Major milestone for Monsignor Woods

Chris Gordon 20 September 2018 7

Monsignor John Woods recently marked the 40th year since his ordination.

There must be something about Spring ordinations.

On September 7 this year, Fr Adrian Chan and Fr Namora Anderson were ordained priests in St Christopher’s Cathedral.

Forty years earlier, almost to the day, Monsignor John Woods was the fresh-faced young deacon being ordained to the priesthood.

Msgr Woods was ordained on September 9, 1978 after serving as a deacon in Young and assisting in Blacktown, Redfern and North Sydney while still a seminarian.

I’ve known Msgr Woods for some time, but never known his age. So I try to do the maths… priest since 1978, seminarian since 1972… so that would make you…

“Under the old scheme, I’d be a pensioner now,” he said, denying me the chance to blurt it out.

It’s a significant milestone… 40 years doing anything is a significant achievement. And in his time that has included a wide range of appointments in the Archdiocese.

Once ordained, Msgr Woods was appointed to Queanbeyan where he stayed for three years, before a two year stint in Goulburn, then Canada for another two years doing Canon Law studies (and at this point you could sense he was dying to drop his Alanis Morissette anecdote. I move him along).

Back right-ish… and with dark hair! Then Assistant Priest of Goulburn with the Goulburn Catholic Youth Group at a retreat in Tuross circa 1982. Other religious in the photo include Sr Kate McMahon and Br Jim Eades. The young bloke at the back left rocking the double denim went on to become a journalist.

After Canada

Upon his return, he had another short stint in Queanbeyan, then Waramanga as Assistant Priest and doing Marriage Tribunal work full time for about seven years.

Next was St Francis of Assisi, Calwell for 13 years, his longest appointment.

Then, to the Cathedral as Administrator, then Vicar General and consequently Archdiocesan Administrator between Archbishop Mark Coleridge and Archbishop Christopher Prowse.

He continued for a year as Vicar General with Archbishop Christopher, then was appointed back to being the cathedral’s Administrator while the new buildings were constructed.

During that time he was appointed Vicar for Education and in January this year went to North Woden parish, continuing as Vicar for Education.

He’s waiting for me to ask about his role at the Raiders. I’m determined not to.

“And Raiders Chaplain since 1986,” he finally adds with a grin, unprompted.

And there it is. Can’t help himself. He’s been dining out on the Green Machine stories for 32 years so what’s one more mention, right?

Raiders story… check. Alanis Morissette story, narrowly averted.

We’re only missing an 80s pop culture reference to win a game of “Woodsy Bingo.”

Monsignor Woods may have mentioned once or twice over the years that he’s a fan of the Canberra Raiders. Photo: John McLaurin.

Great communicator

All of which lies at the heart of Msgr Woods’ strength… his ability as a communicator and his ability to connect with people.

He makes it easy to have a laugh with him (sometimes at him) with a light-hearted and self-deprecating nature that helps to disarm and engage people, but beneath that he remains a very contemplative man, a committed man of God still trying to come to grips with life’s big questions.

“I used to think there’d come a time when it would all come together,” he said.

“I don’t think it does this side of the grave. Sometimes we get it together a little more, and sometimes we muck it up again. I still have all the energy and desire I need. And I can still get frustrated and up tight.

“There are issues… you know, the Royal Commission, the Plenary Council coming up… those are very important, but they’re big helicopter issues. Day to day in the parish it’s people and relationships and immediate things that fill our days. And as it is for most people… you get up, you have a shower and you get on with the new day.”

Monsignor Woods’ parishioners had a celebratory tea after the 9.30 am Mass at Sts Peter and Paul, Garran on Sunday September 9th.

A work in progress

“God’s Spirit calls constantly. My awareness of that is especially manifest at Mass, in all manner of encounters and reflections, and in my still inconsistent personal prayer.”

The challenge he believes, and one that excites him, is to stay engaged. He often quotes the saying, ‘God comes to you disguised as your life’.

“I acknowledge the theoretical sacred-secular divide but live by the understanding that in Jesus, God seeks to become one with us, all of us, not just a select few.”

“I haven’t battened down or withdrawn. I’m still excited and looking for ways to engage. For me personally, going for a run helps keep up my energy levels.

“But at the end of the day you’re going to be brought back to yourself and what you’re about. It’s like that quote from Mad Max… you can run but you can’t hide.”

Mad Max reference. BINGO!

But behind the dated pop culture quote, as he so often does, he is making a greater point. In this case, about life being a work in progress.

“For me, the challenge is that attempt to walk with God… call it spirituality… and to get on with what you have to do.

“As a priest you are called to reflection, but you are also called to action. And it’s trying to integrate the two.

“So that’s the goal, to be open to God’s call and to be at peace with myself knowing this side of the grave we never fully get it together.”

The cake parishioners at North Woden gave to Monsignor Woods upon his 40th anniversary.

Post Script

Ok, begrudgingly, here are some stories and links relating to Monsignor Woods’ connections to and achievements with the Canberra Raiders. Sigh.

COMMENTS

Wordpress (7)

Matt Casey 6 years

Wonderful priest, lovely bloke, and good friend. I had the pleasure of working with John for a few years, it was a great blessing.

Penny 6 years

I was in the Youth Group in Goulburn when (then) Fr Woods was posted to Goulburn. Over the years our paths crossed regularly. When I moved to Canberra in the 90s, I was delighted to learn that he was the Parish Priest at St Francis. Over the years he was there, I had the good fortune to work with him on various committees. A genuine good bloke, who has the ability to connect with anyone. Congratulations Monsignor Woods on this milestone.

Carrie 6 years

Congratulations Monsignor Woods for 40 years of dedicated service to the Catholic Church. The Parish Priest I knew was a sincere, dedicated man of god, who gave wholeheartedly to his parish. He strove to build a vibrant parish filled with Gods enduring love and all were welcome. He believed in equality and truly understood the hardships of peoples everyday lives. Father John was a great listener (bearing long drawn out talks in penance). He was a strong advocate for Right to Life and courageously spoke out about the subject during his homilies. He strove to build qualities of St Francis of Assisi, and beautiful memories still endure my heart of the St Francis Prayer and what it means for me in my everyday life dealing with a Husband with ASD/Aspergers and my son High Functioning ASD. “O divine master grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console” is something I face everyday as its not easy for ASD people to show empathy the way most of us would desire it. Father John has endured his own tragic family circumstances and would have felt his own feelings of grief and loss while managing his everyday work tasks (that is to be applauded). I haven’t seen Father John Woods for over 17 years but I know that his godly guidance and teachings have been a real gift to my life. I just want to say thank-you Father John (Monsignor John) and you should feel proud to have touched so many lives; as the fruits of your teachings live on in all of your parishioners I am sure. Best of wishes for your future endeavours.

Paul Jordan 5 years

Carrie, I too have autism and I’ll pray for you. I have written a book for autistic teenagers.

Tim Morton 5 years

Father John is just a beautiful man, with a beautiful faith and ability to communicate it. He is also a top bloke and mate! Tim (Calwell)

Paul Jordan 5 years

Carrie, I too have autism and I’ll pray for you. I have written a book for autistic teenagers.

Syl Whyte 4 years

Wonderful man. So glad we had the opportunity to know him as our Parish Priest when we lived at Calwell. He is a definitely a man of god and of the people. Congratulations on your 40 years of service to both. May god walk with you for the next four decades and give you strength throughout to keep serving your community.