What face of God do you allow to shine through your life and ministry? That was the thought-provoking question Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB posed to staff and guests at the blessing of the new Catholic Regional Tribunal of Western Australia office on Tuesday 28 July.
Quoting the same question Pope Leo XIV asked a group of Italian bishops while speaking about leadership and mission in the Church, Archbishop Costelloe said it was very pertinent to the work of the Tribunal, of which he is Moderator.
“For a group like you who work so closely together in the service of God’s people – people who more often than not are very vulnerable and uncertain with all manner of emotions running through their minds and hearts – this question becomes vitally important,” he suggested.
“What face of God do you allow to shine through in your life and ministry here at the Tribunal from the moment people walk in the door? As colleagues too, what face of God do we show to each other?
“From the moment people enter (these premises), you are the face of the Church for them, the face of Christ for them, so I think this question is really important to reflect on,” he added.
Continuing, Archbishop Costelloe said the phrasing of the question from Pope Leo was interesting – what face of God do you allow to shine through?
“That puts the responsibility back on us; what do we allow to happen in our encounter with people when they come here? How do we portray the face of God, the face of Jesus?” he asked.
Recalling the Year of Mercy inaugurated by Pope Francis during his papacy when he reminded the Church that Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy, Archbishop Costelloe said, in their dealings with the Tribunal, people “need to encounter, hope to encounter, and have a right to encounter the face of the Father’s mercy, compassion, patience, forgiveness and healing.”
He also said it was important that the Tribunal model humility in their dealings with people who are seeking to move forward through very difficult periods in their lives.
“(Ultimately), I’m not saying or asking you to do anything you are not already doing; I just encourage you to continue to be the face of the Church, the face of Christ, the face of the Father’s mercy to everybody who comes here – and to support each other and help each other in being that at a time when people need it most,” he added.
“As we pray for God’s blessing on the people who work in and visit this building, let us renew our commitment to do our best – despite our failures, challenges and difficulties – to be the face of the Father’s mercy to all those who come here.”
In leading the Prayer of Blessing, Archbishop Costelloe entrusted the work of the Tribunal to the Holy Spirit in the pursuit of truth, integrity, justice, wisdom and compassion and the provision of fairness, hope and peace to all those who seek its services.
“We celebrate this opportunity for us to gather, to have a moment of fraternity, and to thank God for His blessings upon not only the premises, but upon each one of us, and the important ministry that we do here for the Church,” he added.
Given the Tribunal services all of WA, it was very fitting that the Bishop of Geraldton, Michael Morrissey was also in attendance for the blessing.
Tribunal Coordinator, Fr Conor Steadman, said the Tribunal was a particularly important ministry, not only for the Archdiocese of Perth, but for all the faithful across Western Australia.
Joining the bishops and Fr Conor at the event were Judicial Vicar, Monsignor Michael Keating; Tribunal staff and volunteers and Chancery staff of the Archdiocese.
