ARCHDIOCESAN ASSEMBLY 2023-2024: DELEGATES COMMENCE FORMATION: CALLED TO JOURNEY TOGETHER LED BY THE SPIRIT
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has last month asked how we can, as the Catholic Community of the Archdiocese of Perth, strengthen and deepen our identity as first of all, a Christian community.
Archbishop Costelloe was speaking to delegates at the Formation Day for the Archdiocesan Assembly, which was attended by some 110 delegates and was held at Newman College on 23 September.
Seated in tables of six people, delegates from all walks of life across the Archdiocese were brought together, including priests, sisters, men, women, young and old with the aim of undertaking a listening and discernment process ahead of the main Assembly Day scheduled for July 2024.
Delegates also included Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Vicar General the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely VG and Episcopal Vicar for Clergy, the Very Rev Fr Minh-Thuy Nguyen and Episcopal Vicar for Education and
Faith Formation, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn, who is Chair of the Assembly Strategic working Group.
The Formation Day commenced with prayer co-ordinated by Director of Liturgy, Sr Kerry Willison rsm before MC Tara Peters invited delegates to spend some time introducing themselves to each other.
Archbishop Costelloe then led the first speech, drawing upon the experience of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, and his role as President, in speaking about What is a Diocesan Assembly and the recommendations of a Diocesan Pastoral Council.
Archbishop Costelloe highlighted to Assembly delegates the Decree of the Plenary Council that each diocese should be governed in a Synodal manner through the creation of a Diocesan Pastoral Council.
He also discussed in particular how the Archdiocese can express the direction of Pope Francis to be more synodal in its actions, pastoral
strategies and governance models.
Archbishop Costelloe began by explaining to all present the historical context of the Assembly and its link to the Year of Grace in 2012 and the recent Plenary Council of the Church in Australia
We are nothing, Archbishop Costelloe emphasised, if we are not disciples of Jesus, if that is not the thing that holds us together, then we have no purpose to exist.
“We follow Him, He is our way and that is what we need to rediscover.
“It is, some of you will remember what I said as my hope for the diocese, when I became the Archbishop, that as a community of disciples, we would return the Church in Perth to Christ and return Christ to the very heart of the Church, so that everything else is seen through the lens of our following of Jesus.”
“I am hoping that what we are doing here today and what will unfold from today, will always have that as a central focus that we never forget that because without that, we can tend to get lost in all sorts of things,” he added.
Delegates were then invited to have a Group Discussion, in which they were asked, “Did anything in Archbishop Costelloe’s address resonate with you?”
Office of Christian Initiation Director and Office of Parish Renewal Support Officer, Dr Carmel Suart then led the delegates in a presentation that looked at the Diocesan Pastoral Council within Canon Law.
PHOTO: JAMIE O’BRIEN/ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.
MORLEY PARISH EXCELS IN SAFEGUARDING
The Archdiocesan Safeguarding Program Team have recently visited Morley Parish Infant Jesus Church on Sunday 1 October to present the inaugural Safeguarding Activities Assessment Tool (SAAT) Certificate of Excellence Award.
An initiative of Safeguarding Program Co-ordinator Thomas Law, the award recognises the exceptional collective efforts of Parish Priest Fr Greg Burke OCD and the Safeguarding Officers at Morley Parish in safeguarding the catholic community.
Acting Safeguarding Director Barbara Blayney said the parish has worked hard to achieve an outstanding implementation of the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards.
“The SAAT award highlights the dedicated work of the parish in applying safeguarding strategies and initiatives and being proactive
in improving knowledge and understanding of the collective responsibility of safeguarding within the parish,” Ms Blayney said.
“Not only did this parish complete the 2022 SAAT in a timely manner, but they have been proactive in identifying gaps or areas for improvement through a comprehensive Standards Action Plan which they have built from the SAAT.
“It shows a dedication to continually improve and enhance an already great foundation,” she said.
Ms Blayney continued by saying that it was a privilege to be able to applaud such open dedication to raising awareness and witnessing how the safeguarding officers at Morley have worked so well together to create a place of safety and one that is open to new ideas and is so welcoming,” said Barbara Blayney,
Safeguarding Director.
Fr Greg Burke also thanked the broader parish community for being part of the continued journey of safeguarding, saying “You are all to thank for what we have created here.”.
“It is a way of recognising often the ‘unseen gestures’ of hard work and commitment to creating and maintaining a safe church,” Fr Greg continued.
Ms Blayney concluded that the Safeguarding Program Office acknowledges all parishes across the Archdiocese that have completed the SAAT.
“It demonstrates the cumulative efforts and commitment of many within our church community that truly shows when we come together to further the common good, we can indeed flourish,” she said.
Morley Parish Priest Fr Greg Burke OCD, front row second from right, with Acting Safeguarding Director Barbara Blayney, third from left, Program Co-ordinator Thomas Law, second row first from right, and Morley Parish Safeguarding team. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
MERCY WEEK 2023 CELEBRATING HERITAGE, VALUES, AND COMMUNITY
Our Lady of Mercy Chapel, nestled beside our Wembley Residential Aged Care facility.
Mercy Week, culminating on Sunday, 24 September, commemorates the anniversary of the establishment of the first “House of Mercy” in Dublin, Ireland, in 1827.
Catherine McAuley, the visionary founder of the Sisters of Mercy, dedicated her life to serving the less fortunate, and her legacy of compassion lives on through the work of MercyCare.
As we mark the 21st year since the Sisters of Mercy entrusted MercyCare to lay leadership, we remain steadfast in honouring their legacy and reimagining new ways to embody the Mercy charism, working towards our vision of ‘People and Communities to Thrive.’ Join us as we journey through a week filled with meaningful events celebrating our heritage and our ever-evolving story.
Celebrating our Heritage
The Mercy Week festivities started with a soul-stirring morning Mass at
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SBD celebrated the Mass with Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey as concelebrant.
Children from MercyCare’s Wembley Early Learning Centre presented the Sisters of Mercy with heartwarming gifts.
After the Mass, the congregation moved to the Sister Martin Kelly Centre for a morning tea, where stories and laughter flowed like the tea itself.
“Mercy Week is a celebration of Catherine McAuley’s founding of the first ‘House of Mercy’ in Dublin in 1827. She later formed the Sisters of Mercy, who brought their mission to Perth in 1846.
“Joining MercyCare means becoming part of this ongoing story, upholding the values and mission of our founders.” – Vicky Gonzalez Burrows, Executive Director of Mission and Ethos
To wrap up the wonderful start
to the week, our attendees were treated to a Heritage Tour, expertly guided by Nigel Hayward. The tour took us through the historic Wembley site, visiting key landmarks such as the Cemetery, Stables, Sister Martin Kelly Centre, Olive Trees, and St Vincent’s Foundling Home. Each location shared a unique story, a testament to the enduring commitment of MercyCare to care for our community throughout history.
Celebrating our Community
The grand finale of Mercy Week was our Staff & Volunteer Day, a gathering of over 400 dedicated individuals.
We celebrated the immense value of collaboration and the transformative power of our collective efforts. Staff had the unique opportunity to gain insight into the diverse work carried out across the organisation, fostering connections and shared knowledge.
MercyCare's Residential Aged Team came dressed in their best team colours. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
Courtesy MercyCare Marketing Team
OBITUARY: NORBERTINE’S PERTH CO-FOUNDER RETURNS TO GOD
Norbertine priest Father Stephen Fintan Cooney OPraem, has passed away at the age of 94 at Little Sisters of the Poor, Glendalough.
Born 28 February 1929, Stephen Cooney was in the 72nd year of his profession and the 68th year of his ordination as a priest and was actively involved with Catholic charities such as Aid to the Church in Need and pastoral work. He is pre-deceased by his parents Thomas and Mary Anne Cooney, his brothers Eugene, Vincent, Leo, Ambrose, Kevin, Fr Paul (Columban Fathers) and Stanislaus, sisters Rita, Gertrude and Claire.
Originally from County Cavan, Ireland, Fr Stephen was ordained at Holy Trinity Abbey, Kilnacrott,
on 2 July 1955, before being invited four years later by then Archbishop Redmond Prendiville to work in the growing Archdiocese of Perth. He arrived in November 1959 and joined fellow Norbertines Fr Peter O’Reilly and Fr John Reynolds, who had arrived earlier in May of the same year.
In the eulogy for his funeral Mass, a story unfolded of a gentleman of great faith and great strength who loved and served his community.
On arriving in York, Fr Stephen’s then Superior, Fr O’Reilly, set out to look for a suitable property with the view to establish a Norbertine community.
In late 1959, ‘Kerry Downs’, a 2,500-acre farming property on
the Spencer’s Brook Road, was purchased and the new St Norbert’s Priory was established in the large red brick homestead on the property. Apart from his farming work at Kerry Downs, Fr Stephen along with Fr O’Reilly and Fr John carried out supply work in other towns in the wheatbelt including Mukinbudin and Wongan Hills in the north and Katanning and Kondinin in the South, when priests were absent or on leave.
A few years later Fr Stephen witnessed the founding of St Norbert College in Queens Park in 1965, which still provides a Catholic education in the Norbertine tradition.
Many changes have since occurred which reflect current educational values and curriculum and today St Norbert’s is co-educational, catering for just under 900 students in years 7 to 12 with over 100 staff.
The College is the only Norbertineowned and operated school in Australia with a religious order on site. Before his passing in July, Fr Stephen lived in the original Priory on the school campus. It is still used as a foundation home from which the Norbertines actively engage in various pastoral works in the country, city and surrounding areas.
In 2009, the York Parish of St Patrick commemorated the 60th anniversary of the arrival in Australia of Fr Cooney and his fellow Norbertine Canons in 1959 at a celebratory Mass.
In his homily for the occasion, Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton recognised the work of Father Cooney in both the establishment of the school and as the founder of the York parish of St Patrick.
Fr Stephen Cooney OPraem on the occasion of his 60th anniversary of priesthood in 2015, with Archbishop Costelloe. PHOTO: ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.