MUNDARING PARISHIONERS CALLED TO BE A PRIESTLY PEOPLE ON 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF SACRED HEART CHURCH
By Jamie O'Brien
Mundaring Parishioners have this month celebrated the 90th anniversary of Sacred Heart Church, in a special Mass celebrated by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB. In the presence of some 250 past and present parishioners, Archbishop Costelloe was joined for the Mass by concelebrants, Parish Priest Fr John Daly, former Parish Priest Fr Phillip Fleay and assisted by Deacon Paul Reid.
“If I was to summarise the vocation of the Christian - that's all of us whether we're bishops, priests, deacons, religious laypeople, whoever we are - we're all called to be together, a community of priestly people,” Archbishop Costelloe said. Established as a parish in 1949, the Sacred Heart Church was officially
blessed and opened by Monsignor Verling on Sunday January 22, 1933. Until that point, it had previously been part of the Toodyay and Midland parishes.
Historical records mark the day as a ‘Red-Letter day’ for the parishioners who saw the realisation of their long and sincere desire for a church in their locality, with the cost of the church coming to some $1140. Many donations in kind were also made including from Mr H DeGrancy, who donated the altar in addition to the donations of vestments and sacred vessels from various religious orders and priests.
Holy water fonts were donated by the builder, Mr G Orsi and Mr B Marino and long-time parishioner and benefactor Mrs Mary Reddy donated a picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
It was Mrs Reddy and her husband
John, who bought and donated the land on which the Sacred Heart Church stands today.
When Mrs Reddy passed away in 1949, she also left her property and house to the Church, which became the presbytery. Her original property is the land that surrounds the church to this day.
Continuing his homily, Archbishop Costelloe explained what it means to be a priestly people.
“A priestly people will be a group of people who are prepared and willing and doing their very best to offer themselves for the sake of others. We're all called to do that,”
Archbishop Costelloe said.
“…that we must see ourselves as offering our lives to those we love, to those we encounter every day so that their lives are better, because we offer ourselves make ourselves a gift to others,” he said.
Archbishop Costelloe concluded by highlighting that every time we do something for someone else, especially when it costs us something, it's a priestly action.
Some 250 past and present parishioners from Mundaring Parish came together, Sunday 18 June, to mark the 90th anniversary of Sacred Heart Church. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN.
LEGALLY BLONDE MUSICAL CAST FORM LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIPS
In an explosion of talent, Mercy College’s production of Legally Blonde: The Musical took the stage by storm on May 5 and 6 at the Newman College auditorium.
The production also included a whole-of-school fundraising for LifeLink.
The storyline looks at the life of Elle Woods, a fashionable and underestimated sorority girl who embarks on a journey to Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend.
Comments from audiences noted that students’ exceptional performances were stunning, bringing the beloved characters to life with energy and charm.
From the show-stopping dance numbers to the powerful vocals, their dedication and hard work shone through every moment.
The production not only entertained but also inspired viewers with
themes of self-belief, resilience, and breaking stereotypes.
Producer Eleisha Hathaway applauded the entire cast, crew, and staff for pouring their hearts and souls into the production to deliver an exceptional show.
“It was a true reflection of community collaboration with 86 performers, 30 backstage crew and photographers and over 40 staff assisting with rehearsals and performances,” Ms Hathaway said.
“I am incredibly proud of our school community in creating such a high standard production.
“Taking a full-length musical from a school gym to Newman College’s Marist Auditorium in one day was a massive task,” she said.
Ms Hathaway continued by saying that the students and staff adapted beautifully and showed how trust, commitment and teamwork can produce great things.
“The most rewarding part of producing a musical is seeing the wonderful connections and sense of belonging students gain throughout the process,” she said.
Arts Captain Thao Luu said the best part of being in a musical is the people.
“As Arts Captain, I was able to form bonds with almost everyone, I think I know everyone’s names or at least know their faces. My bond with everyone will never ever be forgotten,” Ms Luu said.
Sara Cleary who played the lead character Elle Woods, said she felt privileged to have been part of such an amazing experience.
“I would do anything, I mean anything, to perform it all again. I got to make so many new friends, gain so much experience and my confidence has grown,” Ms Cleary said.
Student Sara Cleary takes a bow, together with fellow performers. PHOTO:SUPPLIED/MERCY COLLEGE.
ST MACKILLOP CAN INSPIRE EDUCATORS TO FOSTER HOPE, SAYS POPE FRANCIS
By Carol Glatz
A Catholic education is an excellent form of evangelisation, Pope Francis said.
"Indeed, education does not consist of filling the head with ideas," he told people at his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square 28 June.
Education is "accompanying and encouraging students on the path of human and spiritual growth, showing them how friendship with the Risen Jesus expands the heart and makes life more humane," he said.
It was Pope Francis’ first general audience since being released 16 June from Rome's Gemelli hospital where he underwent abdominal surgery 7 June and his last audience before his usual summer break for the entire month of July.
"Thank you for coming in this heat, in this sun, thank you so much for your visit!" he told the crowd. The
general audiences are typically moved to the air-conditioned Paul VI audience hall starting in August.
Pope Francis continued his series of talks about "zeal" for evangelisation by focusing on St Mary MacKillop, the Australian founder of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
Australia's first saint, she was born in 1842 near Melbourne and died in Sydney in 1909. Her order established schools and charitable organisations across Australia and was devoted to the care of orphans, neglected children, the homeless, sick and aged.
Pope Benedict XVI, who canonised her in 2010, had praised her as one of the most outstanding figures in Australia's history, and St John Paul II, who beatified her in 1995, praised her courage and her commitment to serving the poor.
In his general audience talk, Pope Francis called her "an extraordinary religious sister," who dedicated her life to "the intellectual and religious formation of the poor in
rural Australia."
"Wisely reading the signs of the times," this young woman whose parents had emigrated from Scotland, understood that the best way for her to spread the Gospel and attract others to encounter Jesus was through teaching young people, "in the knowledge that Catholic education is a form of evangelisation. It is a great form of evangelisation," said Pope Francis, who himself had taught high school in Argentina.
"Mary MacKillop was convinced that the purpose of education is the integral development of the person both as an individual and as a member of the community, and that this requires wisdom, patience and charity on the part of every teacher," he said.
Education is helping others "to think well, to feel well - the language of the heart - and to do well - the language of the hands," Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis greets a child as he rides in the popemobile to leave St Peter's Square at the Vatican after his weekly general audience 28 June 2023. PHOTO: CNS/LOLA GOMEZ.
95 CANDLES FOR MATRIARCH WITH A HUGE HEART
Not-for-profit aged care home Mercy Place Lathlain has been lighting an exceptional number of birthdays candles over recent months, with one resident reaching 105 just three months ago, and another set to celebrate her 95th birthday next month.
Malaysian-born Margaret MacFarlaine will spend her birthday – on Friday 14 July – surrounded by many members of her large family, which includes her eight children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
When it comes to reminiscing about her long life, the matriarch is never short of tales to tell given she has lived in many different countries during her nine decades and has learned to speak numerous languages, including Japanese,
Chinese, Malay and Hindi.
Born in Penang on 14 July 1928, Margaret grew up in Malaysia and it was while working as a governess that she met her future husband, an Anglo-Indian British army officer, Yeoland (Mac) MacFarlaine who was in Penang on a peacekeeping mission.
The two immediately fell in love and within two weeks of meeting they married, going on to live in Penang for many years, as well as India and Kuching in Sarawak, before immigrating to Australia in 1978.
Daughter Yolanda MacFarlaine said the family always treasured spending time with Margaret, who she describes as the true matriarch of the family.
“It’s wonderful to have mum around, she is the oldest surviving member
of our family and she has had the most amazing life, she is an incredibly smart cookie who has picked up different languages wherever she has lived,” she said.
“In her later life, one of her grandsons married a Japanese lady and, even though she hadn’t spoken Japanese for 60 years, the language came back to her quickly and she was able to converse very easily with her new granddaughter-in-law.”
Mercy Health Lathlain Service Manager, Ven Gireddy, says Margaret is an inspiring lady whose family remain dedicated to her.
“Everyone at Mercy Place Lathlain likes and respects Margaret very much and we’re all delighted that she has reached this major milestone, we’ll be making a big fuss of her on her birthday.
Malaysian-born Margaret MacFarlaine will spend her birthday – on Friday 14 July – surrounded by many members of her large family, which includes her eight children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.