Dominicans to leave Canberra
Prior Provincial, Fr Dom Murphy
The Prior Provincial of the Dominican Friars, Fr Dom Murphy op, has recently advised Archbishop Christopher Prowse that the Order will leave Canberra and return the pastoral care of the Watson Parish to the Archdiocese at the end of November 2023.
Archbishop Christopher noted the long service of the Dominicans to the Archdiocese.
“The Dominican Friars have been part of the pastoral care of Canberra since 1962; it is a sad occasion for the whole Archdiocese but especially the people of the Watson Parish who have had such a long and deep relationship with this Congregation.”
Prior Provincial, Fr Murphy informed the parishioners of Blackfriars Parish at each of the masses this last weekend that the Congregational Chapter had believed that they had no choice.
“The shrinking numbers of Friars have made this painful decision necessary,” he explained.
In his homily, Fr Murphy noted the sadness and uncertainty for the parish but also noted the message of hope in the Sunday Gospel that “God is with us” in all things.
Following the masses, parishioners spoke with Fr Murphy about the decision while others asked each other about what it meant for their parish. Some parishioners assumed it would mean visiting clergy or linking with another parish.
The Dominican Friars and the Dominican Sisters accepted Archbishop Eris O’Brien’s invitation to come to Canberra in the early 1960s, establishing Blackfriars Priory and Signadou Teachers College and undertaking the pastoral responsibilities for the Watson Parish.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn’s Chancellor, Dr Patrick McArdle, noted the Dominicans’ influence over the last 60 years.
“The work of both Priory and College, together with the service of individual Friars and Sisters, has not only served the growing Canberra community but has fundamentally shaped the nature of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese for many decades.”
In the New Year, Archbishop Prowse will establish a working party to consider the pastoral needs of the inner north of Canberra and how these might best be served in the future.
“While this news is disappointing and deeply regretted, it is now time to start contemplating the future. We need to ask some fundamental questions about the shape of parishes, their locations and how the Archdiocese can best cater for the needs of the people,” Archbishop Prowse said.
The Archbishop noted that the people of the parishes, their Pastors and parish pastoral and finance councils in the inner north would be part of the consultation process to determine what can and should be done to most effectively enable the Evangelising Mission of Jesus.
‘Tis sad: the Jesuits gone, and now the Dominicans.
Thank God we had the blessing of both Orders serving in our Archdiocese for so long. How they enriched our community! And, how wonderful and appropriate to have had these religious scholars in the nation’s capital. I fondly remember how members of the laity enjoyed to get an insight into St Thomas Aquinas’ “Summa Theologica” with Fr Laurie Fitzgerald OP (resting in peace, please God, for many years now). I’m even wondering if I recognise a novice Dominican behind Fr Dom Murphy’s trim beard and moustache from that era? Thanks Fr Dom and fellow Dominicans for the decades of service your community has given to the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
It is a sad day when the Dominicans leave us. Let us not forget the impact they had on the tertiary sector with the establishment of John XXIII College at ANU.
So very sad the Dominicans are leaving Canberra.
The Dominicans, the Order of Preachers, leaving Canberra is very sad news. What happens in the capital affects the psyche of the nation. It should be the last place to be abandoned. On the other hand, I know Fr Dom Murphy to be a good, wise and Godly man, so I accept his decision and will say no more.
So sad they were a big part of Rosary School.
Very sad to hear this. The Dominicans ran such interesting seminars at Blackfriars, and made such good chaplains at ANU at John XXIII/St John the Evangelist chapel. Father Laurie Fitzgerald was wonderful.
Having studied at ANU, I benefited from the wise counsel of Father Laurie Foote OP, John XXIII chaplain for many years. They’re my favourite religious order as St Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican, proved that Subsistent Existence (God) is the first cause of everything, so while I stay in contact with a few OPs, their absence will be noticed. My sincere thanks to them and God bless.