By Marcia Mansfield
IT is with great anticipation that we here in Rockhampton diocese have eagerly awaited the arrival of Bishop Michael McCarthy and his episcopal ordination on May 29.
In my 30 years working for the diocese, I have lived through many changes and challenges and enjoyed most of them.
I look forward to the beginning of a new era with Bishop Michael and what it might hold for me personally as co-ordinator of Diocesan Pastoral Services and editor of our diocesan journal, The Review.
Diocesan Pastoral Services agencies include Aboriginal and Islander Catholic Ministry, Catholic Prison Ministry, Diocesan Pastoral Planning Office, Western Region Pastoral Ministry, Stella Maris Apostleship to Seafarers and Diocesan Youth Ministry.
Each of the people in these agencies is responsible directly to the bishop in matters of ministry and each looks forward to whatever direction Bishop Michael and his advisors choose to lead us into the future.
In my role I also have financial and administrative oversight of Sacramental Task Force Resources, The Review, Diocesan Vocations Promotions Office, Diocesan Commission: Justice and Sustainability, Diocesan Liturgical Commission and Diocesan Commission for Ecumenism and Inter-Faith Relations.
I know personnel from these commissions are also looking forward very much to welcoming our new bishop.
Whatever initiatives Bishop Michael decides to build on and/or whatever new initiatives he hopes to put in place, we are keen to work in co-operation with him on an ongoing basis.
We welcome him to the diocese and will do our best to see that his transition from Brisbane archdiocese to Rockhampton diocese happens smoothly.
As editor of The Review, my hope would be that he would contribute to each edition and bring his own personal flavour to the news of the diocese.
Marcia Mansfield is co-ordinator of Diocesan Pastoral Services and editor of The Review in the Diocese of Rockhampton.
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