From Fr Gregs Desk': Sunday 16th August, 2026
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"Where Were All The Priests This Week?"
Good question! Sydney Archdiocese held their tri-annual "Live In Clergy Conference" from Monday to Thursday this week for all the priests in active ministry in the Archdiocese, plus a lot of others who are either retired or on 'lesser duties'. It was amazing to see us all concelebrating together - all 220 of us - it took ages for us all to process down and take communion. But it was really good to reinforce the brotherhood of priests that we are, and share quality together in talks, workshops, liturgies, meals and the like..
One of the highlights of the Conference was the input from Archbishop John Wilson, from the Archdiocese of Southwark (UK). He was our 'keynote speaker', and he gave us two talks: one was on how "The Priesthood is loved by the Heart of Jesus", and the second on how "The Priesthood is about loving the Heart of Jesus". Absolutely terrific talks!!! Amongst many other things, in his first input, he told us:
"The things of the heart are what matter most ... and discipleship of Jesus comes from the heart.... I believe the Priesthood is about falling in love with Jesus .. and not just once, but every day of our lives... You've got to realise that your name is written on the Heart of Jesus and once written there can never be erased... A priestly vocation is a particular way of being loved by Jesus and a particular way of loving Jesus in return".
I think the same could be said for the vocation to Christian marriage as well, [as indeed any other 'Christian vocation']... that it is a "particular way of being loved by Jesus and of loving him in return. Which is what we want for all of you, here at our Parish, in our ministries and Masses, through our hospitality and Sacraments, even in our Parish picnics and camps. May we all place 'being loved by Jesus' as our first and principal objective in our daily lives, whatever our vocation - the single, the married, and everyone 'in between'; lay, religious and priest alike.
Archbishop Wilson's second input was also delightfully inspiring, especially in this lead up to the International Eucharistic Conference here in Sydney in 2028. In this one he told us:
"The Priesthood is also about loving the Heart of Jesus... The first step is to know and believe that you are loved by Jesus, and gradually grow in that awareness of being loved unconditionally. But then we are to love Jesus, and we do that especially through the Eucharist... For in the Eucharist we are giving the people not 'something' but 'someone', Christ Himself... Have the confidence that the Eucharist is able to convert hearts to Himself ... and make Him readily available to the people... Have faith, have courage, let the Eucharistic Lord be the Eucharistic Lord... Trust that He will capture hearts... And ask Him to lend you his love, his Eucharistic love and self giving... Borrow his love. Know whom you have with you... Spend time in heartfelt love before the Eucharistic Lord. Love him there without measure ... We all need time for a 'Eucharistic pause' ... to receive His love and then to return it."
Again, I think the Archbishop's words apply to all of us, regardless of our 'vocation' in life. The wonderful thing about your Parish is that at St. Charles Borromeo Church, we have our Eucharistic Lord placed in front of you in the monstrance on the main altar, day in day out most days of the week. Make the most of spending time with Jesus. in the Eucharist. This is why we have Wardens at the back of the Church during the day, so as to maintain a presence before Him there and ensure that reverence and silent prayer be maintained before Him. My hope is that each and every one of you will make time for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, and that this will become a 'holy habit' in the lives of all of us, as young or as old as we might be.
God bless you all, and have a wonderful week.
Fr. Greg
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