The St Agnes’ Catholic Parish community gathered for midday Mass on Friday 27 May, as part of National Volunteers’ Week celebrations, to recognise the contribution volunteers make to the life of our Parish.

The Mass, beautifully celebrated by Fr Roland Agrisola, and subsequent light refreshments were attended by about 100 people.

In his welcome, Adam Spencer, CEO, commended our Parish volunteers for their resilience in overcoming the many challenges our community has faced in the last couple of years. He paid tribute to their willingness to share their gifts and service with others.

In his homily, Fr Roland, spoke about the role of the Holy Spirit working within each person encouraging them to listen to God’s will and calling them to action as a volunteer.

After communion, the Parish Volunteers present prayed the following Prayer of Commitment:

Lord,
You alone are the source of every good gift, of the vast array of our universe, and the mystery of each human life. 
We praise you and we thank you for your great power and your tender, faithful love.
In response to your call to me,
Lord Jesus, I give you my hands to do your work.
I give you my feet to go your way.
I give you my tongue to speak your words.
I give you my mind that you may think in me.
I give you my spirit that you may pray in me.
Above all, I give you my heart that you may love, in me, your Father and all mankind.
I give you my whole self that you may grow in me, so that it is you, Lord Jesus, who live and work and pray in and through me.
Amen.

Each volunteer was also presented with the give of a ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’ plant as a token of thanks.

A small committee, made up of staff from various Parish service areas, volunteers each year to organize this event to thank Parish volunteers for their time and generous support throughout the year. Each member of this committee considers it a privilege to plan and prepare for it.