Last week in response to the Archbishop asking all his active priests to continue their education, 120 of us gathered for a four day live in conference. This year, the committee for continuing education is chaired by Fr Greg Bourke (Sunbury 1997-1998). These gatherings are always have a great spirit and are a good opportunity to catch up with friends and meet priests new to us included one who was in a detention camp as a child for three years before being allowed to enter Australia.
Clearly, our most inspiring speaker was Janet Buhagiar who grew up in Our Lady’s Parish in Sunshine. After a meteoric rise in corporate business in Melbourne, she became CEO of St. Vincent de Paul in the Northern Territory. In 2010, she was named Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year. A woman in her mid 30’s, she is vibrant and a committed Catholic who in four years doubled the income of St. Vincent de Paul and increased services to remote communities in the Territory. She spoke of how she brought about change.
Another speaker telling his life story was Bishop Vincent Long. He contrasted the culture of the Church in Vietnam and the more inclusive and less clericalist mileau of the Australian Church. He escaped by boat from Communist persecution and arrived in Australia in 1981. He spoke of living out the death and resurrection of Christ by his fellow Franciscan friars in hostile countries around the world.
We also had some very intellectual presentations by our Victorian priests on scripture, sociology and philosophy looking at the changing culture of our world where we are called to serve.
In 2010, there were 5.6 million Catholics in Australia, an increase of 9.3% in four years. In 2049, there will be 9 million Catholics. Now there are 1523 priests in parishes. By 2025, there will be 600 local priests.
…..Fr Kevin
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 