The Catholic Weekly 25 December 2022

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 25, December, 2022 Call 02 9649 6423 or visit www.catholiccemeteries.com.au Consecrated lawns and chapels Sydney’s only Catholic crematorium Monthly mass for the Repose of Souls Funeral directors available for a Catholic service Bereavement pastoral care Serving the Catholic community for over 150 years THE HARVEST is plentiful and while the workers may be few, 2022 has been a bump- er year for ordinations, end- ing with diaconal and priest- ly celebrations in and around Sydney. Fr James Arblaster was or- dained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Wollongong on 10 December at St John Vi- anney Co-Cathedral in Fairy Meadow. Wollongong Bishop Bri- an Mascord emphasised the humility a priest must have to keep Jesus Christ front and centre in his ministry. “You do not preach your own word, but that of Christ. You do not celebrate yourself, but Christ who gave his life in obedience to God,” Bishop Mascord said. “Nor do you preach and celebrate as if you were an in- dependent contractor. Rather you do so in communion with Christ and his Church.” Fr Arblaster, who was the subject of a Sydney Morning Herald story in 2015 calling him “the new face of Catho- lic priesthood”, said in his thanksgiving that he could hardly believe the day had fi- nally arrived. “Fourteen years ago I heard a mysterious call to the priesthood, when I was in Year 12. I wrestled with it in- tellectually and emotionally,” he said. ¾ Adam Wesselinoff Ordinations a Christmas gift for the Church The newly-ordained priest was trained at Sydney’s Sem- inary of the Good Shepherd, and said after a long journey he could not imagine a better life than to bring people into “the most profound com- munion with God” through the mysteries of the Church. The Carmelites also got an early Christmas present with the ordination of Fr Adalbert Imperial OCD to the priest- hood on 14 December, the feast day of St John of the Cross, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Varroville. Bishop Gregory Homem- ing OCD told the newly-or- dained priest he was not just a gift to the Carmelites, but to the whole Church. Bishop Homeming was joined by Bishop Mascord, friars from the Carmelites and Discalced Carmelites, and clergy from several dio- ceses. In his message of thanks- giving Fr Imperial said that St John of the Cross lived his teaching. “He teaches us that where there is no love, put love in, and you will draw out love. And this is the kind of love I News Books Archbishop’s homily Editorial & Letters 1-15 8-9 29 32-33 EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 Debbie Cramsie (02) 9390 5396 Adam Wesselinoff (02) 9390 5400 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 Katie Clarke (02) 9390 5402 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa Our story begins in 1839 with the Australasian Chronicle, continuing with the Freeman’s Journal in 1850. Level 13, Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02) 9390 5400 | Vol 73, No 5267 The Catholic Weekly is published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney ABN 60 471 267 587 and is printed by Spotpress Pty Ltd, 24-26 Lilian Fowler Place, Marrickville NSW 2204. CatholicWeekly The DIAMONDWOMEN provides options counselling, support and assistance for women and their families facing an unplanned pregnancy. Contact 1300 851 592 www.diamondwomen.com.au Worried? Alone? Pregnant? CENTRES LOCATED IN BAULKHAM HILLS, GOSFORD, SYDNEY, MACQUARIE FIELDS, PENRITH AND SOUTH SYDNEY COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT There will be no 9 January 2022 edition. The next edition will be 16 January 2022 NEW YEAR DISTRIBUTION There will be no 1 January 2023 edition. The next edition will be 8 January 2023. Wishing all our readers a Happy and Holy Christmas and New year. Celebrating loved ones for over 90 years Trevor Lee & Son is a family business that has helped families celebrate and remember their loved ones for over 90 years. ♦ Intimate and personal funeral services ♦ Professional, compassionate staff, available 24 hours a day ♦ On site or in the comfort of your own home ♦ Servicing all areas of Metropolitan Sydney and Country NSW ♦ Pre-Paid Funerals available Contact Bernadette (nee O’Hare), Trevor or Darren Lee on 9746 2949 to arrange an appointment. Deacon Tom Green embraces Bishop Vincent Long. Photo: Diocese of Parramatta. New priests and deacons for Sydney, Wollongong, Parramatta and religious orders cap off a bumper year for ordinations