Optimal Use of Land and Property

Between 1947 and 1961, the population of Catholics in Australia grew exponentially, with the Church increasing by over one million members in that time—in significant degree because of different waves of migration.

Dioceses around the country responded to the growing needs of their flock with the creation of new parishes and schools. During his time as Archbishop of Melbourne, Daniel Mannix oversaw the creation of more than 100 new parishes. His vision was not only a response to the rapid growth of Melbourne Catholics, but to ensure families could have deep ties with their local communities—being able to walk to Mass, for example, or receive an education close to home.

This period of growth is a large part of why the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne has more than 200 parishes within its boundaries today. It was a response both practical and pastoral.

However, Australia’s demographics and Catholic population has changed since 1961. The decrease in Mass attendance has brought a new set of challenges for parishes to navigate, especially when it comes to optimising our use of land and property. The financial burden of maintaining and insuring some of our beloved buildings is falling to fewer and fewer people, and parishes that have amalgamated experience the additional stress of caring for multiple buildings in such conditions.

In response to this, some are choosing to raise money through the leasing of school or other parish properties, seeking to maintain what are ultimately non-viable land and property assets. In our current climate, this does not reflect good stewardship. As treasured as our buildings are, we must engage in some difficult discernment around their ongoing viability if we are to respond to the call of the Gospel today.

At the heart of Take the Way of the Gospel is an invitation to go on a journey of missionary renewal—to see everything we do in light of our baptismal calling to be missionary disciples, carrying the light of the Gospel anew in our time and place. This invitation extends even to how we navigate the challenges of property and land.