During the peak of the COVID lockdown, when we were only allowed to travel within our local area, Alexandra Azzi and her family started going to Mass at St Margaret Mary’s Parish, Merrylands, when services were held outside due to church buildings being closed.
With the difficulties that many Catholics faced during the lockdown, it was the community that kept Alexandra coming back.
“I fell in love with the parish, the people and the priests that were here and we couldn’t leave,” she said.
The passion and compassion of the parish and its parishioners is something that long-term parishioner Tony Bougoide is grateful for.
“I appreciate this parish as being a multicultural parish that bridges all different nationalities and languages and cultures,” he said.
“It’s a community that has common values, principles and spiritual values, above all.
“We are all equal in the eyes of God, so we try and maintain that standard, and that’s what makes our community down to earth.
“I’m practically retired, and I’m glad to be retiring in this environment, because I still feel that I am contributing in the most valuable way, because anything to do with serving Christ and enhancing our Catholic community is a joy.”
Sacramental Coordinator and parishioner of 10 years, Monique Kairouz, agrees.
“Once you enter this parish, you don’t want to leave. You can’t pull yourself away from this community.
“I grew up in the area and moved away from the parish when I got married. But when we moved back to the area, it was just natural that I came back here.
“The way that the Pauline Fathers [Order of St Paul the First Hermit] conduct themselves, the way they celebrate Mass and the Sacraments, you just feel like you’re in heaven.”
(L-R) Parishioners Monique Kairouz, Alexandra Azzi and Tony Bougoide with Assistant Priest Fr Jeremy Santoso OSPPE at St Margaret Mary’s Parish, Merrylands. Image: Mary Brazell/Diocese of Parramatta
Pauline charism a ‘drawcard’
The Pauline Fathers have been caretakers of the parish since 2012. Alongside their monastic charisms of obedience, poverty and chastity, they “thrive” in the sacramental life of the parish.
“Celebrating Mass, preaching a homily that enforces Church teachings and being able to hear the confessions of parishioners are very important to us,” Assistant Priest Fr Jeremy Santoso OSPPE said.
“What we do in the parish sacramentally is for the good of the faith and the good of the soul.”
The emphasis on the sacraments is a true blessing for the parishioners.
“In the parish, there are a lot more devotions, novenas and rosaries being prayed by different groups at different times,” Tony said.
“Here, you feel an urge to meditate and pray, because they provide that atmosphere of prayer and a state of grace and peace.”
A bright future with new pastors
The parish’s current pastors – Parish Priest Fr Wojciech Sliwa OSPPE and Fr Jeremy – have served in the parish for just over one year and are already being lovingly embraced by the community.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta (left) with Parish Priest Fr Wojciech Silwa OSPPE (centre) and Assistant Priest Fr Jeremy Santoso OSPPE following Fr Wojciech’s installation Mass at St Margaret Mary’s Parish, Merrylands. Image: Supplied.
“Fr Wojciech is a true pastor – extremely approachable, very fun loving, nurturing, and accommodating and is comfortable in saying ‘no’ when he needs to, like a father,” Monique said.
“They are the perfect role models and a great example of leading us in the faith,” Alexandra said.
“It’s been a great journey so far,” Fr Jeremy said. “This parish is one of the most vibrant and the most active in terms of practicing the faith, and it’s a great witness for us as the priests to see that people want to come here to receive the sacraments and a deeper nourishing of the faith.
“I like the youth programs we have in the parish, and the more I interact with them, the more I see that this parish has a big future ahead of them.”
Joy of the Risen Lord
With Holy Week on the horizon, we asked the parish members how they feel they can live the joy of the Resurrection in their everyday lives.
“When we meditate on the Passion of Jesus Christ, we are given a moment to know that we have been given a gift of forgiveness. The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ on the cross is a down payment to justify that each and every one of us is forgiven,” Fr Jeremy said.
Tony said, “When you wake up in the morning, and you submit your life completely – your actions, reactions, aspirations, hopes, needs, wants, pain and suffering – to Christ, He will not let you down.
“We are born with a mission statement written in our hearts. Sometimes, we don’t take enough time to read what’s meant for us, what’s God’s will for us. And unless we trust and believe in the Resurrection and live that feeling, we will never read that mission statement.”
This article was originally published in the 2024 Easter | Autumn edition of the Catholic Outlook Magazine. You can read the digital version here or pick up a copy in your local parish.
