Today’s gospel reading mentions the fact that the apostle Peter had a mother-in-law, which means of course that he was a married man. Thus it came about that the first pope was a married man. And that first pope was not elected by a college of cardinals but was personally chosen by Christ himself!
In fact, for at least the first 200 years of Christianity, married priest and bishops seem to have been the rule. Indeed, when it came to the pastoral service of the local Churches (as opposed to the evangelizing ministry of the itinerant missionaries like the apostle Paul), the natural leader of the community was the married man, as we can surmise from Paul’s instructions to Timothy regarding the qualities he should look for in appointing bishops (1 Tm 3,2-4) and deacons (1 Tm, 3,12). This situation was questioned only gradually for various reasons.
One of these derived from a distorted notion of the mariage union as being somehow incompatible with the celebration fo the Eucharist, as if the martial act was slightly dirty or sinful - an idea which borders on heresy. Another reason involved Church property. A priest, having children to take care of and whose future he had to ensure was easily suspected of using church funds and church property for that purpose. At any rate, clerical celibacy was enforced throughout the Latin Church only by the First Lateran Council in 1123. However the Oriental Churches have kept a married clergy up to this day.
All this to say that what was once the common practice of the Church can be adopted anew. Since vocations to the celibate priesthood seem to be dwindling throughout the world in general, the pastoral needs of the Church might dictate a change in the present regulation. This would not solve all problems, of course, but it might prove advantageous in many respects. For example, perhpas a married clergy would be better able to understand and sympathize with the situation of marrired couples.
Let us pray for God’s guidance on this delicate issue. Let us pray for our Church leaders so that they may see whether or not new decisions should be made.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 September 2010 05:17
Welcome to Padre Pio Parish
Written by Kevin Lee
Sunday, 09 August 2009 06:09
We are the first parish in Australia to take Padre Pio as our parish patron. We began as a Parochial district affiliated with St. Nicholas of Myra Parish at Penrith, NSW in 1994. The Glenmore Park Catholic community began the canonical process of becoming a separate parish financially and was deemed to be in a position to build a parish church, presbytery and offices in 2004.
We are the fourth such community to evolve into a new parish sprung from the loins of our parent parish, Penrith - the others being Kingswood, Emu Plains and Cranebrook. We began through the efforts of a Redemptorist Brother Br. Vin Dale who knocked on the doors of new homebuilders more than 12 years ago introducing himself and inviting the Catholics to form a Catholic Community. Br Dale’s efforts were supported by Fr. Neville Byrne a Marist priest who continued the ‘hands on’ ministry and spiritual leadership of Brother Dale, advising the people that Mass was being celebrated in the homes of other Catholics. This “Home Mass” system developed the title for the Glenmore Park Catholic Community, “The Church Below the Rooftops”.
Homily for 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - on the Gospel
Preferential Option for the Poor
Sirarch 3:17-20, 28-29
Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Joseph de Veuster was a Belgian missionary priest working among the islanders of Honolulu. His bishop had trouble finding a priest to work in the leper settlement of Molokai. Joseph, better known as Father Damien, volunteered to go and work in the "living graveyard that was Molokai." His solidarity with the lepers was so complete that he contracted the disease himself and died at the age of forty-nine in service to the poorest and most abandoned. Some of his contemporaries accused him of imprudence and foolhardiness. Today, however, he is recognised worldwide as a hero of the faith: Damien the Leper.
New Policy for the Sacraments of Initiation in Parramatta Diocese
Written by Kevin Lee
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 06:17
Our new Bishop Anthony Fisher has promulgated a new Policy for the Diocese of Parramatta on Sacraments of Initiation and First Penance for Children who have been baptised.
While it is being formalised I thought I should advise you of some of the main points:
1. Children should be brought to Baptism soon after their birth (usually within weeks).
2. Only for a grave reason will a parish priest deny or postpone reception of any of the Sacraments of Initiation to a child whose parents seek that sacrament for their child.
One of these derived from a distorted notion of the mariage union as being somehow incompatible with the celebration fo the Eucharist, as if the martial act was slightly dirty or sinful - an idea which borders on heresy. Another reason involved Church property. A priest, having children to take care of and whose future he had to ensure was easily suspected of using church funds and church property for that purpose. At any rate, clerical celibacy was enforced throughout the Latin Church only by the First Lateran Council in 1123. However the Oriental Churches have kept a married clergy up to this day.
We are the first parish in Australia to take Padre Pio as our parish patron. We began as a Parochial district affiliated with St. Nicholas of Myra Parish at Penrith, NSW in 1994. The Glenmore Park Catholic community began the canonical process of becoming a separate parish financially and was deemed to be in a position to build a parish church, presbytery and offices in 2004.
Our new Bishop Anthony Fisher has promulgated a new Policy for the Diocese of Parramatta on Sacraments of Initiation and First Penance for Children who have been baptised. 
