General News
10 November, 2024
Father Andrew bids farewell
ARARAT’s Catholic Priest Father Andrew Hayes is preparing to bid farewell to the Gariwerd Parish after ten years of dedicated service and community.
ARARAT’s Catholic Priest Father Andrew Hayes is preparing to bid farewell to the Gariwerd Parish after ten years of dedicated service and community.
Reflecting on his tenure, Father Andrew said after a decade in Ararat it was time for a change.
“Ten years is enough. People benefit from having a range of priests teaching them. It’s good to have new ideas and new places, the people here get to hear from someone else.”
Having also served in Swan Hill for nine years and Casterton for another nine before arriving in Ararat, Father Andrew feels it’s the right moment for a change.
“I’ve absolutely loved it. I’ve grown a lot, and people have been good to me,” he said.
The past few years have been particularly transformative as he took on a wider area, adding to his responsibilities and creating a dynamic period marked by the merging of multiple Catholic communities, including Landsborough, Lake Bolac, Ararat, and Stawell.
Acknowledging mixed reactions to his departure, Father Andrew said his imminent departure has taken many by surprise.
“I think people were surprised. Many understand that priests move and come and go, but reactions ranged from sadness and disappointment to quite pleased. That’s part of the joy of moving, it shuffles the deck a bit.”
Father Andrew said an important part of being a priest is being a part of the community.
“There’s the work a priest does, but you live here, put down roots, and develop friendships. Moving is part of this life. I’ve especially enjoyed working with ministers from other churches, they bring friendship, support, and ideas.”
A particularly poignant memory for Father Andrew is the construction of the Islamic mosque, which began around the time he first arrived.
“That began the month that I arrived, and they are hoping to have it open in the next couple months, so that will be a nice bookend of my time here. That project has been a great cooperation of faith communities,” he said.
“It was evident to me that we needed to be supportive, both on a faith level, but also on a cultural level, people just want to have what we’ve got,” he said.
Beyond the parish, Father Andrew’s presence has been appreciated by local organisations like the Ararat Eisteddfod and the Ararat Embroiderers Guild, despite his admission, “I can’t embroider or sew,” he still proudly maintained his membership.
Father Andrew is preparing to leave for Colac, where he will oversee the parishes of Colac, Apollo Bay, and Cororooke.
“The priest currently in Colac is retiring, and it seemed like the right time for me to go.”
His final day in Ararat will be in early January, although a new priest to succeed him has not yet been announced.