Holy Cross Parish in Kincumber NSW hosted a “moving” celebration day in honour of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and the newly-canonised St Peter To Rot on 26 October.
The day, supported by parishioner and local business owner Marcelle Isaac, opened with the blessing of a newly-installed statue of St Mary MacKillop, presided over by Bishop Robert McGukin, Bishop Emeritus of Toowoomba, with the Sisters of St Joseph, represented by NSW Regional Leader Sr Ann Porter, Sr Mary, and Sr Helen Saunders of the Mary MacKillop Spirituality Centre in Kincumber South also in attendance.
Incense and the colours of the Papua New Guinean flag greeted the Mass attendants from all over Australia and PNG, as they moved into Holy Spirit church to unveil a portrait of St Peter To Rot, painted by artist Joan Sully, and to bless and install a first-class relic in his honour.
The Liturgy of the Word was presented to the congregation in Tok Pisin, or Pidgin, the most widely spoken official language of PNG.
Papal blessings were also presented to deserving volunteers of the Holy Cross Parish, who were surprised by the attendance of interstate relatives for a joyous recognition of their dedication to their Catholic community.
The day was topped off by a delicious lunch as parishioners supplied home-cooked savouries and sweets, enjoyed in the outdoor space overlooking the blessed statue of St Mary MacKillop and a newly landscaped garden.
For Holy Cross Parish, the St Peter To Rot Celebration Day marked the culmination of months of intricate planning driven by parish priest Fr Bogdan Skupien, who called PNG home for 12 years where he served as a missionary priest.
The parish was humbled by the presence of Bishop McGukin who presided over the official proceedings, along with Central Coast dean, Fr Brian Moloney.
Parishioners were reminded that they each serve God in humility and love, connecting with each other as St Peter To Rot did, to spread the message of Christ without fear, as Fr Bogdan emphasised in his homily.