The Portal December 2014 | Page 8

THE P RTAL December 2014 Australia Pages - page 8 News in brief from Australia Eliza Frank reports Australia Pages Looking Forward Two small study groups had been meeting for some ten weeks at Perth’s St Ninian and St Chad’s Ordinariate parish as they worked their way though Pope Francis’s Exhortation on Evangelism: “The Joy of the Gospel.” At every meeting we discussed what we had read; we asked questions about every chapter: how we could evangelise, and what that really meant and the challenges involved. We had some lively meetings. At a Saturday Workshop: The Ordinary: Monsignor Entwistle, gave an example of one person’s idea for evangelisation: the writing and publishing of a children’s book: “I am The Big Man” The workshop lasted most of the day, as a number of small groups came up with their dreams and ideas to submit to the Parish Priest, Fr Stephen Hill, for the Ordinariate parish’s growth and ways to evangelise the world around us. After a wonderful lunch break each group wrote up their discussions and handed them on to the parish priest. A great weekend inspired and challenged all who attended the workshop to look to the future through outreach and evangelism. Our thanks to the Ordinary: Monsignor Entwistle, who presented the workshop. [By Margaret Corlett: Local Correspondent] New Archbishop of Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher: aged 54, was born in Sydney and was ordained a priest in 1991. He served as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Sydney from 2003 until he was transferred to the neighbouring Sydney Diocese of Parramatta. Archbishop Fisher succeeds former Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, who is now at the Vatican as head of the Secretariat for the Economy. is preached with joy, the wisdom of our tradition mined with fidelity, the sacraments celebrated with dignity and welcome, and the seminaries, convents and youth groups are teeming with new life.” “This will In his sermon at his Installation as the Archbishop depend on three factors: of Sydney, Archbishop Fisher said: “What will this our clergy and religious; Archbishop Anthony Fisher Archdiocese look like when, God willing, I retire in our families; and our young people.”[Quotes from Abp 2035? My hope is for a Church in which the Gospel Fisher] New Ordinariate Parish at Labrador, Gold Coast Fr Stephen Gronow, Ordinariate Priest in charge, reports that the first Ordinariate Mass was celebrated at St Joseph the Worker Church in Labrador on the Gold Coast as a Vigil on Saturday, 15th November. There were heatwave temperatures throughout the weekend as South East Queensland suffered the hottest November days for many decades and in some areas an all-time record was achieved. church for many years (in the case of one couple it had been for 40 years). They came out of interest, but following the service they all made positive comments about the Ordinariate Mass. Father Stephen Gronow was assured by the people that they would return. Some Catholics who attended the Ordinariate Mass came out of their inquisitiveness, and commented later that they were surprised at the similarity to the Novus Ordo. The Church at Labrador is not air-conditioned, however ceiling fans were put to good use on the night and although we were concerned that the weather may The local Catholic Parish Priest, Father Jan, was have kept people away we were pleasantly surprised also very helpful as he provided an article in their to have 26 worshippers. A number of the people were parish newsletter, and also allowed the Ordinariate to former Anglicans who had been attending the Catholic use their parish chalice and altar linen etc. which the contents page