SUFFERING OF OTHERS INSPIRES DEACON GRZEGORZ TO THE PRIESTHOOD
Perth is set to gain another priest with the ordination of Redemptorist Mater Seminary trained Deacon Grzegorz Racpewicz this Friday 12 August at St Mary’s Cathedral. Hailing originally from Warsaw, Poland, as the third of seven children – all boys - Deacon Grzegorz will celebrate his 33 birthday on Sunday 14 August.
Deacon Grzegorz arrived in Perth in March 2011, after initially commencing university studies which he did not finish.
Prior to that, at the age of 20, he went on a two month mission to Belarus in 2009 as a lay itinerant, supporting a priest in a parish.
“I had some free time in between my university studies at the time and I went not having any ideas about the seminary,” Dcn Grzegorz explained.
“It was when I returned that my I
began to feel in my heart, God was calling me to something, but I wasn’t quite sure what it was at the time.”
What gripped Dcn Grzegorz, he recalled was a pivotal moment while praying during a Eucharist with his community.
It was the following year in 2010 that he attended a Vocational Meeting in Warsaw with Kiko Arguello, founder of the Neocatechumenal Way.
“This meeting helped me, together with other circumstances which took place prior to going to Belarus, to understand how God was calling me.”
It was there that Dcn Grzegorz “stood up” during the call for vocations, making clear his desire to become a priest.
Dcn Grzegorz explained that he is inspired to be of service to others.
He has spent the past year as a transitional deacon at the parish of Osborne Park, under the guidance
of Parish Priest, Fr Wilson Donizetti Martins.
During his period of diaconate, Dcn Grzegorz, who says he is naturally a shy person, highlights he has learnt much, particularly with regards to giving homilies.
“God has really helped me to come out of myself, to be more open to people, to listen to them and their experiences.
“To be able to give meaning to someone’s suffering, to be with people who are sick, it has all been a tremendous experience,” Dcn Grzegorz said.
Dcn Grzegorz also spoke his eye condition, which he says, for some time shook his heart as to whether he would be capable being a priest.
Deacon Grzegorz Rapcewicz, following his ordination to the diaconate on 12 August 2021, with Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, fourth from left, Redemptoris Mater Seminary Rector, Fr Michael Moore SM, Neocatchumenal Way Australia formator, Fr Tony Trafford, and Simão Silva and from right, Perth Priest Fr John Hogan, Neocatechumenal Way formators Toto and Rita Piccolo.v PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.
MERCEDES ROCKS THE CHOP WITH THE PONYTAIL PROJECT
Visitors to Mercedes may notice a few shorter haircuts on display this week, after many students took part in a fantastic charitable initiative to make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.
On Friday 26 July, 36 Mercedes students from all year groups volunteered to take part in the Ponytail Project, stepping up to cut 20 centimetres or more of their hair for donation, as well as raising funds from friends and family for cancer research and support services for families affected by cancer.
After the big chop, the hair is collected and sent to Sustainable Salons where it will be turned into wigs for patients suffering from hair loss.
There was certainly a lot of excitement (as well as a little nervousness) as volunteers assembled at lunchtime for the big chop, and students and staff gathered to watch and show their support for this worthy cause. The College was very lucky to have Mercedes alumna Lisa Fernandez leading proceedings as MC for the event.
Students volunteered for a variety of reasons but were united in their commitment to upholding the Mercy values of Compassion and Service.
“This is an amazing opportunity to raise funds that will support people impacted by cancer,” said Year 12 student Katrina Soares, “and I believe that chopping off my ponytail is a small price to pay in order to do so. I know that I am lucky enough to be able to grow my hair back and giving to others is a very rewarding experience.”
“…It is such an important cause!” said Year 9 student Ruby Breuer. “My great-grandmother died of bowel cancer. My aunty died of breast cancer and my uncle is currently fighting against cancer! I want to raise money to fight this disease, plus pass on my hair to make wigs for those who are also undergoing cancer treatment.”
Religious Education teacher Miss Guida joined the students in donating her ponytail.
“Hair can be a very empowering thing,” said Miss Guida, “and when it is taken away it can be devastating. I believe that chopping my hair is a small price to pay to make another person feel empowered again.”
Teachers Mr Dymnicki and Mr Fleay might not have had ponytails to donate, but that didn’t stop them from getting involved and supporting this very worthy cause, by agreeing
to shave their heads to help raise funds.
“My reason for being involved with the Ponytail Project is to acknowledge that many people suffer from cancer and sacrifice on a daily basis.” said Mr Fleay.
“I’m shaving my head in honour of their sacrifices to raise awareness that they are not alone on their journey.”
“I am doing this on behalf of my Aunty who died from cancer,” said Mr Dymnicki, “and even though I don’t have a ponytail, I want to show others that you can still take part and help raise awareness and funds for cancer research.”
The teachers’ participation led to a healthy last-minute round of donations when the chance to cut each teacher’s hair was raffled off to students who came to watch!
Mercedes’ Ponytail Project has raised more than $28,000 in under three months – the fifth highest amount raised in 2022 for the cause (and number 1 in WA) – with Year 7 student Amelie Sorgiovanni, personally raising more than $3,000!
Students from Mercedes College had their hair cut as part of the Ponytail Project. After the big chop, the hair is collected and sent to Sustainable Salons where it will be turned into wigs for patients suffering from hair loss. PHOTO: MERCEDES COLLEGE.
ANNUAL MARRIAGE DAY MASS: MARRIAGE THE FOUNDATION OF STABLE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY, SAYS BISHOP SPROXTON
Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has once again encouraged Perth married couples celebrating an anniversary milestone to come forward for the Annual Marriage Day Mass.
The annual Marriage Day Mass will be celebrated next weekend, Saturday 20 August at 10am.
Speaking about the sacrament of Marriage, Bishop Sproxton said when a young couple plans for the Sacrament of Marriage, their hopes are that the love they have come to know in themselves and from their partner, will flourish and grow to greater heights and depths.
“Their love, they hope, will be so strong that not even death will extinguish it,” Bishop Sproxton said.
“St Paul liked to describe the power and necessity of love in terms of being clothed completely.
“St Paul’s Letter to the Colossians conveys this image well. The Christian life is about putting on the qualities of our Master: sincere compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
“Over these, we add tolerance and forgiveness. What keeps these together and completes them is love, that great love for the other that does not expect a return,” Bishop Don explained.
Marriage, continued Bishop Sproxton,
DOING IT TOUGH FOR
is as ancient as human society and it has always been the foundation of stable and healthy community.
“Celebrating the gift of marriage and family seems obvious.
“There can be little wonder that Jesus recognised the importance of the human institution of marriage, the communion of a man and woman, and that it has been elevated to the status of a Sacrament,” he said.
Director, Centre for Life Marriage and Family, Derek Boylen, said the celebration is a vital occasion for the Perth Catholic community in which to participate, especially after two years of COVID lockdowns.
“I am sure so many married couples celebrated their anniversaries silently, or not at all, and so we welcome this opportunity to give thanks for to God for all he has done in blessing our marriages, our families and our lives,” Mr Boylen said.
PASSAGES
for supporters to ensure participants have the ultimate bragging rights and a super tough night out.
By getting involved, not only will people be showing that they care about the young people at Passages and youth homelessness, they will also understand a little bit of what these young people go through each night sleeping rough. Every day, our Passages youth workers empower young people by facilitating their independence and supporting participation in their community.
The Vinnies ‘Tough Night Out’ will happen on Friday, 9 September. To register, go to www. vinniestoughnightout.org.au
The Vinnies ‘Tough Night Out’ is nothing compared to what young people sleeping on the streets experience, but it’s great motivation
Vinnies WA will be running a new and unique fundraising event in September, with participants raising funds to help young people sleeping rough on the streets of Perth. But there’s a catch: The more funds people raise, the worse their sleep.
Passages Youth Engagement Hubs are a joint venture between Vinnies WA and Rotary Perth and Mandurah.
Vinnies WA will be running a new and unique fundraising event in September, with participants raising funds to help young people sleeping rough on the streets of Perth. PHOTO: FEBY PLANDO.
Vinnies WA will be running a new and unique fundraising event in September, with participants raising funds to help young people sleeping rough on the streets of Perth. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
HITTING THE GYM KEY TO SUCCESS FOR OLDER GOLFERS
Researchers from The University of Notre Dame Australia have found that hitting the gym rather than hitting balls at the driving range is the key to improving golfing performance for older players who suffer from age-related aches and pains.
Exercise and Sport Science Head of Discipline Dr Chris Joyce said older players tend to suffer from musculo-skeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, which impact on their flexibility, strength, endurance and balance – all of which can impede their golfing ability.
“We’ve always been told that practice makes perfect, but if you are not able to move freely and without pain, practice alone can only help to a certain point,” Dr Joyce said.
“By adding a six-week course of strength and conditioning training to a group of older players’ normal practice and playing regimes, we found that their general mobility and fitness improved significantly, which also resulted in real improvements in their golf game.
“Importantly, participants also told us
that being stronger and fitter resulted in them having fewer injuries and less post game soreness, enabling them to play more regularly.”
• Study involved 31 male and female players aged over 55.
• Each was tested at start for general fitness, balance, flexibility and grip strength.
• Golf performance was also measured using an indoor simulator to measure club head speed and ball velocity, carry distance, and accuracy for a range of clubs.
• 21 players who had musculoskeletal issues were required to do two supervised gym sessions per week, in addition to playing and practicing.
• The other 10 players with no muscular skeletal issues did no gym work and played and practiced as normal, serving as a control group.
At the end of the six week training program, both groups were retested. The gym training group saw greater
improvements across 85 per cent of the physical fitness measures when compared to the control group.
Significantly, they also saw greater improvements in about 60 per cent of the golf performance indicators, with the biggest gains being around ball velocity and carry.
Dr Joyce said that while the benefits of strength and conditioning training for professional golfers were well known, very little research had been done on older players.
“What our study showed conclusively is that strength training can improve both physical function and golfing performance for people with agerelated musculo-skeletal conditions in a surprisingly short period of time,” Dr Joyce said.
“People in this age group already experience a 10 per cent drop in muscle mass each decade, along with cartilage degeneration and general joint stiffness, which is why it is so important that they remain active and strong.
Dr Joyce said that while the benefits of strength and conditioning training for professional golfers were well known, very little research had been done on older players. PHOTO: MATTHEW LAU.