The Holy Spirit has empowered you as a community to achieve extraordinary things, magnificent things, such as the building of this church so soon after the parish was established, Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has told the St Simon Peter Church community in Ocean Reef.
Delivering his homily for the community’s 40th Anniversary Jubilee Mass on Sunday 31 May – that coincided with the feast of the Most Holy Trinity – Bishop Sproxton said he believed the Holy Spirit was present in the community from its inception.
While, initially, there was no physical church to gather in, Bishop Sproxton said it was in their journey towards establishing a “house of the Lord” that they experienced the Holy Spirit doing “extraordinary things within them.”
The community’s house of the Lord was packed to capacity as more than 200 parishioners and friends past and present gathered in celebration under the theme, blessed by our past, nurturing our faith, building our future.
Joining Bishop Sproxton as concelebrants was Parish Priest Fr Leonard Macionczyk SDS; Assistant Priest, Fr Mariusz Adamczyk SDS; Superior of the Salvatorians in Australia, Fr Greg Skulski SDS; former parish priests, Fr Franciszek Kot SDS and Fr Dariusz Krzysztalowicz SDS; former assistant priest, Fr Phong Nguyen; and former parishioner and Coordinator of the Catholic Regional Tribunal of Western Australia, Fr Conor Steadman.
Also in attendance were St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School Principal, Mr Peter Cutrona; St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School Foundation Principal, Sr Breda O’Reilly RSM; Prendiville Catholic College Acting Principal, Mr Peter Hawke; and Mayor of Joondalup, Mr Daniel Kingston.
“We see among us here today many people from so many different countries and so many different Catholic cultures, and yet we are one,” Bishop Sproxton said.
“This is the moral miracle of the Church, the great miracle that we can observe for ourselves because of the Spirit at work within this community.
“We are a Church, a community that has one mission, one objective. In that way we closely resemble our God, who is Trinity, a community of persons.
“As we celebrate today, there is much to remember, much to give thanks for, especially the experience that we may have had of the Spirit at work among us, bringing that unity and bringing together that mission that we engage in as a Christian community – how we have come to know God and have come to know His ways,” he added.
Reflecting on the theme of the day, Fr Leonard Macionczyk SDS said, “As we celebrate 40 years of faith and fellowship, we not only look back with gratitude, but we also look forward with hope.”
“The mission of the church continues, and we are called to remain a welcoming, prayerful, and missionary community that speaks the love of Christ to others. May the Lord bless all who have been part of this journey and lead us with confidence into the future.”
In thanking all those who contributed to the celebration, Fr Leonard said “your generosity and dedication truly reflect the spirit of our church community here at Saint Simon Peter and your support helps ensure that our parish will continue to grow and flourish for generations to come.”
Prior to the final blessing, Bishop Sproxton was asked to accept a handcrafted commemorative cross and card of gratitude on behalf of Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.
Crafted by the glassmaking students at Prendiville Catholic College, the stained-glass cross incorporated the community’s Ruby Jubilee Crest, symbolising Christ at the centre of their parish life and the faith that has sustained them over the last 40 years.
The accompanying card of gratitude was prepared by the College’s Gifted Endeavour Centre students.
