EXCLUSIVE: THE GIFT OF THE EUCHARIST THE FOCUS FOR NEW LITURGICAL FORMATION AND RENEWAL PROGRAM
By Jamie O'Brien
We simply cannot be faithful to the call from God unless we recognise that our deepest identity can only be found in our relationship with Christ, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has said, in launching a new program focussing on liturgical formation and renewal.
Commencing this week with an introduction video from Archbishop Costelloe to be aired in parishes, the program aims to encourage the Perth Catholic community to awaken a renewed love for and awareness of the extraordinary gift we have in the Eucharist, in the Mass. A further four videos will be released over the next four weeks of lent.
“It is God’s most precious gift to us through his Church: it is God’s gift of himself in Christ,” Archbishop Costelloe says.
Leading the program is the Episcopal Vicar for Education and Faith Formation, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn, supported by Centre for
Liturgy Director, Sr Kerry Willison RSM, Director of Religious Education at Catholic Education Western Australia, Deacon Mark Powell, Director of the Centre for Faith Enrichment, Dr Marco Ceccarelli and Catechist Services Field Officer, Mildred Rego.
Over the next four weeks, video messages highlighting an understanding of Sacramentality, Why we Gather to celebrate Liturgy, Signs and Symbols in the Liturgy and What is Liturgy, will be shown in our parish communities. The videos feature Fr Vincent Glynn, Sr Kerry Willison RSM and Mildred Rego.
Archbishop Costelloe says that it is important that the Perth Catholic community reflect on what it means to be a Christ-centred Church that is prayerful and Eucharistic.
“The gift of the Eucharist, like the gift of faith itself, comes to us from God who calls us into His Church through baptism and nourishes and strengthens this faith through our life within the Church,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“That God should choose us will always remain both an undeserved grace and a profound mystery,” he said.
Fr Vincent Glynn said after the Easter season there will be a focus on the celebration of the Eucharist.
“In particular Christ present in the community gathered, Christ present in the Word proclaimed, Christ present in the minister and especially Christ present in his body and blood,” Fr Glynn explained.
“This focus will culminate on the Feast of Corpus Christi,” he said. Liturgical Formation and Renewal has been encouraged by publication of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, Desiderio Desideravi, ("I have earnestly desired"), released 29 June 2022 on the feast of Sts Peter and Paul.
The title of the Holy Father’s Letter comes from Luke 22:15 when, before the Last Supper, Jesus tells his disciples, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."
In the letter, Pope Francis insisted that Catholics need to better understand the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council and its goal of promoting the "full, conscious, active and fruitful celebration" of the Mass.
"With this letter I simply want to invite the whole church to rediscover, to safeguard and to live the truth and power of the Christian celebration," Pope Francis wrote.
The video can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=QuPvQAbU4nY
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe elevates the Body of Christ during the Opening Mass of the Fifth Plenary Council, Sunday 3 October 2021. PHOTO: RON TAN.
SCARBOROUGH PARISHIONERS CALLED TO BE FAITHFUL
TO THE GIFT OF FAITH THAT GOD HAS GIVEN
By Jamie O'Brien
What are we called to do and be as a Church at this particular time in our history?
This was the question asked by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB at the Scarborough Parish Immaculate Heart of Mary Church 75th Anniversary.
The celebration was attended by more than 600 parishioners past and present, Sunday 12 February and joining Archbishop Costelloe for the occasion was Vicar General, the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely VG, Parish Priest Fr Christian Irdi, former parish priest Fr Grant Goddard, Geraldton Diocese Emeritus Bishop Justin Bianchini and guest priest Fr Kevin Cummins.
Fr Peter Whitely and Emeritus Bishop Justin Bianchini both served in the parish as Assistant Priests in the 1970’s.
Speaking about the significant changes in society over the past 75 years, Archbishop Costelloe said that in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, life looked very different.
“As I look back, the thing that strikes me most forcefully is that when I was a boy growing up, the values of my family, and the values of the Catholic school to which my mum and dad sent both my brother and me, were pretty much indistinguishable from the values of the society around us,” Archbishop Costelloe explained.
“We are now trying to live our Christian life, our life of discipleship in a society which doesn't support the values that are important to us, in the way that the society used to be. Hence, emphasised Archbishop Costelloe, the Church really needs to think carefully about how we are to convey the message of Christ in a very different situation, in a very different context.
“What is the Lord asking of us, now, at this time in our history, which is in some respects, so different from us?
“Faithfulness. Fidelity. Still, today, in 2023, God is asking us the same thing he asked of those who first founded this parish. To be faithful to the gift of faith that He has given to us.”
Parish Priest Fr Christian Irdi the occasion was an inspiring testimony of the steadfast Catholic faith of
the generations who have served the Scarborough Parish community.
“I acknowledge the many members of the clergy who have served this parish in various capacities over the course of its long history,” Fr Christian said.
“I am grateful to them for all their tireless efforts in laying the solid foundations upon which we continue to build in our own present day.
Fr Christian also paid tribute to the extraordinary contribution of the Dominican Sisters who served and continue to serve the parish community and school, for more than 70 years.
“Their joyful Christian witness and selfless service continues to inspire me and many others in all that they do for us,” he said.
A commemorative booklet was also produced for the occasion, in addition to a Papal Blessing which was presented to Parish Council Chair David Somers by Fr Christian at the conclusion of Mass.
Archbishop Costelloe, third from left, with Parish Priest, Fr Christian Irdi, fourth from left, and former parish priest Fr Grant Gorddard, former administrator Fr Patrick Toohey, Geraldton Emeritus Bishop Justin Bianchini and Vicar General, the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS RETURN TO TRAVELLING AROUND THE WORLD
The BJ Hickey Scholarship is back in full swing doing what it does best - equipping students to travel interstate and around the world in their pursuit of the study of Word of God.
This year, scholarship recipients were invited to St Mary’s Cathedral grounds on 17 February, to receive
their certificates, listen to past experiences of students who had travelled to study Scripture and network with each other.
Opened with a prayer by Episcopal Vicar for Education and Faith Formation, Fr Vincent Glynn, the first part of the event featured an address by Centre for Faith Enrichment
Director, Dr Marco Ceccarelli, and founder of the scholarship, Emeritus Archbishop Barry James Hickey. Dr Ceccarelli reminded guests that this event was taking place not too long after Word of God Sunday, an annual commemoration introduced by Pope Francis to celebrate the Word of God.
He pointed to the Pope’s homily from this year’s Word of God Sunday celebration at St Peter’s Basilica, where the Pope spoke of Jesus’ travel through Caparneum.
“The Word is for everyone” Pope Francis said. “Jesus ‘reaches out’ to tell us that God’s mercy is for everyone. Let us not forget this: God’s mercy is for everyone, for each one of us.”
The Holy Father went on to say that “the Word of God, which is addressed to all, calls everyone to conversion. God’s nearness is not inconsequential..."
INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED GRIEF TO GRACE PROGRAM NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Grief to Grace Perth is now offering financial support to individuals in Australia who would like to access the Grief to Grace program overseas. Grief to Grace was launched in the US in 2005 and is a Christcentred residential healing program for anyone who has experienced abuse – clergy spiritual or sexual
abuse, domestic abuse, abuse in Church employment, or other forms of abuse by those in positions of trust and spiritual authority.
The Judeo-Christian spiritual framework program, which was developed by US psychologist Dr Theresa Burke is structured, confidential, and runs for five days, and uses large and small group work combined with somatic healing approaches.
The program which has been offered in Australia three times, is team-led and is guided throughout and includes rest and private time. COVID-19 and other issues have made it difficult to continue offering the program locally.
People of all faiths or none are welcome. The funding will cover accommodation, all meals, retreat materials, after-care materials, and
the presence of qualified specialist counsellors. Participants will be reimbursed for the value of an economy airfare to and from the site. Both men and women, lay, clergy, and religious are welcome to apply. Each site undertakes a comprehensive intake process for each applicant to make sure that the program is right for them.
For more information, check out the international retreat calendar to make contact with a site where you would like to attend the retreat program.
Interested people are invited to visit the funding website at https:// grieftograceperth.com/ or email rvmpsec@gmail.com
Scholarship recipients pictured with Biblical Foundation Committee, Emeritus Archbishop Barry James Hickey and Episcopal Vicar for Education and Faith Formation, Fr Vincent Glynn. PHOTO: RON TAN.
The Judeo-Christian spiritual framework program, which was developed by US psychologist Dr Theresa Burke PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
SPECIAL REPORT: POPE FRANCIS’ ANNIVERSARY SEES
CURIA REFORM COMPLETE, FINANCIAL REFORM ONGOING
From the beginning of his pontificate 10 years ago, Pope Francis set out to reform the structure and attitudes of the Roman Curia and knew he also had to reform the Vatican's financial system and stewardship of resources.
One month after his election, he announced he was forming an international Council of Cardinals to advise him on governance and, in September 2013, the council began studying ways to reorganise the Curia.
Nine years passed before Pope Francis promulgated Praedicate Evangelium ("Preach the Gospel"), his Apostolic Constitution finalising the Curia reorganisation and highlighting its role as a body existing to help
the pope and local bishops share the Gospel and care for the poor. The emphasis on service and evangelization was a point Pope Francis made repeatedly to Curia officials, most notably in his annual Christmas greetings, which often were seen as more chastising than cheery.
The most famous of those speeches came in 2014 when he listed the "diseases" to which Curia officials are susceptible, including: thinking they are "downright indispensable"; "the 'Martha complex' of excessive busy-ness"; "mental and spiritual 'petrification'" or having "a heart of stone"; "spiritual Alzheimer's disease," which involves forgetting one's own salvation and vocational call;
gossiping; and idolising or courting superiors in the hope of promotion. But nine years is a long time to accomplish what was supposed to be a priority.
Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny said that says something about the Holy Father, which is "that before he has, let's say, a managerial style or business administration model, he's a man of faith and hope and, indeed, of charity."
"In other words, to have the faith to spend nine years to work out a reform before springing it on everyone, I think is magnificent," Cardinal Czerny said.
Pope Francis holds the monstrance as he gives his extraordinary blessing "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) from the atrium of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican 27 March 2020. The blessing was livestreamed because of the coronavirus pandemic. PHOTO: CN/YARA NARDI, POOL VIA REUTERS