22 March 2021
On the evening of Friday 19 March 2021, Bishop Anthony Randazzo celebrated Mass for the Solemnity of St Joseph at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara and blessed a newly installed carved timber statue of St Joseph.
On the significant Solemnity of St Joseph, in the Year of St Joseph, Bishop Anthony announced two initiatives in the community of the Church of Broken Bay.
Firstly, he commissioned the Evangelisation Broken Bay team to develop a “pastoral mission” based on his vision of evangelisation in order to create clear evangelisation goals and objectives for the upcoming years until 2025.
“This pastoral mission will incorporate feedback from my priests and deacons, from Christ’s faithful in parishes and communities of faith, as well as from my directors and staff,” said Bishop Anthony. “I have asked that it begin with prayer and grow by analysis and discernment so that as one community of the Church we might be authentic witnesses to the Good News of Jesus Christ in our world.”
Bishop Anthony noted that this undertaking will take time and energy and therefore entrusted the work to the intercession of St Joseph.
Secondly, the Bishop announced the completion of the timber statue of St Joseph for the Cathedral which he commissioned in memory of his mother and father, both recently deceased, and for the devotion and spiritual inspiration of the people of Broken Bay.
“Skilfully and beautifully crafted by artist and craftsman, Engelbert Piccolruaz, I offer this statue in memory of my beloved parents, Colin and Caterina,” said Bishop Anthony. “I offer it as my gift to you. From bishop to people, from shepherd to flock.”
Bishop Anthony thanked the sculptor Engelbert Piccolruaz, who was present at the celebration with his wife Isabella.
The statue was installed on the wall next to a statue of Our Lady holding the Christ-child which the same sculptor had carved 30 years earlier. The addition of the statue of St Joseph completed the Holy Family, significant in this year that Pope Francis has asked the Church to make the family a priority.
“My hope is that it will be a visible and tangible reminder of the love the father has for his family,” said Bishop Anthony. “Situated alongside Mother Mary, and with the Christ Child at the centre, this configuration is the inspiration for family and community life.”