Bishop Michael’s Letter
22 July, 2025
Over the course of a month, as Bishop, I attend many different celebrations across the diocese. Last month, I highlighted the travels across the centre and the west of the diocese. This month, there have been many gatherings around the centre of the diocese.
The annual visit to Woorabinda coincided with the beginning of NAIDOC week. Sr Cecilia has been a constant presence among the people of Woorabinda and the surrounding farming community for over 20 years. The diocese is indeed grateful to Sr Cecilia and her incredible contribution to the apostolate at Woorabinda. Sabrina, our First Nations Ministry Coordinator presented Sr Cecilia with an award from the National Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) for her community engagement and dedication to the people of Woorabinda. Sabrina’s mother, Yvonne who bused from Cairns, was also present. Sr Cecilia will be retiring to Bribie Island after September.
The next day, in the Cathedral, the diocese celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday. 40 years ago, Pope John Paul II visited Australia and for me it was a great joy to be involved with the Papal visit when he visited Brisbane. When he visited Alice Springs on 29th November 1986, Pope John Paul II spoke to the Australian people; an inspired addressed to our First Nation Peoples:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It is a great joy for me to be here today in Alice Springs and to meet so many of you, the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders of Australia. I want to tell you right away how much the Church esteems and loves you, and how much she wishes to assist you in your spiritual and material needs.
- At the beginning of time, as God’s Spirit moved over the waters, he began to communicate something of his goodness and beauty to all creation. When God then created man and woman, he gave them the good things of the earth for their use and benefit; and he put into their heart’s abilities and powers, which were his gifts. And to all human beings throughout the ages God has given a desire for himself, a desire which different cultures have tried to express in their own ways.
- As the human family spread over the face of the earth, your people settled and lived in this big country that stood apart from all the others. Other people did not even know this land was here; they only knew that somewhere in the southern oceans of the world there was “The Great South Land of the Holy Spirit”.
But for thousands of years, you have lived in this land and fashioned a culture that endures to this day. And during all this time, the Spirit of God has been with you. Your “Dreaming”, which influences your lives so strongly that, no matter what happens, you remain for ever people of your culture, is your only way of touching the mystery of God’s Spirit in you and in creation. You must keep your striving for God and hold on to it in your lives.
Dear Aboriginal people: the hour has come for you to take on new courage and new hope. You are called to remember the past, to be faithful to your worthy traditions, and to adapt your living culture whenever this is required by your own needs and those of your fellowman. Above all you are called to open your hearts ever more to the consoling, purifying and uplifting message of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died so that we might all have life, and have it to the full.
A full text of the message can be found here.
These coming weeks, I am looking forward to gathering with our young people celebrating NAIDOC here in Rockhampton, Mackay and Emerald.
The tour of Pope John Paul II also included speaking of the New Evangelisation in Darwin and to Migrants and Refugees in Adelaide.
As the Holy Father visited the many parts of Australia, his talks were tailored to the location. In Brisbane, he welcomed the many people who were on the Catechumenal journey and his words of encouragement are as fresh today:
‘It is a special pleasure for me to celebrate this Eucharist in which the Church is officially welcoming a number of you into the ranks of the catechumens or as candidates for admission into full communion with the Catholic Church. The restored catechumenate, or the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is surely one of the great fruits of the Second Vatican Council. I rejoice to learn how successful the catechumenate has been in Australia…This is a wonderful grace, and a clear sign of the Holy Spirit’s renewing presence in the Church. At all times and in every land, the Church is sent forth to proclaim the Good News of salvation and to call people to conversion of heart.’
As I visit our parishes, I am becoming aware of the many adults who were baptised at Easter and a great number of young people in the special program of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children. These young people will be initiated within their parish communities during the year and will receive all three Sacraments. This Rite of the Church parallels the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, where Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are received in the same ceremony.
The month past has included celebrating with the St Joseph’s School Community in Clermont of 125 years of Catholic Education. Although, the Sisters of St Joseph had already been in the district at Copperfield from 1873, they returned to Clermont and have been an incredible part of the Catholic Education journey. Congratulations Sheila and your staff and team for the great celebrations and for the Catholic Community for your support of our school.
I was back in the Central Highlands district a week later, receiving 11 debutants at the Capella Ball. It was a lovely night and our people, all debutants and their partners, had mastered the dances. Well done Capella for seeing through your vision to surround our young people with confidence.
The confirmation in the parishes continued with 61 young people confirmed at North Mackay and the blessing of the final stage of St Brendan’s School at Rural View. It was within a few weeks of my arrival in May 2014 when the soil was turned and blessed for a new school to grow. Now 11 years later it has reached a full three stream school.
As part of my pastoral visitation to parishes I meet with their Pastoral and Finance Councils and listen to how each parish is growing in its mission, how they are assisting the pastor and helping our people grow in holiness. It is a joy to listen to a parish as they reflect on their achievements, challenges and plans.
Our prayers go out to our Mercy family as they have said farewell to a much-loved past leader, Sr Stancia Cawte and in recent days Sr Angela Doheny. Mercy Haven, the new aged care facility in Rockhampton, was blessed and opened and is now home to many of our parishioners and sisters. The vision of the early Sisters of Mercy is now embodied in a facility radiating the Mercy of our God.
Our young people are back at school for the second half of the year. Last week, 72 teams from our Catholic Colleges assembled for Confraternity. With 9 teams to cheer for, our young people from the diocese were magnificent. Well done to Rob Alexander and the organisers through host college, The Cathedral College, in making this an important event in the life of our young people.
This month, it is still travelling and visiting the parishes for confirmation and catching up with the pastors and the people of the parishes. I look forward to catching up. The program includes Bundaberg, the Valleys, Capricorn Coast, South Mackay and Walkerston.
