BRISBANE Archbishop Mark Coleridge celebrated Mass last month with priests from the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (MCBS) serving in Queensland at St. Joachim church in Holland park and Mt. Gravatt parish in Brisbane .
Archbishop Coleridge joined MCBS priests from Brisbane, Toowoomba and Townsville for the occasion that marked the Congregation’s 86th anniversary, founded in 1933 at Mallappally, in Kerala in the South of India.
“About five years ago, I entrusted the parish of Holland Park – Mt Gravatt to them so that they could have a base to gather, and that’s what they did today on what they call their Congregation Day,” Archbishop Coleridge said.
“It means that, as Religious to whom community is important, they can come from their often far-flung parishes to celebrate and strengthen the brotherhood which is so much part of their vocation.”
Holland Park-Mt Gravatt parish priest Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament Father Joson Antony spoke of the order’s rich history.
“He shared our charism (which) is to live and proclaim the Eucharistic mystery that is celebrated, to gather the children of God around the alter to praise God in the midst of his church, to take part in her sacrifice and to its Lord’s supper and to uphold the real presence of the Lord in the blessed sacrament.” Fr Joson said.
“May 7 is our Congregation day – that’s when it started in India, 1933.
“The Archbishop could not make it on May 7 because he had other commitments, so this year we had a get-together with the priests and the Archbishop to celebrate the congregation day and share a meal with all the priests working in Queensland.
“It was very wonderful, and we are so privileged and happy to do the ministry in Australia; we appreciate the supports from dioceses,” he said
Archbishop Coleridge said fruit of the Order’s labour was “ripe and palatable” for God’s kingdom.
“The founders may have seemed ordinary enough but the grace of God working through them was extraordinary – as has been the fruit of their foundation through the years,” the Archbishop said.
