As we recently celebrated Pentecost – not only the “birthday” of our Church, but the moment when people of many nations could hear the Good News in their own language (Acts 2:1–11), we are reminded that the Holy Spirit continues to draw people together across cultures, communities and experiences. The fruits of the Spirit, including love, kindness and generosity (Galatians 5:22–23), are reflected in the many acts of hospitality and welcome that are deeply ingrained in the fabric of our Diocese.
From supporting migrants and refugees, to giving local families and others a hand-up when times are tough, parishes, school communities and local agencies across the Diocese continue to live out the vision of the Diocese’s Pastoral Plan, fostering communities of welcome, accompaniment and mission.
This is the case at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Seven Hills, where many, including the Parish Priest Fr Henry Huu Duc Tran, “have experienced the warm welcome of living in a new country like Australia”, said Ian Epondulan, an active member of several parish groups.
“He [Fr Henry] unites and encourages the congregation together through prayer and faith in action, not only in our local community context but also to help those outside of our sphere, including our sisters and brothers of other faith traditions, our global family,” he said.
The Seven Hills parish is actively involved in the CRISP program – which helps support refugees to settle into life in Australia – by providing housing and volunteers to teach them English. It is also an active member of the Blacktown Network of Faith Communities, which meets monthly to promote interreligious dialogue and to show solidarity for refugees and asylum seekers.
Our Lady of Lourdes Seven Hills’ Filipino Chaplaincy Young Adults Choir. Image: Supplied
But it helps in other ways too. Their group, Lourdes Luminate Young Adults, donates baby supplies every year to support families at Westmead Hospital. While at Christmas, their Filipino Chaplaincy Young Adults Choir sings carols at a local nursing home. This is only some of what the parish does.
Over at Holy Family Parish, Mt Druitt, they have run a family holiday program for more than 40 years, which gives all families in the community the opportunity to build social connection and access affordable activities, such as beach outings and community events. The families who participate come from culturally diverse backgrounds, many of whom are newly arrived in the area.
“For us as a parish, hospitality and welcome are at the heart of the program,” said Parish Priest Fr Cao Nguyen SJ, adding that the program itself creates “spaces where people can connect, build friendships and feel supported with the community.”
Alongside the holiday program, the parish brings together a range of faith, welfare, social justice, and community services that support individuals and families across the Mt Druitt area.
Elsewhere in Diocese the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations partners with local parishes, such as Good Shepherd Parish in Plumpton, to organise collaborative interfaith food drives with local Muslim women-founded charities, such as House of Sakinah and Aghan Women on the Move.
Pentecost reminds us that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were never meant for a single moment, but to continually renew and strengthen the Church for mission. Across our Diocese, that Spirit is alive in the people who quietly serve others with generosity, compassion and faith. They are the heart of our Diocesan Pastoral Plan – to be a Church that walks together, reaches to the margins and shares the hope of the Gospel in practical and life-giving ways.
This article was originally published in the 2026 June | Winter edition of the Catholic Outlook Magazine. You can read it online here or pick up a copy in your local parish.
