Bishop Michael’s Letter
15 March, 2023
Welcome to this month’s e-newsletter. As I pen this message for the newsletter I welcome all our new readers and I ask that you share this newsletter with your family, friends and worshipping community. This newsletter is an excellent way of staying connected with all the great things that are happening in our Diocese of Rockhampton.
During the past month I have been travelling around the Diocese and celebrating special events with the various communities, installation of Pastors in their new appointments and the celebration of significant anniversaries in our parishes. Recently I was in the Parish of St Michael’s Sarina celebrating it’s 100th anniversary since its formation as a parish community. This is a great achievement for the Sarina Parish and for St Anne’s Primary School. As always, it was wonderful to catch up with our parish communities and celebrate with them.
Last week I was in Brisbane for the meeting of the Queensland Bishops. We meet four times a year to discuss the issues that are common to our five Dioceses. The Sunday night we gathered with the Anglican Bishops of Queensland. It is always a great occasion gathering with the Anglican Bishops whose territory extends from Darwin in the Northern Territory through North Queensland and into Southern Queensland.
On Monday we spent the day at the Holy Spirit Seminary with Rector, Father Neil Muir and we were shown through the formation program. Father Neil together with his team and staff are doing a wonderful job in forming our new priests for the diocese and ensuring that our seminarians get the best education.
During the week we met with the various groups including the Professional Standards office, Queensland Catholic Education Commission, our Directors, Indigenous representatives from the Dioceses in Queensland and together with many others who spend time with us and updating us with their pastoral outreach. Our next meeting of the Queensland Bishops will be during the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in Sydney.
At present we are half way through Lent and soon Easter will be upon us. We welcome all those who will receive the sacraments during the Easter season from across our Diocese. A few weeks ago we gathered in the Cathedral for the enrolment of these people in preparation Easter.
I wish you and your families a Happy Easter and may the Risen Christ be with you during this time.
