DOUBLEVIEW PARISH COMMUNITY CALLED TO WALK TOGETHER IN THE WAY OF THE LORD
By Jamie O'Brien
The invitation is there for each of us, in the depths of our heart, to recommit ourselves to being people of communion and unity in our life within the Church, and never people of dissension and disunity, Perth Archbishop Costelloe has said. Speaking at the 50th anniversary of the Our Lady of the Rosary Church of Doubleview Parish, Sunday 14 May, Archbishop Costelloe was joined by Vicar General, the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely VG, St Mary’s Cathedral Dean and former parishioner, the Very Rev Dr Sean Fernandez, Parish Priest Fr Peter Hoang OP and Assistant Fr Tom Cassidy OP, Dominican Prior Provincial Fr Dominic Murphy OP, former Parish Priest Fr Peter Toan Nguyen OP and Fr Vincent Conroy.
More than 450 parishioners past and present came together for the 10am Mass, including many Dominican Sisters, led by Congregational Leader Sr Mary Ryan OP, who were present in the early days of the formation of the parish.
Continuing his homily, Archbishop Costelloe highlighted that this call to unity is at the heart of the mission which Pope Francis has identified as the urgent task for the Church today.
“As some of you would know, the Pope has convened a Synod of Bishops, a gathering of representatives of the world's bishops, which will commence in Rome in late September,” Archbishop Costelloe explained.
“One of the unique elements of this Synod will be that, unlike other synods in the past, there will be lay people, religious and clergy who
will also be present and who, along with the bishops, will have the right to vote.
“In this way the Pope is wanting to remind all of us that, because of our baptism, we all share responsibility for the Church's fidelity to the Lord.
“It is true that the bishops, as successors of the apostles, have a particular role to play in this, but they exercise that role from within the Church, not outside it and certainly not above it - which means, of course, from within the community, not outside it, and certainly not above it.
“We are called to walk together, and not in separate groups, in the way of the Lord,” he said.
Parish Priest Fr Peter Hoang said the parish is a vibrant community who are always willing to work together in an effort to support each and every person.
“I pray the parish will continue to grow – in faith, looking to Jesus Christ and His mother, understanding the wonderful plan He has for their lives,” Fr Peter said.
“I am most grateful to be present for this momentous occasion,” he continued.
“We must encourage, with love and mercy, the next generation, who will care for the parish for the next 50 years and beyond,” he said.
A biographical account of the building’s creator and story of the Church’s construction and completion was also developed for the anniversary, entitled Stone of Eternity by local writer and photographer Richard Goodwin, which was launched Saturday 13 May.
Archbishop Costelloe with Doubleview parishioner Marian Fergusson, aged 99 with her daughters Pauline Lynch and Camille Billing. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.
TRADITION OF VOLUNTEERING CONTINUES: BISHOP
SPROXTON GIVES THANKS FOR ‘THOSE WHO WORKED HARD WITH THE LITTLE
THAT THEY HAD’
By Jamie O'Brien
Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has last weekend paid tribute to volunteers at the annual National Volunteers Week Thanksgiving Mass, Sunday 14 May.
Co-ordinated in the Archdiocese of Perth by Catholic Social Services WA, National Volunteers week is celebrated across Australia from 15 to 21 May.
Parishes across the Archdiocese were also invited to commemorate the occasion and acknowledge the volunteers who contribute to their communities.
Joining Bishop Sproxton for the Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral was Cathedral Assistant Priest, Fr Richard Rutkauskas, together with some 800 people; including numerous volunteers from agencies and parishes across Perth.
Noting several individuals across WA who are being considered
for awards in various categories, Bishop Sproxton highlighted that all have found the time to devote to organisations that are dedicated to lifting up and inspiring many in our communities that otherwise would be overlooked and left behind.
“The time that they give, with quite some passion, greatly contributes to and adds value to community projects and the vision of good people “who see a need and do something about it”, as St Mary MacKillop would often say,” Bishop Sproxton said.
“Volunteers are to be found in all areas of society. So, it is not surprising to find them in every community of the Church as well,” he said.
Speaking about his own experience of volunteers, Bishop Sproxton retold how when he was in primary school at Bayswater and Bedford, schools depended on the parents, firstly, to build the school by selfhelp and then, continue to develop
the amenities needed for a more complete education of their children.
“Many of our primary and secondary schools were financed and even physically built by the fathers and mothers who gave up their weekends and weekday evenings for the sake of their children,” Bishop Don highlighted.
“These were great days in those schools’ histories. There was great community spirit. Without them it is hard to imagine what the vision of Catholic Education would have become,” he said.
Bishop Sproxton emphasised that these volunteers worked hard with the little that they had, with their own hands, using their skills without counting the cost.
“They did not just have their own children in mind but all the children and the families of their parish,” he said.
Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton speaks with parishioners at the conclusion of the National Volunteers Week Thanksgiving Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sunday 14 May. PHOTO: RON TAN/ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.
LIFETIMES OF SERVICE CARING FOR THE POOR CELEBRATED AT LOCKRIDGE
By Vivian D’Almeida
Sunday, 19 March was a Red-Letter Day for the Swan Region of the St Vincent de Paul Society of WA.
Lockridge Parish Good Shepherd Church was a splendid setting for the first Festival Mass for the region in nearly two years. It gave the opportunity to clear a great backlog of commissioning’s and milestone recognitions. However, the day turned out to be much more than that. It was a day to celebrate the Society of St Vincent de Paul. If anyone thought the spirit of giving generously was dead, they only had to attend the Mass at Good Shepherd Church on that day.
Being commissioned were one new Regional President, eight new Conference Presidents and 33 new conference members spread across ten conferences in the region.
In addition, 31 members received commendations for varying lengths of service – ranging from five to 45 years.
An additional eight members, including one member who has served for 50 years were also presented with awards at a special meeting of the Embleton Conference.
Special mention was made of Terry Walsh of Lesmurdie and Paul Pasini of Embleton for 45 and 50 years of service respectively.
The highlight of the morning was the recognition accorded to Patricia Bull. Patricia has devoted 60 years of service to the Society.
The special prayer for her said, “She has been a shining example of love ‘for the least of Jesus’ brethren’”.
The first mention of Patricia in the archives dates back to 1963. She was a volunteer at the first Vinnies shop in Midland and joined the Midland Conference when the rules changed to admit women. Apart
from a break to take care of her ailing husband, Brian Bull, Patricia has an otherwise unbroken record of service to the poor of Midland. Mass and recognitions were followed by a morning tea and fellowship at the Dan Foley Parish Centre of Lockridge.
The spirit of the day was expressed best in the words of a parishioner of Lockridge who said, “I was inspired enough by the celebrations to want to join the Society. If I was in better health, I would have.”
Thanks need to go to the Community of Lockridge, Parish Priest Fr Aloysius Leong and the SVDP Conference of Lockridge Parish, led by Diana Harvey and Cathy Smith. Thanks too, to the staff at Ozanam House for their unstinting support and to the State President, David Kennedy, for his continuous encouragement.
Lockridge Parish Priest Fr Aloysius Leong blesses new members of the St Vincent De Paul Society during a special commissioning Mass, Sunday 19 March, the first celebration after two years of COVID. PHOTO: SUPPLIED /SVDP.
GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY OPENS NEW DOORS AT ST CHARLES SEMINARY
By Daniele Defendi
Good Shepherd Sunday 30 April marked the annual day of vocation and discernment for the priesthood at St Charles Seminary.
The event was organised in collaboration with the Vocations Office of Perth, and invited men from across the city to come and find out more about life as a seminarian and diocesan priest.
This year, 13 men enquired about the priesthood, many of whom went on to register their interest for further enquiry.
The day’s events began with an opening Mass celebrated by Rector Fr Francis Nguyen.
“The annual celebration of the fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday, is often set aside to pray for all Christian vocations, including Marriage, Consecrated Religious Life, Single
Life and Priesthood,” Fr Francis said. “Today we pray especially for these young men to open their hearts to listen to the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd and discern if they have a call to be priests and respond to it with generosity and faith,” he said. At the conclusion of Mass, attendees listened to a series of talks and presentations, including a talk from the Perth Archdiocese Vocations Director Fr Israel Quirit.
Fr Israel spoke of his own journey toward the priesthood, reassuring many of the visitors that discerning God’s will for their lives was a natural part of the life-long adventure of priesthood.
Attendees were given a brief tour of the seminary grounds, where they were free to have their questions answered about everyday life at St Charles from the seminarians presenting the tour.
After a relaxing lunch spent talking and taking in the spectacular riverside
views of Guildford, the attendees shifted over to the seminary lawn for an exciting game of soccer. Finally, the vocation and discernment day at St Charles Seminary finished with a solemn benediction ceremony at the chapel.
In the lead up to the event, seminarians were invited to present a vocation talk to local parishes and Catholic communities, sharing the story of their own vocation journey and promoting a vocation to the priesthood.
While many parishioners and young people positively responded to the testimonies, the seminarians were tremendously inspired and strengthened by the genuine experience of warmth, welcome, support, strong witness to the vibrancy of faith and reassurance of prayers for them.
Attendees at the St Charles Seminary Open Day, Sunday 30 April, listened to a series of talks and presentations, including a talk from the Perth Archdiocese Vocations Director Fr Israel Quirit. PHOTO: ST CHARLES SEMINARY / DANIEL DEFENDI.