SPECIAL REPORT: ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE ANNOUNCES CONVENING OF ARCHDIOCESAN ASSEMBLY
By Jamie O'Brien
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has this week announced the convening of a Diocesan Assembly in September this year.
Speaking in a Pastoral Letter released Tuesday 11 April, Archbishop Costelloe explained that the Assembly will consider the re-establishment of a Diocesan Pastoral Council. Read the Pastoral Letter Diocesan Pastoral Councils, though not mandated by the law of the Church, were are highly recommended by the Second Vatican Council.
Under the leadership of Archbishops Goody and Foley, Perth did have a Diocesan Pastoral Council for some years, but it was discontinued in the late nineties.
“Our recent Plenary Council has called for the establishment or re-establishment of such Councils in every diocese, and I believe it is appropriate for us to decide whether or not the time is now right to make such a move,” Archbishop Costelloe explained.
“It is also important to clarify why such a body might be necessary and how it should operate. The Church’s law and traditions do give some indications and establish some parameters.
“Within these, however, we have ample scope for shaping such a body according to our local needs.
“At the same time, in response to the call of Pope Francis for a more synodal Church, we might ask ourselves what a Diocesan Pastoral Council might look like it if it is a
truly synodal body. These are the questions I will ask the Diocesan Assembly to consider,” he said.
The Assembly will take place on Saturday 23 September and will be held at Newman College, in Churchlands.
Former Perth Plenary Council Co-ordinator, Tony Giglia has also been appointed Co-Ordinator of the Assembly.
The convening of this Diocesan Assembly, highlighted Archbishop Costelloe, is a relatively modest initiative.
“But it is designed to set a pattern for ongoing consultation and discernment which I hope will become a permanent feature of the life of our Archdiocese in the future. “
Archbishop Costelloe with members of the congregation after the 11am Mass on Easter Sunday at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sunday 9 April. PHOTO: RON TAN/ ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.
PALM SUNDAY: CHRIST IS GOD WITH A HUMAN FACE, SAYS ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE
By Jamie O'Brien
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe emphasised the words of St John Paul II at this year’s Palm Sunday Mass, inviting the congregation to remember the words “our witness
(to Christ) would be hopelessly inadequate if we ourselves had not first contemplated his face.”
Speaking Sunday 2 April at St Mary’s Cathedral, Archbishop Costelloe said the then-Holy Father wasn’t saying say that our witness will be
incomplete, or less than perfect, or a bit unsatisfactory, if we have not first contemplated the face of Christ – but that it will be hopelessly inadequate.
“This takes us to the very heart of our faith,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“We Catholics believe, that is, we know with the certainty of our faith, that in Jesus we have so much more than a really good man who lived a wonderful life and left us a remarkable legacy and a powerful teaching,” he said.
Archbishop Costelloe, wearing the red chasible and stole, was joined for the Mass by Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Vicar General the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely, Cathedral Assistant Priests, Fr Richard Rutkauskas and Fr Kenneth Acosta as MC with Deacon Paul Russell assisting.
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EASTER 2023: THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF KNOWING AND EXPERIENCING GOD’S LOVE CAN SET OUR
HEARTS ON FIRE, SAYS ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE
By Jamie O'Brien
The resurrection is the final and absolute confirmation of the truth of all that Jesus came to do for us,
to be for us, and to teach us, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has said.
Speaking at the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Mass, 9 April at St
Mary’s Cathedral, the Archbishop was joined by Cathedral Dean, Rev Dr Sean Fernandez, Assistant Priests Fr Richard Rutkauskas and Richard Smith, with Fr Kenneth Acosta-Garcia as MC.
Deacon Paul Russell assisted for the 9pm Vigil Mass and Deacon Aaron Peters assisted for the 11am Mass. “God really is as close to us, and as compassionate and merciful towards us, and as loving, as Jesus proclaimed him to be,” continued Archbishop Costelloe.
The Vigil Mass saw the baptism of six people by Archbishop Costelloe in the presence of some 650 people. Each person called into the Church by baptism, said Archbishop Costelloe becomes a member of this privileged people.
Deacon Paul Russell proclaims the first part of the Gospel outside at the commencement of the 2023 Palm Sunday Mass, Sunday 2 April at St Mary’s Cathedral. PHOTO: RON TAN/ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.
Archbishop Costelloe, with Deacon Paul Russell and MC Fr Kenneth Acosta-Garcia prepare to light the candle during the liturgy of light at the 2023 Easter Vigil at St Mary’s Cathedral, Saturday 8 April. PHOTO: RON TAN/ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.
PERTH COMES TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY TO WALK FOR REFUGEES ON PALM SUNDAY
By Carol Mitchell, Director, JEDO
Hundreds of people of faith and good will returned to the streets of Perth to walk in solidarity with and in support of refugees and other displaced people.
As the Perth Palm Sunday 2023 theme and promotional flyer highlighted, guests gathered to ‘Walk for Peace… against the horrors of war and persecution that forces people to flee their homes’; and we ‘Walk for Justice for Refugees… to end the further trauma for those who have fled their homes and are now stuck in Australia’s cruel immigration system’.
After gathering outside St George’s Anglican Catholic prior to the walk, guests were respectfully welcomed to country by Rev Mitchell Garlett. Guests then listened to a number of speakers about recent changes to national refugee policies, which also highlighted how far we have to go to be more humane, with details of the AUKUS arrangement in particular being called into question by Quaker and peace activist, Jo Valentine. Although the positive step to create a permanent visa pathway for 19,000 refugees on the Temporary
Protection Visa (TPV) or the Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) was announced last month by the Federal Government, there are others who have been refused protection.
Associate Professor Caroline Fleay, Co-Director for the Centre for Human Rights Education at Curtin University said more than 10,000 people have been refused protection through the unfair ‘Fast Track’ process “…simply because they arrived to Australia by boat”.
We were privileged to also hear from ‘Carolyn’ who spoke of many of the challenges from her lived refugee experience.
However, on a really positive note, there was a loud spontaneous round of applause from the crowd when Carolyn informed us that she now has permanent residency.
So, let us remember, as people of faith and compassion, we can and must do better and we can and must be people of welcome.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic and government directives to restrict public gatherings, this was the first Palm Sunday Walk for Peace and Justice for Refugees possible since 2019.
Guests listened to a number of speakers about recent changes to national refugee policies, Sunday 2 April as part of the 2023 Palm Sunday Walk for Refugees. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
ST JOHN OF GOD HEALTH CARE ANNOUNCES BRYAN PYNE NEW GROUP CEO
St John of God Health Care Board Chair Hon Kerry Sanderson AC CVO has this week announced the appointment of Bryan Pyne as St John of God Health Care Group CEO.
Mr Pyne has been Acting Group Chief Executive Officer since December 2022 following the retirement of Dr Shane Kelly. His appointment is effective immediately.
Mr Pyne has extensive experience in health care, including more than 20 years at St John of God Health Care where he has held a range of senior executive positions within hospitals and at corporate head office.
His most recent previous roles
include the Chief Operating Officer Hospitals and prior to that Group Director Finance.
Mrs Sanderson said that Bryan’s deep experience across hospital operations, strategy, finance and corporate functions made him a standout applicant after a national and international search.
“I have worked with Bryan for many years and he is deeply committed to the ethos of St John of God Health Care.
“He has deep knowledge of the health care sector, a strong focus on people and culture, excellent commercial acumen, and extensive experience in financial management.
“He has held multiple roles across the organisation and has the right
mix of experience and skills.
“During the period he has acted in the position he has proven that he has capabilities needed to lead St John of God Health Care at the current time.
“I very much look forward to continuing to work with him in this new capacity.”
Mr Pyne said it was an honour to be appointed as Group CEO of the organisation where he had worked for many years.
“This is a great organisation and I look forward to taking on this role and leading our team as we move forward after the challenges of the past few years.
New SJG Health Care CEO Bryan Pyne has been Acting Group Chief Executive Officer since December 2022 following the retirement of Dr Shane Kelly. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.