From the Parish House

This Sunday we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of the Easter season and listen to the text of John’s Gospel, which reminds us that Christ is the vine and we, the people of God, are the branches.  “All who live in me, and I in them bear much fruit.” (John 15:1-8).  This might be a good image to guide us over the next few weeks, as we explore the process of the proposed amalgamation of our parishes.  Last week (21 April), I introduced the proposal that our parishes formally amalgamate at the end of this year.  Today, our Parish Council is providing a set of Frequently Asked Questions or FAQs for your information.  You are invited to read these questions and to provide any comments, or ask any further questions, on the feedback portal at the end of the FAQs.  Next week, stay tuned for the brief history of each of our partnered parishes.  It may be surprising to learn about the connections and partnerships that have existed between our parishes over the last one hundred years!  In the meantime, don’t forget to register for one of our Parish Meetings taking place in the last week of May.  These meetings will provide the opportunity to hear more about the proposed amalgamation of Camberwell, Balwyn Deepdene and Surrey Hills Wattle Park.

Alongside the amalgamation project parish life continues.  This week Our Lady of Good Counsel Primary School celebrated a Centenary Mass, marking one hundred years of education.  Next week, we will take up on of the proposals that came out of the Synthesis Report from the Synod on Synodality.  Part II of that report talks about the church being made up of “all disciples, all missionaries”.  One of the specific proposals made in this section is the following: “We need more creativity in establishing ministries according to the needs of local churches, with the particular involvement of the young.  One can think of further expanding responsibilities assigned to the existing ministry of lector, responsibilities that are already broader than those performed in the liturgy.  This could become a fuller ministry of the Word of God, which, in appropriate contexts, could also include preaching.”  This proposal challenges the current practice of the Catholic Church which reserves preaching by an ordained priest or deacon.

So, next Sunday, 5 May, we will have six women give their reflections on the Sunday gospel across the various Masses in our parishes.  Please make Sandy Curnow, Cathy Jenkins, Sr Joanna Coleiro, Ann Rennie, Larissa Boyhan and Nanette Giovannini welcome, as they share their thoughts and reflections next Sunday.

And in terms of ministries of the Word involving young people, don’t forget to look out for, and support, Tom Nunan’s This Sunday is YouTube channel.  Tom is working his way through every Sunday of the year with a commentary prepared for young people by a young person.  I am sure you will learn something from Tom’s presentations.

By Fr Brendan Reed

Published: 26 April 2024