Catholic Outlook August 2016

PARISH PROFILE
Kellyville Parish has focus on sanctity of life
By Elizabeth McFarlane
OUR LADY of the Rosary (OLOR) Parish
in Kellyville is a calming oasis among
the chaos of everyday life.
The Order of Friars Minor Conventual
(Conventual Franciscans) moved to Kellyville in
1968 and they were given care of OLOR when it
was declared a parish on 8 March 1970.
Bringing with them their image of Christ in
creation and the human person, the Franciscan
parish has a particular focus on the sanctity of
life, revealed in the gardens of their Shrine of the
Holy Innocents.
The gardens include near life-sized handcarved
marble Stations of the Cross, the Shrine
of Our Lady of Grace, and a memorial for
children lost to abortion.
From humble rural beginnings, the parish has
expanded and flourished under the guidance
of the Conventual Franciscans and with this
expansion, the establishment of two primary
schools, Our Lady of the Rosary, Kellyville, and
St Angela's, Castle Hill.
Diverse in culture and grounded in unity with
Christ and the Church, ‘communion’ is a term
aptly used by Br Louis Schmid OFM Conv when
describing the parish where he has resided since
2006.
“There is a supernatural strength here and
I would say the key word is ‘communion’ –
communion with Christ and the Church as the
mystical body of Christ,” Br Louis said.
“It is strengthened by this love for Our Lady
and the Blessed Sacrament. That love extends
to a strengthening in unity of all the different
cultures, for it is these aspects of the faith that
unite all cultures.”
The once small farmland has grown with
housing development in surrounding suburbia,
prompting the reaffirmation of retreat and
reflection in the rush of life.
“It is becoming very busy. It is losing the rural
element and with that comes the danger of
losing our connection with each other,” Br Louis
said.
“I think we need to safeguard what we have
and not become complacent. We need to reach
out to newcomers.
“We need to encourage our people and explore
what brings them to this communion.”
The mercy of Christ, Br Louis said, is realised
in the welcoming and generous nature of the
parishioners.
“There is a great outreach of mercy because
it comes from a great faith. The Gospel is lived
when I see new people coming into the parish
and being welcomed,” Br Louis explained.
“It’s a very active parish. There is something
Kellyville parish has a focus on the sanctity of life, revealed in the gardens of their Shrine of the Holy Innocents.
Below: Statue of St Francis of Assisi and Interior of the Shrine of the Holy Innocents. PHOTOS: ELIZABETH MCFARLANE.
for everybody, whether you’re old or young, and
there are always attempts to accommodate the
different needs of the parish.
“There is a good fellowship. I think this is also
being nurtured by the Franciscan presence and
the parishioners, in turn, have nurtured us in
their faith and goodness.”
A place of prayer, reflection and healing, the
parish is home to a Holy Door in this Jubilee
Year of Mercy, which can be found on pilgrimage
to the Franciscan Shrine of the Holy Innocents.
The shrine is open every day from 6am-6pm
and all are welcome to visit and pray in this
tranquil space and to join the parish in the
sacraments.
“The mercy of Christ is active and it is
strengthened by the sacraments,” Br Louis
explained.
“You know that there is something good about
a parish by its Confessional line because then
you know Christ is known.
“Christ is truly known and loved here.”
St Maximilian Kolbe:
a face of Mercy
ABOVE THE ALTAR in the Chapel of the Holy
Innocents the pilgrim encounters a magnificent
icon of a great Catholic hero of the 20th
Century, St Maximilian Kolbe. St Maximilian is
one of the patron saints of the worldwide prolife
movement and a powerful model of mercy.
In his zeal for souls, Maximilian founded an
evangelisation apostolate in 1917 that advocated
total consecration to Our Lady, the Immaculata,
as the surest and quickest way to soften hearts,
increase holiness, and draw many into union
with Jesus Christ.
St Maximilian inspired his Militia of the
Immaculata (MI) movement to use all of the
latest communication technology to advance
the spread of the Good News.
After leading this sacred endeavour in Poland
and Japan for decades, St Maximilian Kolbe was
arrested by the Nazis in 1941 and sent to the
Auschwitz death camp.
There, in an act of supernatural mercy,
he offered his life for another prisoner and
was condemned to death by starvation. St
Maximilian continued to minister in the
starvation bunker and prepared his fellow
prisoners for eternal life.
SATURDAY 13 AUGUST
MASS OF ST MAXIMILIAN KOLBE
75th anniversary of the death of St
Maximilian Kolbe. Rosary before Mass
at 11am. At the conclusion of Mass,
Veneration and Blessing with relic.
Shrine of the Holy Innocents,
8 Greyfriar Place, Kellyville
MONDAY 15 AUGUST
PILGRIM WALK
To honour the Solemnity of the
Assumption of Our Blessed Mother
Mary.
Mass at noon in the Shrine of the Holy
Innocents followed at 1pm by the
Pilgrim Walk to St Patrick’s Cathedral
in Parramatta, finishes 6pm.
Join at any point along the way.
Banners and statues welcome.
Further information tel Br Dominic
0457 692 735 or OLOR Parish Office
(02) 9629 2595)
Shrine of the Holy Innocents,
8 Greyfriar Place, Kellyville
When the care you seek is
unconditional - talk to us.
wnbull@wnbull.com (02) 9519 5344
www.wnbull.com.au
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8 CatholicOutlook | AUGUST 2016
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