Shortly after Fr John Petrulis took up his role last year as Episcopal Vicar for Justice and Social Services in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Melbourne Catholic asked him in an interview, ‘What’s your hope for those working in our Catholic social services across the Archdiocese?’
He answered that he would like them ‘to know that they’re not isolated as just organisations but they are held in a Church that’s growing to understand, growing in the spirit of justice, to connect and support them. And we’d hope that parishes, with the fruit of good communication, can continue to see the good work of Catholic social services in all its various ministries here.’
Recently The Australian ran a series on wellbeing in which Archbishop Peter A Comensoli observed that ‘when we live by faith, rather than in want, we begin to see that life is not primarily about self-satisfaction. It is about connection—with God, with one another, and with the whole of creation.’
In this spirit of connection and support, a few weeks ago, the Archbishop, Fr John Petrulis and I jumped in the car to visit three different Catholic organisations and some of their centres of service and care on the west side of Melbourne.
Connection and solidarity were the brief for these visits—an opportunity to demonstrate pastoral care and concern, and to better understand their hopes and challenges. Fr John and the Archbishop spent time asking questions with program workers and organisational leaders, as well as folk who were being served by the three centres, each of which had a different focus: supporting people living in situations of homelessness, with mental ill-health and with disability, respectively.
We need an extensive ‘covenant of humanity,’ founded not on power but on care; not on profit but on gift; not on suspicion but on trust.
Observing these two local Church leaders quietly visiting and spending time in conversation with a wide variety of people across these Catholic social service organisations and varied programs, and hearing the reflective questions they asked, it was like they were pre-empting Pope Leo’s address to the third World Meeting on Human Fraternity last week, where he encouraged us ‘to identify local and international ways of developing new forms of social charity, alliances between different areas of knowledge and solidarity between generations. These should be community-based approaches that also include the poor, not as recipients of aid, but as subjects of discernment and discourse.
‘I encourage you to continue this work of silent sowing,’ the Pope said. ‘This can give rise to a participatory process focused on humanity and fraternity, which is not limited to listing rights, but also includes concrete actions and motivations that make us different in our everyday lives. We need an extensive “covenant of humanity,” founded not on power but on care; not on profit but on gift; not on suspicion but on trust. Care, gift and trust are not virtues to be practiced only in one’s spare time: they are pillars of an economy that does not kill, but deepens and broadens participation in life.’
This Sunday 21 September is Social Services Sunday in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, a chance to be inspired by the example of Fr John and the Archbishop in their visits. Like them, we can reach out and connect with the work of Catholic agencies and others in our communities, opening ourselves up to opportunities for ongoing dialogue, connection and mutual support.
When it comes to bringing community together, shared concern for those doing it tough is a great place to start.
Together we can build up the ‘covenant of humanity’ Pope Leo speaks of, even in a broader context of social fracture and dissonance. When it comes to bringing community together, shared concern for those doing it tough is a great place to start, rejecting the ease of scapegoating or indifference and instead gathering together to work for the common good, in a spirit of service and justice.
Fr John Petrulis observed, ‘Relationship is paramount in the emergence of justice. It’s the personal relationship that remains faithful for the long haul. It’s not just about delivering services but how we deliver them. That makes an enormous difference. When you start walking with someone in that real spirit of compassion, it’s very hard to walk away. But what I’ve learned is that you need a lot of resources, professional backup and, at the same time, holding the tension of “Why?” Why has this person or this group of people found themselves excluded in our society and are suffering in such a way? It’s about creatively walking in the tensions of immediately responding as best you can, but also asking the bigger questions.’
Let’s keep asking questions and, together with our communities and agencies, creatively come up with some actions and answers.
Social Services Sunday will be observed on Sunday 21 September—a day to give thanks for the dedicated work of the thousands of staff and volunteers who stand with and serve the poor, disadvantaged and marginalised in Victoria. A resource pack for parishes and communities can be found here.
All photos courtesy of CSSV.
