NewsA Community of Communities

As I continue my journey towards priesthood as a seminarian for the Diocese of Ballarat, I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect on my pastoral year at St Mary MacKillop Parish, Western Border. Pastoral placements are an important part of priestly formation, allowing seminarians to experience parish life, walk alongside God’s people and grow in faith, humility and pastoral service.

From February 22 until December 25, 2025, my pastoral year was a deeply formative journey filled with learning, growth and grace. I began this placement with excitement, humility and a willingness to learn. The guidance and support of Fr Paddy Mugavin, Fr Cay Trinh, parish staff, parishioners, school communities and my feedback group were invaluable in shaping my pastoral skills, my understanding of parish life in the Australian context and my personal development.

My pastoral year involved many experiences that nurtured my spiritual, pastoral and personal growth. Liturgical ministry was central to this formation. Assisting at weekday and Sunday Masses, preparing liturgies for special celebrations, proclaiming the Word of God, preaching, conducting Holy Communion services and supporting sacramental celebrations strengthened my confidence, deepened my appreciation of the beauty of the Church’s worship and helped me grow in pastoral leadership. Pastoral care and sacramental preparation revealed the heart of priestly ministry. Visiting the sick and elderly in hospitals and nursing homes and accompanying families through baptism and marriage preparation, taught me the importance of presence, attentive listening and compassionate guidance. These encounters helped me recognise the sacredness of every person’s story and nurtured a more gentle and patient pastoral heart.

Youth ministry and community engagement were also significant parts of my formation. Leading Altar Server training allowed me to encourage young parishioners in reverence, responsibility and teamwork. Coordinating the multicultural celebration for Christ the King strengthened community connection and highlighted the beauty of diversity. Participating in the Australian Catholic Youth Festival was inspiring as I witnessed the enthusiasm and faith of young people, encouraging me to explore creative ways of engaging youth in the life of the Church. My involvement in Catholic education also enriched my understanding of priestly presence among young people. Through visits to St Joseph’s, St Mary’s and Monivae College, including retreats, mission days and classroom visits as well as weekly Gospel reflections with school principals, I gained valuable insight into faith formation and pastoral leadership within schools. Adult faith formation was another meaningful experience. Facilitating weekly parish men’s Gospel sharing sessions allowed me to guide conversations, encourage reflection and witness how Scripture continues to shape people’s daily lives. It strengthened my confidence in accompanying adults in their faith journey.

Beyond formal parish activities, being part of the wider Hamilton community, including joining the St Andrew’s Hamilton Cricket Club, showed me the importance of building relationships beyond church settings. Through friendships, conversations and participating in matches, I experienced how faith is often expressed through kindness, generosity and community spirit. Also, participation in parish leadership meetings, finance discussions, Synod meetings, communications and safeguarding responsibilities gave me insight into the practical dimensions of parish life. These experiences highlighted the importance of collaboration, accountability and responsible leadership in ministry.

Personally and spiritually, this year brought significant growth. Preaching, pastoral encounters, prayer and daily parish life increased my confidence and deepened my commitment to priestly service. The rhythm of Mass, the Breviary, the Rosary, Eucharistic adoration, confession and spiritual direction strengthened my relationship with God and gave me the grace needed for the future ministry. I am deeply grateful to God for the gift of the Western Border Parish community. I thank Fr Paddy for his pastoral wisdom, kindness, encouragement and mentorship and Fr Cay for his friendship and constant support. I am grateful to the parish staff, my feedback group members, namely John, Carolyn, Bryan, Peter, Orphiya and Lisa and all parishioners who welcomed me with warmth, generosity and faith.

I concluded my pastoral year at Western Border Parish on December 25, 2025 – Christmas Day. This year has been transformative, strengthening my priestly vocation and giving me a deeper understanding of the call to serve: to be present, compassionate, humble and adaptable. St Mary MacKillop Parish, Western Border, will always hold a special place in my heart as a community where I learned, grew and encountered God in many ways. As I continue my priestly formation at Corpus Christi College, Melbourne, I carry with me the lessons, friendships and memories of this grace filled year.

Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I journey towards priesthood. I carry you all in my prayers with gratitude.

May God bless you all.

Channa Thilakarathna – 5^th Year Seminarian