Mass for the Commissioning of Southern Cross Care

Homily Given By Archbishop Denis Hart
at Southern Cross Care, Hughesdale,
on Friday, 25th June, 2004, at 10.00am

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am delighted to be with you to encourage the work of Southern Cross Care in this special ceremony of dedication.

The work that 650 personnel, 550 members, 350 volunteers do for 2,700 Victorians seniors speaks for itself.

This is a service of prayer and thanksgiving to God for the work of 35 years and for the commitment that you have shown to those with whom you work and for whom you care in the imitation of Christ, who came that all may have life.

Homily

My dear Friends,

Today I am delighted to be here to join you in thanking God for the remarkable partnership between Southern Cross Care and the communities whom you have served for just on 35 years.

Jesus Christ described himself, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full”, and the partnerships into which you have entered with elderly Victorians in the past 35 years have provided an immense enrichment of life.

The Knights of the Southern Cross, an organisation of laymen integral to the Catholic Church, have formed Southern Cross Care. The keystone of the care provided is therefore the attitude to the dignity of people, to the care which is able to be provided, to the empowerment and quality of life, which can be provided when care is unselfishly motivated and illumined by a Christlike vision. You see each person as a reflection of God, who made us all unique, able to enrich the world and gifted for others.

Particularly in aged care there arises a paradox. Those who come as carers, volunteers, members or personnel begin initially with a desire to help and by what they see in the courageous suffering, determination, experience of life and cheerfulness of the residents is in itself an experience in which they receive a reward far greater than all they seek to give.

During this service, therefore, as we thank God for his many graces, it is my wish to commission the personnel, members and volunteers to walk with 2,700 Victorian seniors in the unique outreach into the community which is Southern Cross Care; challenged, idealised and illumined by the particularly Christlike value of the dignity of each person. Thank you for all that you do in spreading the mission of care wide into our community.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.