HOMILY FOR THE ANNUAL CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN 2022
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
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In the Gospel Jesus speaks of the narrow door and says that “many will try to enter but will not succeed”.  The door may be narrow but it is always God’s will that everyone get through.  The prophet Isaiah makes this clear when he has God saying, “I am coming to gather the nations of every language”.  God may have chosen a people for himself, but only in order to gather every people and nation to himself.  The divine plan embraces everyone; no-one is excluded.  Not all will make it, but all are called to come through the narrow door into the fulness of life.

No-one is excluded because all are members of God’s family, flesh and blood of the God who has no favourites, even if he keeps an eye out especially for those who are excluded.  They have a special place at the family table “at the feast in the kingdom of God”.

Jesus tells us that many will try to enter by the narrow door but will not succeed.  They will be excluded because they themselves have excluded others. That is the sole criterion for entry.  You will enter if you have allowed others to enter, even helped them to enter.  But you will be excluded, will exclude yourself, if you have excluded others, especially the poorest and weakest.

The Annual Catholic Campaign is all about the radical inclusiveness of God.  It’s all about helping others to enter through the narrow doorway into life, especially the poorest and the weak, those who weep and are wounded; and it’s all about helping others to enter through the narrow so that we ourselves may enter and come to “the feast in the kingdom of God”. 

Supporting these ministries through the Annual Catholic Campaign involves renunciation, even sacrifice.  I ask you to make an assessment of what you can give and to do so in recognition of where your true security lies, what your life really depends upon. 

The Annual Catholic Campaign intends to call the Catholic people of the Archdiocese into the unfolding plan of God – not just to help the needy but to help change bad systems and bring to birth a new ordering of human relationships, a society where sisters and brothers can walk together through the narrow door and take their place, all of them, “at the feast in the kingdom of God”.

UPDATE ON ADMINISTRATION OF REGINA CAELI PARISH – 1 SEPTEMBER 2022

Following the Archbishop’s letter advising that Father Martinho has been appointed as
Administrator of the Regina Caeli Parish from 1 September 2022, the Parish Advisory Council sought further information and clarification of how this may impact our own community.

Last month, we met with Sister Kari Hatherell OSU who, on behalf of the Archdiocese,  has been working with the Regina Caeli community and their transition team leading up to the
appointment of the new Parish Administrator from 1 September 2022. We posed a number of
questions and can now provide the following information.

The Archbishop initially contacted Father Paul Cahill (Carmelite Provincial) inviting the
Carmelites to take on this added responsibility. The Carmelites accepted a three year commitment to this mission to align with the timing of the next Carmelite Provincial Chapter.

Both the Regina Caeli Parish and the Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish (OLMC) will continue as separate parish communities. Father Martinho’s role as Parish Priest of OLMC continues and he also takes on the role of Administrator of Regina Caeli Parish. He will lead the ministry of both parishes. Both
parish offices will continue unchanged and he will be supported in both parish groups by leadership and ministry groups.

There is no intention to change Sunday Mass times at either parish. Regina Caeli Parish has two weekend Masses, on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Meetings with the leadership group at
Regina Caeli will occur on Sunday mornings following Mass.

As a community we need to be aware that there will be adjustments to the workloads of Father
Martinho and Father Matthew and assist as we can. A new deacon will join the Carmelite community at Mt. Carmel later in the year. The Carmelite community of Fathers Martinho and Matthew and the new deacon will continue to live in the priory.

If you have any further questions or concerns please advise us through the parish office.
                                                                                                                       
Jane Connolly
on behalf of the Parish Advisory Council