Implementation of our Diocesan Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy
A Letter to the People of Broken Bay
from Very Rev Dr David Ranson
Diocesan Administrator
Tuesday 30 April 2019
My dear brothers and sisters,
The Filipino peoples are one of the fastest growing communities which have migrated to Australia. They have spread throughout our land and formed communities within Catholic Parishes, including in the Diocese of Broken Bay. Filipino Catholic Communities are currently hosted in six of our Parishes:
• The Parish of Warringah, supported by FILCOS North Shore, (a community Filipino group formed in 1981). Mass is celebrated on the First Sunday at 4pm and the Third Sunday in Tagalog at 11.45am.
• The Parish of Chatswood, animated by the Filipino Chaplaincy Chatswood Parish, formed in 2007. Mass is celebrated is on the First Sunday at 12pm.
• The Parish of Hornsby Cathedral. Mass is celebrated on the Second Sunday at 3.30pm.
• The Parish of Gosford. Mass is celebrated on the Second Sunday at 12pm.
• The Parish of Wyong. Mass is celebrated in Tagalog on the Third Sunday at 12pm by priests of the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity to whom the Parish is entrusted.
• A community of Filipino people also associate with the Parish of Wyoming.
Our Filipino Communities have been served by numerous priests over the years. From 2003-2018, the Chaplaincy to our Filipino Communities has been provided under the auspices of the Scalabrinian Fathers and from the Parish of Warringah entrusted into their care. However, at the request of the Scalabrinian Provincial in November 2017, Bishop Peter A Comensoli agreed to assume diocesan responsibility for the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy from February 2019.
On Bishop Comensoli’s request, I have been working with the Filipino Communities of our Diocese since January 2018 to determine the most appropriate means to support them with a coordinated and cohesive pastoral framework, whilst respecting their distinction as parish-based associations. Following a long process of consultation, and now with the confirmation of the College of Consultors, along with the enthusiastic endorsement of the leadership of the various Filipino Communities of our Diocese, it gives me great pleasure to announce the implementation of our Diocesan Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy effective Wednesday 1 May 2019.
The Chaplaincy will be guided by the Charter for the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy for the Diocese of Broken Bay. The Charter is now available to view on our Diocesan website.
It also gives me pleasure to share with you that I have appointed Deacon Roberto Corpuz as the Pastoral Coordinator of the Chaplaincy. We welcome Deacon Roberto in his new role. With this appointment, Deacon Roberto’s previous ministry as Deacon to the Cathedral Parish of Hornsby concludes. We thank him warmly for his presence and ministry in the Cathedral Parish for the last 7.5 years.
I am confident that this new framework for the Chaplaincy to the Filipino Communities in our Diocese will be a significant grace in the life of our local Church. We thank the communities for their rich cultural presence and their unmistakable faith. We pray that this framework for their identity and development will underscore and encourage their wonderful contribution to our Diocese.
With my gratitude and my warm wishes in the Lord,
Very Rev Dr David Ranson
Diocesan Administrator
Download Filipino Chaplaincy Charter (PDF 3.3MB)
Deacon Roberto Corpuz