One week has gone by and I am still surviving.  What a miracle!

Indeed, it made me very happy to be able to celebrate three Masses across three communities last weekend.  The familiar faces, as well as the welcoming spirit from parishioners, have brought me so much confidence and joy in my new role as your Parish Priest.  I have enjoyed words of welcome and conversations from many who came along for Mass.  I have even received a very nice card of welcome from one of our very long-term parishioners.

One of the things that drew my attention was the hospitality offered after Mass at one of our churches.  Seeing people staying behind to share morning tea and interact with each other has given me a great impression of a parish with a strong sense of community.

Obviously one could not limit the word ‘hospitality’ to a cup of tea or coffee and a few biscuits, or a meal, or even a bed to sleep in.  Hospitality is more than that.  For me, it is the willingness to open one’s heart to allow others to enter into your life in a personal way.  To allow them to have the opportunity to get to know you better so as to strengthen relationships.  The mystery of the incarnation of Jesus is a great mystery of the hospitality of God.  He is so willing to open himself – the Word made Flesh – so that we could enter and get to know him in a personal way and strengthen our relationship with him.  It is a special gift that God has offered with his own initiative.

At my first few weekend Masses, you will hear a brief bio of me at the beginning of my homilies, in the hope that you might get to know me a little better through personal information, and I am also looking forward to getting to know you as well in the same manner.

This weekend, across our communities there will be three Masses led by school families to welcome the 2025 Prep students and new families into the communities of our Parish.  I do encourage you to reach out to them and make them feel welcome.

With many blessings,

Fr Sang Ho

Parish Priest

Published: 15 November 2024