Catholic Outlook Magazine Winter 2021

Looking Deeper
“Working here and being involved in the parish has
made it a hard place to leave. In my role, I give so
much, but I have received so much more in my
interactions with parishioners and the community.
“It’s one thing to go to Mass, but to give back, is
another thing.”
Giving back to those in the local community on the
margins is a core practice of the Jesuit community
who have run the parish since 2008.
Fr Gregory (Greg) Jacobs SJ, the current parish
priest, came to the parish in 2014, and serves the
community alongside his Jesuit brother, Fr Patrick
Mullins SJ.
“I’ve fallen in love with the place. I love the
work here and what we’re trying to do,”
Fr Greg explains.
Looking at the whiteboard situated in front of the
parish office, it’s amazing to see how many different
organisations and groups utilise the site.
Welcoming the wider community
“Holy Family Parish is a very welcoming parish,”
Parish Pastoral Council Chair Marissa Logronio tells
me, saying that the facilities on site support not just
the parish community, but the wider area too.
Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and
Narcotics Anonymous share facilities alongside the
Legion of Mary, Tongan Sunday schools and a free
podiatry clinic run by Western Sydney University.
“Holy Family’s doors are open to anyone in need,”
Marissa says.
On the site itself sits the church, the Catholic primary
school and childcare centre, the Baabayn Aboriginal
Corporation, the Shed and the St Vincent de Paul Hub.
Jesuit Social Service’s Ignite Store provides food,
clothes and furniture which can be purchased by
members of the community at a very reasonable
price. CatholicCare’s Aboriginal Catholic Services
provides a safe space for one of the largest
Indigenous communities in Australia.
Five choirs make heavenly music
Music is a great joy of the parish. They are blessed
with five multicultural choirs who sing fortnightly or
monthly at the two main Sunday Masses alongside
musicians and cantors.
“We especially like it when our parishioners sing
traditional music in their own language – you feel
like you are in heaven,” Fr Greg says.
Fr Greg explained that it was hard to discourage
parishioners from singing due to the pandemic
restrictions, as music is “in the veins” of their
culture, particularly those from the Pacific Islander
communities.
During the peak of the pandemic, the primary school
worked with food charity OzHarvest to produce over
100 food hampers that were delivered to families in
the local community.
Malia described one such drop-off for an elderly
couple who weren’t able to leave their home because
of their health conditions, and their emotion when the
food package was delivered, knowing that they were
being looked out for.
Marissa adds, “Holy Family has always shown their
care and concern, not only in the spiritual sense not
only to their parishioners, but to anyone who comes
to the parish for help.
“It’s difficult to describe Holy Family in only three
words, however, the ones that come to mind are
‘welcoming’, ‘diversified’ and ‘enriching’.”
One of the five choirs at Holy Family Parish.
Image: Diocese of Parramatta.
Fr Gregory and Parish Secretary Malia Lolesio.
Image: Diocese of Parramatta.
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