IN what is thought to be a first for Ipswich, the Pope’s representative to Australia, Archbishop Charles Balvo, paid a visit to the cathedral city last Friday to find out more about parish life here.
A parish mass was organised at 10am in St Mary’s Church, Woodend, and later the Nuncio and Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge mingled with pupils, staff, and parishioners at St Mary’s College.
A spokeswoman for St Mary’s College said the Nuncio wanted “to understand the uniqueness, beauty, and challenges that face Parish life today”.
“We were honoured to have been asked to host Archbishop Charles Balvo at this time,” the spokeswoman said.
“We were also very proud to let him experience the wonderful community that we are in Ipswich.”
Archbishop Balvo said the role of Nuncio was as “the ears, the eyes, the hands of the Holy Father” and “the link between the local church and the Holy Father”.
The Nuncio also spent a day at the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.
Archbishop Balvo was appointed the Australian Nuncio in January last year.
Over the past 17 years, he has served as Apostolic Nuncio to the Czech Republic, Kenya, South Sudan, New Zealand, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Samoa and Nauru.