Blessing of New Parish Facilities at Saint Patrick’s Parish, Murrumbeena

on Sunday, 17th July, 2005, at 2.00pm

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am delighted to be here with Father Tobin as we bless these new parish facilities. As a community of believers in Jesus Christ, we come as brothers and sisters and all that we have in the parish is geared to making us holy, to helping us to deepen our faith and to assist us to walk together as brothers and sisters.

From the time of Father Bill Rovira, through Father Max Grabau and on to Father Bill Bainbridge and Father Barry Tobin, this parish has a proud tradition of welcome and friendship.

Today, as we bless these new facilities, we ought remember their purpose. As common wayfarers on the journey to eternal life we come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and as the Light of the world.

It is above all by prayer that we are one with Jesus. We ask him, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening. You have the words of everlasting life.” We know that he will walk with us.

In particular I would like to emphasise the importance of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament as the foundation upon which all of our outreach activities rest. The nights that Jesus spent in prayer to his Father, the constant prayer of Pope John Paul II and his many hours of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and the similar life of adoration and scholarly service provided by Pope Benedict are a beacon to us.

Pope John Paul said that he wished to see the Eucharist “as a magnetic pole, drawing us all to Christ, from whom we will receive the grace and strength for our mission”.

Similarly, our parish has a commitment to the truth taught by the Gospel. Our experience is not merely that of brothers and sisters in this locality, but we are members of one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

The Church founded by Christ, teaching all and only what he taught and reaching into the world of our time, so that we can offer the world truth, vision, the dignity of the human person and an encouragement and hope, which in our times has largely been forgotten.

Jesus’ own words, “Do not be afraid”, his promise of hope are the invitation, which I give you as you use these new facilities to enrich your lives as brothers and sisters and to reach out to the citizens of Murrumbeena and beyond in our time.

Thank you for all that you continue to do and to be, not merely for each other, but for the world in which we are witnesses to Christ, who is the Lord of all history, the Light of the world, the Saviour of us all.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.