LITURGICAL FORMATION & RENEWAL PROGRAM: WE GO FORTH FROM THE EUCHARIST TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, SAYS SR KERRY
Just as we gather as a community in the Eucharist, we go forth from the Eucharist to serve the needs of our brothers and sister, explains Centre for Liturgy Director Sr Kerry Willison RSM, in the fourth and final video for the Liturgical Formation and Renewal Program for the Archdiocese of Perth, Why Do We Gather?
Released to the Catholic community this week, Why Do We Gather? presented by Sr Kerry Willison RSM, focuses on the words in the Eucharistic prayer ‘Do this in memory of me’. (Luke: 22:19).
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.
The Jewish people, explains Sr Kerry, gathered in community to worship God - they worshipped in the Temple and those who lived
elsewhere around the Mediterranean worshipped in their synagogues.
“After Jesus ascended into heaven, we hear in the Acts of the Apostles (2:42) how the first Christians, who were also Jewish, went to the temple on Saturdays but gathered in homes in the evening for the celebration of The Lord’s Supper which became known as the Eucharist,” Sr Kerry said.
Why Do We Gather? explains how the Mass has its origins in the Jewish synagogue service.
“Just as the Jewish people gathered to listen to the word of God from the Old Testament, so too do we when we gather for the Eucharist; we come together to hear God’s word,” she said.
“When we gather for the Eucharist, we gather as a community to participate in the Paschal Mystery of Christ - His Passion, Death and Resurrection, which we celebrate at every Mass. (1 Corinthians 11: 26).
“Just as we gather as a community in the Eucharist, we go forth from the Eucharist to serve the needs of our brothers and sisters,” Sr Kerry said. Seek nourishment, satisfaction in Eucharist, says Pope Francis
By Junno Arocho Esteves
Addressing an estimated 20,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square for his Sunday Angelus address 19 June 2022, on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, Pope Francis said that, through the Eucharist, "everyone can experience this loving and concrete attention of the Lord."
A Minister of the Eucharist distributes Holy Communion at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sunday 25 December 2022. PHOTO: RON TAN/ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.
FINDING HOPE IN HARD TIMES; LETTING GOD MOVE YOU THROUGH YOUR SUFFERING
By Lisette Jas & Jamie O'Brien
Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has last weekend Saturday 18 March celebrated the Day of the Unborn Child Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral. Pregnancy Assistance Counsellor Lisette Jas said PA has been involved with organising this annual Mass for many years.
“The Mass is an occasion to commemorate the Annunciation when Jesus, the Son of God became an unborn child in the womb of His Mother,” Mrs Jas said.
“We celebrate the Sacredness of all human life,” she said.
During the Mass those present honoured all those babies who are not with us but are loved and not forgotten by putting a flower in the baskets placed on the altar.
The death of a baby, highlighted Mrs Jas, at any stage of pregnancy can be a very sad, distressing, and overwhelming time.
“One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, one in three pregnancies end in abortion, and about one in
a hundred pregnancies end in still birth,” Mrs Jas said.
“We must keep in mind that for the mother and father this can be a very emotional experience. The pain is real, so it is important that the grief response and impact associated with miscarriage, still birth and abortion is recognised because for the woman who had a pregnancy loss, it is a very personal loss,” she said.
Mrs Jas continued by explaining that in the case of an abortion, many people don’t recognise that there has been a loss.
A season to heal authors Lucy Freed and Penny Salazar explain that society allows many rituals to help us grieve the death of our loved ones, but there is still little visible support for helping the mother and father who have had an abortion.
“However, when your loss is not recognized by society, there is no opportunity to openly mourn,” Mrs Jas said.
“As a result, the woman and her family may deny their immediate pain and they cannot express their feelings surrounding the pregnancy
and termination,” she said.
This inevitably, emphasised Mrs Jas, will cause stress, anger, resentment, anxiety, and depression.
“Fear, guilt, shame and self-punishing behaviours are also some of many experiences people may have,” she said.
Mrs Jas concluded by saying that grief is a long and personal experience for every individual.
“It is also erratic and doesn’t follow a straight line, so we hope that the Day of the Unborn Child Mass brings healing and the assurance of God’s infinite mercy and peace to the many men and women who have lost a child,” she said.
Pregnancy Assistance is a Perth based charity providing compassionate care, emotional, practical and informational support to women and men in need throughout their pregnancy and post birth. We also offer professional counselling for women and men affected by pregnancy loss (abortion, miscarriage, still birth and ectopic pregnancy).
During the Mass for Day of the Unborn Child, Saturday 18 March, those present honoured all those babies who are not with us but are loved and not forgotten by putting a flower in the baskets placed on the altar. PHOTO: RON TAN / ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.
NCEC DIRECTOR WITNESSES’ EXAMPLES OF THRIVING CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN WA
National Catholic Education Director, Hon Jacinta Collins has last week Tuesday 14 March seen that Catholic education is thriving and continuing to serve families across Western Australia following a visit to a number of schools in the Perth metro area.
Hon Collins visited St Francis’ School in Maddington, St Jude’s Catholic School in Langford, and Lumen Christi College in Martin alongside Catholic Education Commission WA Chair, Ms Eva Skira AM, Catholic Education WA Executive Director, Dr Debra Sayce, Catholic School Parents WA Executive Director, Siobhan Allen and representatives of the Catholic Primary and Secondary Principals Associations.
The group met with Principals, teachers, and students from each of the schools and had the opportunity to hear about the great work occurring inside and outside the classroom.
Hon Jacinta Collins said the interactions the visiting entourage had with staff and students at St Francis School, St Jude’s Catholic School and Lumen Christi College
leave her with no doubt that Catholic education in WA is meeting its mission to deliver accessible, affordable, Christ-centred education to Australian families.
“I’d like to thank my colleagues at Catholic Education WA and at each school for taking the time to show me the great work that is going on in these schools,” the Hon Collins said.
CEWA Executive Director also noted that it has been a pleasure to be able to give the Hon Collins a flavour of what is happening in WA’s Catholic schools on a daily basis.
“In meeting teachers and students, I have once again been struck by thoughtful, committed Catholic educators and leadership within our schools,” Dr Sayce said.
Catholic Education Commission WA Chair Eva Skira AM said Catholic schools offer parents in WA the choice of an accessible, affordable, quality, Christ-centred and childfocused education.
“Each of the schools we visited today are great examples of Catholic schools meeting the needs of our communities,” Ms Skira said.
“In speaking to staff and students at the schools I know that our schools are places where students are supported to reach their Godgiven potential and instilled with the skills and values to become outstanding citizens.
“This is why more families than ever before are choosing a Catholic education for their child,” she said.
Catholic School Parents WA Executive Director Siobhan Allen also noted that parents who choose a Catholic school find that their child receives not just an excellent academic experience but are supported to grow spiritually and emotionally.
“Today, we have seen first-hand why – with passionate teachers and well-run schools, young people are benefitting from their parents’ choice of school,” Ms Allen said. For more information about enrolling your child at a Catholic school visit https://www.cewa.edu.au/ourschools/find-a-school/schooldirectory/
NCEC Executive Director the Hon Jacinta Collins listens to students from St Francis’ School Maddington, Tuesday 14 March, during a visit to a number of schools in the Perth metro area. With her are CEWA Executive Director Dr Debra Sayce, CECWA Chair Ms Eva Skira AM, Hammond Park CPS Principal Andrew Colley and Catholic School Parents WA Executive Director, Siobhan Allen. PHOTO: MATT BIOCICH / CEWA.
PROJECT COMPASSION 2023: GENEROUS SUPPORT SEES
CARITAS
AUSTRALIA CONTINUE
MISSION OF HELPING LIFT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES OUT OF POVERTY
Throughout Lent, Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion, has attempted to draw attention to many important issues in our world. We have been invited to take up the cross and follow Jesus in our own time.
Over the last few weeks, Caritas Australia have shared some of the stories of people whose lives have been transformed thanks to your support of Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion.
There is the story of 16-year-old Laxmi, who lives in one of the most remote communities in Nepal. After losing her father at a young age, she was vulnerable to falling further into extreme poverty. But thanks to your generosity and the support of our partner Caritas Nepal, Laxmi joined a child’s club, became a leader in her school and is now a mentor to other girls in her village.
There is also Thu from Vietnam, who can now earn extra income and care for his wife despite his disability. In Zimbabwe, women like Priscilla can now learn conservation farming skills to grow drought-resistant crops and support their families during the current drought.
And finally, there is the story of Tereesa – a Gamilaroi woman from Western Sydney who struggled with homelessness while raising her four children. Through the Baabayn Young Mums and Bubs program, she was able to reconnect with her culture and create a better future for her children.
It is through the generous support of people like you that we are able to continue our mission of helping lift vulnerable communities out of poverty.
Every day, more than 200 million children miss out on school, around 690 million people experience extreme hunger and 2.2 billion people cannot access clean drinking water. In recent years, COVID-19 has also devastated vulnerable people already living in poverty, with the health and economic impacts to reverberate for years to come.
Thank you for your continued support for Project Compassion – past, present and future. The funds you raise can help communities around the world improve their access to food and clean water, support education and skills training, help families to increase their income and provide training in Disaster Risk Reduction.
Laxmi (16) leading a rally with Child Club members calling for child rights, such as access to education and stopping child marriage and child labour. PHOTO: RICHARD WAINWRIGHT/CARITAS.