I’m still “attacking” life in the same way; “driven” as my brother says and maintaining my daily fitness program as part of the balance I have found essential for me. The goal setting and the weekly checks against KPI’s have perhaps dropped off but with time to think on my break I’m taking stock.

The unexpected phone call from The Swag requested my thoughts about my ministry and how it was going has produced this off-the-cuff report.

But first you have probably never heard of me and I need to tell you something of my story.

Thirty years ago, my wife Tricia and I and our five came to Elizabeth, SA, where I am currently the Pastoral Director of the Catholic Parish.

A professional Australian Rules coach at the time, we moved to South Australia so I could take up the position of coach of the Central District “Bulldogs”. The club was in disarray: they were at the bottom of the SANFL; $120,000 in debt; sacked the coach, the chief executive and the Board; and introduced a new club constitution – the club was starting again.

I lasted six years as the coach before they sacked me, but I stayed on and have been involved in many positions such as Assistant Coach, selector, mentor etc until I became a deacon. Currently the Dogs are the most successful club in SA’s history having competed in the last nine Grand Finals and have won seven of them.

Now whether this experience or my previous vocations as a dairy farmer, agricultural science teacher and business entrepreneur will be of any value in my ministry only time will tell.

Most importantly Tricia and I love the people of the area and with our family have shared many successes and failures with them over an extended period. Our children were educated at the local St Augustine’s Primary and Thomas More College before going on to tertiary degrees. Above all else I know, I empathise with the people of the north knowing what it is like to be in their boots.

And I do see a lot of similarities between the 70’s football model and the current church in Elizabeth.

Under Fr Michael Trainor, the Pastoral Moderator, who is a senior lecturer in theology at Flinders University and retired priest in support, Monsignor Jim O’Loughlin and a Pastoral Team of Pastoral Visitor Sr Margaret Tully, Baptismal Preparer Sr Ann Connolly and Pastoral Associate Josie Cirocco we are busy introducing a new model of church in the Elizabeth Parish.

For want of a better name it could be called the Ministry of the Baptised.

Michael and Jim have been kind to me introducing me to liturgies gradually and progressively and mentoring me constantly. Given an ageing population and a majority of un-Churched Catholics I have a busy funeral ministry and have conducted or assisted at over 80 funerals to date.

But when you knock on the door of the home of a recently deceased person to meet the family and prepare the order of service it doesn’t hurt to be greeted with,”You used to coach Johnny Platten, didn’t you?”

I find my community involvement and my past life an effective bridge between the church and the people.

Although baptisms and weddings and school visits are important times for building relationships, funerals are by far the most important for me.

Initially I lost a “couple of days” when I conducted large funerals for young accident victims and I had to take care to maintain the balance in my life.

In the near future I see the need for my ministry to focus on two areas in our community – the youth and the socially disadvantaged – who are large in number and luke-warm in terms of involvement with the Church.

With quiet time, prayer and the daily Office emerging as bigger and more important parts of my personal life I am happy with the balance I maintain.

It would be fair to say that I have made most of the mistakes you can make during service and in my ministry and as yet I still have not come to “grips” with my daily reading of the psalms.

Sharing my ministry with my wife and family which now includes six grandchildren is the biggest plus in my ministry.

Daryl Hicks, Elizabeth SA