A special church service on Friday night will acknowledge previous “wrongdoing” within the Catholic Church but also remember past schools.
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Mary Queen of Apostles Parish Priest, Father Dermid McDermott said the ‘Liturgy of Lament’ was not sparked solely by sexual abuse cases at the former Saint Patrick’s College. However, these and the Royal Commission into Sexual Abuse of Children in Institutional Care had impacted on the Parish.
“I personally don’t know anyone (past students) affected by sexual abuse but they are there; it is underlying,” he said.
“There seems to be a gap between the apology and what’s happened since and sometimes the only response is to get on your knees and pray.”
The ‘Liturgy of Things Past’, to be held at 7pm Friday, June 30 at Trinity Catholic College’s chapel, will acknowledge the wrongdoing but also provide a space for healing.
Parish member and head of religious education at Trinity, Michael Jiear suggested the service. He said there was a great need for the Liturgy.
It would also acknowledge Goulburn’s rich history of Catholic secondary education including Our Lady of Mercy College, Saint Patrick’s College, Saint Joseph’s College, Saint Patrick’s Technical School, Saint Michael’s Agricultural and Trade College and Marian College.
Many people did not have the opportunity to mourn their loss at the time of their closures, a predicament that the Parish wanted to rectify.
“There is a great deal of angst, anger, bitterness and disillusionment within the local community associated with the loss of connectedness with our previous colleges and their phoenix identity, Trinity Catholic College,” Mr Jiear said.
“While the pain inflicted in the past cannot be undone, it is the Parish’s wish that the Lament may be a time of unity and prayerfulness in the acknowledgement of past errors and criminal behaviour, while paving a way to move forward.
“Opportunities for expressing lament such as this are important – a time in which people can give voice and shape to shared feelings of sadness, regret, and solidarity for what has occurred in our communities, and a time for the parish to pray for those who have been wounded.
“It will give people the opportunity to gather together to pray and express their grief for the many losses and hurts that have occurred, especially the loss of identity resulting from the closure of our local colleges over the decades.”
“By using the Psalms of Lament the community will pray like its ancestors in faith, who cried out in helplessness.”
The Liturgy coincides with the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Supper will be provided afterward. Call Fr McDermott on 4821 1022 for more information.
