ARCHBISHOP John Bathersby of Brisbane said the most effective way to renew the archdiocese was first and foremost for Catholics to renew themselves.
He was giving his homily at the opening Mass for the archdiocesan synod on May 1.
More than 700 Synod Assembly members packed St Stephen’s Cathedral for the 7pm Mass, processing into the cathedral behind colourful banners after a welcoming ceremony outside by cathedral administrator, Fr Peter Dillon.
Others present were four other Roman Catholic bishops – auxiliaries Brian Finnigan and Joseph Oudeman, retired auxiliary John Gerry and retired Townsville Bishop Ray Benjamin – and about 100 clergy.
Among the special guests were Maronite Catholic Bishop of Australia, Ad Abikaram; Brisbane Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall; Uniting Church Queensland Moderator, Rev Allan Kuchler; Lutheran Church president, Pastor Tim Jansch; and Salvation Army South Queensland divisional commander, Major James Condon. Fr Peter Struk of Woolloongabba represented the Eparch of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
In his homily, Archbishop Bathersby said the modern world had drifted away from the Church and many people who still claim Church membership had only a partial engagement with it.
Nevertheless, he said there were signs of hope, such as the recent wide-ranging rejection of war by Christians throughout the world and the readiness both within and outside the Church, particularly among the young, to follow the Pope’s leadership on ecological conversion.
For more synod reports and pictures see this week’s print version of The Catholic Leader.
