QUEEN ELIZABETH II COMMEMORATED AT 2022 SAFEGUARDING SUNDAY MASS FOR HER COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND PUBLIC GOOD
By Michelle Tan
St Mary’s Cathedral Dean Fr Sean Fernandez has last weekend reminded parishioners that the work of Safeguarding is not only for Safeguarding Officers. Instead, he explained, every single person in the Church needs to make “an enduring commitment and hold those in authority and each other to account about making our society a safer place for children and vulnerable adults.”
This year, Safeguarding Sunday, 11 September, which marks the end of National Child Protection week, was commemorated in parishes across Perth – not just St Mary’s Cathedral. The Mass was also a special celebration of the life of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away Thursday 8 September at the age
of 96.
The late Queen was remembered for her steadfast and unwavering Christian faith, and as someone who dedicated her life to the service of her people in the Commonwealth and promoting the common good.
A special Cathedral condolence book was signed by parishioners and visitors, with the Cathedral bells peeled to commemorate the proclamation of King Charles III.
During his homily, Fr Sean shared that he was recently summoned to jury service and he “found it very disturbing that 90 per cent of the trials being held had victims that were minors.”
“The national figures of the Australian Bureau of Statistics state that the proportion of Australians who have been sexually abused before the age of 15 is 12 per cent for females, and five per cent for males. Think
of those figures. We cannot close our ears to this for it is a crisis in our society, long hidden and still hidden in too many areas of life.”
The theme of the 2022 National Child Protection Week was “Every child, in every community, needs a fair go”.
Fr Sean shared that the theme “asks us to reflect on the support that children, in our care and outside our direct responsibility need, in order to grow into confident and trusting adults, free and safe from abuse of every kind.”
“The majority of children who suffer abuse do not go on to abuse in turn, but many abusers were themselves victims of abuse. So, the best way to ensure that children are protected in the future generations is to protect children now.”
“If we address the important factors involved in the abuse of children, we shall safeguard the future for children of future generations. The way in which children are raised now to deal with frustration and rage, and to build respectful relationships, will enable them to relate in gentle and mature ways to their own children.”
“These deeper ways of safeguarding depend on changing deep rooted attitudes. We must also however, make safe the environment in which they live. We do this by ensuring that they are listened to, are accompanied, that they are not vulnerable to predators and that protocols of conduct with children are strictly observed.”
Fr Sean Fernandez incenses the Altar during the special 11am Mass. PHOTO: MICHELLE TAN.
IDENTITYWA PARTICIPANTS INFLUENCE
DESIGN OF NEW HOMES
Identitywa’s commitment to building bespoke homes for their participants was recently on show when members of the Board donned high vis jackets to visit four new building projects. Partnering with innovative building company INKA, the homes are being built with an innovative construction
method that sees quicker results than traditional building methods. Identitywa already has two homes completed with five housemates enjoying the more extensive living and bathroom spaces, smart technology, and environmental features, to name a few.
Board Chair, Graeme Mander, said the Board was delighted to visit the new homes and was very impressed with the level of detail in the planning.
“I have to say the extensive fire system which has been installed throughout the houses, for example, is very impressive along with the wiring for the technology that will be available,” Graeme said.
“We are really pleased with the quality of these homes and have loved that our participants and their families have been able to contribute to their design,” he said.
Completion of the latest projects is set for early 2023.
All homes comply with the National Disability Insurance Schemes’ Specialist Disability Accommodation Standards for Improved Liveability. For more information about Identitywa housing options, please visit www.identitywa.com.au
FATHER LIAM RECOGNISED FOR BRAVERY TO SAVE SURFER
You may not expect a priest to surf, let alone rescue someone attacked by a shark 100 metres offshore, but Father Liam Ryan, former Chaplain at St John of God Midland Public
and Private Hospitals was earlier this year recognised with a national bravery reward for that very feat.
Fr Liam, along with other rescuers, was earlier this in March announced
as a Bravery Award recipient by the Governor General.
He was recognised for displaying considerable bravery during the rescue of 28-year-old surfer Phil Mummert, following a shark attack at Bunker Bay, Western Australia, on 31 July 2020.
Fr Liam said he felt very honoured and grateful for receiving the award, but really acted on instinct.
“I was holidaying down south with my good friend Jess Woolhouse and his family, and we decided to go for a quick surf at Bunker Bay,”
Fr Liam explained.
“We had not been in the water long and were paddling back out to catch our second wave, when I noticed the dorsal fin of a fivemetre great white shark surfacing next to a surfer.
Identitywa’s commitment to building bespoke homes for their participants was recently on show when members of the Board donned high vis jackets to visit four new building projects. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
Cottesloe priest Fr Liam Ryan, along with other rescuers, was earlier this in March announced as a Bravery Award recipient by the Governor General. PHOTO: SJOG HEALTH CARE.
PARISH RENEWAL RESEARCH REVEALS WHAT CLERGY
BELIEVE IS PIVOTAL TO A VIBRANT PARISH
The Parish Renewal Team have recently completed a research project which explored the effectiveness of its work over the past five years.
The Parish Renewal Team has the responsibility for implementing the vision, strategies and actions for Strengthening and Revitalising Parishes, one of the seven key priority areas of the 2016-2021 Archdiocesan Plan.
Conducted by Nigel Hayward, some 50 parish priests were interviewed as part of the research to provide their feedback on all aspects of the work of the Parish Renewal team.
Episcopal Vicar for Parish Renewal, Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton said, very importantly, the project also researched what clergy believe is pivotal to a vibrant Parish.
“The survey revealed that our Priests are enthusiastic about building Parish communities that are active and vibrant,” Bishop Sproxton said.
“More than 40 per cent of those surveyed describe the Parish community to be a place where all are welcome, a place that is pastorally concerned for people, especially the marginalised, and a place which
brings people together,” he said. “The aim of the Parish then, is to improve community spirit and build stronger foundations for growing the faith and the spiritual lives of Parishioners. In essence, a community that demonstrates a faith which goes beyond the Mass.”
Part of the Parish Renewal program for the Archdiocese over the past five years has been the initiative of working in Parish Hubs.
A Hub is a means for neighbouring Parishes to work together in a more effective way, inviting and encouraging neighbouring parishes, schools and Parish Pastoral Councils to work together collaboratively.
Parish Renewal co-ordinator, Fr Nino Vinciguerra, explained that the research showed that the greatest benefit of Parish Renewal, as shared by priests and clergy, is that the Hub gives them the opportunity to share resources in areas such as Adult Faith Formation, Children’s Sacramental formation, RCIA, Liturgy, Youth and Music.
“Priests indicated that working in a Hub is supportive of their ministry,” Fr Nino said.
“These findings will shape the future direction of our work, especially our desire to work collaboratively, not only with Parishes, but with the Archdiocese as a whole,” he said. “This desire for collaboration comes from a fundamental belief that to renew a Parish, it requires the collaboration of the whole Diocese. “It echoes the wisdom: It takes a village to raise a child,” Fr Nino concluded.
The research project also reaffirmed the Team’s strategy to work firstly with Parish clergy and their Parish Pastoral Councils, for as Archbishop Costelloe states: Parish pastoral councils …are critically important to the vitality of Parish life and indeed to the Archdiocese. (Constitution for Parish Pastoral Councils 2018) Fr Nino explained this initial strategy of formation for Parish Pastoral Councils was to assist Parishes to deepen and, in many cases, to rediscover the true nature and role of the Parish Pastoral Council, and to lead them into a discernment of what Jesus is truly asking of them.
Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton speaks at the Parish Renewal Priority Area Liturgy, 31 August 2018. PHOTO: RON TAN
WA JUDGES IMMERSED IN KIMBERLEY ABORIGINAL CULTURE
State and Federal Judges swapped their courtrooms for the red dirt of the Kimberley last week, taking part in a three-day cultural immersion program designed to improve their understanding of the issues and challenges faced by Aboriginal people in the region.
The program was hosted by the University of Notre Dame Australia (UNDA) and was attended by 26 Judges, including four from the Federal Court of Australia, three from Western Australia’s Supreme Court and 19 from the District Court.
Program organiser and Translational Research Fellow at UNDA’s Nulungu Research Institute, Gillian Kennedy, said Aboriginal people were disproportionately impacted by the legal system, which was why it was so important for their voices to be heard by those who hold positions of power over their lives.
“For true reconciliation and healing, it’s important that Aboriginal people
have these opportunities to sit down on country and be able to speak openly and frankly with members of the judiciary about how the justice system interacts with their daily lives,” Ms Kennedy said.
“It is also a chance for the Judges to ask questions and talk about ways to overcome some of the challenges they’ve experienced when dealing with Aboriginal people in their own courtrooms, such as ensuring that people with limited English understand the process they are involved in.”
The three-day program began last Wednesday with a Welcome to Country and formal dinner on the grounds of Notre Dame’s Broome campus, followed by a panel discussion with members of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council.
On Thursday, the Judges travelled to Derby where they were taken on a walking tour of significant historical and cultural sites, hosted by local Nyikina man Edwin Lee Mulligan.
That evening, the group attended a dinner in Willare with elders from the Pandanus Park community.
Friday saw the Judges return to Broome where they held meetings with Aboriginal Interpreters WA and on Saturday panel discussions took place with community legal services and other service providers from the community.
Chief Judge of the District Court of Western Australia, Judge Julie Wager, said the trip had been of great value to the Judges who now have a better understanding of some of the complexities of Aboriginal culture, history, and language.
“We have too many Aboriginal people in the Court system, be they victims, witnesses, litigants or offenders and we need to make sure that the Court is a culturally secure place,” Chief Judge Wager said.
State and Federal Judges swapped their courtrooms for the red dirt of the Kimberley last week, taking part in a three-day cultural immersion program designed to improve their understanding of the issues and challenges faced by Aboriginal people in the region. PHOTO: SOURCED.