In this season of Advent, as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of Christ, we are drawn to reflect on the beautiful fraternity of the Holy Family.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph lived in deep unity, rooted in love and obedience to God’s will. Their bond was not based on convenience, but on self-giving love, mutual respect, and shared purpose.
The Holy Family is a living image of the church – a community united in love and mission.
In our parishes, fraternity means creating spaces of belonging, hospitality, and shared responsibility. It calls us to move beyond individualism toward communion and collaboration, so that together we can witness the love of Christ in the world.
This year, we have been blessed to see signs of this fraternity across Sydney.
In June, Fr Yacub Barkat led the communities of St Mary MacKillop Rockdale City and St Gabriel Bexley into a new chapter of unity – a fruit borne over 10 years of shared parish life, evangelisation, and worship, all tied together by the mission of Christ in their local area.
Later in the year, Fr Paul Van Chi and the Vietnamese Catholic Community joined the parish of St Therese Lakemba in continuing Christ’s mission in a suburb where, according to the 2021 Census, more than 55 per cent of the population identify as Muslim.
In September, the parish celebrated the feast day of its patron saint, St Therese of Lisieux, marking 89 years of communion.
It was a day filled with joy and diversity, bringing together parishioners and school families from Lebanon, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Nepal, Sudan, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, and the Cook Islands.
Inspired by Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti, we are reminded that the church’s mission is a shared journey of fraternity and collaboration, working together for the common good. These examples also echo the vision of our Archdiocesan Mission Plan, Go Make Disciples, to renew our parishes as communities of missionary disciples, committed to living the Gospel, forming disciples, and reaching out in love.
As we look to the year ahead, we pray for the grace to continue building this spirit of fraternity, working together with our parishes and agencies to evangelise and reach out to those in our local communities. May this Advent renew in us the desire to welcome Christ and share his love with all.
Elliott Bowen is the Parish Renewal Manager for the Parish Renewal Team, Sydney Centre for Evangelisation.