18 MAY 2023
www.therecord.com.au
Edition #433
DOUBLEVIEW PARISH COMMUNITY CALLED TO WALK TOGETHER IN THE WAY OF THE LORD
Archbishop Costelloe with Doubleview parishioner Marian Fergusson, aged 99 with her daughters Pauline Lynch and Camille Billing. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.
By Jamie O'Brien
The invitation is there for each of us, in the depths of our heart, to recommit ourselves to being people of communion and unity in our life within the Church, and never people of dissension and disunity, Perth Archbishop Costelloe has said. Speaking at the 50th anniversary of the Our Lady of the Rosary Church of Doubleview Parish, Sunday 14 May, Archbishop Costelloe was joined by Vicar General, the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely VG, St Mary’s Cathedral Dean and former parishioner, the Very Rev Dr Sean Fernandez, Parish Priest Fr Peter Hoang OP and Assistant Fr Tom Cassidy OP, Dominican Prior Provincial Fr Dominic Murphy OP, former Parish Priest Fr Peter Toan Nguyen OP and Fr Vincent Conroy.
More than 450 parishioners past and present came together for the 10am Mass, including many Dominican Sisters, led by Congregational Leader Sr Mary Ryan OP, who were present in the early days of the formation of the parish. Continuing his homily, Archbishop Costelloe highlighted that this call to unity is at the heart of the mission which Pope Francis has identified as the urgent task for the Church today. “As some of you would know, the Pope has convened a Synod of Bishops, a gathering of representatives of the world's bishops, which will commence in Rome in late September,” Archbishop Costelloe explained. “One of the unique elements of this Synod will be that, unlike other synods in the past, there will be lay people, religious and clergy who
will also be present and who, along with the bishops, will have the right to vote. “In this way the Pope is wanting to remind all of us that, because of our baptism, we all share responsibility for the Church's fidelity to the Lord. “It is true that the bishops, as successors of the apostles, have a particular role to play in this, but they exercise that role from within the Church, not outside it and certainly not above it - which means, of course, from within the community, not outside it, and certainly not above it. “We are called to walk together, and not in separate groups, in the way of the Lord,” he said. Parish Priest Fr Peter Hoang said the parish is a vibrant community who are always willing to work together in an effort to support each and every person. “I pray the parish will continue to grow – in faith, looking to Jesus Christ and His mother, understanding the wonderful plan He has for their lives,” Fr Peter said. “I am most grateful to be present for this momentous occasion,” he continued. “We must encourage, with love and mercy, the next generation, who will care for the parish for the next 50 years and beyond,” he said. A biographical account of the building’s creator and story of the Church’s construction and completion was also developed for the anniversary, entitled Stone of Eternity by local writer and photographer Richard Goodwin, which was launched Saturday 13 May. Full Text available at
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