MARY IS THE GREAT SYMBOL OF OUR FAITH, SAYS ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE
By Jamie O'Brien
Every Christian needs to have the words emblazoned on their heart
“Do whatever he tells you,” Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has said, in blessing a new statue of the Virgin Mary at St Mary MacKillop Church, Ballajura Parish.
The new statue, which was made in Vietnam, is titled Our Lady of Ballajura, Comforter of Migrants and stands on a plinth in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Mary MacKillop Church with the words, “Do Whatever He Tells You”.
Joining Archbishop Costelloe for the blessing liturgy, prior to the commencement of the 9am Mass, was Parish Priest Fr John Jegorow and Assistant Fr Mark Rucci.
Following the proclamation of the wedding feast in Cana (John 2),
Archbishop Costelloe explained that the quality that shines out most strongly in the Virgin Mary is her faith.
“She’s the great symbol of faith,” Archbishop Costellloe explained.
“And that's true, not just in St John's Gospel, but in the other gospels as well.”
“And we see it in this Gospel, where you've just heard the wine runs out, that the bride and groom are embarrassed, their families are probably embarrassed, Mary's embarrassed for them, and she wants to try and help them, but she can't do anything.
“So she goes to her son, because she has faith - that not only can he do something - but he will do something.
Mary didn’t get the responseat least it looks that way - she
might have expected, continued Archbishop Costelloe, with Jesus responding, ‘Woman, what do you want from me? My hour has not yet come.’ (John 2: 4).
“If we got that response, we might have walked away and thought, oh well I did my best.”
“She knew her son better, she had greater faith in her son,” Archbishop Costelloe reinforced.
“So even though she got that response, she immediately went to the steward and says the wonderful words - which I think every Christian really needs to have emblazoned on his or her heart – ‘Do whatever He tells you’.
“That's Mary's message to them and of course, it's Mary's message to us. She doesn't want us focusing too much on her. She wants us to allow her to help us to focus on the Lord, and listen to Him and do what He needs.”
Parish Priest Fr John Jegorow said many Catholics love statues of the Mother of God and the saints.
“Pope Francis has been inviting us to add this title to our prayers,” Fr John explained, referring to Pope Francis’ announcement of June 2020.
“Mary is our model follower of Christ, particularly with the popularity of the Rosary,” he said.
“There are many titles for the Virgin Mary and so here in the Parish of Ballajura we ask Her to accompany us – a parish that is very much a migrant parish,” Fr John reinforced. Continuing his speech, Archbishop Costelloe said that in blessing the statue, he hopes all those present might follow the beautiful quality of deep faith that Mary has.
Archbishop Costelloe with Acolyte Rudy D’Cunha, Altar Servers Athalie and William Nguyen, Assistant Priest Fr Mark Rucci, Parish Priest Fr John Jegorow and Acolyte Ross Scholz on the occasion of the blessing of the new statue of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Ballajura, Comforter of Migrants, Sunday 21 May. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.
CATHOLIC OUTREACH VOLUNTEERS “HEAVEN SENT”
Catholic Outreach has last week recognised the efforts of Coordinators and Volunteers in Parish Pastoral Care Programs as part of National Volunteer Week. Catholic Outreach Director Marietta Russo told The Record that the Immaculate Heart Care program at Scarborough Parish is the perfect example of those who offer their time, energy and talents to help those in the community in need of assistance.
“Immaculate Heart Care coordinators work together with a wider group of volunteers to ensure local people have somewhere to turn when practical short-term help is required. One such Coordinator is Mary,” Ms Russo explained.
Immaculate Heart Care representative Mary highlighted that helping any person in a small way is always something she is ready to do.
“It’s about having a strong social justice philosophy, being Christ-like, following the example of Jesus. Caring for others is at the heart of my interest in volunteering,” Mary said.
“Just being able to bring a little bit of joy to someone’s life; a little
bit of support and help that’s momentary, like taking someone to an appointment or taking someone to the shops.
“It doesn’t take a lot out of your life but it’s giving them some much needed help when you know that they don’t have that group of people they can call upon.
“It makes them feel less stressed. You know that you’re just doing them a little favour,” she said.
Mary added that the volunteers benefit from being a support too.
“I find myself reaching out a little more than I used to within the parish, making more connections.
“One of the activities offered is visiting people who are lonely. Relationships are growing, bonding and the volunteers are enjoying what they bring to the person who benefits from the visit.”
Mary pointed out that having a Care Program in a parish is an advantage to the priest as it saves him time and worry when a parishioner requires help.
“There are coordinators in place who the parish priest can actually contact directly and let them do the job of making contact with
volunteers from the list.
When Scarborough parishioner, Bernise, needed assistance to get her husband, John, to his daily treatment at Hollywood Hospital, she didn’t hesitate to contact Immaculate Heart Care.
“It was going to be 30 treatments for six or seven weeks going to the hospital from Karrinyup. We don’t have much family in Perth, and I realised I cannot do this alone, so I prayed about it a lot.
“I had picked up one of Immaculate Heart Care’s brochures some time back. I kept it in the back of my mind thinking one day we’ll need this.
“With Amana Village taking care of two weekdays, I thought I’d keep Mondays for me and any trouble shooting, and I decided to ring Mary because her name was on the top of the list on the brochure.”
Mary and the Immaculate Heart Care Coordinators were onto the task immediately and a transport roster was organised for the remaining days of the week - despite the unpredictable schedule.
Immaculate Heart Care Coordinators Frances (left) and Mary (right) with Bernise (centre). PHOTO:SUPPLIED / MARIETTA RUSSO.
PARTNERSHIP TO HELP BOOST INDIGENOUS DOCTORS
The University of Notre Dame Australia is proud to partner with St John of God Health Care to help increase the number of Indigenous doctors working in Australia’s healthcare system.
Under the partnership, St John of God has provided $160,000 in scholarship funding that will support four of the University’s Indigenous medical students over the four years of their postgraduate degree program.
The funding equates to $10,000 per student per year, or $40,000 per student over the full four-years. Head of Notre Dame’s School of Medicine, Professor Gervase Chaney, said the University was proud to partner with an organisation like St John of God Health Care, which had a determination to improve Aboriginal representation in the health system.
“Currently only about 0.5 per cent of Australia’s registered doctors are Indigenous, which equates to only about 500 across the country,”
Professor Chaney said.
“To reach population parity, the figure needs to grow to about 3,500, or
seven times the current number.
“The tragedy of such low representation is that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will never have had the pleasure of being treated by a doctor who shares and truly understands their social and cultural background.
“That is why this partnership with St John of God Health Care is so important to help ensure our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are as well supported as possible and are given every chance of success.”
Past recipient Rosie said the funding allowed her to pay for her Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency registration, get a new passport and reunite with her brothers who live in the Eastern States.
“I was also able to pay for my brothers to attend my graduation ball when they returned at the end of the year,” Rosie said.
“This was a monumental occasion for our entire family as the first doctor, and the first woman to attend university on both sides of my family.
“I continue to endeavour to improve Aboriginal health by learning more about my own as well as other mobs, and learning to include important cultural customs, traditions and beliefs at the centre of care,” she said. “It has been an absolute privilege to study medicine, and I feel proud to be graduating not just for myself but my community.”
St John of God Subiaco Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Tina Chinery, said it was the second time the organisation had awarded scholarships to Notre Dame’s students, with previous recipients completing their studies last year.
“It is extremely satisfying to know that three of the four past recipients have now gone on to qualify as doctors, with the fourth still enrolled, and are now working in Western Australia’s health system where they will be able to do their part to improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, as well as the broader community,” Ms Chinery said.
Head of Notre Dame’s School of Medicine, Professor Gervase Chaney, second from right, with St John of God Subiaco Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Tina Chinery, second from left and three of four of the University’s Indigenous medical students who have received a scholarship over the four years of their postgraduate degree program. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
NEW SCHOENSTATT PILGRIM CO-ORDINATORS COMMISSIONED
By Philomena Theseira
The annual Schoenstatt May Pilgrimage took place at the Schoenstatt Shrine at Mt Richon, Sunday May 7, 2023 to honour the Virgin Mary.
Despite the cold windy weather, some 135 people gathered at the Shrine with Deacon Errol Lobo from Armadale Parish, Hilbert leading the Rosary procession.
Two young girls processed after the Deacon, scattering flower petals in front of the image of Our Mother Thrice Admirable as she was carried around the rosary path.
All the pilgrims followed reciting the rosary and singing Ave Maria between each decade.
Pilgrims then listened to reflections by Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis and Schoenstatt founder Fr Joseph Kentenich on the theme “Blessed Are You Who Believed.” (Lk 1:45).
New Pilgrim Mother Co-ordinators Pat Halligan and Philomena Theseira were then Commissioned by Deacon Errol, together with the re-commissioning of all other co-ordinators in attendance.
Images of the Virgin Mary were also blessed to be distributed. The service concluded with Benediction and was followed by
afternoon tea and fellowship at Emilie House.
The Schoenstatt Movement was founded in 1914 by Fr Joseph Kentenich and a group of young Seminarians when they made a commitment to the Virgin Mary at the original Schoenstatt Shrine in Vallendar, Germany.
The Movement has since grown worldwide with more than 200 replica Shrines around the world. For more information about Schoenstatt visit www. schoenstattwa.org.au or contact the Sisters at the Schoenstatt Centre on 08 9399 2349.
Despite the cold windy weather, some 135 people gathered at the Shrine with Deacon Errol Lobo from Armadale Parish, Hilbert leading the Rosary procession. PHOTO: MARIA FILAMOR.