AUSTRALIAN BISHOPS BACK LOCAL ADVENT APPEAL FOR UKRAINIAN PEOPLE
The country’s bishops are encouraging Catholics to respond to the call from the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Australia to provide financial support to people in the war-torn nation as winter arrives.
Bishop Mykola Bychok CSsR gave an update on the situation in Ukraine during the plenary meeting of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference earlier this month. He thanked the bishops for praying – and inviting their communities to pray – for Ukraine, and asked them to renew those prayers.
He also requested that bishops hold a special collection to “support refugees and people in Ukraine during this winter, which will be the most challenging for our country for
decades of independence”.
The bishops gave strong support to that proposal, and are encouraging dioceses, eparchies, parishes, schools and other ministries to facilitate a special collection during Advent for Ukraine.
“Mindful of the busyness of this pre-Christmas period, communities are invited to find a day, a weekend or some other moment or moments to focus on the people of Ukraine,” said Bishops Conference President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB. “It should also be a time to again place the Prayer for Peace in Ukraine that the Bishops Conference composed in February in our minds and in our hearts.”
Archbishop Costelloe said the bishops are also individually considering
Bishop Bychok’s invitation for a delegation of Australian bishops to travel to Ukraine in an act of solidarity with the people there, including the Catholic faithful.
“Although it is nigh on impossible for us to capture the magnitude of what is unfolding in Ukraine, Bishop Mykola helped paint the desperate picture to augment what we are seeing on our TVs,” he said.
“While financial contributions can and will help, it has been made clear to us that a group of bishops spending time on the ground would be a powerful sign of our closeness to the plight of the Ukrainian people.”
In his address to the bishops, Bishop Bychok described the devastation being caused in Ukraine – through loss of life, internal and international displacement, widespread property destruction or damage and other consequences of war.
He thanked Caritas Australia, Catholic Mission and Aid to the Church in Need, as well as dioceses and religious communities, for raising funds to provide humanitarian support.
He also acknowledged the Australian Government’s allocation of humanitarian visas for people fleeing the war.
All donations raised during the Advent appeal will support the work of Mudra Sprava (Wise Action), a Patriarchal Charitable Foundation in Ukraine. The organisation has three focus areas: Evacuation of people from frontline territories; Food packages for people in need; Shelters for internally displaced persons.
For more information go to www. catholic.au
Yuliia Zaika, a 9-year old Ukrainian girl, holds her cat in the village of Moshchun near Kyiv, Ukraine, 8 November, 2022. Photo: CNS/Murad Sezer, Reuters. HOTO: RON TAN..
EMERITUS ARCHBISHOP HICKEY CONGRATULATED FOR SERVICE TO ITALIAN COMMUNITY
Perth Emeritus Archbishop Barry Hickey has last week been bestowed the Order of the Star of Italy (Ordine della Stella d’Italia), together with six other people from Western Australia. In receiving the medal and certificate, Emeritus Archbishop Hickey was congratulated by the Consul of Italy in Perth Nicolò Costantini, on Monday 21 November at Perugino’s Restaurant.
The Ordine della Stella d’Italia, is an annual distinction bestowed by the President of Italy, in recognition of the merits acquired in the promotion of friendship relations between Italy and foreign countries.
The distinction, which qualifies as a second civilian honour of the State, represents a particular honour on behalf of all those, Italians abroad or foreigners, who have acquired special merit in the promotion of friendly relations and cooperation between Italy and other countries and the promotion of ties with Italy. During the ceremony, Consul Costantini stressed Emeritus Archbishop Hickey’s great attachment
to Italy and the latter’s particular attention to the problems faced by Italian emigrants.
Furthermore, Consul Costantini praised the fruitful dialogue between Italian and Australian citizens nurtured by Emeritus Archbishop Hickey, who promoted the values of listening, integration and cohesion within the community.
Speaking to The Record, Emeritus Archbishop Hickey said that from the very beginning of his priestly ministry, after four years of study in Rome, he found himself in a parish where the largest group were new immigrants from all parts of Italy, seeking a new life after the ravages of the Second World War.
“They helped me at the very beginning of my life as a priest by their joy, exuberance and their faith,” Emeritus Archbishop Hickey said “For those who came from small villages, the local church was always its Centre, usually on a hill, opening up on to a large piazza. At St Brigid's Church, West Perth, now Northbridge, they found a ready
welcome,” he said.
Emeritus Archbishop Hickey continued by explaining that some Italian missionary priests were already in the area, but not resident in the parish – only himself and Monsignor Ted Sullivan
"On my Vespa I visited all the families in the parish, with some friendships having lasted all these years
“Many of the people I baptised or married during those years have remained close friends over all this time to the point when I am now burying them.
Emeritus Archbishop Hickey noted that looking back, he understands that the priest's task was not just a spiritual one - however important that was and still is - but a major influence in the settlement of the new arrivals.
“And their acceptance and integration into this new country of opportunity,” he said.
“To the extent that that is true about my humble efforts, I am happy to have been part of that process,” Emeritus Archbishop Hickey concluded.
Italian Consul Nicolò Costantini pins the medal of the Order of the Star of Italy to Emeritus Archbishop Hickey, Monday 21 November. PHOTO: ADOBE.
DIALOGUE MUST PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN LIVING OUT
OUR SHARED HUMANITY, SAYS CARDINAL EMERITUS COUTTS
By Sr Kathy Kettle & Jamie O’Brien
Perth has last month been host to special guests from Aid to the Church in Need, Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi, Pakistan Cardinal Joseph Coutts and Head of International Projects ACN International Regina Lynch.
The event, on Saturday 19 November at the Newman Sienna Centre, was an occasion for ACN National Director, Bernard Toutounji to introduce Cardinal Coutts and Ms Lynch to benefactors and supporters, while also thanking them for their support and discussing current projects.
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is a Pontifical Foundation dedicated to the persecuted and suffering Church.
Founded in 1947 as a Catholic aid organisation for war refugees, ACN is the only international Catholic organisation today that focuses on the pastoral and spiritual support of suffering Christians.
Through the contributions of more than 350,000 benefactors worldwide, ACN supports some 5,000 projects across 140 countries each year.
ACN Australia began in 1965 and
is one of 23 national offices which seeks to raise awareness and financial support for this work.
Ms Lynch has worked for ACN for 40 years and is responsible for the disbursement of more than $200m in projects.
Archbishop Emeritus Cardinal Joseph Coutts has firsthand experience of religious fanaticism in Pakistan and currently serves on the Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.
In sharing her experience, Regina Lynch spoke about the overarching works of ACN and shared a more detailed account on the reality in Syria and Iraq.
Attention was drawn to the key findings from the recent report “Persecuted and Forgotten? A report on Christians oppressed for their faith 2020-22”.
The biennial report claims that 75 per cent of countries surveyed noted an increase in oppression and persecution of Christians; particularly in the regions of Africa, the Middle East and Asia over the past two years.
ACN Engagement Coordinator for Western Australia, Sr Kathy Kettle recalled to The Record how guests heard that these regions have experienced a sharp increase in genocidal violence from militant groups like jihadists.
“As a result, the continuing migration has deepened the crisis threatening the survival of three of the world’s oldest and most important Christian communities located in Iraq, Syria and Palestine,” Sr Kathy said.
“In Asia, state-authoritarianism has been the critical factor causing an upsurge in oppression against Christians in Myanmar, China, Vietnam and elsewhere as the impact of oppression erodes Freedom of religion and conscience which is becoming more evident in the region,” she said.
“What made the accounts from the reports more tangible was the personal encounters shared by Regina,” Sr Kathy highlighted.
Cardinal Coutts Emeritus shared personal stories from a cultural perspective that identified simple similarities between the religions of Islam, Hinduism and Christianity. He expressed the importance that dialogue must play a significant role in living out our shared humanity. All religions, Cardinal Coutts explained, have much to offer and an appreciation of what is positive and good ought to be placed at the heart of any discussion.
Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi, Pakistan Cardinal Joseph Coutts speaks with guests Saturday 19 November at the Newman Sienna Centre.
PHOTO: RON TAN.
PERTH CATHOLICS CALLED TO UNITE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
We are called in every place by our words, how we speak to one another, by our deeds, to bear witness to the new reality, to new Heaven and new Earth where women and men will be one, said St Mary’s Cathedral Dean, Rev Dr Sean Fernandez. Speaking on the United Nations (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Rev Dr Fernandez said we are called to try and live that through our words and our deeds bit by bit, day by day. To mark the occasion, orange balloons were displayed at the entrance and inside the Cathedral.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is an annual international campaign
that runs from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.
The global theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism against GenderBased Violence, is “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls”.
In support of this call for global action to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations about GBV, the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth Safeguarding Program Office in collaboration with the Justice, Ecology & Development Office are undertaking a prayerful awareness-raising campaign.
Perth Archdiocese campaign co-ordinators, Safeguarding Acting Director Barbara Blayney and JEDO Director Carol Mitchell said the campaign aligns with the ACBC 2022 -23 Social Justice Statement – Respect: Confronting violence and abuse and compliments the Safeguarding Program resource –A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence.
“By dedicating prayerful space to consider our call to action, we continue to embed the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards that call us all to live in the image of God,” Ms Mitchell said
JEDO Director Carol Mitchell speaks at the commencement of Mass on Friday 25 November, the United Nations (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Photo: Jamie O’Brien/Archdiocese of Perth. IMAGE: CLMF.