WALKING TOGETHER - ARCHBISHOP TIM'S WEEKLY THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION FROM THE SYNOD
PROFOUND
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Bunbury has this week written the first in a series of weekly reflections from the Synod.
Archbishop Costelloe is also a member of the Preparatory Commission for the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The Weekly Reflection is published in Full with this week's edition of The eRecord.
IMPACT OF CHILDHOOD EMPHASISED DURING CHILD PROTECTION WEEK
The Archdiocese of Perth in conjunction with its dedicated Safeguarding Office has this month observed Child Protection Week, 3 to 10 September. The week-long commemoration aligned with the nationwide theme, "Every child, in every community, needs a fair go," reaffirming the Archdiocese's unwavering commitment to ensuring the well-being of every child.
Child Protection Week Theme: "Where We Start Matters"
The theme for this year's National Child Protection Week echoed the sentiments of the previous year: "Every child, in every community, needs a fair go." However, it was further enriched with the phrase "Where We Start Matters."
The theme emphasised the profound impact that the starting point in a child's life has on their future, including where they live, how they live, and the environment in which they grow.
In line with this theme, the Archdiocese of Perth recognised the pivotal role it plays as a faith-filled
community in providing a safe haven for all, emphasising that "Where we start as a faith-filled community in providing a safe place for all - matters."
A Commitment to Safeguarding Children
Safeguarding Office Acting Director Barbara Blayney spoke about this year’s Child Protection Week theme within the context of the Archdiocese of Perth’s strong commitment to safeguarding children.
“We all know that children thrive in safe and supported communities, but the reality is – as statistics tell us – one in four children in Australia experience more than one form of abuse every year,” Ms Blayney said.
“As a church community, we can make a difference. We can continue to model in the best possible way, through who we are and what we do, that we are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment to children and adults.”
“What that looks like in our everyday is by develop-
NEW CATHOLIC HOMES AGED CARE RESIDENCE
BLESSED BY ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE IN BELMONT
ing a strong understanding that where we start our lives, in terms of where we live and how we live - matters.”
“It also means putting into action and being committed to the knowledge that where we start as a faith-filled community in providing a safe place for all - matters.”
“Importantly, as leaders in our local Catholic community, we
need to take on the responsibility that where we start as decisionmakers in addressing the complex issue of child abuse - matters. It matters to the lives of children everywhere.”
Child Protection Week 2023 Events in the Archdiocese of Perth
Honouring Child Protection Week
2023’s theme, the Archdiocese of Perth Safeguarding Office organised meaningful events across the Diocese with our parishes, and staff at agencies, offices and organisations
• Kite Making
Throughout August, community members came together to decorate kites, symbolising the freedom and potential of every child. These kites carried messages of hope and support, underlining the importance of safeguarding children within the community.
“We began last year using the Safeguarding kite logo as a symbolic gesture of us providing the “Wind beneath the Wings” of the work we all do in safeguarding,” said Ms Blayney.
BISHOP GIBNEY’S CROSS RETURNS TO THE ARCHDIOCESE
Former Perth Bishop Matthew Gibney’s Crucifix has returned to the Archdiocese of Perth.
Following his death in 1925, Bishop Gibney bequeathed his Crucifix to his dedicated housekeeper, Anne O’Sullivan in recognition of her many years of loyal service.
She in turn bequeathed the Crucifix to her great grandson Sean O’Sullivan who, conscious of the historical importance of the crucifix, was anxious that it remain in the possession of the Archdiocese of Perth.
In the presence of Vicar General,
the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely, Mr O’Sullivan has this month signed a Deed of Gift and presented the crucifix to the Archdiocesan Archives and Information Governance Office ensuring that Bishop Gibney’s crucifix will remain in the possession of the Archdiocese of Perth in perpetuity.
The Crucifix, 380mm X 170mm in size, is made of wood with brass caps and a long chain attached, in addition to having a brass figure of Jesus Christ on the cross and a brass medallion to the Blessed Virgin to whom Gibney was dedicated.
Archbishop Costelloe, with Cathedral Dean Fr Sean Fernandez and guests, participated in Kite Making and flying, Tuesday 6 September for 2023 Child Protection Week. PHOTO: RON TAN/ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH
Vicar General, the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely and Sean O’Sullivan, great-grandson of Bishop Gibney’s former housekeeper, Anne O’Sullivan. PHOTO: MICHELLE TAN / ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.
NEW JOHN XXIII COLLEGE PRINCIPAL AIMS TO
SEE GOD IN ALL
THINGS
In a joyous and spiritually uplifting ceremony, the John XXIII College Mt Claremont community have last week, witnessed the commissioning of its new principal, Daniel Mahon, alongside the blessing of the College’s new buildings and playground by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.
“On behalf of the members of the clergy and staff at the Archdiocese of Perth, it is with great pleasure that I welcome Daniel Mahon to our Catholic community,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“Mr Mahon brings with him a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to Catholic co-educational excellence and his appointment follows an extensive national recruitment process that I had the privilege of being a part of, in consultation with various
stakeholders, including Loreto Ministries Ltd., Jesuit Education Australia Ltd., Catholic Education Western Australia, and the John XXIII College Council.”
Prior to his new appointment, Mr Mahon has served as Deputy Principal K-12 at Loreto Kirribilli, a prestigious Catholic independent all-girls' K-12 school in Sydney, for the past six years.
Mr Mahon’s commitment to Catholic education is unwavering, and he has a deep affinity for Ignatian spirituality, which echoes the school’s faith focus on bringing each student to an awareness of God’s presence in all things.
“It is particularly important to me to provide education in a faith that seeks justice,” said Mr Mahon in an interview for the College’s Heritage
Alumni newsletter.
“Most important for me, though, is my deep respect for the dignity of all people and the importance of seeing God in all things.”
“I am driven to ensure that my students graduate as faith-filled passionate contributors to their communities who, when confronted with the need to answer difficult questions and face life’s inevitable challenges, do so well-informed by the Catholic values they have learnt during their excellent Catholic education.”
As a symbol of leadership in faith, Mr Mahon was presented with a Bible by Archbishop Costelloe, followed by a prayer for God's blessings as Mr Mahon commences his journey in enhancing Catholic co-educational excellence at the College. PHOTO: SUPPLIED/JOHN XXIII COLLEGE
Sunday 24 September, 2023
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As I write this message, I am on my way to Rome to take part in the Synod of Bishops. According to the “moving map” on the screen in front of me, we are just flying above Abu Dhabi and we still have six and a half hours to go before we reach our destination.
The Synod of Bishops is an institution which was initiated by Pope Paul VI at the time of the Second Vatican Council. Pope Paul IV saw it as an important way to maintain that spirit of co-operation and discernment among the bishops of the world which had been a vital part of the work of Vatican II. We call this reality of bishops’ collaboration “collegiality”.
The Synod also fosters the same spirt of collaboration with the Holy Father who is, of course, the bishop of Rome, and who presides over the Synod. In our Catholic tradition it is through our communion with our local bishop that we are in communion with all the other bishops of the world, and in this way also in communion with the Pope as the successor of St Peter. We call this the “primacy” of the Petrine (Peter’s) Ministry. Our communion with the Bishop of Rome thus grounds and ensures our communion with all our brothers and sisters in the faith.
One of our main tasks as Catholics, therefore, is to recognise, embrace and deepen this reality of “communion” in the Church. At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed that all His disciples might be one, as He and His Heavenly Father are one. Sometimes we understand this phrase as a call to work for better relations between ourselves as Catholics and Christians who belong to other Churches and Christian communities. This is true, of course, but it also refers to our own local Church in the Archdiocese of Perth. Each local
Catholic parish, led by its parish priest, forms part of the Catholic Church in Perth, which is led by the bishop, who is appointed by the Pope. In our local Church of Perth, we are called to be in communion with each other through our communion with our local bishop and, with him, to be in communion with Rome.
We are all fallible human beings with our own foibles, prejudices and scars, but we are also baptised members of the Lord’s Church, given new life by the Spirit at our baptism and sustained by God’s grace at every moment. God is asking us to recognise His will for us in the prayer of Jesus that we might all be one, and to commit ourselves to responding to that prayer by making the unity and communion of the Catholic community in our Archdiocese a fundamental priority.
It is my hope that one of the outcomes of the Synod will be a renewed appreciation of this communion, without which we cannot be fully the Church the Lord wants us to be. The discussions at the Synod, and any eventual decisions made after the Synod concludes with a second Assembly in 2024, are meant to breathe new life into the Church at every level. The hunger for this new life, and the hope that it will come, were very strong at the Diocesan Assembly Formation Day which was held on Saturday 23 September at Newman College. A significant number of delegates from our parishes and other Church agencies and communities gathered to begin a process of discernment, leading we hope, to the re-establishment of a Diocesan Pastoral Council. This will be a body of lay people, religious and clergy who will, together, provide advice to me as the bishop on ways in which we can better bring the message and the beauty of the gospel, of our faith in Christ, to each other and to the society in which we live.
An important journey began in our Archdiocese on 23 September 2023. Another important journey will begin on 30 September when the Synod in Rome formally begins with an Ecumenical Prayer Service in St Peter’s Square. The two journeys have much in common. I am convinced that our local journey will be enriched by what is soon to commence in Rome. How fortunate we are to belong to the Lord’s world-wide Catholic Church. How fortunate we are to have the gift of the papacy as a central focus of our unity in Christ. How fortunate we are to belong to the Lord’s Church in our Archdiocese and in our local parish. May we all be one as Christ and His Heavenly Father are one.
From somewhere over the Middle East, with my prayers for you all
Yours sincerely in Christ,
+Archbishop Tim Costelloe SDB DD Archbishop of Perth