THE ANSWER IS JESUS CHRIST, SAYS ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE, AT LAUNCH OF WORLD YOUTH DAY 2023
By Jamie O'Brien
THE SECRET power of World Youth Day is the fact that it always ends up putting the Lord Jesus back at the heart of our understanding of what it means to be a Christian and especially a Christian in our Catholic tradition, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has said.
Speaking to more than 800 people Sunday 20 November for the launch of World Youth Day 2023 on the Feast of Christ the King at St Mary’s Cathedral, Archbishop Costelloe continued by saying many people fail to see is who lies at the heart of the Church.
“The answer to the question of who is at the heart of the Church is not Archbishop Tim or Pope Francis, or the Cardinals or anybody else,”
Archbishop Costelloe said.
“The answer is a name - Jesus Christ - and unless we begin to understand that and think deeply about what it means we will never understand the Church and we may even walk away from the Church, but in doing so, we run the risk of walking away from Jesus himself,” he said.
Archbishop Costelloe was joined for the occasion by concelebrants, Episcopal Vicar for Education and Adult Faith Formation, Fr Vincent Glynn, Cathedral Dean, the Very Rev Dr Sean Fernandez, St Charles Seminary Vice-Rector, Fr Francis Nguyen, Cathedral Assistant Priest Fr Israel Quirit, CYM Chaplain Fr Joseph Laundy as MC and assisted by transitional Deacon Nicholas Diedler.
The launch of World Youth Day 2023 – to be held in Lisbon, Portugal,
commenced with a Youth Rally at Langley Park where some 150 young people processed with a large wooden cross to St Mary’s Cathedral.
Following Mass which commenced at 5pm, more than 500 young people and their families gathered for a youth festival which included live music, food trucks, games and stalls from several Catholic Archdiocesan agencies and organisations.
Continuing his homily, Archbishop Costelloe said that to belong to the Church is to be a part of Christ’s body and to be united to him in a relationship of friendship and love.
“He is closer to us in the Church than we are to each other. He is closer to us even than we are to ourselves,”
Archbishop Costelloe said.
“It is this that comes home so powerfully through World Youth Days. They are full of energy, full of excitement, full of passion and most of all they are full of faith.
The most powerful and life-changing moment in any World Youth Day, noted Archbishop Costelloe, is the evening before the final Mass when everybody, - sometimes millions of people - kneel in silent prayer and adoration before the Lord Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament.
“It is at that moment that the truth about the Church becomes clear,” Archbishop Costelloe highlighted.
“It is all about us together supporting each other, turning our eyes to Christ, recognising him as our friend, as our Lord, as the one we want to follow and the one who sends us out to others.
Following Mass which commenced at 5pm, more than 500 young people and their families gathered for a youth festival which included live music, food trucks, games and stalls from several Catholic Archdiocesan agencies and organisations. PHOTO: RON TAN..
NEW CONFESSION LAWS TAKE EFFECT: CONFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THAT PERSON AND CHRIST, SAYS ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE
THE law that obliges the priests to violate the seal of confession if they receive information about the sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable people has this month come into effect, Tuesday 1 November.
The law, which extends to all ministers of worship of any religion, is part of new laws introduced by the McGowan government, with a penalty of up to $6,000.
Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk said the McGowan Government was “sending a clear message that nobody is above the law, including ministers of religion”. The new laws aim to deliver on recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The changes also extend mandatory reporting requirements to early childhood, out-of-home care and youth justice workers, as well as registered psychologists and school counsellors.
The mandatory reporting laws are being implemented through a staggered approach so the groups receive support to undertake their new responsibilities.
Ministers of religion are the first group to come into effect, with other groups to be included in the new
provisions in the next three years.
In a Pastoral Letter published in October last year, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB said the confessional experience is a personal encounter between that person and Christ.
This decision of the state parliament, said Archbishop Costelloe, not only potentially criminalises fidelity to an essential dimension of the practice of the Catholic faith by priests but also carries with it no guarantee that any child will be better protected from abuse because of the new legislation.
“It is particularly concerning and troubling that the majority opinion of the legislative committee established by the government to look into this matter was not accepted by the parliament,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“In a 3-2 majority decision this committee recommended that disclosures made in the context of a religious confession should not be subject to the new mandatory reporting laws,” he said.
As well as ministers of religion, the changes extend mandatory reporting laws to early childhood workers, outof-home care workers, registered
psychologists, school counsellors and youth justice workers.
Queensland and Victoria have also implemented similar legislation. The issue has been a hot topic across Australian states following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which released its final report to the public in late 2017.
In its investigations between 2013 and 2017, the commission found that 36 percent of abuse survivors who came forward reported abuse at Catholic institutions.
Archbishop Costelloe continued by saying that some people seem to have formed the view that if a person discloses during confession that he or she has been abused, the priest can and will do nothing.
“This is either an ignorant or a deliberately misleading presentation of the way confession is practised in the Catholic Church.
“A priest will do everything he can to provide advice, support and accompaniment if the person making the disclosure is open to this,” he said.
This decision of the state parliament, said Archbishop Costelloe, not only potentially criminalises fidelity to an essential dimension of the practice of the Catholic faith by priests but also carries with it no guarantee that any child will be better protected from abuse because of the new legislation. PHOTO: ADOBE.
TIME AND SERVICE OF VOLUNTEERS A TESTAMENT OF THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, SAYS FR SEAN
By Jamie O'Brien
VOLUNTEERS of St Mary’s Cathedral were recently honoured at a special function in acknowledgement of their time and service.
The special function – on Saturday 19 November – brought together more than 100 volunteers, including people who clean the sacred spaces within the Cathedral, man the piety stall, tour guides who run public and private tours and those who count the weekly and special collections.
Cathedral Dean, the Very Rev Dr Sean Fernandez, said he is humbled by the generosity of the volunteers.
“I am always so very grateful to the energy, commitment and generosity the volunteers bring to the Cathedral,” Fr Fernandez said.
“The volunteers make the Cathedral the welcoming place it is. Their differences enrich our community,” he said.
In honouring service of the volunteers, Fr Sean noted that the Church in Australia employs more than 220,000 people; making the Church one of the biggest employers in the country.
“If you add to that number, that even greater number of people who volunteer in our parishes and
in our agencies, and in fact, in many organisations, in our community at large, you can see what a mighty impact, our people have on the life of this country,” Fr Sean noted.
“This is a reminder to each of us, that we, as disciples of the Lord, are called, in our own way, with our own gifts, to make ourselves available for others,” he said.
Fr Sean was joined for the occasion by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, Cathedral Assistant priests, Fathers Richard Rutkausas, Richard Smith and Israel Quirit, as well as Cathedral Manager Victor Hoa.
As part of the occasion, Fr Sean
and Victor Hoa personally thanked all the volunteers for their tireless service.
“We pray that strengthened by that spirit of Christ that is given to each of us through his word, that many more may find the joy that comes in service of others,” Fr Sean concluded.
“We thank God for those who volunteer, who offer so much of their time and energy to support the Church and we pray that the Lord will continue to bless them and offer us that witness of service that we so need to see,” he said.
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, third from left, with volunteers from St Mary’s Cathedral, Saturday 19 November as part of a special thank you event. PHOTO: RON TAN.
In honouring service of the volunteers during a special function, Saturday 19 November, St Mary’s Cathedral Dean, Fr Sean Fernandez noted that the Church in Australia employs more than 220,000 people, with an even greater number of volunteers; making the Church one of the biggest employers in the country. PHOTO: RON TAN.
ADVENT IS A JOYFUL TIME OF PREPARATION, WITH HELP FROM A JOURNAL
THE CENTRE for Life Marriage and Family are praying that Advent is a time of hope, faith, joy and peace, and a time of fruitful spiritual growth in your relationship with God. On offer to assist Perth Catholics journey through Advent spiritually enriched is a limited-run, A5 journal featuring daily Mass readings, practical prayer and devotional information, meditations from saints, spaces to write, and daily guided reflections.
At $15 inc. GST, bulk orders with a discount are also available upon request.
Manager Life Services, Bronia Karniewicz said the journal collates daily readings and reflections to
guide user into spending time with God each day, preparing for His nativity at Christmas.
“Every day contains questions for reflection, asking us to think about waiting for Christ’s coming,” Ms Karniewicz said.
“Each day also contains, the Gospel Acclamation, a reading from daily Mass, and a quote from a saint or Holy person for the day,” she said.
Ms Karniewicz explained that each week, the retreat journal concludes with an excerpt dedicated to a type of prayer, practice, or tradition that brings us closer to God.
“Advent is a joyful time of preparation in the liturgical calendar,” Ms Karniewicz said.
“However, for many couples and families, it can also be a time that challenges significant relationships in our life,” she said.
“Our agency provides counselling and support services for couples and families.
“We warmly welcome the opportunity to provide you and your family with support in times of need or to direct you towards services that can help,” Ms Karniewicz said.
The cost of postage is extra. Pick up will be available at our Doubleview office. Preview and order: https:// clmfjournal.company.site or for more information lifeservices.clmf@ perthcatholic.org.au
Each day of the CLMF Advent journal also contains, the Gospel Acclamation, a reading from daily Mass, and a quote from a saint or Holy person for the day. IMAGE: CLMF.