It was an historic and joyful occasion for All Saints Parish in Liverpool, as parish priest Fr Paul Monkerud formally unveiled its new mission and vision on 25 May, marking what parishioners describe as a transformative moment for the community.
The new parish plan for mission is the result of a year-long process of planning and consultation involving more than 150 parishioners, all united in their desire to make the parish more “invitational, formational and mission driven.”
“I’m feeling very hopeful,” said Fr Paul, who spearheaded the initiative.
“We formed a senior leadership team with different members of the community with the express purpose of taking this vision forward,” he said.
“The more organised we are, the more we can attract those people who are not here, who could be, as well as to continue to build up those people that are.”
He emphasised that the structured approach would “enable us to prioritise and have more effective use of our resources and see where the gaps are.”
Fr Paul explained that the parish “mission vision” was inspired by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP’s vision for the future of Sydney parishes, Go Make Disciples (GMD), launched in 2020.
“We were particularly inspired by the five foundations from GMD: evangelisation, formation, leadership, community, and worship, but with a particular flavour that is unique to our parish,” said Fr Paul. “We wanted to see how we might make that come alive in our part of the world.”
Fr Paul reflected on his previous experience implementing similar initiatives: “I first tried this as parish priest at St Charles Borromeo Church in Ryde in the 2000’s, but we didn’t have the resources. Now, with the GMD blueprint, it has helped clarify my ideas to make the mission come alive. This is just the start of our journey,” he said.
Daniel Ang, Director of the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation, shared his joy at this initiative undertaken by the All Saints community.
“It is so heartening to witness local communities, such as All Saints Parish, respond with such dedication and zeal to the church’s call to mission” he said.
“Under the guidance of Fr Paul and his senior leadership team, a renewed ecclesial vision is taking root, one that seeks to form mature disciples, cultivate authentic leadership, and foster a culture of communion and belonging deeply anchored in faith.”
“We’re trying to show people what it’s like to be part of such a community that care and look after each other. And to give people the confidence to go out and evangelise and to talk about their faith openly, to have that courage and not be afraid,” said one of the senior team leaders, Gina Fattal.
Another team leader, Matthew Rathinam said this new mission plan drew on the diverse strengths of the leadership team and wider community.
“We all work in different corporate organisations, with different skills and talents. For the last year we brought all of our different expertise together to come up with a strategy to set a new direction for our church, so that we can grow together,” he said.
As the parish came together after morning Mass to celebrate the new initiative, many parishioners expressed great hope and excitement for the future.
“The Holy Spirit is on fire in All Saints!” said 64-year-old parishioner, Isabella Tamariz.
“This is opening a big door for us. And opens the door for the laity to come in and ask questions: how I can participate? How can I contribute? How can I make our church a church of action?”
Miriam Brooks, a local mother and parishioner, envisions the parish becoming “more Christ-centred, a place where everybody feels welcomed, a place of safety for everyone.
“I’m excited because we now have something in place that is more structured and driven,” she said.
Monica Cvetanovski, a local mother of two, appreciated the new focus and accountability the vision brings. “You can feel lost and disconnected, it definitely has a sense of purpose and connectedness that is a really great way forward.”
The plan at Liverpool calls the parish beyond the maintenance of internal structures to an outward-facing witness, one that raises up leaders and crafts tangible pathways for spiritual and catechetical growth.
In doing so, the sacramental life of the parish is not simply preserved but animated. It seeks to foster genuine conversion, ecclesial vitality, and a deepening participation.
“I think what the parish has developed is much more than a pastoral strategy, but an ecclesiological shift—a movement from sporadic efforts to a more intentional and theologically grounded approach to evangelisation,” said Daniel.
“The path that All Saints parish is embarking on mirrors the church’s self-understanding as a missionary body, sent forth to gather the scattered and invite the unchurched into the living communion of the Body of Christ,” he said.
While enthusiastic about the launch, Fr Paul remains pragmatic: “The proof of it will be the fruits that it bears. But this is making those fruits much more possible, much more achievable and much clearer.”