Peter Hearn, OLSH Randwick, Bulletin: 'The Back Page with Fr Peter'  (his last)

After 12 years, this is my final back page for our marvellous Parish Magazine. First up, a sincere word of thanks on behalf of all of us to Tony McNamara our editor, and Debbie Laurence for the professional lay out.

I have asked to have the photo on this page included here: it is taken at one of our Easter Vigils. It says so much to me of my life at OLSH. Every year to see 16-22 adults come through the RCIA is a huge achievement on the part of the parish and team. Our Mission Statement says that we are a parish gathered and nurtured by the Eucharist, and sent on mission ‘To Be on Earth the Heart of Jesus’. That we have so many desiring to be Catholics is a testament to the vitality of our parish. Thanks to all of you for your joy in being Catholics - no mean achievement in our sometimes torrid environment within and outside the Church - and especially your exceptional generosity to so many good causes and collections, petitions and so on. Generosity, joy and hospitality are central to the Heart of Jesus.

I am deeply indebted to the various, and too numerous to mention, committees and groups within the parish - all voluntary. Of central importance are the PPC and Finance Committees. They have achieved so much. As you know, I do have a particular love of music, and so the groups and, especially, the combined choirs, the AV producers that come together for our High Holy Days, have given me great happiness and uplifted our liturgies. Our liturgies are, after all, where not just ourselves, but non-Catholics or intermittent Catholics will mainly  interface with us.

Hence, we priests have also taken care in the preparation of Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals. Our teachers and catechists give of their very best to make our schools places of encounter with the values and life of Christ. They have been very welcoming of me and the priests and so easy to work with. Covid has clipped our wings dramatically, of course.

One would need to spend a day in the Parish Office to know the sheer variety of interactions that occur. I have greatly appreciated the dedication of Trish and Anita, Phyllis and other volunteers in the Office who keep the place from descending into chaos. A sense of humour is absolutely necessary for the office ministry – and it is a ministry where the sorrowful and the joyful mysteries, and sometimes the simply mysterious are encountered daily. THANKS!

Finally, to my MSC brethren: I could not live happily on my own. (I need others, if only to annoy them!) So many MSC have come and gone, some to their eternal reward. In particular the young priests from Vietnam, India and Indonesia have brought vibrancy, good humour and dedication to the life of the parish. I love our MSC life and pray vocations will continue to come from our parish. Blessings to you all and my thanks to the Sacred Heart, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and St Joseph for their kindly care of me and all.

With thanks, as always, to Tony McNamara and Debbie Laurence for the articles and photos