Most priests appreciate some distance from their parish after the busy Christmas season but few go to the heights of Fr Eduardo Orilla, who got 14,000ft (4267 metres) closer to the heavens on 28 December before hurtling back to earth.
“T’was great de-stressing after the hectic holiday season,” the skydiving parish priest of Lidcombe told The CW.
“It was amazing, free-falling from the sky 14,000ft above sea level,” he said.
“The next hurdle was to go through the thick white cloud in between the plane and the ground.
“Looking down was a horrible yet adrenalin-fuelled feeling. I could see the plane up there – no more turning back!
“I could shout at the top of my voice, and only the clear blue sky and angels flying in the heavens could hear.”
After landing safely, he embarked on a 10-day pilgrimage through the Holy Land.
Fr Eduardo was due to return to Sydney on 20 January.