In earlier years, we have had almost 200 children but with new parishes created and the demography changing these numbers have declined. Nevertheless, it is a hectic weekend that boosts the numbers at mass with the children and their extended family and friends as well as our regular parishioners that causes havoc in the car park.
It does trigger me to reflect on some issues: will these children, initiated as full members of our community, still connect with us into the future; why does our regular church attendance mainly consist of recent immigrant families (Maltese, Filipino, Indian, Sri Lankan, et al.) and yet there is still a large number of long-term Australians represented in the first Holy Communion families; how do we re-evangelise them as well as appreciate the gifts of the newly arrived national groups; how do we get the message across that Christ is present in the whole assembly gathered at the Eucharist as well as in His Word and in Communion so that they feel they belong and can participate. I realise many of us struggle with these issues and there are no easy answers to these thoughts.
In the midst of this busy weekend comes the news that a young man has taken his life, an uncle of one of the first communicants, and as I visit the family I can only be a presence in the midst of unanswered questions and potential unfulfilled. This is the second such case within a year in the parish. My experiences are not unique, many of us, in our ministry deal with such issues frequently.
The recently received Coadjutor Archbishop of Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez put it well in his remarks to priests when he said “You are at the frontlines of this great drama of salvation. You are men of God and men of brave heart, and the bishops’ first collaborators in the apostolic work of the Church. In your ministries you are the presence of Christ, bringing God to people and people to God. You show them the compassion of the Father who seeks to carry them home—no matter how far away they might have strayed from the paths he intended for their lives.” At times it does feel like we are at the front lines of the great drama of salvation! It is important that Bishops are sensitive to this acknowledging that they too are at the frontlines particularly lately in the eyes of the media.
Pope Benedict’s recent accommodation of Anglicans in the apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus has recently taken an interesting turn with the primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) Archbishop John Hepworth hoping to be received as a corporate entity into the Catholic Church as early as Advent this year (Reported in the Catholic Weekly 16/5/2010). Hepworth was previously a Catholic priest (now twice married) looking to return to the fold encouraged by, a former Anglican, now Catholic priest, Fr John Fleming who is also married and who has previously advocated for compulsory celibacy for Latin rite priests to remain. If this is not hypocrisy I do know not know what is. This move, if it occurs, permits an increase of non-celibate priests in the Western church (which many would advocate) but fails to reconcile with a large number of priests who have left active ministry because they do not feel called to celibacy.
Our NCP biennial convention, which will be held in the Diocese of Parramatta from the 12-16 July 2010, is not far away. Our topic: The Risen Christ in the Changing Face of the Priesthood. The response from priests across Australia has been overwhelming with almost 250 priests attending. I look forward to meeting many of you in Parramatta and from the interest already generated so far anticipate a great deal of energy around issues such as the above and others into the future.
May the Holy Spirit enthuse us with the Spirit of the Risen Christ to continue to be at the front line of the drama of salvation.
Ian McGinnity
