Welcome to Term Two! I trust you all had a happy and holy Easter, albeit different from what we are accustomed. I hope the holidays provided some opportunity for rest and family connection.

2020 has certainly been an atypical year. As we stayed home for the holiday period, for the health of our country and the common good, I found myself reflecting on the things in life, which until recently, I have taken for granted. Attending Mass, spending Easter Sunday with my extended family, a visit from a friend, having students attend school, Friday night football, playing sport, shopping for non-essential items to name a few. In the midst of missing these things, I was aimlessly scrolling through Facebook; laughing at the multitude of home-schooling memes; I came across a post with a photo attached. The photo was of a sign outside a Catholic Parish and it read, “Churches are not being closed, but buildings are. You are the Church! You are to remain reopen”.

Such a pertinent comment, as Holy Week celebrations and Easter Sunday Mass occurred online from the crypt in St Christopher’s Cathedral. In addition, throughout Term 1, Year 11 Studies of Religion students have been learning about dynamic, living religions and at present, we certainly are living it. Priests, religious and laity just in our own diocese have risen to the challenge set by His Grace, Archbishop Christopher when he called for new ways for parishioners to feel “the closeness and caress of God”. They have devised new ways of delivering Mass, set up YouTube channels, developed “Park and Pray” sessions and at a local level, Fr Martins offered drive-through reconciliation, and local parishioners alongside Seminarian Eden developed home prayer kits.     

Many things in life are ephemeral, yet our belief in God is unwavering and endures all things, inclusive of pandemics. Recently I read an article by Dr Craig Wattam; his article was about a webinar hosted by Dr John Tickell. I would like to share Wattam’s summation of the webinar:

Tickell suggested that in order to lead a better, healthier life we need robust support systems and these come in the form of the “Four F’s”: family, faith, fun and friendships. All of these relate to friendships. The best support we can muster comes from those with whom we spend most time and are closest to us. Our family is irreplaceable. Our faith sustains and provides nourishment for our lives, and our other human relationships with friends and community members help us make meaning from our existence. Throw in a healthy dose of fun and especially laughter and we have a good recipe for a positive, meaningful life… Just like any skill has to be practised in order to sustain and improve it, so it is true I think in our relationship with both God and others. If the relationship is not reinforced, it will not endure, or else it will not be as life giving as it could be. If we seek to embrace and invest in our relationships, we concentrate on what matters and we are doubly blest: we bless the other and in turn, we are blessed.

Our families matter more than ever right now, and so do our friends. May your week also be filled with some fun and laughter. The difficult times will pass, but our faith and our families will endure. As the Gospel of Matthew implores, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. (Mt 6:33) ”   

Please keep Mr Paul Cullen and his family in your prayers after the death of his mother, Joyce Cullen. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.

Fr Francis Carroll … Pray for Us
Live Jesus in our Hearts … Forever   

Charlotte Nicoletti
Coordinator of Religious Education and Faith Formation