A recent six-month parish pastoral placement in the Mersey-Leven Catholic Parish in Devonport was a vocation affirming experience, writes Kanishka Perera, fifth-year seminarian for the Hobart Archdiocese.
In most ways, the year 2020 was an overwhelming one for most of us. It was a year that challenged not only our dispositions about certainty but also our perception of the world. This was especially true in my case as I was fortunate enough to complete a 6 month-long full-time parish internship in the Mersey-Leven Catholic Parish in Devonport (TAS) as part of my journey towards priesthood. From the very first day, it was all about learning and I must admit that I treasure every minute of it with utmost importance.
Mersey-Leven Parish (Mersey and Leven being the two major rivers within the parish boundaries) is home to six Catholic communities along the North West coast of Tasmania, namely Devonport, Latrobe, Ulverstone, Port Sorell, Penguin, and Sheffield. The parish also includes six mass centres, three primary schools, one secondary school, two hospitals, three nursing homes, and four aged care facilities. While the oldest of these communities dates back to 1867, various pastoral needs that came up along the way prompted these communities to be amalgamated into one cluster of parishes in 2003. At the time of my placement, the parish was served by Fathers Mike Delaney, Philip McCormack, and Steven Smith, with the support of the parish office and the various lay ministry groups and apostolates.
Kanishka Perera (left) with Norma and Barry Malchus (middle) and Parish Priest, Fr Mike Delaney.
Among the many areas of my involvement in the parish were attending and helping in various liturgies, class visits, attending weekly meetings of various apostolates and prayer groups, visiting the sick and the elderly with Holy Communion, and helping in the day-to-day office and housework. While the current pandemic had some effect on those pastoral encounters, by and large, I was able to actively engage in most parish-related activities as if in a COVID-19 free world as Tasmania was not very much affected by the pandemic.
Parishioners enjoy a 2020 Christmas gathering in Mersey-Leven Catholic Parish in Devonport.
In terms of the key learnings, each of the communities offered a variety of opportunities for me to have a foretaste of my life as a priest one day… (God willing!!!). On the top of the list of such learnings is the powerful witness and dedication of some of the parishioners. It was very encouraging and, to a certain extent, was even challenging.
“On the other hand, journeying with the parish community also affirmed my vocation to the diocesan priestly life, and I was thrilled by the feeling that I am headed in the right direction. ”
Kanishka (far left) is pictured with members of his parish feedback group and Fr Jake Mudge (far right).
Further, the prevailing pandemic prompted the parish staff to look at new and innovative ways of supporting the local community. It was indeed a privilege to be part of that journey. Other learnings include strategic and pastoral approaches to running a parish, enhancing skills in delivering reflections, understanding of several parish renewal modals, developing skills necessary for conflict management, ways of being proactive when circumstances so demand, assimilation of interpersonal and administrative skills, and inculcating a strong habit of reflecting on encounters and integrating them to the daily life.
Kanishka speaks with parishioners after Christmas midnight Mass.
Finally, I must thank the staff of the seminary, especially Fr. Jake for supervising me through the placement programme, Fr. Mike for his fraternal and friendly guidance, Frs. Steven and Phil for their friendship and many insights, the parish staff, the feedback group, and all the parishioners for their warm welcome and for accompanying me through the placement.