How may I serve you in living God’s mission of love?

By Richard McMahon
Mr Richard McMahon. Photo supplied.

I am delighted to begin my journey with you in your service of God and our shared mission (having commenced 28 September 2015). I am married with four children, and served for over 25 years in parishes as a pastoral associate, adult faith coordinator and most recently as Director of Parish Services in the Diocese of Wollongong.

There is so much richness in Faith in our Future, our Diocesan Pastoral Plan, and I am grateful to my predecessor, Richard McMahon medresDaniel Ang, his two-day a week team of Margaret and Lindsay, and to so many people of our Diocese for your energy and expertise which shaped our Plan.

How do we ensure that all the great work which went into our Plan bears good fruit? Much is already happening and key to my role is to consider with you where the plan is serving your needs and where do we need to adapt, providing support to overcome challenges and continue to build upon existing strengths.

A big thank you to Fr Paul Roberts and the Institute for Mission (IFM) Team for recently circulating our newest publication: Forming the Young & Adult Church to our parishes. It contains a rich collection of ideas for youth leaders, ministries and groups as well as resources for parish pastoral councils and the formation of adults in your community. I will be posting more details about this resource on our site in the near future. My gratitude to Daniel and his team for their work in bringing this great resource to life. There are more copies available of this booklet, along with its companion guide, Welcome & Evangelise. Please let us know if you require further booklets and support in developing any of their recommendations.

Right now, I am busy meeting people, and have begun visits to parishes, and engaging with other key people. Listening to what is happening locally is critical and over the next two months I intend to visit with all our parishes and other key diocesan contacts.

As such, I am keen to meet with you, to listen to your wisdom, discover the good things you are doing, and to discern with you what is needed going forward.

I hope and pray that my own role and the resources of our diocesan pastoral planning may enrich the good you are already doing in service of Jesus Christ and our Church.

Please contact me if you would like to arrange an appointment or invite me to your own community, event or special gathering.

Richard McMahon
Director of Pastoral Planning & Implementation
02 9831 4911 | 0437 497 526 | rmcmahon@parra.catholic.org.au |

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