Laughter, reflection and wisdom at Parish Secretaries’ Day 2018

By Mary Brazell, 6 December 2018
Parish secretaries with Fr Paul Roberts and Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv during Parish Secretaries' Day at the Shrine of the Holy Innocents, Kellyville. Image: Mary Brazell/Diocese of Parramatta.

 

Parish secretaries from parishes in the Diocese of Parramatta gathered for a day of reflection and celebration at the Shrine of the Holy Innocents, Kellyville.

Before the rush of Christmas, the group of 50 parish secretaries came together on Wednesday December 5 to reflect on the year and their role as the “ambassadors of God’s love and mercy”, according to Most Rev Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta.

Carmen Beard from Sacred Heart Parish, Blackheath, said that secretaries’ days are always a positive experience. “It’s nice to see all the other ladies and gentlemen from the other parishes, because we’re so far away.”

Malia Lolesio from Holy Family Parish, Mt Druitt enjoys the fellowship between the young and the old at secretaries’ days. “Being a young person and being able to mix in with the other secretaries who are a bit more experienced and have a lot of wisdom of being Church, I love coming to learn, to receive, to be able to go back and give.”

Geoff Officer, Chief of Operations & Finance, Diocese of Parramatta, welcomed the parish secretaries and thanked them for their service.

“One of the reasons why we have this session because it’s the end of the year and it’s a time when we can acknowledge you and say thanks for your contribution, not just to the Diocese”

“We at the Chancery know that we couldn’t do anything in the Diocese without your assistance – you are the front line.”

The parish secretaries were taken through a reflection session led by Fr Paul Roberts and Donnie Velasco from the Institute for Mission (IFM), Blacktown. The topic – ‘Themes of Christian Leadership’ – was adapted with a focus on the kinds of leadership that is reflected in parishes.

“God does not call the equipped, but rather He equips the called. If we are open to receiving the power of God’s grace into what we say ‘yes’ to,” Fr Paul said. “It’s a diverse and even unexpected who, who are leaders in the Gospel.”

Donnie Velasco said “when we talk about Christian leadership, our focus isn’t on a formula or results or an outcome, but an openness to seek and learn, an openness to wrestle with God’s plan for our lives, and an openness to the hearing the promptings in which God is calling us to do and to be.

“Christian leaders are not those who’ve got all the answers sorted – but who allow themselves to be ongoing seekers and learners in the mission that is God’s mission.”

VIEW: Images from the Parish Secretaries’ Day and Christmas celebration below or here.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/parracatholic/albums/72157674238157497

In the second session, the secretaries were asked to reflect on five topics in relation to their ministry in their parish. The responses were then recorded by the IFM team to be given as a gift to the secretaries and to affirm their role as the “first face of the Parish”, according to Sr Grace Roclawska CSFN from the IFM.

Mass was then celebrated in the Chapel with Bishop Vincent and Fr Paul. During his homily, Bishop Vincent reflected on the spirit of Christian service in which the parish secretaries carry with them.

“On this day, as we gather and reflect on the work we’ve done and the people that we have served, we are reminded of our mission of sharing the Good News and being part of God’s loving plan for the world.

“I’m sure there have been times that you have felt like the disciples when confronted with difficult situations or even worse, difficult people, in the office, you may be in a position to disengage and to seek a more comfortable space.

“Yet the call of the Gospel is to launch ourselves forward and to be at the service of people’s needs, no matter how challenging they may be. So it is our yes to the command of Jesus to give all of ourselves that makes the good news possible.

“It is our generous and selfless giving that enables others to experience the God of life and love.”

Following Mass, lunch was celebrated with the parish secretaries and members of the Australian Conventual Franciscan Friar community, and a special cake was brought in to celebrate Bishop Vincent’s birthday on Monday.

Malia hopes that by being a young parish secretary, it will open opportunities to get more youth involved in the life of the Church. “Taking on this role, one of my main goals is to bring young people into the life of the Church, so not waiting until we are of old age.

“I think young people do have something to give the Church, so it’s inviting them in, making them feel like they belong and are included and engaging them in the dialogue and the decision-making of the parish.”

VIEW: Images from the Parish Secretaries’ Day and Christmas celebration below or here.

Parish Secretaries' Day 2018

 

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