Hope and unity mark opening of 2025 Parliamentary Year at Ecumenical Service
Catholic Archbishop Christopher Prowse greets the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Anthony Albanese
The annual ecumenical prayer service marked the opening of the 2025 Parliamentary Year on Tuesday, 4 February.
This year’s event was held at St Christopher’s Cathedral, presided over by Archbishop Christopher Prowse.
Political leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, and Governor-General of Australia Samantha Mostyn, gathered to pray for guidance in the year ahead.
Australian Governor-General, Ms Sam Mostyn, reads the First Reading
The theme of hope united parishioners, military personnel and diplomats and ecumenical leaders, including those from the Presbyterian, Anglican, Greek Orthodox, Uniting Church and Baptist communities, in prayer for those who share in governing Australia.
In her sermon, Hope in an Uncertain World, Anglican Assistant Bishop Reverend Vanessa Bennett said the start of a new year is often associated with hope.
“Those of you in the federal government have the amazing privilege and responsibility of working towards those hopes and dreams that will help us flourish as a nation,” she said.
Archbishop Prowse welcomes Opposition Leader, Mr Peter Dutton, to St Christopher’s Cathedral.
“Hope is vital to the human condition and is a far more positive motivator than fear. Hope is vital for human flourishing. Hope motivates people to act with a positive purpose. Hope enables people to persevere through the most difficult of circumstances.”
Reverend Bennett said hope was more than wishful thinking and optimism.
“The biblical understanding of hope encapsulates a certainty for the future,” she explained.
“It is a hope for the future, but also a hope which can sustain and motivate us here and now through the uncertainties and difficulties of life.”
Senator Ms Jacinta Price greets Indigenous Catholic Padre, Clinton McGoldrick.
Reverend Bennett said the sure and certain hope of eternal life enabled us to press on “doing good rather than evil, being compassionate rather than hateful, pursuing peace rather than violence.”
“As you begin a new parliamentary year and look to the election with all its hopes and possibilities, may you tap into the sure and certain hope that Christ offers and may it motivate and guide you in the days, months and year ahead,” she said.