THE GIFT OF GOD’S HOSPITALITY
By Eric Martin
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB reminded us this Christmas that the perceived ‘joy’ of the festive season does not always match the reality of the situation experienced by many, and that the gift of God’s hospitality is not given to those whose hearts are too full to make room for Him.
“Perhaps at Christmas time, more than at any other time of the year, we can understand just how important and how life-giving genuine hospitality is, either because we try so hard to be hospitable towards others or because we benefit so much from the hospitality of others towards us,” Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said at Saint Mary’s Cathedral. He explained that according to Saint Luke‘s Gospel, it is God’s hospitality that Jesus reveals as the very heart of His relationship with us, his people.
“God reaches out to us in love, with compassion and with mercy, in generosity and large-heartedness.
This is the very essence of the Christmas story.”
“Yet for many people, of course, the opposite sadly is true: so many experiences the lack of warmth and hospitality in their lives as a constant and painful reality made more difficult to bear at this time of the year.”
Research by Roy Morgan for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal estimated that more than one million people across Australia were dealing with depression this Christmas and another six million spent more than they could afford.
For 7.6 million Australians, Christmas is the most stressful time of year – an experience that they share with Mary and Joseph, living through the myriad challenges of the first Christmas.
“Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary are forced to uproot themselves and travel from their hometown to Bethlehem to fulfil a government demand for a census of the people,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“And when they arrive in Bethlehem, city of the famous King David
and the place believed to be the birthplace of the coming Messiah, Mary and Joseph can find no place to stay. No one welcomes them, no one makes room for them, and they are forced to take shelter in a stable: it is there, in poverty and simplicity, in a situation of rejection and isolation, that the one who is “mighty God and Prince of peace” enters into his world.”
Jesus’ birth was not celebrated by the wealthy, or those safely sheltered inside their homes or an Inn: Bethlehem does not welcome its King, but the shepherds out in the fields do.
“Perhaps because of their poverty and simplicity the shepherds, who would have been uneducated people, were more open to recognising the presence of God in unexpected ways. It would have been inconceivable to the rich, the powerful and the privileged, that God would choose to come among his people in this obscure and humble way,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“The revelation of the coming of God to his people was first made known to a young unmarried girl in the small town of Nazareth. It was then made known to the poor, marginalised shepherds outside Bethlehem.”
“The mighty God comes among us in humility, simplicity and povertyperhaps we, too, are being invited to look again for the presence of the Lord not just in the places we might expect but also in the places that at first glance might seem very unlikely to us.”
“Unlike the doors of that Inn in Bethlehem, may the doors of our hearts and our lives be open to him this Christmas.”
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB was joined by special guest Ukrainian Fr Ihor Holovko, Monseigneur Michael Keating, Deacon Aaron Peters, Cathedral Dean Rev Dr Sean Fernandez and Fr Luis Tijerino, concelebrating the 2021 Christmas Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral. PHOTO: RON TAN.
FATHER DANIEL CHAMA SHEPHERDS THE MIRRABOOKA FAITHFUL
By Amanda Murthy
Discerning what is good and leaving aside what doesn’t help us grow in faith and as humans, are one of the missions that Father Daniel Chama hopes to uphold, since assuming the role of Parish Priest at Saint Gerard Majella Church on 12 December 2021.
Parishioners present to witness the momentous occasion which began with a Mass celebrated by Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton and concelebrants Mirrabooka Assistant Parish Priest Fr Tung (Anthony) Vu and Fr Chama.
In his homily, Bishop Don reflected on the readings of the day, then spoke about his hopes for the growing community.
“….As we celebrate this Third Sunday of Advent, it is as if the Church can't wait in order to give thanks for gift of the Son of God, who has come among us as He becomes man and is our Saviour,” Bishop Don said.
“Father Daniel has been, for a few years now, assigned to what we call the mission for the people, in
Baldivis. He took up that role about the same time, that Fr Geoff Aldous became Parish Priest of Baldivis and commenced to bring the Catholic community there together.
“That community has grown, and this year, they’ve had the wonderful event of the blessing of the new Church,” Bishop Don added.
“Fr Daniel has contributed greatly to the building up of the people of Baldivis into a parish that is now one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese, even though the population is still growing, it is territorially one of the biggest that will eventually contain a population of about 60 000 people.”
Commending the leadership of Fr Chama and his predecessors, Bishop Don went on to say that Fr Chama’s responsibility as a priest comes “with a faith that enables him to be a leader in the community, a faith that he has learnt to put in the people.”
“The Archdiocese is currently rolling out a four-part formation program for parish councils which runs from 2021 to the end of 2022. So, I
encourage Father Daniel to share his leadership with that group, who will be key leaders in this community,” he said.
“And I encourage the Pastoral Council to engage in this formation, even though the first two sessions have been completed, they may be repeated, so that the Parish Council of Mirrabooka, which at this stage, have not been a part of.”
Bishop Don then analysed the distinction made between John the Baptist and Jesus, as reflected in the Gospel readings of the day, adding that Scripture helps us to understand that every one of us has something to offer to this community,
“because we don’t always have the same things to offer - the same skills and the same experience, but we have something to offer this community because of our faith.”
“John the Baptist was seen as the one that came before Jesus, and he was the one who came, as this Gospel says, like a man who is separated like the seeds of wheat from the chaff.
“If we throw the chaff and the wheat in the wind, the wind will separate the wheat from the chaff.
“That way, what John was offering to people was the wind of the Holy Spirit and the fire of the Holy Spirit. The wind of the Holy Spirit separating what is good from what is not needed, what is not necessary,”
Bishop Don affirmed.
“The fire represents that way in which both the community can be fired up by the Spirit and the community comes to understand the difference between what is good and what is bad.
“This community then needs to be one with Father Daniel in that spirit of discernment. Of discerning what is good, and leave aside that which doesn't help us grow either in faith or as humans. So, pray for Father Daniel, also for Father Tung because they both are here, will lead the community, to inspire the community, and to work with the community. And we pray that they and each one of us will announce the Good News to the world.”
Fr Chama (right) cuts his installation cake with his Assistant Parish Priest Fr Tung (Anthony) Vu, as Bishop Don looks on. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.
EMBRACE THE GRACE 2021
By Nessya Santoso
Embrace the Grace Youth Conference (ETG) has ignited the hearts of young people in the Perth Archdiocese. From the 8 to 12 December 2021, ETG was attended by 100 young people between the ages of 16 to 25 years old. The Post-Synodal
Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis, called Amoris Laeticia, inspired the theme of “Real Love”, where young people were invited to rejoice in the joy of love in the family. This powerful invitation has profound implications on how we perceive family life. It is not to say that every family must be perfect, but we are encouraged to “be a sign of mercy and closeness wherever family life remains imperfect or lacks peace and joy.”
This event was sponsored by the University of Notre Dame (UNDA), The Catenian Association and Knights of the Southern Cross (KSC) Australia.
The five-day event offered young people chances to understand this topic of Love (and Holy Family) by encountering Christ in many ways, such as through Sacraments
(daily Mass and prayers, Adoration, Reconciliation), Community Groups, and talks. Dr Peter Christofides, Adeline Bock (CYM), Derek Boylen (CLMF) and James Chua were invited to present the overarching topic in the main sessions.
Sister Chitra (Servite Sisters), Fr Joseph Laundy (CYM), Clarence Goh, Alwin Liew, Natalie Thomas, and Knights of the Southern Cross (KSC), were able to unpack the topic deeper in a more relevant level during the panel discussions, workshops, and discussion forums. Participants were also supported by the presence of youth leaders and other volunteers who showed an example of discipleship and accompaniment, that are important in a life’s journey.
JOHN PAUL STUDENTS PARADE IN HONOUR OF MINING HEROES
By Amanda Murthy
John Paul College students and staff were among thousands involved in the St Barbara’s Festival, hosted by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder from 2 to 5 December from 11 am to 7 pm. The St Barbara’s Festival consists of the Miners Memorial Service and the St Barbara’s Parade. This year, over 200 people honoured the lives lost in the mining industry and up to 10 000 people came and experienced the Parade for all its glory and an amazing display of the vibrant Kalgoorlie-Boulder community.
Starting with the Miners Memorial Service, family members, mine
management, mine rescue personnel, and the broader community gathered in reflection and remembrance of those who have lost their lives in the mining industry.
The John Paul College choir sang two hymns, and their Head Boy Fynn Moulds and Head Girl Wilmarie Smith laid a wreath in respect of the lives lost.
The festival concluded with the St Barbara’s Parade. This extravaganza showcased the diversity and cultures that make up the community. John Paul College staff and students were joined by various companies, not for profits, schools, prospectors, animals, and community groups as they marched down the historical Hannan Street, celebrating and embracing the year that was, in their respective floats.
Media representative from the College Liz Parker commented that the theme of this year’s parade ‘Resilience’ perfectly tied in with the college’s 125 Years of Catholic Education in Kalgoorlie-Boulder this year.
“For the parade this year, our float featured scenes of the schoolroom in the 1880’s, 1960’s to modern-day and
for the first time, the College Concert Band marched in front of the College’s float. It was a magnificent display, and our students are commended for their community spirit and thoroughly enjoyed themselves,” she said.
The first festival commenced in 1999. It was the initiative of the then chairman, of the Chamber of Minerals & Energy Eastern Regional Council, Dick Scallan who was generally considered a very caring person. The intent of the festival was to bring mining to the community.
Dick was of the view the wider community, friends and relatives did not understand, nor could they see, what people did on mining operations. He was committed to putting the industry on display. He established a Heads of Agreement with the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the next year the KalgoorlieBoulder Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc.
The agreement continues today. The festival consists of reverent service known as the St Barbara’s Miners Memorial Service and the parade featuring mining equipment and personnel, and floats from the wider community.
One hundred youth between the ages of 16 to 25 years old attended the Embrace the Grace youth conference held from the 8 to 12 December 2021.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
During the St Barbara’s festival from 2 to 5 December 2021 hosted by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, students from John Paul College donated over 30 baskets for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal, to be delivered to families in need. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
LET THE CHILDREN BE HEARD
Let the Children Be Heard: A Christmas Reflection on Modern Slavery was a beautiful and inspiring evening of readings and music at St Michael the Archangel Chapel, Leederville, conducted by Hugh Lydon with Stewart Smith from WAAPA on organ and the Aquinas College Schola Cantorum.
The event, held on the evening of Friday 10 December, was a resounding success, with 127 people attending in person and another 582 people viewing the event online as a live-stream or recording, tuning in from across Australia and overseas - including Italy, the UK, India, New Zealand, Thailand, and the Philippines.
“I would like to thank all our partners and sponsors for their contribution in making this year’s Christmas Reflection on Modern Slavery such a tremendous success,” Francis Leong, Catholic Mission’s WA Director, said.
Collaborators included the University of Notre Dame, Catholic Education WA, St John of God Healthcare, WACMRO, the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth, MercyCare, Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the Presentation Sisters, Aquinas College, Iona Presentation College, the Knights of the Southern Cross, the Catenians and Merus Sound.
“A very special thanks to the 30-odd students from Aquinas College Schola Cantorum who stood and sung with such gusto the Christmas choral repertoire for the hour-long duration of the Reflection,” Mr Leong added.
“As well as the students from Mercedes College, Iona Presentation College, Santa Maria College, St John Bosco College, Irene McCormack College, St Norberts College and Servite College who read with such intensity and verve.
“And in particular, to our two passionate keynote speakers, Ira and Crisel from Servite College, whose plea to all of us to become more aware and do our bit in addressing the problem of Modern Slavery certainly hit home: we cannot deny that we truly heard the voices of all our young people that night in Word and Song, so loud and so very clear,” he said.
Even though the event was free, Catholic Mission managed to raise over $17,000 in support of the Kindergarten Centre of the Good Shepherd Sisters at the Fatima Training Centre (FTC) in Bangkok, for the children of women who are vulnerable to modern slavery in all its guises.
The Aquinas College Schola Cantorum sang at the Let the Children Be Heard: A Christmas Reflection on Modern Slavery event held at St Michael the Archangel Chapel on Friday 10 December 2021. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.