Aussie Priests Invited to Assist at Rome Canonisation Ceremony

Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
1 Sep 2010

Fr Mark de Battista

Fr Mark de Battista, former assistant priest at St Paul's Parish, Camden, and now studying at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, hopes to be one of the Australian priests chosen to assist with the distribution of Holy Communion in St Peter's Square when Mary MacKillop is canonised by Pope Benedict XVI on 17 October.

"I certainly hope not only to attend the canonisation but I understand they always need lots of extra hands to help distribute Holy Communion and that's what I would love to do," he says.

Mary MacKillop had a close relationship with Camden and established St Paul's Catholic Primary School in 1883 and according to Fr Mark, her canonisation is being widely celebrated in Rome as well as here at home.

"Mary MacKillop didn't just do good things but did good things for the love of God; and that is what distinguishes a saint from a philanthropist," he explains.

After brushing up on eight ancient and modern languages, Fr Mark has embarked on advanced study of the Holy Scriptures at the Pontifical Biblical Institute which was founded by Pope Pius X in 1909, the year Mary MacKillop died.

If Fr Mark's application to assist with the distribution of Holy Communion to the thousands expected at the canonisation ceremony on Sunday 17 October is successful, he will be one of a small contingent of Aussie priests helping out during the once in a life time event.

Mary MacKillop

This week the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference  invited formal expressions of interest from Australian priests who plan to be in Rome for the canonisation of Mary MacKillop and wish to assist with the distribution Holy Communion at the Canonisation ceremony.

While leading clerics from Australia will concelebrate Mass with Pope Benedict XVI as part of the Canonisation Ceremony, including Fr Paul Gardiner, SJ who was Postulator for the Cause of Blessed Mary MacKillop from 1985 until 2008, when he retired and handed the office over to Sister Maria Casey, rsj.

Based in Rome, Sr Maria says she has been given a small allocation for priests to assist with distributing Holy Communion at the Canonisation and encourages priests who will be among the thousands who are expected to gather in the Square for the Canonisation Mass.

"We would very much welcome expressions of interest from priests who are willing to be considered," she says and adds those accepted would then be allocated places to ensure there is as wide a representation of Australian dioceses as possible at the Canonisation in St Peter's Square.

The priest accepted for this important role at the 17 October ceremony would be expected to attend a rehearsal in the square at 10a.m. on 16 October and Sr Maria urges priests who are interested in making formal applications to contact Fr Brian Lucas, general secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference by emailing gensec@acbc.org.au.

While more than 8000 Australian pilgrims are expected in Rome for the canonisation, large contingents of pilgrims from Poland, Canada, Italy and Spain will also be there in force as the ceremony on 17 October will also include the canonisation of five other saints.

Together with Mary MacKillop, Pope Benedict XVI will canonise Fr Stanislaw Soltys of Poland, Br. Andre Bessette of Canada, Sr. Candida Maria de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola of Spain, and Sisters Giulia Salzano and Battista Varano of Italy.