and a school to this fledgling community. In the dust and dirt and 

disorder of the goldfields they established a place to nurture their faith and their 

children’s learning – St Alipius School. 

On February 28th it was appropriate that we gathered in view of our parish church 

– because, like our forebears, we are intimately linked to the faith community of 

Ballarat East and to the Catholic community of the Diocese of Ballarat. We were so 

pleased to gather with our Bishop Peter Connors – who recognizes and celebrates 

the important role that our schools play in the life of the Church – and Adrian 

McInerney, our parish priest who takes an active interest in the life of our school and all the individuals who make up our community. We 

are proud that on the day of our blessing we had people with us who, as members of our parish community, feel a deep connection to our 

school and were here because they see themselves as St Alipius people. 

In 1853 the mainly Irish Catholic families came to Ballarat East 

searching for gold; today our students search for something 

much more valuable – a purpose, a passion, a positive place in 

the future they are creating – and a faith to live by. During our 

blessing our students helped us break open the words of John’s 

Gospel –‘If you continue in my Word you are truly my disciples 

– you will know the truth and the truth will set you free’. These 

words help us define our search. 

In 1853 the families of the Gravel Pits had little help in establishing their church 

and school - they gathered together the few resources they had around the 

support of their priest and made do with what they had. Today, we are grateful 

for the support of the Federal Government – a Commonwealth Capital grant of 

$750,000 has enabled this community to complete the first stage of a four stage 

building project – the administration wing and student amenities. 

Elements of our story are beautifully displayed on our walls through photos and 

images, original paintings and the installation of the first panel of our story in 

mosaic. We believe that images and ritual help to define who we are and we 

proudly share our story with all who join us. 

At St Alipius Parish Primary School the students are at the centre of all we do 

– and, as was witnessed throughout the blessing and opening, we have the 

finest learners and leaders in this community– young people who lead us to new 

places and with whom we are proud to learn. 

Eileen Rice - Principal 

Our Lady Help of Christians Parish School, Warrnambool East 

On Friday 29th February, Bishop Peter Connors blessed the new administration area 

and student amenities at Our Lady Help of Christians School, Warrnambool East. The 

Director of Catholic Education – Diocese of Ballarat, Mr Larry Burn then officially opened 

the facilities. 

The new administration area includes a principal and secretary’s office, staffroom and 

meeting room and a new vehicle access and entrance were also part of these works. 

New student toilets are also a welcome addition, particularly in a windy Warrnambool 

winter. The building works were partially funded by the Federal government with 

additional sources of finance from the Parish Finance committee and the Parents and 

Friends Association. 

OLHC school and parish community is understandably excited by these developments 

and Friday’s opening was a great celebration. Parents, grandparents, students and 

parishioners mingled with official guests and enjoyed the occasion. All now look forward 

to the development of the next stage of the Master Plan developed in 2005. Funding for 

the next stage, which involves a refurbishment of the existing ten classrooms and library 

has already been secured and work is scheduled to start in early term 2. 

10 

Eugene Dalton - Principal 


t East . . . East Warrnambool . . . Camperdown . . . Ballarat North 

Mercy Regional College, Camperdown 

The Blessing and official Opening of the new and refurbished buildings at 

Mercy Regional College, Camperdown on Friday, March 7, marks the 

conclusion of two years of planning and construction to see the completion of 

stage one of the Mercy Regional College Master Plan. Bishop Peter Connors 

blessed our new buildings after celebrating the Commencement Mass to mark 

the beginning of the new school year. The Hon. David Hawker official opened 

the buildings and unveiled the plaques which commemorate the occasion. 

The building project cost $1.6 million dollars and involved the construction 

of a new Arts/Technology Centre named in honour of Ursula Frayne, the 

first Sister of Mercy to arrive in Melbourne 150 years ago. The Art areas 

have been named after Mr. Bob Reed, a passionate teacher of art at Mercy 

Regional College for many years, who sadly passed away in 1994 and the 

woodwork area continues to carry the name of Mr. Ken Jehu in recognition of 

his outstanding service to the College since it began in 1973. 

St. Columba’s Primary 

School, Ballarat North 

It has been a long time between buildings for St 

Columba’s Primary School, Ballarat North. 

Other work involved the refurbishment of existing buildings to provide for 

a new Resource Centre named after Mr. John Tindley, the first principal of 

the College and a new warm and welcoming reception area and associated 

Administration offices. The previous woodwork and art areas have been turned 

into general purpose classroom. In total close to two thirds of the College has 

had the benefit of the builder’s hammer and the painter’s brush. 

The project was made possible as a result of a Catholic Capital Grant of 

$670,000 and an Investing in Our Schools grant of $75,000. The College is 

indeed very grateful for the assistance of the Federal Government for providing 

these grants. The remaining part of the project was financed by borrowed funds 

from the Catholic Development Fund, Ballarat and the generous donation of 

many parents and friends of the College. 

The end result seen today at Mercy Regional College could not have been 

possible without the assistance of many people. The College Architects, Mr 

Peter Dunn, Mr Peter-John Di Michiel and Mr Tim Perks of Morton Dunn 

Architects have shown vision and creativity in transforming the College to 

provide for inspirational learning spaces. They have been able to make 

the most of the College’s existing heritage buildings taking advantage of it 

location. 

The builders, the Nicol Group and Bachelor Building and Joinery have brought 

to fruition the vision of the architects. The builders worked for eight months on 

four different sites within the College. Their craftsmanship has ensured that 

new facilities will serve the College for many years to come. 

Andrew Watson - Principal 

Catholic Bishop of Ballarat Peter Connors might 

have blessed his fourth building in eight days but it 

has been more than fifty years since St Columba’s 

last significant structure was put up. And for staff, 

parents and pupils, the new Iona Wing was worth 

the wait. 

Ballarat MHR Catherine King officially opened the 

$1.4 million facility. It consists of a multi-purpose 

facility and four new classrooms and replaced a 

weatherboard hall and portable classrooms. An 

upbeat ceremony of blessing included a multimedia 

display of images of the school’s history and the new 

building construction, including the site covered in 

snow last winter. 

Ms King said investment in modern school facilities 

was important for helping students achieve. 

“Evidence suggests students learn better and 

have better educational outcomes if they do so in 

a physical environment conducive to learning,” Ms 

King said. The Federal Government gave $835,000 

towards the project, with support and loans from 

the Catholic Diocesan Fund. 

St Columba’s principal Fiona Tonkin said it was an 

exciting day for the school and its 270 students. 

“We now have a space that is big enough for our 

needs. It’s a beautiful space we are already using 

for all areas of education” Ms Tonkin said. 

By Marcus Power - reprinted with thanks from the ‘Ballarat 

Courier’ 7 March, 2008. 

Our Diocesan Community - April 2008 11

Knights of the Southern Cross contribute to 

Ballarat Diocese WYD participation 

Bishop Peter Connors was recently the grateful recipient of a cheque 

for $4600 donated by the Order of the Knights of the Southern Cross, 

Victoria, to assist in funding the participation of youth from Ballarat 

Diocese to attend the World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney in July. 

In accepting the cheque from the Knights, represented in Ballarat by 

Peter Finlayson, District Chairman, His Lordship expressed his deep 

gratitude to the Order in Victoria for selecting the Diocese as the sole 

beneficiary of its WYD support efforts, commenting that, “the money will 

mean the participation of some diocesan youth who might otherwise not 

be able to attend”. 

In handing over the cheque, Peter Finlayson explained that the Order 

chose this diocese to benefit from the results of a special WYD fundraising 

effort undertaken throughout the State in 2007 because it had 

suffered most from the impact of below-average rainfall in recent years, which has imposed financial strain on many families. He 

added that the donation also acknowledged the support given so readily by Bishop Peter to the activities of the Order throughout the 

Diocese before and since his appointment at its Bishop. 

WYD Diocesan Coordinator, Stacey Atkins, likewise added her delight with the much-needed funding. She also looked forward to 

further involvement from the KSC in assisting with accommodation of the many overseas visitors expected to descend on the Diocese 

in the wake of the Sydney activities. 

Above: Bishop Peter Connors, with WYD Coordinator, Stacey Atkins, and Peter Finlayson, District Chairman of the Knights of the Southern Cross. 

ST MARY’S GIVES THANKS 

More than two hundred people gathered at St Mary’s Church 

on Sunday 2 December to celebrate Mass and give thanks, 

on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the blessing and opening 

of the Church. In the congregation there were many visitors, 

including Sisters of Mercy, who were responsible for the 

opening St Mary’s School in 1959. 

Many past parish priests were present at the Mass and there 

were more from other parishes at the luncheon after Mass. 

Present at the Mass were Father Les Sheahan, Father 

Brendan Smith and parish priest at the time of the opening, 

Father Peter Taffe. These visiting priests, together with the 

incumbent parish priest, Father Bill Melican, co-celebrated 

the Mass. The chief celebrant, and special guest, was the 

Bishop of Ballarat, the Reverend Bishop Peter Connors. 

The Mass was a lively affair with the children from St Mary’s 

School, under the direction of Clare Jury, supplying the 

choral singing for the Mass. The Liturgy was prepared by 

Marie Pragt. In a positive and encouraging homily given by 

Bishop Connors, he stressed that our church is “…a haven, 

a sacred space that captures something of peace and 

hospitality that finds perfect expression in the life that awaits 

us in God.” 

In another part of his sermon he said: “The history of the church 

down through the past two thousand years has been mirrored in 

the story of the past quarter of a century of this community here in 

Robinvale. You have experienced times of sadness, of frustration, 

and of bitterness as you have to cope with events caused by 

human weakness and frailty. Here in this place, you have come 

to weep at moments of pain and sorrow, you have supported one 

another as you have focussed your minds and hearts on God, 

who never abandons you and is forever faithful.” 

The Mass was full of symbolism. The parish candle was lit by 

Parish Council chairman of twenty-five years ago, Mr Pat Curran. 

The ‘Mercy’ Candle was lit by Sister Connie Walsh, who was one 

of the original pioneers who opened the school and was the last 

sister to leave the parish in 2006. The ‘Prayers of the Faithful’ 

included thanksgiving prayers to the many people involved in 

the building of the church, and the Offertory Procession was by 

members representing all peoples in the parish. The Advent 

Candle was lit by some students from St Mary’s School. 

After the Mass, about 140 people attended the excellent luncheon 

provided by the Robinvale Golf Club, where old friendships were 

renewed and conversation centred about old times and about 

prominent parishioners who are no longer living. 

Parish Priest, Father Bill Melican, in his speech, stressed that the 

intensity of their belief is not as important as the ability to consider 

the church as a spiritual home, to be used as a place of peace 

and prayer. Father Taffe wished the parish well in the future and 

encouraged the people to care for each other and for members of 

wider community. 

After an inspiring and uplifting day, the dinner concluded after 

parish council chairman, Tony Pisaale thanked the many people 

present for their sacrifice and generosity and wished them well for 

the future. 

Acknowledgement & thanks to : The Robinvale Sentinel 13/12/2007 

Sr. Connie & Pat Curran 

12 


A new look at ST JAMES PARISH SCHOOL 

On Tuesday, October 16th, 2007, Bishop Peter Connors blessed and officially opened the 

refurbished administration, staff and parent areas at the front of St. James’ Parish School in 

Sebastopol. The children and staff were joined in the celebrations by parents, parishioners 

and official guests. Official guests included the builder Mr. John Bylsma, the architect Mr 

Leigh Dicker, the Deputy Director of Catholic Education, Dr. Liam Davison, our priests 

Fr. Bill Van de Camp and Fr. Matthew Thomas, our resident Sisters of Mercy Sr Noreen, 

Sr. Marie, Sr. Connie, Sr. Tricia and several guests from the Catholic Education Office. 

Apologies were received from several people who were unable to attend. The gathering 

of many people from near and far was an indication of the importance of this event to our 

school and parish communities. 

Following the introductory candle lighting ceremony lead by SRC student representatives 

Jo Collins and Zac Rowe and acknowledgements by the School Board Chairperson Mr. 

Stephen Kendall, Bishop Peter opened and blessed the new facilities. The celebrations 

were highlighted by the wonderfully spirited involvement of the students. The tremendous 

singing by the children of several celebratory songs made for a very joyous occasion. 

The official ceremony concluded with a timely en masse ‘Seeds of Hope’ balloon release 

(see front cover photo) just before the rain came down. Sunflower seeds were carried in 

the very strong wind as far as Heathcote. Many landed in Ballarat East. Several people 

have notified the school of the landing points and have actually planted the seeds. The 

Pell family from Heathcote even sent photos of the adult plants. Our ‘seeds of hope’ have 

certainly had a far-reaching impact! Afternoon tea (which was generously supplied and 

organized by the Parents and Friends) and an opportunity for inspection of the upgraded 

facilities followed the opening ceremony. 

A significant memento of the day is the new school candle which was lit during the 

ceremony. All families in the school contributed to the making of this candle by donating 

white or blue candles. These were then melted down by class captains in a workshop at 

the candle making facility at Sovereign Hill to form the new school candle. The candle is on 

display in the refurbished reception foyer. 

The new facilities look marvelous and are proving to be very practical, giving a wonderful 

start to the 2008 school year. After several years of work by many people involving planning 

and seeking funding, the final result is very pleasing and will service the needs of many 

current and future families. We are now in the process of applying for refurbishment of the 

original classrooms. St. James’ Parish School has indeed had a ‘rich past’ and we look 

forward to a ‘bright future’. All parishioners and visitors are welcome to come and inspect 

the new facilities at any time. 

Brian Lynch - Principal 

Together again to Celebrate 

After fifty years apart, Loreto Sisters, Sister Margaret Sculley and Sister Cynthia Wright have returned to Ballarat to celebrate their Golden 

Jubilee of Religious Profession. 

Originally from Ballarat, the pair joined a Catholic youth action group as teenagers 

which Sr Margaret said, “initially gave us an awareness of religious life”. Both from 

Loreto schools, they left Ballarat on February 11, 1958, for Normanhurst in Sydney 

where they spent three years preparing for life as a religious sister. Sr Cynthia stayed 

for a fourth year to train as a teacher and both have worked at primary and secondary 

schools all over Australia. 

Sr Cynthia lived in Broome for six years, working with indigenous children and building 

a school where she was principal. “I learnt to appreciate the earth, that the earth is 

sacred, to nurture it, and to keep it in good order,” she said. She was also influential in 

the completion of St Thomas More Primary School in Alfredton. 

Sr Margaret stopped teaching in 1995 but still plays an influential role with Loreto 

College, Ballarat, sitting on several boards and committees. Sr Cynthia is currently 

working with Year 12 students to help raise money for the East Timor mission. They 

raised $400 in 2007 and hope to raise more this year. 

Though they left for the convent together, their postings have meant they have seen 

little of each other over the past five decades. In a strange twist, they are both relishing 

the shared celebration together. “Whoever thought we’d build schools or hostels?” Sr Cynthia said of her humble beginnings. “We’re very 

fortunate to have taught all over Australia,” Sr Margaret said. “It’s been a great experience” 

Acknowledgement with thanks: The Ballarat Courier, 13/2/2008 


Diocesan Personnel 

Appointments 

Bishop Connors has announced the following appointments: 

• Fr. Trevor Hird has taken up an appointment as assistant priest 

in Colac and will be the visiting priest to the Parishes of Timboon 

& Cororooke; 

• Sr Noreen Ryan RSM will be the Parish Coordinator of the 

Timboon parish; 

• A pilot leadership program will commence in the Parish of 

Cororooke with a team of three parishioners being discerned to 

coordinate parish life; 

• Fr. Eric Bryant has been appointed Parish Priest of Stawell; 

• Fr. Bill Van de Camp has been appointed Parish Priest of the 

Parishes of Koroit and Port Fairy; 

• Fr. Greg Tait has concluded his term as Administrator of the 

Parish of Maryborough. A permanent appointment will be made in 

the coming weeks; 

• Fr. Justin Driscoll has been appointed Administrator of St. 

Patrick’s Cathedral and Parish and the Parishes of Saint Columba, 

North Ballarat and Saint James, Sebastopol. 

A Life Well Lived 

Life long resident of Yambuk and prolific worker for St. Joseph’s Parish, 

Port Fairy, Mrs Mary Crowe, died aged 84 years, in late November 

2007. After her funeral Mass in a packed St. Joseph’s Church, Mary 

was laid to rest in Port Fairy Cemetery. 

In her early years, Mary Crowe attended school in the original stone 

building, opened as a school in 1857, and later dedicated as a church 

in 1861. After her schooling, and having developed a love of music, 

Mary returned to assist with music lessons, school concerts, and she 

helped to organise debutante balls. 

Also, in adult life, Mary served as church organist for many years, 

washed church linen, catered for card nights, regularly attended 

working bees, and supported fund raising functions for the Port Fairy 

Hospital. Mary was a great-niece of Dame Mary Gilmore, and she 

fondly kept correspondence from Dame Mary. 

After Mary received a Box Brownie camera for her 14th birthday, 

she became the parish wedding photographer. Mary Crowe was 

a vital contributor to the recent St. Joseph’s 75 Years (new church) 

celebrations, which she lived to enjoy, volunteering interesting stories 

and historical photographs. 

Mary (Carroll) and her late husband, William Crowe, raised 5 children 

on the family farm, “Glenone”, 4km east of Yambuk, where Mary spent 

her final years. A family and parish gathering will commemorate Mary’s 

life with the planting of a native tree in the church grounds. R.I.P. 

EFFECTIVE MINISTRY 

IN A HURTING WORLD 

Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Wendouree is 

offering an exciting opportunity for those who see the 

pastoral care of God’s people as a way to participate 

in the ministry of the Church. In association with 

the Pastoral Counselling Institute in Sydney, a body 

within the Board of Education of the Uniting Church in 

Australia, the parish is sponsoring the opportunity for 

interested people to obtain Certificate IV in Pastoral 

Counselling Skills. 

The Pastoral Counselling Institute brings into creative 

dialogue the disciplines of theology and the behavioural 

sciences in order to provide pastoral educational 

programs and counselling services for the community. 

The Institute emerged from a desire to develop an 

integrated model of pastoral care and counselling 

that took account of the richness of both theology and 

the behavioural sciences. To achieve this goal the 

Institute has established training programs from basic 

to advanced levels, counselling that incorporates a 

faith dimension and community programs that offer 

practical support to people in need. These programs 

can be offered on request. 

The Certificate IV in Pastoral Counselling Skills trains 

people to provide: 

• Practical visitation in parish, community and 

hospital settings 

• Effective listening and care 

• A connection between faith concerns and life 

problems 

• A caring link between church and community 

• Referral for further counselling 

It also gives a solid foundation for a ministry of pastoral 

care by teaching: 

• A Biblical understanding of caring 

• The nature of helping relationships 

• The essence of pastoral counselling 

• Models for thinking theologically 

• Basic counselling Skills 

Through four sessions 

of three day intensives 

from October, 2008 to 

July, 2009, people can 

discover how to use 

their gifts in a variety of 

ministry settings. Join the 

growing team of people 

providing effective care 

in a world of increasing 

pain and struggle. Catch 

the vision of a ministry in 

which all participate. 

For more information 

contact: 

OLHC Parish 

482 Gillies Street, 

Wendouree. 

Ph: 03/ 5339 2302 

Email: wendouree@ballarat.catholic.org.au 

14 


CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THE 

CATHOLIC DEVELOPMENT FUND (CDF) 

The successful operation of the Catholic Development Fund continues to provide a reliable source of income for the pastoral 

initiatives and services offered by the Diocese of Ballarat. The Fund maintains solid financial growth with another record surplus 

and distributes approximately half its annual operating surplus to the Diocese for pastoral and other works. The distribution for 

last year was $500,000, taking the total amount to over $3.2 million over the past 10 years. The Fund also sets aside funds for 

the provision of accommodation facilities for our senior clergy. 

Other highlights for the year included – 

• $9 million lent to schools, colleges and parishes. 

• Loan balances up by 22% 

• Assets exceeded $73,000,000. 

• Deposit holdings up by 15% 

• Reserves increased by 13% 

• CDF Online up and running 

Deposits with the CDF are not a donation. While every dollar you deposit works for the benefit of the Diocese, at the same time 

it earns you a healthy return, free of administrative fees and charges. 

The success that the CDF has achieved has been due to the support and loyalty that we receive from depositors, clergy, 

parishes, schools and colleges and other catholic entities. Thank you for your support in making the CDF such an integral part 

of the Diocese. 

Please feel free to contact the Fund on 1800 134 100 or the Diocesan website www.ballarat.catholic.org.au for further 

information. 

Recent projects partially funded from the Catholic Development Fund: 

ST JAMES PARISH SCHOOL, SEBASTOPOL 

MERCY REGIONAL COLLEGE, CAMPERDOWN 


15

New Parish Leader for Ouyen 

On the weekend of 

February 17, 2008, 

Bishop Connors 

c o m m i s s i o n e d 

Sister Joyce White 

RSJ as Parish 

Leader of the parish 

of Ouyen. Following 

is the Homily from 

the Commissioning 

Mass. 

The Bible presents Abraham as the great model of faith. In one 

of the Eucharistic Prayers, we refer to him as “our father in the 

faith”. At the word of God, Abraham left all the securities of life 

– home, family and country- and set out for a land he had never 

seen. It is easy to romanticise Abraham’s journey. God alone 

knows the difficulties that he encountered. The only compass 

that he possessed was his faith in God’s promises. 

There is a certain similarity between Abraham and Sister Joyce 

White who today formally accepts a commission to be your 

Parish Leader. When Sister Patricia Day decided to devote her 

life to the people of Peru, I wondered whether we should be so 

fortunate to be blessed with another woman of faith who wished 

to give witness to the special charism of Blessed Mary Mackillop 

in this northern zone of our Diocese. I was delighted and I know 

that you were overjoyed when I announced to you towards the 

end of last year that Sister Joyce White had responded to God’s 

call in much the same way as did Abraham so long ago. 

Although Joyce knows something of your story and she has 

fond memories of her time among you when she was a teacher 

in Saint Joseph’s School, much has happened since then. It 

is no easy decision to leave the beautiful green valleys of the 

Dandenong Ranges and come to a remote and at times rather 

harsh landscape of the northern Mallee. Joyce has prayed, and 

discerned the gentle call of God to leave much behind and take 

up once again a share in the life of the several communities that 

make up this parish of Saint Joseph, Ouyen. She wishes to be 

your servant leader as you strive to be faithful to the traditions 

that have characterised this parish since it was established in 

1922. 

Today all of us along with Sister Joyce are invited to identify 

with three of the disciples of Jesus. Peter, James and John left 

behind the security of their job as fishermen. Almost certainly 

they had to break ties with their families and maybe with their 

wives and children when they responded to the invitation “Come 

and See” when they asked Jesus where he was staying. They 

became the companions of a travelling preacher and did not 

always understand what he was talking about when he spoke 

out his own experiences in growing up in the little village of 

Nazareth. Oftentimes they were told to get moving when they 

wanted to stop for a night in a particular town or village. Even 

the purpose of the journey that they were making with Jesus 

did not seem to make sense. He had from time to time told that 

he was going up to Jerusalem where his life would come to 

something of a climax, but exactly what was not made clear to 

them. Yet they stayed with him, for he had become the focus 

of their attention and the one in whom they trusted to give real 

meaning to their lives. 

But now they are given a peak experience. They are allowed to 

see something of the mystery, of the real relationship that Jesus 

has with the Father in being the Son of God. For a moment they see 

something of the transformation of the human body with the glory that 

belongs to God. A feeble attempt is made to describe what took place 

during that moment of prayerful intimacy of Jesus with the Father. His 

face shone like the sun, his clothes became as white a light. 

As disciples of Jesus, we too need our own high points, our peak 

experiences, a moment when we can recognise the glory, the power, 

the presence of the Risen Lord in our midst. But in order to do so, we 

have to make the same kind of journey as did Abraham. He left what 

was certain, comfortable and safe, and familiar to go on a journey. 

We have to climb the mountain, leave behind our vision and open 

ourselves to God revealing who God is and what God wants of us. 

Then in the midst of our suffering, our persecutions, our testing, our 

crises, we have glimpses of the glory of God. 

Last Sunday we reflected on the testing of Jesus to deal with his 

mission in accord with the plan of the Father rather that in a accord 

with his human feelings and inclinations. We are told that at the end of 

the experience of being tested, Jesus was looked after by the angels, 

which is another way of saying that he had won the victory. 

A few years ago, I accompanied my brother priests at their annual 

retreat. Our Director led us in a beautiful reflection on the Beatitudes. 

It was suggested to us that when Jesus spoke about the poor in spirit, 

those who mourn, those who are the peacemakers experiencing a 

very special kind of relationship with God, he was speaking out of his 

own experiences of living according to those principles for thirty years 

in Nazareth. 

There is the desire to stay with those special moments and feel that we 

have arrived and that the journey is over. That is why Peter suggested 

to Jesus that might build three dwellings on the mountains so that 

they might stay in contact with Jesus and the two great prophets of 

old. Instead Jesus lead them back down on the plain of life as it goes 

on day after day. In fact the road to the cross and to the resurrection 

beckoned them. 

Each Lent we undertake a special journey in communion with the 

whole Church. In the desert we saw Jesus tempted to abandon his 

whole mission. Today we stand on the mountain top with the closest 

companions of Jesus as he is made known to them in the mystery 

of his being truly God. Next week we will listen into the conversation 

where Jesus is revealed as being the saviour of the whole world. 

How can we make the best possible use of such opportunities to 

recognise Jesus and his presence in our midst? 

• We look to the scriptures and read them and reflect upon them. 

• We try to focus on Jesus and staying with him in our daily lives. 

• We might attempt to make a prayer to Jesus as we make our journey 

to work or to school and enjoy a cup of coffee and invite him to be our 

companion. 

• We might stop as a family at some time in the evening for a moment 

of prayerful thanks and praise to God. 

As we celebrate the Eucharist, we recognise Jesus as the Risen Lord 

who is veiled in the bread and the wine that are transformed by the 

Holy Spirit into the bread of life and the cup of salvation. This can 

become truly our peak experience for the week if we prepare for it by 

reading and reflecting on the scriptures during the week and bringing 

our lives to God throughout the day. 

Among the various duties that Sister Joyce will carry out in this parish, 

her attention to your spiritual needs, to your faith formation and her 

breaking open the words of Scripture with you will be given high 

priority and will give her much fulfilment. She will assist you to identify 

and to take hold of the peak experiences that will deepen your faith 

and strengthen you trust in the promises that God has made to you. 

Above all else, she will prompt you to love God with all your heart, all 

your soul and your entire mind; and to love one another as brothers 

and sisters in the Lord. 

16 


TAKING ENGLISH TO PERU 

Two parishioners from the Mildura Parish, Luke & Marion Guthrie, left Australia in mid-January to spend 

a year in Lima, Peru amongst the parishioners of Fr Michael McKinnon. Marion is well known in the 

Mildura parish as she is their organist and singer. 

Fr. Michael McKinnon writes of their visit: 

“For the next twelve months Luke and Marion Guthrie from Mildura (Ballarat Diocese) will be with us in the Parish making their contribution 

to our mission. I am sure their presence will serve to strengthen even more the bonds between Peru and the Diocese of Ballarat. Luke 

and Marion have supported various projects through the Columbans in Peru over many years. They are currently occupied teaching 

English, and will be accompanying a couple of the local chapel communities. At present the planning and running of the classes seems to 

be keeping them busy, and the local response indicates that their efforts are paying off. Once their course is established they may have 

time to move into other areas as well.” 

Luke writes of their first few weeks: 

“After the first two and a half weeks of classes everything seems to be travelling very smoothly. 

We have averaged fourteen to fifteen people per night and the age range would be about twenties 

to forty’s. We even have two young girls who come with their mothers. They work wonderfully 

hard at their learning and really get involved. You must remember that most have come from a 

days work to attend - this means being on a ‘collectivo’ before seven to travel big distances One 

lady was so tired the other night that she fell asleep at her table! Another had carted buckets of 

water all day up the side of her valley. 

Marion and I share the class by taking one hour each. We have had great success in getting 

everyone to be on time, we refer to starting at seven o’clock ‘gringo time’! They think that it is great 

because their starting times could be anywhere between seven and a quarter to eight!! Finally, 

the other night Pilar announced to Marion and I that she thought that our lessons were ‘dynamic’ 

- that has to be a first for us both, a student telling the teacher that the lesson was dynamic. Another big reason why we love our time 

with these people.” 

For those interested in following Marion and Luke’s journey, their website is: http://mildura2lima.blogspot.com . 

Fr. Michael McKinnon’s ministry can be followed at http://www.thesharedtable8.blogspot.com 

CELEBRATING 290 YEARS OF 

RELIGIOUS PROFESSION 

Recently, the Sisters of Mercy, Ballarat East, came together to honour 

the lives of five of their Sisters who celebrated Golden (50 years), 

Diamond (60 years) and Platinum (70 years) Jubilees of Religious 

Profession as Sisters of Mercy, Ballarat. 

Sisters Anne Gargan, Rita Hayes, Monica Butler, Maureen Healy and 

Tricia Vagg have lived and worked in schools, parishes and in social 

work in the Ballarat Diocese and beyond for a total of 290 years. 

Some of the parishes that would know of the work of these Sisters are 

Ballarat East, Ballarat North, Birchip, Charlton, Donald, Edenhope, 

Harrow, Mortlake, Robinvale, St. Arnaud, Sebastopol, Warracknabeal, 

Warrnambool, Wendouree, and Wycheproof. The work of Centacare 

has also benefited from the presence and contribution of some of 

these Sisters. Their lives as Sisters of Mercy have touched thousands 

of people from all walks of life. We congratulate them and thank them 

for the contribution that they have made in the places they have 

been. 

Renewing their Vows 

at the Jubilee Mass: 

L-R: Sr Rita Hayes, 

Sr Anne Gargan, 

Sr Monica Butler Sr 

Maureen Healy , Sr 

Tricia Vagg 


PASTORAL PLANNING IN THE BALLARAT DIOCESE 

18 

‘Pastoral planning is the process of praying and thinking together 

about the actions of the Body of Christ in a particular time and place’. 

(Pickett – A Concise Guide to Pastoral Planning 2007) 

2008 in the Ballarat Diocese is certainly a time when our Diocesan 

community is called to pray and reflect on how we as a Church 

are fulfilling the mission of Jesus Christ in a challenging and ever 

changing world. The ways of the past which have served us well 

may or may not be useful today. 

Our Diocese continues to respond to the issues identified at the 

2004 Diocesan Assembly: the decline in priest numbers and an 

ageing clergy profile, the challenge of engaging our young people 

with the Church and a changing demographic, particularly in 

northern areas of our Diocese. 

Emerging out of discussions by the Diocesan Pastoral Council, 

feedback from the 2007 Regional DPC Forums, responses from 

the College of Consultors, and input from the Diocesan agencies, 

a working operational plan for the Diocese has emerged. This 

plan identifies four key mission priority areas for the Diocese in 

2008 / 9: 

• Young People for Mission 

• Formation for Mission 

• Communication for Mission 

• Resourcing for Mission 

Young People for Mission 

The celebration of World Youth Day in Sydney in July this year 

provides an opportunity for our Diocese to reenergize the mission 

capacity of our young people. Through their participation in 

the pilgrim preparation program, involvement with the Sydney 

experience and the development of faith networks beyond July, 

we pray our Diocese will be able to engage with the lives of over 

three hundred Diocesan community members. The challenge 

is for all this newly generated energy to be maintained in the 

weeks and months following July. The working operational plan 

includes the development of a youth leaders’ formation program, 

a Diocesan youth gathering in 2009 and for each parish or region 

to plan for the participation of young people in the life of the parish 

and/or the region following WYD08. 

Formation for Mission 

Fundamental to the mission of the Diocesan Church is the 

provision of opportunities for all people to respond to their 

baptismal call. The Diocese is working towards the development 

of a multi faceted ministry resource which will provide direction 

for individuals, groups or parishes to identify formation resources 

which are appropriate for the particular situation. An excellent 

basis for this resource is the research already undertaken by 

the Faith Formation & Spirituality Working Party of the Diocesan 

Pastoral Council. 

A pilot project in parish leadership is currently being implemented 

in the Cororooke parish. Three parish coordinators have recently 

been appointed to coordinate all the activities of the Parish. These 

coordinators work in conjunction with the Visiting Priest who leads 

the sacramental ministry of the parish. This pilot project which will 

be evaluated over the next two years has implications for parishes 

across the Diocese as one model of parish leadership. 

Other priorities in the area of Mission Formation include: 

• the provision of formation opportunities for the 30 – 49 age 

group in our Diocese as the key group who will be our leaders 

into the future; 

• strategic support for employees and volunteers who have 

responsibility for administration and financial accountability in 

our parishes; 

• a continuing dialogue with our priests around the role of laity 

as leaders in our communities; 

Communication for Mission 

In a diocese the size of our Ballarat Diocese it is important 

that the life and mission of the Church is enhanced through 

the establishment of effective and up to date communication 

systems. The production of the Diocesan print publication ‘Our 

Diocesan Community’ and the fortnightly distribution of the 

‘Diocesan E-News’ are two strategies for ensuring the whole 

community is kept informed about the life of our Diocese. 

Over the past twelve months the Diocesan website, www. 

ballarat.catholic.org.au has been launched. The challenge 

now is to maximise the mission potential of this website. A key 

strategy will be the continuation of targeted training across the 

Diocese. 

Resourcing for Mission 

The profile of our Diocesan Church will continue to change. 

We cannot continue to make decisions based on the way our 

Church was twenty or thirty years ago. It is important to ensure 

that the resources of the Diocese, personnel and financial, 

are deployed in such a manner as to optimize the mission in 

2008 and beyond. The establishment of a clergy deployment 

schedule based on predicted clergy numbers at 2011 and 

2016 will allow the Diocese to be strategic in the placement of 

our priests rather than reacting to each situation as it arises. 

Aligned to this is the continued exploration by regional clusters 

of parishes for opportunities of working together on common 

ministries, fostering mutual support, sharing resources and 

the joint planning of key elements of pastoral life and mission. 

At a Diocesan level the leaders of the Diocesan agencies in 

education, welfare, pastoral ministry and finance will continue 

to look for opportunities of interagency collaboration. 

The use of the term a working operational plan accurately 

describes the intent of this document. It is not a comprehensive 

strategic plan for the Diocese for a set period of time, but rather 

a guide for our Diocesan activities which will continue to evolve 

as we as a diocesan community pray and think together about 

our actions as the Body of Christ in 2008. 

Vin Dillon - Pastoral Planning Reference Group 


Celebrating the spirit of Easter 

Australian Catholic University (ACU National) Ballarat campus (Aquinas) is celebrating Easter 

with the installation of a new relief carving entitled “The Crucifixion,” commissioned for the 

redevelopment of the University chapel. “The Crucifixion” was blessed in the chapel by Bishop 

Peter Connors, on Wednesday 19 March. 

Designed by Phil Cooper, “The Crucifixion” is a unique piece of modern sculpture that embodies 

the key elements of Easter celebrations. It reminds the viewer to rejoice in all that is life giving 

and to celebrate the importance of community. The emotional depiction of the crucifixion of 

Jesus is surrounded by natural light, creating a focal point to the chapel and symbolising hope, 

new life and a new energy for the church year ahead. 

“One’s eyes are almost irresistibly drawn up to the piece,” said ACU National Ballarat Campus 

(Aquinas) Rector Professor Anne Hunt. “We see Mary and the beloved disciple, standing at 

the foot of the cross. Jesus, his body broken, his arms outstretched, looks down on them with 

love and compassion. Phil has captured the cosmic significance of this intensely personal 

moment.” 

“My personal interpretation of the piece was to portray the crucifixion as a part of a whole event. 

Jesus sheltering the other two figures embodies a sense of community and thru a gathering of 

people portrays the normality of a loved one passing away,” said artist Phil Cooper. The work 

moves between the historical event of the crucifixion and the contemporary of the modern day. 

As a figurative object, it references the stars and sky and the waters below the earth. Within 

the world of the sculpture, the crucifix acts as part of the greater universe encompassing the 

Christian story as embodied in the cosmos. 

“The meaning of my work often varies for different people,” artist Phil Cooper added. “I am always finding new connections and 

element to my work and I hope that the crucifixion piece brings a sense of community to the ACU National Ballarat campus and offers 

a new perception to this scriptural passage.” Phil Cooper has undertaken extensive studies in fine art, education and theology and 

is well respected in higher education sculpture and drawing. He was also commissioned to sculpt the Stations of the Cross for St 

Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta. 

Australian Catholic University (ACU National) established as Australia’s only Catholic, national, publicly funded university is open to 

all. The University empowers its students and staff with a strong sense of social responsibility and concern for the moral and ethical 

dimensions of their study and their professional and personal lives. 

WYD08 Leaders Weekend 

With the start of the World Youth Day celebrations only three months away and over 300 pilgrims registered to attend with the Ballarat 

Diocese, now is the time to get organized and be prepared. With this in mind, 25 people representing 18 parishes gathered in Halls 

Gap on February 23/24 for a WYD leadership weekend. The weekend was a mixture of faith formation, information and planning for 

WYD08 in the Diocese. It was also a great opportunity for people leading parish groups to meet each other and share their common 

goals for the young people of the Diocese. 

After spending time getting to know each other and thinking about our own faith and dreams, we came to the big questions like ‘Where 

do we sleep?’ and ‘What will the showers be like?’ These very important questions (including where will I plug my hair straightener?) 

will always be there. However, as we came to reflect on the difference between being a pilgrim and being a tourist the group started 

to ask bigger questions. How do we best prepare young people for WYD08? How can we help them to get the most out of the 

pilgrimage? What can we do to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to be involved? Plans are now under way for Pilgrim 

Preparation to begin in parishes by the end of March. Fundraising initiatives are being discussed. Promotion is on the agenda. 

For me personally, it was fantastic to spend time with these generous 

and talented people who are volunteering and giving of themselves to 

make WYD and youth ministry happen in their parish. Their enthusiasm, 

energy and faith inspires me. I am also extremely grateful for the 

presence of Bishop Peter Connors, Sr Veronica Quinn and Mr. Vin Dillon. 

These people gave very generously of their time, talents andwisdom to 

help guide this group. Thanks to the following parishes for assisting their 

youth leaders to be involved in the weekend: Ballarat North, Ballarat East, 

Ballarat Cathedral, Sebastopol, Wendouree, Wycheproof, Quambatook, 

Warrnambool, Camperdown, Terang, Casterton, Merbein, Mildura, Swan 

Hill, Ararat, Stawell, Maryborough and Linton. 

The parish leaders present at this meeting are working hard to make 

WYD08 a success for our Diocese. Please continue to support them 

during the days ahead and beyond Sydney in July. More information on 

WYD (including how to be a part of the Diocesan group) can be found at 

www.ballarat.catholic.org.au . 

Stacey Atkins - Diocesan WYD Coordinator 

L-R: Evan Wrobel & Chantelle Sandral from Swan Hill with Fr. 

Ed Moloney, P.P. of the parishes of Wycheproof-Quambatook 


19

The Last Word . . . 

Recently I was challenged by a remark made by Mr David 

Hawker, the Federal Member for Wannon at the opening of 

additions to one of our schools. He observed that when he 

left school in the early seventies, young people were said to 

have acquired 75% of the knowledge required for life. Now 

they leave with about 2%. Furthermore a leading academic 

has predicted that by 2020, knowledge will double not in years 

but every 73 days. We know from our own experience that our 

changing world challenges us continually with new discoveries 

and experiences. 

Change calls us to new ways of responding and we see this 

continually in the life of our Diocesan church. Centacare 

Ballarat now employs more than one hundred people to provide 

guidance, relief and support for families and individuals who 

face many difficulties in coping with the demands of modern 

life. How different it was in 1973 when the Catholic Family 

Welfare Bureau was established with a very small staff to 

assist families in crisis. 

Also at about that time there were almost one hundred 

priests available for ministry in the parishes of our Diocese. 

Now there are forty one priests who continue to minister to 

the same number of parishes. Parishes are responding to 

this situation of change by establishing pastoral councils and 

leadership teams to determine ways and means by which 

their communities can stay viable and vibrant into the future. 

Our Catholic schools too face many challenges in preparing 

pupils for what has to be life long learning. The internet now 

opens up possibilities not even thought of when many of us 

were students and is now an essential component in the 

pursuit of knowledge at all stages of education. 

As we all know, we have experienced tremendous changes 

in our lives as Catholics since the Second Vatican Council 

which ended in 1965. Such has been the story of the Church 

down through the centuries since the day of Pentecost. The 

Holy Spirit, the great Easter gift of the Risen Lord, will never 

abandon us in our endeavour to deal with change which is 

an integral part of our journey together. May we look to the 

possibilities that change offers us with courage and trust in 

Jesus, our Leader. 

+ Peter J. Connors 

Bishop of Ballarat 

COROROOKE PARISH 

CELEBRATES AND FAREWELLS 

SR. MARGARET CARMODY 

The Beatitudes, which formed the Gospel in the fourth week 

of Ordinary Time, provided the perfect prism through which 

to view Sr. Margaret Carmody’s contribution to the Parish of 

Cororooke. Her humble and compassionate service to the 

community was recognized on February 3rd, when over three 

hundred people gathered for Mass at St. Brendan’s Church, 

Coragulac. The occasion also served as the Opening of the 

Year Mass for the Parish School, with many schoolchildren 

contributing to the optimistic spirit of the day. 

Our celebrant, Bishop Peter Connors and concelebrant, 

Fr. Eugene McKinnon, were joined in prayer by a diverse 

assembly, composed of countless young people, many 

members of other faiths, a contingent of Good Samaritan 

Sisters and Sr. Margaret’s numerous family and friends, in 

addition to the parishioners of St. Joseph’s and St. Brendan’s. 

The gratitude that each person feels for Sr. Margaret was 

articulated by a representative sample of the community, who 

made presentations praising Sr. Margaret’s character and 

giftedness. Liturgy, scripture and song combined to heighten 

our appreciation of Sr. Margaret’s vocation, as well as our own 

baptismal call to build faithful communities. 

The companionship and joyfulness evident at the ensuing 

barbeque lunch indicates the potential of the pilot programme of 

parish leadership that is now to be undertaken by the community 

- wherein members of the community will be commissioned by 

the Bishop to coordinate the activities and mission of the parish. 

Meanwhile, after thirteen years as Cororooke Parish Leader, 

Sr. Margaret shall continue her ministry as Pastoral Associate 

in the Hamilton Parish, thus maintaining her commitment to the 

values of the Beatitudes. 

Robert O’Shea - Parishioner 

“Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights.” 

Pauline R. Kezer 

20

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