We are now half way through the month of May and this Sunday, 12 May we celebrate Mother’s Day, as well as the Feast of the Ascension.  Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers who are reading today!

I would like to continue to reflect on the proposed amalgamation of our parishes, and particularly to explore the proposed name for our new parish, which is apt on Mother’s Day.  I am proposing that our new parish name be Our Lady of Pentecost.  Mother’s Day is a perfect day to talk about this, as the Church also calls Mary, our Mother.  Why, Our Lady of Pentecost?  Well, out of the five Churches that make up our worshipping communities, we have three that bear the name of Mary – Our Lady of Victories, Camberwell, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Deepdene and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Wattle Park.  At Balwyn, our Church is dedicated to All Hallows and at Surrey Hills to Our Holy Redeemer.  I like to think that all were present at Pentecost (pente, incidentally is the Greek word for five).  In the Acts of the Apostles we read the following: “Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.  ¹³ When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying.  Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.  ¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” (Acts 1:12-14).  The following verses of this chapter then tell us about the election of Matthias to replace Judas as one of the twelve.  This ensured that as they waited and prayed in the upper room they would be complete.  Twelve apostles and Mary (and perhaps even others!).  Then Acts continues with Chapter 2, “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4).  

Throughout the history of Christian art, many artists have favoured depicting only the apostles receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and then beginning their post-Pentecost ministry.  However, many artist have also shown Mary at the centre of the apostles on this day, as depicted in El Greco’s sixteenth century, Pentecost.  That is why she is also called, Queen of the Apostles.

Image: El Greco, Pentecost, 1596-1599, The Prado, Madrid

I can imagine Mary and the Apostles (the first Saints or “Hallows”) waiting for the return of Our Holy Redeemer (Jesus) when they are met with the incredible gift of the Spirit.  Our Lady of Pentecost holds together the story of all five of our parish Churches and their communities.

Practically speaking by adopting the proposed name, Our Lady of Pentecost, we will be unique in Australia, given that no other parish has Our Lady of Pentecost as patron.  There are others around the world but none in Australia.  Finally, of course each of our Churches will maintain it’s own unique name.

The proposed name, Our Lady of Pentecost, evokes the notion of something new coming about by the initiative of the Spirit.  It speaks of the sense of continuity, yet a calling to a new mission and a new direction being led by the Spirit.  It is also a call to the five worshipping communities who will make up Our Lady of Pentecost Parish to be guided by the Spirit in a prayerful, reflective and synodal way.  

To find out more about the proposed amalgamation visit our Building Stronger Partnership’s for Mission page on our website and read our Frequently Asked Questions and explore the history of our parishes.  To participate in the discussion leave your comments or questions on the proposed amalgamation form and register online to attend one of three Parish Briefings on the amalgamation proposal on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 or Sunday 26 May.

Fr Brendan Reed

Published: 10 May 2024