BALDIVIS PARISHIONERS REMINDED THEY ARE WORKING WITH CHRIST: NEW PARISH PRIEST INSTALLED
By Jamie O'Brien
Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has last weekend told Baldivis parishioners to never forget their community belongs to Christ.
Speaking Sunday 21 May at the installation of Fr Alexis Vega Osorio as Parish Priest of Baldivis, Bishop Sproxton was joined by Fr Alexis, Redemptoris Mater Seminary Rector Fr Michael Moore SM, Spiritual Director Fr Noe Navarette-Apaez and Baldivis Missio-ad-Gentes priest, Fr Victor Lujano.
We must never forget that we are working with Christ, Bishop Sproxton continued, re-enforcing that we are working on the mission of Christ when we work as a community.
“We are working with Christ, especially when we are able to look beyond our own needs and wants, to that work of evangelisation of bringing Christ into the lives of others, helping them to know Christ,
as we ourselves are learning to know Christ,” he said.
More than 450 parishioners and members of the Mother Teresa Catholic College community gathered for the occasion to meet their new parish priest - Fr Alexis Vega Osorio - who originally hails from Colombia and has spent the past several years working at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cathedral in the Diocese of Broome.
Fr Alexis underwent his formation for the priesthood at Redemptoris Mater Seminary Morley and was ordained Friday 20 March 2015. He also undertook pastoral placement in Israel, which he described as perhaps the most powerful moment of his priestly formation.
“I am humbled to be the next Parish Priest of Baldivis, and I pray I can continue to lead by example, serving the people in whatever way I can, as my predecessors Fr Geoff Aldous and Fr Arulraj Mulaguri have done,”Fr
Alexis said.
“I am certain the Lord will continue to work through all of us within the parish community in helping us to continue to be a vibrant life-giving parish, ready to announce the Gospel to all,” he said.
Continuing his homily, Bishop Sproxton explained that Father Alexis has been given the responsibility of leading and working with all the members of the parish.
“Particularly focused on bringing Christ to others around us and helping us to grow in our understanding of who Christ is, so that we can truly represent Him,” Bishop Sproxton said.
“So let us pray that we will continue in this journey - wherever we are in that journey - of getting to know Christ.
“Let us be effective witnesses of our faith before others, bringing them to Christ, and bringing them to the joy and the hope that there is in being his disciples.
“…I ask that you pray with me and with one another, that Father Alexis will be one who knows the responsibilities of being a parish priest, but at the same time, is able to minister and to provide that leadership and that example of faith that comes with the leadership that he is meant to provide for us here.
“To be a man of faith who grows in faith daily, because of the spirit within him, but also because of the spirit that is within this community to which he responds with openness and with love.
At the conclusion of Mass, Fr Alexis also greeted the Parish Pastoral Council, led by Chairperson Michael Parker.
Fr Alexis, together with Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Redemptoris Mater Seminary Rector Fr Michael Moore SM and Spiritual Director Fr Noe Navarrete. PHOTO: MICHELLE TAN.
APPLECROSS PARISH GROWING IN MODERN SLAVERY FORMATION AND SOCIAL EDUCATION
More than 50 parishioners have recently participated in a Modern Slavery faith formation and social education seminar entitled Our Parish Response to Modern Slavery. Held in conjunction with the Applecross Parish Modern Slavery Project, the Project has two aims: to raise awareness of modern slavery among parishioners and the local community and to mitigate the risk of modern slavery in the supply chains of the current suppliers used by the parish.
Applecross Parish Modern Slavery
Representative Rosa Ranieri set up a display with a range of products displaying the Fairtrade logos at both events and gave a short, informative talk on how the parish is checking its own suppliers to ensure against unintentionally contributing to modern slavery in the goods and services supply chains used by the parish.
The display also featured samples of the tea, coffee and chocolate products as well as flyers for parishioners to take home.
Rosa was assisted by Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking
of Humans WA Co-ordinator Heather McNaught.
Heather explained the Fairtrade logo on the various products and how fairtrading has a positive impact on workers, especially at the origin of the supply chain.
The following week, the parish hosted an evening presentation by WA Catholic Migrants and Refugees Office Director, Dcn Greg Lowe, assisted by Rosa as part of her role as a member of ACRATH.
Dcn Greg explained that most
persons impacted by Modern Slavery in Australia were migrants and refugees.
He also outlined how WACMRO is assisting Applecross Parish Priest Fr Nelson Po and the parish administration staff in their desire to engage and work with the suppliers in mitigating the risk of modern slavery occurrences in the supply chains used.
Applecross parishioners at the Modern Slavery presentation with Dcn Greg Lowe.
PHOTO:SUPPLIED.
Applecross Modern Slavery Representative Rosa Ranieri with the ethical goods display. PHOTO:SUPPLIED.
NEW BUNBURY PRIEST NATHAN BARRIE CALLED TO HAVE THE ‘STENCH OF THE FLOCK’
By Jamie O'Brien
Bunbury Bishop Gerard Holohan has last week highlighted three charisms St Charles Seminary formed Nathan Barrie would receive in his new ministry as a priest.
Speaking Wednesday 17 May at St Patrick’s Cathedral Bunbury, Bishop Holohan was joined by concelebrants, St Patrick’s Cathedral Dean Rev Dr Pierangelo Repuayan, Busselton Parish Priest Fr Jaybee Bonghanoy MSP and St Charles Seminary Rector Fr Francis Nguyen together with priests from the Diocese of Bunbury and Archdiocese of Perth.
Continuing his homily, Bishop Holohan emphasised two basic principles to guide Nathan as he commences his priestly ministry the first being that Nathan is called to be a companion of Jesus in His ministry and the second is that he is called to be a feet washer.
“…you need to remember that your call is to serve, never to be served,”
Bishop Holohan explained.
“Jesus instituted the ordained
ministry during the Last Supper after teaching his disciples that they were to serve as slaves by washing their feet. The priest is called to be a ‘feet washer’.”
Speaking about the charisms Nathan would receive during the ordination, Bishop Holohan also noted they have three broad purposes.
“These are to enable you to serve in the Person of Christ whenever you actually engage in activities which serve His ministry to those entrusted to your pastoral care,”
Bishop Holohan said.
“…how effectively the charisms work in your ministry will depend upon your personal conversion and your prayer life in your ministry.
“It will depend too upon how well you actually know those entrusted to your pastoral care and whether, as shepherd, you have on you ‘the stench of the flock’ – to quote the image of Pope Francis,” he continued.
Thirty-year-old Fr Nathan, who grew up in Bunbury from the age of five, studied at St Charles Seminary commencing in January 2017.
After attending St Joseph’s Primary
Bunbury and then Newton Moore Senior High for his secondary education, Nathan said it was the 2011 World Youth Day pilgrimage that moved him to realise that perhaps God was calling him in another direction.
“I remember sitting on the plane on the way to Spain talking to a fellow attendee and they asked me what was I looking for in attending World Youth Day,” Nathan explained.
“I responded by explaining that I wanted to see whether God was calling me to the priesthood, and that was the first time I began to appreciate and understand where my vocation was heading,” he said. Nathan continued by explaining that during his Days in the Diocese experience, he stayed with a family in Spain that could not speak or understand English.
It was during Mass at the local parish that the grandmother said to Nathan in English, “God wants you,” he recalled.
The newly ordained Fr Nathan Barrie, with Bunbury Bishop Gerard Holohan, his brother James, mother Rosina Iannello and stepfather Paul, Wednesday 17 May at St Patrick’s Cathedral Bunbury. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.
CATHOLIC CHURCH INSURANCE ENTERS INTO VOLUNTARY ‘RUN OFF’
The Board of Catholic Church Insurance (CCI) has decided to voluntarily place the organisation into ‘run-off.’
Despite every effort, CCI has been unable to secure sufficient capital contributions from shareholders to enable its business to continue operations in line with regulatory requirements.
CCI remains an Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) authorised insurer, and as such will continue to manage claims from existing policyholders using its capital reserves. It will not issue any new or renewal policies for all insurance business.
Some policyholders have contracts that are due to expire in coming weeks. CCI is offering them a shortterm renewal up to 30 June 2023, to allow affected policyholders time to source alternate insurance arrangements.
CCI is focused on supporting its staff during this time. The organisation is also advising shareholders and
policyholders and working through the implications with APRA.
Ms Joan Fitzpatrick, the Chair of CCI, said: “The CCI Board and management deeply regret that it has been necessary to make this decision and would like to assure all staff, policyholders and suppliers that it has sufficient assets to meet its commitments as they currently stand.”
In a statement released this week, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference re-stated its commitment to responding with justice and compassion to victims and survivors of abuse in Catholic settings – as it has sought to do for many years.
The bishops and leaders of religious institutes re-iterated its apology for the abuse that has occurred in the Church and said it will continue to work towards justice and healing for the crimes and sins that took place, where possible, including through the payment of compensation.
The Catholic Church Insurance runoff also means that Church entities
that have been insured with CCI will need to find new insurers. The ACBC said it is supporting Catholic ministries currently insured with CCI to ensure continuity of general insurance cover and is confident that will be achieved.
CCI remains an Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) authorised insurer, and as such will continue to manage claims from existing policyholders using its capital reserves. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
CCI Board Chair Joan Fitzpatrick said the CCI Board and management deeply regret that it has been necessary to make the decision to voluntarily place the organisation into run off. PHOTO: LINKEDIN.
JAMIE O’BRIEN
MICHELLE
BIBIANA KWARAMBA