Catholic Outlook Magazine | Advent | Summer 2022 Issue
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Parishioners (back row<br />
L-R) Terry O’Donnell,<br />
Kevin Medlin and Rita<br />
Verhoeven and (front<br />
row L-R) Rosana Taylor,<br />
Kate Powell, Carol<br />
Teodori-Blahut and<br />
Richard Kemmis. Not<br />
pictured is Maureen<br />
Ryan. Image: Diocese<br />
of Parramatta<br />
Looking Deeper<br />
Other <strong>Advent</strong> and Christmas traditions include<br />
parishioners delivering reflections on the week’s<br />
readings during Mass in <strong>Advent</strong> and working with the<br />
primary school to celebrate their Children’s Mass in<br />
the school grounds.<br />
Determination despite difficulties<br />
Despite the positive and joyful nature of the parish,<br />
the parish has had a few setbacks. During the 1980s<br />
and 1990s, the parish was without a resident priest,<br />
and there were discussions of it being amalgamated<br />
with Upper Blue Mountains Parish. More recently, the<br />
church and its buildings have been damaged by two<br />
fires lit by arsonists.<br />
I ask the parishioners how they remain joyful and<br />
hopeful despite all these difficulties.<br />
Rita Verhoeven, a lifelong parishioner and member<br />
of the Finance Committee says, “when we lost the<br />
priest and they were going to close the parish, the<br />
parish took it upon themselves to form committees<br />
to keep going, and I think our inclusivity stems<br />
from that.”<br />
Sacramental Coordinator Maureen Ryan adds,<br />
“there’s a commitment, peace and community here<br />
that has been built up over time. We’ll get through<br />
this through thick and thin.” <br />
43
Change language