Father Jude Pirotta mssp (Missionary Society of St Paul) is parish priest at St James the Apostle Parish and Catholic Church in Hoppers Crossing North.
Can you tell me a bit about your parish?
When one visits St James the Apostle Parish, it is easy to see our story is about so much more than bricks and mortar. We are indeed a vibrant community of faith-filled, welcoming and caring people.
As a community, we have generously welcomed people from cross-cultural backgrounds who enrich the life of our church. There are about 42 countries represented in the parish and its schools. Our schools have been involved in the Refugee Education Support Project, which targeted schools in Tarneit.
At a parish level, we have a senior’s group called the Vintage Group. We also have strong youth involvement and a youth minister assigned to work with young people in the community. We have a Young Paulists group for those aged 18+, for young people after they leave the youth group. They have a missionary focus, which is: “How can we help the community?” They organise events for young people and fundraise.
What do you enjoy about your own role in the parish?
I see my role as pretty much one who can listen, reflect and empower people, and do my best in building the community. As parish priest, the actual involvement of parishioners in parish life and sharing their gifts and talents, is very moving to me. Two years ago, we had young people in our community who wanted to organise a concert for another young parishioner who was living with cancer. It was a great success.
What do you like most about Wyndham?
What I like about the area is the diversity of cultures, the new St Vincent’s Private Hospital which has just opened up, the extension of the Pacific Werribee shopping centre, having V/Line in Tarneit and still having the metropolitan train line at Hoppers
Crossing.
I also value the various programs offered in Wyndham that are pro-active in improving and supporting our diversity. The relationship we share with the Wyndham councillors to the parish/schools is both informative and constructive.
