BRISBANE Archbishop Mark Coleridge made his first pastoral visit to Stanley River parish earlier this month.
During his visit, he met with parish priest Carmelite of Mary Immaculate Father Paul Chackanikunnel, parishioners and members of the Woodford Ecumenical Council.
Archbishop Coleridge also visited the Woodford Correctional Centre, where Fr Chackanikunnel is the chaplain, and the Archer Retreat Centre at Villeneuve.
With only 100 regular parishioners attending weekend Masses, the parish community welcomed the Archbishop’s visit as a way of addressing the low attendance numbers.
He asked the various communities connected with the parish to “work together in extending the work of the Church in these sometimes trying times”.
Fr Chackanikunnel said the Archbishop would be consulting with the parish in the future.
He said the generosity of his parishioners and the parish’s fundraising efforts was helping to keep the parish going.
He also said the area was slowly growing, with new families from Caboolture finding a home at Stanley River.
The Archbishop’s visit coincided with the Confirmation of 21 children in the parish.
Parishioners celebrated with the children and their families with a barbecue on Saturday and a Filipino feast on Sunday.
Fr Chackanikunnel encouraged the families of the confirmands to develop a culture of bringing children to Mass regularly.
