WelCom December 2023
aith is that genuine renewal in the Church is always a supernatural phenomenon. Therefore, when we speak of the renewal of parish life it can only proceed with an increased docility to the Holy Spirit. As I begin my time as the Bishop of Palmerston North, I know this applies to me also. Unless I accept the truth of John 15:5 ‘…for without me you can do nothing…’ my own strength will surely be insufficient.
As a bishop I have the privilege of offering Mass each day and the chance to immerse myself in the scriptures and the great spiritual traditions of the Church when I pray my office. However, my own diocesan staff do not necessarily have this same opportunity – they have the responsibilities of their own vocations and the demands of their work. This has prompted me to make the offer, for those who wish, to begin their day in prayer, and to do so ‘on the house’. In other words, for those who would like to, their official workday could begin in prayer in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, which is immediately adjacent to our diocesan offices. This offer will coincide with the gradual opening up of our cathedral after the recent arson attack and the offering of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the cathedral each morning. Of course, how particular individuals decide to pray is over to them.
My hope is that as we begin to focus our diocese on the great commission to ‘Go out and make disciples of all the nations’ our endeavours as a diocesan team will become more and more anointed and therefore more fruitful.