On Sunday 17 March, the Catholic community of Mansfield, Jamieson, Woods Point, Tolmie and Bonnie Doon gathered for a small but very green celebration of Ireland’s famous missionary.
In 1885, St Patrick’s Chapel in Bonnie Doon was blessed by Archbishop James Alipius Goold and transferred to the site in 1898. According to Fr George Feliciouz, the communities’ parish priest, St Patrick’s Day celebrations occurred at the Bonnie Doon site for many years after the chapel arrived but eventually tapered off. For the past 15 years, they have been reviving the tradition.
They celebrated the occasion wihh a variety of green-coloured foods, only five minutes from the famous Kerrigan holiday home from The Castle.
It is not just about the Catholic community. It is also about being present in the wider Mansfield community.
Fr George assumed the role of parish priest in November 2020, and while the community is small, it is tight-knit.
‘The communities in the Mansfield Catholic Parish all have their uniqueness,’ he says. ‘Everyone knows everyone, and they look out for each other.’
For the last 18 years, they have been hosting monthly meals in one another’s homes on rotation, a regular opportunity to show hospitality.
‘From a broader perspective, I think for a priest in a country town, it is not just about the Catholic community,’ he says. ‘It is also about being present in the wider Mansfield community.’
To be the Body of Christ is to be the presence of Christ. We are called to make Christ present through active love and service.
The communities in this part of Victoria participate in a lively array of festivals and sporting competitions throughout the year. From community fairs, campdrafting, rodeos and woodcutting competitions to events hosted by the Rural Australians for Refugees network and other ecumenical groups, Fr George likes to get involved in a variety of initiatives to maintain the Catholic presence in the region.
This notion of ‘presence’ is important for Fr George’s ministry.
‘Evangelisation means to bring the Good News of Jesus to every situation. It is to make Christ real, active and present, so that through the Holy Spirit he may speak to the hearts and minds of everyone.’
‘To be the Body of Christ is to be the presence of Christ,’ he says. ‘We are called to make Christ present through active love and service.’
