Our Lady of Pentecost parish, Melbourne.

Since 1988, we have had an MSC community in Kew, in the parish of Deepdene. Quite a number of confreres have lived there, often as a home while they participated in the Siloam program at Heart of Life. We have helped in supply in the parish and shared in various celebrations there.

Now there is a new combined parish.

                                                                                     Salt and Life Media

The amalgamated parish is to be called Our Lady of Pentecost, comprising Camberwell, Balwyn Deepdene, Surrey Hills Wattle Park.  This proposal is made on the following grounds. From the parish website -

First, three of the five parish churches have their patronage under a Marian title: Our Lady of Victories, Camberwell, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Deepdene and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Wattle Park.  The church at Balwyn is under the patronage of All Hallows (all saints) and Surrey Hills is under the patronage of Our Holy Redeemer.  The name alludes to Mary and the apostles (the first group of saints) gathering together in the upper room awaiting the gift of the Spirit, promised by Jesus (Our Holy Redeemer).

Second, Our Lady of Pentecost evokes the notion of something new coming about by the initiative of the Spirit.  It evokes the sense of continuity yet a calling to a new mission and a new direction being led by the Spirit.  It is also a call to the five worshipping communities who will make up Our Lady of Pentecost Parish to be guided by the Spirit in a prayerful, reflective and synodal way.

Third, Pente comes from the Greek word meaning ‘five’.  There is synergy with the ‘five’ worshipping communities coming together into a new Pente-cost.