Dear Friends
As we give thanks for our Parish Community at this time of celebration, the following quote comes to mind from my letter to the Parish on 29 March 2020, the beginning of the period of gradual lockdown as COVID spread across our country and our world:
‘Might this period be a time of reimagining for us personally, as a community and as Church? Perhaps a time to revisit what we truly believe, to reconnect with the God within, the God who holds us in the palm of his hand.’
At the time in an unprecedented move, Public Masses were no longer allowed and Sunday Mass was live-streamed as we sought new ways of staying connected. We were challenged to broaden our view of Church, our ‘ecclesiology’, and focus on the fundamental unit of the Church – the domestic Church, the Church in the Family:
‘Buildings are closed, not the Church. We are the Church… and we remain open in faith, hope and love!’
Such a situation would have been unthinkable to the pioneers of our Parish - St Cecilia’s, Balgowlah, in 1929 and St Kieran’s, Manly Vale, in 1952 – and those involved in the merging of these two parishes into the Catholic Community of North Harbour in 2005.
As we celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the official opening of St Kieran’s Church, Manly Vale by Cardinal Gilroy on 12 October 1952, we take account of the many milestones that have formed us as a community, especially the Second Vatican Council which began 60 years ago - offering a fresh understanding of who we are as Church, our place as Church in the Modern World, liturgical changes which broke open for us a deeper understanding of the Eucharist and the other Sacraments, Ecumenism, a stronger sense of Social Justice, and a deeper understanding of our relationship with God – to name a few.
The seriousness with which priests and parishioners took the Council’s teachings to heart is reflected in the ‘new’ St Kieran’s Church opened in 1968, its ‘inclusive’ design reflecting the core principles of Vatican II ecclesiology and liturgical renewal – still state of the art today. This is a tribute to the leadership of Parish Priest Fr Kieran O’Shea, his fellow Augustinians, and the strong faith of pioneer parishioners who had the courage to embrace renewal even when many found the new ways personally and spiritually challenging.
Today we offer grateful thanks for parishioners, past and present, living and deceased, and acknowledge their faith and devotion, their transparent generosity and trust, their refreshing humour and personal commitment over the years that communicated the very clear message that this Parish is a good place to be!
We remember fondly the many Augustinians who served in the Parish, the Good Samaritan Sisters and staff who served our Parish schools untiringly, and all parishioners who embraced ministry roles and built our strong community. We continue to embrace Pope Francis’ prophetic vision of a Church that is ‘open to everyone, always on the go!’
Congratulations and God’s blessings on 70 wonderful years! Fr Dave