BBN / AUGUST 2020
BISHOP’S MESSAGE
Why would anyone offer himself or herself for this work? Saint Paul guides us to the solution when he says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1Corinthians 11:1) To be like Christ is our ultimate vocation. To be a disciple of Christ is how we live out that vocation. Each one of us can be inspired by the great Paul in our discipleship. Lay women and men together with their priests, again to use the words of Saint Paul, “make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12)
Our priests too are an essential part of the community of the Church. The priestly vocation is one that is born out of the baptismal vocation. And so, when some question why would anyone make himself available for priestly ministry within the community of the Church, the answer is simple – he does not choose the priesthood, God calls him to the priesthood for sacred service to the Body of Christ. As I said when I ordained Fr Paul Tran to the priesthood at Gosford, “we priests more than others must be
willing to abandon ourselves to the will of God, so as to be completely at the service of God’s people.” (Ordination Homily 16 April 2020)
Brothers and sisters, when we were baptised we were admitted to the Christian community and each of us took on all the dignity and responsibility that entails. Baptism made us sons and daughters of God and called us to serve the community of the Church and to evangelise the world. Baptism imposed a duty on each of us, a duty of serving others. Today just as Christ called his apostles to be his companions, he also calls you to be close to him. In the Christian vocation God calls some to married life, some to consecrated life, some to the single life, and some to ordained life and ministry as deacons or priests. Our vocation is first and foremost to be like Jesus, to imitate him, to be Christ-like, to be holy; to have a heart like his; to love the things he loves and desires; to reject the things he rejects. To be
Christ-like involves loving like Christ, caring like Christ, thinking like him, perceiving things with his eyes and having his mentality. It means to be understanding, compassionate, and merciful like Jesus Christ. As individuals and as a community of the Church we will succeed in our imitation of Christ if we immerse ourselves in the Word of God, the prayer of the Church, the Eucharist and the Sacraments. Through prayer and discernment, wholesome relationships, and openness of mind and heart, our community of Broken Bay will learn that being an apostle of Christ demands generosity, enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. God is calling you. How will you respond? May Mary, Mother of the Church and Star of the Sea, pray for us and show us the way to her son Jesus Christ our Lord.
LOCAL PEOPLE CARING FOR LOCAL FAMILIES Our team live, work and play in the Northern Beaches. We understand the local community and are here for you when you need us most. Whether it’s to plan an immediate funeral for a loved one or plan ahead for your own with a prepaid funeral, we’re here to help.
Contact us to find out more. 844 Pittwater Road, Dee Why 9971 4224
Cnr Barrenjoey Road & Darley Street, Mona Vale 9979 5978
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