The Practice of Ecumenism in a Rural Australian Diocese

THE PRACTICE OF ECUMENISM IN A RURAL AUSTRALIAN DIOCESE Brian Sparksman* The structures for ecumenism at first glance seem to be thoroughly covered by canonical literature. However, with a deeper reflection on that same literature, a complementary framework for rural diocesan activity may well emerge from an analysis of ecclesial, ecumenical, and experiential factors. That reflection has been applied to the rural Diocese of Toowoomba, situated in the southwest region of Queensland, Australia. This paper advances ecumenism as a natural, logical, and strategically important activity to support Christian life in Western Queensland. The history of Catholic Church outreach, coupled with the collaborative efforts of other Christian churches, correlate highly with experiential research as to what informs the practice of the Christian faith in rural areas. The necessity of ongoing ecumenical dialogue and the rationalization of practices, structures, and personnel are seen as foundational to nurturing Christian living which for generations has nurtured and been nurtured through worship, the teaching of the faith, and an array of services and community life. Ecclesial Context In area, the Diocese of Toowoomba is the second largest diocese in the ecclesiastical Province of Queensland.1 The province coincides with the State of Queensland and has as its metropolitan see, Brisbane, the State capital. Toowoomba is the only landlocked diocese in the province. Brisbane and the other suffragan dioceses; Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton , all have access to the Pacific seaboard. The city of Toowoomba sits scenically on the crest of the Great Dividing Range with only one small rural parish between the eastern edge of the city and the boundary with the Archdiocese of Brisbane. This eastern boundary is defined in part by that same range and by some local watercourses. The other boundaries are related to lines of latitude and longitude. The diocese covers 188,280 square miles (488,000 sq km), an area larger than the state of The Jurist 68 (2008) 114–135 114 * Chancellor, Diocese of Toowoomba, Australia 1 James Joseph Wiemers, West of the Range: Fifty Years of the Diocese of Toowoomba (Diocese of Toowoomba Queensland, 1979.) California. To drive from Toowoomba to the western border of the diocese involves a longer journey than from Lands End to John O’Groats in Great Britain. About the last third of the drive is through what is known as the Australian Outback, an area that is sparsely populated. This western half of the diocese involves only three of the thirty five parishes of the Diocese. Growth occurred mainly in the first half of the twentieth century in and around the city of Toowoomba. Toowoomba was separated from the Archdiocese of Brisbane in 1929. The early history of the diocese, particularly in the more remote areas, contains stories of lay people keeping the faith alive in spite of infrequent visits of clergy. At the same time, phenomenal journeys on horseback by priests2 from many countries, mostly Ireland but also Germany, England, and Italy record a legacy of generous and dedicated service. Moreover, Toowoomba’s cathedral parish of St Patrick was named thus by a Frenchman , Father Fulgentius Hodeburg. This early history is peppered with accounts of bigotry on all sides. The more recent history, in its ecumenical dimension, involves multiple streams of varying depths from a number of sources. These, like the streams that all too infrequently flow in the Outback, have very thinly covered the plains and call for redirection into a more substantial and purposeful flow. TheresponseinthediocesetotheSecondVaticanCouncilexpresseditselfprimarilyinobservableliturgicalchange .Inthebeginning,temporary altars allowed priests to celebrate facing the congregation. The first permanent structural change in a sanctuary occurred in the diocese in October 1964 in the parish of Helidon; it was the first such change in the Province of Queensland. The last such change, of a massive marble altar, in Warwick, the oldest parish in the diocese, occurred in 1992. While, in the main, structural changes were executed well, the education of the people in the pews did not keep the same pace. Two credible reports from that era record strong expressions for the need to enhance faith education. Following the 1998 synod for Oceania, the diocesan pastoral council (DPC) discerned key pastoral directions for the diocese. These were reiterated at the last diocesan...