A feature article by Bishop Anthony Randazzo appeared in this month’s edition of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Post, a new local newspaper. Click here to see the article online.
Counting our blessings as we look to future
When the Holy Father Pope Francis appointed me as the Catholic Bishop of Broken Bay on October 7, 2019, I was honoured and inspired to take up the mission to lead and serve the 215,000 Catholics that live in the geographical territory of this region.
The Diocese of Broken Bay stretches from the North Shore and Northern Beaches of Sydney up to Lake Munmorah on the Central Coast, united by the beautiful Hawkesbury River.
After just over a year in my ministry, I am pleased to report some positive milestones for the community of the Church.
I have articulated my six priorities for our community which begin with the person of Jesus Christ and include such themes as discipleship, building a culture of vocation, unity, education and the poor.
On the education front, it has been a great achievement by Catholic Schools Broken Bay to assure families that school fees will not increase in 2021. We have introduced a new fee schedule whereby no family will pay more than they would have under last year’s schedule.
This is a great win for families who have endured a difficult year and I have further committed to offer assistance such as pandemic support, sibling discounts, and a COVID fee relief program. All these steps support my goal to promote authentic Catholic education for the flourishing of human and faith development.
Since my appointment to Broken Bay, I have ordained four men for various stages of priestly ministry and there are a further eight in the seminary preparing for priesthood for service in the Church of Broken Bay. This is a great sign of hope for the future.
During the pandemic, we have done our best to keep our churches open and provide places of prayer and pastoral care for people in difficult times. We know that nurturing community and faith is a great contribution to people’s mental health and well-being, so it is important the spiritual life is not neglected during times of challenge.
Despite obstacles such as the Northern Beaches outbreak when many churches had to close for Christmas, our clergy and parish communities have worked hard to maintain high standards of COVID safety in our churches so that we can continue to be a community that worships together and cares for others.
CatholicCare, the merciful arm of the Church has continued to provide social care and support to the community during the pandemic. It has responded to increased demands in the areas of domestic violence, emergency relief, homelessness support, counselling and mental health and we hope to be able to ensure such services are always readily available.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has posed some grave challenges to us as individuals and as a community, there have also been some wonderful opportunities. We have had the chance to push the reset button and come right back to basics. We have been given the possibility to be grateful for the many blessings we have encountered amidst the difficulties.
The blessing of family and friends at times of social separation. The blessing of home amid the frenetic pace of everyday life and demands. The opportunity to address loneliness by reaching out to others. The comfort of prayer and relationship with God in times of isolation.
I am filled with gratitude to God for calling me here to be among the Lord’s flock as shepherd. I pray daily for all the people entrusted to my care in Broken Bay and invoke upon our community the blessing of God the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.