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JANUARY - MARCH 2026

Eucharist

The International Eucharistic Congress 2028, will be a weeklong event held in Sydney, with the opportunity for Catholics of all ages; local, regional, interstate and from around the globe, to gather together to attend Masses, concerts, celebrations, receive catechisis and participate in an unforgettable Eucharistic procession through the streets of Sydney. The exact dates in 2028 are yet to be confirmed, but somewhere during the month of October is likely. For those who may not be able to attend, there have been practical proposals for every diocese to designate a “local expression” accessible to those unable to travel.

Sunday March 1, 2026, marked the beginning of a year of prayer in preparation for the event. In his homily, the Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher OP, likened walking up the steps of our local Catholic Churches and Cathedrals to the Apostles Peter, James and John walking up Mount Tabor to witness Jesus’s transfiguration. He encouraged Catholics to “visit our local churches as often as we can for Mass, Adoration, prayer, to see Him, be with Him, share with Him our joys and anxieties, our hopes and thanks, to ask him to transform us by his grace and make us fruitful.”

Following the event, the “mission” phase will stretch to 2033, the two thousandth anniversary of Christ’s Death and Resurrection, but also of the first Mass. “We will long continue to harvest the fruits of the Congress with stronger faith, deeper devotion, revitalised parishes, and whatever surprises God has in store for us!” - edited extract from ‘ Sydney Launches Eucharist 28’ p.2- The CatholicWeekly,Sunday8March,byTaraKennedyandMichaelCook

vocations - Deacon Allem Alba’s Journey

When did you first hear the call to become a priest? What were the circumstances of your life at that time?

I remember that, as a young boy, as early as Year 3, I already wanted to become a priest. Whenever people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would immediately say, “I want to become a priest!” Our house stood just in front of the parish church, and so I grew up as if the church were an extension of our home. My aunt and mum would take me to church on Sundays and feast days, and I was deeply fascinated by the beauty of the liturgy and the many pious devotions with which I was raised. As a student, I served as an altar boy, a member of the choir, a lector, and later a catechist. I also joined the Parish Youth Group and the local parish theatre group. Little did I know that this attraction to the life of the Church and the priesthood was already a seed planted within me, a calling rooted deep in my inmost being. I remember role-playing the Mass with my playmates at home. One Lent, I even staged an Ash Wednesday “Mass” and placed ashes on the foreheads of all my playmates and their toys! It was a joy. The thought of the priesthood never left my heart; it was as if a quiet force kept it alive within me. I entered the seminary right after finishing Year 10. Now I know that it was God who planted this desire, sustained it, nurtured it, and will bring it to fulfilment.

What have been some of the ups and downs and memorable moments on your journey to the diaconate?

Perhaps I could say that my journey, and life itself, has been marked by both struggle and grace. The first great trial came even before entering the seminary: my only little brother died in 2006 at the age of six. Then came my mother’s death ten years later, in 2016, and my father’s in 2023. These were the deepest low moments of my life. My entire immediate family has now gone to God, and I no longer enjoy the consolation of their physical presence. Yet there have been even more numerous joys that sustained me and became my anchor. The grace of a grateful heart has been a constant source of consolation. Even though I am “alone” in the sense that I am the only one left in my family, I can still move forward and look at the past with deep gratitude and peace.

There are so many joyful moments that one could write volumes about them, but among them I would count my coming to Armidale as a profound gift God has given me. Of course, the most obvious joy is receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Another recent grace was the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the Eternal City before ordination. Though it was my first time there, it felt like home. I experienced the beauty and universality of the Mother Church, to whom I am offering my life. Among the many moving experiences of that pilgrimage, my favourite was standing before the original tomb of St Peter beneath the basilica in the Scavi excavations. It felt like a pre-confirmation of my vocation. Here was a man who first heard Christ’s words, “Come, I will make you fishers of men.” A man who was weak, impulsive, who even denied the Lord, yet in his weakness, God became his strength. I stood before the tomb of a forgiven man. My vocation is like that of Peter. Though weak and a nobody, Jesus knew me and called me to be His friend. He forgave me and loved me first. The vocation to Holy Orders is an Easter vocation, a forgiven and sent life.

Moments with Jazz Photography

The example of many priests has also shaped my formation, examples that both inspired me and, at times, challenged me. One priest who greatly inspired me was the late Msgr Sabino Vengco Jr., a renowned theologian and longtime teacher in seminaries and universities back in the Philippines. Despite his impressive credentials, what struck me most was his fidelity to prayer, his dedication to service, and his humility. In his final class with us, shortly before he passed away, he prayed, almost prophetically, “Lord, now take care of the seeds I sowed.” I remember those words vividly, grateful to be one of those seeds.

I am also grateful to have become part of the Carmelite Family. Through my profession in the Third Order, I share in the prayers and sacrifices of the whole family. In this way, I can say that my vocation is also the fruit of the prayers of countless souls, living and dead. No-one is born a priest; every vocation is born in prayer. The call happens in an encounter with the One who invites us: “Come and see.”

What words of guidance would you give a young man who feels he may be called to the priesthood? Firstly, take the leap. Like the fishermen of Galilee, step out of your “boats” and follow Him. By “boats,” I mean many things: your present state in life, your doubts, your failures, even your comfort zones. Responding to the call is an act of faith. Even when the path is unknown, walk forward, assured that He is not a God of deception but the God of Light, Truth, and joy.

Secondly, ask. If you are unsure, ask. Ask the Lord. Some people look for signs, but what I mean is to speak honestly to Him: tell Him what you desire, and ask if it is His will. If yes, thank Him; if not, thank Him still. We can trust that He gives what we truly need, for He said, “Ask and it will be given to you.” This is also a good starting point for embracing celibacy. It is a gift. Like any good friendship, you may ask for the grace you need. Ask, and continue asking, so that the gift may be nourished and sustained. Also, it is a good thing to look for a good Spiritual Director to help you and don’t be afraid to “ask” him. Did/Do you have any fears about becoming a priest? How have you/will you overcome these fears? As a human being, of course I have fears. Living a life of celibacy can sometimes seem to double those fears. Yet fear is also a choice. I try, each day, to choose joy, because joy is the light that disperses the darkness of fear. As St. Carlo Acutis said, “Sadness is looking at oneself, happiness is looking at God.” I would like to share a prayer I wrote in early 2025, which I call A Celibate’s Night Prayer:

Lord,myBeloved,remindmeagain, “You loved me first.” If at times I feel exhausted andburdened,saytomeoncemore, “Iwillgiveyourest.”Indoubt,Lord,reassureme, “TrustinGod,trustinmealso.”AndifIfeelalone andlonely,saytomeagain,“Icallyoumyfriend.” Lord,IamtakingcareofyourpeopleasbestasIcan; pleasetakecareofme.

Iholdtheirpainsandhurtsinmyheart, Lord,holdmeinyourheart.

Jesus,myall,grantmethegracetoknowyoudeeply, toloveyouentirely,andtoenjoyyouineternity. Youlovedmefirst;bewithme.Iamyours.

Moments with Jazz Photography

vocations - deacon maximilian’s journey

I grew up in a family where my Mum would go to Mass each Sunday, and I would go along with her. I think this was a bit of a miracle given that almost no one else around me at school and among my friends practiced the faith. At this time, though, the way I acted throughout the week didn’t reflect my practice on Sundays. I would say that my attitude towards the Catholic Church was like how someone would follow a football team: I felt a certain loyalty towards the Church but there were plenty of things I disagreed with and criticised. I largely lived my life as though God wasn’t there. This all changed when I went to my first Immaculata Mission School in my early 20s. I can’t really explain what happened, but I know I walked away from it as a different person from when I arrived. Looking back, I would say that the love I received, along with the experience of prayer and the Sacraments, changed something in me. It was as though I had been living my life with tunnel vision, and someone took away the barriers so I could see so much wider. God hadn’t just become important to me; thanks to His grace and the witness and friendship of others, He slowly became someone close to me and formed the direction of my life. In the following years I gradually became more involved in the Immaculata Community, and then I attended the Immaculata Long-Term Mission School in 2016. By God’s providence my work for a Catholic organisation moved locations and ended up close to the Immaculata Sisters and missionaries, and so I moved into a house with the missionaries.

The call to become a religious brother and a priest came as much of a surprise to the Community as it did to me. I had established fairly well (so I thought) that I was called to marriage. Yet, when I was in a chapel one day praying, I got a very strong sense that I had not properly discerned that I wasn’t called to priesthood or religious life! I couldn’t ignore this: while I might have been called to marriage, I knew that if I never at least took the time to ask this question of God, I would go through the rest of my life wondering “what if?” The opportunity came up for me to take some time off to spend some time discerning the Brothers of the Immaculata. The answers didn’t come as neatly as I expected though. What God made apparent very quickly was that I was called to leave my work and commit my life in some way to serve the charism of the Immaculata Community, though I wasn’t clear about what that would look like. It took a bit more time of asking – and struggling – to realise that this service that God was calling me to was as a religious Brother of the Immaculata.

Moments with Jazz Photography

The struggle was mostly because I had many questions and doubts in trusting God with this: What if this life will be too difficult? What will my work do without me? What if I realise in a few years’ time that this isn’t for me and I come out much older and less marriageable? By the end of the discernment, I didn’t have all the answers. What I did get though was the assurance and clarity that God wanted me to just take one step: to become a postulant (the first stage of religious life). I had to let go and allow God to guide my life, trusting that whatever happens He will be looking after things.

In the following years I discovered that I had no idea what I was getting into: the religious life is something so much more amazing and beautiful than I would have known beforehand. The love and formation I have received from the Community, along with the friendship we have grown in together, has helped me to become more myself and more of who I am meant to be. I have known throughout my vocation that God has been calling me to be a priest, but to be a religious first and foremost. His call to me has been to serve the charism of the Immaculata Community which He has gifted to the Church through the Sisters and is lived out by them, the Brothers and the Lay Community. The charism is about bringing spiritual renewal and faith formation in parishes and mission, through evangelisation and teaching people how to pray.

Hence, my service of the charism will be lived out in a parish and mission as a priest, serving alongside the Sisters and Brothers in community. Late last year I made my final profession of vows, and it is here that I feel that God has received my heart in a deeper and more profound way: that I can trust him with my whole life as His beloved. In February this year I was blessed to be ordained to the Diaconate. Again, I can’t really explain what happened at the ordination, but it was something very tangible which meant I was different when Mass ended. This is a gift from God, and I am sure He has given it so that I can stay close to Him and use it to serve with His heart. Finally, my religious title is “Totus Tuus Maria,” meaning ‘Totally yours, Mary.” My journey of religious life has been one of growing in deeper intimacy with my mother, Mary, who I know has been looking after me. St John the Beloved was able to be at the foot of the cross because he stayed close to Mary. I know that this is true for me too: if I do not stay close to Mary, I would not have the courage to stay at the foot of the cross close to Jesus.

Moments with Jazz Photography

vocations - sister celine marie’s journey

Growing up, I never wanted to be a Sister. All I ever wanted to be was a mum, a homeschooling mum with lots of kids. When I was little, the older ladies in Church used to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I would tell them I wanted to be a mum. They used to think I said “nun” and tell me how wonderful this was. I would then set them straight, straight away and tell them that I was not going to be a “nun” but a “mum”.

I grew up in a Catholic family and have always known and loved Jesus. My parents taught me how to pray, the importance of going to Mass, and of having a relationship with God. I always desired to have a deeper relationship with God but was not sure how to have this intimacy with Him.

When I was about 16 years old, I began to “discern my vocation” as I was told this is what Catholic girls should do. I wasn’t completely sure how to do this, and besides, I already knew what God wanted for my life anyway. I was going to get married and have lots of kids. That was what was going to make me happy, and I was going to teach my kids about God and how to pray. Why wouldn’t God want that?

I had met a few Religious communities growing up, including meeting the Sisters of the Immaculata when I was 14, but even though I liked the Sisters and what they did, I was convinced that Religious Life was not for me.

When I was 19, I went to World Youth Day (WYD) in Krakow, Poland with the Sisters of the Immaculata and it was on this trip that my heart first began to open to the possibility of a religious vocation and my relationship with God really started to deepen.

At the beginning of the WYD pilgrimage, someone asked me what my intention was for coming to WYD. I did not know you brought an intention with you to WYD, so I said, “I want to know my vocation” and started praying for this intention everywhere we went. One day my small group spent a long time in Eucharistic Adoration with the relics of St Therese of Lisieux which had travelled to Krakow for WYD. I have always been close to St Therese, and it was here in Adoration that I felt St Therese say to me to “take another look at Religious Life”.

Moments with Jazz Photography

When I came back from WYD, something had also changed in my relationship with God. I cannot pinpoint the moment it happened, but when I came back from WYD, I could not go without Eucharistic Adoration and began to regularly travel two to three hours to spend time in a perpetual adoration chapel. On WYD, our group used to do a Holy Hour together each morning before we went out anywhere, and I think it was this that really changed my life.

From here on, my heart began to open to the possibility of another vocation other than marriage, and I spent more time in prayer. I also went to more retreats run by the Immaculata Community, including the Long-Term Mission School (LTMS), a five-month formation and mission program that the community runs every year. It was during my LTMS that I felt God preparing me for something and I continued to enter into a deeper relationship with God, especially through Eucharistic Adoration. I also received a lot of healing and came alive in the mission of the Sisters.

After my LTMS, I was not sure what God was calling me to do, but I knew that He was calling me to do something very similar to what I was doing with the Sisters on my LTMS. I emailed Mother Mary Therese and asked her to pray for me because I didn’t know what to do and Mother suggested that maybe I should pray a novena to see if I was called to discern with them. I did, and at the end of this novena, God gave me a very clear sign that I was meant to step out. So, I did. I entered the Sisters on the 26th July 2018. I did not know if this is what I was meant to do for the rest of my life, but I gave God a chance and stepped out. My first few weeks of being a Sister were so peaceful and I felt so secure, loved and at home. I never expected to feel this way as a Sister and I began to really love my vocation and want to live this way for the rest of my life.

I made my Final Profession of Vows last year on the 27th November, the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. The ceremony was very beautiful and my family and many friends and parishioners were able to join me in celebrating the gift of my vocation. As part of the ceremony, I received a ring to symbolise my espousal to Christ the Bridegroom. He has indeed been very faithful to me because my marriage to Christ has meant that I am a spiritual mother to many beautiful children, and I am not limited to only a few.

Moments with Jazz Photography

immaculata mission school

Families from all over the country made a pilgrimage to the Immaculata Mission School, from 1- 5 January, held at St. Albert’s College Armidale. Approximately 500 people welcomed in the new year worshiping God, listening to talks from local and international lay and religious speakers. It was a wonderful opportunity for families to take time out, at the beginning of the year, to grow in their faith and have fun and fellowship together. Music ministry was a special part of the Mission School, with traditional sacred hymns and contemporary praise and worship music helping the congregation draw closer to God, in times of quiet reflection and more vocal gratitude for God’s goodness. Speakers from overseas gave talks on the highs and lows of their married lives. Juan Frech spoke of the emotional trauma he and his wife experienced when their newborn only survived a short period after birth. He also shared how the positive and negative aspects of his own upbringing affected his relationship with his spouse and children.

Katey Norman, a wife and mother from Canada, shared about a time in her life when she wasn’t walking closely with God at all. For the audience it was surprising how the speakers were willing to be so candid about their personal lives and struggles. On the feast of Sts. Basil and Gregory the Great, Fr. Adrian Simmons spoke on the importance of fatherhood; how in the modern world the sense of the patriarch of the family has been diminished, that there isn’t always a clearly defined moment for sons to know that they are no longer boys, but men. Fr. Adrian recollected that, for him it was on his 17th birthday, when his father, after speaking with Adrian on a topic, for the first time asked him “So, what do you think about it?” The meals were a time for families to reconnect after the morning and afternoon activities. Sharing was brief; however, as children were keen to go and play tip, with their new friends.

A highlight was the bush dance on the Saturday night. It was great to see such a crowd of people from primary school age to retirement age having so much fun together!

Moments with Jazz Photography

Clergy Assembly

The recent Autumn Clergy assembly was an opportunity for Bishop Peter and the priests, deacons and seminarians from the Diocese of Armidale, to gather to receive ongoing formation through presentations from visiting speakers, to spend quality time together, and to unite them in their commitment to work together for the good of the Diocese. The assembly took place in the Torreggiani room. The two main speakers were Stephen Lawrence and Dr. John Poon.

Stephen Lawrence, a married man with children, spoke of the positive influence a Catholic priest had on his life, how he was a spiritual father and a mentor. This priest helped him overcome difficulties and increase his self-confidence through realising his potential in cricket. He also encouraged him to get involved in Catholic activities, such as missions and pilgrimages to poor and holy places. These experiences led to a deeper relationship with Jesus where he became aware of how God works in day-to-day life. Stephen became vigilant to stay in the state of grace by devoting himself to the Sacrament of Penance, frequent reception of the Eucharist and regular prayer. Stephen also shared some personal experiences of his AFL career, including a time when he was travelling on a coach with his AFL teammates to a training camp. Stephen was emboldened to challenge the driver, who was broadcasting inappropriate content on the TV - bravely turning a bad situation around.

The second speaker was Dr. John Poon, who spoke on “inner safeguarding”. This talk introduced us to several psychological dispositions and hormonal effects on human behaviour. He explained that human behaviours are influenced by chemical reactions within the body. Hormones like dopamine will draw us to a particular response in a particular situation. As human beings, we have the five senses that are a gift to us. However, because of sin, our senses can lead us to disordered desires. The action of grace is somewhat ignored if we are dictated by hormonal reactions in our brain.

I have a strong belief in the divine power of God, who can transform anyone. Stephen Lawrence’s testimony was evidence of this. As priests, we have the power to use the Sacraments for the spiritual growth of our parishioners.

We know that every baptized person has a beautiful soul. God delights to see his image and likeness in every soul in the state of grace. Sometimes we fail to see the importance of the interior life because of too much focus on the exterior. There is so much inner beauty in each person and as priests let us make our people aware of it. The Church has so much to offer for the sanctification of its members and everything begins from God and flows through the church through our gift, the priesthood. Many people are hungry for God’s grace through the sacraments so let us make ourselves available. There are many Stephens out there ready to see the goodness of God and share it.

-Fr.AbmarDumayagMS

st. carlo acutis tour

Beginning in October last year, a Diocesan-wide tour is bringing St Carlo Acutis’ message of Eucharistic devotion to our schools and parishes. Before dying in 2006 at the age of 15, St Carlo created an extraordinary exhibition about Eucharistic miracles. Born out of St Carlo’s desire to draw people to Mass and to a deeper love for the Eucharist, the exhibition has visited over one hundred universities and thousands of parishes on all five continents.

The exhibition is also being opened to parishioners and the wider community outside of school hours, in many cases during the weekend with an event being held that helps to enrich people’s understanding of St Carlo and the Eucharist. In this way, the whole diocese is being given an opportunity to be renewed in our Eucharistic love, which is an important part of the preparations for the International Eucharistic Congress of 2028. St Carlo Acutis, pray for us! See the Diocesan website for tour dates: https://armidale.catholic.org.au/saint-carlo-acutis-tour-launch

As part of the Diocesan tour, sessions are being run in all schools, so that every student will be able to view the exhibition. Students are given a presentation on St Carlo and the Eucharistic miracles, before spending time looking at the beautiful display and having the opportunity to write a prayer intention to St Carlo or venerate a first class relic of his hair. The school session culminates in a time of Eucharistic Adoration so that students can receive the gift of God’s love being poured out upon them. This provides an important link to St Carlo, who prayed daily before Jesus in the tabernacle or exposed upon the altar in the monstrance, which helped him to become holy at such a young age.

“I loved it!” Year6student, StJoseph’s,Mungindi

“The way it was presented was really engaging, the kids loved it.” Teacher,StJoseph’s,Uralla

Children’s time of Adoration St. Andrew’s Parish Wee Waa

Visiting the St. Carlo Acutis exhibition, St. Andrew’s Parish Wee Waa

venerable mary glowrey

The cause for sainthood for Australian-born doctor and missionary in India, Mary Glowrey has advanced after Pope Leo XIV recognised her ‘heroic virtues’ on 21 November 2025. Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey, as she will now be titled, is just the second Australian, after St Mary Mackillop, to be accorded this status. Born in the Victorian town of Birregurra in 1887, Glowrey was an experienced doctor in Melbourne hospitals and private practice when she travelled to India, aged 32, and entered religious life in Guntur, located in present day Andhra Pradesh. She spent 37 years in service to marginalised women and children.

Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli expressed ‘deep joy’ at the news.

‘A proud daughter of Melbourne, Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey was a trailblazer - one of our early female doctors - before answering the call to serve in India,’ he said. ‘Her healing hands, her compassion, and her bold spirit were a living sign of God’s tenderness. May her example and intercession continue to inspire Aussies and people everywhere to live lives of service and holiness.’ - ExtractfromTOGETHERDecember2025DioceseofWaggaWagga

Above: Sr Mary of the Sacred Heart JMJ, tending to the sick during missionary work in Guntur, 1925