Catholic Viewpoint Issue 9 Jan-Mar 2023

VIEWPOIN

farewell to armidale

When I was ordained a priest almost twenty-four years ago, I never imagined that God would one day send me to the Diocese of Armidale. I did not hesitate to say ‘yes’ to this appointment. It was Pope Benedict XVI who once said words to the effect that “God, precisely because he is God, always deserves a ‘yes’ from every human person.”

Saying ‘yes’ to God has always brought me joy and fulfilment, from responding to his call to become a priest to accepting my appointment to the Diocese of Armidale.

I have no doubt that accepting the transfer to the Diocese of MaitlandNewcastle will lead to new joys and challenges for me, just as it did when I came to Armidale, and just as it does every time one of us says ‘yes’ to God.

God never leaves us alone to face the

challenges. He is always with us as he promised, and he always sends people to assist and guide us.

I wish to say ‘thank you’ to the many people around the Diocese who have brought me joy as you live and share the joy of the Gospel, and to those who have helped me through the challenges.

I have met so many wonderful people in all the parishes, schools, and other works of the Church around the Diocese. We are many individuals, each of us differently gifted by God and each of us flawed as well, and each with our own particular views and approaches to all manner of things. This always has the potential to cause division.

One of the characteristics of the Diocese of Armidale which I noticed upon my arrival, and which I have sought to nurture, is its unity; the

A farewell message from Bishop Michael Kennedy

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”

1 Corinthians 15:58

farewell to armidale

Farewell Mass & Celebration

SUNDAY 5TH mARCH 2023

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union of Christ’s faithful in faith, hope and love. I am often struck by how often Saint Paul in his letters exhorts the Christian faithful to love each other, to bear with each other, and to remain united. May this always be the way in the Diocese of Armidale.

I now say farewell to you with the words from Saint Paul which an Anglican friend quoted to say goodbye to me: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”(1 Corinthians 15:58)

Although I now say goodbye we remain united in prayer. May God bless you all.

thank you

We thank Bishop Michael for his pastoral care of the Diocese of Armidale over the past 11 years. His dedication, compassion and warmth will be sorely missed.

We know how lucky the Maitland/ Newcastle Diocese are to have you and we wish you many blessings in your new appointment.

Back L-R: Servers Jerrick Perez, Br Frances Joseph Mary, Br Maximilian Mary. Middle L-R: Fr Paul McCabe, Server Benjamin Uphill, Fr Deleep Antony, Fr Paul Anthony Aguilar, Bishop Michael Kennedy, Deacon Paul Manvell, Fr Ross O’Brien. Front L-R: Fr Roel Llave, Bishop Gerard Hanna, Br Rogan, Thomas Ward and Faith Fittler.

INSTALLATION TO MAITLAND NEWCASTLE

Ninth Bishop of Maitland / Newcastle Diocese

fRIDAY 17TH mARCH 2023

On Friday 17th March Bishop Michael Kennedy was officially Installed to the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese as their Ninth Bishop in a Liturgical Reception at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton.

There was over 550 guests in attendance including the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Balvo, Archbishop Anthony Fisher, bishops from around Australia and representatives from every parish in the Diocese, gathered to witness this significant holy event.

Bishop Kennedy was greeted at the main doors to Sacred Heart Cathedral by Fr John Lovell, Rector of the Cathedral, and presented with a crucifix to venerate. As part of the Rite of Installation, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles Balvo, read the Apostolic Letter of Appointment, and Archbishop Fisher guided Bishop Michael to the cathedral.

Once formally seated in the cathedral, Bishop Michael was installed as the Ninth Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle and welcomed by representatives of the people of the Diocese.

Congratulations Bishop Michael, you will be sorely missed from the Diocese of Armidale.

diocesan administrator

Monsignor Edward Wilkes Elected Diocesan Administrator Of Armidale

MONDAY 20TH mARCH 2023

On Monday 20th March the College of Consultors met in Armidale and elected Monsignor Edward Wilkes as Diocesan Administrator for the Diocese of Armidale in accordance with Canons 416-430 to lead the regional New South Wales Diocese following Bishop Michael Kennedy’s installation as the Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle.

As Diocesan Administrator, Msgr Wilkes will lead the Diocese during the period until the ordination and installation of the 11th Bishop of Armidale.

Msgr Wilkes will continue to serve as the Parish Priest of St Joseph’s parish in Uralla and Parish Administrator of St Patrick’s Parish, Walcha while undertaking the duties of Diocesan Administrator.

Congratulations Monsignor Wilkes!

Photo Credit: MN News Today. Archbishop Anthony Fisher presenting Bishop Michael Kennedy with his crozier.

Pictured: Monsignor Edward Wilkes

HOPE KITCHEN

Food Truck Blessing

sunday 5th march 2023

On Sunday 5th March, Bishop Michael Kennedy blessed the brand new Heart of Peace Portable Kitchen Truck.

The truck is fully equipped with a commercial kitchen and catering equipment as well as an Antilles Coffee machine. It will be used in addition to the regular HOPe Kitchen started in 2022 for community outreach across the Diocese as well as offering aid for struggling communities.

HOPe was an initiative implemented by Bishop Michael Kennedy and the South Tamworth Parish. Inscribed on the back of the van it says “We acknowledge the support of Bishop Michael Kennedy, the bishop who gave HOPe to the Diocese of Armidale”.

We pray for the success of this exciting new outreach!

CLERGY ASSEMBLY

7th & 8th March 2023

armidale

On Tuesday 7th & Wednesday 8th March, clergy from the Diocese attended the Clergy Assembly at the Armidale City Bowling Club.

Father Gerard Kelly was the speaker for Tuesday and focused on The Rite of Funerals, the Resurrection of the Body & the “New Heavens and the New Earth”.

Mission and Evengelisation leader Debbie Riddell presented on Wednesday and led the clergy along with some lay people on the importance of Mission and Evengelisation within a Parish.

Thank you to both presenters who made this assembly so successful and to the clergy members who took time from their very busy schedules to attend.

Back L-R: Fr John McHugh, Fr Deleep Antony, Fr Samson Koyipurath, Fr Roel Llave, Deacon Paul Manvell, Fr Paul Chandler, Fr Thaddeus Ike, Fr James Poovathinkal, Fr Ross O’Brien, Fr Richard Gleeson, Fr Sabu Pulamalyil. Front L-R: Fr Abmar Dumayag, Fr Vic Ignacio, Fr Damien Locke, Fr Paul Aguilar, Mons Wilkes, Bishop Michael Kennedy, Fr Gerard Kelly (speaker), Fr Chris Onuekwusi, Fr Kingsley Etoh, Fr Anthony Vattakkunnel

AROUND THE DIOCESE

Papal Medal for Anne Finlayson

sunday 26th February

On Sunday 26th February, Armidale parishioner Anne Finlayson was awarded a Papal Benemerenti Medal for her service to the Catholic Church and to the Cathedral parish of Armidale.

Anne was joined by her family, CSO staff, the CSO spirituality team and Sr Helen Clark. Pope Francis has only given out 54 of these medals, making Anne the 55th recipient.

Congratulations Anne on this great honour! We are so grateful and appreciate all of your hard work, dedication and passion for spirituality, renewal and faith outcomes across our Diocese.

Livelihood Training For Nigerian Woman

SUNDAY 15TH january 2023

On Sunday 15th January, Father Kingsley Etoh dropped into South Tamworth Parish to collect the generous $500 donation from the Christmas Fundraising Project.

The funds raised will go towards livelihood training for two Nigerian women from Father Kingsley’s village.

Father Kingsley was very grateful for the generosity of South Tamworth parishioners.

Pictured is the CSO Spirituality Team L-R: Damian Roff, Leonie Keoghan, Kate Frazier, Liz Fitzgerald, Anne Finlayson, Carmel McCosker, Kerry Steller, Carol Wheaton, Di Brown, Fr Paul McCabe

Father Kingsley Etoh

MASS FOR RELIGIOUS

St Francis Xavier Parish Narrabri

Tuesday 21st February 2023

On Tuesday 21st February St Francis Xavier Parish Narrabri hosted the World Day of Consecrated Life of Women and Men with Bishop Michael Kennedy and approximately 50 priests and religious gathering in the church for a Mass of Thanksgiving.

The late Bishop Luc Matthys launched the celebration in the Armidale Diocese and every year the religious women and priests have celebrated the day in one of the parishes throughout the Diocese.

St Xavier’s Parish was chosen this year giving parishioners an opportunity to catch up with former sisters and priests who have served in the area.

Thank you to all who attended and made it such a special day.

lenten reflection

Our Lenten failures are the perfect preparation for Holy Week

chris da silva - m & e support officer

In the start-up world, failure - specifically ‘failing upward’ - is in. No sooner has an entrepreneur failed at a venture in Silicon Valley than he takes to some popular blog — or to the stage at industry conferences like FailCon (a real event held in prestigious locations the world over) to narrate the failure and the lessons he learned as a result, and subsequently to monetize that experience with a new start-up.

As with any modern phenomenon that resonates with the human psyche, it usually has some parallel in Catholic tradition, and failing upwards is no different.

Failing upwards does not mean failing on purpose, but gleaning all the wisdom we can from our failures; be they sins, imperfections or imprudent decisions. The principle can be found in the writings of St Thomas Aquinas, which discuss how God allows us to fall into certain less serious sins in order for us to avoid the most serious sin of pride.

The lesson here is that failure presents an opportunity for God to teach us humility. When we are humble, we realise how great God is; how apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5) and that every good and perfect gift comes from Him alone (James 1:17).

St Augustine defines humility as “the foundation of all the other virtues” and insists it is so essential that “in the soul

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in which this virtue does not exist, there cannot be any other virtue.”

Some analogous terms that enliven St Augustine’s definition include total dependence on, or confidence in, God. This is what Jesus is getting at when He says of little children, “the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 9:14)

That is the point the Church makes in her call to prayer, fasting and almsgiving during Lent; each of these teach us dependence on God in a unique way if we enter into them with an openness to be dependent on Him in the first place.

If we failed at one or all three, the chances are we fell into unholy self-reliance (a form of pride) at some point along the way, but the knowledge of that fall –what it felt like and what led us to it – can be used as stepping stones to a more complete dependence on God.

In this sense we can say with confidence that our slip-ups on the way to Holy Week have been the perfect upward failure that each of us needed to give a wholehearted ‘yes’ to staying by Jesus’ side from Holy Thursday all the way through to Easter Sunday.