ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE VISITS SALESIAN COMMUNITY IN LONDON: INVITES CONGREGATION TO LISTEN
in which we find ourselves.
Salesians of the Great Britian Province were recently privileged to host Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB at Sacred Heart Church, Battersea West Parish, London.
Archbishop Costelloe was in London for the 2023 Flame: Rise Up Youth Congress held Saturday 4 March at Wembley AVO Arena.
Speaking Sunday 5 March, Archbishop Costelloe did not hide his exhaustion from the previous day’s event, however expressing the joy he experienced from the Salesian Community in Battersea and the Flame event, he said, outweighed his tiredness.
In his homily for the occasion, Archbishop Costelloe reflected on the word “listen”, inviting the Sacred Heart Battersea West Parish community to listen to God in the scriptures, to listen to the unfolding of God’s mystery in the Church, and to listen to the reality of the world
At the end of each Mass, Archbishop Costelloe spoke made himself available to talk to everyone who came to meet him, blessing children and speaking with parents.
Archbishop Costelloe was also interviewed by Assistant Priest Fr Anthony Lobo, inviting young people to be more authentic.
A spokesperson for the parish said the Archbishop’s presence was a
blessing to the Salesian Community, the Parish community, the Salesian School at Battersea, and to the 8000+ young people present at the Flame Congress.
Residing at the Salesian House in Battersea, Archbishop Costelloe also conferred the ministry of Lector to three Salesian students of theology.
Left: Archbishop Costelloe with members of the Salesian community of West Battersea, London, following the conferral of the Ministry of Lector on three Salesian students, Monday 27 February, and, right, with Parish Priest Fr Peter Pagac SDB. PHOTO: BR STEPHEN MENSAH SDB
By Bro Stephen Mensah SDB and Jamie O’Brien
Archbishop Costelloe with Salesian priest Fr Robert Gardner SDB and students Bros. Augustine Alfred, Martin Pushparaj, and Stephen Teye. PHOTO: BR STEPHEN MENSAH SDB.
LITURGICAL FORMATION & RENEWAL PROGRAM: SIGNS AND SYMBOLS INVITE US TO REFLECT
ON THE MYSTERY OF OUR FAITH
By Jamie O'Brien
The signs and symbols of Catholic liturgies are intended to move us to a conversion of heart, thereby transforming us in the mission of the Church to be Christ in our world, Catechist Services Field Officer Mildred Rego has said.
Speaking in the third video for the Liturgical Renewal and Formation program, Mildred explained that over the years, meaningful signs and symbols have come to occupy a key place in the Church that remind us of the history, teachings, and traditions passed down to us as followers of Jesus,
“The signs and symbols used within the Catholic liturgy, go beyond words, they provide us with a great opportunity for reflection and help to “materialise” the spiritual realities that we can experience,” Mildred said. “These simple elements of everyday life invite us to reflect on
the mystery of our faith – it is God acting in our lives,” she said.
The Liturgical Formation and Renewal Program, launched at the start of Lent in parishes across the Archdiocese with an introduction from Archbishop Costelloe, 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.
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.
During the four weeks of lent, video messages highlighting an understanding of What is Sacramentality, What is Liturgy,
Signs and Symbols in the Liturgy and Why we Gather to celebrate Liturgy will be shown in our parish communities.
The videos feature Fr Vincent Glynn, Sr Kerry Willison RSM and Mildred Rego.
Speaking in the video, Mildred highlights that the celebration of the Mass is full of signs and symbols.
“These signs and symbols point beyond themselves to a spiritual reality which we can comprehend and perceive through the lens of faith,” Mildred says.
“They are the visible or tangible signs which the sacred liturgy uses to signify the presence and action of God,” she said.
Mildred concludes saying sacred signs, are a means of grace leading us to an experience of God.
The statue of the Pieta, St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City. Rome. Signs are a means of grace pointing us to an experience of God, explains Catechist Services Field Officer Mildred Rego. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.
SYNOD 2023: ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE NAMED TO SYNOD PREPARATORY COMMISSION
Secretary-General of the Synod Cardinal Mario Grech has named Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe
SDB and six others to be members of the preparatory commission for the general assembly of the Synod
of Bishops in October.
According to the apostolic constitution for the synods, the Secretary-General establishes the commission "for further exploration of the theme and for the redaction of any documents that may be issued prior to the Synod Assembly."
The names of the seven commission members were released by the Vatican Wednesday 15 March, the same day all seven were meeting with Cardinal Grech and with Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, General Relator of the upcoming synod.
The theme Pope Francis chose for the synod is: "For a Church that Journeys Together: Fellowship, Participation and Mission." It will meet at the Vatican from 4 to 29 October 2023.
A second assembly has been scheduled for October 2024.
Mercedarian Sister Shizue "Filo" Hirota from Tokyo, Japan, was the only woman named to the preparatory commission. She is a consultant for the Catholic Council for Justice and Peace of the Japanese bishops' conference of Japan.
The other members are: Jesuit Father Giacomo Costa, who will serve as coordinator; Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas; Bishop Lucio A. Muandula of Xai-Xai, Mozambique; Father Dario Vitali, a professor of theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome; and Polish Msgr. Tomasz Trafny, a member of the synod secretariat staff, who will serve as secretary of the commission.
Secretary-General of the Synod Cardinal Mario Grech has named Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB as a member of the preparatory commission for the general assembly of the Synod of Bishops. PHOTO: RON TAN.
ABOVE: Father Tomasz Trafny, and below, Italian Jesuit Fr Giacomo Costa, adviser to the secretarygeneral of the synod. PHOTOS: CNS/JUNNO AROCHO
PROJECT COMPASSION 2023: NEW FOUND KNOWLEDGE
OPENS DOORS FOR PRISCILLA IN ZIMBABWE
Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation’s Young Mums and Bubs Group, supported by Caritas Australia, supports young women in the community with practical support like housing and helps mentor the next generation of young people. The Baabayn program has successfully helped many young women to reconnect with their culture through Indigenous art, with a group of the women displaying their art at the Vivid festival in Sydney in 2022.
Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation was founded by five Elders from Western Sydney - home to one of the largest urban First Australian populations in Australia.
Baabayn (which means ‘Ancestral Woman’ in Gumbaynggirr language) provides a welcoming environment for First Australian families and
individuals to help them heal from the past and nurture their sense of confidence and pride in the future. The work of Baabayn involves initiatives such as a Homework Club, a Young Mums and Bubs program and a youth group. They also provide advocacy, counselling services and links to government departments.
With your support, the work of Baabayn can continue to work with young mothers at Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation and help them keep their culture strong for future generations.
During Lent, we are invited to take up the call to fast, pray and give alms. The impacts of the COVID19 pandemic and the many crises that have struck the world over the past 12 months mean that many communities are in great need of
your support.
Supporting Project Compassion is a way for us to proclaim the faith that is in our hearts and help our sisters and brothers in need. Your gift will help uplift the most marginalised and vulnerable members of society.
To donate to Project Compassion, visit Caritas Australia’s website: www. caritas.org.au/project-compassion/ or call 1800 024 413.
Community members chat during the weekly Elders Gathering at Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation in western Sydney. PHOTO: RICHARD WAINWRIGHT/CARITAS.