In Karratha people keep joining our Church. A group of six people came into the Church at Easter, and recently I Confirmed another convert ' a young teacher in our St Paul's School. I have already heard that a group of about a dozen In Port Hedland are undergoing the R.C.I.A. People feel at home and welcome in our Church. It can only be the Grace of Jesus drawing them in various ways.
'Bishop I want to congratulate you on the wonderful spirit of courtesy and respect staff and students show each other at my grandchildren's school' said one Grandmother I met up here. I suggested she congratulate the Principal and Staff of that school. I also added that it is something we aim at fostering in all our Catholic schools, and how it is a practical expression of our Faith in Jesus and his presence in each person.
As in our parishes in the southern part of the Diocese, I keep meeting people up here of all ages and families who value their Faith in God and in Jesus. Yes, in our north, where people work long hours and wealth and materialism is to the fore, people still find time for God and his Son Jesus. I could as easily say that Jesus is 'finding people' or is still getting through to them up here.
Our priests here, as in other parts of our Diocese, are generously Ministering to people and are happy. It can only be due to Jesus who joined them to him and to each other by sharing with them his one Priesthood. There is no other earthly explanation for them doing what they are doing and for the faith filled way in which they are doing it.
I am beginning to meet also the few but valuable Religious Sisters in the north working among Aboriginal people and in pastoral Ministry in our Parishes. They witness to Christ in their lives. It is Christ also who inspires, empowers and holds them in their Ministry.
Over the twenty years I have been visiting the northern parishes I have grown to know well some of the people who continue living here. This visit I had the privilege of Confirming a beautiful young girl whose mother I had also Confirmed years ago. It was so pleasing to see how this mother had settled after a somewhat torrid period of her life ' testament to the constant love and prayers of her own mother and, I believe, the Grace of Jesus Christ.
I heard of what some men said about one of our priests who used to visit them in prison. They said 'Thank you for coming to see and talk with us. You help us see we are not junk.' What that priest did was in fact show them the face and person of Jesus Christ living within him.
As I write I am only in the first stages of my northern trip. These examples highlight how Jesus is at work daily in and around the lives of each of us. When we look with the eyes of Faith we notice it.
It all leads to praise. 'God you are wonderful. Jesus, God among us, you are wonderful. All praise to you. Thank you for being among us and working in our midst.'