A Grateful Farewell

As I prepare to stand before you tomorrow, I am already deeply moved by the number of familiar faces who will be gathered together. Your presence, your kindness, and your support mean more to me than I can express. Stepping into retirement has not been an easy decision. After twenty-five and a half years working for the Catholic Church, it is difficult to close a chapter that has shaped so much of my life. It has been a journey filled with surprises, friendships, challenges, and countless moments of grace.

One of my earliest memories still brings a smile. On my very first day, our housekeeper had prepared a beautiful chicken and leek pie for lunch, complete with detailed serving instructions. Four of us gathered around the dining table as the parish priest dutifully followed her directions. I innocently asked, “Shall we say grace?” He paused, then replied, “No, all good—our housekeeper is a wonderful cook.” In that moment, I realised I was in for an interesting ride. And indeed, it has been exactly that.

By the end of this year, I will have had the privilege of serving this parish community for more than fifteen and a half years. Together, we have grown from a single parish into a vibrant community of five churches, three schools, and a retirement village. It has been one of the great honours of my life to walk alongside you through this time of change, growth, and renewal.

Many people have asked what a Stewardship Coordinator actually does. As some of you have recently discovered—the answer is quite a lot! Beyond the day-to-day financial management of the parish, my role has included caring for our 18 properties, training and mentoring our sacristans, stepping in as sacristan when needed, ensuring we have priests for our nine weekend Masses and weekday supply, coordinating priests and sacristans rosters, managing BASP baskets and sacristy linen, nurturing relationships with our partner organisations, supporting residents at our retirement village, keeping our churches stocked with everything from candles to hospitality supplies, and when the parish staff are on leave, assisting with baptism and wedding enquiries, and preparing the weekly newsletter when needed and let’s not forget the odd article I write for the weekly newsletter. And that is just the shortlist!

The liturgy for my farewell Mass is especially meaningful to me because each person involved has played a part in my journey here—whether through leadership, service, friendship, or shared ministry. Their presence today was a reminder of the many relationships that have shaped my time in this community.

As I look back, there are many people I wish to acknowledge.

My deepest thanks go to the parish priests I have worked with over the years for their trust, guidance, and the many opportunities that shaped both my career and my personal growth.

I am also grateful to the financial and administrative leaders who supported me through years of expansion—from the early days of one parish, through the addition of new communities, and finally the amalgamation in 2024. Their patience, wisdom, and reliability were a constant source of strength.

To our wonderful sacristans—past and present—it has been one of my greatest joys to watch you grow from altar servers into confident, capable young adults. You have prepared our churches for Masses, funerals, and weddings; supported clergy and liturgical ministers; comforted grieving families; steadied nervous bridal parties; and even become our resident tech experts. I am incredibly proud of each of you. The world is yours—embrace every opportunity and build the joyful, fulfilling lives you deserve.

To the parish staff: thank you for your friendship, your humor, and your unwavering support. We have shared challenges, change, illness, loss, and many moments of joy. We have also shared countless memories—from watching children grow into young adults to navigating the daily surprises that parish life brings. I will treasure every one of those moments.

I would also like to acknowledge families of the Parish Team —especially our husbands—for their patience, their support during the odd hours we keep, and their willingness to step into every role they were volunteered for with grace and good humor.

And finally, to our current Parish Priest, Fr Sang Ho: your leadership during this first year—marked by transition, challenge, and renewal—has been inspiring. With the amalgamation complete and the foundation now strong, I know the parish is in capable hands and well positioned for whatever the future holds.

As I step into this next chapter, I do so with a full heart. Thank you for the trust you placed in me, the friendships we have formed, and the memories we have created together. This parish has been my home for many years, and each of you has played a part in making it a place of warmth, faith, and community.

I leave with deep gratitude—and with great hope for all that lies ahead for this remarkable parish. But this is not goodbye, just the beginning of a new chapter.

By Kate Baines