Within the two months of arriving to Sydney as the priests of St Joseph’s parish in Moorebank, Somascan Frs Mathew Velliyamkandathil CRS and Chris de Sousa CRS were entrusted by Archbishop Anthony Anthony Fisher OP with the pastoral carriage of St Christopher’s parish in Holsworthy.
With the COVID pandemic and restrictions looming, St Christopher’s parishioner Helen Carter heartily welcomed them into her home, where she provided them with a complete historical, pastoral, catechetical and logistical rundown on the parish community.
Helen’s years of experience in managing the Holsworthy parish, particularly during extensive absences of previous parish priest who had served in the army NSW bushfires response, and her hard work in maintaining records and attention to detail enabled the Fathers to competently serve the two parishes, schools and communities in a short span of time.
Helen was one of six parishioners honoured for their dedicated service during the inaugural ‘MooreWorthy’ parish dinner at Liverpool Catholic Club on 20 September.
The celebration was attended by more than 400 parishioners across both churches, along with permanent deacon Al Salu, St Christopher’s Primary School principal Linda O’Reagan, St Joseph’s Primary School principal Christina Bitar-Claxton, and the Syro-Malabar Christ the King mission chaplain Fr Jerin Arimboor Jacob.
The annual dinner, organised by the parish pastoral council, was established to celebrate the many events and projects carried out over the past year and to honour six remarkable parish heroes for their pastoral commitment, quiet service, and steady presence.
Former parish council chairman Hugh De Lapp and his wife Lorraine, of St Christopher’s, were honoured for their extensive catechetical and evangelisation support, including the coordination of Easter and Christmas liturgies, managing flower, reading, altar serving and cleaning rosters and assisting the fathers with parish programs over many years.
Long-time Moorebank parishioner Ada Bauso was celebrated for her 40 years of passionate service to sacrament preparation for countless children in the community, coordinating the altar society volunteers and managing the parish piety shop for more than decade.
Also honoured for their inspirational example at St Joseph’s, were Nino and Antonia Tuscano who have served both English and Italian communities for decades by maintaining liturgical vestments, creating floral arrangements and undertaking everyday parish upkeep work.
Parish pastoral council chairperson Charbel Eltarraf introduced the honoured guests as “people who have walked with us, sometimes leading, sometimes serving from behind the scenes, but always with generous hearts and unwavering faith”.
“Their contributions span years, even decades, and touch countless lives within our parishes, our schools and our greater community,” he said.
“From ministries of hospitality to catechesis, from pastoral care to church beautifying upkeep, and outreach — they have planted seeds, encouraged others, and through loving commitment, helped our two parishes flourish as a living sign of Christ’s presence.
“In recognising them tonight, we don’t just say ‘thank you’, we bear witness to what faithful service looks like and we remind ourselves that the church is truly built not only of brick and structure, but of people who say ‘yes’ to God in everyday, meaningful ways.
“So as we share this evening in fellowship, let us also hold in our hearts a spirit of gratitude, for these members we give special honour to this evening with awards of appreciation, and for all who serve, often without recognition, for the good of our parishes and the glory of God.”
The evening of dinner, dedications and dancing was also an opportunity for the two parishes to come together as one community and celebrate some of the year’s most notable achievements.
“Despite our Fathers taking on the pastoral care of both parishes, our communities have not lost their individuality,” said Charbel.
“Instead, they have grown in shared opportunities for work, devotion and charity.
“Following the charism of our founder, St Jerome Emiliani, some of the many highlights include the celebrating the 50th anniversary of St Joseph’s Moorebank; the joyful feast days of St Christopher and St Joseph; our international food festival and opening one of only four perpetual adoration chapels in the Sydney Archdiocese.
“With the help of our dedicated parishioners, we have also collaborated with the archdiocese on a number key events such as leading both the inaugural and subsequent Fatima rosary processions at St Mary’s Cathedral with our parish musicians, servers and lectors; taking part in the Seven Churches devotion; hosting last year’s 800-strong men’s camino at St Joseph’s Moorebank and the Matt Fradd talk at St Christopher’s Holsworthy, as well as collaborating with religious orders such as the MGLs for their annual retreat and welcoming the Sisters of St Joseph to screen Shalom World’s Australia’s First Saint.
“We celebrate and give thanks for the unique identity of both St Joseph’s Moorebank and St Christopher’s Holsworthy, which together form one strong, faith-filled community.”
