Fr James is off to Rome for Sabbatical Leave

29^th Dec 2025- 2^nd April 2026

I will be heading to Rome after Christmas for 3 months Sabbatical leave, returning just in time for Easter. A Sabbatical is basically a time of renewal, firmly rooted in the Biblical ideas of the Sabbath rest and the jubilee year. Every priest can ask for Sabbatical leave after 10 years. We are given leave from our usual responsibilities for a time of prayer, study and pilgrimage. I will be undertaking mine at the Institute of Continuing Theological Education, run by the Americans in Rome. It will include studies in Scripture, history & Theology, as well as tours/pilgrimages to many important religious sites (including a week of retreat in Assisi). With a bit of luck I might even get to meet the Pope- fingers crossed!

I am very grateful to Bishop Paul for granting me this leave- I honestly do feel the deep need for it. I am also very grateful to the Diocese for sponsoring me and organising for your pastoral care while I am away. Ballarat will be organising our priest supplies for the weekends. Fr Denis Ryan will cover me for the first two weekends in January, then Fr Eugene McKinnon for the next few after that. Fr Matthew Thomas and his assistants in Sunraysia will be covering our school liturgies and funeral needs during the weekdays. They have also generously committed to offering Masses on Thursday evenings and Friday mornings, although this may vary from week to week according to other commitments such as funerals and school liturgies.

I am very grateful to my brother priests and am conscious of the extra burden my absence places on them. They are going to do the best they can, but the reality is there won’t be a priest as readily available as is usual. I am also very grateful for the encouragement and support I have already received from many of you here in the Parish. I am conscious that my leave will mean extra work & sacrifices for many of you, and yet you are precisely the ones who are most excited for me. Thank you for your care and generosity.

Provisions for The Anointing of the Sick 

If I could just make one suggestion; when it comes to asking for the Anointing of the sick, don’t delay or put this off! Please get in early and leave a request with the Parish Office. That way our visiting priests can come as soon as they arrive in town. You can expect a priest to be here overnight on Saturdays, (they will likely head home Sunday lunchtime if there is nothing scheduled), and overnight most Thursdays. Once again, please don’t delay asking for the Anointing of the sick. Get in early! And don’t be afraid to suggest the same to family and friends who may not realise that I am away.