Teachers and ancillary staff from St Mary’s Northampton and Our lady of Mt Carmel, Mullewa, joined their Geraldton counterparts for the Annual Commissioning Mass at St Francis Xavier Cathedral on Friday 9 February, this year prepared and hosted by staff members of Nagle Catholic College.

In the homily Bishop Michael Morrissey DD, celebrating the Mass for the first time since being appointed as Bishop of Geraldton, thanked the staff for their presence, saying, “My thoughts are of gratitude and thankfulness for your involvement as teachers and staff in the schools of the Diocese of Geraldton. All of you will be shapers of the minds and thoughts of our young people during 2018 giving them confidence to go out into the world like each of you have done either recently or many, many years ago!”

He continued, “Pope Francis spoke wisely to the new Bishops of 2017 last year with these words “Discernment is a remedy for the immobility of ‘it has always been so’ or ‘let us take time’. It is a creative process, it is an antidote against rigidity, because the same solutions are not valid everywhere.”

Bishop Michael noted, “Discernment is developing the capacity for listening, understanding, recognising the giftedness of each other even those who are not part of our circle, being humble with our view or project as Pope Francis reminded the new Bishops. He further stated for us to remember that, “God was in your diocese before you came and will be there when you leave.”

After the homily, the Bishop then commissioned 41 staff members new to Catholic Education in the Diocese of Geraldton, which included those beginning in Catholic Education for the first time and those transferring from other dioceses, as they gathered around the newly modified sanctuary. These were then presented with a scroll by Mr Peter Yensch, Deputy Executive Director of Catholic Education Western Australia, supported by Geraldton based Regional Officer, Leanne Hodge.

During the blessing of the new staff, Bishop Michael asked God to bless the staff with a passion for learning, a heart for engagement, the wisdom of accountability, and a commitment to Christian discipleship. The ceremony was then directed to all staff as Bishop Michael invited all to make, or renew, their commitment to Catholic Education.

Following the Mass many of those present attended a time for friendship, food, drinks and collegiality at the Catholic Centre, hosted by the staff of St Mary’s Northampton.
(Words by Fr Robert O’Bryan.)

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