The Portal July 2014 | Page 10

THE P RTAL July 2014 Australia Pages - page 10 When the Archbishop comes to town Eliza Frank interviews Adrian Lanagan Our parish of St Francis Xavier at Frankston, Victoria welcomed the Archbishop of Melbourne, Archbishop Denis Hart, on a recent parochial visit. His Grace commenced the day with concelebrating Mass with Fr Raj Lourdusamy, Administrator of the parish, and Fr Neil Fryer, parish resident priest and priest of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross. St Francis Xavier parish has welcomed Fr Neil as part of the parish staff giving his time voluntary to say Mass, and to hear Confessions from time to time, and to be part of several activities of the parish. Now it’s in the setting of this Frankston parish that Fr Neil has been able to espouse the Personal Ordinariate for former Anglicans and others who wish to know and support the work of the Ordinariate in the Melbourne Archdiocese and beyond. With the support of the parish office staff Fr Neil of copies are sent to the UK, NZ, and USA/Canada. produces several Ordinariate publications which circulate in the parish and are Free for the taking. Fr Neil is also the local editor for The Portal These publications are email Magazines and are sent magazine which contains an Australian Section and is to all Ordinariate parishes in Australia, and a number widely circulated by the UK in Australia and overseas. After Mass and over a delightful morning tea, the parishioners were able to meet and chat with our archbishop and that was followed by a more formal meeting talking about the 8 Ministry Groups with-in our parish. Each group offered a synopsis of what they do in the parish. His Grace reminded us to pray for these groups and for our administrator’s support with our prayers. This was followed by the Archbishop meeting with our Bayside Young Disciples and Student Leaders of John Paul Secondary College. Then lunch with Fr. Raj: our parish priest and administrator. In the afternoon His Grace met with St Augustine’s Primary School Staff and Students. The Archbishop had afternoon tea with a very special parish group: Pregnancy Assistance Frankston. I am sure our archbishop has left Frankston with many strong memories of Catholic life and prayer in action in our busy “bay-side locale”. contents page