The monthly meeting of Northern Zone priests and deacons has taken on a new dimension in recent gatherings, incorporating a social aspect to the more formal business approach of the past.
The meetings, which include priests from Yanchep to Scarborough, began as a means to pray together and discuss events and issues affecting them as individuals and parishes, Fr Erasmus Norviewu-Mortty told The Record.
The Northern Zone secretary said the past two months, which have included a trip to Northam and a shared banquet in Balcatta, have enflamed the group with a new zeal.
“To be able to spend time together socialising has been beautiful,” he said.
“The desire to continue to meet together in this way has been unanimous.”
Fr Erasmus, who is chaplain at Joondalup hospital, has coordinated the meetings for almost three years and is well aware of how busy priests are, which is why he is determined to promote the social aspect of the gatherings.
“We, of course, will continue to pray Vespers and Evening Prayer whenever we meet, and to discuss relevant issues, but I believe it is important to maintain the camaraderie that grows in our informal time together,” Fr Erasmus shared.
There are usually between 15 and 25 clergy who attend the meetings on the third Thursday of most months and the trip to Northam in September was a highlight for many.
“We were warmly hosted by Fr Emmanuel Dimobi and on the return trip by Fr Steve Cooney in York,” Fr Erasmus recalled.
“May the Lord bless them for their generous display of fraternity and hospitality.”
The joy of the occasion was echoed by Fr Francisco Mascarenhas from Woodvale parish, who was surprised at how much he appreciated the day.
“I was a reluctant and not-so- happy camper and attended the Northam picnic almost ‘kicking and screaming’,” he said. “But I must confess that I returned a happy and converted person.”
Fr Erasmus said the “serene, joyful and merry atmosphere” of the Northam trip carried over to the October 17 gathering in Balcatta.
“Fr Adam and his parishioners laid a beautiful agape banquet with linen from the ancient Palace of Solomon, and with local and exotic wines,” Fr Erasmus poetically described in his synopsis of the occasion. “In fact, a pontifical banquet organised in Paris during the Avignon papacy will surely be a comparison.”
The success of the past two meetings has generated an excitement among the group and they are already planning an outing to either New Norcia or Kalgoorlie early next year.
Fr Erasmus would like to see the group expand and has extended an invitation to all priests and deacons, irrespective of their zones, to join them for future events.