LOCAL IDENTITIES TO HEADLINE SECOND CATHOLIC HISTORY SYMPOSIUM
By Jamie O'Brien
Local identities James McMahon
AM, Sr Lucy van Kessell PBVM and Geraldine Doogue AO will this month come together for the third Australian Catholic Church History Symposium.
The Symposium was established during 2020 to promote contemporary public discourse on the rich tradition of the local Catholic community and its place in modern Australian life.
The evenings event will include three 20 minute presentations on the theme of ‘Professional Histories and Faith’.
This year’s Symposium will once again take place at the Tannock Hall at the University of Notre Dame, Wednesday 21 September at 6pm. The event will be livestreamed to www.youtube.com/perthcatholic and www.facebook.com/perthcatholic. Symposium committee member, Monsignor Michael Keating encouraged the Perth Catholic community to learn more about
the history of the Church in Perth and Australia.
“Our three speakers for 2022 have all made significant contributions in their own way to our community and I am positive this will be a highly productive symposium,” Mgr Keating said.
“I welcome this opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion, while also learning more about the history of the Church in Western Australia,” he said.
James McMahon is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Australian Capital Equity.
Prior to this he was the Commissioner for Corrective Services WA, having also spent 34 years full time and allocated as a reservist with the Australian Defence Force.
Starting as an Infantry Soldier, he went on to become an Officer and command an Australian SAS Squadron.
He has served in Timor-Leste, Afghanistan, Iraq, Europe, Bougainville, Solomon Islands and Southeast Asia.
James was named Western Australian of the Year 2019 for his service to the Community and in 2022 was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM), in recognition of significant service to veterans and their families, and to the community.
Sr Lucy van Kessel PBVM is a registered psychologist and former Community Leader of the Presentation Sisters, based here in Perth, Western Australia. She has also worked for several years in the social justice sector, including as the coordinator of ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans) in Western Australia for six years.
Speaking to The Record in 2015, Sr Lucy told of the repercussions of human trafficking on people.
In 2009, with the help of two sisters, she set up ACRATH in WA, Sr Lucy was at the forefront of the battle against what Pope Francis recently labelled “a shameful wound that is unworthy of civil society”.
James McMahon is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Australian Capital Equity. Sr Lucy van Kessel PBVM is a registered psychologist and former Community Leader of the Presentation Sisters, based here in Perth, Western Australia. Geraldine Doogue. PHOTO: SOURCED/JAMIE O'BRIEN/SOURCED.
FAITH AND COMMUNITY TAKE CENTRE STAGE FOR YOUTH AT WEEKEND RETREAT
By Johannes Alexander
During the last days of July, the Catholic Youth Ministry staff with the help of several volunteers were able to plan a short weekend stay at Manjedal Activity Centre, for a group of Perth Catholic young adults. These individuals represented a variety of ministries across the Perth Catholic Archdiocese, from Campus Ministry to Catholic communities and movements.
A total of just over 40 young Adults participated in this event – who spent time reconnecting with Faith and Community.
These two main themes were repeatedly shared through the ministry of Brotherhood & Sisterhood share groups, including testimonies, communal prayer, and spending time with each other.
On Friday evening, which was greeted with some downpouring of rain, our participants enjoyed a warm meal and began their first encounter of discipleship.
Through the facilitation of communal eating and fellowship, everyone was well acquainted with who they would be journeying with over the weekend.
The opening welcome on the next day was led by the CYM Music Ministry team, with praise and worship – an encounter that truly allowed the Holy Spirit to work through the space where we would gather.
Over the weekend many of the testimonies and topics of conversation were themed and presented by various CYM staff and guests.
“Does modern Discipleship even exist?”
“What is holding you back from spiritual fulfillment?”
“Laying down your burdens – At the foot of the cross”
“God speaks to us in many ways – How do we respond to his call?”
One incredible highlight was through Anne Shepard from the Focolare Movement who shared a beautiful testimony that highlighted how she faced challenges as a Catholic youth.
Through perseverance and a simple message “Be the first to Love” –knowing in all situations, choosing to approach any individual with Christian Love firstly allowed her to live a life of spiritual fulfillment. Throughout the weekend there was plenty of intentional discipleship with one another – A greater sense of pastoral rest was achieved through relational ministry to each other. Many felt connected through conversations, and social entertainment such as playing music together, including simple group games and activities.
Few also went on a hike through the Manjedal forest and experienced encountering God through nature and enjoying the disconnect from a busy schedule.
Their hike also led them to an interesting spot in the Manjedal area which was the outdoor Chapel that was constructed by one of the founding Scout members Robert Baden Powell.
A small group of participants from the Getaway Weekend. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
MISSION AT THE CENTRE OF NATIONAL LEADERS DISCUSSION
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President and Perth
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has last week met with leaders of three major bodies to discuss how dioceses, religious institutes and ministerial public juridic persons can collaborate to advance the mission of the Church in Australia.
Archbishop Costelloe joined Catholic Religious Australia President, Br Peter Carroll FMS and Chair of the Association of Ministerial PJPs Eva Skira AM in Brisbane for the meeting.
Br Peter, whose body represents more than 100 religious institutes of priests, brothers and sisters, said the meeting demonstrates the three organisations’ “commitment to continuing collaboration, cooperation and communication, which is an expression of synodality”.
The Association of Ministerial PJPs represents 12 groups that are canonical stewards of Church
ministries, including in education, health, aged care, disability and social and community services.
Ms Skira said the meeting with Archbishop Costelloe and Br Peter was, for her, “a chance to together pray, share, listen, question, challenge, disagree and affirm, all in the name of our shared quest to seek God and carry out his mission”.
“As the Chair of AMPJP, it was a positive opportunity to walk synodally and to feel supported by other parts of the Church,” she said.
“This collaboration assists us as ecclesial stewards of our Ministerial PJPs whose Church ministries are bringing Christ to millions of Australians.”
Archbishop Costelloe, who took over as President of the Bishops Conference in July, said the meeting was “a positive and mutually supportive one in which it became clear that the commitment to continuing and deepening our
collaboration offers rich possibilities for a mutual recognition of each other’s gifts”.
He said it also allowed for “a harnessing of those gifts at the service of the ‘missionary impulse’ which Pope Francis is calling us to cultivate in the Church today”.
The meeting, which also included the executive leaders of the three groups, considered how they can work together in ways that recognise the unique purposes of each organisation while being united in carrying out the Church’s mission. Those present also discussed a number of decisions and decrees of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia that have been jointly entrusted to all three groups.
The organisations’ leaders will meet periodically to renew and enhance their collaborative efforts.
Archbishop Costelloe, back row left, with CRA President Br Peter Carroll FMS, ACBC General Secretary Fr Stephen Hackett MSC and CRA National Executive Director Anne Walker and front row, outgoing AMPJP Chair Eva Skira AM, AMPJP Executive Officer Lawrie Hallinan and incoming AMPJP Chair Moira Najdecki. Photo: AMPJP.. PHOTO: RON TAN..
MORE SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO HELP FORMER NURSES RE-JOIN THE HEALTH WORKFORCE
The University of Notre Dame Australia welcomes a decision by the State Government to increase financial support for former nurses who are seeking to re-join the health workforce.
In order to re-register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, former nurses and overseas trained nurses are required to complete a three-month intensive re-entry to practice course that is designed to bring their skills back up to speed. Notre Dame is currently the only provider of that training in WA.
Health Minister Amber Jade Sanderson recently announced that the full cost of the course would now be covered by the Government for nurses who agreed to join the State health system on completion of the re-entry program. Previously, 50 per cent of the course fees had been met by the Government. National Head of School at Notre Dame’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Karen Clark-Burg, congratulated the Health Minister for the decision, which she believed would encourage more nurses back into the job.
“There’s a range of reasons why people may have left the health sector, including to start a family or to travel, and the cost of updating their skills can be a barrier to coming back into the profession,” Professor Clark-Burg said.
“I congratulate the Health Minister on her decision, which is an important incentive given the current challenges all sectors of the Australian economy are experiencing when it comes to attracting staff.”
The re-entry program is run four times a year by Notre Dame and around 150 nurses are expected to complete the course this year.
In order to re-register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, former nurses and overseas trained nurses are required to complete a three-month intensive re-entry to practice course that is designed to bring their skills back up to speed. PHOTO: ADOBE.
Health Minister Amber Jade Sanderson recently announced that the full cost of the course would now be covered by the Government for nurses who agreed to join the State health system on completion of the re-entry program. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.