When I first came to the Diocese, I invited you to pray the Angelus with me at midday each day for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Today as I was praying the Angelus, it took me back to my school days in 1964 at Downlands College, Toowoomba, where I was introduced to many prayers by the Sacred Heart Fathers.  At midday we would stop our lessons, pray the Angelus then continue with our lessons.  I was also reflecting on the Sacred Heart Fathers who ran Downlands and being a missionary order were present in the diocese and throughout the Pacific, together with The Daughters of our Lady of the Sacred Heart Sisters.  I remembered their greeting, “may the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere praised”.  The Sacred Heart is a devotion I remember from my youth.

But the reading at Mass today really caught my attention.  Where we read from the book of Deuteronomy, “The Lord has set his heart on us and chose us”.  It really is the love of God that keeps us together, particularly during these last few months during the time of COVID.

Two weeks ago we celebrated Corpus Christi - the Body and Blood of Christ, people living their faith, and I believe it has been the Holy Spirit working among all of us, encouraging us to connect and pray and support one another during this time.  The church, through our people, has continued allowing God to love and show that love and concern to the many people of our Diocese.  While it has been a tough time, it has been a wonderful time and a privilege to be your Bishop.  What you will read in these next few pages is the marvellous way the church has continued through you during these days and living out the call of the Risen Christ, to go out to all and tell the Good News.

Thank you for being a marvellous people of God as you have lived your Baptismal calling.