It is simply not possible to be a Christian unless we recognise in Jesus the inspiration for all that we seek to do and all that we are trying and wanting to be, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has said.
Speaking at the Catholic Education Western Australia Commissioning and Acknowledgement of System Leaders Mass, Friday 17 November, at the Chapel of St Michael the Archangel, Leederville, Archbishop Costelloe emphasised to the teachers and principals present, the need to be faithful to the high ideals of our Christian faith.
“And of our mission as Catholic educators,” he said.
Archbishop Costelloe was joined for the Mass by Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Broome Administrator and Geraldton Bishop Michael Morrissey, Episcopal Vicar Education and Faith Formation, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn, Canning Vale Parish Priest Fr Jean-Noel Marie, Goomalling Parish Priest Fr Daniel Boyd, East Fremantle Parish Priest Fr Jesus Bello, Salvatorian Regional Superior Fr George Kolodziej SDS.
Continuing his homily, Archbishop Costelloe referred to the words of the first reading of the day
This has taught us love – that Jesus gave up his life for us; and we, too, ought to give up our lives for our sisters and brothers.
“So, we need to partner with Jesus: we need to form a united team with Him,” he said.
We need to do this in our families, we need to do it in our friendship groups, we need to do it in our local schools and colleges, we need to do it in our local communities, Archbishop Costelloe emphasised.
“Jesus knows what it is to live a life of total self-giving. He learnt the hard way. He knows what it is to be exhausted, to be discouraged, to be frightened, to be disappointed, to be let down, to feel abandoned.
“But He also knows how to confront the exhaustion, the discouragement, the fear and the disillusionment and to keep alive his hope and his faith.
“And He wants to walk with us through all of this so that we don’t give up, and we don’t give in, and we don’t walk away.
“‘Come to me,’ He says, “if you are weary or overburdened, and I will give you rest”. When we feel like we are caught in a raging storm and in danger of sinking he comes to us and says,
‘Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Have courage. Trust in me’.”
The Mass was also an occasion to bless outgoing CEWA Executive Director, Dr Debra Sayce, who takes on the role as Head of Mission Enhancement with the Archdiocese of Perth, and commission incoming Executive Director 2024, Wayne Bull.
Click Here to read the full homily
