Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne: Archbishop: Homilies: Mass to Launch the Pastoral Focus 'Contemplate

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
in St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne,
on Friday, 24th May, 2002, at 7.30pm

My dear Priests and Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

I rejoice in your presence this evening under the patronage of Our Lady Help of Christians as she and we pray for the Lord's guidance on the Church of Melbourne at the beginning of the New Millennium.

Tonight is the beginning of two years of focus on Jesus as Our Lord and Saviour, together with taking up the challenge of responding to the Holy Father's invitation to launch out into the deep. In the lives of our priests and people alike, of individuals and communities, prayer and action to preach the Gospel more effectively in diverse situations has to be the indication of authentic Catholic faith, which is to be shared.

As we remember and are challenged by the fact that God's gifts to us have been so wonderfully given and know that this brings a responsibility to share these gifts, let us call to mind our sins that the Lord will grant us his power and strength.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It is with great joy that I launch our new Diocesan pastoral initiative, Contemplate - Launch Out. Quite simply it aims to apply the wonderful teaching of Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte, to the Archdiocese of Melbourne. We do so on the feast of Mary Help of Christians because she is our Mother who helps us to contemplate and be one with Jesus. She is servant of the Holy Spirit, which gives light and impetus to the preaching of the Gospel.

Prayer and mission are two essential aspects of the faith, which we have received as a free gift. As the basis of all that we do there is an essential focus on Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. We need personally to answer the question, "But who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16.15)

We have to remember that only the faith proclaimed by Peter, and with him by the Church in every age, goes to the heart and touches the depth of the mystery, "You are the Christ the Son of the Living God." (Matthew 16.16) All that we do is based on our relationship with Christ and this is inspired by prayer and a quest for holiness.

To ask catechumens about baptism means, as the Pope says, "Do you wish to become holy?" Each of us is invited to respond to the challenge of the sermon on the Mount, "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5.48)

This reminds us that the time has come to repropose wholeheartedly to everyone holiness as the high standard of ordinary Christian living. The whole life of the Christian community and of Christian families must lead in this direction by training for holiness through prayer.

The Eucharist is the summit of all that we do and united with it are Eucharistic Adoration, the prayer of the Divine Office, reflection on Scripture and popular forms of piety and Marian prayer.
Our Archdiocese is entering upon new challenges. We must keep the preaching of the Gospel and the full living of Catholic life as the top priority by presenting them to the people of our Archdiocese.

Our deaneries, our leadership structures, the involvement of laity, adult education and other activities are all nourishing us in the challenges we face. I sincerely acknowledge with thanks the great effort given today by so many.

At the same time, I desire the Archdiocese to reflect simultaneously on other vital aspects of our Catholic life together in these early years of the new millennium. I would stress that the authentic vision of the Universal Church can be linked to the renowned Melbourne flair and enthusiasm to insert us in where the Church is moving for the salvation of souls under the inspiration of Christ and of Pope John Paul II.

Contemplation and mission together are essential and I would stress -
(a) A more vigorous proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Melbourne through appropriate methods.
(b) Finding even more effective ways of contemplating the face of Jesus by responding to his call to each of us to holiness.
(c) The living out of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
(d) Assisting families even further in their present day challenges.
(e) To launch new ways of encouraging vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
(f) Continuing to support our youth, especially their education in faith.
(g) Greater attention to the poor and marginalised in our midst and beyond.
(h) Appreciating even further the vitality of faith, of migrants and the new ecclesial movements.

Each month for the next two years I am proposing to the parishes a different theme (or section) of the Holy Father's Letter. This will give us an authentic framework through which you and I will be able together to tap into the power of Christ for the challenges of the new millennium.

During this time I have every confidence in the Holy Spirit that all sorts of existing and yet to be imagined pastoral plans and programmes may grow. The key word is focus. We will certainly convene some special diocesan events, but the main pastoral response will be what each parish can do.

My invitation is to priests, parish leaders and parishioners to seek out further creative ways of outreach to bring the Gospel to people in our localities. Our communities need the witness of unashamed believers to be welcoming with the face of Jesus Christ. I believe that these monthly themes will be able to be used in sermons, as a focus in the meetings of existing parish groups, schools and other parish activities.

What we want is a deeper contact with Christ, a consciousness of being responsible to outreach to others and to draw them to him.

My brothers and sisters, I thank you for your readiness to be here and for the excitement which I feel already in this wonderful opportunity. This is a time of hope for the Church, this is a time when we can allow Jesus Christ to shine his light on ourselves and our sisters and brothers.

We pray that Mary Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia, and the star of evangelisation will lead us all the more clearly into the embrace of God our loving Father made present to us in Jesus, our Saviour.