Our parish

Welcome…
Feel free to call me Fr Rass.

It is a real joy to welcome you to Mary Mother of the Church Parish, Macquarie Fields. Whether you are one of our regular parishioners, new to the area, returning to the Church, or simply visiting our website, thank you for dropping by. I hope you’ll discover a parish where you feel at home, where your faith can grow, and where you are always welcomed with warmth and respect.
I am Fijian with Tongan heritage. I was trained for the priesthood in Australia and ordained in Fiji in 2002. Since then, my priestly ministry has taken me on many different paths. I have served as Provincial Leader of the Divine Word Missionaries Australia Province, Aboriginal Australian Chaplain, Parish Priest, a Synod of Bishops Facilitator, Retreat Director, and Spiritual Director. Every one of these experiences has taught me something new about people, about the Church, and about the God
who continues to surprise us with His love and mercy.

One thing I have learnt over the years is that God works in mysterious and wonderful ways, always seeking the good of every person, whether they belong to a worshipping community or not. God is already at work in every human heart, often long before we recognise His presence.
If there is one thing I hope you take away from visiting our parish, it is this: you are deeply loved by God. He invites each of us to love one another as Christ has loved us. Everything else is just commentary.
So, whether you’re looking for a parish to call home, searching for answers, returning to faith, or simply curious about who we are, you are most welcome here.

Please join us for Mass, become part of our parish family, or simply drop in for a yarn and a coffee. I’d love the opportunity to meet you, hear your story, and walk with you on your journey of faith.
May God bless you, and I look forward to welcoming you personally to Mary Mother
of the Church Parish.

Fr Iosefo A Rass SVD
Parish Priest

As I begin my ministry among you as a newly ordained priest, my first words are simple: welcome.

Welcome to those who gather here every week.
Welcome to those who are new to our parish.
Welcome to those who have been away from the Church and are thinking of returning.
Welcome to those who are sick, grieving, lonely, searching, or simply looking for a place to belong.
You are loved by God, and you are welcome in this parish family, Mary Mother of the Church Parish, Macquarie Fields.
I come from Liuhe Village in Shanxi Province, China. I was born on 25 January 1994 into a family with a deep Catholic heritage that spans ten generations. In our village, where the majority of people are Catholic, faith has always been at the centre of daily life.
I come from a large family of nine children and am the second youngest. My parents worked tirelessly to provide for us, and from a young age I learned the values of responsibility, hard work, and service by helping at home. My eldest sister is a religious sister, and my older brother is a priest of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), whose vocation became an important inspiration for my own.

I attended an SVD vocation camp, where I first experienced a clear sense of God’s call to religious life. I entered the SVD formation program in 2014, studied philosophy in China, and made my First Vows on 7 July 2018. Later that year, I came to Australia for the Overseas Training Program, studying English at Deakin University before serving in pastoral ministry in Alice Springs and Santa Teresa during covid time. In 2021, I began my theological studies in Melbourne at the Yarra Theological Union (YTU), where I graduated with two bachelor’s degrees: a Bachelor of Theology and a Bachelor of Ministry. I made my Perpetual Vows on 15 March 2025 and was ordained a deacon the following day.

On 22 November 2025, I was ordained to the priesthood at St Anthony’s Church, Noble Park, where I had served as a deacon. The following day, I celebrated my first Thanksgiving Mass at Resurrection Parish, Keysborough, in Melbourne. I now serve as an assistant priest in my first parish. It is a great joy and privilege for me to begin my ministry among you, and I look forward to walking with you in faith and friendship.
As a newly ordained priest, I have chosen as my priestly motto the words of Jesus: “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

As a parish community, we are called to reflect that same love in our relationships with one another. I look forward to walking with this parish community, growing together in faith, and serving Christ and people of God with joy, humility, and love.

God Bless,

Fr Peter Wang, SVD
Assistant Parish Priest