Pastoral plan
Our Mission:
“This is what God asks of us: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with God”.
Micah 6:8
The Cathedral Church of St Patrick Parramatta
from the First Anniversary of Dedication and Looking to the Future
The diocesan Cathedral “in the majesty and of its building is a symbol of the spiritual temple that is built up in souls and is resplendent with the glory of divine grace. As St Paul says: ‘We are the temple of the living God’ (2 Corinthians 6:16). The cathedral, furthermore, should be regarded as the express image of Christ’s visible Church, praying, singing, and worshiping on earth. The cathedral should be regarded as the image of Christ’s Mystical Body, whose members are joined together in an organism of charity that is sustained by the outpouring of God’s gifts.” (Ceremonial of Bishops 43)
How is this ideal expressed in the Ceremonial of Bishops to be realised? As a way forward is discerned, there are principally five areas that require strategic thinking as a plan for the future is formulated:
The Cathedral as a place of worship and devotion
The Cathedral as a place of education and formation
The Cathedral as a place of hospitality for building up the life of the community
The Cathedral as a place of outreach to the poor and marginalised
The Cathedral as a place of excellence in artistic and cultural expression
1. The Cathedral as a place of worship and devotion
The cathedral should be regarded as the centre of the liturgical life of the diocese. (Ceremonial of Bishops 44)
Because the cathedral is the principal church of the diocese, and because the Bishop is the pastor of the cathedral, it follows that the liturgical and devotional life of the cathedral models “best practice” for the local church. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal refers to the Bishop as the “promoter and guardian” of the liturgical life of the diocese. It is essential that all those involved in the preparation and the celebrations that take place in the cathedral be well trained and knowledgeable, and that the standard and quality of the worship befit the dignity of the cathedral church. Thus all liturgical celebrations should be consistent with the norms laid down in the liturgical books. It will be important to ensure that welcomers, servers, readers, ministers of communion, those engaged in the music and all others who assist in the liturgy receive ongoing formation, particularly as the new building provides challenges and possibilities in terms of use and adaptation. The cathedral should also foster a strong devotional life to run parallel with its liturgical life. The daily liturgical rhythm of the Prayer of the Church and the Eucharist should be at the heart of the public worship of the people of God and should be enriched by private devotion and prayer, together with corporate acts of public devotion. At all times the cathedral needs to be a place where people can find peace and tranquillity and experience something of the presence of God.
2. The Cathedral as a place of education and formation
Increasingly the people of God hunger for greater knowledge of their faith and opportunities to develop their own gifts and talents for the building up of the Body of Christ. The cathedral needs to ensure that an adequate program of faith education is implemented that addresses the various needs of the parishioners of all ages. Foremost among these should the study of sacred scripture, the teachings of the Church as contained in the Catechism and also a focus on moral and ethical issues that confront the wider society.
3. The Cathedral as a place of hospitality for building the life of the community
The parish of Parramatta existed long before the diocese was established and the church declared the cathedral in 1986. A core body of parishioners see the cathedral as their spiritual home and they need not only to be nurtured in their faith, but also strengthened in their sense of belonging. Community building events of a social nature, again for all ages, needs to be part of the fabric of the life of the cathedral parish. The cathedral also receives on a daily basis many visitors. These people also need to be welcomed and their needs attended to in a variety of ways.
4. The Cathedral as a place of outreach to the poor and the marginalized
Traditionally cathedral churches have been places of refuge for those who feel excluded and find themselves on the margins of society. In medieval times the cathedral and abbey churches often were the only source of social welfare in a community. Caring for the poor and oppressed will vary depending on need, but the door must always remain open as St Lawrence reminds us, “They are the treasure of the Church.”
5. The Cathedral as a place of excellence in artistic and cultural expression
This cathedral has already established itself as a major building of architectural and artistic interest. There should be established within the life of the cathedral a cultural plan, so that by way of concerts and other forms of the creative arts the cathedral might then establish a wider connection to the community and be a bridge to those who might not ordinarily have contact with the church.
Conclusion:
In achieving these goals there must be some ownership by the people of the parish. For the cathedral to operate effectively in all the facets of its life the goodwill and cooperation of clergy and laity is the only way to succeed. This document calls for a renewed commitment on the part of all those who see themselves as members of this parish.