Archbishop Costelloe visits Salesian community in London: invites congregation to listen

By Bro Stephen Mensah SDB and Jamie O’Brien

Salesians of the GBR Province were recently privileged to host Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB at Sacred Heart Church, Battersea West Parish, London.

Archbishop Costelloe was in London for the 2023 Flame: Rise Up Youth Congress held Saturday 4 March at Wembley AVO Arena.

Speaking Sunday 5 March, Archbishop Costelloe did not hide his exhaustion from the previous day’s event, however expressing the joy he experienced from the Salesian Community in Battersea and the Flame event, he said, outweighed his tiredness.

In his homily for the occasion, Archbishop Costelloe reflected on the word “listen”, inviting the Sacred Heart Battersea West Parish community to listen to God in the scriptures, to listen to the unfolding of God’s mystery in the Church, and to listen to the reality of the world in which we find ourselves.

At the end of each Mass, Archbishop Costelloe made himself available to talk to everyone who came to meet him, blessing children and speaking with parents.

Archbishop Costelloe was also interviewed by Assistant Priest Fr Anthony Lobo, inviting young people to be more authentic.

A spokesperson for the parish said the Archbishop’s presence was a blessing to the Salesian Community, the Parish community, the Salesian School at Battersea, and to the 8000+ young people present at the Flame Congress.

Residing at the Salesian House in Battersea, Archbishop Costelloe also conferred the ministry of Lector to three Salesian students of theology – Bros. Augustine Alfred, Martin Pushparaj, and Stephen Teye – in the Salesian Community Chapel, Battersea on Monday 27 February.