Your news from across the Archdiocese of Perth www.therecord.com.au
22 December 2015
Edition #63
ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE’S 2015 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE:
PUTTING MERCY AT THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR, as our Catholic community celebrates the wonderful feast of Christmas with the rest of our society, we do so at the very beginning of the Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis. This special year began on December 8 and will conclude next year on the Solemnity of Christ the King on November 20, 2016. Because of this initiative of Pope Francis we have a wonderful opportunity to put the idea, and practice, of mercy at the heart of our Christmas celebrations this year. Let me explain what I mean. When Saint John, in his Gospel, reflected on the mystery of God coming among us in Jesus he did so in these terms: God loved the world so much that he sent us his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but might have eternal life (John 3:16). This was an act of mercy. It was also, as Saint John says, an act of love. God, who created us in love, knows that on our own we cannot live our lives as fully and as richly as we would wish and as God wishes. Through the gift of his Son Jesus, and through
Jesus’s extraordinary life of compassion and self-giving even to the point of death on the cross, God has planted in our hearts a precious gift: the gift of knowing that, even in our frailty and sinfulness, we are deeply loved, valued and cherished. As Saint Augustine reminds us, God has made us for himself and our hearts will always be restless until they rest in him. In Jesus, who invites us to come to him and find our rest in him, God’s love is made real and accessible. This gift of love, which is at the same time a gift of deep compassion and mercy, can become, if we want it to be, the very gift we give to each other. In this sense all the other gifts we give this Christmas, no matter how simple they may be, or how elaborate, will take on a deep and lasting value in the lives of those who receive them. They will be signs of the love, merciful forgiveness, and compassionate generosity which we carry in our hearts and which we are determined to share with those we love. If we place mercy, the generous giving of ourselves which is born of love and compassion, at the heart of
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe has this year said we have a wonderful opportunity to put the idea and practise of mercy at the heart of our Christmas celebrations this year. PHOTO: RON TAN
our Christmas this year, our own celebration will not be a passing thing. Rather it will begin to transform us into the people we most deeply want to be, the people God has created us to be. The peace and joy about which we sing in our Christmas Carols will then become not mere words but a deeply felt experience of life
as it is meant to be. I wish you all a deeply happy and joy-filled Christmas. To watch the video of my 2015 Christmas Message, please visit www.perthcatholic.org.au Full Text available at
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BISHOP DON SPROXTON’S 2015 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE:
God held nothing back out of love for us
Auxiliary Bishop of Perth, Don Sproxton, spoke of God’s abundant mercy towards humanity by sending His Son into the world in his 2015 Christmas message. PHOTO: RON TAN
ON THE Second Sunday of Advent, in the season of special preparation for the great festival of Christmas, I was able to go to the Women’s Prison at Bandyup to celebrate Mass. It was doubly special for me because, over several months, one of the women has been receiving instruction in the Catholic faith and was baptised, confirmed and given her first Holy Communion at that Mass. Immediately after she was baptised, one of the other women called out, “Good one, girl!”
This summed up the mood of our assembly beautifully. Everyone had become so focused on the huge step that had been taken by this young woman that the chaplains remarked afterwards, as we were walking back to the cars, how silent and reverent the whole group had been throughout the liturgy. The Gospel reading on that day included a quote from the Prophet Isaiah which stated that every valley will be filled in, every mountain laid low and rough roads made smooth. It was in that hall of the
prison that a way was opened for those women to experience the mercy of God. They certainly recognise that they are living the consequences of poor decisions in prison, and yet there was this moment of grace where they could see the love and mercy of God. You had the sense that they were comfortable in the presence of God because He considers every person worthy of His salvation. The truth that we are to celebrate again at Christmas is that God has held nothing back in order that we should recover from the poor deci-
sions that we have made, beginning with Adam. The Father sent His Son to be our saviour. The Son willingly came among us, in all humility, giving us the sign of humility by assuming the created flesh and nature of man. He would fully submit to the plan of the Father to redeem us by undergoing the awful death on the Cross. Nothing was held back by God out of love for us. We are participating in the Year of Mercy until the Feast of Christ the King in 2016. There will be many opportunities for each of us to reflect on the compassionate face of God so perfectly shown in Jesus. I hope that we are able to discover the true judgement of God, which is mercy. I believe that this year of jubilee will be a turning point for each of us and for the Church universally. It is the call of the Spirit to return to our Christian fundamentals and for the mercy of God to be experienced so that it returns to the world through our changed hearts. May you receive the great blessing of peace this Christmas and be the face of compassion to all. Full Text available at
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BISHOP CHRISTOPHER SAUNDERS’ 2015 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE:
Invite Christ to the Joy of our Christmas “WHILE THEY were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the Inn” (Lk.2:6-7). It is truly amazing to ponder that the Saviour of the world was born into poverty and into almost miserable cir-
cumstances. Joseph and Mary were homeless, forced to take refuge in the cold confines of a barn, where the boy child was born in squalor. Then, soon, as a refugee, He was to flee in the arms of His parents to Egypt, to escape the murdering campaign of the tyrant King Herod. Nothing in this story of the birth and infancy of Jesus speaks of human comfort. Rather, it
echoes a theme of suffering and struggle and sacrifice that leads ultimately to the Cross on Calvary. But, without the Christmas event of Jesus’ birth which we celebrate now, there could not have been the passion, death and resurrection that are at the heart of our faith and essential to our hope. As we become immersed in the joy of Christmas with
all its festivities, it is well to remember that Jesus is our model for living. It is clear that being joyful, even exuberant, in our happiness, is a Christlike behaviour. No doubt Jesus enjoyed the wedding feast of Cana in much the same way, we hope, as we might enjoy the gatherings at Christmas. What we need to guard Continue on page 3 2
against, in a Christ-like way, are the excesses that take us beyond the realm of what is moderate and reasonable. In order to do this, it will be necessary to make the effort to remember what we are celebrating – the birth of our redeemer into the world. Indeed, it is in His footsteps that we walk. It is His teachings, His example and His loving words that we follow. Hence, we happily call ourselves disciples of the Lord and we do our best to be who we say we are. Throughout this wonderful season, there needs to be room in our Christmas recollections for others – particularly those less fortunate than ourselves: the down and out, the homeless, the refugees, the lonely, the single parent, the prisoners, the sick, the addicted and
the shut-ins. In fact, all those who, for whatever reason, are on the margins of our society without the love of family and friends and upright living to sustain and nurture them. The Advent and Christmas liturgies, with their prayers,
pageants and carols, do their best to point us in the right direction. They call us to a conversion of heart and a mind of thanksgiving to be lived out in the quest for personal holiness. However, I imagine that, if
Bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders, invited those preparing for Christmas to model their lives on Jesus and to make room for the arrival of the Saviour. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
we are honest, the question remains - are we listening? Are we making room in our busy lives for Christ and for the real joy that comes from being His disciple? Or, in our ignorance and selfishness, do we once more put Jesus out of our lives and into the cold and the darkness of faithlessness. Christmas is a call to faith and belief and hope. It is a joy-filled time with family, friends and the faith community. Or, at least, it will be if we endeavour to make it so and if we invite Christ into our Christmas celebrations. I take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you God’s choicest blessings this holy and joyous season. Full Text available at
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BISHOP JUSTIN BIANCHINI’S 2015 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE:
In His Son, God showed us His wonderful Mercy WE HAVE begun the Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis. The purpose of this Year was clearly stated by the Pope when he wrote, “How much I desire that the Year to come will be steeped in mercy, so that we can go out to every human man and woman, bringing the goodness and tenderness of God”. Many people may have a narrow understanding of mercy. There are words in sacred scripture which show how rich it truly is. It is described as a deep feeling of compassion, tenderness and kindness, moving people to respond to others’ needs. I like very much the translation of the Benedictus that we use for our Daily Prayer of the Church, where mercy is described as, ‘The loving kindness of the heart of our God’ [Lk 1:78]. While Pope Francis strongly promotes the gift of mercy, it is not something new. Being of God, mercy has always existed.
In the Old Testament, God was continually offering and showing this mercy to His people. It was in His Son that God most of all showed us this wonderful mercy. As St Paul states, ‘But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy’ Titus 3:4-5. Christmas, the greatest outreach of God to us, is first and foremost an outreach of God’s rich mercy. As individuals, and as a society, we always need the mercy of God. It is there for the asking - as simple as that. In fact, Pope Francis, in talking often as he does of God’s mercy, says how God is keener to share it with us than we are to ask for it. God also calls on us human beings to share that gift of mercy. Pope Francis constantly puts before the world and world leaders the
Bishop of Geraldton, Justin Bianchini, echoed the words of Pope Francis in his Christmas message by highlighting the abundance of God’s mercy towards us by sending us His Son Jesus Christ. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
plight of the poor, refugees, the unemployed, victims of war and terror. While not neglecting the ‘big picture’, let us not lose sight of all the opportunities that are before us in our dayto-day living - in the home, at work, school and in the
wider community. There are many such opportunities in the ordinary circumstances of our daily lives. Acts of mercy can only come from a merciful heart, and this can only come from the merciful heart of our God. Over this Christmastide, it 3
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would be good and it would be important to contemplate the face of the Infant Jesus and the heart of this Infant God. Pope Francis points us in this direction by begin-
ning his letter for the Year of Mercy with the words, ‘Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy’. Spending time with Jesus in prayer will not stop there. Action will follow. St Therese of Lisieux, by her actions and
writing, points this out. At one stage, she had a sense that, when she was kind to people, it was Jesus who was doing this in her. As a result, she came to realise that the more she loved Jesus, the more He would work in her.
May our hearts this Christmas be filled more and more with the mercy of God shown to us in Jesus. Full Text available at
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BISHOP GERARD HOLOHAN’S 2015 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE:
Let us be the Lights of Mercy ONE OF THE saddest features of Australian society is a growing hardness of heart particularly against anyone we perceive to be a threat to our self-interest. While there are those moved by the plight of refugees, for example, the Australian bipartisan policy of leaving refugees in detention centres at Nauru and Manus Island is only possible because of majority public support. There is hard-heartedness towards these people, particularly children who inevitably will suffer psychologically from their experience. Banks, too, reflect hardness of heart by penalising ordinary families and those less well off with higher interest rates to ensure their multimillion-dollar profits. Media stories about criminals and the homeless also fail to reflect any compassion or understanding. Then there are so many examples of hard-heartedness at other levels - adult children who neglect ageing parents in nursing care; siblings at war over wills; spouses who refuse to understand or forgive mistakes, and even failures in marriages. I am sure that we can all think of other examples. This is not a world envisaged by God. As we come again to Christmas, let us ponder the gap between the society we are becoming and the mercy of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the face of God for all of us, born to bring ‘peace on earth’.
Year of Mercy
What is mercy?
The mercy of Jesus, the face of God, is a fundamental of Christian faith. Pope Francis has called on us to celebrate God’s mercy towards us - and also to reflect God’s mercy towards others in our lives - during this year, the Year of Mercy. What, then, do we mean by mercy?
The word ‘mercy’ in English normally is associated with compassion. In the Hebrew language that Jesus knew, however, mercy brings together two human basic experiences. One example of the first is a mother on the television news some time ago. Her son was killed accidentally, having committed a terrible crime.
Drawing on the newly inaugurated Year of Mercy, Bishop Gerard Holohan encouraged all faithful to be ‘lights of mercy’ in his 2015 Christmas message. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
She pleaded for understanding for her son. She was moved from the depths of her heart to try to understand her son, and asked viewers to try to do the same. The first human experience of the Hebrew meaning of mercy, therefore, is the inner movement to be understanding. The second experience is the attitude or disposition of
desiring to help when someone is in trouble or in need. Perhaps the most moving example of this mercy in Jesus was His pleading with God the Father to forgive those who crucified Him. Despite his agony, He was moved within to pray ‘Father forgiven them for they do not know what they are doing’ [Luke 23:34]. He understands them in His
heart, and seeks to help them - in this case, by praying for their forgiveness by God. The mercy Jesus showed, therefore, was deeply emotional, understanding and desiring to help. This is the mercy which reflects the mercy of God - the mercy Christians are called to develop and to share with others.
God thirsts for us In John’s Gospel, we read of Jesus asking a Samaritan woman for a drink from a well. However, after a conversation about her life, Jesus does not get a drink for His real thirst was satisfied by her conversion to Him [John 4:1-42]. Jesus revealed that God’s thirst is for a personal relationship with every human individual. The source of God’s mercy is God’s love which is so intense that God ‘thirsts’ for us. Anyone who has experienced a real thirst because they have run out of water in the Kimberley knows how totally it absorbs the attention. If we are honest with ourselves, none of us can say we never sin. At times, we all disobey the One without whom we would not be able to take our next breath or read this article for another second. However, though we offend the One in whom, as St Paul said “we live and move and have our being”, God still allows us to keep breathing and to keep reading [Acts 17:28]. As a thirsty person is Continue on page 6 4
2015 LIFELINK CHRISTMAS APPEAL: Supported, encouraged and motivated by the Emmanuel Centre By Marco Ceccarelli
EACH YEAR, thousands of people walk through the doors of the Emmanuel Centre – a volunteer-run, self-help centre for people with disabilities located near the Perth CBD. Often described as “the place to contact if you have tried everywhere else”, the centre has a large volunteer base through which information, support, counselling, advocacy, library lending and resources, work experience and training are offered. Over the past twelve months, two young men, Declan Chamberlain and Anthony Murace, have significantly benefited from being involved in the Emmanuel Centre, resulting in a positive boost of confidence in their social, intellectual and practical skills. “Declan joined Emmanuel earlier this year after taking a year off from a special school he was attending,” said Declan’s mother, Liz Chamberlain, as her son and his friend found a sunny spot within the Emmanuel Centre grounds in which to have their lunch. “Being away from school had started to have a negative impact on him: he had built up aggression and easily became
19-year-old Declan Chamberlain (left) enjoys lunch with his friend, Daniel, at the Emmanuel Centre in East Perth. PHOTO: MARCO CECCARELLI
very tired; he could not handle more than one or two hours of the same thing. It was then that I sought the Emmanuel Centre’s help” she added. Affected by autism, epilepsy and an intellectual disability, Declan is an inquisitive and pleasant 19 year with an interest in all things mechanical and a disposition to joking and laughter that can be all too contagious for those around him. He has a keen interest in wood and creating objects with paper – a skill he has developed through prior involvement with the Australian Men’s Shed Association – and
Enjoying the company of friends and family, Anthony Murace sits with his mum and dad to capture a memorable moment at the Emmanuel Centre in East Perth. PHOTO: MARCO CECCARELLI
has been able to channel his talents in various activities at the Emmanuel Centre. “If a ute arrives with a load of papers, he is the first to lend a hand in unloading. This has been good for him physically and I have noticed it has also helped him gain some muscle. He also makes combusta bricks out of paper, participates in the composition of mosaics, enjoys various forms of gardening wherever needed and, if something is wrong mechanically, he is there having a look and checking to see where the fault is. “He has even mastered some cooking skills, making his own omelette from scratch and eating it for lunch,” Ms Chamberlain said. Declan’s social skills and ability to enjoy being around others have significantly improved at the Emmanuel Centre. Generally not comfortable in crowds of more than three people, Declan has benefited from the quiet, outdoor environment of the Emmanuel Centre to gradually ease into social life where he can mix with people his age and older.
LifeLink agencies collectively touch the lives of more than 31,000 people in need each year through the provision of accommodation, food, clothing, financial assistance with electricity and gas accounts, and the protection of women and children escaping domestic violence and abuse. In this year’s Christmas LifeLink Ap peal , the Archbishop is setting a target of $700,000 so as to help fund agencies in being able to meet the needs of those who knock on the doors of Archdiocesan agencies. The 2015 LifeLink Christmas Appeal will be officially launched in parishes on 14 and 15 November. To donate to LifeLink, go to www.lifelink.com.au. For more information on the Emmanuel Centre, contact Barbara Harris on 08 9328 8113, email emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.au, write to 25 Windsor Street, Perth WA 6000, or check out its website www.emmanuelcentre.com au. Full Text available at
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desperate for water, so God desperately wants a close personal relationship with each one of us. This is why God so particularly awaits a response from us - and shows us mercy. Jesus, the face of God, taught this by His action at the well. We learn, as the Catechism explains [Catechism of the Catholic Church 2560] ... It is (Jesus) who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts: His asking arises from the depths of God’s desire for us. God forgives all who repent Those who deliberately sin in ways that violate serious laws of God weaken or even break their personal relationships with God. Jesus taught God’s mercy in the Parables of the Father and his Two Sons;
the Lost Coin; and the Lost Sheep. He taught how God wants us to return to a relationship, like a parent wanting a wayward child to return. God wants to forgive them if only they will return to God [Luke 15: 4-7, 8-10 and 11-32]. When confronted by the merciless Pharisees with a woman caught in adultery, Jesus first defended her against those wanting to judge her then He told her, ‘go and do not sin again’ [John 8:3-11]. Jesus forgave people their sins, even forgiving the crucified, repentant thief who was dying alongside Jesus. Jesus gave His life so that humanity could be forgiven. Finally, so that God can renew our relationship with the One who loves us, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In times gone by, this was called ‘Confession’. It was thought of only in terms
of the forgiveness of sin. However, Jesus does more than this through the Sacrament. He restores the relationship with God as though we had never sinned in the first place. It is only as this relationship is restored that we can experience fully God’s guidance and blessings for our lives.
Jesus cared for people Jesus showed God’s mercy by His special care for the poor, the sick, the marginalised and the suffering. He did so by His miracles, answering people’s life questions and with His teachings. He wanted all, but particularly these people, to feel God’s merciful love for them [Luke 4:18; 7:22]. He was seen as a friend to sinners, and as welcoming to those whom Jewish society did not accept [Luke 5:27, 30; 7:22 etc].
Jesus was moved by individuals Jesus reflected God’s mercy to individuals as well as to people generally. He was moved, for example, by the suffering of the widow whose only son had died and the father whose daughter had died [Luke 7:13; 8:42].
How do we develop Christian mercy? As we know, Jesus shares His divine nature with us through Baptism. With the Father and the Holy Spirit, He is present within us. As a result, through Baptism, “the love of God has been poured onto our hearts by the Holy Spirit” [Romans 5:5]. With this love, the mercy of God is also poured into our hearts. Full Text available at
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AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE 2015 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE:
May the light of Jesus always shine in our hearts THE RECENT horrors in Paris, Syria and throughout the Middle East show that our world has changed. The dark, foreboding thrall of possible violence, the struggles of nations and the neverending lines of refugees underline the suffering which is so present in our human condition. It is not surprising that we become anxious and restless, and even when we do get some peace our wounds and memories are a burden to us. Yet we sense that there must be something more to life. In
the midst of this suffering and confusion the Lord comes to us again as a tiny baby. Pope Francis invites us this Christmas to be still and place ourselves at the Manger of Jesus and to ask ourselves, “Do I really allow God to love me? Do I really have the courage to welcome with tenderness the difficulties and problems of those who are near to me?” If we spend some time in prayer then we will see the answer that God gives. He came to share our human nature, to make sure that we always had hope. Christmas is
a time of joy because we know there is something more, that God will never desert us. The light shines, yes in darkness, but it will never be overpowered, because Jesus of Nazareth, the infant, has come once more to let us hold him in our frail arms and lives. He will teach us the way to true humanity, to see the beauty and dignity of each other, to give us his gift of peace. May the peace of Jesus shine in your hearts and lives, now and always. Full Text available at
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A rchbishop Denis Har t President of The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, pointed to Jesus Christ as a sign of true humanity in his 2015 Christmas message. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
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PANORAMA
What’s happening around the Archdiocese SUNDAY, 20 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS AT THE QUARRY
An original Christmas production ‘Kings’ presented by the Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity Choir, featuring Paul Wright as Concertmaster and Mezzo-soprano, Bianca Hurley, followed by Christmas carols. Held at the Quarry Amphitheatre, 1 Waldron Drv, City Beach, on Sunday, 20 December, at 7.30pm. BYO picnic. Tickets available through Ticketmaster – ‘Christmas at the Quarry’, or click here. Further info: Bernadette 0439 098 658. THURSDAY, 31 DECEMBER THE HOUR OF GRACES ON NEW YEAR’S EVE - THE YEAR OF MERCY
All are invited to the Hour of Graces at St Francis of Assisi Parish, Maida Vale, on Thursday, 31 December at 6pm. There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy devotion, Special reflection of the Jubilee Year of Mercy and prayer. Novena and Benediction – Te Deum. Come to thank God and Mother Mary for graces and blessings received in 2015 and pray for God’s protection under the intercessions of Mary Our Mother and St Francis of Assisi, our patron for the year of 2016. Further info: Monica, Parish Secretary, 08 9454 6385. SUNDAY, 10 - MONDAY, 18 JANUARY
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EDITION #63 | 22 December 2015
SUMMER SCHOOL OF EVANGELISATION YOUTH RETREAT 2016
The Summer School of Evangelisation provides a chance to retreat for a week into the powerful experience of the Holy Spirit of God. This Spirit opens up the possibilities for conversion, deepening faith, peace, healing, joy, freedom and passion for the Gospel of Jesus. One of Perth’s largest Catholic youth retreats – be quick as places are strictly limited. Register at www. SummerSchool.org.au.
SATURDAY, 6 FEBRUARY MUSIC FOR THE SEASONS OF LENT AND EASTER
This workshop will explore music for the seasons of Lent and Easter. Held on Saturday, 6 February at the Centre for Liturgy, 28 Marda Way, Nollamara, 10.30am-12.30pm. Registrations are essential. Further info: Centre for Liturgy, www.liturgy. perthcatholic.org.au.
SATURDAY, 13 FEBRUARY CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
This workshop prepares and supports those involved in presenting the Good News to children in the best way that they can come to know Jesus. Held on Saturday, 13 February, at the Centre for Liturgy, 28 Marda Way, Nollamara from 10.30am-12.30pm. Registrations essential. Further info and to register: www.liturgy. perthcatholic.org.au.
SONGS FOR THE JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY
This workshop will present music appropriate for celebrations during the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Quotations from the Pope’s encyclical Misericordiae Vultus will be discussed and new songs relating to each quote will be taught. Held in two locations: Centre for Liturgy, 28 Marda Way, Nollamara on Saturday, 13 February from 10.30am-12.30pm; or the Holy Family Catholic Church, 45 Thelma St, Como on Saturday, 20 February from 10.30am-12.30pm. Registrations essential. Further info and to register: www.liturgy. perthcatholic.org.au.
THURSDAYS, 3 AND 10 MARCH MORAL ISSUES WORKSHOPS ON MARRIAGE; DIVORCE; RE-MARRIAGE & ANNULMENT; SEXUALITY
Two evenings: Thursday, 3 and 10 March, 7pm-9.30pm. Facilitator: Rev Dr Joe Parkinson STL PhD, Director of LJ Goody Bioethics Centre, 39 Jugan St, Glendalough. The two evenings provide opportunities for personal faith formation as it explores moral issues and current Church teaching. All Catholics would benefit from attending this course. The moral issues presented are of particular interest to those involved in the ministry of
RCIA. Cost: $20. Further info or to register: Centre for Liturgy 08 9207 3350; rcia.cfl@perthcatholic.org. au. SATURDAY, 12 MARCH BREAKFAST IN THE GARDEN
Save the date for the 2016 “Breakfast in the Garden”. Come and join in the fun, meet old friends and make new ones on Saturday, 12 March at 8am. To be held at the Garden Venue, Mary MacKillop Centre, 16 York St, South Perth (St Joseph’s Convent). Cost; $15. All proceeds go to the Mary MacKillop Foundation. BYO chairs, tables, blankets, umbrellas, sun screen and smiles. Further info and to RSVP by 9 March: Laurie Mayne 08 9271 5649, ljmayne@optusnet.com.au; or John McCormack 08 9383 2615, johnmccormack@ westnet.com.au.
GENERAL REFLECTIONS ON YEAR OF MERCY
THE
The new Archdiocesan Centre of Liturgy website is now available at http:// lit u r g y. p e r t h c at h o lic .o r g . a u .
As part of our initiation process to familiarise you with our new website, we have produced a series of prayer sheets based on the Year of Mercy. These can used for parish and RCIA meetings, reflections before Mass, bulletin inserts for prayer. A new prayer sheet will be available each month.
NEW CHRISTMAS CD RELEASE FROM ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL
New Christmas CD titled ‘Christmas Sounds from St Mary’s Cathedral’ is a compilation of favourite carols and Christmas music featuring the golden voice of the Cathedral’s Principal Cantor, Carly Power, and the beautiful sounds of Cathedral’s Dodd organ. Recorded live at St Mary’s Cathedral. Also features Schubert’s ever-popular ‘Ave Maria’ in a newly recorded duet version sung by Carly and young baritone Joshua Adams. Cost: $15 (Ideal Christmas gift). Available at the Cathedral Piety Stall or phone Jacinta on 08 9223 1377.
COME TO THE WATERS OF MERCY PROGRAM FOR 2016
A Lenten Small Groups Program, Come to the Waters of Mercy, will be available in January 2016. The program will include: reflections on the Sunday Readings, discussion notes, art and environment suggestions, music for the Lent and Easter seasons, children’s Lent activities, second rite of reconciliation, and universal prayer. Program is offered free to parishes and schools. Download from the Centre for Liturgy website at www.liturgy. perthcatholic.org.au.
ST MARY’S SCHOOL CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
St Mary’s Primary School in Donnybrook is celebrating 100 years on Sunday, 1 May 2016. Save the date in your calendars now. More information will follow in the next few months.
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EDITION #63 | 22 December 2015
REVISED ORDERS FOR CELEBRATING CONFIRMATION AND MATRIMONY
The Permanent Committee of the ACBC has approved that the Revised Orders for Celebrating Confirmation and Matrimony “can be used” from the First Sunday of Advent, 29 November 2015, and “must be used” by the First Sunday of Lent, 14 February 2016. Copies can be purchased from St Pauls Publications, Strathfield NSW and Catholic retailers. Digital versions have been integrated into a CD-Rom Resource ‘Labora Worship’ from Liturgy Brisbane and the website www.liturgyhelp.com maintained by Creative Ministry Resources, Hobart. Liturgical and pastoral ministers, religious education teachers, catechists and couples preparing for marriage are encouraged to utilise liturgical formation resources about the revised orders such as: When We Marry. These resources will be available in early 2016 from Liturgy Brisbane and Catholic retailers across Australia. Further info: Dr Paul Taylor, Executive Secretary, Bishops Commission for Liturgy on 03 9926 5753, Paul.Taylor@ cam.org.au.
TRUTH JUSTICE HEALING COUNCIL
Commission hearing into Melbourne Archdiocese starts this week The first week of the Royal Commission’s public hearing into the Archdiocese of Melbourne finishes today. This is the 35th public hearing
and the 12th into a Catholic institution since the Commission started public hearings in September 2013. Again, it is incumbent on all Church witnesses appearing before the hearing to be fully cooperative and to speak the truth without defensiveness or anger. Church guidelines for responding to civil claims for child sexual abuse - Guidelines for how Church authorities should respond when claims of child sexual abuse are made against them have been released this week. The guidelines, which have been endorsed by the Church leadership, will come into effect from 1 January 2016 and are designed to promote justice and consistency in the way the Church handles child sexual abuse claims and conduct litigation when taken to court. They also include a requirement for Church dioceses or religious orders to assist a claimant to identify the correct defendant to respond to legal proceedings. Misperceptions about child sex offenders Sexual offending against children is a highly emotive issue so it is important public policy initiatives to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse are based on the available evidence. This 2011 paper by researcher, Kelly Richards, addresses five common misperceptions about the perpetrators of sexual offences against children, including whether all child sex offenders are ‘paedophiles’ who sexually abuse children, whether most child sex offenders were victims of sexual abuse themselves, rates
of recidivism among child sex offenders and the number of children sex offenders typically abuse before they are detected by police. TJHC in consultation with Churches - The TJHC met with chancellors, vicars general and child protection professionals from NSW dioceses last week to map what lies ahead for the Catholic Church as the work of the Royal Commission continues. At a separate meeting, the Council met with other Churches in Sydney last week to talk about shared concerns such as response to victims, the need for a national redress scheme, data collection and policy developments. Truth, Justice Healing Council www.tjhcouncil.org.au.
The Royal Commission – www. childabuseroyalcommission.gov. au.
E-RECORD NEWSLETTER UPDATE
Local news from across our parishes, agencies, schools and organisations can be delivered weekly directly to your inbox via the e-Record e-newsletter. It contains the latest news, events and photos from the Archdiocese. Parishes receive a PDF copy of the e-newsletter to print off and distribute for those who don’t have or don’t use email. Subscribe to the e-newsletter by sending details to communications. media@per thcatholic.org. au . Further info: Jamie O’Brien 08 9220 5900.