The Missionaries of God's Love

The Missionaries of God’s Love, who care for the parish, will host the eucharistic festival from Friday, 23 June, to Sunday, 25 June.

Archbishop Francis Carroll has described the weekend as an ideal time for parishes, groups and individuals to visit St Benedict’s, which is one of the churches of the Archdiocese designated as a shrine of pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year where the special Jubilee plenary indulgence may be gained. Young people aged 16 to 35 have been especially encouraged to attend.

Parish priest and moderator of the Missionaries of God’s Love Fr Ken Barker said that in addition to looking after the pastoral needs of Narrabundah parishioners they were also seeking to build up a eucharistic centre.

"This involves developing a powerhouse of prayer for the new evangelisation that the Archdiocese is seeking to enter into," he said.

The focus on eucharistic adoration was being extended gradually with the hope that it would eventually be provided around-the-clock.

"We have a sense that the Lord is saying to ‘call my people to my eucharistic heart; from there will be the fount of life for the Church’."

Much of the focus of the centre is on the mercy of God. "The merciful love of the Lord is especially disclosed through the Eucharist. We are inviting people into this mystery through adoration and then they can be empowered to share this mystery with others."

Fr Barker said compassion and healing were two important aspects of the work of the Missionaries of God’s Love and others in the parish. The vision was to establish a communion of people that provided hospitality, especially for the unchurched and for those alienated from the Church. The centre aimed to be strongly eucharistic and a spiritual watering hole for all who visited.

This was being achieved partly through prayer days and prayer festivals, such as the eucharistic festival being offered this month and similar three-day celebrations over the weekend of the Feast of the Annunciation in March and the Holy Rosary from 6 to 8 October.

"We have a strong charismatic dimension, but the centre is intended to be inclusive of people who are drawn to other aspects of what we offer. It is also strongly missionary; we want to equip people and send them off.

"Over time we want to develop the centre as a refuge for people to come and find a place of hospitality, warmth and friendship, where people can begin to relate again to the Church."

Fr Barker said those who help with the work at the centre include existing parishioners, some members of the Disciples of Jesus Community, people who attend the 7pm Sunday Mass at the Cathedral, and others seeking an opportunity for ministry. "We are only just at the beginning of establishing the eucharistic centre, but it is important for people to know that we have plenty of time. We’re here for the duration."