ABC TV’s Religion and Ethics show ‘Compass’ has featured Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, in an episode entitled ‘Sacred Space – The Franciscan of Parramatta’.
The show’s Geraldine Doogue, who approached Bishop Vincent to be part of the show, visits Bishop Vincent’s own ‘sacred space’ – his mother’s garden – where he has created a fun topiary garden of animals facing a cross in the tradition of the philosopher Teilhard de Chardin. Bishop Vincent explains “gardening is a great spiritual therapy for me”.
In his interview with Geraldine in the Mary MacKillop Chapel in the Bethany Centre in the Diocese of Parramatta, Bishop Vincent talks about his escape from Vietnam in an overcrowded boat, a frightening and dangerous experience with his infant niece, nephew and sister-in-law.
The producers and Bishop Vincent visit the celebrations at the shrine of Our Lady of La Vang in Keysborough, Victoria, which Bishop Vincent helped create during his time as Auxilliary Bishop in Melbourne. He explains the design of the chapel which is in the shape of a boat, with stained glass windows that reflect the refugee heritage of many of the Vietnamese people in Victoria.
In Parramatta, Bishop Vincent explains the origins of the now annual Iftar dinner, which he instigated as a way of reaching out to the local Muslim community to create understanding between religious communities following the terrorist shootings at Parramatta Police Headquarters in 2015.
Bishop Vincent speaks candidly about the challenges he has faced due to his leadership approach, as well as his appearance at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2017, during which he disclosed his own experience of clerical abuse as a young man.
Other elements of Catholic life in the Diocese of Parramatta are also shown in the documentary including Holy Spirit Seminary in Harris Park, Holy Thursday Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, the World Youth Day pilgrims, and discussion of the Diocesan Synod.
‘Sacred Space – the Franciscan of Parramatta’ which was screened on 25 June 2023 can be viewed on ABC iView under the Compass program.
