Members of Epiphany Australia take their 'exit"

On Sunday June 29, 2008 the feast of Sts Peter and Paul, Epiphany Australia had its final management committee meeting at St Anne’s Church, Kalinga in Brisbane. Coincidentally, it was the anniversary of the ordination to the priesthood of the secretary, the president and one of the attendees, all graduates of the now defunct Pius XII Seminary, Banyo here in Brisbane and the location was the very church where Bishop Pat Power of Canberra had led the Eucharist and encouraged the fledgling organization some years ago.

Being registered in law, Epiphany had to fulfill certain obligations and formalities to wind up, and the committee chose to make the required final meeting open to any interested members and supporters. A very representative group attended to celebrate the occasion. Apologies were received from Archbishop John Bathersby, and interstate from Bishop Pat Power, Laurie and Jan Halloran of Canberra, and our most recent editor, Peter Mansour.

I had been present at the formative meetings of Epiphany even before it had a name and was privileged to chair this, its final meeting. I remembered our first gatherings years ago. Inspired by Jim Madden, we met at various locations and eventually forged a manifesto outlining our hopes for a better church in a better world. Stories of suffering, discrimination and injustices experienced not only by themselves as priests who had left the active ministry, but also by their partners and children, encouraged the group to widen its horizons.

A large number of members and their families had met at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music [located at that time beside the City Botanical Gardens] and, with Brian McKeering [of happy memory] in the chair, had chosen the name Epiphany to represent their dream of a reforming and reformed church. Later newsletters and magazines and a national gathering in Canberra would spread our message across Australia and abroad. Epiphany’s request for financial assistance to help those suffering severe financial problems because they had chosen to leave the official ministry, would strike a chord in the hearts of many. Supporters- lay and religious, parish priests, even bishops- would donate generously to that cause. Many priests, religious and their families would be helped by Epiphany. There are too many blessings to be counted in this short article.

Last Sunday signaled the official end of our story. But it remains an important episode in the history of the church in Australia that needs to be told at greater length at another time and in another place.
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