In many of St Paul’s letters to the early Christian communities, he speaks of the deep connectedness that our life in Christ brings. The letter to the Romans reminds us of our equality and human interdependence. Paul writes, “the life and death of each of us has its influence on others” (Romans 14:7). While the language of Synodality had not been developed in the way we use it today, I believe that here, Paul is talking about living a way of life that is in communion with each other.
During the recent Mass of Christian Burial for Bishop Kevin Manning, the second Bishop of Parramatta, on Friday 2 August, I experienced these words from St Paul ringing true! From the rousing singing of the opening hymn, “We Stand for God,” to the final statement of our Christian journey being, “In Faith and Hope and Love,” we celebrated the life of a man and leader who lived with conviction his belief in the mission of the Church and invited us all in our Diocesan community and the Australian Church, to be active and equal participants in this shared mission.
For many decades, we have become more aware that both our human and Church communities will experience deeper communion, if we live the conviction of St Paul that women and men are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).
Equal gender participation is a complex issue. It is embedded deeply and with difference in the diversity of cultures inhabiting our global human community. Therefore, our efforts to grow societies of inclusion take time. It calls for a new consciousness, a new awakening! Such a process largely involves conversion of the heart, so it can’t be forced.
However, it can be enabled, awakened and facilitated through good research which aims to listen to the voices of all the People of God.
In the early ‘90s, the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference commissioned a research group, led by Bishop Kevin Manning, to understand how and where women could participate more fully at every level in the life of the Church.
The project gathered extensive data through various methods, including surveys, public hearings and written submissions to improve women’s participation in the Church. The entire report on the outcomes of the survey, “Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus” was launched at the National Press Club in Canberra in 1999.
Image: Supplied
It is a document that needs to be celebrated! Some might say one of the hidden treasures of our Australian Church. While it may not be explicitly referred to frequently today, it has a role in informing current decision-making in an ongoing way. This helps us to realise in all our practices, the conviction of St Paul, that “Woman and man are one in Jesus Christ.”
During Bishop Kevin’s Mass of Christian Burial, significant tributes were paid to him for his vision and tenacity, especially in bringing to completion the beautiful worship space of our Diocesan Cathedral. While it is important to honour and give thanks for this work, it is timely to remember his vision and commitment to ensuring that the “living stones” of the People of God – especially women – are given voice and the possibilities for increased participation in our Church as we journey through the decades of the 21st Century.
So, we remember with gratitude the energy and commitment Bishop Kevin gave to this work. It has helped pave the way for the increase of women’s participation in a range of ministries in our Church. Furthermore it offered valid information to inform the voices of the participants during the sessions of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia (October 2021 and July 2022).
Sr Patty Andrew osu is the Vicar for Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Parramatta.
