Padre Pio Parish Glenmore Park

I saw a sign outside the Salvos in GP which says: “Opportunity only knocks once but temptation leans on the doorbell”. This is so true! Many people miss that opportunity to do the good deeds that God offers them but many are able to jump at chances to cause harm or mischief without a second thought. It is human nature. Don’t ask me why, but it seems more appealing to do evil than good. Maybe that is the test of our existence here on earth: To see who chooses to stay on the harder road (that good opportunity) and who resists taking those easier evil exits.

There is no easy way or nice way of saying this but I am feeling angry. I used to say I was disappointed but now the emotion has done a right-angle turn. After reading about the incidents in Bathurst during the week, I feel betrayed. The evil actions of some have scarred the good work of many. But the perpetrators of these evil acts have acted in the most heinous way to betray the sacred trust that others have placed in them and in turn they have tarnished the reputation of every Catholic person. Especially in the light of the good news that WYD08 has brought to our city, the allegations of systemic paedophilic activity in Catholic schools has all but turned off the optimism. I hear so many priests say “pray for them” or “forgive them,” but I believe that there are some sins that Jesus doesn’t ask us to forgive: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea”. (Mark 9:42) ****

There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets." I have finally succumbed to the realisation that it is not possible for one man (me) to visit all the parishioners who are sick or housebound and provide sufficient pastoral care to those new parishioners who are joining our parish. There are insufficient volunteers to do all the home visits for the Baptism families and too few people who are becoming part of the Pastoral Care team and no one has been attending the St Vincent de Paul meetings. The only possible solution is to PAY someone to do it. This is being done in many parishes throughout the diocese by means of what is termed a Pastoral Associate. I propose that our parish employ a Pastoral Associate.

I feel that our parish which is in a building stage will require a lot more of my attention focussed on ensuring that the Building program proceeds according to plan. As no one has volunteered to replace our bookkeeper who has admitted being unable to continue in the role we have to pay someone to do it. We will also be forced to pay someone to assist me in a more consistent Pastoral Care role than Lynn Young is able to do (she has a fulltime job). Surely there are more people in the parish that can help than currently do. So, rather than dipping into our Church building Funds to pay for a bookkeeper and Pastoral Associate, can you please consider if you can be more generous to our collections at Mass. I welcome any responses to what I am proposing.