Life in the presbytery in Walcha was almost a culture shock. Eris Doran, the parish priest, welcomed Simon as royalty. At the beginning, Simon was quietly frustrated with the lack of order. Eris could forget the time when visiting parishioners or at his once-a-week golf day.
Hence the time of midday dinner could vary up to an hour, much to the chagrin of the housekeeper. Yet once Simon became used to his parish priest’s ways, he began to appreciate this kind, caring man.
Simon soon settled into his new parish life. Eris was open to suggestions and quite happily agreed to Simon’s ideas. Following Vatican II, Antioch Youth groups were beginning to be set up. Simon had already set one up in his last year in Armidale. Not long after his arrival in Walcha, an Antioch group was soon flourishing there too.
Simon had matured since his early days in Armidale. Now he was able to empathise with young people’s questions and worries and help them work through – or at least begin to do so – without taking the problems to himself and considering he had to answer them.
For Simon, life in Walcha was happy and fulfilling. His two happy years there were just coming to an end when he received a letter from the bishop. The Diocesan Pastoral Council had decided that the diocese needed a priest to be involved as Youth Leader of the diocese and Simon had been chosen. He would be based in Armidale. Simon answered his acceptance with gratitude and requested a meeting. Simon wanted to be sure that the bishop accepted his sexuality, even though Simon was determined to remain celibate throughout his life.