JESUS IS THE FACE OF THE FATHER’S MERCY, SAYS ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE
By Jamie O'Brien
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe
SDB has encouraged Perth Catholics to reflect on Jesus as the face of the Father’s mercy.
Speaking to parishioners at the Ellenbook Parish St Helena’s Church on the occasion its 10th anniversary, in addition to the blessing and opening of the new Columbarium and Rosary Garden, Archbishop Costelloe reflected on the parable of the prodigal son from Luke’s gospel.
“When Jesus speaks that parable, it's God speaking to us about who he God the Father is,” Archbishop Costelloe explained.
Archbishop Costelloe then noted that it was Pope Francis, who was elected Pope just a year after Archbishop
Costelloe was appointed, who has invited the church to reflect deeply on Jesus as the face of the Father's mercy.
“This Jesus that I've just been speaking about, who is God among us, is particularly for us, the face of the Father's mercy.
Archbishop Costelloe was joined for the occasion by concelebrants Ellenbrook Parish Priest, Fr Bonaventure Echeta and St Charles Seminary Vice Rector Fr Francis Huy Nguyen, who was the foundation priest from 2012 to 2014. The occasion was limited to attendance 150 parishioners and members of the parish community inside the Church because of COVID19 restrictions in place at the time, with many more seated outside.
The parish, which encompasses Ellenbrook, Henley Brook, Aveley, Belhus, Upper Swan, The Vines and Barabham, was created 25 March 2012 with Fr Francis Huy Nguyen as the first Parish Priest.
Current Parish Priest Fr Bonaventure Echeta, who was appointed in 2014, said the occasion was one of joy and blessing, particularly given how much the parish has grown and changed over the past 10 years.
“The occasion has been one of renewal of the faith and community spirit,” Fr Bonaventure explained.
“It is a very community-based parish, with a lovely range of cultural identities, young and old, who support each other,” he said.
The new Columbarium and Rosary Garden at Ellenbrook Parish St Helena’s Church was built by Kee Group, with thanks to the generous support of the parish and school community, and co-ordinated by parishioner David Holbrook. PHOTO: MICHELLE TAN / SUPPLIED.
BULLSBROOK SHRINE TO CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY, PLENARY INDULGENCE GRANTED
Bullsbrook’s Our Lady of the Revelation Church will this weekend celebrate the anniversary of the Apparition of the Virgin Mary to Luigina Sinapi and Bruno Cornacchiola.
The Church, which is not a parish of the Archdiocese of Perth but is owned and operated by the SACRI Association, is inviting the Perth Catholic community to gather at the Church for the occasion on Saturday 9 April from 11am with recitation of the Rosary and Mass at 12noon.
A Plenary Indulgence has been granted by Pope Francis for those who visit the Shrine on the occasion of the anniversary.
Reports have it that the Virgin Mary appeared to Servant of God Luigina Sinapi on 12 April 1937.
On pilgrimage while praying at Tre Fontaine, where St Paul was martyred, Luigina experienced a vision of the Virgin Mary who told Luigina she would convert and make use of a man who combats the Church, and who will desire to kill the Pope.
The Virgin Mary also told Luigina to speak to Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli,
and that he would become the next Pope - Pope Pius XII.
The apparitions to Luigina have been neither approved or disapproved by the Vatican.
In 1947, exactly ten years later and in the same place which the Virgin Mary appeared to Luigina - where there is now the Sanctuary of Blessed Mary of the Third Millennium at the Tre Fontane - the Virgin Mary appeared to Bruno Cornacchiola, encouraging him to return to the Church.
A protestant tram driver and former soldier in Spain who was deeply hostile to the Catholic Church, it was just in the days prior to the Blessed Virgin Mary appearing to him that he had decided to assassinate the Pope.
Mr Cornacchiola went on to meet Pope Pius XII and present to him the dagger with which he had intended to kill him.
The Virgin Mary is reported to have continued appearing to him until his death in 2001.
The apparitions to Mr Cornacchiola have been neither approved or disapproved by the Vatican.
In the early 1980’s Bruno
Cornacchiola visited Perth and together with the Lombardo family, who were devoted to Our Lady of Revelation, and the effort and love of volunteers and donors, the Church and Shrine in Bullsbrook began construction in the 1980s. It was opened by then Archbishop William Foley on 7 June 1987. Today, the catechetical mission of the Virgin of Revelation continues, through the SACRI Association, focused on teaching the words of Jesus Christ.
For more information, contact Catherine Raspanti on 0434 362 028 or email catherine@sacriaustralia. com.au.
Perth Catholics gather at Bullsbrook’s Church of Our Lady of the Revelation during a pilgrimage in 1999. Owned and operated by the SACRI Association, the Church is this weekend celebrating the anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady to Luigina Sinapi. PHOTO: ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.
Bruno Cornacchiola stands beside an image of Our Lady of the Revelation. PHOTO: HTTPS:// THECATHOLICTRAVELGUIDE.COM
IS YOUR EASTER EGG SLAVE-FREE?
ACRATH’s Heather McNaught explains that child labour, forced labour, and unsafe work environments are ongoing issues in the quest for cocoa for chocolate production. Standing with Ms McNaught is a representative from Preston Street IGA. PHOTO: SOURCED.
This Easter, Australians will spend more than $200 million on chocolate. Meanwhile, most cocoa farmers don't even make a living income (sufficient income to afford a decent standard of living for all household members – including a nutritious diet, clean water, decent housing, education, health care and other essential needs) and the cocoa industry is rife with slavery and labour exploitation.
WA Australia Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans
(ACRATH) Co-Ordinator Heather McNaught explains that in partnership with ACRATH WA, several of the independently owned WA IGA supermarkets have committed to raising awareness of modern slavery in the production of chocolate Easter Eggs.
Ms McNaught explains that child labour, forced labour, and unsafe work environments are ongoing issues in the quest for cocoa for chocolate production.
“So much of our chocolate is made from cocoa harvested by children, and most comes from the West African region which grows around 80 per cent of the world’s cocoa,”
Ms McNaught said.
In 2020, the final NORC report on child labour estimated around 1.5 million children are working to produce much of the chocolate that we love.
Ms McNaught explains that these children have never even tasted chocolate.
“They are forced to work long hours in dangerous and hazardous conditions,” Ms McNaught said.
“We can change this by choosing
to buy chocolate that is produced without the use of child labour. This is not difficult to do - just look for the logo,” she said.
The Stores in WA are committed to complying with relevant modern slavery legislation and upholding human rights across their supply chains.
They oppose any form of modern slavery such as slavery servitude and enforced labour and were supportive of assisting their stores with encouraging consumers to purchase slavery free eggs.
Products in the Easter Eggs ranges that were certified with the Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and Cocoa Life logos were highlighted when IGA retailers were asked to place their orders for 2022.
Nearly 25 per cent of the total orders were placed for these products.
“Customers want to do the right thing but sometimes they don’t know what to look for or how best to support the cause’ said Renee Steenkamp, Preston Street IGA Manager.
FINANCIAL COUNSELLOR WIPES ONE MILLION OF DEBT FOR PEEL RESIDENTS
Dozens of Peel residents have kicked off the new year with fresh hope after a local Vinnies financial counsellor had over one million of their debts waived in 2021.
Just before Christmas, Liza Chatterton had eliminated or substantially reduced debts to the tune of $1 018 396 for 79 clients in the Mandurah area. The debts waived ranged from $77 for unfair bank charges to more than $300,000 for mortgages that could not be repaid.
The major issues facing clients in debt relate to mortgage stress, loss of employment, and the ready access to short term loans like ZipPay and Afterpay.
“Some people can have up to 20 loans at once with no questions asked, and of course, the low-income
earners are the ones targeted and the most vulnerable,” Ms Chatterton said.
She works in the Vinnies Mandurah Support Centre for clients experiencing hardship and needing some emergency assistance and support.
For the year ahead, Ms Chatterton has a clear message to anyone thinking of getting a loan.
“Think twice before going into debt. If you cannot afford it now, then can you afford it in two weeks? If the answer is yes then it is a good tool to use, but it’s not a wise decision if the answer is no.”
Ms Chatterton has been the Vinnies Peel Region’s Financial Counsellor for seven years, after a previous career in the banking sector. She won the top award from the
Financial Counsellors Association of WA as the Best-Established Practice for 2021.
Dozens of Peel residents have kicked off the new year with fresh hope after a local Vinnies financial counsellor Liza Chatterton (picture) had over $1 million of their debts waived in 2021. PHOTO: SOURCED. Full Text available at www.therecord.com.au
ONLINE STATIONS OF THE CROSS, HELPS COMMUNITY REFLECT DURING LENTEN SEASON
Perth Archdiocese’s Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) Pastoral Worker the late Reg Carnamah produced 14 paintings of Jesus’ journey to Calvary, as part of his Lenten offering, during the 2020 Holy season.
The paintings, each depicting the Stations of the Cross, was accompanied with a video Take a Walk with a Yamatji Man, The Way of the Cross – A Healing Journey, designed to inspire others to enter a relationship with God and encourage reconciliation between the Catholic and indigenous communities here in Perth.
This year, the Archdiocese
Centre for Liturgy re-released the 18-minute video without spoken words, accompanied by Carnamah’s art, words and a reflective background music.
Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton said the acknowledgement of the journey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples, owning the mistakes of the countries past, creates new beginnings in the present, in order that healing can occur in the future.
“This Way of the Cross painted by Reg Carnamah, is one man’s remarkable journey, his struggles, his new growth, and his healing,” Bishop Don stated.
“May Reg’s story inspire you as it has inspired me in acknowledging God with us on our journey.”
In an interview to talk about the artwork, Carnamah explained that each painting helped him to confront his struggles with addiction and fallouts in life, including reconciliation with his mother.
“When I paint, I wonder how other artists mix their colours. For me, when I paint, I dip my fingers into my heart so that the colours would come from my heart onto the canvas,” Carnamah expressed.
“My life was just black and white, especially when I was going through [hard times] and I could not see myself coming out of it for a long time. But once I came out of it, the colours of my life changed. This is like my paintings.”
“I never told my mother that I loved her. I never came to terms with not telling her I was sorry for all the grief that I had brought her,” he added.
There are five stand-alone station reflections available which can be used prior to Mass, for personal reflection, to open meetings or in other creative ways.
Artwork: Reg Carnamah/Archdiocese of Perth