BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIST, TEACHER, SHELDON BURKE ANSWERS THE CALL TO RELIGIOUS LIFE
By Jamie O'Brien
Somascan Brother Sheldon Burke CRS was last month ordained to the diaconate by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB. In celebrating the ordination, Saturday 10 December at Thornlie Parish Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Archbishop Costelloe encouraged Br Sheldon to always retain something of an Advent flavour in his life and ministry as a Deacon and later as a Priest.
Archbishop Costelloe was joined for the ordination by concelebrants Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Thornlie Parish Priest Fr Minh Thuy Nguyen, York Parish Priest and Somascan Fathers Delegate Superior, Fr Joseph Kakumanu CRS, Somascan religious, clergy from across the Archdiocese of Perth and Australia, and assisted by Deacons Nicholas Diedler as MC and Nathan Barrie.
Speaking to Deacon Sheldon during his homily for the occasion, Archbishop Costelloe encouraged him to “like Saint John the Baptist, see yourself as one who is called to prepare the way for the Lord's coming in people's lives.”
“This is, I think, a special gift which deacons, priests and bishops are called to offer in a particular way,”
Archbishop Costelloe said.
“If God has created in each person a secret place in his or her heart which only God himself can fill, it is the privilege of those who are called to ordained ministry to be among those whom God sends to his people to awaken in them the realization of this deep longing,” he said.
A former student of Lumen Christi College, 30-year-old Deacon Sheldon is the son of Burmese migrants Desmond and Shirley.
The youngest of three boys, Deacon Sheldon says he recalls being brought
up with a firm Catholic upbringing. After graduating high school in 2009, Deacon Sheldon explained to The Record he went on to study a degree in Biomedical Science at Murdoch University, graduating in 2012.
By this time however, the significant imprint from a trip to World Youth Day Sydney in 2008 aged 16 could not be ignored for much longer.
Deacon Sheldon noted meeting and feeling inspired by the numerous priests and seminarians present during the WYD journey, but not really understanding much about what their vocation meant.
“It was during the meeting with (then) Pope Benedict XVI, where he invited the young people to say a prayer to the Holy Spirit, everyone was holding candles and I knew in my heart God was speaking to me,” Deacon Sheldon said.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, left, with newly ordained Deacon Sheldon Burke, centre, and his parents Desmond (second from left) and Shirley Burke and Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton. PHOTO: MICHELLE TAN.
SPECIAL REPORT: CARDINAL PELL'S FAITH, SUFFERING REMEMBERED
AT VATICAN FUNERAL
By Cindy Wooden
The death of Australian Cardinal George Pell was a shock because just five days earlier he had concelebrated the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI and "seemed in good health," said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.
In his homily at Cardinal Pell's funeral Mass, Saturday 14 January in St Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Re described the Australian prelate as often being "a strong-willed and decisive protagonist" with "a strong temperament that, at times, could appear harsh."
Cardinal Pell died of a heart attack, Tuesday 10 January at a Rome hospital after undergoing hip surgery. He was 81.
His burial is scheduled for 2 February at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, where he had served as Archbishop before Pope Francis chose him as Prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy. For more information Click Here.
https://cathnews.com/2023/01/18/ requiem-mass-for-cardinal-pell-tobe-held-at-st-marys-cathedral/
The Holy Father, who had praised the Cardinal for keeping his faith "with perseverance even in the hour of trial," arrived in St Peter's Basilica at the end of the Mass to preside over the final rite of commendation, as he usually does for cardinals who die in Rome.
"The last years of his life were marked by an unjust and painful condemnation," Cardinal Re said, referring to Cardinal Pell's conviction on charges of sexual abuse and his 404 days in jail before the Australian high court overturned the conviction.
Cardinal Re told mourners at the funeral that the court "exonerated him with a sentence of full innocence, and he was finally able to leave prison."
Cardinal Pell's trust in God amid such suffering, Cardinal Re said, is an example of "how to accept even unjust punishments with dignity and inner peace."
The cardinal's three-volume "Prison Journal" made clear "how much faith and prayer" helped him, and the books could help others who "suffer unjustly," Cardinal Re said.
"A man of God and a man of the church, he was characterised by a deep faith and great firmness of doctrine, which he always defended
without hesitation and with courage, concerned only with being faithful to Christ," Cardinal Re said. "As he repeatedly pointed out, the weakening of faith in the Western world and the moral crisis of the family grieved him."
Soon after the cardinal's death, the Italian blogger Sandro Magister, claimed Cardinal Pell was the author of a "A Memorandum on the Next Conclave," which Magister published on his blog in March under the pseudonym "Demos."
The author of the memo begins by saying, "this pontificate is a disaster in many or most respects; a catastrophe."
Also after Cardinal Pell's death, the British magazine The Spectator published an article by the cardinal criticising the current process for the Synod of Bishops as "a toxic nightmare" and describing the working document for the synod's continental stage as an "outpouring of New Age good will."
Cardinal Re ended his homily saying, "To God, who is good and rich in mercy, we entrust this brother of ours, praying that God may welcome him into the peace and intimacy of his love."
Pope Francis leads the final commendation at the funeral of Australian Cardinal George Pell in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Saturday 14 January, 2023. Cardinal Pell, former Prefect of the Vatican's Secretariat for the Economy, died Tuesday 10 January in Rome at the age of 81. PHOTO: CNS/PAUL HARING .
CHISHOLM STUDENTS WIN STATE AWARD FOR PLANNING THEIR FUTURE SUBURB
A planning project by Gifted and Talented (Stellatus) students at Chisholm Catholic College has recently been recognised by the peak professional body of Western
Australian Town Planners, the Planning Institute of Australia (WA) and awarded ‘Best Secondary Student Project’.
Chisholm Stellatus teacher and
Head of Science, Paul Shanahan, attended the Planning Institute of Australia’s (WA Branch) Annual Awards night last year 4 November, and on Chisholm College’s behalf, accepted the State Award.
As part of the Stellatus Course, Year 8 Gifted and Talented students undertake an extended project called “My Suburb in 50 Years: Students Planning for the Future.”
As part of the project, students are tasked with examining the suburb where they live and creating a vision that makes it ‘fit for purpose’ in 50 years’ time.
The students are placed in groups and are assigned a strategic location in their suburb that becomes the focus of their Project.
INTERNATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE REDUCES STIGMA
AND
DISCRIMINATION,
THANKS TO ST JOHN OF GOD
The Brothers of St John of God have last year November 2022 celebrated the five-year anniversary of Haus Bung in Papua New Guinea, and caregivers Jenny Tait-Robertson and Anthea Ramos were present for the celebration.
Haus Bung, located in Madang on Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) north coast, is the nation’s first clubhouse for people experiencing mental health issues and was established by St John of God International Health (SJGIH) on behalf of the Brothers
of St John of God. Education Program Coordinator and PNG Project Officer Jenny Tait-Robertson has worked closely with the Haus Bung team over the past five years and says that the service has been hugely successful for its members and has benefitted the wider community.
“One of our biggest achievements is the change we’ve seen in the local community in their attitude towards mental health issues,” Ms Tait Robertson said.
“We’ve worked hard to help address and reduce the stigma and discrimination that people experiencing mental health issues frequently face,” she said.
Ms Tait-Robertson continued by explaining that SJGIH have achieved this by bringing families along on the journey and helping them to understand what’s going on without fear and prejudice.
Professor David Caddy (Chair, WA Planning Commission); Ben Doyle (Director, Planning Solutions); Eleni Thorman (General Manager, CLE Planning and Design) judging a students’ project at Chisholm’s Stellatus Showcase Night. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
The Brothers of St John of God have last year November 2022 celebrated the five-year anniversary of Haus Bung in Papua New Guinea, and caregivers Jenny Tait-Robertson and Anthea Ramos were present for the celebration. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
CHRISTMAS CRAFTS CONNECT AGED CARE RESIDENTS
Southern Cross Care (WA) residential aged care facilities across the State were last month hard at work in the lead up to Christmas, transforming recycled and reusable materials into decorations as part of our annual Christmas decoration competition. The competition has been fierce as staff, residents, their families and the wider community joined forces to create some inspiring pieces.
The decorations were on display in reception areas as a visual symbol of the community spirit and involvement which helped connect residents and families through the activities and preparation that took many months. Not only did it given the reception areas of the facilities a bright and festive facelift, but the activities helped aged care residents to improve
their fine motor skills and keep their minds engaged and stimulated as part of Southern Cross Care (WA)’s therapeutic activities program.
CEO of the not-for-profit aged care provider, Clare Grieveson, said “We are truly amazed by the effort and creativity that has gone into this competition, and we congratulate everyone involved. It’s group activities like this that help our residents to maintain their connection with the community which is so very important for the health and wellbeing.”
The winner of the 2022 Recycle Christmas Extravaganza grand prize was announced as Victoria Park Nursing Home and Hostel in Kalgoorlie.
Special mention also went to the
following facilities who were awarded prizes in these categories:
Villa Pelletier - Best large scale resident project
Jeremiah Donovan House - winner of the ‘making aged care Instagram worthy’ category
Joseph Cooke House - best resident personalisation
Margaret Hubery House - best resident art project
Frank Prendergast House – winner of the ‘celebrating the holiness of Christmas’ category
Germanus Kent House in Broome - best theme with ‘Kimberley Khristmas’
Southern Plus East Fremantle – best use of PPE storage solutions
Recycled and reusable materials transformed into decorations were on display at Frank Predergast House during December. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.