HEAD OF ETHIOPIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SAYS AUSTRALIANS ARE HELPING TO BUILD THE COUNTRY ANEW
As the impacts of civil war, poverty and famine continue to wreak havoc on his country, the leader of the Ethiopian Catholic Church says a brighter future is being forged with the help of Catholics in Australia.
The Archbishop of Addis Ababa, Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, preached at the Vigil Feast of Pentecost at St Mary’s Cathedral on 5 June, part of a visit to Australia to thank people for their ongoing support of the Church’s efforts to improve the lives of her fellow Ethiopians.
“Education is very important; education is the key to coming out of poverty,”
Archbishop Berhaneyesus told the gathering at Mass concelebrated by St Mary’s Cathedral priest, Fr Israel Quirit.
“That is the belief of the Catholic Church in Ethiopia. That is why we have many schools, especially in the countryside, especially where many
do not get the possibility to go to school.”
While comprising less than two per cent of the country’s 115 million population – Orthodox Christians and Muslims make up 45 and 30 per cent, respectively – the Ethiopian Catholic Church operates more than 430 mostly regional schools, a number second only to those run by the government.
“Many of our schools are dedicated to the education of girls because they also do not get the opportunities,” the Cardinal said.
“And many experience the terrible, terrible pangs of poverty in the countryside, especially women.”
The Cardinal was a guest in Australia of Catholic Mission which has supported the Church’s work in providing emergency food relief, as well as by providing training for local families and promoting income generation.
More than 100,000 Ethiopians, most of them female domestic workers, have in recent months been deported back to the country from the Middle East where many suffered inhumane working conditions.
“They have gone there to serve,”
Cardinal Berhaneyesus told a Mass in Sydney last month, “but after being used, then they are discarded.”
The Cardinal told Mass attendees in Perth: “We receive these people when they come back; the Church receives them with open arms, to give them hope for the future, not to despair”.
“There are also possibilities to offer them trades, opportunities to have vocational training … so that they can transform themselves from within –themselves and the country. And in that project, also, we have Catholic Mission with us.”
Cardinal Berhaneyesus is also no stranger to tribulation, having once been incarcerated in 1979 for a period of seven months – one of which was spent in solitary confinement – by the reigning Marxist government.
Some years later, when the Marxist government had been deposed, the then Fr Berhaneyesus visited his one-time persecutor in jail, inspired by the witness of Saint John Paul II, offering him forgiveness and to advocate for his release, an offer that was gratefully accepted.
Arriving in Australia as the 2022 election was taking place, Cardinal Berhaneyesus praised the prospect of a peaceful transition of power in Australia, as well as praying for the success of the Fifth Plenary Council.
Cardinal Berhaneyesus celebrating the Pentecost Vigil Mass at St Mary's Cathedral, Perth. PHOTO: RON TAN.
FAITH AND FRIENDSHIP CONNECT AND ENRICH INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES
By Michelle Tan
Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has last week welcomed Consul General of Timor-Leste, His Excellency Luciano Valentim da Conceição, and Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Her Excellency Hellen De La Vega. The two meetings discussed how connections between the local church and the Catholic faith have enriched their communities.
Consul General Luciano explained that East Timor shares half an
island with Indonesia and most of its population (99 per cent of 1.4 million) are Roman Catholics.
As the largest Roman Catholic nation in Southeast Asia and the Pacific region, his people’s faith has remained steadfast through the generations, even as they celebrate 20 years of independence from a “long time of painful sufferings”.
“After my parents were killed by the Indonesian army, I lived with 40 other children between the ages of eight to 14 and we were supported by the Salesian missionaries during the occupation.
“The priest in charge sent me to the seminary but one day I was arrested by the Indonesian army. This made me realise that maybe God had a different plan for me, not to enter the priesthood but to do other things for my country and my people. Since then, I have dedicated my life as an independent activist.
“I came to the Archdiocese today because Australia is our neighbour and we have a lot of cooperation and common interests. However, 20 years have passed since East Timor’s independence and the younger Australian generation do not know about the history of East Timor. So, I am asking the Archdiocese of Perth for moral support to see how we can introduce East Timor’s history into the WA Catholic school curriculum.”
Bishop Don agreed and said that “it is very dangerous when a generation comes that doesn't know the history and that history can easily be lost. We have a good relationship with Catholic Education of Western Australia so we will discuss how this can be taught in future”.
Bishop Don also acknowledged that the Salesians have had a big impact on the Timorese people.
“Bishop Belo really was a hero to many people, even here in Australia. He was a remarkable man, and the Church has certainly grown since the days that he was appointed Bishop and now we have an Archbishop from East Timor who has been just appointed a cardinal. It's going to be for the good of the Church to have a greater number of voices.”
At the end of the meeting, Mr Luciano said that “Australian priests, nuns and bishops have been very supportive of East Timorese people” and he invited the Archbishop, Bishop and other clergy from the Archdiocese of Perth to visit and form a closer bond with the Catholic community in East Timor.
Later that afternoon, Bishop Don had afternoon tea with representatives from the Philippines.
Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton presents Consul General of Timor-Leste, His Excellency Luciano Valentim da Conceicao, with a gift PHOTO: MICHELLE TAN.
From L to R: Ms Croina Reyes, First Secretary, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Her Excellency Hellen De La Vega, Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, and Ms Virma Symons, Philippine Consul of Perth. PHOTO: MICHELLE TAN.
VINNIES WA LAUNCHES WINTER APPEAL WITH FDV FOCUS
Vinnies WA has launched its Annual Winter Appeal, urging the community to support women and children escaping family and domestic violence.
While Vinnies in Western Australia is not a primary provider of family and domestic violence services, its Emergency Assistance and Support Program provides victims with practical support during times of crisis.
How Vinnies helps:
• emergency accommodation – such as a motel for a night when crisis accommodation is not available
• clothing, toiletries, blankets and toys – because many women and children are forced to escape with only the clothing on their back
• emotional support – a listening ear during the more vulnerable moments, to reduce the risk of women going back to an abusive partner
• food and financial help with bills – to
provide a starting point for a single parent trying to make ends meet in a new, safe home
• furniture and white goods – because furnishing a home is an enormous expense.
“One night of safety can stop the violence long enough for women to start their path to recovery. Often, women will return to an abusive situation before they are able to leave for good,” said Vinnies WA President Gladys Demissie.
“This cycle is often caused by a lack of financial independence. The desire to raise children with a roof over their head, and food on the table, sees too many women return to their abusive partners if they feel they simply cannot provide for their families on their own.
“Every gift you give gives a woman the chance to start again,” Ms Demissie added.
Domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness amongst women and children. If women escaping domestic violence cannot find crisis accommodation, they often find themselves homeless, living in their car, on a friend’s couch or, worse, on the streets.
Vinnies is Western Australia’s largest provider of emergency assistance and support. Every year, Vinnies assists more than 55,000 West Australians by providing emergency relief such as food, furniture and clothing, as well as help with bills and rent.
Vinnies also runs a range of specialised services and programs in the areas of housing and homelessness, mental health, migrants and refugees, youth services and financial counselling. To donate and help make a positive difference in these people’s lives, visit www.vinnieswa.org.au or call 13 18 12.
Portrait of a mother and child escaping family and domestic violence. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
VIETNAMESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY CELEBRATES THE LIFE OF SISTER PATRICIA BYRNE RNDM
By
The birthday of beloved Sister Patricia Byrne RNDM, who passed away on 4 August 2020, is marked on 11 June. Although she died two years ago, her ever-giving, generous and kind nature is still remembered and cherished in the Vietnamese Catholic Community of Perth today. Joseph Nguyen, former President of the Community (2019-2021), speaks of Sister Patricia with much admiration and still feels the loss of her passing. Born in 1928, she lived a very vibrant life of education and travel, while always returning to her roots in Perth. She could speak French and German fluently and was capable of teaching Latin. The eldest of six, she was born into a loving family and
received most of her education by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission in Katanning, Western Australia, before finishing at Sacred Heart High School, Highgate. Sr Patricia was a dedicated, talented student who excelled academically as well as musically, being an accomplished pianist and organist. Following on from her secondary education, she went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from the University of Western Australia.
At the age of 21, she felt the calling to religious life, entered the convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission as a postulant in January 1949, and became a novice in August that year, taking the name Sr M St Gemma Galangi.
Sr Patricia taught in schools in Fremantle and Sorrento for the initial 30 years of her religious life. Teaching large classes was not easy for her but smaller and one-on-one classes were memorable experiences for her students as she inspired them with her own love of language.
In the 1960s, while studying a Masters Degree in French at the University of Western Australia, she won a scholarship to the Sorbonne in Paris which she attended in 1968. A fortuitous meeting with the Directrice of RNDM College in Charenton, Sr Marie Benedicte, led her later to become Sr Marie’s secretary once the Directrice became the Congregational Leader. This position allowed her to travel to many provinces in France and meet many Sisters across the Congregation.
A transformative time for Sr Patricia was her first visit to Vietnam. Her interest in the country peaked in the 1950s due to knowing Sr M St Catherine Harris from there and also having fellow Sisters as pen
friends, whom she was finally able to meet. From there, her love and understanding of the people grew greatly.
In 1975, she returned to Perth from her time in Rome and taught at Our Lady of the Missions High School in Fremantle until 1980. By 1983, Sr Patricia was at a crossroads with her sense of mission in her vocation and went to Rome to participate in the Spiritual Life Program.
Unbeknownst to her at the time, Sr Patricia returned to Perth with her prayer and concern answered. Archbishop Hickey, then Director of Social Services in Perth, instigated that she provide pastoral support for the influx of refugees from Vietnam, who had been coming since the 1970s. Unlike her past 30 years of teaching, the next 30 years opened a great missionary love and cause in Sr Patricia that teaching could never satisfy. From meeting new refugees at the airport at all times of night and day, preparing homes for new arrivals, driving people to appointments and hospitals, dealing with government departments, helping find schooling and being present as emotional support, Sr Patricia became ‘mother’ and ‘grandmother’ to a multitude of Vietnamese and Cambodian families, Christians and non-Christians alike.
Mr Joseph Nguyen remembered distinctly one night in 1983, while he was a young man living with three other refugees in Leederville, Sr Patricia came by to give them all blankets. “You make sure you keep warm,” she said to him. Such consideration and care for everyone are what Mr Joseph Nguyen remembers so greatly about her.
Sister Patricia Byrne RNDM. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
Grace Feltoe