For Mike Schembri, the path to working for the Diocese of Parramatta began during a “working sabbatical” at Bunnings.
The Lead Facilitator for the new Diocesan Pastoral Plan had had a long career as a senior manager in large IT firms, and then as an executive advisor, but when the last of those roles finished he decided to step back from corporate life and take stock of what he wanted to do next.
Over the next 18 months he avoided any management responsibilities, and instead “put away stock in aisles 16 to 18, and they were never tidier”. At the same time he became friends with a Carmelite priest who he would meet up with every so often for a coffee and a chat.
The result was a fundamental realignment of his priorities – from rising through the corporate world, to searching for something more meaningful.
“It was that ability to actually have the time to think that made me reconsider some things,” he says.
“You’ve got this momentum and trajectory that is just taking you in a direction, and it’s not until you stop do you actually really reconsider what it is that you’re doing.”
And what Mike realised that he wanted to do was to continue using his skills in leadership, managing change and “making stuff better” in organisations, but doing it all in the “for purpose” sector.
A view of the journey undertaken by the global Church and Diocese of Parramatta at the official launch of the 2024-2028 Diocesan Pastoral Plan for a Synodal Church at the Western Sydney Conference Centre, Penrith. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
Grounded in faith and community
Working for the church wasn’t all that unfamiliar to Mike. He describes himself as a “long-term Catholic” who attended Catholic schools and went to Catholic youth group. But for more than 35 years has lived in an ecumenical community called The Servants of Jesus, in Seven Hills, which is made up of everyone from Pentecostals to Messianic Jews and Catholics. “The Catholic part is its own little fellowship,” he says.
Mike joined as a young man, met his wife there and they raised their children alongside other members. For nearly 10 years he was the Chairman of the community, a governance role that gave him an understanding of church structures and processes.
“Within my street half the houses are people who are in the community,” he says. “That’s what probably drew me to it, the idea of community life.
“I got to do church with a group of people and in a way that most people don’t get to experience.”
A view of the 2024-2028 Diocesan Pastoral Plan for a Synodal Church during its official launch at the Western Sydney Conference Centre, Penrith. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
‘Communication and collaboration’
Mike joined the Diocese as Lead Facilitator of the Pastoral Plan in December. In announcing his appointment, Sr Ailsa Mackinnon RSM, the Chancellor for Ministries in the Diocese, described him as having “a strong understanding of the mission of the Church in Parramatta and Western Sydney and the synodal culture of participation, mission and communion that Pope Francis has called for, and Bishop Vincent is striving to develop”.
Mike says that what drew him to the role was the ability to use his God-given gifts, corporate experience along with his faith background. He also liked that the Diocese was not looking for someone with “a defined plan”, but rather someone who would engage in a lot of dialogue spiritual listening, something he admits will be quite a bit different to how he’s operated in other jobs. “It’s not my natural place, but I’m very much enjoying learning,” he says.
He’s started this process of listening by meeting with parishes, deaneries and agencies around the Diocese to learn how each is starting to think about its response to the Diocesan Plan – in particular the priorities and their associated commitments, as well as the broader objectives.
Some parishes, for example, are saying that they will concentrate on one or two areas of action for the next year, which Mike says is a “really strong way to go about it”.
“I think trying to do it all risks doing nothing, whereas doing one or two things really well is a great way to start.”
Mike says his job will be to facilitate decision making, through dialogue, discernment and spiritual listening with the Holy Spirit, so that all these pieces of the diocesan puzzle – the parishes, deaneries, religious communities and agencies – feel as though they fit together with the rest.
A view of the 2024-2028 Diocesan Pastoral Plan for a Synodal Church during its official launch at the Western Sydney Conference Centre, Penrith. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta
“The biggest part of this role is communication and collaboration,” he says, which will often involve providing linkages between different parishes and agencies, helping them to share ideas and resources.
He says the more people that know about what he is doing and how he can help their parish, or agency or community fully benefit from the Diocesan Plan, the better and more successful the plan will be.
And he is not just thinking about the faithful.
“My real goal is the 1.3 million people of the Parramatta Diocese. I don’t want to turn them all into Catholics – although I’m not going to be against it if that’s where they’re all led.
“But I do want them to engage with us and see that we’re answering Pope Francis’ call to build a ‘civilisation of love’ in our area synodally and co-responsibly!”
If you or your parish, deanery, agency or community has a question about the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, contact Mike at mike.schembri@parracatholic.org
This article was originally published in the 2025 Lent & Easter | Autumn edition of the Catholic Outlook Magazine. You can read the digital version here or pick up a copy in your local parish.
