"together with Him"
Our parish vision unfolded over a two-year period through lots of prayer, observation, dialogue, discernment, and faithful action. It’s titled: “together with Him” … ‘Him,’ of course, being Jesus. This phrase, we feel, captures the heart of everything. We’re at our best together as a parish family and with Jesus at the centre.
What undergirds our vision is:
- Openness to the will of the Father (the day-in-day-out work of being as faithful as we can to what God is asking).
- Openness to the people, giftedness, and cultures already present.
- Openness to what will emerge in the future.
This vision is about staying attentive to the life of the Church, following the lead of our local shepherd, Archbishop Richard Smith. This vision is about remaining rooted while reaching upward – like a pillar rising heavenward… together abiding in Christ, together working with Jesus, together offering our best – our talents, dedication, and love for His people.
Our patron, St. Francis de Sales offers us this evergreen exhortation: “Let us be what we are and be that well, in order to bring honor to the Master Craftsman whose handiwork we are. [...] Let us be what God wants us to be, provided we are His, and let us not be what we would like to be, contrary to His intention. Even if we were the most perfect creatures under heaven, what good would that do us if we were not as God‘s will would have us be?”
Friends, this is the heart of our parish vision. Not striving to become something self‑designed, but faithfully becoming who God already intends us to be. Over time, through prayer and discernment, this vision emerged as a simple way of living: together with Him. Together as family, where we are known and loved. Together in worship, where we bring everything to Jesus. Together on mission, offering our gifts side by side. If we remain His, attentive and trusting, God will shape the rest.
