Forty Years
Wednesday, August 18, 2010: Fr Tattersall commences his appointment as Rector of St Aloysius'
In the forty years since the introduction of the Mass of Paul VI, there have been Catholics who have been convinced of the importance of remaining faithful both to the Church, and to the traditional liturgy. This has been a conviction both of those who lived through the great upheavals of the 1960’s, and of those born since then who have discovered this treasure of the Church, the priceless pearl of the traditional liturgy.
It has not been easy to live – let alone flourish – holding to that dual conviction. Many experienced the distress of feeling marginalised, and even dispossessed.
In many ways such Catholics in Melbourne were more fortunate than most: thanks to the faithfulness and perseverance of so many wonderful lay people, and the pastoral support of many priests – here I especially recall Frs James Opie, Gerard Diamond, John Walshe, Philip Astley, Ian Falconer, Chris Dowd & John Rizzo – what we now know as the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite was always celebrated in Melbourne in full communion with the Church. The respective roles of Archbishops Little, Pell, and Hart should also be acknowledged in this regard. This situation was a blessing which Fr McDaniels and I inherited.
From the beginning of our pastoral ministry in Melbourne we have enjoyed the support of His Grace, Archbishop Hart, and of many priest friends and of the Faithful whom we have been privileged to serve. Our canonical appointment some years ago as chaplains to the community attached to the traditional liturgy, was an important step towards meeting the just aspirations of many of the Faithful
We first celebrated Mass in the Church of St Aloysius’ Caulfield on Septuagesima Sunday, 2003; early in 2004 we moved to Caulfield; and not long after this we were pleased to obtain use as well of the beautiful Burke Hall Chapel.
In both Churches, however, we have been guests. Welcome guests to be sure (for the most part) - but still, merely guests.
All that changed this Wednesday past – and changed for the better. I am delighted to be able to inform you that Archbishop Hart, in order to provide for the proper stability and permanence of our community, has appointed me as Rector of St Aloysius’ Church, for a six year term commencing 18th August. That is the usual term for such an appointment, which may also be renewed indefinitely.
What does this appointment mean? It means we are no longer mere guests at St Aloysius’, but that we belong here: St Aloysius’ Church is now our true home. We are entitled to be here. Fr Diamond will continue as Parish Priest to provide for the needs of local Catholics who wish to worship in the Ordinary Form, but henceforth this Church is our home, and under my stewardship as Rector. Fr Diamond has already readily agreed to extend our agreement with the Parish for the use of the old Presbytery – now Maryvale – so that this synchronises with the term of my appointment as Rector.
The granting of our canonical home in Caulfield does not endanger our commitment to the Sunday Mass at Burke Hall. Rather, the security that this new arrangement provides is important for the future stability of both centres.
I am also delighted to be able to tell you that His Grace has approved a patron for our community, and that from 19th September we will be known as the Catholic Community of Bl. John Henry Newman. I will be talking at length about Cardinal Newman’s importance for us on another occasion, around the time of his beatification in September. Newman’s patronage will be also an important source of spiritual unity for the Burke Hall and Caulfield congregations, which form one single community under our pastoral care. We will take as our community’s motto not Newman’s own personal motto, but a command from the Gospels: Quaerite primum regnum Dei (‘Seek first the Kingdom of God’). This imperative to give primacy to God and to the things of God seems to me to catch Newman’s spirit precisely: not only in respect to the proper celebration of the liturgy, but in the whole traditional approach of the Church (championed by Newman) to ecumenism, evangelisation, and Church-State relations. It is also a warning that, conversely, to seek “all these other things besides” is to risk losing the Kingdom itself….
Finally, as I recently disclosed, we are also looking forward to the arrival of Fr Colin Marshall, whom we hope will be joining us from Christchurch New Zealand, by late October. The addition of Fr Marshall will be a great boon to our community, and please God will increase our capacity for pastoral care.
I wish to thank His Grace for his confidence not only in me and in Fr McDaniels, but also in our whole community. We should be deeply grateful to our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, whose magnificent Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, has provided the inspiration and legal foundation for these new developments. Above all, I thank Almighty God for these blessings, and the Blessed Virgin & Ven. John Henry Newman for their protection and intercession.
Let us then thank God for this grace with the Te Deum at the end of Mass, begging His continued blessings on us all; and let us show our gratitude by being more generous with God, Who has been so good to us all.
After forty years in the wilderness, the Lord has brought us to a safe harbour. To Him alone be the honour, and the glory. Amen.