FR VINCENT GLYNN ANCHORS IN CHRIST DURING 40 YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD
By Jamie O'Brien
EPISCOPAL Vicar for Education and Adult Faith Formation, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn has last weekend spoken about the symbol and meaning of the image of an anchor as an image of Christ.
Speaking on his 40th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Fr Vincent told the congregation at St Gerard’s Church, Mirrabooka Parish, that in his prayer and meditation, he has come to know and experience that his relationship with Christ both personally and communally is an anchor in his life.
“This anchor keeps me centred and safe in the storms of faith and life and there have been many,” Fr Vincent explained.
“My priesthood and ministry is nothing if it is not centred and anchored in Christ who is God present with us,” he said.
Present for the occasion was Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Vicar General, the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely VG, Emeritus Vicar for Clergy, Fr Brian McKenna, Tribunal of the Catholic Church Director, Fr Greg Carroll, Co-ordinator, Parish Renewal, Fr Nino Vinciguerra, Mirrabooka Parish Priest, Fr Daniel Chama and Assistant Priest, Fr Matteo Verdi, Midland Assistant Fr Rodrigo Da Costa Ponte and Cottesloe Assistant Priest, Fr Liam Ryan.
More than 400 parishioners, friends and family – including parents Thomas and Maureen Glynn, sister and three brothers and their wives and children - were present for the occasion at St Gerard’s Church, his home parish when growing up and where Fr Vincent celebrated his first Mass after ordination in 1982. The eldest of six children, a young Vincent attended early primary school firstly at Our Lady of Lourdes Nollamara and then as a foundation
student at the new parish of St Gerard Majella, Mirrabooka in 1965, graduating from the former CBHS Highgate in 1975.
In 1976, he began studying for the priesthood at St Charles’ Seminary in Guildford and completed his training at St Francis Xavier Seminary in Adelaide.
He was ordained a priest in December 1982 by Archbishop Lancelot Goody in St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth and went on to serve in the parishes of Carlisle, Leederville, KalgoorlieBoulder, Nollamara, Embleton, and Floreat-Wembley.
It was upon the completion of his Licentiate in Sacramental Theology from the Pontifical University of Sant’Anselmo in Rome in 1991 and upon his return to Perth that Fr Glynn found his priestly ministry in the areas of education and faith formation.
Vicar for Education and Adult Faith Formation, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn shows his Papal Blessing to the congregation on the occasion of his 40th anniversary to the priesthood, Sunday 18 December at St Gerard’s Church, Mirrabooka Parish.. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.
LIKE LAMBS AMONG WOLVES; 120 GO OUT ON TWOBY-TWO MISSION TO ANNOUNCE THE GOSPEL
By Fr Tony Trafford and Jamie O’Brien
MEN, women, clergy and seminarians from the Neocatechumenal Way and Redemptoris Mater Seminaries have this month visited parishes across Australia as part of a two-by-two mission.
Their mission - to give their witness of Jesus Christ to whomsoever they met – bishops, priests, and people in all kinds of situations and all over Australia.
The journey of the two-by-two mission commenced with three days of prayer and preparation at Redemptoris Mater Seminary, Sydney, where all the missionaries before being sent out with a blessing.
Rev Fr Tony Trafford, formator from the responsible team of the Neocatechumenal Way in Australia, explained to The Record that the two-by-two missionaries went asking for nothing, but willing to lose their lives for Christ, whose love they have met in their lives.
“There were 60 pairs in total - priests and seminarians, and married or
single men and women - and they managed to visit some 19 dioceses during that week,” Fr Tony explained. “They were happy to give freely what they have received at no cost, the good news that is salvation: the announcement of Jesus Christ which, when proclaimed and believed, bears fruit in a life transformed,” he said.
Fr Tony continued by explaining that the Gospels describe how Jesus sent his disciples two-by-two into every town and place where he was to come.
“He told them he was sending them out like lambs among wolves, and they should go without purse or haversack, and such has been the tradition of the Church, when two go together relying on God to provide, they are already a sign that there is a love between them which is not of this world: God exists and is real - His love is enough and always provides,” Fr Tony said.
Fr Tony explained that, while it is true that some of missionaries slept outside, or that sometimes they were not believed or rejected quite roughly, all those who went accepted
that Christ who suffered for them would be their bed and they would rest in him.
“People were most surprised that they did not even carry a phone –because it seems impossible to live without a mobile today.
“But, believe it or not, there is life after a mobile phone, and these ‘little ones’ who go without the normal securities bear witness just by their presence that what they announce is the truth – because they have no ulterior motive, no second intention and certainly no power,” Fr Tony said.
Fr Tony explained that the twoby-two missionaries are ordinary Catholics who have been part of the Neocatechumenal Way for a number of years.
"In their parishes across Australia they are being helped to gradually to re-discover the amazing riches of their baptism.
“This means that we have, by our baptism, something important and serious to say to the people of our generation.
Fr Eric Skruzny, Rector, Redemptoris Mater Seminary Sydney, writes the names and teams of men, women, clergy and seminarians from the Neocatechumenal Way across Australia chosen to go on a two by two mission. Seated from left are formators of the Neocatechumenal Way Australia, Simão Silva, Toto and Rita Piccolo and Fr Tony Trafford. PHOTO: FR ERIC SKRUZNY / SUPPLIED.
CROSSES REMIND STUDENTS OF THEIR TIME AT NOTRE DAME
HUNDREDS of Notre Dame’s graduating students were presented with commemorative jarrah crosses at a special Mass held at St Mary’s Cathedral, Tuesday 13 December,
providing them with a permanent reminder of their time at Notre Dame.
In celebrating the Mass, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe
SDB told the graduands they are there to entrust the future of all graduands to the boundless love and providence of God.
“We gather as people of faith, eager to acknowledge that every good gift which fills our lives is a gift from God, and that the greatest gift of all, the gift of life, is the one gift which makes everything else possible,”
Archbishop Costelloe said.
“May you embrace the gift of life and all the promise it holds,” he said.
Archbishop Costelloe continued by encouraging the graduands to remember that it is a precious gift and give God thanks for it every day, and may you live this gift with courage, with integrity and generosity.
“Let this be your gift of gratitude to God for all that God has done, is doing, and will do for you,”
Archbishop Costelloe said.
BISHOP GERARD HOLOHAN: CHRISTMAS REMINDS US OF WHO WE ARE
CHRISTMAS is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who assumed human nature when he was conceived by the Holy Spirit. It celebrates too the reason why
He explained that He came – ‘that they may have life to the full’. He was speaking of His own divine life as the Son of God. The Second Letter of Peter reminds us that, to
fulfil this purpose, He shares with us His divine nature.
Sharing in God’s nature, we have become adopted sons and daughters of God and brothers and sisters of Christ. We are ‘new creations’. All who, through Baptism, are human by nature and divine by adoption, are members of God’s family, the Church.
In practice, it is the divine life within us which empowers us spiritually to live the challenging teachings of Jesus, the Son of God.
No one could live, for example, His command to ‘love one another as I have loved you’.
For who could love as the Son of God without sharing His divine nature?
Jesus taught that we need to nourish the divine life within with the Eucharist.
www.therecord.com.au
UNDA Lecturer Prof Matthew Ogilvie presents a cross to a graduand, Tuesday 13 December at the UNDA Graduation Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral. PHOTO:RON TAN.
In his 2022 Christmas Message, Bunbury Bishop Gerard Holohan says that the power of the divine life growing within us moves us gradually to think, feel emotionally, see others and behave more like Christ. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.
MERCY HEALTH’S LOYAL STAFF ARE ‘UNSUNG HEROES’
CARERS Mary Rogers and Ivy Lim
are just two of the dedicated care staff who have chosen to work on Christmas day this year, when they will help to care for dozens of residents at a local aged care home Christmas Day 25 December will see both English-born Mary and Ivy, who was born and raised in the Philippines, dedicate their time to seniors at Mercy Place Mont Clare in Claremont, along with their co-workers and fellow carers.
“When you spend five days a week with the residents, you know their needs and you develop a very special bond, which is why I love spending
time with my ‘second family’ on Christmas day,” says Ivy, who has worked at the popular western suburbs aged care home for almost five years, and whose family all remain in the Philippines.
“Although some of our residents celebrate Christmas with their own families, there are many who, like me, don’t have any family here in Perth, so it’s just wonderful to be there for them, particularly as I think of them in many ways as part of my own family.”
“My family are spread all around the world, in England, New Zealand and America, so it’s actually really lovely
to spend time with the residents at Mont Clare on Christmas day,” adds Mary, who grew up in London.
“I think many of the staff who work at Christmas know what it’s like to have family overseas, and that’s why we choose to spend time with the seniors.
“On top of that. there’s also something special about being with the residents on Christmas day, it’s a way to give back and I feel really fortunate to be able to be there for them when they need help and support to enjoy the day.”
Carers Mary Rogers, left and Ivy Lim, right are just two of the dedicated care staff from Mercy Place Mont Clare, who have chosen to work on Christmas day this year, when they will help to care for dozens of residents at a local aged care home. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.