ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE COMMISSIONS PERTH AND BUNBURY WORLD YOUTH DAY PILGRIMS
By Jamie O'Brien
Perth and Bunbury World Youth Day pilgrims have last weekend been invited to consider the same question Jesus asks a blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Speaking at the WYD Commissioning Mass, Sunday 9 July, at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB blessed and commissioned more than 200 delegates from Perth and Bunbury who are travelling to World Youth in Portugal, which commences Wednesday 2 August and concludes Sunday 6 August at a Closing Mass with Pope Francis.
The pilgrims are set to depart next Saturday 29 July, with a significant
number having already taken off for pilgrimages in Israel, Spain and Rome.
World Youth Day 2023 will be the first in more than three years following the impact of COVID19 cancelled the event originally scheduled for 2022.
Among the delegates from Perth and Bunbury are some 48 from Catholic Youth Ministry, 15 from Catholic Education Western Australia, more than 30 from the University of Notre Dame Australia, some 100 from the Neocatechumenal Way, more than 25 from the Disciples of Jesus, approximately 10 from the Somascan Youth Ministry, as well as well several more from numerous parishes and schools.
Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton will also travel to Portugal for the
Mass, joining 17 fellow Bishops from across Australia.
Joining Archbishop Costelloe to concelebrate the Mass was Vicar General, the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely VG, Episcopal Vicar Education and Faith Formation, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn, Redemptoris Mater Seminary Rector, Fr Michael Moore SM, Vice Rector, Fr Luis Tijerino, Spiritual Director For Noe Navarette-Apaez, CYM Chaplain, Fr Joseph Laundy and assisted by Deacons Errol Lobo and Jason Yeap.
The Perth and Bunbury pilgrims are part of a 3000 strong contingent from Australia - the largest to ever attend an international World Youth Day.
The Perth and Bunbury pilgrims at the World Youth Day OIive Tree at St Mary’s Cathedral with Archbishop Costelloe, Sunday 9 July. PHOTO: SAMUEL CHAN/CYM/ARCHIOCESE
CLERGY DATABASE SELF-SERVICE AND DATA BREACH SEMINAR A BIG SUCCESS
The IT and Archives and Information Governance team recently hosted a half-day seminar for clergy in the James Nestor Hall at the Catholic Education Office WA (CEWA) on Tuesday 20 June to trial the selfservice facility features of the online Clergy Database system and participate in the Data Breach online training.
Attended by more than 30 clergy members, the seminar was a great opportunity to empower participants in identifying data breaches and providing information on what to do in the event that a data breach is discovered. With recent and prominent cyber-attacks, data breaches are becoming an increasing threat to all organisations and their people, and the impact of data breaches can be far reaching on an organisational and individual level.
Following a Welcome to Country
from CEWA’s Peter Higgins and a morning prayer by Bishop Don, proceedings begun with attendees logging into the new Clergy SelfService database in TechnologyOne. Using the Self-Service Database, clergy are able to access their individual profiles and edit their contact and personal information, making it a valuable resource in the digital age.
Following lunch, attendees were given a short introduction to the new Data Breach Online training modules by Archives and Information Governance Director, Odhran O’Brien, who emphasised the importance of identifying and acting on suspected data breaches. Attendees were then asked to complete the five training modules, which cover identifying a breach, filling out a data breach form, what other actions can be taken, and completing a short quiz on learnings
from the modules.
Defined as the unauthorised access, disclosure or loss of personal or commercial information, potential data breaches can have serious consequences for both individuals or businesses and may be caused by a number of factors, including intentional malicious action, human error, or a failure in information handling or security systems.
In 2021 alone, more than two billion records containing usernames and passwords were compromised, with unauthorised access accounting for more than 50 per cent of all breaches.
A sincere thanks goes out to those who attended the seminar, whose feedback and shared experiences are invaluable as the Archdiocese continues working towards supporting clergy with robust, secure and accessible technology and digital practices.
The IT and Archives and Information Governance team recently hosted a half-day seminar for clergy in the James Nestor Hall at the Catholic Education Office WA (CEWA) on Tuesday 20 June to trial the self-service facility features of the online Clergy Database system and participate in the Data Breach online training.
PHOTO: ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.
CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE WA REACHES OUT TO HOMELESS WOMEN
By Pauline Marlborough OAM
Upholding the dignity of women and promoting their participation in social and public life has been put into practise by the Catholic Women’s League Western Australia (CWLWA).
Over the last three years particularly, the organisation has concentrated on supporting women who are struggling emotionally, physically and financially – fulfilling Object 3 of our national constitution. During the lockdowns and restrictions of COVID, it came to the attention of CWLWA that there was a significant increase in domestic violence.
This promoted CWLWA Social Issues Convenor, Lynne Buzzard undertake research to find agencies that support women and children. At the CWLWA State Conference
in 2021 Debra Zanella, from RUAH, presented statistics of homeless women over 55, the fastest growing cohort of homelessness.
The following year, Jane Armstrong from Homelessness We Care Perth (HWCP) presented a disturbing picture of the desperate plight of “Street Friends”; again, this pointed at the homeless women over 55, and many over 70.
These powerful talks presented CWL members with the sad and desperate lives of fellow women. We needed to commit fully to ‘Object 3’ to uphold the dignity of women. With this in mind, we invited Michelle Blakely, the architect and founder of the ‘My Home’ project in WA to address the State Council of CWLWA.
The overview of the ‘My Home’ project presented a plan of building 18 units on unused government land
in Congdon St, North Fremantle. The plan for CWLWA was to work with various organisations to provide bedding, furniture, kitchen and laundry essentials and utensils for small homes, complete with gardens, paths, outdoor settings and solar panels.
St Patricks Community Support Centre would take responsibility for management of the property and tenants.
The homes are built close to train and bus transport, with cafes and a number of Catholic parishes nearby. As the building of the homes was nearing completion, CWLWA invited Rotary WA’s manager of the inventory of homewares and furnishings for the My Home project, Kay Durrant, to a State Council meeting.
President Pauline Marlborough presented Kay Durrant of Rotary WA with a cheque from CWLWA to cover the cost of all bedroom linen, towel sets, kitchen and laundry essentials and utensils, small smart televisions, washing machines, microwaves and some furniture for all 18 units. PHOTO: SUPPLIED / CWLWA.
NEW CARDINAL: THE PRIEST WHO ASKED GOD’S PARDON FOR
FORGIVING TOO MUCH
Pope Francis has appointed Brother Luis Pascual Dri, an elderly Capuchin Franciscan friar, as a new Cardinal in the forthcoming Consistory, which will be held on 30 September. Although his name is at the end of the list, he is not in the last place in Pope Bergoglio’s heart.
Brother Luis Pascual Dri has spent the last years of his life in the Confessional of Our Lady of Pompeii in Buenos Aires, following his retirement in 2007. The Holy Father has spoken about him on several occasions, highlighting his work as Confessor.
The Pontiff has spoken of the friar (without mentioning his name) on repeated occasions: the first on March 6, 2014 during a meeting with priests of the diocese of Rome, setting him as an example.
Brother Luis Pascual Dri once said to the Holy Father that he felt scruples
for forgiving too much, and trusting in divine mercy. That “confession” of Father Luis Pascal had a profound impact on Pope Francis, who has referred to the episode on several occasions.
A few years ago, a journalistic team visited Brother Luis in the Shrine of Pompeii. During the interview, the friar explained that he was worried about confessions, but that he followed the Holy Father’s advice and sought Jesus to ask His pardon for forgiving in excess. The Pontiff has placed great confidence in him and has recommended to other priests to seek his advice.
Brother Luis Pascual Dri spends many hours a day in the Confessional, listening to people and offering words of mercy and closeness. Although he acknowledges that he lacks academic studies, he thinks that life has taught him a lot and
that his life experience, marked by poverty, has given him the necessary sensitivity to understand and to help others.
The friar doesn’t have a particular advice for his fellow Confessors, except to follow Pope Francis’ message: to be merciful, understanding and to be willing to listen and understand others. He sees Confession as an act of seeking personal improvement, and that it’s important to transmit to people closeness and kindness in this Sacrament.
With his humility and dedication to the service of Confession, Brother Luis Pascual Dri has been recognized by Pope Francis in appointing him Cardinal. His example is an inspiration for all Priests and Confessors, reminding them of the importance of mercy and forgiveness in the life of faith.
Pope Francis has appointed Brother Luis Pascual Dri, an elderly Capuchin Franciscan friar, as a new Cardinal in the forthcoming Consistory, which will be held on 30 September. PHOTO: VATICAN MEDIA.