Bishop Anthony Randazzo has celebrated Mass at St Mary's Cathedral for the Feast of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, with more than 1,000 people filling the pews.
Saint Josemaría was a Spanish priest who founded Opus Dei in 1928, as a way of helping ordinary Christians understand that their life is a way of holiness and evangelisation.
In his homily, Bishop Anthony praised the work of Saint Josemaría, which called each person to be saints in every vocation.
"Saint Josemaría never saw his priesthood as something isolated or separate from the rest of the faithful. He deeply understood that all Christians, lay and ordained alike, share one common baptism, one calling, one destiny in Christ," he said.
"In a homily from 1973, he reminded us of the words of Saint Peter: "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
"This was not simply poetic language for him. It was a truth he lived. “There is no such thing as second-class holiness,” he said. Either we fight to remain in the grace of God and imitate Christ our Model, or we give up the battle. And that battle is waged in the hidden corners of daily life."
Opus Dei's stated mission is to help its lay and clerical members seek holiness in their everyday occupations and societies.
The Diocese of Broken Bay enjoys a strong relationship with Opus Dei. It has two centres, Eremeran Hills Study Centre and Nairana Study Centre, located in Pennant Hills, and its headquarters in Roseville is located within the Diocese.
Regular formation is offered by the institution in cities across Australia. A number of schools inspired by St Josemaría and the work of Opus Dei have also been established by parents in Sydney and Melbourne.
Bishop Anthony noted St Josemaría's life was mapped onto the Holy Years of the Church.
"This Holy Year also marks two significant anniversaries in the life of Saint Josemaría: the centenary of his priestly ordination in 1925, and the fiftieth anniversary of his death in 1975. Remarkably, each of these years: 1925, 1975, and now 2025, are Jubilee Years in the life of the Church," he said.
"In the light of faith, we know that such alignments are never mere coincidences. They are signs, humble signs, that God uses to teach us something essential: that holiness often walks quietly through the ordinary days of our lives."
Among those in attendance at the Mass was 96-year-old Frank Casadesus, one of the first eight members of Opus Dei to arrive in 1963 in Australia. He is the only one of the original group still living in Sydney.
Originally from Barcelona, Casadesus was a lawyer in the Spanish air force when Saint Josemaria asked him to help to begin the work of Opus Dei in Sydney.
While the work of Opus Dei has been going on for almost a century, Bishop Anthony stressed it was as relevant now as it has been at its founding.
"My brothers and sisters, the message of Saint Josemaría is as urgent now in 2025 as it was in 1928," he said.
"Holiness is not a distant ideal. It is your baptismal calling. It is God’s invitation to you, today, in your marriage, in your family, in your friendships, in your classroom, at your office desk, behind the shop counter, or in the hidden sacrifices of daily life. That is where sanctity is found."
You can read a full copy of Bishop Anthony's homily here.
Images courtesy of Giovanni Portelli / The Catholic Weekly