9 10, May, 2020 catholicweekly.com.au If the Eucharistic hunger of early Australia led to an outcry for priests and priestly ser- vice, our present Eucharistic hunger during the COVID-19 crisis may presage a similar outcry in the months and years to come.” Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP Good Shepherd of the Church, carrying frightened lambs safely through the pack of this world’s wolves … The way the young shep- herd carries the sheep on his shoulders prefigures our images of heroic ANZACs carrying woundedmates. Carrying an injured soldier single-handedly is no easy task, any more than carrying a heavy, gangly, uncoopera- tive lamb. But when a sheep is helpless, it’s all you can do to move them. The Good Shep- herd comes to the rescue, not just of an anxious Church but of all wounded humanity. So when Jesus articulates the task of priest-shepherds today, there’s no romantic pastoral idyll in the back- ground. Jesus’ sheep are of- ten lost, injured or scattered. They must be gathered into one fromdisparate plac- es. They must be protected against wolves and brigands who come “only to steal and kill and destroy”. They must be guided to safe and satisfying pasture. And they must be so befriended that they will hear and trust their Shepherd’s voice. This is the mission of pas- tors whether in St John’s fast-growing first century Church, or Domitilla’s third century persecuted Church, or John JosephTherry’s nine- teenth century colonial Church, or today’s and tomor- row’s Australia – your Church. If the Eucharistic hunger of early Australia led to an outcry for priests and priestly service, our present Eucharistic hun- ger during the COVID-19 cri- sis may presage a similar out- cry in the months and years to come. I pray that is so! After Conolly andTherry came many priests from Ire- land and England and even- tually many lands, including Australia itself. With the reli- gious, they establishedmuch of our nation’s spiritual and social infrastructure. Building on that patrimo- ny, the Catholic community now sponsors an enormous network of parishes, hospitals, aged care facilities, schools, universities, pastoral and wel- fare activities. What those priests started has grown into an enormous and complex ex- pression of faith and love. There’s no denying that some priests and bishops failed us, sometimes terribly. But on this bicentenary we re- member that most by far have, like Conolly andTherry, been selflessly devoted to their peo- ple. Over these two centuries the Church in Australia has experienced natural disas- ter, sectarian controversy, the abuse crisis and pandemics closing churches. Each time our priests have demonstrat- ed generosity, perseverance and pastoral creativity. Each time the Catholic people have signalled their love and need for priests after the heart of the Good Shepherd. But why all this shepherd- ing, this gathering and guard- ing and guiding? Is it just to build an ecclesiastical empire, a bigger flock than the shep- herd down the road? Or to en- joy bossing the sheep around with your shepherd’s crook? Or to get rich by fleecing the sheep? No, recalls Jesus today, the task of the Good Shepherd is to be the antithesis of the self-serving exploiter or mo- lester: that man is ‘the brig- and’, the anti-shepherd, anti- christ. Christ the Good Shepherd comes, and so too the good pastor, to give not take, and to give Himself completely. He comes for this purpose only: that the faithful might have life – the good, better, best life – in this world, but also life eternal, “life to the full”! (Jn 10:10) This is the edited text of the homily by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP for Mass of the 4th Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday Year A) and the Bicentena- ry of the arrival of the first official priests in Australia, livestreamed from St Mary’s Basilica, Sydney, on 3 May 2020. Canberra Cemeteries offers a large range of graves and memorialisation options at our Woden and Gungahlin Cemeteries. With limited graves available on premium land, secure a location now. Book your exclusive appointment with our Customer Service team. (02) 6204 0200 |
[email protected] www.canberracemeteries.com.au WODEN & GUNGAHLIN CEMETERIES The grave of Fr John Therry, photographed from above, in the crypt of St Mary’s Cathedral. The canny Irish priest obtained the Hyde Park site and built the first St Mary’s Cathedral. PHOTO: GIOVANNI PORTELLI Fr Therry’s cassock rabat, a clerical item of dress, his chalice and his watch, above.A detail of a stained glass window, below, portrays the first Mass celebrated in Sydney. Fr Therry’s crucifix stands on the altar of St Mary’s Cathedral, below right. PHOTOS: GIOVANNI PORTELLI FROM THE ARCHBISHOP