European colonists first settled in Adelaide in 1836. Unlike other European settlements in Australia, South Australia began as an experimentation in free settlement. The original settlers were mainly non-conformists and Anglicans. Catholics were few. Before the arrival of the first priest in 1842, Mr and Mrs John Phillips, storekeepers, took a lead in bringing together the local Catholics for prayer and instruction. In 1844, Francis Murphy, an Irish priest who had served for some years in Sydney, was appointed as the first bishop of the struggling colony.The first Catholic Church was opened at Morphett Vale, an agricultural settlement 25 kms south of Adelaide on 4th January 1846. It was in this Church that the excommunication of Blessed Mary MacKillop was officially lifted in 1874. The founding of the Josephite Sisters in Penola in 1866, and the later excommunication of Mary MacKillop by Bishop Sheils, to be followed by a renewed flourishing of this Order dedicated to education of the poor, is an integral part of the South Australian story.Archbishop Philip Wilson, who was consecrated Archbishop of Adelaide on Monday, December 3, 2001, is the current and tenth successor of Bishop Murphy. The Archdiocese of Adelaide stretches from Clare-Sevenhill in the north (the original Jesuit foundation in Australia) to Mount Gambier in the southeast corner of the state. There are approximately 65 diocesan priests, 65 religious priests and 150 men and women religious currently serving the Catholic people of the Archdiocese.

The number of Catholic schools, primary and secondary, is 91. There are numerous organisations such as the St Vincent de Paul Society, Catholic Women’s League, Young Christian Workers and Students, Catholic Education Office, Catholic Communications, Catholic Adult Education Services, Catholic Missions, Centacare and Pastoral Planning.

Archbishop Matthew Beovich attended the sessions of the Second Vatican Council and embraced its vision for the Archdiocese. The Diocesan Pastoral Council and Parish Pastoral Councils were set up to express the renewed vision of the Church as the people of God, and the vital role of the laity. Archbishop James Gleeson continued this direction and actively encouraged the laity, especially in the role as witnesses in the world. Archbishop Leonard Faulkner added to this vision by setting up the Archdiocese as being a ‘Community for the World’. He then promoted the vision of Basic Ecclesial Communities, now referred to as Parish Neighbourhood Church communities. The aim was to establish smaller geographical communities within the existing parish communities. In this way, Catholics are able to be members of more intimate pastoral communities in their own neighbourhood. With Archbishop Wilson the vision for our Archdiocese is that in all areas of pastoral activity we become a “family centred church”.
 

Mission and Ministry:

In 1942, Archbishop Matthew Beovich established St Francis Xavier Regional Seminary under the auspices of the South Australian Bishops. The first to be ordained from the new seminary on January 1st, 1950 was Father Leonard Faulkner, who would later become Archbishop of Adelaide. Since that time there have been many priests who have done all or part of their studies at St Francis Xavier.In 1998 the site of the seminary was transferred from Rostrevor to Morphettville. Here, the smaller number of students from the Adelaide, Port Pirie and Darwin Dioceses lived in home unit-style accommodation. The students studied theology at the Adelaide College of Divinity at Brooklyn Park whilst also attending courses at Flinders University. As of the beginning of 2002 the Adelaide Archdiocese began to send its students to the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Homebush in Sydney. Currently students attend Corpus Christi College in Melbourne for their seminary formation.The Adelaide Archdiocese has always had a reputation for the sense of solidarity amongst its priests. Through Priests’ Assemblies, retreats and social events, the priests sustain a sense of supporting each other in the mission of the Kingdom. The priests of the South-East maintain the tradition of gathering together on Mondays for golf and a meal. Several priests are involved in Fraternity Groups, meeting monthly for prayer, review of life and a meal. Ordination as a priest means joining a brotherhood of service in the Archdiocese.

The current Archbishop is Most Reverend Philip Wison DD JCL and his Assistant Bishop is Most Reverend Gregory O'Kelly SJ AM DD VG. Monsignor David Cappo VG is the Moderator of the Archdiocesan Curia. Ms Jane Swift and Ms Cathy Whewell are Chancellors. Director of Strategic Pastoral Planning and Ministry Formation is Fr Paul Cashen MSC.

Formation:

When someone is interested in the priesthood, he makes contact with the Vocations Director either directly or through his parish priest. After a suitable time of discernment, prayer and preparation, a formal application can be made to commence studying at the seminary. Whilst the usual period of formation is seven years, this may be adapted according to the age and experience of the candidate. The seminary course is designed not only to be academic, but also the foster human growth and maturity, spiritual development and pastoral expertise. During seminary formation the student spend a full semester working in a parish and this provides first hand practical experience.The diocesan priesthood is an enormous challenge in today’s world, but is one way of really making a difference to the lives of people. Whilst we choose it, is is more precise to say that God chooses us. “Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1.

VOCATION INFORMATION:

Catholic Vocations Centre
112 Kintore St
Thebarton SA 5031
Telephone: 08) 8301 6868
Facsimile: (08) 8223 3880
Email: vocations@adelaide.catholic.org.au

Vocations Director
Fr. Dean Marin
Telephone: (08) 8210 8244
Email: drfmarin@internode.on.net

Vocations Associate
Tony Telford-Sharp
Telephone: (08) 8301 6868
Email: vocations@adelaide.catholic.org.au
 

Webpage: www.adelaide.catholic.org.au/sites/VocationsCentre/

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HOBART

The Archdiocese of Hobart consists of the State of Tasmania including in its territory the island groups to the north and south of the ‘mainland’ island. Tasmania, originally called Van Diemens’ Land, was established primarily as a penal settlement on 20 February 1804 with the first settlement called Hobart Town in the South. A second settlement was established on the 11 November 1804 at Port Dalrymple (Launceston) in the North as a military outpost. The settlements were quite separate and until 1812 were governed from New South Wales. Developing settlements was a difficult task given the enormity of isolation and the ruggedness of the terrain. Today Tasmania is a thriving community, with her primary industries being agriculture, mining and tourism. The people are friendly and welcoming. A major issue for the State is the high rate of unemployment and the numbers of young people being forced to other parts of the country seeking work. In the early days the State was under the pastoral direction of the Church of England and the majority of the population, even to the present day, belongs to the Anglican Church of Australia. The Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart was inaugurated in 1842 with the appointment of the first Bishop, Robert Wilson.

Archbishop Adrian Doyle, the first Tasmanian to be consecrated a Bishop, was installed as the tenth Bishop of Hobart on the 26 August 1999. He leads a Catholic population of some 90,000 people. In recent years, the Archdiocese has been working towards greater collaboration between parishes and agencies at all levels of Church life. Hence, many parishes have come together, pooling resources, forming ministry teams and enabling greater effectiveness in the building of community and the preaching of the Gospel.

There are now 24 parishes in the Archdiocese. We also have 37 Catholic schools providing primary and secondary education, 8 Catholic nursing homes which provide quality care for the aged, 2 Catholic hospitals and a number of other organisations offering services in such areas as adult faith formation and education, welfare, migrant and refugee support, youth outreach, disability services and spirituality. The Church is also present in State prisons, hospitals and schools through the work of chaplains to these institutions. St Mary’s Cathedral, the heart of the Archdiocese, is located in Hobart.

Mission and Ministry:

The Archdiocese has 21 Diocesan Priests in active ministry working in a wide variety of areas and ministries. These ministries include the Pastoral care of Parishes, Chaplaincy to schools, multicultural groups, hospitals and Prisons, and Adult education and formation. Some are directly involved in Centacare, offering family support and counselling. Many of our Priests are trained Spiritual Directors. All are involved in the sacramental life of the Church, celebrating Mass, Reconciliation, Baptism and Confirmation. Our Priests lead liturgical celebrations and prayer services, witness Marriages and celebrate Funerals. Our Ministries are about faith and God’s people. The Diocesan Priest lives generally alone but builds community with the people he is sent to serve. The diocese encourages the further education of her Priests and offers ongoing support to those in retirement.

Formation:

The road to the priesthood makes an interesting journey for those called. A person interested in this life would usually make contact with the Vocation Director either directly or via his Parish Priest or Parish administrator. After a period of discussion or discernment if he then wishes a formal application is made for entry into the seminary, to begin the necessary training for the priesthood.

The Archdiocese of Hobart is part of the governing body that operates a Seminary called Corpus Christi College, located in Melbourne, Victoria. The Archdiocese has had a long association with this seminary and many of her Priests have been formed there. The Seminary training takes a number of years depending on the experience and background of each applicant. Usually however, the length of training is seven years, during which a person entering would undertake studies designed to help him develop academically, spiritually, emotionally and pastorally. The seminary life is broken into a number of Pastoral placements including one full year living in a Parish here in the Archdiocese. The pastoral placement allows a person time to experience and to develop the pastoral skills necessary to the Diocesan Priesthood. The years of study allow time for reflection and discernment to ensure that those seeking ordination are able to make an informed commitment to the life and for life. These years also allow the Archdiocese an opportunity to discern whether those seeking ordination are suited to the Tasmanian Church.

After ordination the newly ordained Priest returns to the Archdiocese to begin life as a Priest amongst the people that God has called him to serve.

VOCATION INFORMATION:

Fr Brian Nichols
Vocations Director
Cathedral Parish
99 Barrack Street
HOBART 7000
Ph: 03 6234 4463
Fax: 03 6234 4737

Email: tasvoc@yahoo.com.au

The Diocese of Broken Bay

"Lumen Christi" - the Light of Christ - is the motto of the Diocese of Broken Bay. The icon on the Diocesan crest is based on the lighthouse at Barrenjoey that shines across Broken Bay at the entrance to the Hawkesbury River. Not only does this lighthouse unify both sections of our Diocese - Northern Sydney and the Central Coast - but it is also a striking image for the light of Christ as a beacon through the darkness.

Broken Bay was established as a Diocese in 1986 under the care of Bishop Patrick Murphy. Broken Bay may be one of the youngest Dioceses in Australia, but our heritage goes back to the earliest Catholic community in this country, including Holy Cross Church (founded 1842) and Saint Mary McKillop's orphanage at Kincumber. Bishop Murphy retired for reasons of age in September 1996 and was succeeded by the present Bishop, David Louis Walker DD MTh (Lon). Bishop David founded the Center for Spirituality at Randwick (in 1973), is a prominent speaker and has published extensively on faith renewal, spirituality, mysticism, ecumenism, formation of clergy, and Church leadership. He has a great vision for the future and is active in seeking out and supporting new leaders to take on the challenges of bringing the gospel to the contemporary world.

The Diocese of Broken Bay has 39 parishes, and is divided into three deaneries - the Central Coast, the North Shore and the Manly Peninsula - covering some beautiful beaches and national parkland. It stretches north to south from Wyoming to Manly, with Pennant Hills on its western border, and includes urban centers such as Chatswood, Hornsby and Gosford. There are many different challenges that the Church faces in each region. For instance the Central Coast is one of the fastest growing areas in Australia, but it also has one of the highest rates of youth suicide.

Mission and Ministry:

The ministry of the priests of Broken Bay is primarily directed towards serving and building up our parish communities. This involves preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in word and deed, as well as gathering the community together for celebration of the Eucharist and other sacraments. The priest is there to represent the Church in the significant moments of people's lives, in times of both great joy and sorrow, such as Weddings, Baptisms and Funerals. A priest's pastoral ministry may take him to family homes, schools, hospitals, nursing homes - he goes wherever there is a need to spread the Good News. Priests have an important role in empowering the gifts of the people and overseeing their use in the parish community. Ultimately, priestly ministry is about answering the call of Jesus to follow him in a special way by giving one's life in love and service to the People of God.

Formation:

The first point of contact for someone considering priesthood for Broken Bay can be their local parish priest, the Diocesan Vocations Director, or the Vocations Promotions Officer. This is followed by a period of helping the prospective candidate in discernment - through spiritual direction, vocational accompaniment and retreat weekends. The inquirer may then apply to the Bishop to be accepted as a student for the Diocese.

In Broken Bay Diocese formation for priesthood takes place at Murphy House at St Ives. Students live together with the formation director, Fr Jim McKeon, sharing meals, prayer, daily Mass, ministry and life together. There are lectures, seminars and retreats which are shared with people in formation for priesthood for other dioceses for religious life all across Sydney .

In the first six months of first year a program called Kairos is shared with novices from religious orders from around Sydney , providing a broad introduction to spirituality, discernment and prayer.

In the first three years students undertake a Bachelor of Theology degree with the Broken Bay Institute and the Catholic Institute of Sydney, and then take some further study in the remaining years.

A key component of formation is ongoing pastoral development, with students strongly involved in the life Corpus Christi Parish, St Ives, where they will, over 6 years, be involved in every area of parish ministry. There are also workshops on the practical skills of public speaking and preaching, teaching and leading liturgy. There is a one week retreat each year, as well as regular one-on-one spiritual direction and reflection days.

Priests, religious and lay people assist in our formation, with Bishop David regularly visiting to give input on the classic spiritual writers. Some formation is taking in conjunction with other people in the diocese, such as preparation for teaching scripture in government schools. This cooperative approach is a hallmark of the diocese overall, and is part of equipping our future priests to lead in a collaborative Church.

Formation programs are tailored to each man to focus on developing his self awareness, character and relationship skills which will equip him to love and serve people well.
 

VOCATION INFORMATION:

Vocations Director:
Fr Jim McKeon
23 Yardley Ave
WAITARA NSW 2077

Phone: 02 9483 2302

Email:jim.mckeon@dbb.org.au

THE DIOCESE OF GERALDTON

The Geraldton Diocese was established in 1898. The Diocese is the largest diocese within Australia. It is 1,318,000 sq. km covering nearly two thirds of Western Australia. Bishop Justin Bianchini leads the Diocese assisted by 22 priests with the pastoral care of 15 parishes and 25 other Mass centres. The priests and bishop are supported by some religious who assist in pastoral duties in the outlying parishes. There are seven Primary Schools, two Primary to Year 10 schools, two Secondary Colleges and one Agricultural College within the Diocese.

We have four Aboriginal Outreach missions throughout the diocese and an Aboriginal Liaison Officer. The diocese also has a number of diocesan organisations which are responsible for education, family services, counselling, marriage preparation, natural family planning and pregnancy help, welfare, parish life and adult faith education. Centacare and the Centre for Parish Life and Mission reach out to the whole Diocese. There are three Conferences of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

The area of Health Care is conducted by The St John of God Health Care System and a Nursing Home for the Aged conducted by the Sisters of Nazareth.

The Diocese has a Vocations Council that meet to discuss and promote community awareness of the need for vocations. Because of the vastness of the diocese we rely on our priests and religious to promote vocations within their parishes and schools.

Mission and Ministry:

Priests of the Geraldton Diocese are involved in a range of general pastoral and liturgical ministries. Some of our priests are involved in hospital, prison, school and Aboriginal chaplaincy. With some of our parishes on the coast there is also a need for our priests to serve as chaplains to seafarers, and in more recent years to people in the Refugee camp in the north west of the diocese. The priests serve in various counselling and educational roles due to the lack of Government facilities in some areas.

The Diocese encourages priests to undertake on-going education, and provides periodical leave. There is a choice of accommodation and on-going care provided for retired priests.

Formation:

A man interested in priesthood initially makes contact with the Diocesan Vocation Director. A meeting with the Bishop and the other Committee members will then take place. The formal process of reflection and discernment is carried out through the Perth Archdiocesan Pre-Vocation Centre in Guildford. If he wishes to continue in this direction, he makes formal application to begin training for priesthood.

Seminary training takes place over a number of years, during which time a man would undertake studies designed to help develop spiritually, socially, intellectually and pastorally. There are normally two pastoral placements in which the seminarian would return to the Diocese to experiences some hands on training, working with priests who have completed courses in pastoral direction. This is designed to help the seminarian to experience priestly life in the rural and sometimes harsh conditions of the Diocese, while gaining insights and valuable experience in the various areas of priesthood. These placements also serve as an opportunity for those responsible for his formation to make informed decisions regarding both his suitability for priestly ministry, and his ability to make a life-time commitment to the Geraldton Diocese.

Ordination is the culmination of seminary training. This decision is made in consultation with the Bishop, the Seminary Professors and those who guided his pastoral placement.

VOCATION INFORMATION:

For more information please contact:

Fr Gerard Totanes
Geraldton Diocesan Vocations Director
Post Office Box 46
Geraldton WA 6531
Telephone: 08 9921 3221
Facsimile: 08 9964 1097
Email:gerardt@diocese-geraldton.org

DIOCESE OF  PARRAMATTA

The Diocese of Parramatta is one of the youngest Dioceses in Australia in more ways than one. Having been formed in 1986 it’s still in its twenties! As well, the Diocese is very young in that we have one of the highest birth rates anywhere in the land. This is a place with no shortage of babies, children, teenagers and young adults, as well of course as the full range of ages and backgrounds through to the senior years.

The Diocese’s founding Bishop, Bede Heather, set the tone of encouraging a broad participation in the Church’s life and ministry and making real priority for those in need. Bishop Kevin Manning followed him in 1997, taking up the leadership in this rapidly growing and most multi-cultural region of the Australian Church. One of the memorable tasks of those years was the re-building the historic Cathedral of St Patrick, ruined by fire in 1996. What resulted is not just a remarkable building, but one which acts as a guiding symbol for our Diocese. In its blend of features, it honours and proclaims an enduring, sacred tradition, whilst at the same time presenting a contemporary dynamic of the community of faith gathered physically around the Word and Eucharist. This speaks of a people called to bring Christ into the heart of the community. It was in that place in 2010 that the Diocese formally received Bishop Anthony Fisher, a member of the Dominican Order, as the third Bishop of Parramatta. Currently the youngest of Australia’s Bishops and a valued ethicist and teacher, his special commitment to young people was reflected in his directing of WYD08. In Bishop Anthony’s own words, he ‘loves being a priest’.

Parramatta Seminarians with Bishop Anthony - 2010

Mission and Ministry:

If you flew a helicopter across Parramatta Diocese you’d probably land feeling frightened or excited! To see the many established suburban areas which range across the social and cultural spectrum, along with the massive expansion occurring and projected, is sure testimony to the importance and size of the pastoral challenge. As the M7 cuts across the M4 and leads to the M2, one is conscious of the significance of this region, for these are key arteries linking the diversity that is our Diocese. In addition to the vibrant energy of its young population, the Diocese is crowned with natural beauty such as the Hawkesbury/Nepean River systems and the vast sanctuary of the Blue Mountains. Some might shy away from the call to effective twenty first century ministry in this region! The Diocese, however, calls the faith and enthusiasm of some of the generous young men of today to become priests… brother disciples who see the challenge as full of opportunity to do great things for God among God’s people. Please join us in praying for such men whose lives will be so significant!

Formation:

Formation in faith and living for every follower of Christ is life-long. But specifically in relation to the ordained priesthood for Parramatta Diocese, the first step would be to get in touch with Fr Paul Roberts. Fr Paul is the Parish Priest of Granville and is also the Diocesan Vocation Director. You can have a chat with him about what’s involved. Put briefly, the journey to ordination is interesting and full. Each person brings his own unique gifts into a brotherly journey with companions in the Diocese’s Seminary house. There is an ongoing programme of spiritual and personal development, university level academic studies and ministry formation, a whole range of pastoral experiences and placements and a growing identity with and belonging in the wider Diocesan family.
 
 

VOCATION INFORMATION:

You are welcome to contact:

Fr Paul Roberts
Vocation Director for Parramatta Diocese

Mobile: 0419 219 819
Email:vocations@parra.catholic.org.au

Visit: www.parra.catholic.org.au/vocations

THE DIOCESE OF PORTPIRIE
 

Geographically ours is the Central diocese of Australia. Our boundaries join the dioceses of Perth and Geraldton in Western Australia, Darwin in the north, Rockhampton and Toowoomba in Queensland, Wilcannia-Forbes in New South Wales, Ballarat in Victoria and Adelaide in the south. It is the only diocese, which goes beyond a State border as we extend 1 degree latitude to include Uluru and some Aboriginal settlements to the north. The vast regions of what later became the Diocese were first evangelised by the Austrian Jesuits based at Seven Hill. About 1852 they were given the responsibility for the spiritual care of all Catholics north of a line from Morgan on the River Murray to the west of Spencer's Gulf. Father John Pallhuber undertook great missionary journeys up to 700 kms on horseback four or five times each year. Later on Jesuits administered several parishes until about 1900.

When diocesan priests began to arrive they too were required to take arduous trips through vast areas. We recall the words of John Norton, Bishop of the diocese 1906-23 on his visits to Railway construction camps: "Many a boiling day and many a cold night I camped with the generous-hearted and truly noble men in their tents." Because of the instability of mining and railway settlements and the drift from rural areas the diocese has seen many Churches and Mass centres open and later close. However because the region is so rich in minerals and attractive to tourists we have new places being established. For instance Roxby Downs is the country's fastest growing development.

The diocese now consists of 23 parishes. 14 schools provide Catholic Education for primary pupils. There are 4 secondary Colleges 3 of which have boarding facilities. Aged Care is available in 3 Centres. We have the usual caring organisations such as CentaCare, St Vincent de Paul, CWL, KSC, YCW, and YCS. We have specialists helping with adult education, youth work and liturgy.

Our leader is Bishop Eugene Hurley who was born in the diocese.

Mission and Ministry:

The priests of those early years established a custom of travelling long distances to minister in sparsely populated areas. We are proud that this tradition is still alive in many of our parishes thus emphasising the importance of the individual. We need priests and religious who seek a more relaxed, country lifestyle and who enjoy traveling the vastness of our state from the Riverland to the desert country of Coober Pedy and the coastal beauty of Port Lincoln and the Eyre Peninsular. While this can be a lonely ministry at times it is also very rewarding.

Our priests, religious and lay helpers are engaged in the usual parish activities - visitation, caring for the sick in hospitals and at home, education, liturgy, and administering the Sacraments. In small centres especially they are expected to take part in community interests such as sporting clubs, hospital, aged care.

Formation:

The road to priesthood is an interesting one for those called. The first port of call is to make contact with the Vocations Director directly or via your parish priest. After a period of discussion and discernment a formal application is made to the seminary in Adelaide, to begin the training for priesthood.

The Adelaide seminary has students from three Dioceses, Darwin, Port Pirie and Adelaide. This provides a good mix of students from varying backgrounds. The seminary training takes a number of years depending on the education and experience of each applicant. Usually however, the length of training is seven years, during which the applicant would undertake studies to help him develop spiritually, academically, emotionally, pastorally and physically. During this period of study there are two opportunities to experience parish life during a Pastoral Placement. This placement is designed to give someone an experience of the life of a parish priest in our Diocese. The years of study at the seminary allow time for discernment and reflection to ensure that those seeking ordination are able to make an informed commitment to the life and for life. It is also a time of discernment for the Diocese to determine if the student is suited to the Diocese of Port Pirie.

VOCATION INFORMATION:

Fr. Brian Mathews
Vocations Director
PO Box 467
ROXBY DOWNS
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5725

Phone: 08 8671 3207


Email:bmathews@stbarbs.pp.catholic.edu.au

THE DIOCESE OF SALE  (Victoria)
 

The Diocese of Sale was established in 1887, and the present Bishop, Jeremiah Coffey, a native of County Cork, Ireland, is the seventh Bishop of Sale. St Mary’s Cathedral is situated in the City of Sale, about 210 kilometres east of Melbourne.

Our Diocese stretches from the rapidly expanding outer Melbourne suburbs of Narre Warren, Cranbourne and Berwick in the west to the New South Wales border in the east. Generally, the Diocese comprises that great region known as Gippsland. We have lightly populated rural areas in the east, where agriculture, timber and tourism are major industries. The high country of Gippsland is well known for its ski fields and the Gippsland Lakes region is a haven for those who enjoy all water sports. The Latrobe Valley is a centre of open cut coal mining, industry and electricity production. Fabulous beaches line the coast of Gippsland, rolling hills and verdant pastures dot the landscape. Bass Strait, to the south of the Diocese, is the source of more than half Australia’s oil and gas requirements. When God created Australia, Gippsland was certainly the jewel in the crown!

In ministry with Bishop Coffey are 32 Diocesan priests, 8 religious priests and 50 brothers and sisters of religious orders. These serve our 76,000 Catholics in 29 parishes. The 31 Catholic primary schools educate 7,800 students and our 8 secondary colleges have 6,200 students enrolled.

In vocations work we seek to promote the vocation of all the baptized, to inform people of the various vocational options for their lives whether in the married or single, consecrated or ordained state. Through skilled people in the Diocese we try to support and encourage those who are exploring the religious life or priesthood as the option for their lives, as the way they live out best their spirit filled selves.

Mission and Ministry:

Priests of the Diocese are involved in a range of parish ministries. Most have an involvement in chaplaincy in schools, colleges and hospitals. Some are in more specialized ministry to the police force, air force or prison system. Many of the religious sisters are involved in parish ministry and others are staff members of the Catholic Education Office.

The Diocese encourages priests to undertake on-going education and sabbatical leave is available. In recent years priests have taken leave to study in Wales and the United States and some have taken advantage of our proximity to Melbourne to study at local theological colleges.

A recent development in ministry in our diocese is the introduction of the permanent Diaconate. We have two permanent Deacons, Tony Aspinall and Jim Erskine. Tony was ordained in August 1998, and lives in the Narre Warren parish with his wife June. He exercises his ministry in various ways, including chaplaincy work at St Francis Xavier College in Beaconsfield. Jim recently celebrated his Silver Jubilee as a Deacon, having arrived in Sale with his wife, Barbara in July 2000 from the Townsville Diocese. They live a few doors away from the Bishop's Office, where Jim exercises his ministry as the Bishop's Secretary. Others have expressed interest in this ancient, yet new, ministry in the Church, and a process of formation and education has been developed.

Formation:

People interested in the priesthood usually make contact with a priest they know who encourages them to contact the Vocations Director. After a time of accompaniment and discernment a formal application is made to the Bishop to begin studying and formation for the priesthood.

Students from our Diocese have generally attended Corpus Christi College in Melbourne for the usual seven years of formation. They have begun studies for a degree in Theology from Catholic Theological College, a member of the Melbourne College of Divinity. Through spiritual, liturgical, social, academic, intellectual and pastoral experiences the student is given an insight into the life and traditions of the Diocese and the wider Church. The years at the seminary give the student and the seminary authorities the time to assess his suitability for ordained ministry.

Ordination to the priesthood is the culmination of the formation process and is followed by an appointment to one of the parishes in the Diocese.

VOCATION INFORMATION:

Fr Michael Willemsen
1215 Bunyip River Road
IONA VIC 3815

Ph: (03) 5629 2220
Email:mickwillo@hotmail.com

THE DIOCESE OF TOOWOOMBA (Queensland)

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba was excised from the Archdiocese of Brisbane in 1929 with the first Bishop being James Byrne, the Parish Priest of Ipswich. The Diocese covers the bulk of southern Queensland with Helidon in the east and Quilpie being the most western parish. The area is vast with most of the parishes being small country towns. Many of these towns are declining in population due to the rural recession in Australia.

The present Bishop is Bishop William Morris who was ordained Bishop of the Diocese in February 1993. There are thirty-six parishes with thirty-four active priests in ministry. Five of our parishes do not have a resident priest and are cared for by a visiting priest from a neighbouring parish.

The Cathedral city for the Diocese is Toowoomba. Toowoomba has a population of 95,000 and is located in the eastern area of the Diocese. In this city is located Downlands College, a co-educational college run by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. The Ursuline Sisters and Sisters of Mercy also conduct secondary colleges in the city. Most of the parishes in the Diocese have primary schools run by lay staff and are under the direction of the Catholic Education Office in Toowoomba.

Mission and Ministry:

The Diocese in under the patronage of Our Lady of the Southern Cross with a deep devotion to Our Lady prominent in parishes. Although ageing, the Diocesan Clergy are hardworking and enthusiastic in their ministry. Regular inservices are held for clergy and parish workers enabling them to cope with the demands of distance and small populations in the western parishes.

Formation:

Candidates accepted for the Diocese are trained at the Holy Spirit Seminary in Brisbane with a large part of their training taking place in the Diocese.

VOCATION INFORMATION:

Fr Michael Cooney
PO Box 32
Dalby Q 4405
Phone: 07 4662 4011
stmarysgdi@bigpond.com

Fr Jamie Collins
PO Box 23
St George Q 4487
Phone: 07 4625 3021

THE DIOCESE OF TOWNSVILLE

The Diocese of Townsville was established in 1930. It covers an area of 434,400 square kilometres, extending from Townsville on the Coast, to the Whitsunday and Burdekin regions in the South and north to Ingham and Halifax, south-west to Winton, and west to the border with the Northern Territory, encompassing Mount Isa and several small, isolated western towns and east to Palm Island.

Bishop Michael E Putney was installed as the fifth Bishop of Townsville on 27 March, 2001. Together with twenty-two priests in full-time or part-time ministry and three lay pastoral leaders, the Bishop has the pastoral care of 72,000 Catholics in twenty-seven parishes. There are 86 religious sisters and brothers in various ministries within the Diocese. There are twenty one Primary and nine Secondary Schools within the Diocese. The Sisters of Mercy operate the large Mater Misericordiae Hospital and Aged Care facilities, and the Canossian Sisters have an Aged Care home in Trebonne, near Ingham.
There are a number of diocesan organisations responsible for education, family services and counselling, adult faith formation, liturgy, youth ministry, spiritual development and social justice. There is one student for the ordained ministry in the Diocese at present attending the Holy Spirit Seminary in Brisbane. Every effort is made to raise the level of community awareness about the vocation of all the baptised and the call to the ordained ministry.

The Diocesan Vision Statement is:

We are the Catholic Community of the Diocese of Townsville.
Through our baptism we are called to be disciples of Jesus.
We will continue his mission with energy and commitment amid the challenges of our time.

We will do this by:

• Honoring the Sacred - Our Call to Holiness

• Building Right Relationships—Becoming Communities of Care and Hospitality

• Caring for Those who are Marginalised

• Sharing our Faith

Mission and Ministry:

Priests of the Townsville Diocese are primarily involved in the general pastoral and liturgical ministries within parishes. They are involved in hospital chaplaincy, adult education and serve on various diocesan committees and boards. The diocese encourages priests to undertake ongoing education and inservice. Provision is made for periodical sabbatical leave. Accommodation and ongoing care are provided for retired priests. Several retired or semi-retired priests are involved in parish ministry with a lay leader or leadership team.

Formation:

A man who is interested in priesthood initially makes contact with the Vocations Director. He may then, after consultation with the Bishop, wish to proceed into a formal process of reflection and discernment. If he then wishes to continue in this direction, he makes formal application to begin training for priesthood.

Seminary formation takes place over a number of years, during which a man would undertake studies designed to help him develop spiritually, socially, intellectually and pastorally. At various stages during seminary formation there is a series of pastoral placements, through which he would taste life in rural and city parishes, while gaining insights, skills and valuable practical experience within the diocesan context. These years of study, reflection and pastoral experiences enable him, and those responsible for his formation, to make an informed decision regarding both his suitability for priestly ministry, and his ability to make a life-time commitment to the diocesan priesthood. Ordination is the culmination of seminary training. In the months following ordination a newly-ordained priest undertakes the final stages of his formation in preparation for his first assignment to one of the parishes in the Townsville Diocese.

VOCATION INFORMATION:

Fr Rod Ward
Diocese of Townsville
PO BOX 95
WULGURU QLD 4811

Telephone:(07)4778 1219
Mobile: 0419 724 144
Email:rward@tsv.catholic.net.au

THE DIOCESE OF WAGGA WAGGA

The Diocese of Wagga Wagga was established in 1918 and is located in Southern New South Wales. The Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers are significant geographical features of our area and on our eastern border lies the Great Dividing Range. The Cathedral is in the city of Wagga Wagga, midway between Sydney and Melbourne. The diocese includes other rural cities and many country towns.

Our faith communities are nourished and sustained by the sacramental life of the Church administered and accessed through 30 parishes served by 50 active priests. The diocese also operates 34 schools and has many male and female religious serving the Church in varied apostolates.
 

Two characteristics which set the Wagga Wagga diocese apart from many dioceses are the continuing presence of a priest in many small country communities, and having the youngest average age for priests in all of Australia.

Mission and Ministry:

As fellow-workers with the bishop, priests in the diocese of Wagga Wagga have the opportunity to help build up the Kingdom of God in many different circumstances: city parishes; country parishes; schools; colleges; university; hospitals; nursing homes; army and air-force bases; prisons; the police force; the homeless; adult education; youth groups; and working as chaplains to a variety of Catholic groups and organisations.  The mission and ministry of the diocesan priest is well summed up in the four questions the ordaining bishop asks the candidate for priesthood during the ordination liturgy.

1. Are you resolved, with the help of the Holy Spiirt, to discharge without fail the office of priesthood as conscientious fellow workers with the bishops in caring for the Lord's flock?
    
2. Are you resolved to celebrate the mysteries of Christ (The Mass and the Sacraments) faithfully and religiously as the Church has handed them down to us for the glory of God and the sanctification of Christ's people?
    
3. Are you resolved to exercise the ministry of the word worthily and wisely, preaching the Gospel and explaining the Catholic faith?
    
4. Are you resolved to consecrate your life to God for the salvation of his people, and to unite yourself more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a perfect sacrifice?  Does your heart desire to say yes to these questions? Then read on.

Formation and Seminary Life:

Men accepted as candidates for the priesthood undertake the seven-year process of formation at Vianney College, the Diocesan Seminary located at Wagga Wagga. Founded in 1992, Vianney College has been at the vanguard of a renewed approach to priestly training inspired by Pope John Paul II’s “Pastores dabo vobis”, combining well-tried traditions with new ideas.

The Chapel forms the heart of the seminary, symbolizing the priority given to the formation of a healthy spiritual life suitable for the diocesan priest. The seminary program includes daily Mass, prayer in common, regular days of recollection, and retreats. Each seminarian also meets regularly with his own personal spiritual director.

The academic life of the seminary encourages future priests to “think with the Church”, that is, to be loyal to, and to understand, the teachings of the Church. The aim is to “always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, … with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15-16). Areas of formal study include Sacred Scripture, Philosophy, Theology, Liturgy, Sacraments, Church History, Latin, Greek and other related disciplines.

Future priests in a rural diocese are trained in a rural setting and form strong pastoral links with the local Church. Seminarians are introduced to a program of pastoral formation that involves them in many aspects of Church life in a variety of parishes. Pastoral experience is carefully monitored so that the seminarian can develop the skills required for dealing with people in a variety of pastoral situations.

Seminarians live in comfortable, well-equipped accommodation; form long-lasting friendships; enjoy free-time and vacations; and grow in the knowledge and love of God and his people. In the seminary, a man’s natural gifts are nurtured and refined so he may carry out God’s work effectively.

VOCATION INFORMATION: