Sabbaticals & New Appointments
Dear Parishioners,
I will be attending a Priestly Renewal (Sabbatical) Course in Rome from 9 January to 9 April 2015.
Why you might ask do priests do Sabbatical Courses? Because St John Paul II, wrote: “Permanent formation is a require-ment of the priest’s own faithfulness to his ministry, to his very being. It is love for Jesus Christ and fidelity to oneself. But it is also an act of love for the People of God, at whose service the priest is placed.”(Pastores Dabo Vobis, n.70)By these words Pope John Paul was confirming and encouraging the practice in the Church for Priests to take Sabbaticals (periods of 3 months or more) every 10 years or so to do ongoing Study and Formation to be renewed in their Priestly Min-istry.
Why the Course in Rome? Because early this year Monsignor Joe Takchi from Melbourne encouraged me to consider trav-elling to Rome with him to do our first Sabbatical Course together. We will be following in the footsteps of some 3,000 priests from all around the world who since 1971 have travelled to Rome to attend the Institute for Continuing Theological Education at the Pontifical North American College. This Sabbatical Course is for English-speaking priests to study, pray and become more zealous disciples of the Lord in a newer and deeper way.
After receiving permission and encouragement from His Excellency Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, Monsignor Joe and I applied to attend the January - March 2015 Course and were accepted. We look forward in the New Year to joining 24 oth-er Priests from around the world participating in the Course and to be able to return to our Parishes and Ministry renewed.
Our Congratulations to Fr Tony Sarkis. As of 9 January, my departure date for Rome, quickly draws near, and because I will be absent from the Parish for three months, the Bishop has appointed Fr Tony Sarkis as Acting Dean (like acting Parish Priest) to give him time to prepare with me to take the co-ordinating and administration reigns in looking after our Co-Cathedral Parish while I am away with the support and team of the other Priests.
Our Congratulations to Fr Sam Wehbe. Last Sunday it was announced that the Bishop has appointed Fr Sam as the first Parish Priest of the New Maronite Parish of St Raymond’s Auburn. We pray God’s Blessings be with him and the new Maro-nite Parish of Auburn which includes all the Maronites in the suburbs of Auburn, Lidcombe, Berala, Regents Park, Potts Hill, Chullora, Birrong, Sefton, Bass Hill, Chester Hill, Villawood and Granville South.
Welcome to Fr Youhanna Khalife MMO. Finally our welcome to Fr Youhanna Khalife, a Monk of the Maronite Mariamite Order who was appointed by the Bishop to Our Lady of Lebanon Parish as an Assistant Parish Priest. We welcome Fr Youhanna and look forward to his ministry here with us to join the team of priests serving the Parish.
I look forward to continue journeying with His Excellency, the Bishop, Fr Tony, Fr Youhanna, and all the Priests here in the Parish through this beautiful Christmas time to the New Year especially with the Carols on this Friday Night and all our Christmas Masses.
