At the invitation of the Archdiocese of Paderborn, Bishop Shane Mackinlay recently spoke at the Abend der Weltkirche (Evening of the World Church), a significant event on the eve of the LiboriFest (Libori Festival) — one of Europe’s oldest and most enduring celebrations of Catholic faith and heritage.

Speaking in fluent German, Bishop Shane told of the longstanding relationship between the Dioceses of Sandhurst and Paderborn, rooted in shared history and ongoing ecclesial friendship. He told the story of Fr Heinrich Backhaus, a missionary from Paderborn who was the first priest to celebrate Mass on the Bendigo goldfields in the mid-19th century, celebrating under trees and in tents. His ministry laid spiritual foundations that still resonate today. His grave in Bendigo, marked with the Paderborn City Coat of Arms, continues to witness to the global nature of the Church and the bonds forged across time and continents.

Bishop Shane also highlighted familiar points of connection linking our local churches: the dedication of St Liborius’ Church in Eaglehawk in 1869, just one year after the Diocese was established, and the Paderborn-crafted organ still in use at St Kilian’s Church in Bendigo. These signs of shared tradition and mutual esteem underscore the theological truth that the Church is one: a communion not confined by geography but animated by the Holy Spirit across cultures and generations.

In his address, Bishop Shane reflected on the current moment in the life of the Church, drawing parallels between the Synodal Way in Germany and the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia.

He spoke of the responsibility and grace of walking together as a pilgrim people — discerning, listening, and seeking renewal in fidelity to the Gospel. As a member of the global Synod on Synodality and an official observer of the German Synodal Way, Bishop Shane brought a perspective shaped by both local experience and a global engagement.

Archbishop of Paderborn, Most Rev. Dr Udo Markus Bentz, thanked Bishop Shane and encouraged the guests from 27 countries to use the evening for discussions to bring the world Church to life. The meaning of the gathering: “Libori means partnership of the universal Church — and I’m glad that this is lived so intensively here in Paderborn.”

Bishop Shane’s presence at LiboriFest reflects not only the historical links between Sandhurst and Paderborn, but the Church’s ongoing call to communion, a call which transcends borders and language, rooted in our shared baptismal identity and the mission entrusted to us by Christ.