AUSTRALIA’S ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE: CARDINAL NEWMAN’S ‘DEVELOPMENT OF DOCTRINE’ IS KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THE SYNOD
By Gerard O’Connell
“I don’t think we experienced the inversion of the pyramid model of the church at the synod; rather we experienced a different model altogether of the church,” the Australian archbishop Timothy Costelloe, S.D.B., one of the president delegates of the synod, told America’s Vatican correspondent in this exclusive interview in Rome on Oct. 30.
A member of the Salesian order, Archbishop Costelloe has been archbishop of Perth in Western Australia since Pope Benedict XVI appointed him to that post in 2012. The 69-year-old archbishop is the president of the Australian Catholic bishops’ conference, served as president of the Plenary Council of the Australian church (2021-22) and is a member of the preparatory committee for the synod. In this interview, which has been edited for clarity and length, he
described “being a synodal church” as “an experience” that “we have to live in order to understand it.”
Gerard O’Connell: You were one of the nine president delegates of the synod. What’s your overview of what you’ve experienced?
Archbishop Costelloe: I remain very positive about the whole experience. I think it’s important to remember that this is the end of the first assembly and there’s another assembly in 12 months’ time. So, the question I would ask is: Are we well positioned now to take the next steps in the discernment process? The answer is yes.
If people were expecting final decisions at the end of the first assembly, they’ll be quite disappointed. But it was always going to be the case that at the end of the first assembly we would hopefully have clarified what the main issues were, delved into them a little deeper, allowed things to rise to the surface so that we now know what
it is that we really need to discern more deeply as we move forward. I think we achieved all of that. One of the synod’s conclusions is the need to do more theological reflection on what synodality means and and how to codify it in the canon law.
That’s true! But I think before we can codify it in canon law, we need to understand it better theologically. We’ve had a lot of talk about the inversion of the pyramid model of church, where the pope is at the top, then come the cardinals, the bishops, and so on with the laity at the bottom. Pope Francis has talked about the inversion of the pyramid. But I don’t think we experienced the inversion of the pyramid at the synod; rather we experienced a different model altogether of the church, as a community of people which has within it, at its service, the ministry of the ordained.
PHOTO: THIERRY BONAVENTURA/SYNOD.VA
AUSTRALIA POST GRANTS PERSONAL ADVOCACY
MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SPREAD AWARENESS
Personal Advocacy Service WA (PASWA) have recently been the recipients of a $1000 People of Post Grant from Australia Post.
The People of Post Grants gives Australia Post workforce members the opportunity to nominate a local organisation for a grant of up to $5000 for an approved project.
With the aim of strengthening local organisations by supporting projects that connect, are driven by, and create positive outcomes for communities and community members, grants from Australia Post have so far helped dozens of worthwhile initiatives.
This is the second time PASWA were nominated by Bibra Lake Business Centre’s Malcolm Sequeria, the husband of PASWA’s Willetton Thursday group, Gladys Sequeria.
“The Personal Advocacy Service is a very active organisation in my community, providing one on one
friendships and advocacy support for people with intellectual disabilities”
Mr Sequeria said, in nominating PASWA for the grant.
“The(previous) grant helped PAS partially fund an Inclusivity Project bringing together all the Willetton branch registered members for a joint fellowship.
“I would certainly encourage my colleagues to nominate as it is so fulfilling and rewarding to support programs that create meaningful impact in your community “.
While the PASWA team has yet to finalise how the grant money will be used, previous grants have used to increase and spread awareness and inclusion by taking their friends with disabilities to a wonderful musical and dinner at Bentley Pines Restaurant. Established in 1989 in response to parents seeking enrichment for their children living with intellectual disabilities, PASWA provides a unique
type of advocacy that is based on one-to-one relationships between people with disabilities and volunteers from the local community.
With local Personal Advocacy groups made up of six advocates and six friends with disabilities, they come together regularly under the guidance of two specifically trained leaders or facilitators to provide friendship, support and enable those with disabilities to participate more fully in the spiritual life of the Church and the social life of the wider community. For many people with intellectual disabilities living independently or isolated from family contact, this ongoing friendship/relationship is perhaps one of the only constants in their lives.
Being in a small group and linked one to one with volunteers from the local community encourages a variety of relationships to develop and the growth of trust and faith.
PAS Advocates and Friends participate in an adapted liturgy at Canning Vale Parish. Personal Advocacy Service WA (PASWA) have recently been the recipients of a $1000 People of Post Grant from Australia Post. PHOTO: SUPPLIED..
VOCATIONS OFFICE PRESENTS “WE ARE ALL CALLED BY GOD” FOR TURRIST ORATIONIST MINISTRY
Vocations Director Fr Israel Quirit was recently invited by the Turrist Orationist Ministry (TOM) to provide spiritual advice and share his insight on “What is your Primary Vocation?” TOM is an Indonesian Catholic Charismatic Youth Group and their name - Turrist Orationist Ministry - translates to Tower of Prayer in Latin.
TOM’s ministry is based in the Archdiocese of Perth, currently housing more than 150 active members and are growing. Defining vocations
Fr Israel started the presentation by answering “What is Vocation?” Vocations, he explained comes from the Latin word, “Vocare” which means to “call” in English.
“There is a Caller and a Callee in our Vocations. The Caller – God – is the person calling, while the Callee (each of us) is the person
who is being called by the Caller –being called by God for a particular purpose.”
What is our Primary Calling?
Fr Israel continued with his presentation by answering what is that particular purpose God is calling each one of us. In other words, he says, “what is our Primary Calling?”
“God is calling us into life – to become life not just for ourselves but also, for others and all of us can live life to the full and answer God’s call to care and love others in single life, in married life, in consecrated life and of course, in ordained ministry,” Fr Israel said. How do we hear and identify God’s call?
Fr Israel answered this question for TOM’s audience by explaining that silence is needed to identify God’s call.
That is because to hear a call, we first need to listen, and listening requires silence.
To quote Fr Richard Rohr “without silence, we do not really experience our experiences” and that of St John of the Cross “silence is God’s first language.”
“We listen with our ears and our hearts for God’s call which can be found through ordinariness of events, encounters with people and through our everyday experiences.”
“Through prayer, silent listening, reading Scriptures, receiving the Sacraments and simply by talking to God about our desires, longings and aspirations can also internalise our experiences to hear in which Vocation God is calling us to be.”
Vocations Director Fr Israel Quirit with attendees from the Turrist Orationist Ministry (TOM). PHOTO: SUPPLIED / CATHOLIC MISSION.
NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY WELCOMES SENIOR VATICAN LEADER IN HISTORIC VISIT
The University of Notre Dame Australia had the honour of hosting the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations for a dinner and lecture to explore current world issues, the challenges of globalisation and the diplomatic role performed by the Holy See.
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher visited the University’s Fremantle campus on the final leg of his Australian tour to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Australia. Accompanying Archbishop Gallagher on his visit to Perth was Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, Chiara Porro and Australian Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Balvo. Present for the occasion from the
Archdiocese of Perth was Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Vicar General, the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely VG and Msg Michael Keating.
Archbishop Gallagher delivered an insightful address in which he spoke about the fragility of peace and stability, and the role of the Holy See in helping to steer humanity back to its original path.
“We find ourselves in an era defined by both promise and peril, a time profoundly shaped by dynamic forces such as globalisation, weakening multilateral institutions and diplomacy, egoism, conflicts, and the pressing humanitarian and ecological crises," Archbishop Gallagher said.
“In the face of challenges like the diminishing sense of unity among
nations, there is a compelling need for the international community to come together and collectively aim to seek the common good to address the growing challenges that affect all of humanity.”
Archbishop Gallagher's visit emphasised the important “soft diplomacy” role that the Holy See, led by the Holy Father, performs around the world in pursuit of peace, solidarity, and the protection of human dignity.
“The Pope, as the universal pastor of the Church, exercises his soft power indirectly by inspiring the global community to champion related initiatives and policy preferences within their secular roles.
Australian Ambassador to the Holy Sir, Chiara Porro, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, UNDA Chancellor, the Hon Chris Ellison and Australian Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Balvo. PHOTO: BREYON GIBBS/UNDA.