Fr Paul Durkin has been formally installed as parish priest of St Ives on Sunday, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, by Archbishop Anthony Randazzo.
While Fr Paul has been serving as parish priest since 21 April, however the formal installation took place on the parish's patronal feast day.
In his homily, Archbishop Anthony thanked Fr Paul and encouraged the faithful of St Ives to support him in his ministry.
"Today, with great gratitude, we welcome Father Paul Durkin as your new parish priest. Father Paul, thank you for accepting this appointment and for your generous willingness to serve the people entrusted to your care," he said.
"The ministry of a parish priest is both beautiful and demanding. A priest is called to teach, sanctify, and shepherd God’s people. He is called to lead others to Christ through faithful preaching, reverent celebration of the sacraments, compassionate pastoral care, and a joyful commitment to the mission of the Gospel.
"Father Paul comes among you not as a stranger, but as a shepherd sent by Christ and by the Church. Welcome him warmly. Pray for him faithfully. Support him generously. Walk alongside him in the mission that lies ahead. See in him a pastor who desires to lead and accompany you in holiness, in zeal for the Gospel, in pastoral charity, and in the mission entrusted to every baptised person."
Fr Tân Nguyễn, who was ordained a priest in late April, has been appointed assistant priest of the parish. However, Archbishop Anthony emphasised the leadership of the community didn't rest solely on their shoulders, but on the shoulders of all the baptised of the community.
"The future of this parish does not rest upon the shoulders of Fr Paul even with the assistance of Fr Tân. Every member of this community has a role to play. Every baptised person has received gifts from the Holy Spirit. Every disciple is called to active participation in the mission of the Church. The Body of Christ is alive when all its members are alive in faith," he said.
"The Holy Spirit continues to call this parish community to renewal, to evangelisation, to service of the poor, to the formation of young people, to deeper prayer, and to courageous witness in a world that is often uncertain and searching for meaning. But none of this can happen through human effort alone. The mission of the Church can only flourish when we remain close to Christ. The future of this parish will be fruitful only if it remains firmly centred on the Eucharist."
The Mass was attended by several local community leaders, including Nicolette Boele, Federal Member for Bradfield, Matt Cross, State Member for Davidson, and Christine Kay, Mayor of Ku-ring-gai.
St Ives has held an important role in the history of the Diocese. From 1986 until 2008, it was the designated Cathedral of the Diocese and many of Broken Bay's priests and deacons were ordained there.
When Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara became the Diocese's cathedral in 2008, pastoral care of St Ives was given to the Order of the Discalced Carmelites, with Fr Peter Dowd OCD serving as parish priest. He would later be incardinated into the Diocese of Broken Bay.
Fr Gregory Chee OCD served as parish priest since 2017, guiding the parish for almost a decade.
In late 2021, the Regional Vicar of Discalced Carmelite Friars of Australia, Fr Bernard Hancock OCD had informed Bishop Anthony the Order would not be able to sustain its presence indefinitely at the Parish of St Ives. At the time, the Order had only 14 Friars in the region, with an average age of 70.
It was announced the Order would withdraw from the parish by mid-2026, with pastoral care returning to the Diocese.
