Catholic Outlook Magazine |Season of Creation Edition | 2024 Issue
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M A G A Z I N E<br />
DIOCESE OF PARRAMATTA NEWS AND VIEWS<br />
Feast <strong>of</strong> the Exaltation <strong>of</strong> the Cross | Remembering Bishop Manning | Our next crop <strong>of</strong> teachers<br />
Parishioners recognised for extraordinary service | Our new Pastoral Plan I A cuppa with Fr Giovani<br />
Season <strong>of</strong> <strong>Creation</strong> | Spring <strong>2024</strong>
Imprimatur and Publisher:<br />
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv<br />
Bishop <strong>of</strong> Parramatta<br />
(02) 8838 3400<br />
PO Box 3066<br />
North Parramatta, NSW, 1750<br />
bishop@parracatholic.org<br />
www.catholicoutlook.org<br />
Editor & Vicar for Communication:<br />
Br Mark O’Connor FMS<br />
(02) 8838 3400<br />
PO Box 3066,<br />
North Parramatta, NSW, 1750<br />
comms@parracatholic.org<br />
Deputy Editor:<br />
Antony Lawes<br />
Head <strong>of</strong> Communications and Engagement:<br />
Anita Sulentic<br />
Cover image<br />
Cross in front <strong>of</strong> entrance to Church in Barichara, Santander, Colombia.<br />
Photo by Marwin Hernando Tavera Vera. Source: Pexels.<br />
Communications Manager:<br />
Belinda Gadd<br />
Senior Communications Offi cer:<br />
Mary Brazell<br />
Communications Assistant:<br />
Mary-Jane Chemuel<br />
Design:<br />
Martin Zitricky<br />
Nihil Obstat:<br />
Fr Wim Hoekstra<br />
Accounts:<br />
accounts@parracatholic.org<br />
Printing:<br />
IVE Group Australia Pty Ltd<br />
All material in this publication is copyright and<br />
may not be reproduced without permission<br />
<strong>of</strong> the publisher. 8,500 copies are printed<br />
and distributed to 47 parishes, schools, after<br />
school care centres and early learning centres<br />
in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Outlook</strong> is a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Australasian <strong>Catholic</strong> Press Association.<br />
© Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta <strong>2024</strong><br />
The Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta reaffirms the<br />
wise axiom attributed to Saint Augustine <strong>of</strong><br />
Hippo, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials,<br />
freedom; in all things, charity.” In this spirit,<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Outlook</strong> publishes a variety <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> viewpoints. They are not necessarily<br />
the <strong>of</strong>ficial views <strong>of</strong> the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Here in the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta, we gather on Country on which<br />
members and Elders <strong>of</strong> the Darug and Gundungurra communities<br />
and their forebears have been custodians for many centuries and<br />
on which Aboriginal people have performed age-old ceremonies<br />
<strong>of</strong> celebration, initiation and renewal. We acknowledge their living<br />
culture and their unique role in the life <strong>of</strong> the region.<br />
‘A symbol <strong>of</strong> Change and Self Reflection’ (<strong>2024</strong>) by Kaiden, a student at Xavier College, Llandilo. Image: Supplied.
A message from the Editor<br />
Dear friends,<br />
Our September <strong>2024</strong> issue celebrates and<br />
rejoices in the new life and good news<br />
abounding here among the People <strong>of</strong> God in<br />
Parramatta.<br />
It also challenges us to accept that such new life<br />
can only really begin when we die to ourselves and<br />
surrender our egos to the mercy <strong>of</strong> our<br />
gracious God.<br />
And I recommend for your reading the beautiful<br />
reflection ‘While I breathe I hope’ (pp 54-55) by our<br />
Vicar for Consecrated Life, Sr Patty Andrew OSU;<br />
reviewing the faith-filled diary <strong>of</strong> theologian Richard<br />
Gaillardetz in his last year <strong>of</strong> life.<br />
September’s Feast <strong>of</strong> the Exaltation <strong>of</strong> the Cross<br />
reminds us powerfully <strong>of</strong> a central paradox <strong>of</strong> our<br />
faith: only in following the crucified Jesus, in his<br />
dying and letting go, can we find true peace and joy<br />
(See the moving reflection <strong>of</strong> Chris Monaghan CP<br />
on ‘A Spirituality <strong>of</strong> the Cross’ (pp 56-57).<br />
As we journey through the seasons <strong>of</strong> our lives, we<br />
hopefully learn as Gabriel Daly OSA observes: “That<br />
the world is not simply there for our convenience<br />
and that, although we are stars in our own drama,<br />
we have mere walk-on parts in the dramas <strong>of</strong><br />
others. We go through the alienating experience<br />
<strong>of</strong> adolescence, the leaving <strong>of</strong> home, the loss <strong>of</strong><br />
friends. And so it goes on, with each crisis inflicting<br />
lacerations and bruises which combine to make<br />
an average life both an exercise in survival and an<br />
adventure story.”<br />
If, however, we can’t surrender and let go like Jesus<br />
<strong>of</strong> Nazareth, then the danger is that we become<br />
people who try to control others. Often, we risk<br />
suffocating those we love, because we think we<br />
know what is best for them!<br />
But authentic Christian love sets people free<br />
because it can let go. And such love is all around<br />
us! The good news stories inside this issue illustrate<br />
that so many people, ministries, schools and<br />
parishes in our local Church live out such freeing<br />
Gospel love.<br />
As Karl Rahner SJ has put it so beautifully: “In the<br />
end you leave with empty hands, that I know; and it<br />
is well. At that moment you look at the crucified one<br />
and go. What comes is the everlasting mystery<br />
<strong>of</strong> God.”<br />
As we celebrate this spring, may we all have the<br />
courage to let go and follow our crucified Lord<br />
more closely. <br />
Br Mark O’Connor FMS<br />
'Cross <strong>of</strong> Joy' by Mimmo Paladino.<br />
Editor <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Outlook</strong> and Vicar for Communications.<br />
The grace-filled story <strong>of</strong> our Synodal Church<br />
process and plan (pp 24-25), the devoted service<br />
from Bishop Kevin Manning (pp 14-17) to Maureen<br />
Sewell (pp 26-27) and Fr Giovani Presiga (pp 58-59)<br />
are but a few examples <strong>of</strong> the witness <strong>of</strong> ordinary<br />
people living out their faith by letting go.<br />
03
Excellence Excellence in<br />
in in in<br />
education education<br />
80 Our great Our 80 80 local great great <strong>Catholic</strong> local local Our <strong>Catholic</strong> schools 80 great are schools local enrolling are <strong>Catholic</strong> are enrolling now. schools now. now. are e<br />
Learn more Learn Learn parra.catholic.edu.au<br />
more more parra.catholic.edu.au<br />
Learn more parra.catholic.edu.a
PAGE 14<br />
On the<br />
PAGE 22<br />
Inside<br />
PAGE 24<br />
Season <strong>of</strong> <strong>Creation</strong> | Spring <strong>2024</strong><br />
14 We pay tribute to Most Rev Kevin Manning DD:<br />
Parramatta's second shepherd<br />
22 Pilgrims <strong>of</strong> hope: Dr Myriam Wijlens on the renewal <strong>of</strong><br />
the <strong>Catholic</strong> Church<br />
24 Building on our synodal journey:<br />
A Diocesan Plan grounded in love<br />
32 How young <strong>Catholic</strong>s in the Diocese are deepening<br />
their faith<br />
44 Find out more about <strong>Catholic</strong> Schools’ new strategy<br />
that captures the core mission <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> education<br />
PAGE 32<br />
PAGE 44<br />
58 Priesthood to peacemaker: discover Fr Giovani<br />
Presiga’s deep commitment to building a community <strong>of</strong><br />
peace through faith and service<br />
FOLLOW US:<br />
Want more inspiration and news that is totally free?<br />
Subscribe to <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Outlook</strong> online – catholicoutlook.org.<br />
PAGE 58<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta<br />
@parracatholic<br />
05
<strong>Outlook</strong> Looks<br />
An outpouring <strong>of</strong> love for Bishop<br />
Kevin Manning<br />
On Friday 2 August, the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta lovingly<br />
farewelled Bishop Emeritus Kevin Manning DD, the second<br />
Bishop <strong>of</strong> Parramatta, during his Mass <strong>of</strong> Christian Burial at<br />
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta. Archbishops, bishops,<br />
clergy and civil dignitaries joined in the hundreds <strong>of</strong><br />
mourners paying their respects to Bishop Manning and the<br />
extraordinary impact he had in the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Turn to page 14 to read more about Bishop Kevin Manning’s<br />
life and legacy.<br />
The Solemn Mass <strong>of</strong> Christian Burial for Bishop Kevin Manning at St Patrick's<br />
Cathedral, Parramatta. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Launching our Pastoral Plan for a<br />
Synodal Church<br />
On Saturday 10 August, the Diocesan Pastoral Plan for a<br />
Synodal Church <strong>2024</strong>-2028 was launched. This plan emerged<br />
from our 16-month synodal journey, which envisioned a new<br />
path forward for our Diocese. Over 200 clergy and lay leaders<br />
from local parishes, schools, and agencies came together to<br />
celebrate this pivotal event. The Diocesan Gathering included<br />
plenary sessions, practical workshops, and facilitated<br />
dialogue; all leading to a collective commitment and action<br />
toward local implementation.<br />
The Diocesan Gathering at Western Sydney Conference Centre, Penrith.<br />
Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
The Pastoral Plan is the result <strong>of</strong> extensive listening, dialogue,<br />
and discernment throughout our Diocese. Find out more on<br />
pages 24-25.<br />
Supporting our spiritual fathers<br />
While we always thank God for our wonderful fathers and<br />
father figures each Father’s Day, it’s important to remember<br />
our priests and spiritual fathers. Our Clergy Support<br />
Foundation is raising awareness and funds to help support<br />
our retired priests, many <strong>of</strong> whom would struggle without<br />
the Foundation. Your generosity will help support our ageing<br />
priests’ health and wellbeing during retirement.<br />
Read more about the Bishop’s Father’s Day Appeal and the work<br />
that Mark Buhagiar, Ellen Small and Peter Noone do in caring for<br />
our retired priests on pages 36-37.<br />
06<br />
Retired priest Fr John Goulding (right) with parishioner Jason Irawan.<br />
Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.
<strong>Outlook</strong> Looks<br />
Celebrating a year since World YoutH DAY<br />
It’s been more than 12 months since our 170 World Youth Day<br />
pilgrims returned from an epic journey to Lisbon, Portugal. Our<br />
pilgrims gathered at West HQ, Rooty Hill to celebrate and reflect<br />
on their pilgrimage experience, while discussing their faith,<br />
deepening their relationship with God and revelling in Bishop<br />
Vincent’s awesome ‘selfie’ skills.<br />
A lot has happened in a year for our pilgrims, so find out more on<br />
pages 28-29.<br />
Bishop Vincent Long (centre-right) with World Youth Day pilgrims during<br />
their one-year reunion at West HQ, Rooty Hill.<br />
Image: Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Social Justice Statement launcheS<br />
in the Diocese<br />
Each year, the Australian <strong>Catholic</strong> Bishops Conference (ACBC) issues a Social<br />
Justice Statement regarding current social, economic and ecological issues.<br />
In the <strong>2024</strong>-2025 Social Justice Statement, Truth & Peace: A Gospel Word in<br />
a Violent World, Australia’s bishops scrutinise the signs <strong>of</strong> our own troubled<br />
times, observe the violence around us, and ask why it is so. They also ask<br />
what is needed if there is to be peace.<br />
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, as Chair <strong>of</strong> the ACBC’s Commission for<br />
Social Justice, Mission and Service, launched the <strong>2024</strong>-2025 Statement<br />
in late August at St Pauls <strong>Catholic</strong> College, Greystanes.<br />
Read more about the Social Justice Statement Launch on <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Outlook</strong> online.<br />
To download your copy <strong>of</strong> the Social Justice Statement,<br />
visit socialjustice.catholic.org.au<br />
Image: Supplied.<br />
Child Protection Week bolsters the<br />
power <strong>of</strong> conversations<br />
National Child Protection Week is an important event in Australia<br />
that takes place each year on the first Sunday <strong>of</strong> September.<br />
Founded by the National Association for Prevention <strong>of</strong> Child<br />
Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), this year’s theme is ‘Every<br />
conversation matters’, as conversations are a powerful tool in<br />
understanding issues, creating solutions and raising awareness.<br />
By participating in this week, we’re saying “yes” to making our<br />
community a better place for everyone.<br />
Image: Supplied.<br />
To find out more about our commitment to<br />
safeguarding, please visit<br />
parracatholic.org/safeguarding<br />
07
<strong>Outlook</strong> Looks<br />
World Day <strong>of</strong> Migrants and Refugees<br />
The World Day <strong>of</strong> Migrants and Refugees is observed<br />
annually on the last Sunday <strong>of</strong> September, with this year’s<br />
theme being ‘God walks with his people’. First celebrated<br />
in 1914, this day is for <strong>Catholic</strong>s to remember and pray<br />
for the millions <strong>of</strong> people who are displaced by conflict,<br />
persecution, and economic difficulties around the world.<br />
The Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta will be hosting an event<br />
for World Day <strong>of</strong> Migrants and Refugees at the end<br />
<strong>of</strong> September.<br />
Check out parracatholic.org/events for more information.<br />
Image: Shutterstock.<br />
WE ARE<br />
HIRING<br />
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WE ARE<br />
All experience levels welcome<br />
Are you passionate about helping children<br />
reach their potential?<br />
All experience levels welcome<br />
Are you looking for for a a workplace where you<br />
Are you passionate about helping children<br />
are respected and encouraged to to grow?<br />
reach their potential?<br />
Join our team!<br />
Are you looking for a workplace where you<br />
are respected and encouraged to grow?<br />
Join our team!<br />
Discuss your Ambrose options<br />
with one one <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> our our friendly team.<br />
Email: jobs@ambrose.org.au<br />
Discuss your Ambrose options<br />
with one <strong>of</strong> our friendly team.<br />
Email: jobs@ambrose.org.au<br />
Visit: ambrose.org.au/find-a-job<br />
Good luck to our HSC students!<br />
We wish the best <strong>of</strong> luck to all our Year 12 students<br />
across the Diocese who are gearing up for their HSC<br />
exams in October. With all your hard work and dedication<br />
coming to fruition, we pray that you are filled with<br />
confidence and calmness as you tackle your final exams.<br />
Remember to believe in your abilities, stay positive, and<br />
take care <strong>of</strong> yourselves – you’ve got this!<br />
Contact our <strong>Catholic</strong> Youth Parramatta team via<br />
met@parracatholic.org for care packages<br />
for our HSC students.<br />
Year 12 student leaders at the LIFTED Breakfast with<br />
the Bishop forum in June <strong>2024</strong>. Image: Alphonsus Fok/<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Ambrose is a is social a social enterprise <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> the the <strong>Catholic</strong> Diocese <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> Parramatta Services Limited
Compassion is<br />
a universal language.<br />
Come speak it with us.<br />
www.caritas.org.au<br />
1800 024 413<br />
Charles<br />
Zimbabwe
WHAT'S ON<br />
in the Diocese?<br />
11-13 SEPTEMBER<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Diocesan Archivists <strong>of</strong><br />
Australia Conference,<br />
Novotel Sydney Parramatta<br />
12-14 SEPTEMBER<br />
Virtual <strong>Catholic</strong> Earthcare<br />
Australia Season <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Creation</strong> Convocation<br />
14 SEPTEMBER<br />
Diocesan Season <strong>of</strong> <strong>Creation</strong><br />
Gathering (part <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Earthcare Convocation),<br />
Winbourne Edmund Rice Retreat<br />
Centre, Mulgoa<br />
BEGINNING 17 SEPTEMBER<br />
FaithLIFE Spirituality Course<br />
Bishop Bede Heather Centre,<br />
Blacktown<br />
19 SEPTEMBER<br />
Worship Children’s Liturgy<br />
Workshop<br />
Bishop Bede Heather Centre,<br />
Blacktown<br />
20 SEPTEMBER<br />
Holy Hour for Vocations<br />
Mary Immaculate Parish, Quakers<br />
Hill-Sch<strong>of</strong>ields<br />
20 AND 22 SEPTEMBER<br />
Pre-marriage preparation course<br />
Bishop Bede Heather Centre,<br />
Blacktown<br />
24 SEPTEMBER<br />
Natural Fertility Instruction<br />
Session via Zoom<br />
27 SEPTEMBER<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Schools Term 3 ends<br />
28 SEPTEMBER<br />
Diocesan World Day <strong>of</strong> Migrants<br />
and Refugees gathering<br />
29 SEPTEMBER<br />
World Day <strong>of</strong> Migrants<br />
and Refugees<br />
5 – 6 OCTOBER<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Youth Parramatta<br />
HSC Masses<br />
14 OCTOBER<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Schools Term 4 begins<br />
15 OCTOBER – 5 NOVEMBER<br />
HSC Examinations<br />
17 OCTOBER<br />
LIFTED GO: <strong>2024</strong>-2025 Social<br />
Justice Statement workshop,<br />
West HQ, Rooty Hill<br />
18 AND 20 OCTOBER<br />
Pre-marriage preparation course<br />
Bishop Bede Heather Centre,<br />
Blacktown<br />
18 OCTOBER<br />
Holy Hour for Vocations<br />
St Aidan’s Parish, Rooty Hill<br />
20 OCTOBER<br />
World Mission Day<br />
The FaithFeed<br />
Bishop Bede Heather Centre,<br />
Blacktown<br />
22 OCTOBER<br />
Natural Fertility Instruction<br />
Session via Zoom<br />
25 OCTOBER<br />
Special Religious Education<br />
Teachers Reflection Day<br />
Our Lady <strong>of</strong> Lourdes Parish,<br />
Seven Hills<br />
26 OCTOBER<br />
LIFTED Live in the Forecourt<br />
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta<br />
27 OCTOBER<br />
Annual Diocesan Wedding<br />
Anniversary Mass<br />
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta<br />
28 OCTOBER<br />
Special Religious Education<br />
Teachers Reflection Day<br />
St Finbar’s Parish, Glenbrook<br />
BEGINNING 29 OCTOBER<br />
FaithLIFE Ministry Skills<br />
Bishop Bede Heather Centre,<br />
Blacktown<br />
6 NOVEMBER<br />
Peace, Justice Ecology Sharing<br />
via Zoom<br />
7 NOVEMBER<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Youth Parramatta<br />
Duc in Altum Happy Hour<br />
The Log Cabin, Penrith<br />
12 NOVEMBER<br />
Annual Vatican II Lecture<br />
Bishop Bede Heather Centre,<br />
Blacktown<br />
Natural Fertility Instruction<br />
Session via Zoom<br />
15 NOVEMBER<br />
Holy Hour for Vocations<br />
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta<br />
22 AND 24 NOVEMBER<br />
Pre-marriage<br />
preparation course<br />
Bishop Bede Heather Centre,<br />
Blacktown<br />
22 NOVEMBER<br />
Special Religious Education<br />
Annual Mass and Awards<br />
Presentation<br />
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta<br />
24 NOVEMBER<br />
Local celebration <strong>of</strong> World Youth<br />
Day<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Youth Parramatta<br />
Leaders Commissioning Mass<br />
26 NOVEMBER<br />
FaithLIFE Advent Scripture Night,<br />
Bishop Bede Heather Centre,<br />
Blacktown<br />
29 NOVEMBER<br />
Anniversary <strong>of</strong> the Dedication <strong>of</strong><br />
St Patrick's Cathedral<br />
1 DECEMBER<br />
First Sunday <strong>of</strong> Advent<br />
For more events around the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta, or to register your interest, please visit parracatholic.org/events<br />
10
Pope’s Prayer intentions<br />
Each month, Pope Francis asks us to pray as a global community for his great<br />
concerns for humanity and for the mission <strong>of</strong> the Church.<br />
SEPTEMBER <strong>2024</strong> | For the cry <strong>of</strong> the Earth<br />
Let us pray that each <strong>of</strong> us listen with our hearts to the cry <strong>of</strong> the Earth and <strong>of</strong> the victims <strong>of</strong><br />
environmental disasters and the climate crisis, making a personal commitment to care for<br />
the world we inhabit.<br />
OCTOBER <strong>2024</strong> | For a shared mission<br />
Let us pray that the Church continue to sustain a synodal lifestyle in every way, as a sign <strong>of</strong><br />
co-responsibility, promoting the participation, communion and mission shared by priests,<br />
religious and laity.<br />
NOVEMBER <strong>2024</strong> | For those who have lost a child<br />
Let us pray that all parents who mourn the loss <strong>of</strong> a son or daughter find support in their<br />
community and may receive peace <strong>of</strong> heart from the Spirit <strong>of</strong> Consolation.<br />
Two women are seen embracing during the 2023<br />
Members <strong>of</strong> the inaugural Diocesan Diocesan Synod World during Day <strong>of</strong> the Migrants opening and session Refugees at CommBank<br />
Stadium, Parramatta, in October 2023. Celebration. Image: Image: Alphonsus Diocese Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta. <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
11
A reenactment <strong>of</strong> the Passion <strong>of</strong> the Christ during <strong>Catholic</strong> Youth Parramatta’s Good Friday Night Walk at St Patrick’s Cathedral,<br />
Parramatta, April <strong>2024</strong>. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
12
WAY OF THE<br />
CROSS<br />
Lord Jesus, help us to see in your Cross all the<br />
crosses <strong>of</strong> the world:<br />
The cross <strong>of</strong> those who hunger for bread and for love;<br />
The cross <strong>of</strong> those who thirst for justice and peace;<br />
The cross <strong>of</strong> the elderly who are bowed down under<br />
the weight <strong>of</strong> years and loneliness;<br />
The cross <strong>of</strong> migrants who find doors closed because<br />
<strong>of</strong> fear, and hearts sealed by political calculations;<br />
The cross <strong>of</strong> the little ones, wounded in their<br />
innocence and purity;<br />
The cross <strong>of</strong> our weaknesses, our hypocrisies, our<br />
betrayals, our sins and our many broken promises;<br />
The cross <strong>of</strong> your Church which, faithful to your<br />
Gospel, struggles to carry your love even among the<br />
baptised themselves;<br />
The cross <strong>of</strong> our common home that withers<br />
seriously before our selfish eyes that are blinded by<br />
greed and power.<br />
Lord Jesus, rekindle in us the hope <strong>of</strong> the<br />
resurrection and <strong>of</strong> your definitive victory<br />
against all evil and all death.<br />
Amen!<br />
Excerpt from the prayer <strong>of</strong> Pope Francis at the 2019 Way <strong>of</strong> the Cross at the<br />
Colosseum, Good Friday, 19 April 2019.<br />
13
2.11.1933<br />
20.12.1961<br />
Born to a <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Ordained to the<br />
family, the second <strong>of</strong><br />
Priesthood in Rome<br />
seven children<br />
Remembe<br />
Bishop Emeritus Kevin Manning<br />
BY BELINDA GADD<br />
We reflect on the life and legacy <strong>of</strong> the Diocese’s<br />
second Bishop, who served God and the<br />
community through leadership, humility<br />
and courage.<br />
Personable, humble and compassionate, Most<br />
Reverend Kevin Manning DD was the epitome <strong>of</strong><br />
a Good Shepherd, having laid the foundations <strong>of</strong><br />
Australia’s youngest and fastest-growing Diocese.<br />
Humble beginnings<br />
Born on 2 November 1933 to a strong <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
family, and the second eldest <strong>of</strong> seven children,<br />
Kevin Michael Manning was a country lad at heart.<br />
His parents Kevin and Edith Manning sent him to<br />
the local Sacred Heart Primary School, and he was<br />
known simply as ‘Mick Manning’ to his loved ones as<br />
he grew up in Coolah, NSW.<br />
Being raised in the <strong>Catholic</strong> way during a post-<br />
Depression era, showing generosity to others and<br />
exuding gratitude for God’s gifts were values that<br />
followed Bishop Manning throughout his life.<br />
Following high school, he began studying for the<br />
priesthood at St Columba's Seminary in Springwood.<br />
He completed his studies at the Propaganda Fide<br />
College in Rome.<br />
From ‘Aussie battler’ to bishop<br />
After being ordained to the Priesthood in Rome at<br />
the age <strong>of</strong> 28, Bishop Manning served as a priest in<br />
the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Bathurst for 16 years. He became the<br />
eighth Bishop <strong>of</strong> Armidale in 1991, where he served<br />
for six years.<br />
In 1996, a devastating fire tore through St Patrick’s<br />
Cathedral in Parramatta.<br />
The destruction <strong>of</strong> the cathedral shook the tight-knit<br />
community and received national attention. Following<br />
the fire, Most Rev Bede Heather, then-Bishop <strong>of</strong><br />
Parramatta said that “a new St Patrick’s will rise from<br />
these ashes”. From these ashes, Bishop Manning<br />
sought a new opportunity working within the Diocese<br />
<strong>of</strong> Parramatta, and he sought to build a new Church in<br />
more ways than one.<br />
14
1962 - 1978<br />
Served as a priest<br />
in the Diocese <strong>of</strong><br />
Bathurst for 16 years<br />
red:<br />
1987<br />
Celebrated the 25th<br />
anniversary <strong>of</strong> his<br />
ordination<br />
Muslim community,” Bishop Vincent said.<br />
“In addition, he was a strong advocate for the<br />
underprivileged and marginalised.”<br />
1991<br />
Ordained the eighth<br />
Bishop <strong>of</strong> Armidale<br />
Parramatta’s second shepherd<br />
Bishop Manning was appointed the second Bishop<br />
<strong>of</strong> Parramatta by Pope St John Paul II on 10 July<br />
1997, and was installed in the Morley Centre at<br />
Parramatta Marist High School, Westmead, on 21<br />
August 1997.<br />
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv described how<br />
the restoration and construction <strong>of</strong> St Patrick’s<br />
new Cathedral to meet the needs <strong>of</strong> the growing<br />
congregation was Bishop Manning’s<br />
“greatest legacy”.<br />
“This was a project he oversaw and delighted in its<br />
planning and construction after the disastrous fires,”<br />
Bishop Vincent said.<br />
Bishop Manning was also a pioneer in social justice<br />
for the people <strong>of</strong> Western Sydney and the Blue<br />
Mountains. He promoted unity among the world’s<br />
churches and his role as president <strong>of</strong> the NSW<br />
Ecumenical Council showed that he was a strong<br />
supporter <strong>of</strong> ecumenism in Australia.<br />
“Bishop Kevin was one <strong>of</strong> the first Christian leaders<br />
in this country to reach out to members <strong>of</strong> the<br />
“Let us give thanks to God for the many blessings<br />
that Bishop Manning brought us through his<br />
leadership and ministry for many decades.”<br />
Bishop Manning served as Bishop for over 12 years<br />
until his retirement on 4 March 2010 when he was<br />
succeeded by then-Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, the<br />
third Bishop <strong>of</strong> Parramatta. He was appointed as<br />
Apostolic Administrator <strong>of</strong> the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Wilcannia-<br />
Forbes in 2010 until 2012.<br />
On 15 July, he passed away peacefully in Bathurst<br />
at the age <strong>of</strong> 90.<br />
Bishop remembered<br />
Hundreds <strong>of</strong> mourners paid their respects during his<br />
Mass <strong>of</strong> Christian Burial led by Bishop Vincent and<br />
included Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP (Sydney),<br />
Archbishop Mark Coleridge (Brisbane), Archbishop<br />
Patrick O’Regan (Adelaide), as well as bishops,<br />
clergy, relatives and friends, both in person and<br />
online globally.<br />
He is remembered for his excellent administration<br />
and leadership, as well as his ‘no-nonsense’<br />
common sense approach. His humble and generous<br />
spirit was reflected in his limited number <strong>of</strong> physical<br />
possessions. He enjoyed a good joke and a round<br />
<strong>of</strong> golf.<br />
15
1997<br />
Appointed and installed<br />
as the second Bishop <strong>of</strong><br />
Parramatta<br />
29.11.2003<br />
St Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta is<br />
dedicated by Cardinal Cassidy.<br />
2006<br />
Opened Campion College in<br />
Toongabbie and was awarded the<br />
Kahlil Gibran International Award.<br />
A Diocesan legacy<br />
• Served as Assistant Secretary then Secretary<br />
to the Australian <strong>Catholic</strong> Bishops Conference<br />
for 13 years<br />
• Held many positions within several dioceses,<br />
including Chancellor, Episcopal Vicar<br />
for Education and Religious, Director <strong>of</strong><br />
Vocations, Director <strong>of</strong> Pontifical Missions<br />
Society, and more.<br />
• One <strong>of</strong> Australia’s first Christian leaders to<br />
reach out to the Muslim community<br />
• Inspired the Bishop Manning Lecture Series: a<br />
leading forum for social justice<br />
• Established the Diocesan newspaper (now<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Outlook</strong> magazine)<br />
• Opened Campion College in Toongabbie<br />
in 2006<br />
• Received the Khalil Gibran International Award<br />
for his work among Arab Christian and Muslim<br />
communities in 2006<br />
• Led the design and construction <strong>of</strong> the new St<br />
Patrick’s Cathedral, which opened in 2003<br />
True to his nature, his motto ‘Christ the Bread <strong>of</strong> Life’<br />
was the only one written in English rather than Latin<br />
on his crest among the Armidale and<br />
Parramatta bishops.<br />
An outpouring <strong>of</strong> love<br />
In delivering the homily at his funeral, Bishop Robert<br />
McGuckin, Bishop Emeritus <strong>of</strong> the Diocese <strong>of</strong><br />
Toowoomba said justice and peace were very much<br />
important issues to the late Bishop, whether it was<br />
through fundraising, helping the poor and needy, or<br />
rebuilding St Patrick’s Cathedral.<br />
“Courageous he was and courageous he’ll always<br />
remain,” Bishop McGuckin said.<br />
He described Bishop Manning as “a man <strong>of</strong> faith,<br />
service, hope, commitment, gentleness and<br />
compassion, and especially – <strong>of</strong> communion.”<br />
Following the funeral, Fr Paul Slyney from Our Lady<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Nativity Parish, Lawson, remembered Bishop<br />
Manning as “a good man”.<br />
“He was an extraordinary man, who came in at<br />
difficult times. He helped this Diocese to flourish.”<br />
Fr Paul gave an example <strong>of</strong> how Bishop Manning<br />
sought opportunities to make positive changes in the<br />
lives <strong>of</strong> others, no matter how small.<br />
Fr Paul shared how Bishop Manning worked closely<br />
with the <strong>Catholic</strong> Education Office to implement a<br />
program at an Anglican school with students with<br />
16
2010<br />
Retired as Bishop <strong>of</strong> Parramatta,<br />
and served as Apostolic<br />
Administrator for the Diocese <strong>of</strong><br />
Wilcannia-Forbes for two years<br />
2011<br />
Celebrated the 50th<br />
anniversary <strong>of</strong> his ordination<br />
<strong>2024</strong><br />
Died in Bathurst, NSW<br />
disabilities to ensure those students were able to<br />
participate in receiving the sacraments.<br />
City <strong>of</strong> Parramatta Council Lord Mayor Pierre Esber<br />
agreed. “He was a good man, a really distinctive<br />
man,” he said.<br />
President <strong>of</strong> the Australian <strong>Catholic</strong> Bishops<br />
Conference, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB also<br />
expressed his appreciation for Bishop Manning’s<br />
“generous and faithful commitment to the work <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Bishops Conference over many years.”<br />
Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Archbishop <strong>of</strong> Sydney<br />
and the third Bishop <strong>of</strong> Parramatta, praised Bishop<br />
Manning for his achievements as a faithful shepherd<br />
with a heart for “battlers”.<br />
“I was lucky enough to inherit from him a diocese<br />
in very good shape: as its second bishop he had<br />
presided over a period <strong>of</strong> rapid growth, so that it was<br />
already bigger than most Australian archdioceses,”<br />
Archbishop Fisher told the <strong>Catholic</strong> Weekly.<br />
“Behind all these achievements there was a nononsense<br />
country boy, a humble man <strong>of</strong> God, and<br />
a good shepherd with a strong sense <strong>of</strong> duty and a<br />
genuine interest in people.”<br />
The Australian <strong>Catholic</strong> Church owes much to the<br />
leadership, vision, mercy and compassion <strong>of</strong> Bishop<br />
Kevin Manning. We continue to pray for the repose <strong>of</strong><br />
his soul and give thanks to God for his earthly life. <br />
In Memoriam<br />
Through his life, Bishop Manning touched<br />
the lives and hearts <strong>of</strong> many within the<br />
Diocese and beyond. Here are some<br />
heartfelt condolences.<br />
“Heaven has gained the most beautiful<br />
angel, thank you for all your compassion in<br />
all your work here on earth.”<br />
Lucy (niece)<br />
“Thank you dearest Bishop Kevin for your<br />
support and prayers throughout the years.”<br />
Salwa<br />
“You formed, supported and walked with<br />
many young people who were questioning<br />
and unsure <strong>of</strong> their connection to the<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Church with patience<br />
and gentleness.”<br />
Amanda<br />
“Bishop Manning ordained me ... I'm forever<br />
grateful for his support and friendship.”<br />
Warren<br />
“He was a gift to our earth.”<br />
Susan<br />
17
A man venerates a crucifix during the Good Friday Veneration <strong>of</strong> the Cross service at St Thomas Aquinas<br />
Parish, Springwood. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Finding strength<br />
in carrying<br />
Christ’s cross<br />
BY FR FERNANDO MONTANO<br />
The month <strong>of</strong> September brings to us the<br />
celebration <strong>of</strong> the Feast <strong>of</strong> the Exaltation <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Holy Cross on the 14th <strong>of</strong> the month. The feast<br />
celebrates the dedication <strong>of</strong> the Church <strong>of</strong> the Holy<br />
Sepulcher around the year 335 and the feast has<br />
been part <strong>of</strong> the calendar <strong>of</strong> the Roman <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Church since around the 7th century.<br />
In Latin American countries like Mexico, where I<br />
come from, the ‘Holy Cross Day’ as it is usually<br />
known, is celebrated on 3 May and the tradition for<br />
this day mentions that it celebrates the discovery <strong>of</strong><br />
the True Cross <strong>of</strong> Christ by St Helen on 3 May 326.<br />
The diversity <strong>of</strong> celebrations about the Holy Cross<br />
<strong>of</strong> Jesus is always an invitation for us to stop<br />
and reflect on the importance and significance<br />
that the Cross has in the Christian life. During the<br />
celebration <strong>of</strong> the Liturgy <strong>of</strong> the Passion <strong>of</strong> the Lord<br />
on Good Friday, we are called to “Behold the wood<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Cross on which hung the salvation <strong>of</strong><br />
the world”.<br />
The prominence <strong>of</strong> the Cross in the lives <strong>of</strong> the<br />
disciples is something that comes from Jesus<br />
Himself. In the minds and hearts <strong>of</strong> each <strong>of</strong> us, we<br />
hear the voice <strong>of</strong> Jesus about the necessity to carry<br />
our crosses and be ready to follow Him (Mk 8:34).<br />
Only then, we will be worthy <strong>of</strong> being His disciples<br />
(Mt 10:38; 16:24-28).<br />
As we listen to the voice <strong>of</strong> Jesus, we are left<br />
wondering what Jesus means when He says that<br />
we need to carry our crosses to follow Him.<br />
As we reflect on the words <strong>of</strong> Jesus, we see that<br />
to renounce oneself, to take our crosses, to follow<br />
Him, to lose our life, are all different aspects <strong>of</strong> the<br />
same reality, which is to freely decide whether we<br />
want to learn from Him as He slowly introduces<br />
us into the mystery <strong>of</strong> His own act <strong>of</strong> love for the<br />
Father who sent Him.<br />
In some <strong>of</strong> my readings, I came across the<br />
statement that “the cross is the price we pay for<br />
being disciples”. This has been a very insightful<br />
thought into the mystery <strong>of</strong> the Cross in my own<br />
life. The reason for this is that many times we want<br />
to limit the carrying <strong>of</strong> our crosses to situations we<br />
do not like but that we do not have any control over<br />
them and we end up with the phrase “maybe this is<br />
the cross that I must carry”.<br />
In my view, the carrying <strong>of</strong> the Cross has to be more<br />
dynamic than just the passive acceptance - it has to<br />
be the way we listen to the promptings <strong>of</strong> the Spirit<br />
<strong>of</strong> God in the way Jesus does: with trust, with hope<br />
and with prayer. Especially in those moments when<br />
things are more difficult to bear. Many times, we<br />
want to react according to our own impulses.<br />
18
Many times, like the prophets <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Old Testament, we just want to tell<br />
God that life is too hard and we do<br />
not want to keep doing what he is<br />
asking <strong>of</strong> us (1 Kings 19:4-8). But the<br />
invitation <strong>of</strong> Jesus comes to us with<br />
the invitation and the condition that<br />
being His disciples requires a different<br />
way <strong>of</strong> reacting, a different way <strong>of</strong><br />
attitude, a different way <strong>of</strong> speaking<br />
and at that moment, like Jesus, we<br />
are willing to say ‘yes’ to the invitation<br />
<strong>of</strong> being disciples and learn<br />
from Jesus.<br />
The feast <strong>of</strong> the Exaltation <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Holy Cross invites us also to see the<br />
invitation <strong>of</strong> Jesus as a sign <strong>of</strong> hope.<br />
It is an invitation that in moments <strong>of</strong><br />
darkness, we do not close ourselves<br />
in our loneliness where anger, despair,<br />
uncertainty, frustration or sadness<br />
would not give us the best advice.<br />
On the opposite, we open ourselves<br />
up to the invitation <strong>of</strong> Jesus that in<br />
Him, we will find the rest and the<br />
strength we need to continue learning<br />
from Him in the school <strong>of</strong> His love.<br />
The carrying <strong>of</strong> our crosses is also an<br />
invitation to awaken in us a deeper<br />
sense <strong>of</strong> solidarity with each other.<br />
When we recognise that each <strong>of</strong> us<br />
has been called to be disciples and<br />
like disciples, we all are carrying<br />
our own crosses, we do not journey<br />
alone carrying our cross. We follow<br />
and learn from Jesus, but we all have<br />
a cross that we bear and, with the<br />
advice <strong>of</strong> St Paul, we bear with one<br />
another and we forgive one another<br />
(Col 3:13).<br />
Peace in Jesus. <br />
Very Rev Fernando Montano is the Vicar<br />
General <strong>of</strong> the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta,<br />
Episcopal Vicar for Social Welfare and<br />
Parish Priest <strong>of</strong> St Bernadette’s Parish,<br />
Castle Hill.<br />
A child prays in front <strong>of</strong> a crucifix during the Good Friday Stations <strong>of</strong> the Cross service<br />
at St Finbar's Parish, Glenbrook. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
19
Image: Nagle College/Supplied.<br />
Students become<br />
the next crop <strong>of</strong><br />
Religious Education teachers<br />
BY SAMANTHA RICH<br />
Nagle College Blacktown students are embracing<br />
an exciting opportunity to celebrate their faith<br />
with others, taking on the role <strong>of</strong> Special Religious<br />
Education (SRE) Catechist through the<br />
SRE program.<br />
For this group <strong>of</strong> students, teaching their younger<br />
peers about the <strong>Catholic</strong> faith and helping to guide<br />
them in their spiritual journeys has proven to be<br />
both inspiring and satisfying.<br />
Students from Nagle College, Blacktown, lead an SRE lesson at a local<br />
public primary school. Image: Nagle College/Supplied.<br />
Nagle College Blacktown currently has 16 Year<br />
10 students taking part in the SRE program each<br />
Thursday afternoon. The students have chosen to<br />
give up their school sports time to teach Religious<br />
Education to students in two local primary schools:<br />
Blacktown South and Shelley Public Schools.<br />
The dedicated students plan, resource, and teach<br />
the lessons themselves. This important ministry<br />
not only educates the younger children about God,<br />
knowing Jesus and being <strong>Catholic</strong>, but also brings<br />
the Nagle students closer together and strengthens<br />
their own faith.<br />
Elizabeth, one <strong>of</strong> Nagle’s SRE student leaders, says<br />
being involved in the program is such a valuable<br />
experience.<br />
“I grew up with stories, testimonies, and beliefs<br />
taught to me by my parents, teachers, and peers.<br />
Doing SRE means I get to share exactly what I<br />
was taught with little children who are the age I<br />
20
was when I learned all these wonderful things. This<br />
experience is extra special because these children<br />
love to learn about Jesus too,” she said.<br />
The students are supported with training and<br />
teaching resources including manuals and<br />
workbooks by the Diocese’s Confraternity <strong>of</strong><br />
Christian Doctrine and the College provides them<br />
with any physical items they might need such as<br />
Bibles and rosary beads.<br />
Loren Pelham, Nagle’s Leader <strong>of</strong> Mission and<br />
Religious Education says the students love being<br />
part <strong>of</strong> the SRE program.<br />
“I think it provides them with a deeper connection<br />
with their <strong>Catholic</strong> faith and a sense that they are<br />
doing the work <strong>of</strong> Nano Nagle, who, first thing<br />
in the morning in her schools, would teach the<br />
Catechism,” she said.<br />
Students lead an SRE lesson and prayer. Image: Nagle College/Supplied.<br />
For some students, the SRE program confirms<br />
their desire to become a teacher, and some even<br />
continue to teach SRE after graduating from Nagle.<br />
This is testament to the positive experience the<br />
program provides both for the primary school<br />
students and the student SRE Catechists. <br />
“For our students, this is a lived expression <strong>of</strong> being<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong>, living out the College motto In Deed Not<br />
Word and being a ‘Presentation Person’ — which is<br />
something we emphasise with the students.”<br />
To learn about how you can contribute to the sharing <strong>of</strong><br />
the <strong>Catholic</strong> faith to children in our public schools, visit<br />
parracatholic.org/ccd<br />
Samantha Rich is a Media and Communications Specialist at<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Schools Parramatta Diocese.<br />
Bishop’s Father’s Day Appeal<br />
Support our ageing priests<br />
Honour the Fathers who have guided us spiritually<br />
Your kind gift this Father’s Day will enable the Clergy Health and Wellbeing<br />
Team to provide vital care and support, including accommodation, medical<br />
assistance, and daily living needs for our retired and unwell priests.<br />
Give<br />
your gift<br />
parracatholic.org/fathersdayappeal
The Prophetic Voice<br />
OF THE LAITY<br />
Dr Myriam Wijlens presents a lecture in Parramatta.<br />
Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta<br />
International theologian, ecumenist and canon lawyer Dr Myriam Wijlens spoke<br />
about the vital role all the baptised play in supporting a synodal <strong>Catholic</strong> Church.<br />
BY BELINDA GADD<br />
As bishops, religious and lay people around the<br />
world prepare to gather at the second Synod<br />
Assembly in Rome this October, Dr Myriam Wijlens,<br />
a member <strong>of</strong> the coordinating committee <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Synod, shared her insights on the synodal process,<br />
the art <strong>of</strong> listening and the importance <strong>of</strong> the<br />
participation <strong>of</strong> women in the <strong>Catholic</strong> Church.<br />
Dr Wijlens delivered a series <strong>of</strong> free public lectures<br />
in Australia in August on the topic ‘The prophetic<br />
voice <strong>of</strong> the laity in the renewal <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Church’, as part <strong>of</strong> the Diocese’s ‘Bishop Vincent<br />
Presents’ series.<br />
Her contemporary insights and no-holds-barred<br />
views on the role and value <strong>of</strong> all persons baptised<br />
in the renewal <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Catholic</strong> Church attracted<br />
around 200 attendees at St Patrick’s Cathedral Hall,<br />
Parramatta, and more than 570 viewers online.<br />
With opportunities for robust conversations and<br />
plenty <strong>of</strong> questions, Dr Wijlens’ views provided a<br />
collective contemplation <strong>of</strong> the work being done to<br />
achieve synodality in the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta and<br />
around the world.<br />
Becoming pilgrims <strong>of</strong> hope<br />
The world Synod is currently undertaking a process<br />
<strong>of</strong> listening and discernment to better understand<br />
the current issues facing the Church.<br />
Dr Wijlens described the Synod on Synodality as<br />
the people <strong>of</strong> God being “awakened” to the needs<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Church and the world.<br />
“It may well be characterised as the people <strong>of</strong> God<br />
coming out <strong>of</strong> hibernation and becoming pilgrims <strong>of</strong><br />
hope to a world so much in need <strong>of</strong> it,” she said.<br />
Dr Wijlens emphasised that the Church is not a<br />
mere congregation <strong>of</strong> bishops, but the “people <strong>of</strong><br />
God” – so everyone’s voice matters.<br />
“Being and becoming a synodal Church requires the<br />
participation <strong>of</strong> all baptised in the <strong>Catholic</strong> faith,”<br />
she said.<br />
The participation <strong>of</strong> women in the Church<br />
Since last October, the world Synod has brought<br />
key topics to the fore. Such topics include a deeper<br />
22
consideration <strong>of</strong> the participation <strong>of</strong> women, as well<br />
as people who she refers to as “on the margins <strong>of</strong><br />
society and the Church”.<br />
Dr Wijlens said the participation <strong>of</strong> women is<br />
relevant in each and every local Church in the world.<br />
“It is not just a Western topic.”<br />
Having been elected in February as the first female<br />
Roman <strong>Catholic</strong> vice moderator <strong>of</strong> the Faith<br />
and Order Commission <strong>of</strong> the World Council <strong>of</strong><br />
Churches, Dr Wijlens knows first-hand the role<br />
women can play in Church participation<br />
and leadership.<br />
She said women can and should be consultants<br />
to the Church. “As a Canon lawyer, I can assure<br />
you, it is not forbidden for a bishop to listen to<br />
women, to appoint women as his consultants and<br />
to see to statutes that secure their participation in a<br />
substantial way,” she said.<br />
A journey <strong>of</strong> listening and learning<br />
Dr Wijlens said the process <strong>of</strong> synodality requires<br />
the Church to listen and learn from the diverse<br />
experiences <strong>of</strong> those around the world.<br />
along the journey towards a synodal Church.<br />
“In many ways, you are ahead <strong>of</strong> the rest <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Church,” she said.<br />
“The rest <strong>of</strong> the Church is not where you are at yet.”<br />
Dr Wijlens noted how the world has taken notice <strong>of</strong><br />
the Plenary Council <strong>of</strong> Australia “with great interest”<br />
and also Parramatta’s Diocesan Synod.<br />
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv commended Dr<br />
Wijlens for her inspiring work on the Synod and in<br />
the Church.<br />
“You are a truly contemporary embodiment <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> women’s wisdom, courage and moral<br />
authority,” he said. <br />
Watch Dr Myriam's public lecture from<br />
Parramatta on the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta's<br />
YouTube channel.<br />
“It requires us to listen to the experience <strong>of</strong> all<br />
members <strong>of</strong> the people <strong>of</strong> God, and then reflect on<br />
this together,” she said.<br />
“There is a great circularity in this process under the<br />
guidance <strong>of</strong> the Holy Spirit <strong>of</strong> listening, deepening,<br />
discerning and deciding.<br />
“We need to discover the meaning <strong>of</strong> synodality as<br />
a ‘learning by doing’. The experience will help us to<br />
grasp the notion.”<br />
A diocesan leader in synodality<br />
The Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta recently published<br />
its new Pastoral Plan for the strategic vision and<br />
mission <strong>of</strong> the Church, following an extensive<br />
synodal process that included listening and<br />
collaborating with clergy and non-clergy across<br />
the Diocese, including women, youth, religious and<br />
non-religious groups, ministries, as well as cultural<br />
and linguistically diverse communities.<br />
Dr Wijlens commended the Diocesan Synod,<br />
following the decrees <strong>of</strong> the Plenary Council <strong>of</strong><br />
Australia, for “learning by doing”. That is, walking<br />
ABOUT<br />
DR WIJLENS<br />
Dr Wijlens is a theologian and pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
<strong>of</strong> canon law, clerical sexual abuse expert<br />
regarding Church liability, ecumenist,<br />
policy writer and published author.<br />
As co-moderator <strong>of</strong> the international<br />
research group Peter and Paul Seminar,<br />
Dr Wijlens focuses on necessary reforms<br />
<strong>of</strong> canon law in light <strong>of</strong> Vatican II. She is<br />
also a consultant to the Synod <strong>of</strong> Bishops<br />
and a member <strong>of</strong> the Coordinating<br />
Commission <strong>of</strong> the Synod on Synodality.<br />
23
A diocesan plan grounded<br />
in love and with a vision <strong>of</strong><br />
living out the universal call<br />
for synodal church<br />
BY QWAYNE GUEVARA<br />
God is the source and centre <strong>of</strong> our human<br />
existence and continues to hold all creation in<br />
love. We are called and invited to respond to God’s<br />
love by becoming missionary disciples, followers<br />
<strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ, who with the Holy Spirit, inspires<br />
and animates us towards ‘the transcendence <strong>of</strong><br />
discipleship and towards the transcendence <strong>of</strong><br />
mission’. This requires bold humility and zeal for the<br />
faith lived out in our daily lives and within our local<br />
contexts, witnessing to our personal encounter <strong>of</strong><br />
the living God.<br />
To live in God’s love for us compels us to go out<br />
and serve, especially in places “where you<br />
don’t want to go” (John 21:18). A life<br />
following Jesus calls us daily to a<br />
conversion <strong>of</strong> the heart, to take up<br />
our cross and lay down anything<br />
that may hinder our capacity to<br />
receive God’s love completely.<br />
With God’s grace, we are able to<br />
commit to a life reflecting God’s<br />
being and Trinitarian reality, that <strong>of</strong><br />
which is a self-gift, where our individualism<br />
and self-centeredness melts away in the presence<br />
<strong>of</strong> the recognised sacredness. This sacredness in<br />
all things reminds us that everyone and everything<br />
is connected. As Mother Teresa reminds us, “we<br />
belong to one another.”<br />
Our ever-growing secular society challenges the<br />
reality <strong>of</strong> God. We only need to look around us<br />
to notice the divisions that exist. People express<br />
their experiences <strong>of</strong> isolation, anxieties, fears and<br />
suffering. These were the stories shared through<br />
our synod process leading to our Diocesan Synod<br />
in October 2023. In the darkness <strong>of</strong> these lived<br />
realities, the message <strong>of</strong> God who draws near and<br />
enters our humanity becomes a source <strong>of</strong> hope<br />
and opens us up to possibilities. Our response to<br />
these real experiences <strong>of</strong> our people needs to be<br />
authentic accompaniment and concrete action that<br />
makes God’s love known, not as some vague and<br />
l<strong>of</strong>ty idea. Rather, it is love lived out through us,<br />
through our service to others and our unreserved<br />
witness <strong>of</strong> a personal relationship with Jesus in a<br />
world crying out for meaning and purpose.<br />
This is the vision <strong>of</strong> our Synodal Church in the<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta. It is a vision that is<br />
orientated towards becoming a Church that is not<br />
only for the poor (mission) but is poor (structural). In<br />
this way, we realise that the Church doesn’t<br />
have a mission, but rather God’s mission<br />
has a Church – us. This is grounded<br />
by the life and example <strong>of</strong> Jesus who<br />
sought out those who are forgotten<br />
and unseen.<br />
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus<br />
encounters those who society deems<br />
the last, the least and the lost: the Woman<br />
at the Well (John 4:1-42), the Blind Man<br />
(Mark 8:22-25) and Zacchaeus, the Tax Collector<br />
(Luke 19:1-10). Here we appreciate the Holy Spirit’s<br />
movement in the universal Church today, which<br />
invites us to draw all in communion with God, where<br />
no one is left behind and no one is excluded from<br />
the love that God gives freely.<br />
It is a vision that honours and encourages<br />
the baptismal call <strong>of</strong> every person, calling us<br />
forward united in mission. To live united, with our<br />
differences, witnesses to the Body <strong>of</strong> Christ and<br />
the power <strong>of</strong> God’s mercy capable <strong>of</strong> inspiring<br />
reconciliation and healing within us and between us.<br />
Pope Francis exhorts that “there is no other way to<br />
become one. This is the way <strong>of</strong> Jesus.”<br />
24
Scenes from the <strong>of</strong>ficial launch <strong>of</strong> the <strong>2024</strong>-2028 Diocesan Pastoral Plan at the Western<br />
Sydney Conference Centre, Penrith. Images: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
St Paul, a model <strong>of</strong> conversion and mission,<br />
reminds us with great conviction that this is<br />
possible, for we know “that neither death, nor life,<br />
nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor<br />
things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,<br />
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to<br />
separate us from the love <strong>of</strong> God in Christ Jesus our<br />
Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).<br />
As a pilgrim Church, together, we look forward<br />
to the realisation <strong>of</strong> God’s beatific vision for all<br />
<strong>of</strong> humanity, a vision beyond our imagination<br />
and comprehension. Until then, we choose to<br />
participate more fully in the life <strong>of</strong> our Church today.<br />
Just like Jesus drew near and walked with the<br />
disciples on the road to Emmaus, we courageously<br />
commit to listening to the Holy Spirit, nurturing our<br />
relationship with Jesus through prayer and worship,<br />
and allowing ourselves to be thrust into mission,<br />
cultivating our God-given creativity to respond to<br />
the needs <strong>of</strong> the people <strong>of</strong> God in Western Sydney<br />
and the Blue Mountains.<br />
We invite you to read, reflect upon, and share this<br />
important document with your local community.<br />
We build on our synodal journey and continue to<br />
move forward together. Our pastoral plan expresses<br />
the call to ongoing renewal, both personal and<br />
institutional, and <strong>of</strong>fers a practical framework<br />
that elevates every person’s baptismal call to<br />
communion, participation and mission in the local<br />
contexts <strong>of</strong> our parishes, schools and agencies, as<br />
a priority for the Church in these times.<br />
We take heart, trusting in God who loves us<br />
unconditionally and without limits, allowing the<br />
words <strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ to echo in our hearts –<br />
“Behold, I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). <br />
Qwayne Guevara is the Lead Facilitator for the Diocesan<br />
Synod process and is the Manager - <strong>Catholic</strong> Youth<br />
Parramatta in the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta’s Mission<br />
Enhancement Team.
Maureen Sewell<br />
‘My mantra to myself would be<br />
never look back’<br />
BY ANTONY LAWES<br />
Maureen Sewell with her medal as Dame in the<br />
Order <strong>of</strong> St Gregory the Great for administrative<br />
services to the Church and wider Diocesan<br />
community. Image: Supplied.<br />
Maureen Sewell with (L-R) Chancellor (Administration) Monsignor Ron McFarlane,<br />
Vicar General and Moderator <strong>of</strong> the Curia Fr Peter Williams AM and former Vicar General<br />
Fr Chris de Souza. Image: Supplied.<br />
At the end <strong>of</strong> this year, the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta<br />
will farewell one <strong>of</strong> its longest serving, most trusted<br />
and best-loved employees, Maureen Sewell, who is<br />
retiring after nearly 26 years.<br />
The former Redemptoristine nun, who was the first<br />
Australian woman to join the closed order when<br />
she was 18, has spent her entire life involved with<br />
the <strong>Catholic</strong> Church – first, as a member <strong>of</strong> that<br />
order and then as an employee with various Church<br />
organisations, such as the Australian <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Bishops Conference, <strong>Catholic</strong> Church Insurance<br />
and the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
In her time at the Diocese, Maureen has worked<br />
under three bishops and been executive assistant<br />
to senior members <strong>of</strong> the Curia – including former<br />
Vicars General Fr Bob McGuckin and Fr Chris de<br />
Souza, and current Vicar General Fr Peter Williams<br />
AM – as well as senior staff. For the past few years,<br />
she has been in charge <strong>of</strong> organising visas for<br />
overseas clergy coming to work in the Diocese.<br />
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, the Bishop <strong>of</strong><br />
Parramatta, paid tribute to Maureen’s dedication<br />
to the Diocese, “particularly to the overseas clergy<br />
and religious as they negotiated the difficult journey<br />
<strong>of</strong> inculturation into the Church and society in<br />
Australia.”<br />
“She has embodied the best <strong>of</strong> Christian tradition <strong>of</strong><br />
welcome, hospitality and respect which we hope to<br />
build on as we move forward,” he said.<br />
Sr Ailsa Mackinnon RSM, the Chancellor for<br />
Ministries in the Diocese and a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Curia, says Maureen has been a trusted colleague<br />
whose faith “has been a shining example for those<br />
around her.”<br />
“Her life experiences have led her to be at peace<br />
with herself, her God and all those she meets in her<br />
daily life,” Sr Ailsa said. “Go in peace,<br />
dear Maureen.”<br />
Antonella Georgas, who, as Private Secretary to<br />
Bishop Vincent, has worked closely with Maureen<br />
for several years, says over that time, Maureen had<br />
become a mentor and a friend and she will be very<br />
sad to see her go.<br />
“Every day I get to work with her feels like a<br />
blessing,” she said.<br />
“You could tell how everyone adores her, from<br />
Chancery staff, education staff, parish staff and<br />
clergy. The Diocese is going to feel a huge loss with<br />
her leaving.”<br />
26
Drawn to the energy <strong>of</strong> the Diocese<br />
It was the late Bishop Kevin Manning who, in 1998,<br />
asked Maureen to come and work in the Chancery,<br />
the head <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> the Diocese, in the busy years<br />
after the fire in 1996 that burnt down St Patrick’s<br />
Cathedral.<br />
“He said, ‘we need someone out the front’. He was<br />
very vague and I had no idea what ‘out the front’<br />
meant. I envisaged myself sitting in the middle <strong>of</strong><br />
Victoria Road,” Maureen says.<br />
“What he meant was they wanted a receptionist, but<br />
we were a much smaller outfit then.<br />
“It wasn’t the specialised establishment that<br />
it is now. You did a bit <strong>of</strong> everything: catering,<br />
secretarial, looking after the chapel fundraising – it<br />
was just all hands on deck.”<br />
This wide-ranging remit suited Maureen well. Her<br />
14 years in the monastery had prepared her to be<br />
adaptable; to stop what she was doing at the sound<br />
<strong>of</strong> a bell. She also had experience working in a<br />
small team at the ACBC for four years in Canberra<br />
after leaving the monastery and then in the 14<br />
years with <strong>Catholic</strong> Church Insurance after she<br />
moved to Sydney. When she arrived at the Diocese,<br />
she enjoyed the “flying by the seat <strong>of</strong> your pants”<br />
energy, which culminated in the opening <strong>of</strong> the new<br />
Cathedral in 2003.<br />
“Anybody who worked here seemed to be aware <strong>of</strong><br />
the energy,” she said.<br />
Giving back to God<br />
Maureen was born in Wangaratta, in north-east<br />
Victoria, into a “typical <strong>Catholic</strong> family” who had a<br />
commitment to Sunday Mass and the sacraments.<br />
Her dad was a manager at the home building<br />
company Jennings and in the building boom <strong>of</strong> the<br />
post-war years, the family moved a lot, as her father<br />
was posted to different cities to meet this demand.<br />
They finally settled in Canberra and Maureen says<br />
some <strong>of</strong> her most vivid memories <strong>of</strong> this time are<br />
riding her bike to Mass every day at their parish<br />
church, St Christopher’s Cathedral, which she<br />
still attends regularly and considers her “spiritual<br />
home”. Then, when she turned 17, her father bought<br />
her a car, “so I was able to drive to Mass, which<br />
was rather nice”.<br />
It was around this time that Maureen decided<br />
to enter a contemplative order and chose the<br />
Redemptoristines after an uncle, who was a<br />
Redemptorist, suggested she consider them.<br />
She joined the silent order when she was 18, the<br />
first in Australia to do so, and stayed with them until<br />
her mid-30s.<br />
“We spoke for half an hour a day…but I’ve made up<br />
for it since, my father later told me,” she said.<br />
Other aspects <strong>of</strong> monastic life were challenging,<br />
such as long hours kneeling to pray on wooden<br />
floors and days and days <strong>of</strong> private retreat with no<br />
access to the outside world. But Maureen says she<br />
does not regret her time with the order. It taught<br />
her to have an awareness <strong>of</strong> the “sacrament <strong>of</strong> the<br />
present moment” – to “just deal with the moment<br />
and do what you’re supposed to be doing”.<br />
“It has given me far more than I gave, in terms <strong>of</strong><br />
values…in terms <strong>of</strong> the spiritual in my life.<br />
“And I’d probably do it again.”<br />
Since she left the monastery, Maureen has made<br />
the most <strong>of</strong> everything she does. She is happily<br />
married and has had a long, happy career working<br />
for the Church. “It’s not just working because you<br />
have to work or you need something to do. But it’s<br />
also fulfilling and it’s also something that you can<br />
give back to God.”<br />
She says she is in awe <strong>of</strong> the vibrancy and skill <strong>of</strong><br />
her co-workers whom she loves being around. But<br />
“it’s time to move on”.<br />
“I feel that I’m fortunate to have journeyed<br />
with some wonderful, highly talented, inspiring<br />
colleagues,” she said. “Not everybody gets that.<br />
“I think my mantra to myself would be ‘never look<br />
back, keep forging on’.” <br />
Maureen Sewell (second left) with Bishop Vincent Long and other long-term Chancery<br />
staff members Lindsay Nakhoul (left) and Maree Collis (second right) during a<br />
Chancery celebration in February <strong>2024</strong>. Image: Mary Brazell/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
27
Bishop Vincent with World Youth Day pilgrims during their one-year reunion at West HQ, Rooty Hill. Image: Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Pilgrims reunite<br />
BY TAYLOR HODGSON<br />
After a transformative journey exploring Europe’s<br />
most sacred places and seeing the Pope in Lisbon,<br />
our World Youth Day (WYD) pilgrims gathered to<br />
reconnect and share stories, returning to where it<br />
all began a year ago for their formation sessions at<br />
West HQ, Rooty Hill.<br />
With some pilgrims welcoming babies, discerning<br />
religious vocations or starting new jobs, they found<br />
out that changes, whether big or small, had touched<br />
them all since the pilgrimage to France, Spain,<br />
Portugal and Italy in 2023.<br />
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop <strong>of</strong><br />
Parramatta, joined more than 120 <strong>of</strong> the Diocese <strong>of</strong><br />
Parramatta’s 170 pilgrims to celebrate the fruits <strong>of</strong><br />
what was a successful pilgrimage to WYD.<br />
“The friendships, the camaraderie that I built with<br />
the fellow pilgrims, that stays very much with me<br />
and the experiences that we shared together,”<br />
Bishop Vincent said.<br />
“Wherever we are, we need to remember the Spirit<br />
is with us, accompanying us, inspiring us,<br />
guiding us.”<br />
Referencing his infamous ‘selfie’ <strong>of</strong> the pilgrimage<br />
group in Fátima that went viral on social media,<br />
Bishop Vincent described it as the best he’s<br />
ever taken.<br />
“This was at Fátima and we have everybody in the<br />
contingent <strong>of</strong> the Diocese there. I took this selfie<br />
trusting the Holy Spirit,” he said, as the crowd<br />
erupted with laughter.<br />
The group was then invited to share how their lives<br />
have changed since the pilgrimage.<br />
Parramatta Marist Westmead student Noah said his<br />
life had changed in a pr<strong>of</strong>ound way.<br />
“When going into WYD, I felt out <strong>of</strong> place like I<br />
didn’t belong anywhere,” he said.<br />
28
“Going on that pilgrimage made me realise that I’m<br />
not alone. I felt like I couldn’t connect, but going on<br />
WYD has made me realise that I can.”<br />
Qwayne Guevara, Lead Facilitator <strong>of</strong> the Diocesan<br />
Synod and Manager for <strong>Catholic</strong> Youth Parramatta<br />
also shared how the pilgrimage has impacted<br />
her life.<br />
“When we left Sydney and we were at the airport,<br />
we probably had no idea what we were going to<br />
encounter,” she said.<br />
“Could we have scripted it any better?<br />
Probably not.<br />
“There are things that we can script for ourselves<br />
and then when we’re there, God can completely<br />
change the direction <strong>of</strong> our lives. That’s how big<br />
God is.”<br />
For those who have started new jobs, teacher<br />
pilgrims have stepped into ministry roles<br />
since WYD.<br />
“We’ve got so many teachers who are now part <strong>of</strong><br />
the Faith in Action team and at least one <strong>of</strong> them<br />
are now Religious Education Coordinator,” said<br />
small group leader and Mission Partner at <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Schools Parramatta Diocese, Virginia Fortunat.<br />
“When I first came to the formations, I felt lost and<br />
like I wasn’t supposed to be here. I didn’t go to<br />
Mass every Sunday or pray very <strong>of</strong>ten and I felt<br />
guilty for that,” she said.<br />
“During World Youth Day, I’ve gotten to know<br />
some great people and I’ve eased into praying and<br />
actually enjoying Mass, paying attention to the<br />
homilies and applying them to my life.”<br />
Young adult pilgrim Anne gave a summary <strong>of</strong> what<br />
all the pilgrims were thinking.<br />
“I’ve walked away with such a large community <strong>of</strong><br />
great <strong>Catholic</strong> friends. It’s gone from being a small,<br />
tight circle to what I feel like I could have a party<br />
with a bunch <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong>s,” she said.<br />
“It’s very pr<strong>of</strong>ound and powerful to be with a<br />
group <strong>of</strong> young, like-minded <strong>Catholic</strong>s who are on<br />
different paths <strong>of</strong> our journey but are all walking on<br />
that same path to God.” <br />
Taylor Hodgson is a member <strong>of</strong> the Marketing and<br />
Communications team at <strong>Catholic</strong> Schools Parramatta<br />
Diocese.<br />
“It’s really great to see some <strong>of</strong> our teachers<br />
stepping up into leadership in our schools.”<br />
For Fr Christopher del Rosario, changing parishes<br />
from St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta to St<br />
Thomas Aquinas, Springwood, was challenging.<br />
“World Youth Day teaches you to be resilient, you<br />
don’t know God’s plans. God gives you a lot <strong>of</strong><br />
consolation and difficulty,” he said.<br />
“When I moved to Springwood, the first few months<br />
were very difficult. At the same time, God is so<br />
good in the difficulties and consolations that he<br />
gives you every blessing. I really do love it and the<br />
parish has grown exponentially and it’s been an<br />
absolute joy. God is good.”<br />
St Agnes <strong>Catholic</strong> High School Rooty Hill student<br />
Paula said that her faith was reignited and that<br />
World Youth Day enabled her to strengthen her<br />
relationship with God.<br />
World Youth Day pilgrims during their one-year<br />
reunion at West HQ, Rooty Hill. Image: Diocese <strong>of</strong><br />
Parramatta.<br />
29
Ambrose St John XXIII Educator Rosemarie Espero shows children<br />
how to nurture their garden using donated c<strong>of</strong>fee grounds.<br />
Image: Ambrose/Supplied.<br />
From Little Things,<br />
Big Things Grow<br />
BY ZOE CARTWRIGHT<br />
Supporting children to care for the natural world<br />
from a young age is vital for our future communities.<br />
Much <strong>of</strong> children’s environmental education<br />
happens through observation and role-modelling.<br />
At Ambrose Early Years Education, educators are<br />
dedicated to teaching through hands-on activities<br />
designed to ignite children’s curiosity and nurture<br />
their sense <strong>of</strong> environmental responsibility. This<br />
approach to learning about sustainable practices<br />
aligns with the <strong>Catholic</strong> Church’s Laudato Si’<br />
encyclical released by Pope Francis in 2015, which<br />
calls for adopting a sustainable lifestyle in response<br />
to global needs.<br />
With the support <strong>of</strong> a newly created Sustainability<br />
Network Group, the Ambrose early learning team<br />
collaborate on ideas, sharing their passion and<br />
enthusiasm, which significantly influences the<br />
children.<br />
“Children are inspired by their educators’<br />
enthusiasm and love participating in hands-on<br />
experiences,” said Natalie Bugelli, Director <strong>of</strong> Holy<br />
Family Early Learning Emerton and head <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Sustainability Group.<br />
The children at Our Lady Queen <strong>of</strong> Peace Early<br />
Learning in Greystanes have been busy supporting<br />
the tiniest garden visitors by creating Bee Watering<br />
Stations. Introduced and guided by Educator and<br />
Service Sustainability Leader, Carmel De Bono,<br />
the children set up small dishes filled with colourful<br />
rocks and gems, which they carefully fill with water.<br />
These stations attract bees and insects, providing<br />
them with a safe place to drink without the risk <strong>of</strong><br />
getting their wings wet.<br />
“This encourages children to respect the<br />
environment and all creatures God created, even if<br />
they are small and can sometimes be dangerous,”<br />
Service Director Narelle Bolton explained. “Caring<br />
for our environment instils kindness, respect, love<br />
and joy for the world around us.”<br />
At St John XXIII Early Learning in Stanhope<br />
Gardens, children have been learning how to<br />
nurture the plants in their garden using c<strong>of</strong>fee<br />
grounds generously donated by a local McDonald’s.<br />
Educator Rosemarie Espero noticed that bags <strong>of</strong><br />
used c<strong>of</strong>fee grounds were being discarded and<br />
knowing they are rich in essential nutrients for<br />
plant growth, decided to show the children how to<br />
repurpose them in the preschool’s garden.<br />
Rosemarie values the crucial role educators play in<br />
nurturing children’s agency and their right to actively<br />
participate in all aspects <strong>of</strong> their lives. She explains,<br />
by teaching small steps towards sustainable living,<br />
Educators help children “empower their capacity to<br />
advocate and act for positive change.”<br />
Recycling and reusing materials are central to many<br />
activities at Ambrose Early Learning Services. At<br />
St Luke’s Marsden Park, children have creatively<br />
crafted scarecrows for their garden using materials<br />
30
such as cardboard, spare clothes and old brooms.<br />
This activity teaches children the importance <strong>of</strong><br />
repurposing items in our daily lives, helping to<br />
reduce waste and its impact on the environment.<br />
Meanwhile, at Santa Sophia Early<br />
Learning Box Hill, children are<br />
fostering their creativity and<br />
innovative thinking by finding<br />
multiple ways to use and<br />
reuse materials through<br />
loose parts play. They use<br />
items such as bottle tops,<br />
pegs, leaves, buttons, gum<br />
nuts, twigs, stones, pebbles,<br />
beads, wool and paddle<br />
pop sticks, many <strong>of</strong> which<br />
are collected during community<br />
walks, for various art projects and<br />
construction activities.<br />
Natalie Bugelli explains that the children at Holy<br />
Family Emerton have been learning about different<br />
types <strong>of</strong> recycling, which bins to use for various<br />
items and what happens to the waste once the<br />
garbage truck collects it.<br />
Children at Ambrose Holy Family,<br />
Emerton. Image: Ambrose/Supplied.<br />
“It is important to instil these values in children from<br />
an early age so they will carry them into the future.<br />
Not only does it help them understand the needs <strong>of</strong><br />
the earth and why it is important to look after it, but<br />
the children also take the message home and<br />
continue the actions,” she said.<br />
Ambrose believes sustainability is<br />
not just an activity for children:<br />
it is essential. Children will<br />
inherit the future <strong>of</strong> our<br />
planet, making it crucial to<br />
instil a love for nature and<br />
a sense <strong>of</strong> environmental<br />
responsibility.<br />
As Santa Sophia Ambrose<br />
Service Director Rachael<br />
Heylbut puts it, “In teaching the<br />
children about showing respect for<br />
the environment, we are reflecting the<br />
teachings from the Bible, respecting the world that<br />
God created for us all, and ensuring that it exists for<br />
those that will follow us.” <br />
Zoe Cartwright is the Marketing and Communications<br />
Coordinator for Community Ventures.<br />
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CRICOS: 01032F
LIFTED Retreats allow youth to<br />
‘Encounter God<br />
in a renewed way’<br />
BY ELEANOR BONWICK AND SEBASTIAN DUHAU<br />
The <strong>Catholic</strong> Youth Parramatta (CYP) team always<br />
feels a buzz <strong>of</strong> excitement during July as they<br />
anticipate and prepare for the LIFTED Retreat.<br />
This year, the excitement grew even more with the<br />
increase in the number <strong>of</strong> retreats from one to three.<br />
The decision to split this year’s retreats stemmed<br />
from conversations between the CYP team<br />
and young people across the Diocese. It was<br />
acknowledged that young people <strong>of</strong> different ages<br />
have vastly different needs and experiences, and<br />
so the retreats catered to 16 and 17 year-olds;<br />
18-24 year-olds; and 25-35 year-olds who all share<br />
a growing desire to deepen their connections,<br />
enhance their formation and share meaningful<br />
experiences with peers in their age group. And what<br />
an incredible response we received!<br />
Our theme for this year’s retreat, ‘Ruah’ (or ‘Ruach’),<br />
played a significant role in facilitating the positive<br />
experiences we had. ‘Ruah’, a Hebrew word <strong>of</strong>ten<br />
translated as ‘spirit,’ ‘breath,’ ‘soul’ or ‘wind,’ is<br />
used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the Spirit <strong>of</strong><br />
God, the breath <strong>of</strong> life, or a powerful force like the<br />
wind.<br />
This theme served as a powerful reminder that<br />
God’s Spirit is alive and active among us today.<br />
It highlighted the dwelling presence <strong>of</strong> the Holy<br />
Spirit in our hearts through baptism and the vibrant<br />
presence <strong>of</strong> God’s Spirit in the world around us,<br />
which we experience through faith.<br />
While each retreat held the same theme, the way<br />
that this theme was interpreted in each age group,<br />
and the consequent dialogue which arose, was<br />
32
LIFTED Retreat for people aged 18-24 at Carmel House, Varroville.<br />
Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
very different. The group aged 18-24, with the help<br />
<strong>of</strong> Sr Katherine Kingsley MGL, spent significant<br />
time reflecting on the Holy Spirit as the person in<br />
the Trinity who transforms us. Many <strong>of</strong> the youth<br />
aged 16 and 17 centered around their relationship<br />
with God and how they recognise God’s presence<br />
in their lives. A core element <strong>of</strong> the retreat for the<br />
group aged 25-35 was the recurrence <strong>of</strong> God<br />
drawing near to people throughout history and<br />
throughout their own lives.<br />
For our CYP team, a highlight was witnessing the<br />
formation <strong>of</strong> new friendships and seeing young<br />
hearts deepen their personal experience <strong>of</strong> faith<br />
through joy, community, prayer and reflection.<br />
Participants from each retreat shared respectively<br />
that they “were able to share a space <strong>of</strong> vulnerability<br />
as people growing and understanding what it<br />
means to be Christ-like,” that they appreciated the<br />
“chance to spend personal time with God” and that<br />
they “encountered God in a refreshing and renewed<br />
way”.<br />
One retreat goer said, “Separating the LIFTED<br />
Retreat into different age groups allowed for older<br />
young adults to connect about similar generational<br />
issues.” Another attendee commented, “LOVED the<br />
age bracket!”.<br />
The CYP team hopes that the LIFTED Retreats will<br />
continue to serve as an opportunity for young<br />
people across the Diocese to reflect on their<br />
lives, be in community with others, and<br />
experience the presence <strong>of</strong> God. <br />
Eleanor Bonwick and Sebastian Duhau are<br />
MET Facilitators – <strong>Catholic</strong> Youth Parramatta,<br />
part <strong>of</strong> the Mission Enhancement Team <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Young people in conversation at Mt Schoenstatt Retreat<br />
Centre, Mulgoa. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong><br />
Parramatta.<br />
LIFTED Retreat for 16 and 17-year-olds<br />
at the Shrine <strong>of</strong> the Holy Innocents,<br />
Kellyville. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong><br />
Parramatta.<br />
33
Bishop Vincent with the <strong>2024</strong> Diocesan Medal <strong>of</strong> Honour and Certificate <strong>of</strong> Merit recipients at St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta.<br />
Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Ordinary<br />
parishioners recognised<br />
for extraordinary service to Diocese<br />
BY MARY BRAZELL<br />
Nine ordinary members <strong>of</strong> the faithful who have<br />
brought about the Kingdom <strong>of</strong> God across Western<br />
Sydney and the Blue Mountains have been<br />
recognised for their dedication, faith and service at<br />
the <strong>2024</strong> Diocesan Awards.<br />
During a ceremony at St Patrick’s Cathedral,<br />
Parramatta, on Wednesday 7 August, eight people<br />
were awarded the Diocesan Medal <strong>of</strong> Honour and<br />
one person received the Diocesan Certificate<br />
<strong>of</strong> Merit.<br />
At the ceremony, Bishop Vincent Long OFM<br />
Conv, Bishop <strong>of</strong> Parramatta, gave thanks for the<br />
generosity, faith and love <strong>of</strong> each <strong>of</strong> the recipients.<br />
“I give thanks to God for the way that His goodness<br />
has been made visible in their lives,” he said.<br />
“They have let the light <strong>of</strong> Christ shine through them<br />
in their good deeds and the self-effacing manner in<br />
which they were done.<br />
“We rejoice in the fact that they have said ‘yes’ to<br />
God, a ‘yes’ through which God has ‘done great<br />
things’ for the benefit <strong>of</strong> others.<br />
“Their example should encourage each <strong>of</strong> us to<br />
seek to let His light shine more brightly in us through<br />
lives <strong>of</strong> good deeds rooted in a love <strong>of</strong> God and<br />
our neighbour.” <br />
Sharon Clarke<br />
St Nicholas <strong>of</strong> Myra Parish, Penrith<br />
Sharon has been contributing<br />
to the community for 15 years,<br />
where she has served as a<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the Sacramental<br />
Team and assists as a reader,<br />
Extraordinary Minister <strong>of</strong> Holy<br />
Communion and with the parish’s<br />
audio-visual ministry. She has<br />
also served three terms on the<br />
parish’s Pastoral Council.<br />
Margaret Cobden<br />
St Nicholas <strong>of</strong> Myra Parish, Penrith<br />
Margaret’s primary service to<br />
the community is in her role<br />
as a volunteer administration<br />
assistant in the parish <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />
She also assists with visits to<br />
the housebound, sick and dying,<br />
leading the hospitality team, the<br />
banner group and the piety stall<br />
and is a Minister at the Altar.<br />
Anthony Mansour<br />
St Patrick’s Parish, Guildford<br />
Anthony has been active in the<br />
parish for over six decades,<br />
serving multiple terms on the<br />
parish Finance Council and<br />
assisting on several committees<br />
including the parish Fete<br />
Committee over many years.<br />
He was one <strong>of</strong> the first acolytes<br />
installed for the Diocese, a<br />
ministry he continues to<br />
fulfil today.<br />
34
Michael McAuley<br />
St Bernadette’s Parish, Castle Hill<br />
Michael was the President <strong>of</strong><br />
the St Thomas More Society<br />
from 2012 to 2023 and was<br />
instrumental in promoting the<br />
Red Mass for members <strong>of</strong> the<br />
legal fraternity in the Diocese and<br />
Archdiocese <strong>of</strong> Sydney. In his<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional work as a barrister,<br />
he has acted for hundreds <strong>of</strong><br />
people on a pro-bono basis,<br />
including for asylum seekers.<br />
Deanne O’Hare<br />
Tribunal <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Catholic</strong> Church,<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta<br />
Deanne has served at the<br />
Diocesan Tribunal for over<br />
30 years, serving under four<br />
Bishops <strong>of</strong> Parramatta. She<br />
has been commended for<br />
her pr<strong>of</strong>essionalism, personal<br />
integrity and confidentiality in<br />
the matters she deals with. She<br />
ensures that clients and visitors<br />
have felt welcomed at<br />
the Tribunal.<br />
Lorraine Stirton<br />
St Bernadette’s Parish, Lalor Park<br />
Lorraine has been a continuing<br />
presence at her parish for over<br />
five decades. She is a member <strong>of</strong><br />
the parish’s Seniors Group and<br />
has assisted the local St Vincent<br />
de Paul Conference for over 12<br />
years with visitations and<br />
food collections.<br />
Rosa Watson<br />
St Bernadette’s Parish, Lalor Park<br />
Janice Weaver<br />
St Bernadette’s Parish, Lalor Park<br />
Christine Little<br />
St Nicholas <strong>of</strong> Myra Parish, Penrith<br />
Rosa has been a consistent<br />
volunteer presence in the<br />
parish <strong>of</strong>fice, assisting with the<br />
production <strong>of</strong> the parish bulletin<br />
and arranging the planned<br />
giving envelopes. Particularly,<br />
she has been a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
sacramental team for over 15<br />
years and has been a Special<br />
Religious Education teacher to<br />
a kindergarten class at a local<br />
public school.<br />
Janice has been a parishioner<br />
for over 60 years, with almost<br />
20 <strong>of</strong> those being as an active<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the local St Vincent<br />
de Paul Society conference as<br />
their Treasurer. She has been the<br />
President <strong>of</strong> the parish’s Seniors<br />
Group and has, for many years,<br />
distributed Holy Communion to<br />
the housebound, despite<br />
not driving.<br />
Following an invitation by a<br />
parishioner to assist at a function<br />
over 10 years ago, Christine has<br />
been a regular member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
parish’s hospitality group. Her<br />
engagement with the community<br />
showcases her passion for<br />
service and has helped build<br />
bridges <strong>of</strong> understanding<br />
and respect.<br />
Images: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
35
Fr John Goulding (left) with Clergy Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Peter Noone. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Looking after those<br />
who minister to us<br />
BY ANTONY LAWES<br />
For as long as he can remember, Fr John Goulding<br />
wanted to be a priest.<br />
The desire to serve others was there in him even<br />
before he was sent to complete his schooling with<br />
the Missionaries <strong>of</strong> the Sacred Heart at Douglas<br />
Park at age 13.<br />
But it was from there Fr John embarked on a<br />
journey that ultimately led him to the priesthood – a<br />
vocation that lasted more than 45 years <strong>of</strong> selfless<br />
service shepherding God’s people in Papua New<br />
Guinea (PNG) and Australia.<br />
However, after retiring recently, his health suddenly<br />
deteriorated. This transition wasn’t easy, given he<br />
was used to supporting the people in his parishes.<br />
Now he had to rely on the team from the Diocese’s<br />
Clergy Support Foundation, whose care for our<br />
clergy is made possible by the generosity <strong>of</strong> our<br />
faith community.<br />
“I’ve always believed that priests are not ordained<br />
for themselves, but for other people,” Fr John said.<br />
“Wherever I went, I loved the people. And in return,<br />
they loved me…It’s this mutual love that brings the<br />
community together.”<br />
Fr John’s journey to the priesthood began with a<br />
stint teaching in government schools, before he<br />
decided to repay the kindness shown to him by the<br />
Missionaries <strong>of</strong> the Sacred Heart by volunteering in<br />
one <strong>of</strong> their schools in PNG.<br />
“I taught there for six years and loved teaching as a<br />
lay missionary,” he said.<br />
It was while in PNG that a brother missionary asked<br />
Fr John to join him in studying for the priesthood<br />
in Sydney.<br />
“I thought, ‘Well perhaps that was God inviting me.<br />
He speaks to us through other people’,”<br />
Fr John said.<br />
So, in 1975, he entered St Paul’s Seminary in<br />
Kensington. Three years later, he was ordained<br />
and returned to PNG where he ministered in the<br />
Archdiocese <strong>of</strong> Rabaul, on the island <strong>of</strong> New Britain,<br />
for almost 20 years.<br />
But a bout <strong>of</strong> malaria forced Fr John back to Sydney<br />
for treatment in 1994 and on the advice <strong>of</strong> doctors,<br />
he did not return to PNG. Instead, the then-Bishop<br />
<strong>of</strong> Parramatta, the late Bede Heather, welcomed<br />
him into the Diocese, where he served as Assistant<br />
Priest at St Bernadette’s Parish, Lalor Park, and St<br />
Matthew’s Parish, Windsor. He also spent 11 years<br />
as Chaplain at Cardinal Gilroy Village in Merrylands.<br />
After turning 80 in December, Fr John decided<br />
to retire. But since then, a decline in his health<br />
has meant this period <strong>of</strong> transition away from the<br />
priesthood has been sudden and difficult.<br />
“The last few months have been very hard,” he said.<br />
“I’ve been a priest for 45 years. During those years,<br />
I had constant contact with people I lived with and<br />
supported. I shared their lives; I ministered to them.<br />
Now that’s all come to an end. My life has<br />
changed totally.”<br />
36
One thing that has kept Fr John going is the love<br />
and support <strong>of</strong> the Clergy Support Foundation’s<br />
Health and Wellbeing Team <strong>of</strong> Dr Mark Buhagiar,<br />
Ellen Small and Peter Noone, whose ministry is<br />
made possible through our faith community’s<br />
support.<br />
In fact, they look after the health and welfare <strong>of</strong> all<br />
clergy in the Diocese, including 24 priests aged<br />
between 70 and 91.<br />
Fr John said he could not thank them enough for<br />
the care they have given him since he moved into<br />
James Dixon House, where he lives independently<br />
with other priests.<br />
“If I needed help, they were there. They have taken<br />
me to all my medical appointments. They have<br />
taken care <strong>of</strong> my medications. They have taken me<br />
to hospital. In truth, I don’t know what I’d do without<br />
them.”<br />
Peter Noone, one <strong>of</strong> the Clergy Health and<br />
Wellbeing Coordinators, said retired priests had<br />
greater needs than other clergy and their health<br />
could deteriorate dramatically in their later years.<br />
With the rising cost <strong>of</strong> living, it is more important<br />
than ever to support the work <strong>of</strong> this team, through<br />
the Clergy Support Foundation’s Father’s Day<br />
Appeal, so that retired priests can live in dignity and<br />
comfort.<br />
“These priests have given their whole lives in service<br />
<strong>of</strong> others, and it’s a meaningful way to repay them<br />
for their lifetime <strong>of</strong> sacrifice and service,” Peter said.<br />
“Particularly when they’re coming into a time when<br />
their needs will be greater, it’s a great opportunity to<br />
say thank you.”<br />
Fr John said he was very grateful to those who<br />
support retired priests through this appeal.<br />
“To all <strong>of</strong> you who support our Health and Wellbeing<br />
Team, I thank you from the heart.” <br />
Please support the<br />
Bishop’s Father’s Day Appeal<br />
by calling (02) 8838 3482<br />
or visit our website:<br />
parracatholic.org/fathersdayappeal<br />
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Building for<br />
the future<br />
How Holy Family Services<br />
is moving with the times<br />
BY ANTONY LAWES<br />
The Congregation <strong>of</strong> the Sisters <strong>of</strong> the Holy Family<br />
<strong>of</strong> Nazareth (CSFN) already have a striking, heritagelisted<br />
church on their site in Marayong. Soon, they<br />
will have another significant building that will, like<br />
the church, play a central role in their mission to<br />
care for the needs <strong>of</strong> the local community.<br />
Through their company Holy Family Services, the<br />
sisters are planning a new aged-care building<br />
that will be the first <strong>of</strong> its kind in the country when<br />
completed in 2025.<br />
The two-storey, $30 million complex that will house<br />
60 residents, has been designed to exceed the<br />
requirements <strong>of</strong> the federal government’s new<br />
national aged care design principles and guidelines.<br />
Holy Family Services CEO Alasdair Croydon<br />
said this would mean instead <strong>of</strong> the old hospitalstyle<br />
buildings, residents would now live in an<br />
environment that was more akin to a house, with<br />
individual ensuite-rooms, shared lounge and dining<br />
areas and access to fresh air and the outdoors.<br />
“We have a building that we completely redesigned<br />
and it’s not like any other aged-care building in<br />
Australia at the moment,” he said.<br />
Each floor <strong>of</strong> the new building will be divided into<br />
two ‘houses’ with no more than 15 residents in<br />
each. “This will make it feel more like a community,<br />
where residents can connect more easily with each<br />
other,” he said.<br />
Sr Grace Roclawska CSFN interacting with a resident at the Holy Family<br />
Services aged-care facility in Marayong. Image: Supplied.<br />
Sisters <strong>of</strong> the Holy Family <strong>of</strong> Nazareth with a<br />
resident at the Holy Family Services aged-care<br />
facility in Marayong. Image: Supplied.<br />
“We know from studies that if a resident with an<br />
assistive device, a walker, has to walk more than 20<br />
metres, they won’t go,” he said. “So these houses<br />
would be built with the common areas within that<br />
20-metre distance from each room.”<br />
Another feature will include central kitchens,<br />
featuring high-end appliances, which families and<br />
residents can use to cook their own meals.<br />
Mr Croydon said most residents had lived in their<br />
own houses for up to 50 years, so when it came<br />
time to move into aged care, they wanted the same<br />
household feel and the same connection with other<br />
people.<br />
Sr Grace Roclawska CSFN, the Director Mission<br />
at Holy Family Services, said the communitycentred<br />
design <strong>of</strong> the new building is emblematic<br />
<strong>of</strong> the work <strong>of</strong> the sisters since they arrived at the<br />
Marayong site 70 years ago.<br />
“The community experience in aged care that we’re<br />
aiming for, it’s actually been lived here since the<br />
beginning,” she said.<br />
Back then, the sisters’ focus was on addressing the<br />
needs <strong>of</strong> the Polish people in the surrounding area,<br />
first with an orphanage and then a Polish school.<br />
Later, they established a primary school and then a<br />
secondary school for the wider community. Then it<br />
was a hostel for older Polish people and an<br />
aged-care facility, all on their eight-hectare site.<br />
“They were always responding to the changing<br />
needs <strong>of</strong> the people,” said Sr Grace. In later years,<br />
they added a retirement village <strong>of</strong> 28 villas, and an<br />
early learning centre for 39 children.<br />
38
An artist's impression <strong>of</strong> the new Holy Family Services aged care facility<br />
in Marayong. Image: Supplied.<br />
Sr Margaret Kozub CSFN with a resident at<br />
the Holy Family Services aged care facility in<br />
Marayong. Image: Supplied.<br />
As the number <strong>of</strong> Polish people has diminished in<br />
the Marayong area and other groups have moved in,<br />
the sisters have moved with the times.<br />
Today, aged care residents come from 21 countries,<br />
their 190 staff from 28 countries, and children at<br />
their long day care centre come from 16 countries.<br />
“We now have people who enquire about our place<br />
who simply pass by when walking to the nearby<br />
shopping centre,” said Izabela Gendera-Bres, Sales<br />
and Marketing Manager, which she believes is a<br />
sign that the place is now visible to all.<br />
“The community spirit continues to be one <strong>of</strong> our<br />
core values: hospitality, love and acceptance,” Sr<br />
Grace said.<br />
“We’re really with people on their different stages<br />
<strong>of</strong> the journey. It doesn’t matter whatever their<br />
background, as long as they respect our heritage.”<br />
She said what makes their aged care facility unique<br />
is the presence <strong>of</strong> sisters on staff, many <strong>of</strong> whom<br />
had been there for decades.<br />
She said this has made a “world <strong>of</strong> difference<br />
because they are a great role model for people.”<br />
Mr Croydon said for many residents, their faith is<br />
very important and they find it comforting having<br />
sisters on site, as well as having easy access to<br />
a church.<br />
“Often they’ve come from communities where<br />
getting to church was becoming a struggle, they<br />
come here and it’s not a struggle any more…<br />
it’s easy,” he said. <br />
Learn more about Holy Family Services by visiting<br />
www.holyfamilyservices.com.au
Support the Good Works<br />
<strong>of</strong> the MSC Mission Office<br />
A Message from Fr Roger<br />
Help us give<br />
communities a hand-up!<br />
With the help <strong>of</strong> supporters, the MSC Mission<br />
Office has funded thousands <strong>of</strong> projects in<br />
developing countries for more than 25 years.<br />
Our projects are carefully assessed and supervised ensuring that<br />
less than 10% <strong>of</strong> donations is spent on administration.<br />
Projects in Asia Pacific,<br />
India and Africa are lifechanging<br />
for communities<br />
and promote human<br />
dignity, justice, peace<br />
and compassion. Special<br />
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Donations can be tax-deductible and your generous donation<br />
can be directed to any <strong>of</strong> the following:<br />
• CLEAN WATER drilling bores, pumps, rainwater tanks, water<br />
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• DISADVANTAGED YOUTH projects training young people with<br />
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• HEALTH programs and supplies in remote areas<br />
• EDUCATION projects to give children access to books and<br />
school supplies<br />
• ENVIRONMENT supporting projects that help communities<br />
combat climate change<br />
We also fund seminarians, missions and religious and these are<br />
not tax-deductible. Thank you for your generosity which allows us<br />
to continue our vital work.<br />
Fr Roger Purcell MSC, Director<br />
PLEASE PRAY FOR US<br />
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TODAY<br />
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Diocese hosts<br />
FIRST memorial<br />
service for<br />
the homeless<br />
BY MARY BRAZELL<br />
On the longest night <strong>of</strong> the year, the winter solstice,<br />
the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta remembered the lives<br />
<strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the most marginalised people in our<br />
community at the inaugural Homeless<br />
Memorial Service.<br />
Held on the steps <strong>of</strong> St Patrick’s Cathedral,<br />
Parramatta, the gathering on Friday 21 June<br />
recognised homeless people from across Western<br />
Sydney and the Blue Mountains who have<br />
passed away – some <strong>of</strong>ten without recognition,<br />
acknowledgement or companionship. A similar<br />
event was held in Martin Place, Sydney.<br />
In a sign <strong>of</strong> ecumenism, Fr Robert Riedling, Dean<br />
and Administrator <strong>of</strong> the Cathedral opened the<br />
prayer service, Fr Robert Albayeh from the Maronite<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Community gave the reading and Uniting<br />
Church Minister Rev Ge<strong>of</strong>f Smith from Parramatta<br />
Mission closed the prayer service.<br />
Reflecting on the significance <strong>of</strong> the event, Fr<br />
Robert Riedling reminded participants <strong>of</strong> the<br />
privileges that many <strong>of</strong> us have that we take for<br />
granted and pushed for the recognition <strong>of</strong> the<br />
human dignity in each person.<br />
The inaugural Homeless Memorial Service at St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta.<br />
Images: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
“We pray for those who are homeless now and<br />
commit ourselves to doing what we can to alleviate<br />
the suffering, to bring some sort <strong>of</strong> dignity to people<br />
who are created in the image and likeness <strong>of</strong> God,<br />
who perhaps society doesn’t realise or understand<br />
or acknowledge in that way.”<br />
During the service, participants were asked to light<br />
candles representing those who had passed away<br />
and placing them around a large cross. Members <strong>of</strong><br />
the homeless community were overheard dedicating<br />
their candle to those they knew who had died.<br />
Thread Together, St Vincent de Paul Society,<br />
Anbaalayam Tamil community and the Cathedral<br />
Parish’s social justice group provided warm<br />
clothing, food and drink throughout the service.<br />
The Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta would like to thank our<br />
partners in their assistance for this<br />
memorial service. <br />
41
Providing dignity,<br />
purpose and peace<br />
BY BELINDA GADD<br />
We spoke with new Executive Director <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Care Western Sydney and the Blue<br />
Mountains (WSBM) Helen Emmerson about<br />
her vision for the long-standing social services<br />
charity and her hopes for its future.<br />
‘No matter where you come from, what you look like<br />
or how you see the world, we truly care about you.<br />
Nobody is left behind.’<br />
This is the motto <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> Care Western Sydney<br />
and the Blue Mountains (WSBM), and its new leader<br />
Helen Emmerson is keen to continue its work.<br />
“This is the most incredible service. I feel really<br />
privileged,” she said.<br />
Vision for the future<br />
Since being appointed in April this year, Helen is<br />
developing a clear vision for the future direction <strong>of</strong><br />
the service in the Diocese.<br />
She draws on her many experiences as a<br />
member <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> Care WSBM’s<br />
advisory board over the past five<br />
years, as well as more than 20<br />
years’ experience in community<br />
services, aged care, mental<br />
health and disability.<br />
“This role supports me to<br />
identify the opportunities<br />
that we can seize within<br />
our local community,”<br />
she said.<br />
Services <strong>of</strong>fered<br />
Helen Emmerson. Image: Mary Brazell/<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Care WSBM<br />
provides pr<strong>of</strong>essional care<br />
and support, through the<br />
Church, to the most vulnerable<br />
and disadvantaged members <strong>of</strong> the<br />
42
<strong>Catholic</strong> Care WSBM’s dedicated staff and volunteers at a recent planning retreat.<br />
Mary Brazell/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
community; regardless <strong>of</strong> faith, religion, gender,<br />
ethnicity, age or socio-economic background.<br />
“We are called to continue Jesus’ ministry in the<br />
community, by showing His compassion to all,”<br />
Helen said.<br />
Programs and services <strong>of</strong>fered through <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Care WSBM include parent education groups;<br />
family support; helping those at risk <strong>of</strong> domestic,<br />
family or sexual violence, homelessness or isolation;<br />
mental health, financial and employment support;<br />
relationship counselling and more.<br />
“We <strong>of</strong>fer many services to support the most<br />
vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised people<br />
to live a meaningful life with dignity, purpose and<br />
peace,” she said.<br />
standalone domestic violence service. We’re keen<br />
to explore that,” she said.<br />
Helen is also reviewing available data to build a<br />
better picture <strong>of</strong> the service so she can identify<br />
trends and opportunities in order to bolster its<br />
services into the future.<br />
“In order to further embed our services in the<br />
community, I also think there’s a real opportunity to<br />
deepen our partnerships, so we can be assured we<br />
are providing holistic services for our community,”<br />
she said.<br />
People at the heart<br />
Around 120 staff and volunteers implement <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Care WSBM’s vital support programs and services<br />
across the Diocese and they have been integral to<br />
its journey and achievements.<br />
Helen said the service has “the most welcoming,<br />
diligent, loyal staff and volunteers”.<br />
“They are the heart <strong>of</strong> this service,” she said.<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Care WSBM, Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta and<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Communities and Justice representatives<br />
at a Houses 2 Homes residence in Western Sydney.<br />
Image: Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
A strategic way forward<br />
While demand for these services is limitless, Helen<br />
is set on taking a strategic approach to maximise<br />
the benefit <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> Care WSBM in<br />
the community.<br />
“I’m trying to be really measured about how we<br />
deliver our services in order to really make a<br />
difference in the lives <strong>of</strong> people in our community,”<br />
she said.<br />
“For example, we have such a large proportion<br />
<strong>of</strong> our clients suffering from domestic, family<br />
and sexual violence, but we don’t have our own<br />
“These people are out on the front lines, and they<br />
go above and beyond to help individuals <strong>of</strong> various<br />
ages and backgrounds navigate through the most<br />
difficult times <strong>of</strong> their lives.”<br />
Helen said past organisational changes in <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Care WSBM have highlighted the continuing<br />
strength, resilience and unity <strong>of</strong> the team.<br />
“With so many programs and services on <strong>of</strong>fer, we<br />
continue to support each other and work as one,”<br />
she said. <br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Care WSBM is a not-for-pr<strong>of</strong>it social services<br />
organisation and charity established by the Diocese <strong>of</strong><br />
Parramatta.<br />
Visit <strong>Catholic</strong> Care WSBM to learn more about the<br />
services <strong>of</strong>fered or donate to support those in need:<br />
catholiccarewsbm.org.au<br />
43
A teacher with students at Trinity Primary School, Kemps Creek. Image: Gene Ramirez/CSPD<br />
Detailed, earnest<br />
and ambitious<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Schools announces new strategy<br />
BY OLIVIA O’CONNOR<br />
Leaders from 80<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> schools<br />
came together in<br />
Rooty Hill recently for<br />
the announcement<br />
<strong>of</strong> the new <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Schools Parramatta<br />
Diocese (CSPD) strategy<br />
focused on enriching<br />
the lives <strong>of</strong> students<br />
through education grounded<br />
in excellence, inclusivity and<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> tradition.<br />
CSPD has 80 great schools across Western Sydney<br />
and the Blue Mountains and serves one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
fastest-growing areas <strong>of</strong> NSW. Previously known<br />
as <strong>Catholic</strong> Education Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta,<br />
since 2023, CSPD is led by a dedicated Board and<br />
Executive Director Jack de Groot. With a strong<br />
focus on serving the community, Jack has led some<br />
<strong>of</strong> Australia’s largest not-for-pr<strong>of</strong>it organisations<br />
including Vinnies NSW and Caritas Australia.<br />
“Our new strategy is detailed, earnest and<br />
ambitious,” said Jack. “It is a response to the ‘sign<br />
<strong>of</strong> the times’ and to the needs <strong>of</strong> our communities<br />
Executive Director Jack de Groot<br />
announces CSPD’s new strategy.<br />
Image: Gene Ramirez/CSPD<br />
that will set a shared<br />
direction and common<br />
goals that will unite us.”<br />
Jack said the plan<br />
identifies six strategic<br />
priorities that will guide<br />
CSPD over the next five<br />
years, captures the core<br />
mission <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> education<br />
in Western Sydney and identifies<br />
clear commitments for the future.<br />
“We have engaged extensively with Principals,<br />
staff and families across our system to inform<br />
and directly shape a strategy that captures the<br />
aspirations and needs <strong>of</strong> our community,” he said.<br />
“It is a commitment to every child, every family. It is<br />
a demanding thing to deliver, but our strategy seeks<br />
to set a sensible standard for all CSPD schools.”<br />
Embracing the NSW Government curriculum and<br />
with a stronger focus on explicit teaching and a<br />
move away from an ‘open learning’ classroom<br />
design, the new strategy is committed to ensuring<br />
student learning gains are underpinned by best<br />
44
practice that enables all students to achieve their<br />
potential.<br />
Jack said the education landscape is evolving faster<br />
than ever and the new strategy will build on the<br />
strengths <strong>of</strong> CSPD, while also acknowledging the<br />
need to deliver ‘more’.<br />
“There are areas <strong>of</strong> excellence ranging from awardwinning<br />
programs and early entry <strong>of</strong>fers which the<br />
new CSPD strategy aims to enhance and expand<br />
across the system,” he said.<br />
“These choices will help us to deliver the best<br />
outcomes for our students, teachers and<br />
communities and will support us to serve students<br />
that represent our local communities, inspired<br />
by our <strong>Catholic</strong> mission and as we walk together<br />
towards a synodal Church.” <br />
A teacher with students at Bede Polding <strong>Catholic</strong> College,<br />
Windsor. Image: Gene Ramirez/CSPD<br />
CSPD'S NEW STRATEGY<br />
You can visit www.parra.catholic.edu.au to see a great<br />
video from CSPD about this new strategy that’s all<br />
about enriching the lives <strong>of</strong> students through education<br />
grounded in excellence, inclusivity and <strong>Catholic</strong> tradition.<br />
Olivia O’Connor is Communications Manager at <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Schools Parramatta Diocese.<br />
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45
Running to raise<br />
awareness <strong>of</strong> our<br />
future priests<br />
BY BECKIE LEE<br />
On a perfect winter’s day, 17 seminarians, priests<br />
and parishioners from the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta<br />
joined with 90,000 others in participating in the<br />
annual City2Surf fun run.<br />
While participants broke personal bests and<br />
dressed in colourful costumes over the 14-kilometre<br />
course from the Sydney CBD to Bondi Beach, the<br />
Diocesan team got #Active4Vocations in order to<br />
promote priestly vocations and to raise funds to<br />
support our six Holy Spirit Seminarians’ education<br />
and formation.<br />
The Parramatta <strong>Catholic</strong> Foundation’s<br />
#Active4Vocations team was led by Fr Matthew<br />
Dimian, Assistant Priest at St Bernadette’s Parish,<br />
Castle Hill, and a former Diocesan seminarian and<br />
included a large group <strong>of</strong> parishioners from his own<br />
parish as well as St John XXIII Parish Glenwood-<br />
Stanhope Gardens, Our Lady Queen <strong>of</strong> Peace<br />
Parish, Greystanes and others.<br />
Fr Matthew Dimian joined #Active4Vocations to<br />
“promote the dignity and beauty <strong>of</strong> priesthood and<br />
that it’s worth pursuing as a vocation.”<br />
“Answering God’s call to a life <strong>of</strong> service as a priest<br />
requires a total giving <strong>of</strong> life - character, energy and<br />
sacrifice with a lot <strong>of</strong> reward,” he said.<br />
One parishioner, Ai Ling Lim from St Bernadette’s<br />
Parish Castle Hill, was participating in the City2Surf<br />
for the fourth time.<br />
“I joined the #Active4Vocations fundraising efforts at<br />
the City2Surf for fun and because it’s nice to meet<br />
our future priests and support them.”<br />
Ai said the fundraising brings front <strong>of</strong> the mind the<br />
seminarians who are sometimes in the background.<br />
She was grateful for the donations that she has<br />
received primarily from her parish music group.<br />
Before the race, on the steps <strong>of</strong> St Mary’s<br />
Cathedral, Fr Matthew Dimian prayed for and<br />
blessed the team.<br />
Deacon Menard Gaspi, who is in the final stages <strong>of</strong><br />
formation towards the priesthood, and seminarian<br />
Macky Amores have both participated twice before<br />
in the City2Surf and are being supported in their<br />
journey to the priesthood by the faith community <strong>of</strong><br />
Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.<br />
Deacon Menard chose to get #Active4Vocations<br />
and be involved in the City2Surf as “I believe it is<br />
important for the clergy and faithful to get out into<br />
the community and be a visible presence <strong>of</strong> Christ<br />
and the Church.<br />
“To get involved in something as iconic as the<br />
City2Surf is a reminder that the Church cares about<br />
people’s goodness,” he said.<br />
Macky hoped that through his participation in the<br />
City2Surf, he was “encouraging and inspiring young<br />
men called to the priesthood to consider or answer<br />
the call to enter the seminary.”<br />
46
#Active4Vocations<br />
He added he also wanted to break his previous<br />
time and wanted to strengthen health and foster<br />
fitness by jogging or walking, reduce stress for<br />
better mental health and self-care, foster community<br />
bonding and to build fun experiences.<br />
In our #Active4Vocations team’s race to the finish<br />
line, Fr Matthew Dimian and Mark Buhagiar from the<br />
Diocese’s Clergy Health and Wellbeing Team placed<br />
equal first, with Vanessa Garcia from our Parish<br />
Support and Fundraising team next across the line,<br />
followed by Ai Ling Lim.<br />
Having completed the scenic and sometimes<br />
gruelling course, Macky said he loved being<br />
with the people and feeling fit. Fr Matthew said<br />
the run was fun and worthwhile as he was being<br />
#Active4Vocations and inspiring young men to join<br />
the mission <strong>of</strong> the Good Shepherd and give their life<br />
to God.<br />
Well done to all our #Active4Vocations team<br />
members for completing the iconic City2Surf<br />
<strong>2024</strong>, and for raising much-needed funds to<br />
support vocations to the priesthood. The team did<br />
a fantastic job, exceeding our fundraising goal <strong>of</strong><br />
$5,000 to support our Holy Spirit Seminarians and<br />
their dreams to become priests.<br />
The Active4Vocations team at the City2Surf fun run.<br />
Images: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
We appreciate all the donations and support given<br />
to our #Active4Vocations team and thank our faith<br />
community for their support. <br />
Beckie Lee is a freelance journalist and contributor to<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Outlook</strong>.<br />
We’d love to see you at the starting line<br />
at next year's event.<br />
To register your interest, please reach out via<br />
yourfoundation@parracatholic.org<br />
Check out all the fun, smiles and<br />
action from the City2Surf here:<br />
The #Active4Vocations <strong>2024</strong> team.<br />
47
New leaders called<br />
to serve schools through Mission<br />
BY SAMANTHA RICH<br />
(L-R) Members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Catholic</strong> Schools Parramatta Diocese Mission Directorate Director Mission, Mark<br />
Smith, Mission Manager Tania Melki and Head Mission Andrew Wilson. Image: Gene Ramirez/CSPD.<br />
Three faith-filled local teachers have recently<br />
taken on the leadership <strong>of</strong> the Mission Directorate<br />
within <strong>Catholic</strong> Schools Parramatta Diocese<br />
(CSPD), continuing in their commitment to foster<br />
vibrant partnerships between schools, local parish<br />
communities, and Diocesan church agencies.<br />
CSPD’s new Director Mission, Mark Smith,<br />
accompanied by Andrew Wilson in the role <strong>of</strong> Head<br />
Mission and Tania Melki as Mission Manager, may<br />
be familiar names to many within the Diocese<br />
<strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Stepping into his role as Director Mission, Mark<br />
said he feels confident by the mentorship and<br />
experience he has gained along the way.<br />
“As Head Mission from 2018 to 2021, I had the<br />
privilege <strong>of</strong> working alongside two Directors <strong>of</strong><br />
Mission – Gary Borg and Monica Officer – who<br />
taught me a great deal about leadership and<br />
commitment to our mission <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> education,”<br />
said Mark.<br />
“I hope to build on the legacy <strong>of</strong> Gary and Monica<br />
as we move forward with projects and programs<br />
that were in development during their time as<br />
Directors.”<br />
Mark previously led roles in student formation<br />
and evangelisation in Broken Bay and Sydney<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Schools as well as a variety <strong>of</strong> mission<br />
and formation educational leadership roles with the<br />
Sisters <strong>of</strong> the Good Samaritan. He joined CSPD as<br />
Head Mission in 2018 and has been Acting Director<br />
Mission since September 2023.<br />
An experienced educator, Mark is passionate about<br />
the role <strong>Catholic</strong> schools play in supporting children<br />
and young people to grow in their faith and learning.<br />
48
He said he is particularly looking forward to<br />
CSPD school communities integrating a new<br />
Religious Education Curriculum from 2025, titled<br />
Encountering Jesus.<br />
“Like the name suggests, this new RE<br />
curriculum invites all students and<br />
families to an encounter with<br />
Jesus Christ,” Mark said.<br />
“This encounter will be <strong>of</strong> the head, heart and<br />
hands.<br />
“For our students from other religious backgrounds,<br />
this encounter is aimed at helping them grow in<br />
their understanding and appreciation <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Church and faith.”<br />
Joining Mark in the leadership <strong>of</strong> the Mission Team<br />
are Andrew Wilson and Tania Melki. CSPD’s Mission<br />
Team plays an integral role in nurturing the <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
identity and mission <strong>of</strong> schools and <strong>of</strong>fice staff to<br />
support quality <strong>Catholic</strong> education opportunities for<br />
families in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.<br />
within CSPD, her leadership led to the development<br />
<strong>of</strong> CSPD’s Stage 6 Learning for Mission program,<br />
the Faith in Action Team network, and the annual<br />
CSPD Office Staff Renewal week.<br />
“I am looking forward to continuing my work with<br />
the Mission team to develop diverse opportunities<br />
and agency partnerships for school communities<br />
to deepen their relationship with Jesus through<br />
mission work, fostering close collaboration with<br />
these communities,” said Tania.<br />
As they embark on their next journey within CSPD,<br />
the Mission leadership team are united in their faith<br />
and commitment.<br />
“Andrew and Tania are faith-filled, inspirational<br />
leaders <strong>of</strong> mission who have been immersed in the<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta for many years,” said Mark.<br />
“You can be sure that they will do all that they can<br />
to support our <strong>Catholic</strong> school communities.” <br />
Samantha Rich is a Media and Communications Specialist<br />
at <strong>Catholic</strong> Schools Parramatta Diocese.<br />
For Andrew Wilson, now Head Mission, his faith<br />
journey is deeply personal and communal. Residing<br />
in the serene Blue Mountains with his wife and<br />
three daughters, Andrew is a parishioner at St<br />
Thomas Aquinas Parish, Springwood, where he<br />
also supports music ministry.<br />
A former Religious Education Coordinator at Nagle<br />
College, Blacktown, and Assistant Principal at<br />
St Patrick’s Marist College, Dundas, Andrew is<br />
dedicated to ensuring teachers are equipped to<br />
work, teach and lead within our <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
school communities.<br />
“I believe that quality Religious Education,<br />
formation and outreach are vital to the ministry <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> education,” said Andrew.<br />
“I am excited to step into this new role and look<br />
forward to working with our students, leaders<br />
and families to support and grow these important<br />
aspects <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Catholic</strong> story in our system.”<br />
Tania Melki is also excited about her new role as<br />
Mission Manager. Since stepping into the acting<br />
role in October 2023, she has navigated the team<br />
through significant transition and alignment with<br />
CSPD’s new strategic plan.<br />
With a background as a Religious Education<br />
Coordinator at St Andrews College, Marayong, and<br />
as a Mission Partner/Mission Teaching Educator<br />
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50
Image: A 12th century fresco <strong>of</strong> Christ's triumph on the cross, San Clemente<br />
Basilica, Rome, Italy. Alamy.com<br />
Looking<br />
Deeper<br />
“For, in the final analysis, our participation in the paschal<br />
mystery – in the suffering, death, and resurrection <strong>of</strong><br />
Jesus – brings a certain freedom: the freedom to let go, to<br />
surrender ourselves to the living God.”<br />
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, from The Gift <strong>of</strong> Peace, 1997.<br />
51
The Crucified<br />
Jesus is no stranger<br />
BY BR MARK O’CONNOR FMS<br />
‘White Crucifixion’ by Marc Chagall (1938). Courtesy <strong>of</strong> the Art Institute <strong>of</strong> Chicago, Illinois.<br />
52
The late renowned Nobel laureate and Jewish writer<br />
Elie Wiesel once wrote a short memoir entitled<br />
Night. He recounts his experience with his father<br />
in the Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz<br />
and Buchenwald in 1944-45, at the height <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Holocaust and towards the end <strong>of</strong> World War II.<br />
In that heartbreaking memoir, overflowing with so<br />
much innocent suffering, Wiesel recounts a story<br />
that is deeply moving. During the hanging <strong>of</strong> a<br />
child, which the camp is forced to watch, he hears<br />
someone ask: “Where is God? Where is he?” Not<br />
heavy enough for the weight <strong>of</strong> his body to break<br />
his neck, the boy dies slowly and in agony. Wiesel<br />
files past him, sees his tongue still pink and his eyes<br />
clear, and weeps.<br />
“Behind me, I heard the same man asking: ‘Where<br />
is God now?’ And I heard a voice within me answer<br />
him: ‘Here he is – he is hanging here on<br />
this gallows’.”<br />
It is important we Christians humbly admit we<br />
have no easy response to the mystery <strong>of</strong> evil. Like<br />
Job, we can only fall silent before its full horror. We<br />
certainly do not have easy ‘answers’. Perhaps, we<br />
can only simply just point to the person <strong>of</strong> Jesus on<br />
the Cross and weep.<br />
For the Cross is certainly not the violent retribution<br />
<strong>of</strong> God who demands ‘satisfaction for our sins’.<br />
That would make God into some type <strong>of</strong> sadistic<br />
monster. No! As early Church Father Irenaeus noted,<br />
God “does not use violent means to obtain what he<br />
desires.” It is we human beings who are violent. The<br />
Bible is very clear that it is not God who is crucifying<br />
Jesus, it is us!<br />
Instead, the Cross mysteriously reveals God’s<br />
immense love and compassion for every single<br />
person. Jesus, our brother, died in solidarity<br />
with – and in loving communion with – all human<br />
failure, mistakes and absurdity, and thus made<br />
them non-absurd.<br />
Our response as disciples <strong>of</strong> Jesus must be to<br />
spend our lives praying for an inner poverty <strong>of</strong> spirit<br />
and openness to imitate this Crucified Christ.<br />
Whether we arrive there as a result <strong>of</strong> our sins (more<br />
usually), or as a result <strong>of</strong> our virtues, matters not at<br />
all, provided we become poor with the poor Christ.<br />
Struggling through this ‘becoming’ process, with<br />
our eyes fixed on the poor Crucified Christ, is a<br />
large part <strong>of</strong> our inner journey as disciples.<br />
Martin Laird OSA, in his book Into the Silent<br />
Land, describes it poetically as “the liturgy <strong>of</strong><br />
our wounds.” Unquestionably, it is a long and<br />
demanding task for most <strong>of</strong> us. For there is a<br />
deeply ingrained tendency to recoil from our own<br />
brokenness, to judge it as others have judged it, to<br />
loathe it as we have been ‘taught’ over a lifetime to<br />
loathe it. In doing this, we avoid what God, in Christ,<br />
draws close to and embraces.<br />
God meets us then at that precise point where we<br />
are most in need - in our poverty and brokenness.<br />
As Sebastian Moore OSB wrote many years ago:<br />
“The crucified Jesus is no stranger.” He is certainly<br />
no stranger to anyone who has lived and loved, no<br />
stranger to the universal experience <strong>of</strong> suffering,<br />
despair, and loneliness. In that, He has destroyed<br />
the power <strong>of</strong> evil and set us free. <br />
Br Mark O’Connor FMS is Vicar for Communications in the<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta and Editor <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Outlook</strong>.<br />
53
While I Breathe, I Hope<br />
BY SR PATTY ANDREW OSU<br />
T.S. Eliot in his poem ‘Little Gidding’, from The Four<br />
Quartets captured the cyclical nature <strong>of</strong> time:<br />
“What we call the<br />
beginning is <strong>of</strong>ten the end<br />
and to make an end is to make a<br />
beginning. The end is where<br />
we start from.”<br />
Such a means <strong>of</strong> imagining time contrasts with<br />
the practical way we so <strong>of</strong>ten measure it; as life<br />
progresses in a linear way minute by minute,<br />
through the hours, weeks, months and years.<br />
For those who receive a diagnosis <strong>of</strong> a terminal<br />
illness, there is a heightened awareness <strong>of</strong> time and<br />
its intimate connection to life and being alive. We<br />
have been enriched by those walking this path who<br />
have captured their experiences through journal<br />
writing. One such person is Richard Gaillardetz who<br />
was a distinguished theologian, lecturing at Boston<br />
University College. In 2022, while still lecturing and<br />
writing, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.<br />
As a man who embraced his <strong>Catholic</strong> faith tradition,<br />
Richard recognised that the veneration <strong>of</strong> the Holy<br />
Cross was not so much about his sinfulness, but<br />
a place where he experienced his own aching<br />
and infirmity being embraced and enfolded in<br />
Christ’s own suffering. He notes that in gazing on<br />
the crucified Jesus he “felt lifted up by an unseen<br />
force”. In this lifting up, his vision was transformed<br />
and in a new awakening came to see that “God<br />
does not explain the reason for the suffering <strong>of</strong><br />
God’s creatures but instead takes the enormity <strong>of</strong><br />
human suffering into God’s very being”.<br />
Richard approaches the last year <strong>of</strong> his life<br />
with appreciation and the desire to deepen his<br />
understanding <strong>of</strong> the mystery <strong>of</strong> suffering. Knowing<br />
that he has very limited time, he moves into what<br />
could be called a transparent time. As he grows in<br />
acceptance and surrender, he comes to a way <strong>of</strong><br />
seeing through to something deep inside time itself<br />
where the sacred becomes known in the ordinary.<br />
The backdrop for many <strong>of</strong> Richard’s reflections is<br />
the Church’s liturgical year. Within the framework<br />
<strong>of</strong> his Christian faith, he notes that “no liturgical<br />
event can match the majestic, symbolic sweep <strong>of</strong><br />
the Paschal Triduum”. In the final year <strong>of</strong> his life,<br />
he came to realise that “the new way <strong>of</strong> life goes<br />
through and not around our debilities and fears”.<br />
Experiencing the austerity <strong>of</strong> Good Friday in a<br />
heightened way, he noted that the bleak symbols <strong>of</strong><br />
absence touched him with a “hard blessing on his<br />
own harrowing emptiness”. This movement enabled<br />
him to look death in the eye. However, Richard<br />
openly acknowledges that is not easy. He writes <strong>of</strong><br />
the struggle with his own darkness and doubt.<br />
There is acknowledgment <strong>of</strong> “the perpetual tussle<br />
<strong>of</strong> belief and unbelief” within himself. He describes<br />
the movement <strong>of</strong> his heart as being like the swing <strong>of</strong><br />
a pendulum, “between grateful fullness and pained<br />
murmuring against the strangeness <strong>of</strong> God”. He<br />
reminds us that we are neither to run from suffering<br />
or wallow in it. Instead we need to draw it into the<br />
larger horizons <strong>of</strong> life.<br />
This Richard does. In the last year <strong>of</strong> his life, he and<br />
his wife Diana, just months before his death, embark<br />
on a Caribbean Island cruise. Gazing out over the<br />
vast ocean, he experienced a sense <strong>of</strong> the mystery,<br />
realising that his own knowledge was only like a<br />
small island in a vast sea. Graced with a flash <strong>of</strong><br />
spiritual insight, he experienced his spiritual vision<br />
being expanded from the “floating island <strong>of</strong> himself<br />
outward into the vast sea <strong>of</strong> infinite mystery”.<br />
The final significant liturgical experience for<br />
Richard was the baptism <strong>of</strong> his grandson. As he<br />
gathered with his family and the People <strong>of</strong> God<br />
during Sunday Eucharist, they all participated in<br />
baby Elliot’s initiation into the Christian community.<br />
The sacramental signs <strong>of</strong> water, oil and light<br />
foreshadowed for Richard the ritual <strong>of</strong> Christian<br />
Burial. As his family witnessed the ceremony, he<br />
whispered to one <strong>of</strong> his sons, “Remember what we<br />
are doing here. All <strong>of</strong> this will be invoked one day<br />
at my funeral Mass”. Richard passed away on 7<br />
November 2023.<br />
54
The book concludes with an epilogue by his close<br />
friend, theologian and editor Grace Agolia. She<br />
noted that “dying is a little more bearable when<br />
we know <strong>of</strong> the accompaniment <strong>of</strong> our family and<br />
friends and the encouragement <strong>of</strong> our community<br />
<strong>of</strong> faith”.<br />
Together, Grace and Richard <strong>of</strong>ten prayed the<br />
Prayer <strong>of</strong> the Church and found comfort especially<br />
in the closing lines <strong>of</strong> the Benedictus, “In the tender<br />
compassion <strong>of</strong> our God the dawn from on high<br />
shall break upon us to shine on those who dwell in<br />
darkness and in the shadow <strong>of</strong> death”.<br />
Richard completed each reflective chapter <strong>of</strong> his<br />
book with the Latin phrase Dum spiro, spero.<br />
Translated into English, it became the book’s title<br />
While I Breathe, I Hope. Such a name reflects the<br />
origin <strong>of</strong> human life, where God infused life through<br />
sharing the divine breath (Genesis: 2.7). This image<br />
<strong>of</strong> the breath <strong>of</strong> God calling us into being, holding<br />
and sustaining us, is anchored deeply in our<br />
Christian faith tradition.<br />
In our veneration <strong>of</strong> the Holy Cross, especially as<br />
the wounded and crucified Jesus becomes real in<br />
our present life and our suffering world, may we be<br />
strengthened and inspired, “to weave the fabric <strong>of</strong><br />
eternal life from the uncertainty, the pain and the<br />
suffering”.<br />
With our gaze fixed on the Holy Cross, may we<br />
experience the loss and endings <strong>of</strong> the pain<br />
and darkness <strong>of</strong> dying, transformed into new<br />
beginnings. <br />
Sr Patty Andrew OSU is the Vicar for Consecrated Life in<br />
the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Richard's book, While I Breathe, I Hope, can be purchased<br />
from Garratt Publishing: www.garrattpublishing.com.au<br />
'Christ and the Garden <strong>of</strong> Olives' by Paul Gauguin. Image: Wikimedia Commons.<br />
55
For Christians <strong>of</strong> every age,<br />
the invitation <strong>of</strong> Jesus to “deny<br />
themselves and take up their cross<br />
daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23)<br />
is a challenge that has<br />
many dimensions.<br />
A spirituality<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Cross<br />
for today<br />
BY FR CHRIS MONAGHAN CP<br />
For the first generations, the<br />
message was clear: If you want<br />
to follow Jesus, you have to be<br />
prepared to put your life at risk for<br />
the sake <strong>of</strong> the Gospel. Over the<br />
centuries, we have tended to focus<br />
on how we carry our individual<br />
crosses – sickness, death,<br />
broken relationships and personal<br />
struggles that involve suffering. It<br />
is important that we do this, but<br />
a spirituality <strong>of</strong> the cross means<br />
much more than stoically bearing<br />
with sickness and suffering in its<br />
many forms.<br />
56<br />
'Christ <strong>of</strong> Saint John <strong>of</strong> the Cross' by Salvador Dalí (1951). Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Any spirituality <strong>of</strong> the cross needs to begin with<br />
Jesus. The Gospel writers focus on Him as a model<br />
<strong>of</strong> authentic faith, courage and care for others. In<br />
the Garden, He wrestles with the journey that lies<br />
ahead and prays that he might be able to do the<br />
will <strong>of</strong> the Father (Matthew 26:42). Even though He<br />
feels abandoned and isolated, praying in the words<br />
<strong>of</strong> Psalm 22, He is still able to pray that God will<br />
forgive those who crucify Him (Luke 23:34) and He<br />
promises the repentant thief a place in<br />
paradise (Luke 23:43).<br />
As He dies, the Gospel writers depict Him as<br />
handing over His spirit with confidence and faith.<br />
In the difficult moments <strong>of</strong> our lives, we too seek to<br />
pray those beautiful words <strong>of</strong> Psalm 31:5, “Father,<br />
into your hands I commend my spirit.”<br />
A spirituality <strong>of</strong> the cross has many dimensions as<br />
we honour its meaning for society, creation, the<br />
Church and the individual. Carrying our cross is not<br />
simply about enduring suffering nobly, though that<br />
has its value. The cross always calls us to share<br />
in Jesus’ mission in the circumstances <strong>of</strong> our own<br />
lives, that <strong>of</strong> our families, our communities and the<br />
world.<br />
What a spirituality <strong>of</strong> the cross and passion doesn’t<br />
mean is glorifying or accepting meaningless<br />
suffering.<br />
What the New Testament writers spoke about was<br />
that Jesus was not simply a victim <strong>of</strong> an act <strong>of</strong><br />
violence, one who suffered a brutal death. Those<br />
who called for His death wanted to eliminate a<br />
threat to the power <strong>of</strong> Rome and to the religious<br />
authorities <strong>of</strong> His day who saw Him<br />
as a blasphemer.<br />
If we look deeper, Jesus’ suffering and death were a<br />
result <strong>of</strong> God’s commitment to humanity and Jesus’<br />
own commitment to us. Many centuries before,<br />
Isaiah cried out for God to tear open the heavens<br />
and come to be with us (Isaiah 64:1). God’s reply to<br />
that plea was Jesus.<br />
Jesus’ death was a consequence <strong>of</strong> being faithful<br />
to a mission to preach the coming <strong>of</strong> God’s reign<br />
<strong>of</strong> love and justice, healing the sick and wounded,<br />
bringing the lost sheep home and <strong>of</strong>fering hope<br />
to sinners. To use Paul’s words, the cross has the<br />
power to radically change lives so that “the life I<br />
now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son <strong>of</strong> God,<br />
who loved me and gave himself for me”<br />
(Galatians 2:20).<br />
Jesus shared in our vulnerability and suffering and<br />
we are called to continue that mission. This is why<br />
the opening lines <strong>of</strong> the Vatican II document on the<br />
Church in the modern world, Gaudium et Spes,<br />
continue to resonate for every age:<br />
“The joys and the hopes, the<br />
griefs and the anxieties <strong>of</strong> the<br />
men <strong>of</strong> this age, especially those<br />
who are poor or in any way<br />
afflicted, these are the joys and<br />
hopes, the griefs and anxieties <strong>of</strong><br />
the followers <strong>of</strong> Christ.”<br />
Taking up our cross every day is a commitment<br />
to what Jesus was committed to, namely,<br />
transforming, healing, renewing and building<br />
community in His name.<br />
Each <strong>of</strong> us share in Jesus’ mission in our own way<br />
– showing that love is more powerful than hate<br />
by being in right relationship with others despite<br />
violence and hatred. It is making the world a better<br />
place – trying to make it whole, since holiness is<br />
ultimately about becoming whole.<br />
Together, we search for justice and share in the<br />
struggle <strong>of</strong> creation to become what God is calling<br />
us to be. As Paul knew so well, all creation is<br />
groaning and suffering in giving birth to the new<br />
creation that we all long for (Romans 8:18-19). A<br />
spirituality <strong>of</strong> the cross means bearing with our<br />
own sufferings in loving and hope-filled ways. Pope<br />
Francis has called us to embody the joy and hope <strong>of</strong><br />
the Gospel for others becoming “a field hospital”, a<br />
place where people come to be healed.<br />
In the words <strong>of</strong> St Paul, “we proclaim Christ<br />
crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness<br />
to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both<br />
Jews and Greeks, Christ the power <strong>of</strong> God and the<br />
wisdom <strong>of</strong> God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).<br />
As we take up our own crosses each day, let’s pray<br />
that we make that wisdom our own. <br />
Rev Dr Chris Monaghan CP is the President <strong>of</strong> the Yarra<br />
Theological Union, Box Hill, Victoria.<br />
57
Fr Giovani Presiga Gaviria. Image: Mary Brazell/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
CUPPA with a PRIEST<br />
Fr Giovani Presiga Gaviria<br />
Parish Priest at St Madeleine Sophie Barat Parish, Kenthurst<br />
BY ANTONY LAWES AND BELINDA GADD<br />
Eleven years ago, Fr Giovani never thought his work<br />
would take him from the conflict in Colombia to a<br />
growing area <strong>of</strong> Western Sydney.<br />
After serving several parishes, Fr Giovani was<br />
installed as the third-ever Parish Priest at St<br />
Madeleine Sophie Barat Parish on 18 February<br />
<strong>2024</strong>, working alongside Assistant Priest Fr Adam<br />
Carlow and Sacramental Coordinator<br />
Sandra De Nardi.<br />
“It’s a very welcoming community,” Fr Giovani says.<br />
But his journey has had unexpected twists along<br />
the way.<br />
From priesthood to peacemaker<br />
Fr Giovani grew up and studied in the Colombian<br />
town <strong>of</strong> Urrao, located in the Archdiocese <strong>of</strong> Santa<br />
Fe Antioquia. He made the decision to become a<br />
priest at 17 years old and was ordained in Colombia<br />
before being appointed assistant priest. He also led<br />
the youth ministry in his archdiocese.<br />
“I belong to a very <strong>Catholic</strong> family and I was<br />
influenced by my grandmother. She was a very<br />
religious woman and I was very close to her,”<br />
he said.<br />
After returning to Colombia from Italy, where he<br />
spent three years studying theology, Fr Giovani<br />
witnessed an increase <strong>of</strong> local violence and social<br />
problems caused by the conflict between various<br />
armed groups.<br />
The local bishop asked Fr Giovani to lead the<br />
‘pastoral social’, an initiative to support those in<br />
need and those more affected by the conflict in<br />
the region.<br />
“I was in charge <strong>of</strong> developing different projects to<br />
support people who were displaced, and I became<br />
a mediator in the conflict,” he said.<br />
For nine years, Fr Giovani worked in favour <strong>of</strong><br />
vulnerable communities thanks to the support <strong>of</strong><br />
international aid and human rights agencies such as<br />
the International Red Cross among others.<br />
He dealt with people who had been kidnapped,<br />
released and acted as a peacemaker towards those<br />
involved in local conflicts.<br />
58<br />
Fr Giovani (second right) with Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv (third<br />
left), Fr Adam Carlow (fifth right) and representatives from the local<br />
schools at his Installation Mass in February <strong>2024</strong>. Image: Mary Brazell/<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
“I received training from the international agency<br />
and spent one month in Berlin with people from<br />
different countries. This was to learn how to deal<br />
with the situation and support a new culture <strong>of</strong><br />
peace in our communities.”
Despite the challenges, Fr Giovani recalls this work<br />
as a ministry <strong>of</strong> faith.<br />
“We were doing the work on behalf <strong>of</strong> the Church,<br />
so it was based on the Gospel,” he said.<br />
“Jesus Christ was always in favour <strong>of</strong> the poor<br />
people and those more in need.”<br />
A new parish Church<br />
Ever the peacemaker, Fr Giovani continues to lead a<br />
faith-filled community in Kenthurst.<br />
“The parish has a good connection with the<br />
schools, with all the activities, celebrations and<br />
sacraments,” Fr Giovani said.<br />
With more young families joining Mass and<br />
parish celebrations, Fr Giovani is keen to<br />
proactively engage this growing demographic<br />
and support their spiritual growth.<br />
“We want to have a youth choir, or a youth<br />
group. That’s one <strong>of</strong> the plans to put into<br />
practice very soon.”<br />
With <strong>Catholic</strong>s making up more than 31<br />
per cent* <strong>of</strong> the suburb’s religious<br />
affiliations, Fr Giovani says the<br />
Kenthurst community has “a<br />
deep sense <strong>of</strong> belonging” to<br />
the local parish.<br />
“It’s a nice community<br />
really – very supportive<br />
to the parish and<br />
we have a lot <strong>of</strong><br />
volunteers,” he said.<br />
He credits the strong<br />
sense <strong>of</strong> community to<br />
the parish’s newly built<br />
church, which opened in<br />
November 2019. Prior to this,<br />
the community had worshipped in<br />
the Parish Worship Centre for 32 years.<br />
“The people were involved in the building <strong>of</strong> the<br />
church,” he said.<br />
The church’s innovative design includes a central<br />
gathering space, resembling a ‘piazza’, where<br />
parishioners <strong>of</strong>ten share meals, tea and stories<br />
after Mass.<br />
“It is wonderful to see families sharing food from<br />
their countries.”<br />
Engaging a growing local youth population<br />
The Hills Shire is a fast-growing area <strong>of</strong> Sydney, and<br />
Fr Giovani has observed new families joining the<br />
parish from nearby suburbs such as Box Hill.<br />
Fr Giovani blesses students from the local<br />
primary school at his Installation Mass in<br />
February <strong>2024</strong>. Image: Mary Brazell/Diocese<br />
<strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
Reflections on the Diocesan Plan<br />
The local community has been<br />
instrumental in shaping the<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta’s new<br />
Pastoral Plan, particularly<br />
with respect to youth<br />
engagement.<br />
“For our parish, the<br />
question is how to<br />
involve new families that<br />
come into the church,”<br />
he said.<br />
A further challenge to be<br />
addressed is the drop-<strong>of</strong>f<br />
in Mass attendance by high<br />
school families and youth.<br />
“We need to work together across<br />
parishes to define strategies on how to reach<br />
these families,” he said.<br />
“Maybe we can refresh our parishes, because<br />
I think we share the same situation in other<br />
parishes in this Diocese.”<br />
Fr Giovani also says prayer remains key to<br />
spiritual connection and renewal.<br />
“The Holy Spirit is always available for us,” he<br />
said. “The best prayer we can say is the prayer<br />
that comes from our hearts.” <br />
Local primary and secondary schools, including<br />
Marian <strong>Catholic</strong> College at Kenthurst, have been a<br />
drawcard for families to the parish.<br />
* Source: Australian Bureau <strong>of</strong> Statistics, 2021.<br />
59
The faith community <strong>of</strong> Our Lady <strong>of</strong> the Way Parish, Emu Plains, during their 50th anniversary celebrations in May <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
PARISH PROFILE<br />
Our Lady <strong>of</strong> the Way Parish, Emu Plains<br />
‘A community <strong>of</strong> friends at the foot <strong>of</strong> the Mountains’<br />
BY MARY BRAZELL<br />
What lies at the core <strong>of</strong> Our Lady <strong>of</strong> the Way Parish,<br />
Emu Plains, is in the first line <strong>of</strong> their parish mission<br />
statement: ‘To be a community <strong>of</strong> friends who know,<br />
love and serve the Lord.’<br />
Having celebrated 50 years, the parish is grateful<br />
for the solid foundations developed over the years<br />
which grounds them into the future.<br />
Parishioner John Cowen, who is a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Finance Committee and was the Chair <strong>of</strong> the Parish<br />
Council for 13 years, joined the parish in its early<br />
years as it was an easy spot to bring his<br />
mother-in-law to Mass.<br />
What kept him around was the “community <strong>of</strong><br />
friends” that he found.<br />
“A number <strong>of</strong> years ago, we looked at the number<br />
<strong>of</strong> parishioners involved in parish activities and we<br />
counted more than 50 in any given week. This has<br />
reinforced for me our mission statement and that we<br />
are serving together as a community <strong>of</strong> friends for<br />
the good <strong>of</strong> all,” he said.<br />
A sense <strong>of</strong> homeliness drew Sacramental<br />
Coordinator Cate Kensey to the parish.<br />
“We were looking to buy in the area, and I remember<br />
when we went to Mass here, I just had this feeling <strong>of</strong><br />
‘this feels right’.<br />
“There’s a real humility in the parishioners. I’m<br />
humbled in my role as to the amount <strong>of</strong> people who<br />
selflessly give up their time to help with sacramental<br />
registrations, making cups <strong>of</strong> tea, setting up the hall<br />
or Church, serving at Mass and providing music for<br />
the sacraments.”<br />
Parish Secretary Joanne Hamilton feels blessed to<br />
have been welcomed into the parish community<br />
four-and-a-half years ago.<br />
“In the beginning, we were quietly a part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
parish. Now, my children have become involved in<br />
the parish, they feel that this is their parish and this<br />
is where they belong.<br />
“Everyone here is so humble and genuine and very<br />
dedicated. Everyone involved in the ministries in our<br />
parish goes about their role quietly and not wanting<br />
any special thanks, just doing it for the glory<br />
<strong>of</strong> God.”<br />
Fr Michael has whole community in mind<br />
and heart<br />
Even Parish Priest, Fr Michael Gathuku, feels he has<br />
a home at Emu Plains.<br />
Having lived in Australia for 13 years, joining Emu<br />
Plains in the middle <strong>of</strong> COVID in 2020 was his first<br />
ever appointment as parish priest.<br />
“It’s a good community <strong>of</strong> people,” he explained.<br />
“I owe it to the previous priests <strong>of</strong> this parish for it<br />
being very welcoming and all inclusive, because<br />
everybody feels that he or she has a place and has<br />
a home.<br />
“Whenever someone comes into the parish, even<br />
if they are coming from neighbouring parishes,<br />
they never feel like they are a foreigner or are<br />
unwelcome.”<br />
The parish team feel that Fr Michael has the best<br />
interests <strong>of</strong> parish at heart.<br />
60
“He’s very approachable,” Joanne said. “I always<br />
feel I can go and ask him something or talk to him.<br />
He listens, he takes on board what everyone is<br />
saying to make the best decisions that he can and<br />
tries to do right by the whole community.”<br />
Cate said, “he brings a lightness and relaxing nature<br />
to the <strong>of</strong>fice, which makes it a really nice<br />
working environment.”<br />
Older parishioner Phyllis Goderie said, “Fr Michael<br />
is always willing to <strong>of</strong>fer up Masses for my relatives<br />
and friends or to hear my confession. He is very<br />
patient, kind and friendly.”<br />
Anniversary celebrations<br />
connecting past, present<br />
and future<br />
Joanne said, “learning about the hard work and love<br />
that went into making this parish, it really made it a<br />
memorable day and a day to celebrate community.”<br />
25-year parishioner Tony Donley received a special<br />
blessing during the anniversary celebrations as it<br />
was also his 90th birthday. “It nearly knocked me<br />
flat,” he told <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Outlook</strong> about the<br />
special recognition.<br />
Strengthening relationship with God, community<br />
in the future<br />
With the launch <strong>of</strong> the Diocesan Pastoral<br />
Plan, and looking ahead beyond its<br />
first 50 years, the parish hopes to<br />
continue in the footsteps <strong>of</strong><br />
its pioneers.<br />
The parish’s 50th anniversary<br />
celebrations in late May were<br />
full <strong>of</strong> joy, nostalgia<br />
and gratitude.<br />
A great blessing on the<br />
day was having a number <strong>of</strong><br />
founding members participate in the<br />
celebrations, by sharing anecdotes from the<br />
parish’s early history and cutting a large<br />
celebratory cake.<br />
“We thank them for a magnificent legacy in terms<br />
<strong>of</strong> a great physical building as well as a cohesive,<br />
generous and supportive Christian community,”<br />
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop <strong>of</strong><br />
Parramatta, said during the celebration Mass.<br />
Fr Michael said, “the memories and reflections <strong>of</strong><br />
the anniversary will live with these pioneers, even if<br />
some <strong>of</strong> them no longer live in the area.<br />
“It also meant a lot to the current parish community<br />
as it keeps that connection between past, present<br />
and future," he said.<br />
John said, “to think we could share 50 years with<br />
the people who started this parish was wonderful<br />
to see.”<br />
50th anniversary <strong>of</strong> Our Lady<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Way Parish, May <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Image: Alphonsus Fok/<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
“Although I won’t be here in<br />
50 years, I pray that we will<br />
grow more in faith and love <strong>of</strong><br />
Jesus each day,” Phyllis said.<br />
Joanne said, “I hope that<br />
parents bringing their children to<br />
be baptised feel that same sense <strong>of</strong><br />
belonging to the parish that many <strong>of</strong> us<br />
witness and that this is a place for them too.”<br />
Fr Michael said, “I feel this Diocesan plan will give<br />
us parishes assistance and direction to work,<br />
listen and walk together as a community so that<br />
everybody feels that he or she belongs, are included<br />
and are being heard.”<br />
Cate said, “I hope there is an emphasis on<br />
reclaiming the beauty <strong>of</strong> what we have to <strong>of</strong>fer<br />
as <strong>Catholic</strong>s through knowing Jesus through the<br />
sacraments, through scripture and opportunities<br />
where people can come and experience the Lord<br />
and His love and healing.”<br />
John said, “my hope is that we will be motivated<br />
to respond to the Holy Spirt as we strive to<br />
accompany each other on our journey and that we<br />
will achieve a deeper relationship with God in<br />
the process.” <br />
(L-R) Parish Priest Fr Michael Gathuku, Parish Secretary Joanne Hamilton, Sacramental Coordinator Cate Kensey and parishioner John Cowen.<br />
Image: Mary Brazell/Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
61
Watch<br />
Freud's Last Session<br />
UK, 2023<br />
On the eve <strong>of</strong> the Second World War, and towards the end<br />
<strong>of</strong> his life, Freud's Last Session sees Sigmund Freud invite<br />
author C.S. Lewis for a debate on the existence <strong>of</strong> God<br />
and the future <strong>of</strong> humanity.<br />
Set in 1939, the film, based on Mark St. Germain’s stage<br />
play <strong>of</strong> the same name, poignantly captures Freud’s<br />
struggle with mouth cancer while he engages in a deeply<br />
intellectual dialogue with C.S. Lewis, who represents a<br />
younger generation <strong>of</strong> thinkers.<br />
The interplay between Freud’s scepticism and Lewis’s<br />
faith creates a compelling tension, transforming the film<br />
into a timeless exploration <strong>of</strong> existential themes. Humour<br />
alleviates the tension between the exchange <strong>of</strong> ideas.<br />
The film interweaves flashbacks from Freud and Lewis’s<br />
past, present and fantasy, pushing the boundaries beyond<br />
the confines <strong>of</strong> Freud’s study. It explores their complex<br />
relationships with others, making it a compelling reflection<br />
on belief, science, and human connection.<br />
Freud's Last Session stars Anthony Hopkins, Stephen<br />
Campbell Moore, Matthew Goode, Padraic Delaney, Jodi<br />
Balfour, and Liv Lisa Fries.<br />
It is 109 minutes and is rated M (Mature themes and<br />
sexual references).<br />
Anthony Hopkins as Sigmund Freud in Freud's Last<br />
Session. Image: Sabrina Lantos/Courtesy <strong>of</strong> Sony<br />
Pictures Classics.<br />
Listen<br />
62
Listen<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong><br />
Influencers<br />
Podcast by ICON<br />
Ministry<br />
ICON Ministry, <strong>2024</strong><br />
The <strong>Catholic</strong> Influencers Podcast invites<br />
listeners to delve deeper into upcoming<br />
Sunday Mass readings and explore<br />
relevant life issues and topics from a<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> perspective.<br />
The episode titled ‘You Don’t Understand<br />
Me’ (Season 11, Episode 14) covers the<br />
Gospel <strong>of</strong> Mark 3:20-35, where Jesus<br />
Christ is doubted by his own family and<br />
accused <strong>of</strong> being possessed by the<br />
Teachers <strong>of</strong> the Law. The team discusses<br />
how Jesus felt misunderstood by his<br />
family and how <strong>Catholic</strong>s today can<br />
relate to similar feelings in a modern,<br />
secular society.<br />
The discussion also explores ideas<br />
about unity and how Jesus spoke about<br />
a kingdom divided against itself not<br />
standing. The podcast <strong>of</strong>fers insightful<br />
reflections on the Gospel and how<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong>s today can serve the Kingdom<br />
and foster unity.<br />
The <strong>Catholic</strong> Influencers Podcast, by<br />
ICON Ministry, is hosted by Fr Rob Galea<br />
(Diocese <strong>of</strong> Sandhurst), Alyssa Agius,<br />
Justine Hughes and Augie Angrisano.<br />
Image: Courtesy <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> Influencers<br />
Podcasts/ICON Ministry.<br />
Struggling to<br />
Believe? The<br />
Journey <strong>of</strong> One<br />
Contemporary<br />
Believer<br />
Monsignor Tony Doherty<br />
A finalist in Garratt Publishing’s 2023 Book <strong>of</strong><br />
the Year, Struggling to Believe? discusses the<br />
language <strong>of</strong> belief and the confusion that exists<br />
when people talk about God. Has the mystery<br />
surrounding God been lost?<br />
Drawing on personal experiences such as visits<br />
to mosques in the Middle East, sacred cities<br />
in India and rural Indigenous communities in<br />
Australia, Doherty illustrates how these diverse<br />
encounters have broadened and deepened his<br />
faith but also enriched his grasp <strong>of</strong> the broader<br />
spiritual and existential questions that people<br />
grapple with today.<br />
Struggling to Believe? takes its readers on a<br />
contemplative journey that challenges them<br />
to rethink and renew their own beliefs and<br />
understanding <strong>of</strong> their faith and how that fits into<br />
modern Australia.<br />
Monsignor Tony Doherty is a retired priest from<br />
the <strong>Catholic</strong> Archdiocese <strong>of</strong> Sydney. With over<br />
six decades <strong>of</strong> his life serving as a priest in the<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Church, he served 10 years as the<br />
Dean <strong>of</strong> St Mary’s Cathedral.<br />
Image: Courtesy <strong>of</strong> Garratt Publishing.<br />
Kids Corner<br />
Learn more about the San Damiano cross<br />
WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THIS CROSS?<br />
In 1205, a young man by the name <strong>of</strong> Francis came<br />
upon the ruins <strong>of</strong> an old church near San Damiano,<br />
in Italy. Something made him enter the ruins where<br />
he saw the image <strong>of</strong> a crucifix, so he knelt to pray.<br />
Italy. There is a copy in its original position, over the<br />
altar, in the ancient church at San Damiano.<br />
“The same things that the Book <strong>of</strong> the Gospels<br />
explains by means <strong>of</strong> words, the painter shows<br />
by means <strong>of</strong> his works.” – St Basil the Great.<br />
It was while he was looking at the figure <strong>of</strong> Jesus on<br />
the Cross that he heard a voice say to him: “Francis,<br />
go and repair my church which, as you see, is all<br />
in ruins.”<br />
In his heart, he realised that the Holy Spirit had<br />
led him there and Jesus had spoken to him. It<br />
took some time for Francis to realise that God was<br />
asking him to work in the Church to change some <strong>of</strong><br />
the wrong practices and reach out to the poor – not<br />
to rebuild churches stone by stone.<br />
So, St Francis began rebuilding the church by<br />
talking to people about God and looking after the<br />
poor and those in need. He also began to find<br />
other people who wanted to join him, and so the<br />
Franciscan friars began.<br />
THE TOP OF THE CROSS<br />
above Jesus’ head.<br />
At the very top is the Hand <strong>of</strong> God with two<br />
fingers pointing to bless Jesus.<br />
The 10 angels crowded around Jesus as<br />
He leaves the tomb are welcoming Him into<br />
heaven. He is carrying a cross, like a banner<br />
to show that He has risen.<br />
Today, the cross that St Francis saw in that church<br />
is called the San Damiano Cross, and it is a symbol<br />
for all Franciscans <strong>of</strong> their mission to rebuild<br />
the Church.<br />
WHAT KIND OF ART IS THIS CROSS?<br />
This cross is an icon. It is said that icons are<br />
‘written’ not painted because they teach us about<br />
the event on the icon and help us remember our<br />
faith in God. Icons are usually images <strong>of</strong> saints<br />
or scenes from the Bible. Writing icons has been<br />
around for hundreds <strong>of</strong> years. The San Damiano<br />
Cross was ‘written’ in around the 12th century.<br />
WHERE IS THE SAN DAMIANO CROSS NOW?<br />
The Poor Clare sisters moved from San Damiano<br />
in 1257 to Assisi. Therefore, it now hangs in the St<br />
Giorgio Chapel <strong>of</strong> the Basilica <strong>of</strong> St Clare in Assisi,<br />
THE MIDDLE OF THE CROSS<br />
The body <strong>of</strong> Jesus<br />
Above the body <strong>of</strong> Jesus are the words:<br />
Jesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaiorum<br />
(Jesus <strong>of</strong> Nazareth, King <strong>of</strong> the Jews).<br />
Jesus is not dead hanging on the Cross. He<br />
has risen, He is looking at you, showing you<br />
that He loves you and is blessing you. This<br />
shows you the gentleness <strong>of</strong> living with God<br />
forever when we die.<br />
64
THE HORIZONTAL BAR OF THE CROSS<br />
The body <strong>of</strong> Jesus<br />
On the left near Jesus hands, there are<br />
angels. On the right near Jesus’ hands<br />
there are angels also.<br />
These are angels possibly discussing this<br />
wondrous event <strong>of</strong> the Resurrection.<br />
NEXT TO THE LEFT LEG OF JESUS<br />
There is a rooster to remind us that Peter<br />
denied Jesus three times.<br />
BELOW JESUS’ FEET<br />
This part <strong>of</strong> the cross is almost destroyed<br />
but there are six figures and two have halos.<br />
It is believed that they are the patron saints<br />
<strong>of</strong> Umbria: St John, St Michael, St Rufino, St<br />
John the Baptist, St Peter and St Paul.<br />
BESIDE JESUS<br />
On the left The figure in blue is Mary, Jesus’<br />
mother, and next to her is the disciple John,<br />
whom Jesus loved. They have halos because<br />
they witnessed the Resurrection.<br />
On the right (L-R) is St Mary Magdalene,<br />
St Mary Cleophas and the Centurion who<br />
asked Jesus to heal his son (Behind him is<br />
the boy that Jesus healed because<br />
the centurion had faith<br />
(John 4:45-54).<br />
There are two smaller figures near their feet.<br />
On the left is Longinus, the name given to<br />
the Roman soldier who pierced the side<br />
<strong>of</strong> Jesus.<br />
On the right is Stephaton, the name given<br />
to the soldier who <strong>of</strong>fered Jesus a sponge<br />
soaked in vinegar wine.<br />
Good Shepherd Plumpton<br />
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Ambrose provides education and care in a child centred,<br />
play-based learning environment. With a foundation <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> values, our programs are designed to celebrate each<br />
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CCS APPROVED . PRESCHOOL FEE RELIEF<br />
ambrose.org.au<br />
Ambrose is a social enterprise <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Catholic</strong> Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta Services Limited
Directory <strong>of</strong> services<br />
Call us on (02) 8843 2500 or visit catholiccarewsbm.org.au<br />
Chancery Office<br />
www.parracatholic.org<br />
(02) 8838 3400<br />
diocese@parracatholic.org<br />
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv<br />
(02) 8838 3400<br />
bishop@parracatholic.org<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Schools Parramatta Diocese<br />
parra.catholic.edu.au<br />
(02) 9840 5600<br />
communityliaison@parra.catholic.edu.au<br />
Community Ventures<br />
(<strong>Catholic</strong> Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta Services<br />
Limited)<br />
1300 2VENTURES (1300 283 688)<br />
enquiries@cdpsl.org.au<br />
www.communityventures.org.au<br />
Ambrose Early Years Education<br />
and School Age Care<br />
1300 4AMBROSE (1300 426 276)<br />
enquiries@ambrose.org.au<br />
www.ambrose.org.au<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Care Western Sydney<br />
and the Blue Mountains<br />
(02) 8843 2500<br />
catholiccarewsbm.org.au<br />
Mission Enhancement Team<br />
(MET Parramatta)<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Youth Parramatta;<br />
Peace, Justice, Ecology; Marriage;<br />
Natural Fertility; Worship;<br />
MET Facilitators<br />
met@parracatholic.org<br />
parracatholic.org/connect<br />
Confraternity <strong>of</strong> Christian Doctrine<br />
(02) 8838 3486<br />
ccd@parracatholic.org<br />
Tribunal Office<br />
(02) 8838 3480<br />
tribunal@parracatholic.org<br />
Vocations<br />
(02) 8838 3460<br />
vocations@parracatholic.org<br />
Parramatta <strong>Catholic</strong> Foundation<br />
(02) 8838 3482<br />
yourfoundation@parracatholic.org<br />
Diocesan Development Fund<br />
(02) 8839 4500<br />
enquiries@parraddf.org.au<br />
Holy Spirit Seminary<br />
(02) 9296 6300<br />
Office for Safeguarding<br />
(02) 8838 3419<br />
safeguarding@parracatholic.org<br />
Family and children’s services<br />
We run family support programs, including positive parenting in Blacktown<br />
and Penrith to help vulnerable and disadvantaged families grow and thrive<br />
in the community. We also provide family and parenting counselling and<br />
caseworker support for families and carers.<br />
Pregnant and young women with children<br />
Houses 2 Homes provides holistic support and transitional housing across<br />
Blacktown and Parramatta for pregnant women and young mothers aged<br />
between 16 and 25 years, who are homeless or at immediate risk <strong>of</strong><br />
homelessness due to financial, family, domestic and sexual violence.<br />
Project Elizabeth provides prenatal and postnatal trauma counselling; as<br />
well as practical parenting support for women and their families who are<br />
expecting a baby, have lost a baby, have had an abortion, or who need<br />
support with a child aged up to three years.<br />
General counselling<br />
We <strong>of</strong>fer confidential counselling for individuals and families experiencing<br />
life’s challenges, including grief and loss, parenting, financial issues,<br />
relationships and trauma, including domestic, family and sexual abuse.<br />
Childcare services<br />
Through our HIPPY program, Family Day Care service and a creche centre<br />
at Mamre House in Orchard Hills, we provide essential care for children;<br />
including engaging activities to support child development during their first<br />
2000 days <strong>of</strong> life and beyond.<br />
Aboriginal <strong>Catholic</strong> Services<br />
Through Aboriginal <strong>Catholic</strong> Services, we provide a range <strong>of</strong> social services<br />
and supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
faith and the wider community <strong>of</strong> Emerton.<br />
Community outreach<br />
We support people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as<br />
well as those experiencing disadvantage and/or social isolation, through<br />
various drop-in centres at Emerton, Springwood, Mamre and All Saints <strong>of</strong><br />
Africa at Blacktown. Support includes English classes, food banks and a<br />
range <strong>of</strong> social and wellbeing support groups that aim to connect people<br />
within our communities.<br />
Volunteer services<br />
Our volunteers support our wide range <strong>of</strong> services, including visiting the<br />
elderly and socially isolated, as well as working with disadvantaged and<br />
vulnerable community groups.<br />
VOLUNTEER TODAY<br />
If you are interested in supporting the work <strong>of</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> Care<br />
WSBM, please scan here to find out more and volunteer.<br />
66
Latest appointments<br />
Most Rev Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop <strong>of</strong> Parramatta, has<br />
confirmed these appointments in the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta:<br />
Rev Johnson Joseph CRS<br />
Parish Priest at St Padre Pio Parish, Glenmore Park,<br />
from 1 July <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Rev Sheldon Burke CRS<br />
Assistant Priest at St Padre Pio Parish, Glenmore Park,<br />
from 1 July <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Rev Kevin Redmond SM<br />
Parish Priest at St Andrew the Apostle Parish, Marayong,<br />
from 1 July <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Very Rev Wim Hoekstra EV<br />
Parish Priest <strong>of</strong> Mary, Queen <strong>of</strong> the Family Parish, Blacktown,<br />
from 19 August <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Rev Joseph Lam<br />
Parish Priest <strong>of</strong> the Parish <strong>of</strong> Baulkham Hills.<br />
from 1 October <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Very Rev Gayan Thamel EV<br />
Inaugural Parish Priest at St Luke’s Parish, Marsden Park,<br />
from 1 January <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Rev Percival Perez Sevare OSA<br />
Parish Moderator <strong>of</strong> Holy Spirit Parish, St Clair-Erskine Park,<br />
from 1 July <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Rev Raymond Ugwu CSSp<br />
Parish Priest at the Parish <strong>of</strong> Richmond,<br />
from 8 July <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Rev Pio Yong Ho Jang<br />
Assistant Priest at St Nicholas <strong>of</strong> Myra Parish, Penrith,<br />
from 8 July <strong>2024</strong> to 31 August <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Rev Rojan Cheriyadan George MS<br />
Assistant Priest at St Nicholas <strong>of</strong> Myra Parish, Penrith,<br />
from 24 July <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
A time time to to renew renew your your spirit<br />
spirit<br />
Great Journey Saints with <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Italy<br />
Rome Italian to Venice<br />
Saints<br />
With Joelle Maryn<br />
Pilgrimage Graces <strong>of</strong> Japan<br />
<strong>of</strong> Mercy<br />
Budapest Kyoto to to Tokyo<br />
to Prague<br />
the the genuine pilgrim experience<br />
Journey Wonders <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
St Paul<br />
South Korea<br />
Greece & Turkey with<br />
Bishop Seoul to Mark Seoul Edwards<br />
Roundtrip<br />
Land only from $6690<br />
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Land only from $6890<br />
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Commences 08 08 March <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Commences 16 1107 June May <strong>2024</strong>. 2025. 12 Days.<br />
Commences 16 September <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Commences 12 12 Days. With 21 accompanying October <strong>2024</strong>. 11 Chaplain<br />
Days.<br />
Commences 13 October 2025. 13 Days.<br />
11 With 12 11 Days. Priest With Chaplain.<br />
12 Days. With Bishop Mark Edwards OMI<br />
Fr Fr Christopher Sarkis<br />
With Join <strong>Catholic</strong> Fr Christopher Actress Joelle del Rosario.<br />
With Priest Chaplain. Explore the Christian<br />
Maryn on<br />
on<br />
The Acts <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> the the Apostles will come alive as<br />
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<strong>of</strong> a a healing pilgrimage on on the the trail <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong><br />
A unique rare combination and captivating <strong>of</strong> Eastern journey<br />
Europe’s<br />
heritage <strong>of</strong> South Korea, rich in culture, the<br />
Stunning landscapes, picturesque towns<br />
we we go go out with St St Paul and his his companions<br />
<strong>of</strong> Italy’s greatest saints, visiting Rome,<br />
through most intriguing Japan during cities <strong>of</strong> the Budapest, mesmerizing Krakow arts and faith and made sacred by the blood<br />
and peaceful shrines like Assisi, Siena and<br />
to to rediscover the the faith and struggles <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> the<br />
the<br />
Be by the Montecassino, San Giovanni Rotondo,<br />
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faith<br />
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rekindled<br />
out to beautiful as as we we set set<br />
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and<br />
<strong>of</strong> culture, faith, art, and history that Italy<br />
the<br />
the<br />
the the Black Madonna Czestochowa.<br />
<strong>of</strong>fers. rich tapestry Also departs <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> culture, May faith, 2025.<br />
and history<br />
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how Church’s<br />
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Also departs September <strong>2024</strong><br />
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shaped the faith <strong>of</strong> this fascinating country.<br />
evangelist.<br />
embraced Also<br />
the good departs<br />
news April<br />
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BOOKINGS & & ENQUIRIES<br />
BOOKINGS & ENQUIRIES<br />
1800 819 156<br />
www.harvestjourneys.com
“The new digital payment system organised by<br />
the Diocesan Development Fund has allowed us to<br />
reach a diverse range <strong>of</strong> givers on a wide range <strong>of</strong><br />
payment platforms. It makes fundraising events easier<br />
to organise. Payments for facilities hire, donations<br />
for weddings and other sacraments are received<br />
promptly.” – Mili Lee, Manager, St Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta<br />
MAKING DONATIONS EASIER<br />
THROUGH DIGITAL PAYMENTS<br />
The Diocesan Development Fund (DDF) is <strong>of</strong>fering digital payment systems to all parishes.<br />
Making it easier for people to donate to parishes in today’s cashless society, they reduce<br />
the amount <strong>of</strong> cash you need to keep on premises and make reconciling easier.<br />
DDF can help with online payment platforms including tap to donate solutions such as<br />
CommBank Smart Tap to Donate and CommBank Bpoint a secure online payment system.<br />
Merchant facilities are provided through the Commonwealth Bank <strong>of</strong> Australia.<br />
The Diocesan Development Fund (DDF) provides financial services that helps to promote<br />
the continued growth and development <strong>of</strong> a vibrant and evangelising <strong>Catholic</strong> Church in<br />
the Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta.<br />
The DDF’s services include:<br />
• Providing loans to assist <strong>Catholic</strong> agencies to further their Mission. Loans are available for any worthwhile purpose including<br />
construction, renovation, land purchase, furnishings, and equipment.<br />
• Facilitating transactional services to <strong>Catholic</strong> agencies such as parishes and schools.<br />
• Operating efficiently to generate income for the Diocese to support the Mission <strong>of</strong> the Church, pastoral priorities, and ministry<br />
programmes.<br />
• The development <strong>of</strong> deep long-term relationships with all <strong>Catholic</strong> entities within the Diocese.<br />
To contact the DDF please phone (02) 8839 4500 or email enquiries@parraddf.org.au<br />
Visit the DDF website at www.parracatholic.org/ddf<br />
Disclosure Statement: The Diocesan Development Fund <strong>Catholic</strong> Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta (DDF) (the Fund) is required by law to make the following disclosure.<br />
The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities<br />
and Investments Commission. An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit <strong>of</strong> the financial claims scheme or thedepositor protection provisions in the<br />
Banking Act 1959 (Cth). Investments in the Fund are intended to be a means for investors to support the charitable, religious and educational works <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Diocese <strong>of</strong> Parramatta and for whom the consideration <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>it are not <strong>of</strong> primary relevance in the investment decision. The investments that the<br />
Fund <strong>of</strong>fers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by Australian Securities and Investments<br />
Commission. Investors may be unable to get some or all <strong>of</strong> their money back when the investor expects or at all and an <strong>of</strong> the Fund are not comparable to<br />
investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed at https://parracatholic.org or by contacting<br />
the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.