PERTH CLERGY UNITE FOR ANNUAL RECREATION DAY
By Jamie O'Brien
Perth clergy have last week come together to compete in recreational games of tennis, ten pin bowling, lawn bowls and golf.
The annual Clergy Recreation Day on Monday 1 May, was organised by CleRecWest and attended by more than 50 priests across the various sports. The day concluded with a shared evening meal at Keralee Tavern in Como which included an awards ceremony.
Clerec West Committee Member Fr Joseph Laundy said the day was a great opportunity for clergy to be active and spend time socially with fellow clergy.
“It is a unique day when we think about it; clerics coming together not for religious ceremonies but for sport; and with that to support each other in the process,” Fr Joseph said.
“This is a great way to foster fraternity in the clergy circles. Its envisioned flow on effects are hopefully to allow these men of God to work together in supporting each other to have the best health,” he said. Coming together for the dinner, members of the CleRec West Organising Committee (Fathers Bonaventure Echeta, Thi Lam, Simeon San, Jeronimo Castillo, Joseph Laundy and Pau Raj) supported by Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton and Vicar General Fr Peter Whitely presented the day’s awards, with the most notable achievements being celebrated including: Golf
Co-ordinated by Fr Paul Raj, and with a total of 9 players, playing conditions were very positive with no wind or rain.
The rules highlighted that the player who played the shortest game is the winner.
Out of nine players some played 9 holes. Four played 18 holes.
Mazenod College Chaplain and Oblate Father Michael McMahon
OMI was the winner of the Archbishop Prendiville Perpetual Trophy scoring 40 stableford points. Runners up included Palmyra Parish Priest Fr Benedict Lee PP and Moore Parish Administrator Fr Simeon San Tennis
Played at Morley Tennis Courts, five players came together for six rounds Fr Francis & Quoc Tran VS Thi Lam & Joseph Laundy: 3/2
Francis Nguyen & Quoc VS Phong & Joseph Laundy: 3/0
Francis Nguyen & Quoc VS Phong & Thi Lam: 3/1
Phong Nguyen & Thi VS Joseph Laundy & Quoc Tran: 3/1
Francis Nguyen & Thi VS Phong Nguyen & Quoc Tran: 6/1
Thi Lam & Quoc Tran VS Francis Nguyen & Phong Nguyen: 3/2
Tenpin Bowling Results
The ten pin bowlers were this year joined by 15 players – including newly ordained Fr Grzegorz Rapcewicz and Deacons Jason Yeap and Felipe Cortez-Fernandez.
Individual highest winning score: Fr Thi Lam - 244
Team highest winning score: Fr Francis Nguyen & Fr Quoc - 226 & 157
Team wooden spoon winning score: Fr Rodrigo & Deacon Felipe - 49 & 78
Strongest bowler: Fr Mark Baumgarten
Enthusiastic bowler: Fr Michael Quynh Do
Senior bowler: Fr Mario
Junior bowler: Deacon Jason Yeap
Fifteen priests and clergy came together for Ten-Pin Bowling, Monday 1 May as part of the annual Clerec West Sports Day. PHOTO: FR KENNETH ACOSTA.
LOCAL APPEAL DIRECTLY HELPS UKRAINIAN FAMILIES
In July last year, the West Australian Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office (WACMRO) urgently requested parishes to donate financially towards the Ukrainian Displaced Persons Local Appeal.
The purpose of the Appeal was to provide emergency relief to newly arrived Ukrainian nationals seeking asylum in Perth.
“Part of the genius of the Catholic
parish is its ability, when needed, to respond in a rapid manner to current social realities,” said WACMRO Director, Deacon Greg Lowe.
“This is something that can’t always be done by other social outreach structures.
“I say thank you to everyone who donated to the local appeal,” he said.
Deacon Greg explained that majority of the funds were used to assist
28 newly arrived families through provision of vouchers for muchneeded food and clothing.
The outstanding amount raised will be spent on trauma counselling which will inevitably emerge as a need this year.
WACMRO partnered with the St Vincent de Paul Society, who also made a significant financial contribution, to send pre-bought e-vouchers to the mobile phone of recipients in a timely manner so they could immediately purchase material items according to their needs and preferences.
Dcn Greg observed that many of the women and children had now been linked into support networks.
“Let us continue to support and pray for the displaced who, through no fault of their own have been uprooted against their wills,” Deacon Greg explained.
“They have found themselves halfway across the world as strangers in a foreign land having to endure separation from their husbands, older teenage sons and fathers,” he concluded.
FREMANTLE SUPPORT SERVICE FACING GRIM WINTER
St Patrick’s Community Support Centre (St Pat’s) in Fremantle is facing the prospect of heading into winter without many of the basic supplies they need to get through
the cold months ahead.
The homelessness support service has experienced unprecedented demand for its services, particularly basics such as meals, food vouchers and hampers.
“Every year St Pat’s runs a winter appeal, to ensure we have enough food, warm clothing and other items which people who are sleeping rough, or in their cars, might need over the colder months,” St Pat’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Piu, said.
“But we’ve never faced a situation where we’re heading into winter not knowing if we’ll have enough food in the pantry to make it through.”
The shortage is not due to funding reductions, or a lack of generosity from people in the community, Mr Piu said.
“When we put out a call for help on social media we were flooded with calls and offers of assistance,” he said.
Ukrainian Priest Fr Ihor Holovko and WACMRO Deacon Greg Lowe bump elbows following a morning tea for Ukrainian refugees during a morning tea in 2022. Deacon Greg has this week thanked the Perth Catholic community for their support towards a local appeal. PHOTO:RON TAN/ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.
Volunteers help in the kitchen at St Pat’s Community Support Centre. The Fremantle based organisation is facing the prospect of heading into winter without many of the basic supplies they need to get through the cold months ahead. PHOTO:SUPPLIED.
FROM HOLY LAND TO HOLY HEARTS: UNDA STUDENTS TRANSFORMED
BY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
By Dr Lawrence Pang
Studying the Bible in the Holy Land can transform hearts.
Eight University of Notre Dame Australia Master of Education students have recently explored the scriptural foundation of the Church that emerges from the experience of God in Jesus of Nazareth.
The immersive and life-changing experience, made possible through the generosity of the BJ Hickey Scholarship, will be the yeast in our hearts that transforms our engagement with students, colleagues, and others.
“We came as a tourist and left as a pilgrim … strengthened by our experience to show God’s love in all that we do and in all that we say in our lives now and in the future.”
(Sharee)
Walking through Israel has provided greater ‘on the ground’ insights into the historical, geographical, and cultural nuances of the land. It has enriched our understanding of the Bible.
Although we have left behind the holy sites and ruins in Bethlehem, Capernaum, Tagba, Galilee, Nazareth, the Old City, the Temple Mount, Herodium, Masada, Tzipori and the Dead Sea, the stories heard and experienced continue to journey with us in our hearts and guide what we say and do.
The star of David in the Church of Nativity that marks the place of Jesus’ birth continues to direct our hearts and the songs sung at the Shepherd’s Field go on to echo in our being to remind us about whom Christ had come for.
“To dip my toes into the Sea of Galilee affirmed just how real and tangible the events of the Bible are, and it helped me to connect more deeply with the humanity of Jesus and the incredible impact he had on the world. This experience has been beyond life changing and is something I will not only treasure within, but proclaim with joy.” (Karen)
“To experience a humanistic geography, where one has the opportunity to use their senses and breathe in the stillness of being
where Jesus was born, lived and died is truly moving.” (Jennie) “Being on this pilgrimage has added a layer of understanding and spiritual connection to the scripture readings and I will forever carry with me the lessons that I have learnt here.” (David)
The opportunities to reflect on the Bible in the land in which Jesus walked, taught, ministered, lived, died, and resurrected has brought it to life.
Pondering on the lives of the people of the land, the living stones, has prompted much thought about their struggles that arise from differences and clashes in religious beliefs, political ideologies, cultural practices, identities, and traditions.
The land that was to be the place of peaceful co-existence has become a source of conflicts.
The strong desire to promote distinctiveness has led to the failure to recognise that all humans are created in the image and likeness of God.
The UNDA Master of Education students, together with Old Testament Lecturer Dr Lawrence Pang, front row far right, at the UNDA Tantur Campus, Jerusalem. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
JOSEPHITE SISTERS CELEBRATE 70, 75 AND 80 YEARS
OF RELIGIOUS LIFE
Sisters from across Australia gathered at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney to acknowledge and celebrate their Tanzanite (80 years), Tourmaline (75 years) and Platinum (70 years) Jubilees. Seven of the Jubilarians from a group of 15 Sisters were able to gather where they were welcomed by Sisters of Saint Joseph Congregational Leader, Sr Monica Cavanagh, fellow Sisters, family and friends. Celebrating the Mass was Sydney Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop Terry Brady, who congratulated the Jubilarians on their vowed commitment.
Now all 90 years of age or over, this amazing group of Sisters shared and reflected on their significant years of service in so many ministries - education, social justice, parish pastoral care, religious leadership, and working with rural and regional communities.
Those Sisters who were not able to attend were remembered, particularly the Sisters from the profession groups now resting with God.
“These Sisters have lived the spirit and charism entrusted to the Congregation by Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods. They have done it with commitment, generosity and faithfulness. We honour them for indeed God has done great things in them and it fills us with joy,” said Sr Monica.
Among the sisters celebrating their anniversaries was WA Sister Dora Maguire, a former teacher and representative for Good Grief, an organisation that works with children and young people who were struggling with experiences of change, loss and grief.
Jubilarian, Sister Helen Sullivan, was an 18-year-old from Coonabarabran
in western NSW when she joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Perthville. After being professed in 1953, Helen completed teacher training and was sent to work in schools across regional NSW, followed by 11 years in Papua New Guinea supporting remote communities in health and education. Other ministries included working with the Motor Mission, supporting Perthville boarding students, and 19 years working with Sr Maria Sullivan at the Josephite Refugee Mentor Support Project in western Sydney.
“Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods, through the Holy Spirit, were given a special gift to be able to be closer to the people and for me that has been my driving force,” said Sr Helen.
Josephite Sisters, Sr Dora Maguire, together with her sister, Sr Frances Maguire, on the occasion of Sr Dora’s anniversary. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.