PASTOR MENTOS

Back to the juggler's paradigm
The thing about the summer holidays is that they allow you some space to concentrate, to savour the moment. Two weeks into September and I seem to be back into the juggler's paradigm of pastoral ministry. In August, because the schools are out and because parishioners and professionals are on holiday, life becomes simpler and quieter.
There are no catechism classes, no worrying about committee meetings, no dealings with architects or electricians. In August you can focus on what people think a priest's work comprises; you say Mass and you visit the sick. With September these become just one of dozens of other things to do, all of them with their own relative degrees of importance. I must confess I am finding it hard to get back into my stride.
We had a big meeting for World Youth Day on Sunday evening. A large number of our pilgrims will still be under 18 when we travel next year, so it was important to get the parents together to update them as to the itinerary and the fundraising, to make sure that the necessary information is getting through to them and to invite them to spend some time praying with us. I was amused to note that the young pilgrims sat on one side of the church and left their parents to sit on the other side. I hoped it said something about the extent to which they now see themselves as a group.
The details of the itinerary are gradually being inked in. We have been told that for our "days in the dioceses" — when the pilgrims stay with host families so as to get an experience of the local culture and the particular Church — we are to stay in the Diocese of Maitland and Newcastle. This comprises a coastal area, a city and a rural landscape with farming and vineyards. It is about 110 miles away from Sydney, which is a reasonable coach journey. It was a concern that having done the long flight to Australia, we could then face another long journey to reach the host diocese. Some groups are staying as far away as Tasmania.
I managed to look up the Diocese of Maitland and Newcastle via a link on the WYD website. The coastal part looks very picturesque; there were pictures of a sandy beach and an attractive town set on a promontory with the atmospherically antipodean name of "Nobby's Point".
We have had more than 40 applications to travel to WYD from the deanery. As the group does more fundraising, the momentum grows, so that even this week there are more people wanting to travel to Sydney.
I am having to put them on a waiting list. There are a limited number of seats available because of the large numbers travelling to WYD via London. This will restrict the number of youngsters we can take. From a coldly practical point of view that is probably a good thing; I am already lying awake at night wondering how we will raise the necessary funds to get them all there.
What is heartening is that the young pilgrims themselves are absolutely full of enthusiasm and bright ideas for fundraising. Their-parents are totally supportive. There are a great many activities being organised: A WYD Fayre, a dinner-dance, an auction and various sponsored events. One parent did ask me what happens if we don't raise enough money, and I told him this was a possibility I wasn't prepared to contemplate. Through the efforts of Joanna Bogle and her sponsored cycle ride, (which many Herald readers gener• ously supported, for which much thanks) and a large donation from a Catholic philanthropist we have paid about a quarter of our way. I am in the business of contacting more individuals or companies who might be able to sponsor a pilgrim. I am also thinking that I might have to do some sort of sponsored something or other myself. Would I be allowed to abseil down the tower of Westminster Cathedral?
It doesn't seem very spiritual to be preoccupied with fund-raising, but it is necessary. I try not to be too anxious and to put my trust in Providence, but then I worry that there is a fine lint between confidence and presumption.
To pray as if everything depended on God and to work as if everything depended on you is supposel to be the rule, yet it is easy to get this wrong. The parable of the dishonest steward (the gospel for next Sunday) is a fascinating example of the need to be hard-headed with money. Jesus commends such pragmatism when its purpose is "to win friends" I am hoping that Our Lord will commend our efforts to win the friendship of these young people, who are setting out for the other side of the world in order to know Him more clearly, love Him more dearly and follow Him more nearly.