On the 18 June, 3 days after we posted our petition, we reached 1,000 Signatures.
I wrote the Bishop and the Nuncio on that day to advice them of our petition.
Letter the below.
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To His Most Reverend Excellency, Vincent Long, Bishop of Parramatta,
I am writing to advise Your Grace and Your Most Reverend Adolfo Yllana, our Apostolic Nuncio, that we have gathered over 1,000 signatures within 3 days from the time we put up our petition online and on sign up sheets.
Your excellency has encouraged the faithful to speak up and be heard during your plenary 2020 speech. In line with this message, we have decided to target 2,000 signatures from all over the diocese to express our request for the reconsideration of your decision to remove Fr Robert Bossini as the Dean of our Cathedral in Parramatta.
Your decision to remove Father Robert Bossini (Fr Bob) as the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish, Parramatta, both surprised and caused a great deal of distress and concern among the parishioners and beyond throughout the Diocese.
Fr Bob is a highly regarded holy priest and we strongly believe our Church community needs to cherish our holy priests.
Under Fr Bob’s fatherly care and stewardship, we have had the privilege of being led by a faithful clergyman who consistently promotes and remains true to the magisterial teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church.
Fr Bob led the Parish brilliantly at key times. He instructed the parishioners to remain faithful to God and His teachings, and led us in prayer. Fr Bob’s initiatives over the last six years at St Patrick's have strengthened and deepened our faith and devotion. He has facilitated and supported Sunday and daily Mass, daily Rosary, daily Angelus, Vigils, Credo, Lenten talks, 'Live Christ Share Christ' Scripture formations, SRE, novenas, Legion of Mary, 'Human Rosary' evenings, Light Up St Pats, Book Fairs, strong cooperation with the neighbouring parish, public Rosary walks attracting thousands of believers, the Devotional Bookshop, the Latin Mass and commencement of the development of a Parish / Diocese Library among others.
Finally, in this new era of transparency within the Church, a church with no secrets encourages parishioners to ask questions and not to sit passively by. In this spirit, we request that Fr Bob be reinstated as Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, or, if this is not possible, that a clear and detailed reason be provided as to why Fr Bob should be removed as Dean.
We are fasting tomorrow, 19 June 2020, on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and we will have 5 Rosary Petition rallies on Saturday and Sunday, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. We will be praying our rosary and holding a red or white Columbian Rose (colours of the Divine Mercy) alternately while praying. We hope that through our prayers and the Holy Mother's intercession, will allow your grace to hear our prayers and petition to reinstate Fr Bob as our Dean.
Signatures online are found on the petition website below. We will be collating all the signatures on sign up sheets taken from all over the diocese with this online petition by end of this month for submission to your offices.
https://www.change.org/KeepFrBobAsDeanOfStPatsParramatta
May the Peace of Christ be with you and the blessing of our Holy Mother Mary, the Mother of God intercede for you..
Very Truly Yours,
Bernadette Ching on behalf of Parishioners of St Patrick's Cathedral and the Diocese of Parramatta.
cc His Excellency Most Reverend Adolfo Tito YllanaApostolic Nuncio (Australia)