CATHOLIC EDUCATORS CALLED TO BE FAITHFUL TO IDEALS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH
By Jamie O'Brien
It is simply not possible to be a Christian unless we recognise in Jesus the inspiration for all that we seek to do and all that we are trying and wanting to be, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has said. Speaking at the Catholic Education Western Australia Commissioning and Acknowledgement of System Leaders Mass, Friday 17 November, at the Chapel of St Michael the Archangel, Leederville, Archbishop Costelloe emphasised to the teachers and principals present, the need to be faithful to the high ideals of our Christian faith.
“And of our mission as Catholic educators,” he said.
Archbishop Costelloe was joined for the Mass by Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Broome Administrator and Geraldton Bishop Michael
Morrissey, Episcopal Vicar Education and Faith Formation, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn, Canning Vale Parish Priest Fr Jean-Noel Marie, East Fremantle Parish Priest Fr Jesus Bello, Salvatorian Regional Superior Fr George Kolodziej SDS and Norbertine’s Prior Provincial, Rev Fr Peter Stiglich O Praem. Continuing his homily, Archbishop Costelloe referred to the words of the first reading of the day
This has taught us love – that Jesus gave up his life for us; and we, too, ought to give up our lives for our sisters and brothers.
“So, we need to partner with Jesus: we need to form a united team with Him,” he said.
We need to do this in our families, we need to do it in our friendship groups, we need to do it in our local schools and colleges, we need to do it in our local communities, Archbishop Costelloe emphasised.
“Jesus knows what it is to live a life of total self-giving. He learnt the hard way. He knows what it is to be exhausted, to be discouraged, to be frightened, to be disappointed, to be let down, to feel abandoned.
“But He also knows how to confront the exhaustion, the discouragement, the fear and the disillusionment and to keep alive his hope and his faith.
“And He wants to walk with us through all of this so that we don’t give up, and we don’t give in, and we don’t walk away.
“‘Come to me,’ He says, “if you are weary or overburdened, and I will give you rest”. When we feel like we are caught in a raging storm and in danger of sinking he comes to us and says,
‘Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Have courage. Trust in me’.”
Bishop Sproxton and Bishop Morrissey distribution the Body of Christ during the Commissioning and acknowledgement of System Leaders, Friday 17 November at the Chapel of St Michael the Archangel. PHOTO: MATT BIOCICH/CEWA.
ADVENT REFLECTION TO SHINE SPOTLIGHT ON REALITY OF MODERN SLAVERY
Modern Slavery will once again be the focus at an evening reflection hosted by Catholic Mission and the WA Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office.
An Advent Reflection on Modern Slavery in Word and Music – Forced Labour edition will be held at the Redemptorist Monastery, Saturday 2 December from 7pm.
The event promises to be a beautiful and inspiring evening of readings and music featuring tenor Paul O'Neill, organist Andrew Brown and the St Elizabeth of the Trinity Choir conducted by Emma Oorschot.
The evening will conclude with an Advent blessing by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.
In partnership with Catholic Mission and the WA Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office (WACMRO), the event is being hosted by the Redemptorist Monastery in North Perth and supported by the University of Notre Dame University
Australia, the Australian Catholic Anti-Slavery Network (ACAN) and the Redemptorists of Oceania.
Catholic Mission WA Director, Francis Leong said he is grateful to the event partners and sponsors for their support.
“They have enabled this opportunity for the Catholic community to come together and reflect on this current reality [modern slavery],” Mr Leong said.
WACMRO Director and ACAN Modern Slavery Liaison Dcn Greg Lowe added that modern slavery is an umbrella term to cover a range of criminal behaviour.
“Having a forced labour focus this year will help event participants navigate the other realities of modern slavery such as Forced Marriage and Human Trafficking, in future Advent Reflections,” Deacon Greg noted.
The selection of readings for this year’s event was developed by CEWA Catechist Services Team Leader,
Dr Pina Ford and Redemptorist Monastery Leader of Mission, Fr Edmond Nixon CSsR.
The event, highlighted Fr Nixon, is one way we can come together as a Perth community and prayerfully let each other know that we share God’s own thirst for justice to be done.
“On this occasion, especially justice to those impacted by modern slavery in our community, in our region and globally,” Fr Nixon said.
The Reflection on Modern Slavery, added Dr Pina Ford, gives the Catholic community an opportunity to honour this season of Advent.
“By doing our part to prepare for God to come anew and transform the suffering and indifference in our midst with his beauty and his presence,” Dr Ford said.
Cantors from Aquinas College prepare to sing at the 2022 Advent Reflection on Modern Slavery. PHOTO: SUPPLIED..
ST JOHN OF GOD HEALTH CARE UNVEILS NEW MODEL OF MATERNITY SERVICES
St John of God Health Care has unveiled a new north/south model of private maternity care across its Perth metropolitan private hospitals, providing parents-tobe with expanded world-class maternity services.
Under the new model, St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital maternity services will transfer to St John of God Subiaco Hospital to consolidate the group’s northern private services. There will be no changes to maternity services at St John of God Murdoch Hospital. The two centres of excellence are well positioned to cater for Perth’s growing population and the future demand for high quality private maternity services.
St John of God Health Care CEO Bryan Pyne said the transfer would take place on 20 December 2023, enabling the organisation to respond to workforce challenges and better align service capability with community needs.
“Providing exceptional patient care remains our number one priority. This has been our focus and will continue to be our focus after the
transfer,” Mr Pyne said.
“Our community’s needs are changing and we are seeing private maternity admissions dropping across our hospitals as the birth rate in Western Australia trends downwards.
“It is also becoming incr St John of God Health Care has unveiled a new north/south model of private maternity care across its Perth metropolitan private hospitals, providing parents-to-be with expanded world-class maternity services.
Under the new model, St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital maternity services will transfer to St John of God Subiaco Hospital to consolidate the group’s northern private services. There will be no changes to maternity services at St John of God Murdoch Hospital.
The two centres of excellence are well positioned to cater for Perth’s growing population and the future demand for high quality private maternity services.
St John of God Health Care CEO Bryan Pyne said the transfer would take place on 20 December
2023, enabling the organisation to respond to workforce challenges and better align service capability with community needs.
“Providing exceptional patient care remains our number one priority. This has been our focus and will continue to be our focus after the transfer,” Mr Pyne said.
“Our community’s needs are changing and we are seeing private maternity admissions dropping across our hospitals as the birth rate in Western Australia trends downwards.
“It is also becoming increasingly difficult to sustain the highly skilled maternity workforce across three hospital sites, especially over holiday periods.
“Despite our best efforts to resolve these workforce issues over the past two years, we need to transfer Mt Lawley maternity services before Christmas to ensure continuity of care and to maintain our high standard of care for our patients.
An artist’s impression of new clinical block at St John of God Subiaco Hospital. IMAGE: SUPPLIED..
NOTRE DAME AMONG THE TOP RANKED FOR STUDENT EXPERIENCE
The University of Notre Dame Australia has further cemented its position as a leader in student experience, ranking among the best in the country in the newly released Australian Financial Review (AFR) rankings.
The University’s strong showing in the new AFR rankings is further proof of Notre Dame’s commitment to supporting its students, ensuring they receive an outstanding university experience and helping them achieve their academic goals. The University ranked fourth highest in the country, first in New South Wales and second in Western Australia, for the student experience.
Notre Dame was also highlighted as one of the best universities in the country for preparing students for the workforce, securing the eighth position nationally for career outcomes.
This result highlights the University's focus on not just academic excellence, but also preparing graduates for their future careers.
With a focus on student support, pastoral care and highly practical learning, the University is committed to ensuring its students are ready to make a difference from the day they graduate.
Notre Dame’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Francis Campbell,
welcomed the results saying, “As a university community we pride ourselves on ensuring all our students have a transformative educational experience. Receiving such positive feedback affirms the care and commitment that our staff provide to our students as we help them take important steps to achieve their goals.”
For more information visit https://www.afr.com/workand-careers/education/smallerclasses-make-the-difference-tostudent-satisfaction-20231030p5eg1n?collection=p5elo5
The University of Notre Dame Australia has further cemented its position as a leader in student experience, ranking among the best in the country in the newly released Australian Financial Review (AFR) rankings. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
JAMIE O’BRIEN
MICHELLE TAN
BIBIANA KWARAMBA