Lots of things happening in parish and neighbourhood.
Most can’t be listed because those who mean us harm seem to take comfort from any misfortune that befalls us.
We’ve done the usual catholic things first – worship, prayers, pastoral care of one another, including playing host to a 300 strong regional catholic primary school.
We’ve forgone the income from a considerable slice of parish property, to the benefit of the regional school used by Middle Park and Port Melbourne, as well as ourselves.
This parish needs to feel proud of its record of service to the neighbourhood. And, there’s much more to come.
Some of it I can’t talk about here because those who mean us harm would take it as impending offensive behaviour.
What I can mention is the increase in Mass attendance, numbers of weddings and baptisms.
Lots of people drop in during the day. Church opens at 7am and closes at 7pm seven days a week.
Caring for the poor, deserving and otherwise, isn’t all we do, despite publicity.
After a missionary expedition to the Big Day Out, Flemington, Australia Day, I can report that there seems to be great goodwill towards Church.
Reports may seem to suggest I’m pushing for loud music at church services. That wouldn’t work. The Roman ritual requires otherwise.
What I’m suggesting is that churches could invite non-churchgoing but church friendly 20 somethings, to design a 50 minute service to be held in church. A churchgoing 20 somethings could preside and provide a suitable framework, including prayer / reading / preaching (by 20 somethings).
Even better, such a service probably should be “interfaith” not just “interchurch”.
It needs to be inclusive, not the property of any particular denomination within any particular faith community.
In a sense, this unique generation, well educated, wired, comfortable but vulnerable, could refresh and reinvigorate a local faith community or federation of them.
These people are entitled to a share in all the spiritual “goodies’ accumulated by a local faith community.
In a sense, they need to take back the church, mosque, ashram, synagogue, temple, respectfully, to enhance it with the gifts their generation has accumulated.
It’s all very well church bemoaning the absence of these younger generations from religious services. The older “closeted” generations need to open the eyes of their hearts, discern, repent and welcome initiatives from strangers.
If most of the above seems scrambled, please forgive, I’m grieving over the death, no suspicious circumstances, of a man in his 40’s, cared for by us since his teens, who was found dead in the parish garden this very morning.
After a chequered life, he was helping with our food van, even attending Sunday night Mass.
May his soul rest in the peace that evaded him from cradle to grave.
R.J.M.
Lots of things happening in parish and neighbourhood.
Most can’t be listed because those who mean us harm seem to take comfort from any misfortune that befalls us.
We’ve done the usual catholic things first – worship, prayers, pastoral care of one another, including playing host to a 300 strong regional catholic primary school.
We’ve forgone the income from a considerable slice of parish property, to the benefit of the regional school used by Middle Park and Port Melbourne, as well as ourselves.
This parish needs to feel proud of its record of service to the neighbourhood. And, there’s much more to come.
Some of it I can’t talk about here because those who mean us harm would take it as impending offensive behaviour.
What I can mention is the increase in Mass attendance, numbers of weddings and baptisms.
Lots of people drop in during the day. Church opens at 7am and closes at 7pm seven days a week.
Caring for the poor, deserving and otherwise, isn’t all we do, despite publicity.
After a missionary expedition to the Big Day Out, Flemington, Australia Day, I can report that there seems to be great goodwill towards Church.
Reports may seem to suggest I’m pushing for loud music at church services. That wouldn’t work. The Roman ritual requires otherwise.
What I’m suggesting is that churches could invite non-churchgoing but church friendly 20 somethings, to design a 50 minute service to be held in church. A churchgoing 20 somethings could preside and provide a suitable framework, including prayer / reading / preaching (by 20 somethings).
Even better, such a service probably should be “interfaith” not just “interchurch”.
It needs to be inclusive, not the property of any particular denomination within any particular faith community.
In a sense, this unique generation, well educated, wired, comfortable but vulnerable, could refresh and reinvigorate a local faith community or federation of them.
These people are entitled to a share in all the spiritual “goodies’ accumulated by a local faith community.
In a sense, they need to take back the church, mosque, ashram, synagogue, temple, respectfully, to enhance it with the gifts their generation has accumulated.
It’s all very well church bemoaning the absence of these younger generations from religious services. The older “closeted” generations need to open the eyes of their hearts, discern, repent and welcome initiatives from strangers.
If most of the above seems scrambled, please forgive, I’m grieving over the death, no suspicious circumstances, of a man in his 40’s, cared for by us since his teens, who was found dead in the parish garden this very morning.
After a chequered life, he was helping with our food van, even attending Sunday night Mass.
May his soul rest in the peace that evaded him from cradle to grave.
R.J.M.
You don’t need to create some new inter-faith service to get young people to church, Father. Head down to the Traditional Mass parish in Caulfield or the SSPX chapel in Hampton and you’ll see the pews are full of young families on Sunday.
The Vatican II generation of greying priests and old ladies treating the Eucharist like it’s a cookie is quickly passing away. Not a moment too soon either.
- Jacob (20)
Even a card carrying atheist like me knows how valuable your work is, padre, carry on sticking it to the Man.
I haven’t dropped a post on this since the ‘troubles’. So let me drop another saying ‘all strength to you and your’s’
All the best
RobP
You give people hope Bob and bring them back to dignity and to god..
For that you deserve the highest of praise.
God bless and keep you in his sight
Great work Fr Bob. I love the idea of a service created by the people for the people. There are some places I know of already doing this in some of the non-catholic congregations.
The more we continue to evolve the church to continue to meet the needs of the people, the better the world will become. I’m sure of it.
Thinking of you and all those you work for and with, Father Bob.
Bronwyn,thanks for your continuing support.Bob Maguire.