Professional standards and safeguarding, Bishop Brian Mascord
My Sisters and Brothers in Christ
I write to you today about a very serious matter involving a former parish priest of St Francis of Assisi Warrawong and St Mary’s Berkeley.
On 28 November 2024, Judge D Barrow delivered a judgment in the Sydney District Court regarding charges against Fr Martin Mai pertaining to seven counts of sexual offences committed against an adult in the year 2019. Fr Mai was found guilty of five counts of sexual touching against two
adult males.
The Diocese of Wollongong respects the decision of the judicial and legal processes that have been made available to all involved in this matter.
Fr Mai, a priest and professed member of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, was the parish priest at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish, Warrawong, and St Mary’s Catholic Parish, Berkeley, from October 2016 until November 2020.
The Diocese of Wollongong was first made aware of an allegation against Fr Mai at the end of November 2020. The diocese reported the allegation to NSW Police and Fr Mai was removed from his position as parish priest and had his faculties to minister in the diocese withdrawn. Since first reporting the allegations, the diocese has consistently engaged with police, both proactively and in response to requests.
Abuse in any form is unacceptable. We take this opportunity to express our deep sorrow for the hurt experienced by all victims and survivors of sexual abuse, as well as their families and communities. As always, we strongly urge any person with any complaint of mistreatment or abuse to contact the police.
We are wholeheartedly committed to supporting people impacted by this matter, and encourage anyone who would like to access support to contact our Office of Professional Standards and Safeguarding on 0408 512 163 or via email at [email protected]. A list of independent organisations that can provide counselling and support is also available on our website at safeguarding.dow.org.au.
I invite you to join me in praying for all those impacted by this matter.
Yours in Christ
Most Rev Brian G Mascord DD
Bishop of Wollongong
02 December 2024
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Our diocesan logo is theologically rich and very succinct. As a hand, it depicts our mission as a diocese and as individuals within the diocese, of bearing (bringing, carrying) Christ’s love to one another and to the world around us. In this, we are the hand of Jesus Christ, and we are offering ourselves to him so that he might work through us.
We can be the bearers of his love only as a response to his call and in the strength of his grace. We are reminded of this in two ways—through the symbol of the dove (the Holy Spirit) also present in the logo, and by the incorporation of the cross that segments the logo. The presence of the cross is a reminder that bearing the love of Christ will inevitably cost us if we live it authentically. However, in the way that the Cross is the portent of redemption and life—an echo of the tree of life in the book of Genesis—so becoming bearers of the love of Christ will also bring us to life.
The four fingers of the hand also represent the four regions of our diocese. The first is bluerepresenting the beautiful water of the Shoalhaven. The second is a blue and green combination representing the waters and escarpment of the Illawarra. The third is greendepicting the hills and plains of the Macarthur. The fourth is dark green illustrating the forests of the Southern Highlands.
