Greetings from Fort Kochi in the beautiful state of Kerala. I am here visiting Bishop Joseph Kariyil, the Bishop of Fathers Jomon and Alex, and soon Father Gasper. The Diocese of Cochin is second oldest Diocese in India followed by Goa where Francis Xavier when setting sail for Malacca and eventually arriving at San Juan, off the coast of China where he died. Cochin was the first resting place of the great Portuguese explorer, Vasco de Gama. My visit here is to meet the many people of the Diocese and the families of our priests and thank them on your behalf for the gift of their priests and sons. Sunday will be the final leg of this trip up to Rome. The first few days in Rome will be on retreat and on 24 June 2019, we all meet Pope Francis and then follow with meetings with various Vatican departments. I will also be catching up with our two priests, Fr Andrew Chase who has completed his doctorate and will join us shortly in the Diocese after six years of study at the Gregorian University, and Fr Andrew Hogan and his family as he begins to wend his way home after completing the first part of his studies in Canon Law. I am looking forward to having Fathers Andrew and Andrew home in the Diocese. Fr Andrew Hogan will be continuing his studies full-time for this next phase of his studies and assisting us here. I am hopeful that with his presence, the profile of the Matrimonial Tribunal will be extended throughout the Diocese through this pastoral activity of the Church.

The recent Diocesan Assembly was a marvellous event in the life of the Rockhampton Church. I was delighted that over the period of the three years since I began listening to you throughout the Diocese, I would have heard collectively the ideas of over 3000 members of the Diocesan family. The first round began in 2015 when I sat with the Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils of the Diocese and listened to their achievements, their challenges and hopes for the future. This was followed up by listening rounds in each of the five regions and the ideas captured were fed back through the various Task Groups to refine the actions. The second round in 2018, built up a composite picture of the future needs of the Diocese and worked towards a pastoral plan. The Diocesan Assembly consolidated and focused the direction for the future.

During these next few months Joy Philippi, who has joined my Office, will be working with each of the five regions to bring together Regional Pastoral Councils. It is my dream that in each Region, a Council will assist with the coordination of the pastoral work across the Region and achieve better use of physical and human resources. The Regional Pastoral Councils would work co-responsibly with priests and parishioners for the mission of the Church. Many of the themes arising through the assembly process can easily be initiated through the local parish communities and through the Regional Pastoral Councils.

Through my five years with you, I have had one objective…to share with you a passion for the mission of Jesus.

At the assembly, I spoke about renewal for our Diocese and I encourage every Catholic and Parish Community to undertake renewal beginning this coming year. There are many programs that are available, including Stewardship, Alpha, Café, Ignatian Retreats, Charismatic Renewal and so on. I would ask that you contact Joy in my Office for the many programs that are available.

Confirmation at Springsure

The Confirmations of our young people have commenced and it is a great privilege for me to visit the various parish communities and celebrate with our next generation of believers. This year, the Confirmations began in Bundaberg, then Blackall and Tambo, North Rockhampton, Valleys Parishes, Emerald and Springsure. Upon my return from Rome, the Parishes of Mackay, Capricorn Coast and Gladstone await and finally Peak Downs Cluster and Blackwater. An early dose of the flu required the Vicar General, Father Bryan to cover for one of the first causalities of the season.

Well, I am looking forward to meeting with Pope Francis and I will remember you when with all the Australian Bishops, I celebrate mass all at the Tombs of the Apostles, Peter and Paul.

God bless