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St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Feast Day
During National Vocations Awareness Week throughout the Church in Australia next week we are invited to a special time of prayer and reflection for us all, firstly to thank God for the unique call and vocation that He has for us as Christians and then more specifically to pray for an increase in vocations to the Priesthood, Diaconate and Religious Life. We are reminded that every Christian has a unique calling and vocation from God, which comes to us through our Baptism, and which we are called to share with our community. For those of us who have made a specific life-long commitment to one particular vocation, we renew it this week. For those who are still searching, we pray that they may open up their hearts to what it is that God is calling them to be.

While, through the feast of Mary of the Cross MacKillop, we celebrate a rich legacy and a significant impact on the weave of Australian society, that commenced 151 years ago, we also recommit ourselves to the Josephite charism. Just as Mary did, we too are also called to make a difference for our times; to live out our baptismal invitation; with a spirit of generosity and simplicity of life, open to the changing needs of society and prepared to stand with people in the ordinary circumstances of their existence to make them extraordinary.

Cardinal Pell - Our Catholic Church
In the school holidays Father Dean Marin, our parish priest wrote the piece below in the parish bulletin for 9 July. I found it to be realistic and sensitive to the current plight of the Church and inspiring as a Catholic making hope-filled meaning of the situation so as to nourish my life and that of our community. I reproduce the article in its entirety for your consideration. 

“The Royal Commission into Institutional Sexual Abuse has clearly highlighted the many instances of child sexual abuse committed by priests, religious and lay members of our Church. It has brought to light the inadequate response of some Church leaders to these criminal acts. Perpetrators, by being moved from place to place, were able to continue their abuse of children. As members of the Church we are all shamed by the truth of what we now know. Our first response must be towards the victims who continue to suffer terrible ongoing consequences of their violation.

The fact that this evil was inflicted by those trusted to represent God is shocking and almost incomprehensible. As a whole Church we must be totally committed to truth, justice and healing in all these situations and towards all victims. Together we need to do all we can to create safe and healthy environments for our children and ensure that such acts never occur again in our midst.

Cardinal Pell has been charged with historical sex offences.  He is Australia’s highest ranking Catholic and member of Pope Francis’ inner circle of advisers. At times he has been subjected to hostile and prejudiced media commentary that too easily projects all offences of the Church on to him. Whatever the broader context, whatever one’s personal view of him, whatever one’s theological perspective, he is to be judged on the accusations against him and nothing else. Above all, as like any other citizen of our country, he is to be given the presumption of innocence as the objective processes of the law proceed.

It’s easy to be scandalized at this time in our Church. With the exposure of the failings of the past it’s easy now to see its duplicity and hypocrisy. It can be so tempting to walk away from the Church and the practice of the faith. How can we trust priests, religious and Church leaders again? It’s easy to think that I don’t need this Church and can continue in my faith in God in my own way.  But there’s a deeper mystery and even an inherent scandal that exists at the heart of being Church.

God became man. The divine entered into the realm of weak, limited, sinful humanity so as to share divine life, love and goodness with us. But being human, we will always fall short in this life. There will always be a gap, and may be at times even a gulf, between God’s aspirations for us and our response in practice. We always fall short. It is only in Grace that we are saved and forgiven, freed to strive again. Let us not fail to trust wholeheartedly in the power of God’s Grace as won for us by Christ, so as not to abandon God’s vision for us. Despite the failures of the Church and the sin of its members, our communion together in Christ is God’s way of encouraging us all to grow ever more in divine life, love and goodness.

The Second Vatican Council reminded us of the mystery that is ours when it said, and I quote, “The Church, however, clasping sinners to her bosom, at once holy and always in need of purification, follows constantly the path of renewal.”

As Church we are constantly in need of purification and renewal.

In the article in last weekend’s Australian, well known journalist Geraldine Doogue under the heading,

“Flawed Church a test for the true Believers,” said and I quote:

“So how does one synthesize all of this? With difficulty. It’s a work in progress. I will of course incorporate details of the cardinal’s coming court case but will probably not be blindsided. Because as a source of consolation and meaning, of searching alongside others not merely alone, the broader Catholic Church simply has no peer.”

As a priest, I’m humbled and feel the shame, but there’s no way I’m going to fold and settle for less.  Let us continue to pray for all victims of sexual abuse especially those by members of the Church. Let us pray for each other, that we can be more and more faithful to the Grace of God that always lifts us up.
Fr Dean Marin

God Bless,
David Mezinec | Principal

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