Clergy Conference

Mass Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Bayview Conference Centre, Clayton,
on Wednesday, 23rd June, 2004, at 5.30pm

Introduction

My dear Brothers in the Priesthood,

It is fitting that at this vigil of Saint John the Baptist, the first and greatest precursor of the Lord, we celebrate Mass together. We ponder the invitation which the Lord gives to each of us and the surety of his support in our priesthood announcing the Good News in these challenging times.

Aware of our frailty, yet confident in the support of our God and of each other, let us call to mind our sins that we may be bearers of his Light.

Homily

My dear Friends,

By something of a coincidence, tonight we celebrate the Vigil Mass of John the Baptist, chosen from all the prophets to show the world its Redeemer.

Particularly important in Melbourne at this time is the announcement of the Good News of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. It is in this same announcement that we, our collaborators and our people are invited to share. John the Baptist is the last and greatest of the ancient prophets and he ushers in the promise of the Redeemer.

This week we reflect on how we evangelise, how people are brought to the Gospel, and its light and power is made to shine on our lives.

The fact that we have been chosen as priests echoes the mission given to John the Baptist:

1. It is a sheer initiative of God, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, I consecrated you, I appointed you.”
2. Each of us would well remember that our human weaknesses are no obstacle to the work of God. In the words of the prophet, “Do not say I am a child ….. go now ….. do not be afraid ….. I am with you to protect you.”
3. We are sent out on mission, “I am sending you over nations and over kingdoms ….. to tear up and to knock down ….. to build and to plant.”

Since 1990, leading up to the Great Jubilee, Pope John Paul II has stressed the need to call all in the Church to a new evangelisation. This means a new encounter with the Gospel, which will bear its own truth in the witness of bishop, priest and people, each in their own sphere, to the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

For this reason I have made evangelisation a top priority. I launched the two-year pastoral focus, Contemplate – Launch Out, which involved an examination of the Pope’s Letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte, up until Pentecost Sunday.

For similar reasons I established a Committee for Mission. We are currently reflecting on its recommendations for clergy, lay people, diocesan organisations and groups.

We are all involved in the bringing of people to the Gospel and the subject of this week’s Clergy Gathering, “Doing what we are doing even better”, shows the power of the Gospel to enlighten and transform.

I know that your energy of spirit has brought you to this Gathering and the lively discussions which have taken place show yet again the great possibilities before us and our people. In tonight’s Gospel, Zachary was overcome with fear and yet a mission is announced, “John will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will bring back many … preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.”

We are all heirs of this great prophetic tradition. We share in the great biblical belief that everything we have is a great gift from God, in Jesus our Saviour. The renewal coming from the Vatican Council challenges us to live more fully the life of prayer, to encounter more deeply the Gospel and to announce its grace from the housetops.

Just as the dawn begins at midnight, so we are invited courageously to be sustained by the optimism which the Gospel brings, nourished by prayer and challenged to go forward.

Melbourne has wonderful priests, great energy in parish and school life, strong migrant groups, talented laity, communities close to the poor and marginalised. At the same time, we know the challenges; the shame that good priests feel because of sexual abuse by a few, the aging process, the necessity of parish rearrangements, the hostility which our culture has to matters religious, the challenging need to promote vocations and to encourage our people.

Again the words of the Lord, “Do not be afraid”, are put before us. It is in this context that I welcome the response of the Committee for Mission and the Recommendations made, which have been forwarded to us in these days. Indeed, they reflect a broad scope of opportunities for the life of the Church, notwithstanding the difficulties and challenges.

Rather than retreat, we are to go out to present the Good News. I am conscious of how much is already being done. Prayer and carrying the Gospel with us will mean that indeed we will be disciples of the Lord, in love with his Church and its people, reaching out to inspire and encourage others.

The Committee for Mission Report stressed four things:

1. More focussed education for future leaders of evangelisation, including bishops, priests, religious and especially laity.
2. Diocesan agencies must be more missionary focussed in all that they do and working with new methods to evangelise.
3. Readiness to share with each other what is happening in parish, agency and new ecclesial groups, so that good initiatives can be shared.
4. Structures will be needed to provide resources and enable the suggestions of the Committee to be enfleshed and practical.

As a result I have decided to establish an Office for Evangelisation, which will include our present Catholic Adult Education and Office for Worship. Within them will be included education for leaders of evangelisation, education and accreditation for pastoral associates, and in the Office for Worship an additional segment on spirituality.

The Office for Evangelisation will support those involved in evangelisation, including deanery leaders and personnel and will maintain strong relationships with other diocesan agencies so that the central thrust of the Gospel will be more clearly felt. Important too will be the provision of practical resources to help priests and people in their respective roles to be evangelisers.

Keeping in mind the focus on prayer and evangelisation, I will also establish a Strategic Working Group to examine the provision of priests for parishes and the arrangements for care of our people, which flow from that, so as to provide a means of best utilising our priestly leadership and further promoting vocations to the priesthood.

It is my goal to have concrete detail for the Office of Evangelisation and the Strategic Working Group available by 1st September of this year.

Once again, I express deep gratitude for all that you are and do. I am conscious of the huge burdens which many of you have taken on. I hope that our work together in this future period will alleviate those burdens and provide active ways of teaching the Gospel.

The challenge we have today is to leave aside our inhibitions and to allow Christ to take us over. He will promise an abiding peace, but also that we will be instruments of the great remaking of society.

Whether in the challenges we face in doctrine, in family, in society, we have to be recognised by our oneness with Jesus and with each other and by our readiness unashamedly to proclaim him.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.