It is December and I write to you to wish you all a very wonderful Christmas.

2020 has been an interesting year, but through it all has been the message that God is with us, and God has been with us on this journey through the year.  We now look forward to a new and different 2021.

The Christmas message of God is with us is certainly a very strong message that our God ensures we all hear. We look forward to Christmas, our Churches will be open, hopefully near to full capacity, and I look forward to welcoming you, with our priests, to the Christmas celebrations, the high point of our year.

As we give thanks to God, we also remember those who are not so well off at Christmas time. Again, Volunteers Without Borders, Rose Swadling and Linda Esguerra, will in a very modified way ensure those without Christmas lunch in the Rockhampton area will receive a lunch. It is a wonderful Christmas outreach and hopefully at the end of next year we will be in a much better position to support all these people. Thank you Rose and Linda for welcoming those and providing Christmas lunch.

As we look at this edition of the newsletter you can read about the delightful call from Sr Janine Bliss, a Franciscan Missionary of Mary Sister, and the very important work that she does through ACRATH.  Sr Janine for many years looked after people who have been displaced from the labour force and ensures that everyone gets a fair go.  The article that Sr Kym has assembled on Sr Janine certainly highlights the need for an advocate in this part of our Diocese. Sr Janine has been travelling to Bundaberg and connecting with the itinerate seasonal workers that come and assist with our produce harvesting.

We say farewell to Sr Mary Farrelly sm after 15 years of looking after our people in the Central and Far West of our Diocese. Sr Mary and Sr Cath Lacey arrived together and have covered an extraordinary territory ministering to the families. Sr Cath was recalled to Sydney to become the Congregational Leader five years ago and Sr Mary has since undertaken the Western mission on her own.  A big thank you to you Sr Mary, and my appreciation for the marvellous ministry that you have done supporting our people in the West.

It is the end of the year for all our schools and we wish our Principals, staff and all at Catholic Education a restful holiday, so they may come back refreshed to commence a new school year. Thank you all for your marvellous work in Catholic Education, particularly this year.

Recently, I was invited to the retirement celebrations of Mrs Catherine Dunbar, principal of St Ursula’s College in Yeppoon. Catherine, for the past 15 years, has led St Ursula’s in the most wonderful way, portraying the spirit of Nano Nagel, the founder of the Presentation Sisters. Thank you, Catherine, for being a great leader in our Catholic schools in our Diocese.

The last week of November is normally when we as Bishops travel to Sydney/Melbourne to have the second of our ACBC (Australian Catholic Bishops Conference) meetings. This year all our meetings were conducted online via Zoom. There are many good things coming through - The Light of the Southern Cross document is approved for distribution and the setting up of the new Australian Safeguarding Limited.

There are also big changes in our own Mater and after many years of service to the Mater Mission, Mr Phillip Bauman is retiring from his role. Thank you, Phillip, for the marvellous way you have connected the Diocese and the Mater together to ensure the Mater is really part of our Diocese. We will miss you Phillip in that role. Phillip after 22 years also finished as Chair of the Centacare Council. We thank you Phillip for your incredible leadership in this area and for keeping Centacare aligned with the mission of the Church. We wish you all the very best as God opens new ventures for you.

Recently you would have experienced the new e-event that Nathan Harding, our Community Engagement Manager, has produced. You can click on the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-5RuTUE1Cg and view this e-event. It outlines the various ministries within our Diocese and the work they do and included the ministries of our Seafarers, Western Ministry, Woorabinda, and Prison Ministries. It was a great event in which Cardinal Turkson sent a message to us in the Diocese and praying for our outreach.

Christmas blessings to all who have supported us through this newsletter during the year and with thanks to Sr Kym who has drawn us all together through the stories and the events of the people of our Diocese

Looking forward to 2021 and remembering the Christmas message of God is with us, may God be with you all as you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Happy and blessed Christmas.