Volunteers of St Mary’s Cathedral were recently honoured at a special function in acknowledgement of their time and service.
The special function – on Saturday 19 November – brought together more than 100 volunteers, including people who clean the sacred spaces within the Cathedral, man the piety stall, tour guides who run public and private tours and those who count the weekly and special collections.
Cathedral Dean, the Very Rev Dr Sean Fernandez, said he is humbled by the generosity of the volunteers.
“I am always so very grateful to the energy, commitment and generosity the volunteers bring to the Cathedral,” Fr Fernandez said.
“The volunteers make the Cathedral the welcoming place it is. Their differences enrich our community,” he said.
In honouring service of the volunteers, Fr Sean noted that the Church in Australia employs more than 220,000 people; making the Church one of the biggest employers in the country.
“If you add to that number, that even greater number of people who volunteer in our parishes and in our agencies, and in fact, in many organisations, in our community at large, you can see what a mighty impact, our people have on the life of this country,” Fr Sean noted.
“This is a reminder to each of us, that we, as disciples of the Lord, are called, in our own way, with our own gifts, to make ourselves available for others,” he said.
Fr Sean was joined for the occasion by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, Cathedral Assistant priests, Fathers Richard Rutkausas, Richard Smith and Israel Quirit, as well as Cathedral Manager Victor Hoa.
As part of the occasion, Fr Sean and Victor Hoa personally thanked all the volunteers for their tireless service.
“We pray that strengthened by that spirit of Christ that is given to each of us through his word, that many more may find the joy that comes in service of others,” Fr Sean concluded.
“We thank God for those who volunteer, who offer so much of their time and energy to support the Church and we pray that the Lord will continue to bless them and offer us that witness of service that we so need to see,” he said.
