We are observing the whole of 2024 as an anniversary year.
Pentecost Sunday Commissioning
On Sunday, May 19 – Pentecost Sunday – in marking 150 years of the diocese, parishes were encouraged to acknowledge and commission those who have roles within their parish – including priests. A concrete appreciation and a way to reflect on the continuing work of those working for the mission of the church in parish communities.
Resources were provided to assist in the liturgy and included Homily Notes from Fr John McKinnon and Clara Geoghegan, ACBC Executive Secretary Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry & Bishops Commission for Life, Marriage and Public Engagement.
St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish commissioned those involved in various ministries of their parish, including:
Parish Pastoral Council
Funeral Ministry GodStart Post-Baptism Support
Hospitality (10.30am Mass) Ministry to the Sick & Housebound
Passionist Family Groups Pastoral Care (Health Services)
Playgroup Visiting Team
St Patrick’s Youth Group St Patrick’s Young Adult Group
Parish Earthcare Alpha
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Rite of Christian Initiation for Children of a Catechetical Age
Sacramental Team Liturgy Preparation Team
Liturgical Art, Environment Cathedral Choirs
Cantate Domine Children’s Choir
Cathedral Environment Precinct Cathedral Cleaning Teams
Cathedral Counting Teams Finance Committee
Christian Life Communities Friday Rosary Group
Legion of Mary Life in the Spirit Charismatic Prayer
Mountain of Praise St Padre Pio Prayer Group
Divine Mercy St Vincent de Paul Conference
Catholic Women’s League MenAlive
St Mary’s Syro Malabar Mission Parish
The St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish continues to be blessed by all those involved within these ministries.
Gracious God, we ask you to bless these members of our community in their varied roles of service in our parish. May Christ be with them in their ministries day by day. Amen.
Scholarship
In marking 150 years, the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat is aiming to support the mission formation of people in parishes, Catholic organisations and schools by offering six scholarships to study a certificate in Pastoral Ministry or Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
These certificates are part of the Lay Pastoral Ministry Program and aim to provide formation for ministry and mission in the diocese.
For more information and to apply click the image below:
Cororooke celebrates and commissions
On Trinity Sunday, May 26, 2024, the communities of St Brendan’s Coragulac and St Joseph’s Pirron Yallock gathered to celebrate the Eucharist with Bishop Paul Bird as celebrant. It was a fitting occasion to respect and acknowledge the heritage of the Cororooke Parish and the traditions of the faith communities of St Brendan’s and St Joseph’s, especially in the context of the 150th anniversary of the Ballarat Diocese.
Anniversary Sunday and Catholic Education Week
Bishop Paul invited parishes to acknowledge the 150th anniversary at Masses on the weekend of April 27-28, 2024. He invited schools to mark the anniversary during the week of April 29 to May 3, coinciding with Catholic Education Week which was brought forward for the occasion.
Bishop Paul encouraged each parish and each school to acknowledge their own history in the context of the 150 years of the history of the diocese. Local communities are coming up with creative ways of telling their local story as part of the diocesan story. Parishes were encouraged to host a community gathering on the weekend of April 27-28.
Parishioners of St Joseph’s Hopetoun, Star of the Sea Parish South West Coast and St Aloysius Redan gathered to recognise 150 years of the Ballarat Diocese.
Video Displays
Bishop Paul is commemorating the anniversary year with a personal visit to each parish and looks forward to celebrating with as many local communities as possible throughout the year.
Bishop Paul’s visit to the South West Coast Parish:
Resources, prayer and songs are available at: https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/our-diocese/150th-anniversary-of-the-diocese-of-ballarat/