The Record Newspaper 25 February 2009

Little Church, plenty of history.

150 years since the foundation stone of their first Church was laid on St Patrick’s Day in the year 1859, Catholics in York and those with connections to the historic town will gather over the weekend of March 14-15 to celebrate a solid tradition of faith. Vista 1-3

THE R ECORD

the Parish. the Nation. the World.

Little Sisters’ foundress, Molokai ‘Leper Priest’ join...

Modern day heroes

Among the

Damien, 9 others, head for sainthood

■ By John Thavis

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Blessed Damien de Veuster, a missionary priest who served patients with Hansen’s disease in Hawaii, will be canonised by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11 at the Vatican, the Vatican said.

The pope presided over a February 21 consistory that gave final approval for

HOW I PRAY NOW

the canonisation of 10 people, including Blessed Damien, a Belgian-born member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Born in 1840, Blessed Damien spent the last 16 years of his life caring for patients with Hansen’s disease, or leprosy, on the island of Molokai. He died in 1889 and was beatified in 1995.

Last July, Pope Benedict authorised Continued - Page 2

Missionaries of Charity Sister M. Shirley Jose talks to DEBBIE WARRIER Vista 4

“Be indefatigable in your purpose and with undaunted spirit resist iniquity and try to conquer evil with good, having before your eyes the reward of those who combat for Christ.”

-Bishop Matthew Gibney 1874

News of canonisation date delights Perth sisters.

■ By Anthony Barich

THE Little Sisters of the Poor at Glendalough are rejoicing at the news accounted on February 21 of the long-awaited canonisation of their foundress, Jeanne Jugan.

The canonisation will take place on October 11 in Rome.

The miracle attributed to her intercession was the cure of American anaethetist Dr Edward Gatz of Omaha, Nebraska, who was diagnosed with a cancerous lesion in the lower part of the esophagus in January 1989.

He was given six to 13 months to live and his wife approached Fr Richard McGloin SJ to share with him her sorrow over her husband’s illness and to seek some spiritual support.

The Jesuit encouraged Mrs Gatz to pray and gave her the Novena prayer to Blessed Jeanne Jugan whom he knec through the Little Sisters of the Poor since he had formerly been Chaplain to their home in Milwaukee and whom he held in veneration.

Fr McGloin and Mrs Gatz prayed Novena prayers daily, and in March 1989 when further tests were performed there was no sign of the tumour. Dr Gatz is still alive and well today aged 71.

Jeanne Jugan, born in Cancale, Brittany, in 1792, was a stalwart provider and protector of the dignity of the elderly in post-revolution France. The founding gesture was in 1839, when she welcomed the first elderly blind lady to her Continued - Page 2

THE ITALIAN WAY

What makes the Oratorio such a success in youth ministry where so many others have failed? Anthony Paganoni CS Vista 4

Little Sisters of the Poor in Glendalough gather to celebrate news that their congregation’s founder, Blessed Jeanne Jugan, will be canonised in Rome in October.

10 who will be canonised is legendary priest Blessed Damien of Molokai, pictured with lepers below, who died in 1889.

PHOTO: ANTHONY BARICH

Blessed Jeanne Jugan, foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, is seen in this image provided by her order. Pope Benedict XVI announced that Blessed Jeanne will be canonised at the Vatican on October 11. PHOTO: CNS/ COURTESY OF THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR

SAINT OF THE WEEK

THE PARISH

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.”

From the First Letter to the Thessalonians, 4: 13-15

Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska 1825-1899 feast – March 3 Sophia Camille was an intelligent but frail Polish child. Schooled mainly at home, she learned about injustice from her father, a juvenile court judge. In 1848, her “conversion” experience prompted greater eucharistic devotion and asceticism. Educating poor, neglected children became her mission, but she served anyone in need. In 1855 she founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice, Poland’s first active-contemplative order. As superior general, Mother Angela guided the Felicians until 1869. Poor health marked her last 30 years.

Saints for Today

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS

February 2009

28 Padre Pio Mass, BedfordArchbishop Hickey March

1 Farewell Mass Fr Kevin Long, Rector, St Thomas More CollegeArchbishop Hickey Mass and Procession for Our Lady of Grace, Pickering Brook - Bishop Sproxton 3 Farewell Mass Fr Don Hughes OMI, Rector, St Charles’ Seminary - Archbishop Hickey

6 World Day of Prayer Service, Ms Julie Williams

7 Mass and Blessing of new Abbot, New Norcia - Archbishop Hickey

8-13 Bishops’ Commission, SydneyBishop Sproxton

9/10 Permanent Committee, SydneyArchbishop Hickey

12 Catholic Social Justice Board MeetingArchbishop Hickey

This prime piece of advertising space could be yours.

Small Really is Beautiful. (And affordable).

Call Justine on (08) 9227 7080 or contact her via email: production@therecord.com.au

New saints show friendship with God is for all of us

Continued from Page 1

the publication of a decree recognising a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Damien, clearing the way for his canonisation.

Blessed Damien sailed for Hawaii in 1864 and served there for eight years. When a priest was needed for the leprosy settlement on the island of Molokai in 1873, he volunteered.

At Molokai, he served as pastor, doctor, adviser and guardian to the approximately 800 residents suffering from leprosy.

He later won permission to minister permanently at the settlement and eventually founded two orphanages there.

Blessed Damien died there five years after contracting leprosy. He continued to work until a month before his death.

Blessed Jeanne Jugan, born in 1792 in France’s Brittany region, is the patroness of the elderly.

In 1839, she opened her home to a sick and blind elderly woman. As time passed, more and more elderly women arrived at her home for help.

Eventually, other women came to help Blessed Jeanne, and today the Little Sisters of the Poor care for more than 13,000 needy elderly men and women around the world.

Blessed Jeanne, who was beatified by Pope John Paul II, died in 1879.

On October 11, Pope Benedict XVI also will canonise:

Blessed Zygmunt Felinski, a former archbishop of Warsaw, Poland, and founder of the Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary. Born in 1822 near Volinia, which today is in Ukraine, he was deported to Russia and, after being freed, worked among the poor farmers of Ukraine and Poland. He died in 1895.

Blessed Francisco Coll Guitart, a Spanish Dominican priest who founded the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the 19th century.

Blessed Rafael Arnaiz Baron, a 20thcentury Spanish Trappist brother known for his humility.

On April 26 in Rome, the Pope will canonise: Blessed Arcangelo Tadini, an Italian diocesan priest in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and founder of the Worker Sisters of the Holy House of Nazareth, who went into the factories to work alongside other women.

Blessed Bernardo Tolomei , an Italian priest who founded the Olivetan Benedictine congregation early in the 14th century.

Blessed Nuno di Santa Maria Alvares Pereira, a lay member of the Portuguese Order of Friars of the Blessed Sacrament. Before his death in 1431 he was known for a life of prayer and penance and his devotion to Mary.

Blessed Gertrude Comensoli, the 19thcentury Italian founder of the Institute of Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She devoted her life to the Eucharist and educating girls.

Blessed Caterina Volpicelli, the 19thcentury Italian founder of the Institute of Handmaidens of the Sacred Heart.

Sanctity - what’s it all about?

Saints are the true heroes of the world as their close relationship with God brings to life the full potential of human nature.

The Church presents them to us as heroes or role models because, if we emulate their faith, we too will bring the goodness of God into this troubled world.

The saints live in the Kingdom of God here on earth, and the Kingdom reveals the fullness of who they are.

It is not only what they do that matters, but who they become.

Jesus told us: “He who seeks only himself will bring himself to ruin, but he who surrenders himself for me will discover who he really is.”

That is the story of sanctity, and the miracles that God grants in the name of saints is our assurance that sanctity leads to eternal life.

Long wait is over for Little Sisters of Poor

Continued from Page 1 home, giving up her bed. This act committed her forever. A second elderly woman followed, then a third…

In 1884 the first foundation was made in Australia in Melbourne, and today there are four Houses - in Kalgoorlie, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. There are now 2710 Little Sisters of the Poor operating in 202 Homes on the six continents, welcoming over 13,000 residents, with new foundations opening up in Colombia, South Korea, Chile, India, Peru and the Philippines in the last 20 years. The Sisters came to Adelaide Terrace, Perth in 1920 and moved on to Glendalough in 1921. Sister Elizabeth Anne Lee LSP, Superior of the nine Sisters, said that Blessed Jeanne Jugan’s charism and spirituality inspired her to join the congregation in Singapore; her life as a Little Sister of the Poor is “very fulfilling”. One of the Community added: “It is

Rosengren cathrec@iinet.net.au JOURNALISTS

Barich abarich@therecord.com.au

Reidy reidyrec@iinet.net.au

Hiini cathrec@iinet.net.au

the most rewarding vocation I could ever have.” Like Blessed Jeanne Jugan, the Little Sisters of the Poor in Glendalough depend on Divine Providence which manifests itself through the goodness of their benefactors and friends, including church collections.

Today the Little Sisters of the Poor continue the initial gesture of Jeanne Jugan; they welcome, comfort, care for and accompany, until the end of their lives, the elderly whom God has placed on their path. They accomplish this with great respect for life, their family, their convictions, in collaboration with Associates and lay staff and volunteers.

For information on the life and work of Jeanne Jugan, contact ms.perth@lsp.org. au or phone (08) 94433155.

Blessed Jeanne Jugan, foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, is seen in this image provided by her order. PHOTO: CNS

Maria Alvares Pereira

Gertrude Comensoli

Arcangelo Tadini Rafael Arnaiz Baron

Caterina Volpicelli

Bernardo Tolomei

Francsco Coll Guitart

Zygmunt Felinski

Youth Office re-boots

Victorian reader wins Record competition

LUCKY reader of The Record Suryan Chandrasegaran from Victoria is the winner of a unique handcrafted fountain pen made from the jarrah of St Mary’s cathedral.

PERTH’S diocesan Catholic Youth Ministry office has been expanded and re-launched at Highgate’s Pastoral Centre on February 18 with a focus on reaching out to the unchurched and on building up parish youth ministry.

Fr Dominic Savio CSsR, the new part-time chaplain of CYM, said its main challenge is to give Catholics a “living experience of their faith” and bring Christ to the centre of their dialogue and engagement with the world. He joins a new staff of six, including Damon Whitehouse, who worked under previous CYM director Robert Hiini as website officer.

Anita Parker, formerly Perth’s World Youth Day coordinator, will direct Olivia Lavis and Catherine Gallo Martinez, CYM’s two other full-time workers devoted to metropolitan and country parishes north and south of the river, respectively. Patricia Pejcinoski has also joined the team as a part-time admin assistant.

CYM’s new mission statement is: “To walk with young people

on their faith journey and inspire them to build communities that are vibrant places for young people to encounter Christ, engage with the Church and be a witness to their faith in their everyday life.”

Fr Savio said that the reality is, “few young people are connected with their parish, and if there are problems at a grass-roots level in that system, then CYM will have to work out a strategy of reaching these youth and to train people in youth ministry at that level”.

Fr Savio, who ran a Redemptorist retreat centre while supporting youth ministry in Bangalore, will assist the long-running CYM tradition of 5.30pm Mass on Wednesday at the Catholic Pastoral Centre Chapel of St Therese of Lisieux, followed by 6.30pm Holy Hour. He will be assisted by other priests, like retired Fr John O’Reilly, who was heavily involved under Mr Hiini, who has now joined The Record Miss Parker, a former music, RE and maths teacher at Mazenod College, said that CYM aims to provide support and resources to leaders who are in parish ministry on a needs basis. “Some want community service programs, some

may want scriptural resources or resources on how to run a youth Mass properly,” she said, outlining some areas of support.

The Holy Hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will also provide a chance for parish leaders and representatives to pray together and following this, they will meet monthly to discuss initiatives and progress in parish ministry with CYM staff. Northern parish representatives will meet on the first Wednesday of each month, while southern parish delegates will meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Miss Lavis’ parish ministry includes the Polish and Ukrainian Catholic communities plus the Melkite/Arab community, plus 53 other parish centres in the northern region. Miss Martinez’s parish ministry includes 62 parish centres including the Basilica of St Patrick and the University of Notre Dame Australia’s Holy Spirit Chapel, both in Fremantle.

CYM has already distributed its first parish resource – a Lenten Program that involves prayer, drama, discussion and catechesis, in many cases based on messages of Pope Benedict XVI.

Mr Chandrasegaran, a young lawyer who lives with his wife and five children in Gippsland, entered The Record’s reader survey competition advertised in the paper over several weeks late last year.

In order to get a better idea of reader’s ideas about The Record

Support local farmers: Pope

the paper offered a unique fountain pen as the prize; the pen is handcrafted from wood used in the construction of the cathedral which was completed in 1865. Many valuable suggestions and ideas for improvement and comments about what readers do – and don’t – like were received as a result.

Record editor Peter Rosengren thanked all those who entered and said he was looking forward to absorbing what readers had to tell the paper.

VATICAN CITY (CNS)Supporting local farmers and agricultural workers “can boost the wider economy and provide greater food security for all,” Pope Benedict XVI has said. “Assistance given to local producers serves to build up the economy and contributes to the overall development of the nation concerned,” he said. The Pope made his comments in a February 20 audience marking the 30th anniversary of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, also known as IFAD, a special agency of the United Nations based in Rome. He praised the agency’s work, saying it was “particularly crucial at the present time in view of the damaging effect on food security of the current instability in the prices of agricultural products.” Agriculture should be given a more prominent role in a nation’s economy and more respect in society, he said.

Is it true our company philosophy is “We are a friendly and efficient company trading with integrity and determined to give our customers the very best of service?”

Is it true I regularly publish testimonial letters from satisfied customers because of my tremendous reputation for outstanding service?

Is it true I believe that before anyone buys a pre-owned vehicle they should choose their dealer before they choose their car and that dealer should be mine? and...

Is it true I say this, because of my reputation for honesty, fair dealing, huge range of vehicles and non pushy salespeople.

Is it true when people do business with me, I guarantee they will be treated with courtesy, sincerity, professionalism and efficiency?

Is it true that I have over 40 technicians who are dedicated to getting my used cars in first class condition before sale?

Record staff Anthony Barich, Cathy Baguley and Bibiana Kwaramba watch a deceptively intelligent-looking editor display the winning entry.

PHOTO: JUSTINE STEVENS

■ By Anthony Barich

Fr Dominic Savio CSsR, CYM’s new chaplain, with Patricia Pejcinoski, Catherine Gallo Martinez, Olivia Lavis (front) with director Anita Parker and Damon Whitehouse..

PHOTO: ANTHONY BARICH

Oxford beckons for cashstrapped Perth musician

■ By Anthony Barich

PERTH musician Andrew Cichy plans to reinvigorate church music in the Archdiocese of Perth, having been accepted by Oxford University to read the Master of Studies in Musicology. He will be resident at Merton College, where the Director of Chapel Music is also director of music of Tallis Scholars, an internationally-renowned choir specialising in Renaissance Choral music, which performed to a soldout audience at Perth Concert Hall in 2007.

Mr Cichy, 24, has completed Honours in a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Pipe Organ Performance at the University of WA, the first student to do so in over a decade.

His Honours thesis, Father Albert Lynch: His Musical Contribution to WA and Beyond, the first academic study of the Perth priest’s life and work, brings together hundreds of hours of interviews and research from sources that might otherwise have been lost or destroyed. Mr Cichy’s work constitutes the most complete guide to sources on Fr Lynch produced to date. Born in Collie in 1900, Albert Lynch was a gifted violinist, who, by his early 20s, had risen to prominence in Perth musical circles.

Recognising the young man’s talent, the WA community raised several thousand pounds to enable him to study overseas and further develop his skills.

This period of overseas study was a crucial turning point in Lynch’s life: while studying in Belgium, he converted from Anglicanism and returned to Perth in 1927 as a Catholic. His stay in Perth was brief: sensing his vocation to the priesthood, Lynch was sent to Rome in 1930 to study at Propaganda Fide College by Archbishop Clune.

After being ordained at the Lateran Basilica in Rome on the 16th of March, 1935, the now

Father Lynch returned to Perth to single-handedly change the face of sacred music in Perth, initiating a program of sacred music education in Catholic schools through which more than a generation of Catholic students learned the Church’s Gregorian Chant.

This culminated in thousands of students participating in diocesewide Gregorian Chant festivals.

Fr Lynch also established St Mary’s Cathedral Choir – the first Catholic Cathedral boys choir in Australia – beating both Sydney and Melbourne to the distinction.

When the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Panico, visited Perth in 1941, he remarked that the Cathedral choir was finest choir he had heard in the Southern Hemisphere.

Mr Cichy, who claims descendancy in Fr Lynch’s musical tradition - having studied with Annette Goerke, who took her first organ lessons from Fr Lynch – envisions a similar plan for the diocese, having already run Gregorian Chant courses for several parishes across Perth. He needs $60,000 by July 31 for the one-year Oxford course, and he’s believed to be the first Catholic from the Archdiocese of Perth to read music at the prestigious English university.

“I want to help as many people as wish to be helped – parishes, schools, clergy, churches needing advice on sacred music or even considering installing a pipe organ,” he said. His plan to reinvigorate the diocese - as his inspiration Fr Lynch did - involves lecturing in sacred music, publishing scores, articles and other guides, providing resources for those who need them and continuing research into his personal areas of interest, plus aspects of liturgical music history, including those affecting the Archdiocese of Perth and New Norcia. He said the treasures of Church music are not just confined to Catholic churches, but are also a part of the wider community’s cultural heritage.

“What inspired me about Fr Lynch, was that he showed what can be achieved by one life when it is lived in the service of others,” Mr Cichy said.

To contact Mr Cichy to help get him to Oxford call 0439 922 446 or email cichya@hotmail.com.

Much-loved priest farewelled

The Vietnamese Catholic Community beckons for Fr Huynh Nguyen

ST COLUMBA'S Bayswater bid a fond farewell to Father Huynh Nguyen last weekend.

There were hugs and tears as Father Huynh said goodbye after six wonderful years in the parish.

The parish has flourished under Father's care and his beautiful smile, his love of music and his ritual of shaking hands with every child on his way out of Church each weekend endeared him to parishioners of all ages.

The parishioners give thanks to Father Huynh for his faith-filled guidance and loving care and wish him all the very best in his appointment to the Vietnamese Community in Westminster.

PRINCIPALSHIPS

Cavalry to meet Christ Our Lord and Saviour with renewed hearts!

To register or for more information please contact:

Fr. Joseph Michael Mary McShane- Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate Tel: (08) 9437-2792 or 9437-2793 Mob: 0409376728 email: avemaria325@gmail.com

An exciting opportunity presents itself for an innovative leader to lead the amalgamation of two current schools in the Archdiocese of Perth.

AMALGAMATION OF HOLY NAME SCHOOL AND NOTRE DAME SCHOOL

Holy Name School, Carlisle and Notre Dame School, Cloverdale will amalgamate and commence operation under one Principal as of 1 January 2010. The two current schools have a rich foundation emanating from the Sisters of Mercy (Holy Name) and the Presentation Sisters (Notre Dame). The new school will be developed keeping in mind the foundations of both communities.

In 2009 planning for the amalgamation will commence under the shared responsibility of the current Principal of Holy Name and the new Principal of the amalgamated school. From 2010 necessary planning will continue with both school communities to facilitate full relocation onto the current Notre Dame School site for the beginning of 2011. It is envisaged that the new school will be a full double-stream school catering for students from Kindergarten to Year 6. Both schools are working with a focus on the implementation of First Step Maths and Cooperative Learning. The two schools are planning to hold combined professional development sessions and network meetings throughout the amalgamation process.

The successful applicant will be appointed to commence in term three 2009 and will be based at the Notre Dame site while working with communities on the amalgamation process.

ST LUKE’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

St Luke’s Catholic Primary School, Woodvale, was established in 1988 to provide a Catholic education to the children of the Woodvale-Kingsley area. Currently St Luke’s is a full double-stream co-educational school with an enrolment of 525 students from Kindergarten to Year 7. From 2010, the enrolment configuration will be Kindergarten to Year 6.

The school and parish have a strong relationship and work closely with the School Board and Parents and Friends’ Association to create a positive and supportive Christian community.

A highly committed staff prides itself in providing a challenging and diverse curriculum within a nurturing environment. In 2009 the school offers specialist programs in LOTE (Italian), Library/Research, Visual Arts, Drama and Physical Education. St Luke’s is one of two Catholic primary schools in Western Australia involved in the Teacher Designed Schools network, which it joined in mid 2008. The school has a unit supporting the integration of hearing-impaired students, in collaboration with the Telethon Speech and Hearing Centre for Children WA (Inc).

The successful applicant will take up the position at the commencement of semester two. Applicants need to be practising Catholics and experienced educators committed to the objectives and ethos of Catholic education. They will have the requisite theological, educational, pastoral and administrative competencies, together with an appropriate four year minimum tertiary qualification, and will have completed Accreditation for Leadership of the Religious Education Area or its equivalent. A current WACOT registration number must also be included.

The official application form, referee assessment forms and instructions can be accessed on the Catholic Education Office website www.ceo.wa.edu.au. Enquiries regarding the position should be directed to Helen Brennan, Consultant, Workforce Relations & Development Team on (08) 6380 5237 or email wrd@ceo. wa.edu.au. All applications, on the official form, should reach The Director, Catholic Education, Catholic Education Office of WA, PO Box 198, Leederville 6903 by the close of business on 11 March 2009.

Fr Huynh Nguyen with young parishioners at St Columba’s during his goodbye festivities.

Fr Huynh Nguyen embraces parishioners during festivities to send him off after six years of service to the Bayswater parish. He has been appointed chaplain to the Vietnamese Catholic Community.

Andrew Cichy

Doubleview celebrates in searing heat

Doubleview notches 50 years.

■ By Brian Peachey

DESPITE the temperature reaching forty degrees during the day, a crowd estimated at over 1000, crammed the beautiful church of Our Lady of the Rosary on February 21 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Holy Rosary Parish and School.

The concelebrated Mass was presided over by Bishop Donald Sproxton with emeritus bishop of the Western Solomon Islands, Bishop Cyril O’Grady OP, the parish priest, Fr David Halstead OP, his assistant Fr Anthony Van Dyke OP, former parish priests, Bernard Maxwell OP, Aquinas Mc Comb OP and Kevin Condon OP. They were joined by a friend of the Dominican Sisters, Mgr Sean O‘Shea, parish priest of Rottnest and visiting Fr Peter Nguyen OP.

The acolytes were the principal of Holy Rosary school, Darryl Winsor and one of the earliest residents in the parish, Fred Symons.

The singing was performed by the children of Holy Rosary School conducted by Michelle Kirwin. The splendid music was provided by Sister Cecelia OP playing the great pipe organ and accompanied by her young trained instrumentalists, Stephanie Van Der Mosel and Stefano Vinci on flute, Ben Keanelly, trumpet, and three of the Jacobs family, Benjamin, Jesse and Ariann on violin and cello.

The children sang the school song, Children of Holy Rosary, with keyboard accompaniment by Carmel Charlton who composed the words and music.

At the conclusion of Mass large numbers of families enjoyed a picnic meal on the Holy Rosary School grounds and celebrated well into the night.

St Ambrose College, a single gender Catholic secondary school for boys emerging from the Edmund Rice charism, will commence operation at the beginning of the 2011 academic year. Situated in the northern suburbs of Perth, the school will initially be a four-stream college with 128 Year 7 students, growing to an enrolment of 750 students, Years 7 to 12, by 2016.

A unique opportunity now exists for a proven leader in Catholic education to be part of the first Catholic boys’ school established in WA in over 70 years. The successful candidate will work closely with the Principal of the new Stormanston Catholic College for girls in order to seize and capitalise on opportunities which will assist in the development of both of these new communities.

St Ambrose College will be a school designed specifically for boys; a school that recognises and addresses young men’s academic, spiritual and developmental needs in a dynamic and stimulating physical and learning environment. The curriculum at the college will be both broad and academically challenging to cater for the varying needs of every student.

The Foundation Principal will have had experience in a leadership role within Catholic education and be an innovative leader of learning and teaching. A special interest in innovative pedagogical delivery and environmental issues and sustainability, in both school design and student learning, would be highly regarded.

The successful applicant will be expected to take up the position at the commencement of Term 3, 2010. Applicants need to be practising Catholics and experienced educators committed to the objectives and ethos of Catholic education. They will have the requisite theological, educational, pastoral and administrative competencies, together with an appropriate four year minimum tertiary qualification, and will have completed Accreditation for Leadership of the Religious Education Area or its equivalent. A current WACOT registration number must also be included.

The official application form, referee assessment forms and

A R E W E L I V I N G I N D E C I S I V E T I M E S ? ARE WE LIVING IN DECISIVE TIMES? An evening with Professor Courtenay Bartholomew M.D.

World renowned medical scientist, Marian speaker & author, Professor Courtenay Bartholomew, will be speaking on the subject of his latest book ‘The End of This Era’.

Professor Bartholomew is the Emeritus Professor of Medicine of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago. He is an internationally renowned researcher on viruses on AIDS, and member of Dr Robert C. Gallo’s US multi-disciplinary team of scientists who discovered the AIDS virus. He has been a guest speaker at many Marian conferences worldwide and has written 9 books on Our Blessed Mother’s apparitions and messages in these times. ISSUES ADDRESSED IN HIS TALK WILL INCLUDE:

● The compatibility of scientific knowledge with belief in God.

● The infinite power and intelligence of our God as manifested through his creation, the universe. (Both of the above so very relevant for our modern world steeped in denial of God and His Commandments.)

● The global significance of the current phenomena of AIDS & terrorism along with the uncanny parallels between the two.

● Developing these themes with the concept of the Marian Era of these times.

9th March: 7.30pm. Our Lady of the Missions, Cambawarra Dr., Whitfords. 10th March: 10.30am. Mass/TalkSt Bernadette’s, Jugan St., Glendalough. (Lunch-bring plate)

10th March: 7.30pm. Talk – Bioethics Centre, Jugan St., Glendalough.

11th March: 10.00am.Mass/

Talk Casa di Luisa Piccarreta, 59 Newton St., Spearwood.( Lunch. Bring plate) 11th March: 7.30pm. Talk – St Mary’s Parish Centre, Leederville. 12th March: 10.30am.Talk - Edel Quinn Centre, East Perth. Priests only.

Perth Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton prepares to receive Communion at the Doubleview Mass celebrating 50 years of the parish and school, left. Right, several Dominican priests and clergy of the Archdiocese of Perth line the sanctuary of the church.

PHOTOS: RICHARD GOODWIN, BRIAN PEACHEY

Students participate in actions to songs during the Mass celebrating 50 years of the parish. Below left, Knights of the Holy Sepulchre during the Mass.

Church set to receive 150 conversions

150 to be initiated at Easter Vigil.

PERTH Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton has declared 150 adults to be members of the elect, to be initiated into the sacred mysteries at the next Easter Vigil (April 11).

The Bishop’s formal declaration was made at the Rite of Election conducted this year at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Lockridge last Thursday night, February 19.

The 150 have been attending RCIA programs (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) at 24 parishes and the Indonesian and Chinese communities for many months and will continue their instruction and prayer in their parishes until Easter.

Their preparation will include public ceremonies known as the Scrutinies during weekend Mass at the parishes.

The participants consisted of 72 Catechumens (those who have not been baptised) and 78 Candidates (those who have been baptised in other churches and want to enter into full Communion with the Church).

In separate ceremonies, the Catechumens and Candidates, together with their godparents or sponsors, went forward to meet Bishop Sproxton and were invited to take their place in the sanctuary surrounding the altar where they were formally accepted as the Elect, chosen to move forward to receive the Sacraments of Initiation.

This important liturgical ceremony is based on the long biblical tradition of God choosing or electing people, from Abraham through to Moses, the Prophets and on to the Apostles and early converts to Christianity.

The names of all the current participants

‘Pray that storms don’t shake Church’

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Following weeks of controversy involving two of his decisions, Pope Benedict XVI has twice cautioned against destructive polemics

in this process initiated by God are written in the Archdiocese’s Book of the Elect which was carried in solemn procession to the sanctuary at the beginning of the ceremony.

God’s way of electing each person is unique, and one such story that emerged during conversation at the supper after the ceremony was that of Ken Dodds, a catechumen from Maddington.

After his career in the Army, he settled in Maddington and each week drove his wife to

inside the Church. The Pope, speaking in German at his noon blessing on February 22, asked for prayers to St Peter so that “disturbances and storms do not shake the Church” and that Catholics remain united in faith and love.

Two days earlier, addressing students at Rome’s diocesan seminary, the Pope recalled St Paul’s admonition to Galatian Christians not to “go on biting and devouring one another” but instead to be guided by the Spirit.

Mass and sat in his car or wandered around the car park. This went on for so long, many people took him to be a carpark attendant and would wave to him, he said.

When Fr Francis Ly was appointed parish priest of Maddington, Ken became involved with him in organising support for handicapped orphans and the nuns who care for them in Vietnam.

Last year, he accompanied Fr Francis and Archbishop Hickey to Vietnam where they

saw the remarkable work and joy of the nuns and the children.

Late in the visit, when speeches were being made at a farewell lunch, Ken found himself standing there with tears streaming down his face. When the Vietnamese Bishop saw this he went to him to ask what was wrong, and Ken said his only response was “make me one of you” (meaning a Catholic).

“It is still all I want,” he said last week, but now he is much closer to his desire.

Nation’s Ukrainians mourn as priest, 39, dies

■ By Anthony Barich

THE young Ukrainian Catholic priest who accompanied the relics of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati to Sydney for veneration during World Youth Day 2008 has died from what is understood to have been cardiac arrest.

Fr Adrian Ckuj, a celibate priest who turned 39 on February 11, died at 3.30am on February 22 Eastern Standard Time having been in a chemically induced coma after suffering for weeks from pulmonary bronchitis.

A Requiem Divine Liturgy will be held in Rome and his body transported to Melbourne for burial after a funeral Mass at the Cathedral of Ss Peter and Paul in North Melbourne, where he was ordained on December 13, 1997 by Bishop Peter Stasiuk, Eparch of Australia’s Ukrainian Catholics.

Bishop Stasiuk told The Record that the Ukrainian Church in Europe, Australia and around the world was in shock over the loss of Fr Ckuj, who, in the absence of a local bishop, had acted as an administrator for the Ukrainian Church in Italy, organising chaplaincy for Ukrainian migrants in the country.

The prelate said that when news came out, “I never saw so many people mourning in the cathedral in Melbourne, and I got a call from a priest in Hobart telling me of similar sentiments in his own diocese. It seems the whole country was united in shock”.

Fr Ckuj had served in Melbourne and Sydney before being sent for further study in Rome, where he became “very influential”, and was a personal friend of Cardinal Pell, Bishop Stasiuk said.

“It’s all so sudden,” Bishop Stasiuk told The Record last week. “It’s a sad day for the Eparch.”

Fr Ckuj completed his licentiate in Dogmatic Theology at the Gregorian University in 2001 and a licentiate in Canon Law at the Papal University of the Holy Cross in 2004. That year he was appointed chancellor of the Apostolic Visitator for Ukrainian Greek-Catholics in Italy, and was elected

secretary of the Santa Sofia Brotherhood in Rome in February 2005. He served as its president from 2006 to 2008. Born in Melbourne, Fr Ckuj’s brother Simon is parish priest of St Andrew’s Ukrainian Church in Lidcombe, NSW. Their parents Nick and Orysia are based in Melbourne.

Fr Ckuj served as an altar boy at the Cathedral of Ss Peter and Paul, attended the parish Ukrainian Satuday School, was a member of CYM, the Ukrainian Catholic Church’s youth ministry, and attended St Bernard’s College.

After completing the journey from Turin with Blessed Frassati’s relics to Sydney for World Youth Day in July 2008, Fr Ckuj described the experience as “particularly prayerful” for him alongside the body of such a young saint so widely venerated by Catholics.

“His smile, positive attitude, intellect and pastoral guidance will be sadly missed,” said a February 22 statement from St Andrew’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Left, Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton talks with Patricia Githa Prasetya (sponsor) and John Sinatra (candidate) from St Thomas More Parish, Bateman. Right, RCIA Catechumens and cantidates from 24 parishes, Chinese and Indonesian communities. PHOTOS

Fr Adrian Ckuj

Seminarians grow in love

■ By Anthony Barich

RECTORS of seminaries around Australia have been impressed with increasing student numbers across the country as the new study year began on February 9.

St Charles Seminary in Guildford now has 22 resident students, including eight new enrolments for 2009 and a further two completing their studies in Rome.

Sydney’s Seminary of the Good Shepherd has 49 – more than double the 2001 figureincluding 13 new enrolments this year.

Melbourne’s Corpus Christi College also has 49, including nine first-years. Parramatta’s Holy Spirit Seminary started last year with 11 students, with a further five still discerning with the local vocations director.

Vianney College in Wagga Wagga, NSW has a record 22 students currently in residence, including five new enrolments this year.

The two missionary seminaries of the Neocatechumenal Way in Australia –Redemptoris Mater in Morley (19) and Sydney (20) are also strong, with students from Australia, the US, Africa, Europe and Asia.

Rectors of Australian seminaries say this has been the result of previous World Youth Days; Australian bishops actively recruiting both locally and overseas; and, with a church participation rate of five per cent among school leavers, there is a renewed urgency for the New Evangelisation that Pope John Paul II often referred to.

Fr Michael Moore, Rector of Perth’s Redemptoris Mater Seminary, said “the lack of people” in churches in recent years “has led us to rediscover the real mission is to evangelise, that is reaping greater rewards as people are coming back to the seminaries”.

Rectors say that WYD 2008 in Sydney may have helped a handful of this year’s intake but many of them had already submitted their applications before July last year.

Fr Anthony Ireland, Rector of Corpus Christi College, the regional seminary for Victoria and Tasmania, says “there is, amongst some of the guys, a fresh generosity emerging in the Church… a spirit of selfgiving”.

“You’d have to put that down to some of the World Youth Days over the past decade or so – I have seminarians who found their vocations at WYDs in Rome (2000), Toronto (2002) and Cologne (2005),” Fr Ireland said.

“Whilst we can’t tell the impact of Sydney yet (in terms of vocations), I hope and pray it will have a benefit eventually in Australian seminaries by 2010.”

World Youth Days, he says, help cement the thinking of many young men and women

to join seminaries and convents as it helps them realise that “it’s good to be Catholic and that you’re not alone”.

Fr Paul Roberts, vocations director of the Parramatta Diocese, believes that since he was ordained in the 1980s, there has been a shift to the “sacramental model” of priesthood.

“At WYD08 I noticed a lot of (priests) in traditional dress”, which represents a shift towards a strong sense of identification,’ he said.

Seminarians in general today, he says, are very clear about Church teaching and willing to be identified in their beliefs. “The Church by nature is conservative, as it’s about conserving and preserving what matters,” he said.

Fr Anthony Percy, Rector of the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, says that as seminary numbers increase, notions of ‘conservative’ and ‘liberal’ are starting to become outdated among youth, who, in seeking the Truth, have a “great desire to go and spread the Good News”, with the sacraments as their foundation.

“The new seminarian wants to get out and make a difference” by being part of a “Christo-centric” priesthood, he said, and in doing so are fulfilling Vatican II’s teaching that priest’s role is to preach the faith and celebrate the mysteries of the faith.

“There’s an evangelical thrust developing in the Church – a sense that as priests, we’re not just ‘men of maintenance’ (of parishes),”

Fr Percy said. “We’ve got to get out there and bring Christ to those who haven’t heard of Him and to those who’ve left the Church.

“We get guys who have quite a good sense of that now.”

Oblate of Mary Immaculate Father Don Hughes, Rector of St Charles Seminary since January 2006, says “the wheel turned” for diocesan seminaries about three years ago.

Gone, also, are the days of minor seminaries in the first world – something Fr Hughes agrees with, though they still exist in third-world regions like India and the Philippines.

“Really, a boarding school is only the second-best place to receive formation,” he said.

“The family is still the primary source. To know one’s siblings is important. Often the guys who grew up in seminaries hardly know their brothers and sisters, and that’s a bit sad.”

When Fr Kevin Long takes over from Fr Hughes as St Charles’ Rector on March 8, the Oblate will move to his Order’s Australian headquarters in Melbourne to be Novitiate Master, to nurture the four young men they have in formation.

Dominican Father Jordan Perry, spiritual director of Vianney College, which also produces priests for Lismore, Wollongong and Armidale, says young men respond when seminaries are “doing what the Church says in teaching what the Church teaches the way it should be taught”.

Notre Dame could adopt fireaffected parish

UNDA looks at range of options to help suffering souls.

■ By Anthony Barich

THE University of Notre Dame Australia Fremantle is in negotiations with the Archdiocese of Melbourne to “adopt” a parish affected by the Victorian firestorm and to possibly offer scholarships to people in the devastated areas.

UNDA Fremantle staff and students also held an ecumenical prayer service at Holy Spirit Chapel on February 20 for the victims and survivors of the recent Victorian firestorm.

Over 120 Catholic and non-Catholic staff and students gathered at the chapel during Orientation Week to involve new students in the service, which was led by Catholic and non-Catholic members of staff.

“Everyone is very keen on having an opportunity to pray for the victims and those trying to now rebuild their lives, so this gives them a chance to transform their feelings into something positive,” said UNDA chaplain Fr Gerry Conlan OMI.

“We’re also looking at whether we can offer some scholarships and encourage other universities to offer scholarships for people in the affected areas,” Fr Conlan said.

The newly installed chaplain, who replaced Fr Greg Watson OMI, said he also considered offering his services as a chaplain to the affected areas in Victoria, but the local Archdiocese had already gathered enough cleric support.

FOUNDATION PRINCIPALSHIP

Stormanston Catholic College, a secondary college for girls, will commence operation at the beginning of the 2011 academic year. The school will open for students in Year 7 with an initial intake of approximately 128 students. When fully developed, Stormanston Catholic College will be a four-stream college, Years 7 to 12, with an enrolment of approximately 750 students.

Pray your own prayer in a very special way. Pray Patience (Solitaire) and on completion you have said the Rosary. You receive TWO beautiful Holy Decks of Cards plus simple instructions.

Fr Rick McCann, parish priest of The Oaks (NSW), has developed these cards in order to encourage prayer, and also help fund a desperately needed new church. The cards are of good quality and the picture cards are adorned with religious symbols. The king is represented by Jesus, our Lady is the queen and the jack is illustrated with the Holy Spirit.

For your boxed set, send a cheque or money order with your name, address and phone number to Fr Rick McCann PO Box 169, The Oaks, NSW 2570

$20

postage and handling) A Wonderful Gift for Easter!

For more details call (02) 4657 1191 Visit www.prayingcards.net.au

The charism of the Sisters of Mercy, and their founder – Catherine McAuley, will permeate Stormanston Catholic College and contribute to the development of a dynamic community of learners in which each young woman will be challenged to develop intellectual independence and leadership capability. Stormanston will have a distinct emphasis on academic excellence, offering all students the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program.

The position calls for a proven leader of learning and teaching with an understanding of the International Baccalaureate and its objectives. The appointee will be a person who has a keen interest in curriculum and innovative pedagogy.

The Foundation Principal will have had experience in a leadership role within Catholic education. A special interest in environmental issues and sustainability in both school design and student learning would be highly regarded.

The successful applicant will be expected to take up the position at the commencement of Term 3, 2010.

Applicants need to be practising Catholics and experienced educators committed to the objectives and ethos of Catholic education. They will have the requisite theological, educational, pastoral and administrative competencies, together with an appropriate four year minimum tertiary qualification, and will have completed Accreditation for Leadership of the Religious Education Area or its equivalent. A current WACOT registration number must also be included.

The official application form, referee assessment forms and instructions can be accessed on the Catholic Education Office website www.ceo.wa.edu.au. Enquiries regarding the position should be directed to Helen Brennan, Consultant, Workforce Relations & Development Team on (08) 6380 5237 or email wrd@ceo. wa.edu.au. All applications, on the official form, should reach The Director, Catholic Education, Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, PO Box 198, Leederville 6903 no later than 12 March 2009.

Archbishop Barry Hickey ordains five new seminarians to the Diaconate on their way to becoming priests for the Archdiocese of Perth on November 1 last year.

PHOTO: PETER ROSENGREN

Staff and students of UNDA participate in an ecumenical prayer service at Holy Spirit Chapel.

Dominicans renewed as youth seek truth

The Order of Preachers is undergoing a renewal, with its first Australian ordination in 10 years and an increased presence among youth since World Youth Day 2008. Anthony Barich reports.

When Archbishop Philip Wilson ordained 31-year-old Mannes Tellis to the Order of Preachers on December 20 at St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Adelaide, it was the first in Australia for the Dominicans for 10 years since the ordination of Sydney-based Fr Dominic Murphy OP.

Fr Murphy has an impressive presence in the surging Catholic youth movement in the Eastern states. He has 1543 ‘friends’ on the social networking site Facebook, on which young and old Catholics alike are building bridges and building the kingdom of God through the promotion of various initiatives.

Fr Murphy coordinated the Order’s World Youth Day initiatives and, according to Fr Mannes, was the inspiration behind some of the four new postulants who have signed up in recent months. Three of these are from Sydney, one from New Zealand.

The Dominicans have also benefited from Anthony Fisher OP, a scholar in bioethics, when he was consecrated an Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney by Cardinal George Pell, and especially when he was the face of World Youth Day Sydney 2008 as its chief organiser.

Bishop Fisher, clearly identifiable as a Dominican in his Order’s white Dominican habit, became a regular feature during WYD08.

Always positive yet forthright when it came to defending the faith, he turned heads not only in the secular world but became a sign of hope for the Church and his Order in Australia, according to Fr Mannes.

Like most Religious, Dominicans live in community and, Fr Mannes says, are strengthened by its fraternity and solidarity and the knowledge from sources within their own ranks, like St Thomas Aquinas.

Fr Mannes was in the spotlight in July last year when he chanted the Gospel before Pope Benedict XVI, over 400,000 pilgrims and a global audience of millions at the closing Mass at WYD08 at Royal Randwick Racecourse.

Fr Mannes, whose birth name was Paul, took his Religious name from St Dominic’s older brother from their mother’s previous marriage. Blessed Mannes Guzman was one of the first friars to join his brother’s Order when it was founded in 1216.

Blessed Mannes’ mother, Joan of Azam, is also a Blessed known for her charity to the poor. Fr Mannes was also inspired by his own family, growing up in a practising Catholic family where the priesthood was viewed as an important role in society.

“The priesthood was always seen as something to aspire, to, not something on the side, as society sees it,” Fr Mannes says.

After St Dominic’s death, Blessed Mannes heavily promoted the cult of his younger brother throughout Spain. Dominic was also very contemplative yet was a fervent preacher, as Fr Mannes says he is known to be.

Fr Mannes was drawn to the priesthood through the example of his local diocesan parish priest, who he says was a very prayerful man dedicated to serving God’s people.

Wearing the distinctive black and white Dominican habit is important for Fr Mannes as it provides a focus for both himself and others.

“People don’t know what to make of you,” Fr Mannes says of wearing the habit.

“Sometimes you get weird looks or questions; they don’t often associate it with being Christian except the Rosary beads, but it provides a focus that the Church does not

just sit on the sidelines, it is fully into the world.”

He finds solace in the vows of obedience, poverty and chastiy. “The good thing about the vow of obedience is you don’t make up your own show; you’re obedient to your superior who stands in the place of Christ and sends you out,” he says.

“That goes in the face of what we as a society are about today – we all want to be individuals, but our vow says you’re not a lone ranger.”

He says that the public scandal of pedophilia among the priesthood breeds suspicion among the public and makes it difficult to enter people’s lives, but “you have to work with that and meet them halfway”. Reading the works of the great Dominican Doctor of the Church St Thomas Aquinas, known for his approach to faith through reason, was also a big reason why Fr Mannes joined the Order of Preachers.

“He gave reasonable arguments of how and why God exists, and that struck me as worthwhile as it was a clear, reasonable explanation of the faith. Aquinas says humans are reasonable creatures, even if we can’t understand fully things like the Trinity, we can still try to understand what it’s about. Otherwise we fall into ‘we just believe it though we can’t explain it’.”

Fr Mannes, who studied for nine years at St Dominic’s Priory in Camberwell, Victoria, says part of what drew him to the Order of

Preachers was gaining strength from living and praying in a community, and the fact that what they preach is specifically doctrinal, following the teachings of the Church and expressing it with clarity.

“For Dominicans, preaching isn’t about making people feel better about themselves, it’s preaching and teaching. They go together as one,” he said.

Dominicans are also known as an academic order, studying at the service of the Church “is the reason why we exist”.

The immediate challenge for Fr Mannes is not further study, however, but finding ways of teaching through preaching to the students as chaplain at Black Friars Priory School in Adelaide – a Catholic primary and high school.

He says that only half the students are baptised Catholic, and even then, he finds it hard to communicate with children who have grown up in today’s secular culture. This is not so much an indictment on the school but on society at large.

“Going out into the playground and talking to kids, they’re not interested sometimes in who you are, as they have no connection with the Church. It has no meaning for them. It’s hard to break into that,” he says.

“Only 50 per cent are Catholic – and even then how many would actually darken the doors of a church? The funny thing is some of the students that are religious – some are Muslim - are usually the best in class who have respect for religious things as they live it in their lives because it’s in their background.

“They’re showing us how it should be, that you can mix your faith with your life, and they’re not two separate things.”

Since he entered the Dominican House of Study nine years ago, Fr Mannes says he has grown more acutely aware of his own weaknesses and deficiencies, yet finds himself redeemed through God’s love which the Church helps bring to the fore.

“It’s like first you’re falling in love, all starry eyed about what Religious life is like, then 10 years later you wake up to the reality that you’re still in love with her but you realise her faults,” he said of Religious life.

They say you join the order for one reason and you stay for another, and I think that definitely was the case for me. I joined first as I wanted it for myself, but I stayed because of actually wanting to help.

“As a priest you’re at the service of other people, to bring them to Christ in whatever way is possible.”

Devastated families receive school fees relief

■ By Anthony Barich

CATHOLIC Education Office

Melbourne is providing $1500 to schools for each family who has lost their home in the Victorian firestorm to offset 2009 school fees and charges.

Additional funds are also being provided to assist with educational and relocation expenses for displaced families, while CEO psychologists and counsellors are available to support teachers and students of Catholic schools in the fire affected areas.

An additional $1000 will be provided to parents per school child, via the school, for other educational costs including school uniforms, if a family has lost their home.

Letters to the editor

CEO Melbourne director Stephen Elder has established an internal Emergency Response Team that has met regularly to coordinate responses as the impact and extent of the tragedy unfolds.

All Catholic schools across Victoria are now open and operating after primary schools including St Brigid’s, Healesville, Sacred Heart, Yea, St Mary’s, Yarram, St Mary’s, Alexandra, St Mary’s, Whittlesea, Lumen Christi, Churchill, St Joseph’s, Beechworth and Marist-Sion College, Warragul all closed within three days of the fires starting on February 7.

“Many of our staff and students are anxiously awaiting information about missing family members, neighbours and friends, while others have lost their family homes or

Normally it is not just a duty but a pleasure to ignore attacks made by persons who, like The Record columnist using the pseudonym “Guy Crouchback” (Feb. 18), are insufficiently intrepid to sign their own names.

But because The Record has a readership of faithful Catholics loyal to the Magisterium - despite its notorious penchant for publishing at least one outspoken non-Catholic, Hal Colebatch, on a regular basis - I possess neither the ability nor the desire to let its

been forced to evacuate them,” Mr Elder said during the first week of the crisis. While three State schools burned down, all Catholic schools were spared; though a Catholic school in Healesville was “under threat for a while”, according to a Melbourne diocesan spokesman.

“We were very fortunate indeed,” he said. “Teachers have lost homes and families, but our schools have been spared.”

There was no school in Kinglake and Marysville, where the local parish churches burned to the ground. Blood and cash donations are being sought from Victorian Catholic school students and staff.

The Catholic Church’s presence in bushfire affected communities during the initial crisis and recovery stages will need to go beyond

calumny against me go unchallenged.

“Guy Crouchback” writes: “if Mr Stove is actually trying to say that there are no generally acknowledged moral laws, this is just plain wrong.”

Of course I am not trying to say this. I have never tried to say this; I never would say this; and it is absurd, if not indeed defamatory, to maintain that I would have the slightest likelihood of saying this.

A brief Google search will reveal that my articles have been repeat-

its normal and ongoing presence as represented by the “faithful and committed” parish communities, their priests, pastoral associates and religious who are “there for the long haul”, Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart said.

“The Church in Melbourne is committed to a sustained effort to meet the pastoral, welfare and education needs of the affected communities and to the rebuilding of those communities over the coming years,” the prelate said.

It has also been announced that Fr Greg Bourke, who Archbishop Hart appointed as the Bushfire Recovery Chaplain, will also arrange extra assistance that may be needed for funeral services.

This adds to Fr Bourke’s list of duties that already include liaising

edly published in the orthodox Catholic media, something that is unlikely to have happened if there were the smallest grounds for supposing that I were indeed a nihilist. Or does “Crouchback” suppose that the editors of these orthodox Catholic media are themselves nihilists conspiring to get a fellow nihilist into print?

Incidentally, praise for Andrew Roberts’ lucubrations comes extremely strangely from any commentator who purports to be Catholic.

between State and civil authorities, key Catholic agencies such as the Catholic Education Office, Centacare Catholic Family Services and the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the parish priests and pastoral teams embedded in the affected communities.

Archbishop Hart visited communities in the fire zones around Healesville, Tarrawarra, Alexandra and Yea on February 17, following his visit to communities in Whittlesea the week before.

In Healesville, he spoke with emergency service personnel and told them of his “enormous admiration” for their work.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has called on parish communities to pass on their prayers and condolences to those affected.

Roberts’ text drips with venom against Catholic peoples wherever he finds them, as even the briefest examination of his diatribes against Irishmen and Argentinians will reveal. If Roberts’ efforts are “fascinating”, they are “fascinating” in the same way as Titus Oates’ are: because of their breathtaking falsehoods, enthusiastically praised by mass media helots unable to tell truth from lies.

Sincerely, RJ Stove Gardenvale, Vic.

Fr Mannes Tellis, the Dominicans’ latest ordination in Australia, prepares to receive the Word of God from Pope Benedict XVI at the final Mass of World Youth Day 2008 at Randwick Racecourse, where the young man chanted the Gospel in front of over 400,000 pilgrims. PHOTO: COURTESY MANNES TELLIS

Meeting Jesus in the poorest of the poor

Sister M Shirley Jose

Iam Sister M Shirley Jose of the Missionaries of Charity community in East Cannington. Our order was started by Mother Teresa who is now Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

How I Pray

with Debbie Warrier

We begin with our personal prayers in the morning. Then we have community prayer followed by meditation in our chapel. Even though I am in the chapel with my community, I feel like I am alone with Jesus. During the meditation I meet Him as a friend and He gives me the strength for the day. I thank and adore Him. We have daily Mass, Adoration, Rosary and read assigned spiritual books like Mother Teresa’s instructions. Twice a week we take Communion to the sick, visit families and help prepare children for the Sacraments. We go out to the streets and feed the homeless. We meet the young and old. We bring food like pies, cold drinks, coffee and tea.

It is not so much that the poor are really hungry. It’s about reaching out to them so they have a chance to reach back.

Some are drug addicts and alcoholics. Whatever their story, they feel so much at home with us. They look forward to sitting and chatting. They ask us to pray with them and we do silently.

It is a really special apostolate.

There is so much spiritual poverty in the streets. We see people longing and looking for fulfillment.

They are searching for something but they don’t know what. One man told me, “Sister, I’ve tried sex and drugs but nothing satisfied me.” I asked him if there was something more out there for him and he was sure there was.

We meet the poor and the wealthy. Those who are better off say, “Oh sister, I have everything but I don’t think that I am really happy. Something is missing.” They too are looking for something more.

We are incomplete without our spiritual side. You can manage for a while but eventually your life and sufferings become meaningless. Without God life is empty. Sometimes people slash or cut themselves because they feel so alone. Other times they become suicidal. One young man told me he was on a bridge ready to jump because he was so depressed. His girlfriend had walked out on him and he had a serious kidney problem. There was no one to talk to as he didn’t have many friends. Yet he felt that there was something holding him back from jumping that night. He said to me: “I came to the street and met you people. Maybe some goodness in you stopped me from jumping.” Before he was vicious but suddenly he became friendly. He was a very, very good man. He shared with us his hurt over his relationship breakup. God uses people to tell you He loves you. There was another man who gave me a $5 donation towards our work. We had helped put him into Jewel House when he desperately needed accommodation for one or two nights. He told me, “Sister, don’t give me a pie today. Give it to someone who is really hungry. Thank you for what you did for me.” The Jesus that comes down from the consecration of the Host is the same Jesus that I meet in the poorest of the poor.

If you have a story to tell please contact Debbie via debwarrier@hotmail.com

VISTA THE RECORD

PHOTO: JUSTINE STEVENS

York: A noble history, an

St Patrick’s Church York

■ Anthony Clack

When Spanish Benedictine Rosendo Salvado arrived in the small Avon Valley town of York in May 1854, accompanied by his compatriot Raphael Martelli, he set about a task that has proved of great significance for the history of Catholicism in Western Australia. Salvado’s task was to take a census of all the Catholics living in the district. He had already done the same in the south west of the colony at Dardanup and Bunbury and also at Toodyay and Northam.

Salvado’s census showed that the Catholic population of the town of York was 136.

There were a small number of families and a large number of single men and women. It was the third largest population of Catholics in the colony after Perth and Fremantle. Many of the men on Salvado’s list were convicts transported from Ireland and many of the women and girls were indentured immigrants, also from Ireland, escaping the Potato Famine that had decimated large areas of rural Ireland and whose future lay as servants to the English settlers of York and as the wives of convicts who had served their time.

A Catholic congregation had been formed in York by the middle of 1852, led by Irish Pensioner Guard James Whitely, his wife Johanna and Irish catechist William Fowler. The first Masses were held in Whitely’s small cottage in Pool Street.

Priests from Perth and New Norcia came regularly to carry out baptisms and marriages and officiate at burial services, but naturally enough, the members of the Church desperately wanted a priest to be permanently based in York – and also for a church to be built. But the severe shortage of active priests in the Swan River Colony meant that it would be a number of years before any action could be taken in this direction.

The first priest appointed to the Eastern Districts, as the Avon Valley was known, was Canon Raphael Martelli. With no church to hold services and no house to live in, Martelli’s task was not easy. He was to begin the process of getting a church built both in

York and Toodyay; but in York, even after two years of struggling to raise funds from the poverty-stricken congregation, a church had still not been erected.

It was not until the appointment of another Benedictine priest, Fr Francisco Salvadó, that the building of a church in York proceeded, but only after severe hardship both for the priest and the congregation.

On St Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1859, the Apostolic administrator of the Perth Diocese, Joseph Serra, came to York to lay the foundation stone for the first church of St Patrick. It was a day of high emotion for York Catholics who, after years of expectations, saw the beginnings of a physical and permanent presence in which they could express their faith. Exactly one year later on March 17, 1860, St Patrick’s Church was opened and dedicated for services by the man who was later to become Bishop of Perth, Fr Martin Griver.

On March 15, 2009, the Catholic congregation of York will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the first Church of St Patrick by Joseph Serra and they will remember those early Irish Catholics and the selfless labours of the early Benedictine priests. It will also be an occasion to remember the long history and development of the Church since 1852.

While the first Church of St Patrick in York took a number of years to bring to fruition it was nothing compared to

the construction of the new Church of St Patrick which took more than 10 years to complete from 1874 to 1886. In 1868, an Irish priest, newly arrived from Dublin was appointed parish priest to York - Patrick Joseph Gibney, brother to the then Vicar General Matthew Gibney. Fr Patrick Gibney was a visionary and a builder, in the same mould as Fr John Hawes. He embarked on a development program that was to thrust York to the forefront of the country parishes. A convent, school and presbytery were built, and over a period of 10 years a new church – a new St Patrick’s.

The construction of the new Church of St Patrick at York coincided with a blossoming of the Catholic faith in Western Australia. Catholics in York and elsewhere began to see themselves not as an impoverished and persecuted minority but as a vibrant and progressive community that took their place in the wider society, expressing their desire for representative government and gaining acceptance in their need for an exclusive Catholic education.

Since those early days, successive congregations in York have seen a steady development of their church. The present generation of York Catholics have inherited a noble history, a history of struggle and fine achievements brought about through the efforts of the men and women who, more than anything, sought to plant their faith firmly in the society in which they lived.

The new Church of St Patrick as it appe completion. This photograph taken about 1

Advertisement from The Record, October for a Grand Bazaar of useful, fancy and orn goods.

Old St Patrick’s and new St Patrick’s, South Street, 1930’s.

edifying identity

Left: The new Lourdes shrine at the side of St Patrick’s Church. Middle: The old church. Right: The new church.

PHOTOS: JUSTINE STEVENS

Fr Patrick Joseph Gibney, parish priest of York from 1868-1909

James and Johanna Whitely, pioneers of the York Church.

Entry from the York Parish Register recording the opening of St Patrick’s Church in 1860.

opening of St Patrick’s on January 14, 1883.

THE R ECORD Bookshop

Easter Range Easter

The Easter Angels

Bob Hartman

Illustrated by Sophy Williams

In this moving retelling, Bob Hartman gets right to the heart of the Easter story evoking both its sorrow and its unexpected joy. Sophy Williams’ luminous illustrations mirror the story’s changing moods, from the murky shadows of darkness to the sparkling exuberance of life and light.

$ 16.95 + P/H

Lent and Easter

Wisdom from G.K. Chesterton

If we could really fathom the gift of sheer existence, Chesterton tells us, our response would be one of gratitude - of surprise and wonder at simple, ordinary objects; experiences; and above all, people. May G.K Chesterton serve as our mentor and spiritual guide through this Lenten and Easter season.

$21.95 + P/H

Lent and Easter

The Rosary for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

By Susan Tassone

This exciting and original prayer combines the glory and power of the Rosary with Scripture and meditations to create an amazing and effective way to gain the release of the souls who await our prayers.

$ 12.95 + P/H

The Way of the Cross

Fulton J. Sheen

This pocket-sized booklet is written to enkindle in souls a flaming love for the Crucified Christ, who, through His passion and death, revealed to us that it is only through the cross that we are ever ushered into glory and eternal life.

$6.95 + P/H

The Essential Lenten Handbook A Daily companion

Lent, the season of preparation for Christ’s Resurrection at Easter, is for many Catholics a special time of prayer, fasting, and renewed spiritual focus. There is no other period in the liturgical year that so completely draws our attention to the things of God, and to the great themes and traditions of Christianity.

$24.95 + P/H

Seven words of Jesus and Mary

Lessons of Cana and Calvary

Fulton J. Sheen

This inspirational classic offers solace and solutions to the fears and dilemmas of today’s Christian as Archbishop Sheehan analyses and reflects on the seven times Jesus spoke on Calvary and the seven times Mary is recorded in the Gospels.

$19.95 + P/H

Wisdom from Pope John Paul II

Compiled by John V

Kruse

This book provides daily reflections for Ash Wednesday through the Second Sunday of Easter. Scripture, prayers and spiritual-growth activities support thoughts from Pope John Paul II.

$14.95+ P/H

Daybreaks

Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter Week

John F Kavanaugh SJ

Noted author and lecturer Father John Kavanaugh takes the reader on a Lenten journey that opens a door to understanding the mystery of Christ’s redemptive mission.

$2.50 + P/H

Not a Tame Lion

A Lent course based on the writings of C. S. Lewis By Hilary Brand

Based on the writings and films inspired by C S Lewis, Brand provides an engaging and original resource for Lent. Topics covered range from the challenging to the distinctly unfashionable, allowing the reader to submit their spirit to a degree of mental exercise and their mind to a degree of spiritual challenge.

$19.95 + P/H

Woman, Why Are You Weeping

Daily Meditations for Lent

By John Timmerman

With a Scripture passage and a prayer for each day award-winning author, John Timmerman, probes the heart of God’s love for us and our love for Him.

$21.96 + P/H

Kids bitz & puzzles

There is no artist of the week as the mail bag had no beautiful drawings for me. Please send me your art and you will receive a special gift from the bookshop! Love Justine

Crossword taken from Bible Quotations Crossword Puzzles. Available by order from The Record Bookshop 9227 7080.

NUMBERS

An exclamation of wonder in Balaam’s parable.

CHILDREN’S HILDREN STOR Y TORY

GOD TELLS ABRAHAM TO SACRIFICE HIS SON ISAAC

By Joe Sarnicola

Abraham and his wife Sarai had not had any children until they were very old. When Sarai finally presented Abraham with her son by a miracle from God, they called the boy Isaac. Then one day, God called Abraham by name.

“I’m ready!” Abraham answered.

“Take your son Isaac,” God told him, “your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you.”

Abraham was heartbroken by what God had asked him to do, but he obeyed. Before the sun had barely risen into the sky the next morning, Abraham called two of his servants and he loaded his donkey. And he took Isaac with him.

After travelling for three days, Abraham saw the place where God had told him to go. He stopped and told his servants, “Both of you stay here with the donkey, while the boy and I go on over yonder. We will worship and then come back to you.”

Abraham took the wood the donkey had carried that was for the fire to burn the offering and gave it to Isaac to carry. Abraham carried a knife and a torch to light the fire.

Along the way, Isaac asked, “Father!”

“Yes, son,” Abraham replied.

“Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the holocaust?”

Very softly Abraham said, “Son, God himself will provide the sheep for the holocaust.” Then he continued walking on with Isaac in silence.

When they arrived at their destination Abraham built an altar and piled the wood for the fire. Then he tied up Isaac and put him on top of the wood and raised his knife over his head.

Suddenly a messenger from God appeared and called out, “Abraham, Abraham!”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger. “Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” Abraham breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his knife. Immediately he saw a ram that had gotten its horns caught in a tangle of bushes. Abraham set his son free and used the ram for the holocaust. Then he named the place Yahweh-yireh, which means, “On the mountain the Lord will see.”

READ MORE ABOUT IT: Genesis 22

Q&A

1. What did God tell Abraham to do on the mountain?

2. What did God’s messenger say to Abraham?

Cardinal says Zimbabwe one of ‘biggest challenges’

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) - One of the “biggest challenges” Africans are facing today is the situation in Zimbabwe, said South African Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban. The country’s economy is in ruins with runaway inflation, and in mid-February Doctors Without Borders reported that Zimbabwe’s health care system, once a model for southern Africa, has collapsed. Doctors Without Borders said the government is restricting and politicising humanitarian aid relief. Since 1994, the average life expectancy in Zimbabwe has fallen from 57 years to 34 years for women and from 54 years to 37 years for men, according to statistics from the UN’s World Health Organisation. After a meeting with Zimbabwean bishops in January, South Africa’s bishops said that “Zimbabwe has moved from a crisis to a disaster to passive genocide.”

New Zealand Catholic school objects to Gardasil

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (CNS) - A Catholic school in New Zealand is citing moral objections for not permitting the Gardasil vaccine to be given at the school. The NZ Catholic newspaper reported in mid-February that St Teresa’s School in Featherston is one of several religious schools in New Zealand not permitting the vaccination program, which aims to protect young women against strains of the human papillomavirus. HPV is the most common cause of cervical cancer. The condition is prevalent in sexually active women. The program is being extended to schools, except in the Canterbury District Health Board area, where the vaccine is given by doctors. Written parental consent is required for girls under 16 to receive the vaccination. Carol Pilcher, St Teresa’s principal, said the issue was discussed by the board of trustees last year and that parents supported the decision.

Pakistani church officials concerned over Shariah

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (CNS) - Church workers in Pakistan

A new Syrian Patriarch

are concerned over the government allowing militants to enforce Islamic law in the pro-Taliban controlled North-West Frontier province. The government, in an attempt to bring about peace in the Malakand division in the tribal-dominated province, agreed on February 16 to allow Taliban leaders to enforce Shariah, or Islamic law.

The area includes the Swat Valley, where militants have battled the Pakistani army since 2007.

The Asian church news agency UCA News reported that Mehboob Sada, director of the Christian Study Centre in Rawalpindi, said the deal cannot guarantee peace in the area or be good for female students.

“The regulation has vested interests and can be harmful for the development of society,” he said. Soon after the deal, media reported that radical groups shut down all schools for girls. They banned women from the market-

place and from travelling outside their homes without a male family member as escort.

Papal trip to Holy Land takes shape

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Benedict XVI’s planned trip to the Holy Land was slowly taking shape in February, and the tentative schedule included a number of important pastoral and interreligious events. The proposed itinerary would take the Pope to Jordan from May 8-11, for a visit to the new King Hussein Mosque in Amman, meetings with Jordanian officials, a Mass for Catholics in a soccer stadium, a stop at Jesus’ baptism site at the Jordan River and a pilgrimage to Mount Nebo, where Moses once looked out at the Promised Land. The Pope would travel from Jordan to Israel on May 11 and visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem the same day. Over the next three and a half days, he would visit the Western Wall, sacred to Jews; meet with Jewish and Muslim leaders; hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders; visit a Palestinian refugee camp; and celebrate Mass in Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem, before returning to Rome on May 15.

Shanghai bishop offers help to unemployed

SHANGHAI, China (CNS)The Catholic Church in Shanghai, China’s financial centre, will make it a priority to reach out to unemployed migrant workers this year, said Shanghai Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian. The Shanghai area, home to 22 million people, has more than 10 million migrant workers from other provinces. Bishop Luxian, 92, said in his Lenten pastoral letter that the migrants have no local residential permits and cannot organise themselves because of their transitory nature, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. The city has thousands of skyscrapers built from the “perspiration of migrant workers,” he said in the document, published on the Shanghai diocesan Web site on February 17. After workers complete a building, “the white-collar employees, the middle class and intellectuals then move in while the workers pick

up their belongings and head for another construction site.” Bishop Jin accused some business leaders of spending lavishly on meals or bribes but not paying their migrant workers. He urged Catholics not to “turn a blind eye and a deaf ear” to the workers and called on priests and nuns to organise Catholics to take action in their neighbourhoods. After getting to know the number of unemployed migrants, he said, they should come up with an action plan, then in small groups visit the affected workers to get to know their grievances and urgent needs.

Colombian church sues Catholic bishop

BOGOTA, Colombia (CNS)A Colombian church is suing a Catholic bishop for slander and defamation after his comments about the legitimacy of several local ministers and their alleged “theft” of congregants. The Ecumenical Provincial Church of Colombia, which has an Anglican tradition, is suing Bishop Ramon Dario Molina Jaramillo of Neiva, declaring that he could not “place into doubt the legality of non-Catholic priests, much less label them ‘thieves of believers.’” The lawsuit accuses the bishop of slander, defamation and of violating the constitutional right to freedom of religion. In a message read by diocesan priests at Masses in early January, Bishop Molina warned that seven local priests were “exercising the priestly ministry without communion with the Pope” and that they “lacked any authorisation or faculties for said exercise in the Diocese of Neiva.” Later, in a newspaper interview, the bishop asked, “How is it that they go to my parish and steal my believers?”

Women, men experience sin differently:

theologian

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Of the seven deadly sins, men are more prone to be tempted by lust, while women more often succumb to the sin of pride, the papal theologian said. In comments on a new book dedicated to St Thomas Aquinas’ teachings on the seven capital vices, Dominican Father Wojciech Giertych said men and women experience sin differently. Continued opposite, on Page 11

Signs of split begin to emerge in Legionaries as

The revelations of Fr Maciel’s double life have shocked Catholics everywhere, but it appears they may be just the tip of the iceberg. For the Legionaries of Christ, they might also spell the end.

■ By Dennis Sadowski

WASHINGTON (CNS) - When it became public on February 4 that Legionaries of Christ founder Father Marcial Maciel Degollado had fathered a daughter, the order’s former communications director decided he had to apologise for having defended him after sex abuse allegations against the priest first became public in 1997.

Four days after the news broke, Jay Dunlap used his blog to apologise to those who said they had been sexually abused by the priest and to the people he said were “misinformed by statements I made” defending Father Maciel.

On February 4 Legionaries of Christ officials said they only

recently learned their late founder had fathered a child. In the past, Father Maciel had been accused of sexually abusing young seminarians in the order.

A spokesman for the order in Rome said the allegations “have never been proven definitively,” but Dunlap told CNS on February 10 that “in my conscience I had to come forward to apologise to any victim who was being denied or doubted.”

“Given the Holy See’s determination that it appears some of the allegations are credible, I felt a moral obligation (to apologise),” he said. “Because we were going with the best information at the time, there was no reason to question the credibility. I was the spokesman out front saying otherwise.” Dunlap was hired as the Legionaries’ first communications director in March 1998, 13 months after published reports detailed allegations of sexual abuse against the Mexican-born Father Maciel. Dunlap said in his blog that he was hired “to help respond to the furore” the allegations raised. He said in his blog that the Legionaries had prepared a 32-page executive summary making the case for Father

Syrian Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan kneels during his installation Mass at Our Lady of the Annunciation Syrian Catholic Church in Beirut, Lebanon, on February 15. Patriarch Younan was installed as the leader of about 200,000 Eastern Catholics in the Syrian Catholic Church. PHOTO: CNS

Maciel’s

Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legionaries of Christ, is pictured with young Legion of Christ students in this photo believed to be taken in Mexico in the mid- 1940s. Father Maciel, wearing glasses, is at centre, left. Father Maciel, who died on January 30, 2008, founded the Legionaries of Christ in his native Mexico in 1941. PHOTO: CNS

Continued from Page 10

His commentary was published on February 16 by the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano Fr Giertych, who is theologian of the papal household, said he agreed with the findings of St Thomas Aquinas - a 13th-century Dominican theologian and philosopher - that men were more inclined than women to pursue pleasure.

“Often the most difficult (sin) men face is lust, and then comes gluttony, sloth, wrath, pride, envy, and greed,” wrote Father Giertych. “For women, the most dangerous is pride, followed by envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and lastly, sloth,” he said.

The priest said personal experience seemed to confirm these theories.

Jesuits’ Oregon province files for bankruptcy

PORTLAND, Oregon (CNS)The Oregon province of the Society of Jesus filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on February 17 citing a number of pending lawsuits over clergy sexual abuse claims. The petition was filed in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon in Portland in response to 200 lawsuits filed recently against Jesuits of the province.

The abuse claims are primarily from Alaskans who said they had been abused as children by priests.

The Jesuits’ Oregon province, based in Portland, serves Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. “Our decision to file

Chapter 11 was not an easy one, but with approximately 200 additional claims pending or threatened, it is the only way we believe that all claimants can be offered a fair financial settlement within the limited resources of the province,” said Jesuit Fr Patrick Lee, provincial, in a statement, which noted the province has worked “diligently” to resolve claims of priests’ misconduct, saying it has settled more than 200 claims and paid more than $25 million to victims since 2001. That amount does not include payments made by insurers.

Bishop says reconciliation may not be easy

ROME (CNS) - The head of the

traditionalist Society of St Pius X said reconciliation with the Vatican on doctrinal issues may be difficult because of different perspectives on the Second Vatican Council.

Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the Swiss-based society, said Pope Benedict XVI’s recent lifting of the excommunications of himself and three other bishops was a positive step toward establishing full communion. “We have already responded by affirming our desire to proceed with a positive spirit along the path of discussion indicated by the Holy Father,” Bishop Fellay said in an interview on February 16 with the Swiss newspaper Le Nouvelliste “But we do not want to do this in haste. When one walks through a minefield, prudence and moderation are necessary,” he said. Asked

whether he had hope of reaching a doctrinal consensus with the Pope, Bishop Fellay responded: “That seems difficult.

“Certainly he seems close to us on the question of liturgy. On the other hand, he holds very deeply to the innovations of Vatican II.”

Eight nuns killed in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNS)Eight Franciscan Sisters of Charity died when the minivan in which they were travelling drove off a bridge and plunged into a river. The accident was blamed on faulty brakes. The accident, which occurred in a village in Indonesia’s South Sumatra province on February 18, also killed the driver.

New documents back Pius XII on Jews

Group gives new proof of Pius XII’s help for Jews during Second World War

NEW YORK (Zenit.org)Recently uncovered documents show gestures of friendship and protection that Pius XII showed to Jews before, during and after World War II.

The Pave the Way Foundation, which works to promote dialogue between religions, publicised last week.

The discoveries were made by the German historian and advisor of the foundation Michael Hesemann, author of the books “The Pope Who Defied Hitler” and “The Truth About Pius XII.” Hesemann found a number of documents in the Vatican Secret Archives that certified Pope Pacelli’s numerous interventions in favour of Jews.

He noted that Archbishop Pacelli intervened in 1917 while papal nuncio in Bavaria, going through the German government to demand that Palestine Jews be protected from the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

Hesemann also shows that in 1917, the future Pius XII used his personal influence to enable the World Zionist Organisation representative, Nachum Sokolov, to meet personally with Benedict XV

to talk about a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

In 1926, Archbishop Pacelli urged German Catholics to support the Committee for Palestine, which supported Jewish settlements in the Holy Land.

The foundation’s president, Gary Krupp, added these findings to the evidence he already had compiled for a Pius XII symposium last September in Rome. Since this event, 300 new pages of original documents have been uncovered.

These documents, available for downloading from the foundation’s

Web site, include a nun’s manuscript from 1943, detailing the Pope’s order to hide Jews in Rome and a list of protected Jews.

Another document is a 1939 report on the “new Pope” by the US Foreign Service, from the American consul in Cologne.

The diplomat reported surprise at the “extreme dislike” of Pacelli toward Hitler and the Nazi regime, and his support to the German bishops in their opposition to Nazism, even at the cost of losing German Catholic youth. The foundation also provides a 1938 docu-

ment, signed by then Secretary of State Eugenio Pacelli, in which he opposes the Polish bill outlawing kosher slaughter because he understood that this law would be a “grave persecution” against the Jewish people.

During the war, Pius XII saved 80,000 lives by persuading the Hungarian regent to prevent the deportation of the Jews. He also requested the Brazilian government to receive 3,000 “non-Aryans.”

Another document provided by the foundation is an interview with Monsignor Giovanni Ferrofino, secretary of the nuncio in Haiti.

The priest said 11,000 Jews were saved by Pius XII’s continual requests for visas from General Trujillo, president of the Dominican Republic.

There is also evidence that the Vatican secretly issued baptismal papers to allow Jews to emigrate to many countries as “Catholics.”

The commitment of the Pave the Way foundation reflects that of its president, a Jewish American, who acknowledges that he grew up “despising Pius XII.”

This changed when he read Dan Kurzman’s book, A Special Mission: Hitler’s Secret Plot to Seize the Vatican and Kidnap Pope Pius the XII

The foundation acknowledged that there were spies in the Vatican and German snipers less than 200

yards from the papal windows. The foundation stated that the lack of public statements by the Pope, which has been a source of criticism against him, is explained by the increased punishment in concentration camps, witnessed by former prisoners, when Church leaders spoke openly against the Nazi regime.

Krupp also discovered a secret plot of the Communist KGB, revealed by Lieutenant General Ion Mihai Pacepa, to manipulate Vatican documents and discredit the Holy See in international public opinion.

Krupp said: “I was surprised when I personally researched archived news stories from the New York Times and the Palestine Post from 1939-1958. I could not find one negative article about Pius XII.”

The foundation undertakes the correction of Pius XII’s image in order to “eliminate an obstacle” to understanding between Jews and Catholics, “which impacts over one billion people.”

Krupp added: “In the interest of Jewish justice we must acknowledge the efforts of one man during a period when as a people we were abandoned by the rest of the world.”

“It’s time,” he said, “to recognise Pope Pius XII for what he really did rather then what he didn’t say.”

order begins to count cost of founder’s legacy

innocence and distributed it to church hierarchy, most notably bishops.

“Suffice it to say that, while there always remained some holes in the argument, there seemed to be adequate evidence to support these claims,” Dunlap said in his blog.

In Rome, Father Paolo Scarafoni, spokesman at the Legionaries’ headquarters, told CNS on February 4 that the accusations “have never been proven definitively.”

Despite the late priest’s failures and flaws, he said, members of the order are grateful to him for having founded the order and its various ministries.

“It is now clear,” Dunlap concluded in his blog, “that Father Maciel did in fact abuse his power and abuse young people in his charge.”

Father Maciel died on January 30, 2008, at the age of 87. After its own investigation concluded in May 2006, the Vatican decided

against conducting a canonical trial, but rather ordered the thenfrail Father Maciel to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance.

Dunlap left the Legionaries in 2006 and now is a teacher and an assistant professor of communications at Mater Ecclesiae College in Greenville, Rhode Island. The college is a Legionaries-sponsored formation centre for consecrated women.

“It’s been trying for me. It’s been trying for everybody I know connected with the Legion and the movement,” he told CNS.

“(I feel) grief. (I’m) trying to understand,” he added. “A number of people compared” the news about Father Maciel, he said, to hearing that “your father was not the man he appears to be.”

Dunlap said adulation of Father Maciel led to “hero worship.”

“Where I think it’s been a problem is where it’s gotten in the way of thinking clearly and how you run your systems. And if something’s broken and you won’t change it because of who put it in place, that isn’t judicious,” he explained.

“I think the main thing that has to happen is to make sure that whatever enabled the founder to hide what he did has to change,” he

said. Legionaries of Christ Father Thomas Berg, founder and senior fellow at the Westchester Institute for Ethics and the Human Person, accused his superiors of ineptness for failing to adequately respond to the revelations about Father Maciel.

“I ... beg (your) forgiveness for the disastrous response which this crisis has received from our upper LC leadership,” Father Berg wrote on February 8 in an emotional letter to members of Regnum Christi, the Legionaries’ primarily lay affiliate, that became public two days later.

Sponsored by the Legionaries, the institute researches and analyses contemporary moral issues. It is based at the order’s retreat centre in Thornwood, New York.

“There is no other way to say it: In so many respects, Legionary superiors have failed, and failed miserably to respond adequately to the crisis, and not surprisingly, have engendered in many of you an understandable lack of confidence,” Father Berg’s letter said.

But the priest also acknowledged that the Legionaries’ leadership “in their hearts are trying to do the right thing, under inhuman pressure.” A 23-year member of the

Legionaries, Father Berg said he often had “gone out on limb after limb trying to defend Maciel.”

“I have lived my priesthood always with that cloud hanging over me, always having to essentially apologise for being a Legionary. ... I can only say that the rage and raw emotions that I have felt these past days ... are only a glimpse of the unspeakable hell that victims of priest sexual abuse must go through,” he wrote.

The letter made no reference to Father Maciel’s relationship with a woman or the daughter - said to be in her early 20s - that he fathered with her. However, in a shorter statement posted on the Westchester Institute’s Web site on February 6, Father Berg said an internal investigation by the order revealed that Father Maciel had a daughter.

Father Berg did not return calls from CNS seeking comment.

Calls and e-mail messages from CNS to several Legionaries priests across the country and in Rome were not returned or the reporter was referred to the order’s current communications director.

“The news is sad for all of us; we’re very sad,” said Father Joseph from the order’s novitiate in Cheshire, Connecticut.

“But at the same time we have a lot of faith in Christ that he’s asked us to give our lives to save souls, to bring Christ to the world.

“We try to see this from faith and say, ‘Lord, this has happened. What do you want us to do? What do you want to do with us?’” Father Joseph said.

Meanwhile, Dunlap e-mailed a personal note of apology to journalist Jason Berry, who for more than a decade has chronicled sexual abuse allegations against Father Maciel and the influence the Legionaries order has gained within the Catholic Church. Berry welcomed the message and said he hoped to discuss it with Dunlap.

“What is so striking about this is that people who wanted to say Maciel was so wrongly accused now are offering their apologies,” Berry said about the statements from former and current Legionaries officials.

“I’m encouraged by it,” he added. “It’s a sign of the split within the Legion.”

However, one Legionaries priest, who asked only that his first name be used, told CNS that “everyone’s in praying-and-thinking-about-it mode right now.”

Pope Benedict XVI kneels as he prays in front of Pope Pius XII’s tomb on All Souls’ Day, November 2, at the Vatican in 2006. PHOTO: CNS PHOTO/L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO VIA REUTERS

Father Marcial Maciel Degollado.

PERSPECTIVES

Ember days linked to fasting and abstaining A bastardisation of the erotic

Ember Days

Many years ago I recall observing Ember Days, associated, as I remember, with the beginning of Lent and other times of the year. Can you remind me what they were and tell me whether they still exist?

The Ember Days were three days of prayer and fasting observed four times a year, coinciding roughly with the beginning of the four seasons of the calendar.

While we don’t hear much about them any more, they do still exist. And they have a long and fascinating history.

The name ember in English comes either from the Latin tempora , meaning seasons, or, more likely, from the Anglo-Saxon word ymbren , meaning a circuit or revolution.

By Fr John Flader

The Council of Aenham in England, convoked by King Ethelred in 1009, refers to “the fasts of the four seasons, which are called imbren”. Also part of the Anglo-Saxon terminology was ymbren-dagas, Ember Days. The origin of the Ember Days probably goes back to the time of the early Romans, when people involved in agriculture had the custom of praying to their gods and goddesses to provide a productive sowing in December, a plentiful harvest in June and a rich vintage in September. While it is not certain, the Church may have taken over the custom and christianised it. In any case, at the time of Pope Callistus (217-222), a fast was prescribed in June, September and December of each year. Pope Leo the Great (440461) considered the fast to have originated from the Apostles.

It is not certain when the fourth season was added but the earliest mention of it is in the writings of Philastrius, bishop of Brescia, who died around 387 (De haeres., 119). He also connects the Ember Days with the great Christian festivals.

Pope Gelasius (492-496) too speaks of all four seasons and suggests ordaining men to the priesthood and the diaconate on the Saturdays of Ember Weeks, a practice which has continued since then.

The priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, who celebrate the Tridentine Rite or Extraordinary Form of the Mass, are still ordained wherever possible on those days.

Before Pope Gelasius the Ember Days were known only in Rome. They were introduced in England by St Augustine of Canterbury at the beginning of the seventh century, in Gaul and Germany in the following centuries and in Spain in the eleventh century. They are not known in the Eastern Church.

The Ember Days were prescribed for the universal Church by Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) to be observed on the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after December 13 (the feast of St Lucy), after Ash Wednesday, after the feast of Pentecost and after September 14, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The days were to be observed by prayer, fasting and abstaining from meat in order to thank God for the gifts of nature, to teach people to make use of these gifts with moderation and to assist the needy. The Ember Days are still observed liturgically in the Tridentine Rite, but the obligation of fasting and abstaining, while encouraged, is no longer strictly required.

There are additional readings in Mass for those days in the Tridentine Rite, some of them promising a plentiful harvest for those who serve God. At present, a shorter version of the readings authorised by Pope John XXIII is often used.

In 1966, by the Decree Paenitemini, Pope Paul VI declared that the Ember Days were no longer to be days of fast and abstinence.

With the revision of the liturgical calendar in 1969, the Holy See left it up to the Bishops’ Conference of each country to determine whether and how the Ember Days should be celebrated.

In their Plenary meeting in November 2007, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, in response to a request from the Knights of the Southern Cross for a day of prayer for good seasons, recommended the introduction of two Rogation Days of prayer and fasting, to be observed each year on or about June 21 and September 21, the two solstices.

The National Liturgical Council has prepared materials to be used in the liturgy on these days.

Body Language

By Christopher West

Why Sex Sells

Time Magazine recently reported that a “sexy” PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) commercial was “too hot” for TV and got nixed from the Super Bowl’s lineup of provocative commercials.

That’s good, I thought. At least somebody is drawing a line somewhere. But as I thought about it, I realised that the fact that that was my first reaction only demonstrates how numb I’ve become to the absurdity of using sex to sell, well, everything.

A commercial on saving cows from the butcher block so “sexy” that it’s “too hot” for the Super Bowl? C’mon!

Why does sex sell? That may seem like a question with an obvious answer, but I want to dig a little deeper. I recently came across an article by James KA Smith, a philosophy professor at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that provides some provocative insights into this question. And he draws from none other than St Augustine to make his point. In the article, The Erotics of Truth, and Other Scandalous Lessons from Augustine of Hippo, Smith wrote:

“I think [Christians] should first recognise and admit that the marketing industry – which promises an erotically charged transcendence through media that connect to our heart and imagination – is... able to capture, form, and direct our desires precisely because they have rightly discerned that we are embodied, desiring creatures....

“They have figured out the way to our heart because they ‘get it’: they rightly understand that, at root, we are erotic creatures – creatures who are oriented by love and passion and desire” (Comment, June 2008).

Here it seems Smith is referring to “eros” in the sense that Plato used the term – the inner desire and yearning of the human being for the true, the good, and the beautiful.

This yearning passes by way of sexuality, but it points beyond it as well. Eros speaks to our longing for transcendence – for a beauty, for a love ultimately beyond what this world has to offer.

Ironically, eros cannot be satisfied by the merely “erotic.” Even Freud understood this: “We must reckon,” he wrote,

“with the possibility that something in the nature of the sexual instinct itself is unfavourable to the realisation of complete satisfaction” (On the Universal Tendency to Debasement in the Sphere of Love, sct. 3).

And it’s on this point that the media does not “get it.” Marketers continually promise “complete satisfaction” for “three easy payments of $19.95.”

As Smith puts it: “Certain modes of advertising appeal ... directly to eros... and then in a bait-and-switch move of substitution, channel our desire into a product.” Smith rightly calls this the “bastardisation of the erotic.”

The union of man and woman – as beautiful and wonderful as it can be – is only a sign, an icon that is meant to point us to something infinitely greater – the love of God himself.

To “bastardise” means to debase something – to reduce from a high state to a lower state.

That’s precisely what’s happening in us when we image that eros can be satisfied by the things of this world.

The union of man and woman – as beautiful and wonderful as it can be –

You’ll never miss the news...

if you subscribe to The Record!

The Record is the best Catholic newspaper in Australia. Week-in, week-out, we bring news of the Church from throughout the world to you at home. When you read The Record you see beyond the boundaries of the parish and even the nation to the four corners of the globe. But we still bring the best of parish life to all our readers, and week by week we’re expanding our coverage. At just $78 a year you stay in touch with the most important news in the world - what the Church is doing and saying and living.

From the Calvary of a Pope’s death, to what the Church preaches to the whole world, to the triumph and happiness of a World Youth Day - we bring it home to you.

Subscribe now.

Contact: Bibiana on (08) 9227 7080 or by email at: administration@therecord.com.au

is only a sign, an icon that is meant to point us to something infinitely greater – the love of God himself. As Augustine famously put it: “You have made us for yourself oh God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

A beloved professor of mine, Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete, put it this way: “We talk about different ‘sexual orientations’ in human life. But the ultimate orientation of human sexuality is the human heart’s yearning for infinity. Human sexuality, therefore, is a sign of eternity” (God at the Ritz, p. 120).

This means, as Smith observes, that the “erotic – even misdirected eros – is a sign of the kinds of animals we are: creatures who desire God.”

Christians are right to raise serious concerns about the provocative and even pornographic nature of so much of today’s advertising. But how should we respond? Rather than condemning the media outright, Smith suggests that Christians should honour what the marketing industry has right – that we are creatures of desire – and then responded in kind with countermeasures that demonstrate where desire really points us (to God).

The Church is not opposed to desire.

Rather, she is opposed to counterfeit satisfaction of desire and yearns to lead the world to One alone who satisfies.

“Why spend your money for what is not bread ... for what fails to satisfy? Heed me and you shall ... delight in rich fare” (Is 55:1-2).

St Augustine of Hippo.

Swamped in secularist dogmatism

Life, the universe and everything

By Anna Krohn

The Eclipse of Conscience and Religious Freedom.

Since the passage of Victoria’s oppressive Abortion Law Reform Act (2008), real uncertainty has haunted doctors, students, nurses and pharmacists who have both professional and moral concerns about their co-operation and involvement in induced abortion.

The Act was recently described as creating “a destabilisation of the ethos of every medical setting” by Professor Greg Craven, Vice Chancellor of Australian Catholic University and senior academic in public and Constitutional law.

The Abortion Act, Professor Craven said, marked a dangerous “tectonic shift” in the legal climate. It, along with other Victorian legislation such as the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001, established a platform in which so-called “secular rights” (such as “equal opportunity rights”) would trump all other “rights” to conscience and belief.

Every clause of the Victorian Abortion Act, he continued, from its specious mandating of abortion “referrals” to its concept of “emergency”, was designed to discount all professional opposition to the provision of an abortion, whether on moral, faith-based or medical grounds.

Professor Craven highlighted the significance of the Abortion Act victory for every other area of the life “ethics”

debate. Since aggressively secularist academics, lobbyists and reformers were so dominant in the drafting, interpreting and implementing of rights “talk” (as opposed to the parliamentarians who merely vote for legislation), Professor Craven also expressed serious doubts that the proposed bill for religious freedom would provide anything of the sort.

Professor Craven’s vigorous observations formed part of the final session of the Fifth Annual Bioethics Colloquium held in Melbourne recently. His address was followed by the equally sobering ethical analysis of “conscientious objection” by the bioethicist-Bishop Anthony Fisher OP and by Dr Eamonn Mathieson, President of the Catholic Doctors’ Association of Victoria.

Bishop Fisher reviewed the Biblical and Christian teaching on the central place of conscience in mediating universal moral truth to both persons and professions. He began with the moving Biblical example of the “elderly man of noble bearing named Eleazar” (2 Macc 6:1-31) who was put to death for his moral courage.

Conscientious resistance to evil is not, he noted, merely the luxury of liberal “option” or privilege but a moral duty.

Conscience in this full sense represents the inviolable moral and personal core of each person. Many 20th century liberal philosophers, such as Ronald Dworkin, have attempted to echo this aspect of moral integrity.

However, Bishop Fisher warned that old-fashioned liberal respect for the “sacredness” of conscience (or life) was fast giving way to cultural forces of absolutism, rampant consumerist demand and “secularist dogmatism.”

Dr Eamonn Mathieson gave a detailed account of his concerns about the new national Code of Ethics for doctors

which is destined to be enforced by each State Medical Board.

Illustrating his case from the text of the proposed Code, Dr Mathieson argued that changes threaten to override the traditional values of “good” medical practice in the name of neutrality, tolerance and patient “lifestyle choice”.

He also considered that taken against the backdrop of the cultural and legal changes noted by Professor Craven and Bishop Anthony, the Code’s clauses would not only deny conscientious objection they could well justify serious punitive sanctions throughout those in the healthcare profession who offer conscientious dissent. He noted how often the advisory word “should” had been replaced in the new Code by the imperative “must”.

The Colloquium is an important and annual event which brings together health professionals, administrators and ethicists to debate key ethical questions. This year it was sponsored by the Australian Catholic University, the Australian Association of the Order of Malta and the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family.

For copies of many of the papers presented at the Colloquium and for other details see the website: http:// www.bioethicscolloquium.com.au.

Hollywood’s unwitting Lent filmfest

Like Mark Reidy (I say I say) last week, I was deeply affected by the film Valkyrie and for similar reasons. With Gran Torino and In Bruges, it forms a trio of hard-hitting films out lately.

Though vastly disparate in storyline and style (and I would not recommend In Bruges to anyone), they yet, intriguingly, seem to share a common theme highly suitable for this time of the liturgical year.

Perhaps unwittingly they are all intensely Christian films, about the highest form of love, and the redemptive value and the power of sacrifice freely given for those who don’t at first glance seem worth the sacrifice.

All involve the protagonists giving their lives to save others who they do not even particularly like, after all else has failed. They are all deeply personal stories – ‘who is my neighbour’ becomes painfully literal in two of the three.

In no case are the ones being protected completely innocent, but the innocence or otherwise of those who need protecting is not the issue.

We do not know the future of the ones who are saved by these heroic acts of selfsacrifice performed by less-than-perfect men, any more than they do. We hope they do not waste the chance they have been given, but that is not central to the story.

The gross injustice that causes the dilemma facing the three is not central either. The focus is more on how to fight on when aggression – even justified

aggression - does not work. In all three, there is a history of solving problems using aggression – Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino is a misanthropic Korean War veteran full of old prejudices; Ken and Ray of In Bruges, as an experienced hitman and a rookie respectively, habitually use violence to settle everything; and von Stauffenberg in Valkyrie is a good soldier, fighting Hitler’s war. The realisation that this is not what is required to solve the dilemma, and the search for what response is called for begins in the mind of each man at a different point in each film; but it all amounts to the same thing, that they cannot walk away from this. And perhaps more important, that somehow they will redeem themselves for past sins in this last total commitment to justice. And in each case it seems a monumental failure on every level. You think that Kowalski just hasn’t been quick enough on the draw in a suburban shootout and has been shot by the thugs; until you realise that he is unarmed, and has consciously given his life to get the gang behind bars and give his young Hmong neighbour a chance to live a law-abiding life.

After Ken’s refusal to ‘liquidate’ Ray, his boss Harry arrives in Bruges to finish

Oratorio - the current scene

Fr Anthony Paganoni, Scalabrinian, continues this week with the third in a series of articles on a fascinating story, a long-running successful initiative in youth ministry in the province of Lombardy, Italy

The ItalianWay

“Since the foundation of the FOI (Italian Oratori Forum) seven years ago”, reports Fr Maximilian Sabbadini, “our main task has been to reflect communally about the many forms of youth ministry that now exist within diocesan parishes and among religious congregations.

“They display a great diversity of methods and approaches.” But no matter how diverse the experiences have been or still are, there is common thread running through them all.

“There is always a parish community or several of them joining forces to share physical spaces and personnel (mostly volunteers) for their youth work.

“Not just another location for kids to hang out in, even if off the streets, but Church-run facilities that adapt their own services to the kids’ needs and mentality”.

This is not always easy. The shortage of priests has meant that more and more duties in and around the Oratorio have been delegated to lay people. The priest can operate in the background, as a spiritual resource person, while the laity will do the rest.

The diocese of Milan, with its 1500 Oratori, has come up with the Aquila and Priscilla Co-operative, named after the faithful companions of St Paul, run entirely by lay people. Some of them receive a minimal salary in order to free them from other worries.

The presence and support of the priest remains crucial, but it is not as much in evidence as in the past.

Everything has to be organised meticulously: even the barman must do his thing according to the objectives of the Oratorio.

The Oratorio is always a mix of educational activities and recreation, true to the original vision of St Philip Neri.

Nowadays, kids come from a wide variety of family setups, and sooner or later the leaders come face-to-face with the struggles many face at home.

them both off. Ken’s attempts to get Ray out of Bruges before Harry arrives fail.

As Harry chases down the hapless Ray after killing Ken, you think Ken has died in vain, until the subsequent rapid chain of events cause Harry also to die, and Ray is given a chance of beginning again.

It appears that von Stauffenberg and his confederates in the plot to assassinate Hitler have failed completely, all the more so when the voiceover tells the audience that Hitler is claiming his survival as proof of Divine protection; fortunately we all know that within months the war was over and Hitler dead by his own hand.

Kowalski, Ken and von Stauffenberg die with no blood on their hands this time.

And in the end it is their own apparently useless sacrifice of themselves that swings the pendulum in the favour of the downtrodden against all odds.

Yes, the films are very confronting in their raw and uncompromising presentation.

But, so, I think, was Calvary.

The personal response called for by the intensely challenging literalness of the great act of redemption performed by Christ on the first Good Friday presses home ever more closely as Lent begins.

Sometimes because of their parents unusual working hours, homes are more like ghostplaces than congenial environments.

One of the recent challenges in keeping in touch with all sorts of human situations is the increasing number of children coming through the doors of the Oratorio whose parents hail from countries all around and beyond the Mediterranean basin.

In St John’s Oratorio, in the city of Brescia, 24 nationalities are represented by the youngsters. And the young people of all ages are not just recipients of services.

They themselves are invited to become leaders and take on responsibilities usually handled by adults. Such as when the Oratorio open its doors during the summer months to the great influx of children on school holidays.

Finally, Oratories have turned out to be the seedbed for a sizeable number of young people who, after going through the experience of the parish-based youth ministry, have gone on to positions of excellence in the world of sport - Roberto Donadoni who after a successful career in the famous Milano soccer club, was promoted to be coach of the national soccer team. Or in music - Claudio Baglioni, a well-known singer who is backing the construction of an Oratorio near the city of Bari, or again the successful comedian, Flavio Oreglio. Just to name a few.

with Catherine Parish

Tony Paganoni, Scalabrinian

Intriguing developments in Youth Ministry

Professor CravenBishop Fisher

PANORAMA

Panorama entries must be in by 12pm Monday. Contributions may be emailed to administration@therecord.com.au, faxed to 9227 7087, or mailed to PO Box 75, Leederville, WA 6902. Submissions over 55 words will be edited. Inclusion is limited to 4 weeks. Events charging over $10 will be a put into classifieds and charged accordingly. The Record reserves the right to decline or modify any advertisment.

Saturday February 28 to Sunday March 1

A LENTEN JOURNEY WITH ST PAUL

9am at Redemptorist Retreat Centre, North Perth. In search of inner peace and quiet this Lent? Come and be inspired and enlightened by St Paul’s conversion and his call to be an apostle of Christ with Fr Hugh Thomas. Residential or Non-residential: Cost includes all meals and accommodation. Registration: Hilda 9354 8568 Gertrude 9455 6576 / 0411 262 221, Rose 0403 300 720.

Saturday February 28

ST PADRE PIO DAY OF PRAYER

8.30am at St Peter The Apostle, 91 Wood Street, Inglewood. St Padre Pio DVD, 10am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Divine Mercy Adoration and Benediction. 11am Mass, using St Padre Pio liturgy, celebrant Archbishop Barry Hickey and attending priests welcome to concelebrate.12noon bring plate for shared lunch, tea and coffee provided. Enq: 6278 1540.

Saturday February 28

INNER HEALING RETREAT FOR YOUTHS

9am-5pm St Aloysius Church, 84 Keightley Road, West Shenton Park. Prayers for inner and physical healing led by the Vincentian Fathers. Prior registration required and is free. Lunch and tea provided. Enq: vcparackal@rediffmail.com or 9381 5383.

Saturday February 28 to Thursday April 2

LENT PERTH PARISH RETREATS

HEALING LIF E’S HURTS THROUGH THE EUCHARIST

February 28 to March 5, St Lawrence Church, Albert Street, Balcatta. March 7-12, St Simon Peter, 20 Prendiville Avenue, Ocean Reef. March 14-19, St Dominic’s, 19 Philips Grove, Innaloo. March 21-26, Our Lady’s Assumption, 356 Grand Promenade, Dianella. March 28- April 2, Our Lady Queen of Apostles, 55 Tudor Avenue, Riverton. Presenter Fr Gilbert Carlo SVD.

Sunday March 1

WITNESS TO HEALING

3pm at Disciples of Jesus, 67 Howe St, Osborne Park, Pilgrimage to Life. Come and hear author and businessman James Cross share about his amazing healing, and the power of prayer. Enq: 0429 777 007.

Sunday March 1

DIVINE MERCY

1.30pm at St Joachim’s Church Shepperton Road, Victoria Park. Holy Rosary, and Reconciliation. Sermon on St Joseph, by Fr Tiziano Bogoni, followed by Divine Mercy Prayers and Benediction. Refreshments, followed by DVD/Video on ‘Surrender is not an option’ with Fr John Corapi. Enq: John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608.

Sunday March 1 to Thursday March 5

LENTEN MINI MISSION - ONE HOUR SESSIONS

SUCCESS: FULL LIVING

7pm, March 1 and 7.30pm March 2-5 sessions commence and sessions repeated from 9.30am on March 2-5, at Our Lady of the Mission Parish, Whitford, with Fr Justin Belitz, OFM. Experience God’s healing love in ListeningSilence-Music, all welcome. Refreshments provided. Enq: 9307 2776.

Wednesday March 4

HEALING FIRE BURNING LOVE MINISTRY

CHARISMATIC STATIONS OF THE CROSS

7.30pm at St Brigid, Aberdeen Street, Northbridge. Praise and worship, 8pm Stations of the Cross. A time to praise and rejoice in what the Lord has done for you, reconciliation and Healing Service. Enq: Jenni 9445 1028 or 0404 389 679.

Thursday March 5

FINDING NEW LIFE IN THE SPIRIT

8pm at 67 Howe St, Osborne Park. Experience the love and mercy of God, and the empowerment of His Holy Spirit. Enq: Mark 0411 246 419.

Thursday March 5, 12 and 19

TEACH ME HOW TO PRAY LORD

7pm to 8-30pm at Infant Jesus Church, Wellington Road, Morley. Are you thirsting for something more than a fast

life, material things and even friendships and marriage can fully satisfy? Come and tap into the Living Water and discover prayer that gives birth to great deeds, makes the timid strong, and brings joy. Learn and put into practice, contemplation prayer, with Fr Paul Maunder, OCD.

Friday March 6

PRO-LIFE WITNESS

9.30am, Mass at St Brigid’s, Midland, followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at abortion clinic, led by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. Enq: Helen 9402 0349.

Friday March 6

THE ALLIANCE, TRIUMPH AND REIGN OF THE UNITED SACRED HEARTS OF JESUS AND MARY

5.15pm at St Bernadette’s Church, Glendalough. Confessions, Mass 5.45pm followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, hourly Rosaries, hymns and reflections etc throughout the night. Concludes with midnight Mass in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Enquiries: Fr Doug Harris 9444 6131 or Dorothy 9342 5845.

Friday March 6

CATHOLIC FAITH RENEWAL EVENING

7.30pm at St John and Paul’s Parish, Pinetree Gully Road, Willetton. Songs of praise, talk on Lent – A Journey to Emmaus with Father Elver Delicano, followed by Thanksgiving Mass and refreshments. All welcome, bring family and friends. Enq: Kathy 9295 0913, Rose 0403 300 720 or Maureen 9381 4498.

Friday March 6 to Sunday March 8

ALL NEW AUTUMN WEEKEND RETREAT

7.30pm, Dardanup Retreat House. A time to reflect on God’s creation, and the passage of time, in a new season. Enquiries and bookings: Sr Shelley Barlow, 9271 3873.

Friday March 6 to Sunday March 8

SEPARATED, DIVORCED, WIDOWED

7pm at Epiphany Retreat Centre, Rossmoyne. Beginning Experience is running a program designed to assist and support people in learning to close the door gently on a relationship that has ended in order to get on with living. Enq: Helen 6246 5150 or Maureen 9537 1915.

Saturday March 7

A RETREAT IN DAILY LIFE

The Council for Australian Catholic Women Perth is holding a one-month retreat during Lent directed by Sr Kathleen Brennan IBVM. Introductory and concluding sessions are held for all on retreat and 20 minutes a day is set-aside for personal Scriptural prayer. Cost $30 or as arranged Enq: Kathleen 08 9498 7377.

Saturday March 7

WITNESS FOR LIFE

8.30am, Mass at St Augustine’s, Gladstone Road, Rivervale followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at abortion clinic, led by Fr Paul Carey SSC. Enq: Helen 9402 0349.

Saturday March 7

DAY WITH MARY

9am to 5pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 265 Flinders Street, Nollamara; 9am Video on Fatima. Day of prayer and instruction based upon the Fatima message. Reconciliation, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons on Eucharist and Our Lady, Rosaries, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.

Monday March 9 to Thursday March 12

PROFESSOR C BARTHOLOMEW MD

Medical Scientist, Marian Speaker and Author

7.30pm, Our Lady of the Missions, Camberrwara Drive, Whitfords. Talk - The End of This Era. 10 March, 10.30am Mass and talk St Bernadette, Glendalough, then lunch.

7.30pm Talk Bioethics Centre, Jugan Street, Glendalough. 11 March 10am Mass and talk at Casa di Lusia Piaccareta, 59 Newton Street, Spearwood, then lunch. 7.30pm Talk St Mary’s Parish Franklin Street, Leederville. Enq: Margaret 9341 8082.

Wednesday March 11

CHAPLETS OF DIVINE MERCY

7.30 pm at St Thomas More Catholic Church, Dean Road, Bateman. A beautiful, prayerful, sung devotion to be accompanied by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and followed by Benediction. All are welcome. Enq: George 9310 9493 home or 9325 2010 work.

Thursday March 12

PREGNANCY ASSISTANCE INFORMATION SESSION

9.30am-12.15pm followed by Mass at 12.30pm and later lunch. Are you pro-life? Compassionate? Good listener? Come and know more about becoming a pregnancy support volunteer. Enq: Pregnancy Assistance 9328 2926.

Friday March 13

HEALING FIRE BURNING LOVE MINISTRY

CHARISMATIC STATIONS OF THE CROSS

7pm at St Gerard Majella, 37 Changton Way, Mirrabooka; praise and worship, 7.30pm Stations of the Cross. A time to praise and rejoice in what the Lord has done for you. Enq: Jenni 9445 1028 or 0404 389 679.

Sunday 15 March

150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

ST PATRICK YORK – ORIGINAL CHURCH

10.30am Mass concelebrated by Archbishop Barry Hickey followed by launch of the Parish history - Glorious Apostle - and a luncheon picnic, bring lunch and a chair. Please join in the solemnities and festivities. Drinks provided and Parish history book will be on sale. Enq: 9641 1477.

Sunday March 15

DOMINICAN LAITY

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHAPTER MEETING

2pm at St Catherine’s Convent, Williamstown Road, Doubleview. Enq: Jeff 9446 3655.

Tuesday 17 March

FEAST DAY OF NATIONAL SAINT IRISH COMMUNITY MASS

10.30am at St Mary’s Church, 40 Franklin Street, Leederville, Principal Celebrant, Bishop Don Sproxton, Homily, Fr Lawrence Murphy. All invited to come. Enq: Louis 0401 433 762 or 9387 8610.

Wednesday March 18

HEALING FIRE BURNING LOVE MINISTRY

CHARISMATIC STATIONS OF THE CROSS

7.30pm at St Brigid, Aberdeen Street, Northbridge. Praise and worship, 8 pm Stations of the Cross. A time to praise and rejoice in what the Lord has done for you, reconciliation and healing Service. Enq: Jenni 9445 1028 or 0404 389 679.

FRIDAY MARCH 20

MEDJUGORJE - EVENING OF PRAYER

7pm at All Saints Chapel, Allendale Square, 77 St.George’s Terrace, Perth. An evening of Prayer with Our Lady Queen of Peace, commencing with Adoration, Rosary and Benediction followed by Holy Mass. Evening concludes at 9pm. Free DVD’s on Fr Donald Calloway’s conversion available on night. Enq: Eileen 9402 2480.

Friday March 20 to Sunday March 22

SAINT PAUL’S RETREAT

7pm at God’s Farm. Fr Tony Chiera VG, weekend Retreat Master, on St Paul. Luxurious bus hired, direct from Perth and return, limited seats. God’s Farm is 40km south of Busselton. Bookings to PO Box 24, Cowaramup, WA 6284, or Betty 9755 6212, or Yvonne 9343 1897.

Saturday March 21

PRAYER VIGIL FOR PEACE

6pm-9.30pm at Redemptorist Monastery, 190 Vincent Street, North Perth. Spend some time with us in prayer for peace in war torn countries, peace in our local communities, peace in our home and peace within ourselves. Enq: Jeanette 9370 4690.

Monday March 23 to Friday March 27

LENTEN RETREAT – FIVE NIGHTS OF FIRE BLOOD COVENANTS

7.30pm-9pm at St Jude’s Catholic Church, 20 Prendiville Way, Langford. The program will look at the concept and remnants of covenants in cultures and societies up to present time. Witness Nine Steps of ancient Hebrew covenant ritual and God’s blood covenant plan from Adam, to Jesus. Final message Heaven and Earth Reconciled and 2nd Rite of Sacrament of Reconciliation. Enq: fmi@flameministries.org or Fr Terry Raj 9458 1946.

Every Sunday in Lent CHURCH HISTORY AT A GLANCE

4.45pm-6pm at St Joseph’s Parish Centre, 20 Hamilton Street, Bassendean, appreciation of the heritage of the Catholic Faith in the Third Millennium looking at the Church’s providential pathway through history.

Every Sunday in Lent THE BIBLE IN HAND

3.30pm- 4.45pm at St Joseph’s Parish Centre, 20 Hamilton Street, Bassendean. Bible in hand is better than two on the shelf. Become Bible friendly with the Bible in hand.

Every 3rd Sunday of the Month TAIZE STYLE PRAYER

7pm at Sisters of St Joseph Chapel, 16 York Street, South Perth. Everyone is welcome to join in the Taize style prayer, singing chants, listen to scripture, time for silent and intercessory prayer in the beautiful candlelight chapel in an atmosphere of silence and prayer. Bring a friend and a torch. Enq: Sr Maree Riddler 0414 683 926.

Every Tuesday PRAYER MEETINGS

7pm St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Centre, 450 Hay Street, Perth. Come join us in prayer for personal healing and overcoming the burdens of life united with Our Lord and Our Lady. Weekly live the heritage of the Faith in Sacred Scripture, the Holy Rosary, praise in song, reflection, friendship and refreshments. Prayer is life’s spiritual lifeline.

Every Thursday CATHOLIC QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

6pm-7.30pm at St Joseph’s Parish Centre, 20 Hamilton Street, Bassendean. Adult learning and deepening the Catholic Faith. Catechism easily learned with questions and answers.

Every 1st and 3rd Sunday of Each Month ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL SINGERS CHOIR 9.30am at St Joachim’s Pro Cathedral, Victoria Park. We are seeking new members to join us – be part of singing at the refurbished St Mary’s Cathedral. Full training provided. Enq: Michael 041 429 4338 or michael@ michaelpeters.id.au

Every Tuesday THE GOSPEL OF ST MATTHEW - BIBLE COURSE 7.30pm St Joachim’s Parish Hall, Shepparton Road, Victoria Park. Exciting revelations with meaningful applications that will change your life. Meetings incorporate a Novena to God the Father. Light refreshments will follow. Bring along your Bible, a notebook and a friend. Enq: Jan 9284 1662.

Every Tuesday

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY FOR TEENS

6.30pm to 7.30pm beginning February 24 at Holy Spirit, City Beach. DVD by Christopher West will be shown for 12 weeks, with breaks over Easter. Young and experienced facilitators will assist discussion in small groups following each DVD viewing. Cost, free. Intended age group, 16-18. Enq: 9341 3079, HolySpirit. Parish@perthcatholic.org.au

Every Wednesday THE JULIAN SINGERS

7.30pm to 9.30pm at the Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor Street, East Perth. Inviting any interested people for rehearsals to see if they may like to join the choir. We

Catholic Mission calls for a Million Prayers for Fire Victims

CATHOLIC Mission has launched a worldwide prayer vigil through its international partners for the victims of the tragic Victorian Fires.

The Australian National office of Catholic Mission has been inundated with emails, phone calls and letters from many of the 160 partner countries through Asia, Africa, Europe, the Pacific and the Americas with expressions of prayer and solidarity.

Catholic Mission’s international offices in each country have a wide network of many thousands of supporters in schools and parishes and they are being asked to pray for all those affected, and especially to bring God’s hope and comfort to the families who have lost members to the fire.

Francis Leong, Diocesan Director for Catholic Mission, said: “World Youth Day last year showed us the vastness of the Catholic Church and the richness of faith around the world.

“We are a global community of Catholics who help each other in time of need and who will now want to help the victims of this terrible tragedy rebuild their homes and their hearts through solidarity in prayer.

“We are sure that a Million prayers will lift the spirit of those who are suffering so much.”

PANORAMAS CONT.

Stewardship

FIRST

SUNDAY

OF LENT

The waters of Baptism make us part of the new covenant in Christ. But the bishop’s pastoral letter on stewardship reminds us that “there is a fundamental obligation arising from the Sacrament of Baptism… that people place their gifts, their resources – their selves – at God’s service in and through the Church.”

For further information on how stewardship can build your parish community, call Brian Stephens on 9422 7924.

Walking with Him Daily Mass Readings

1 S 1ST SUNDAY OF LENT Vio Gen 9:8-15 Covenant sign Ps 24:4-9 Love and truth 1Pet 3:18-22 Baptism is pledge Mk 1:12-15 Repent and believe

2 M Vio Lev 19:1-2.11-18 Be holy Ps 18:8-10.15 Fear of the Lord Mt 25:31-46 Sheep from goats

3 T Vio Isa 55:10-11 Bread for the eating Ps 33:4-7.16-19 Glorify the Lord Mt 6:7-15 Our Father in heaven

4 W Vio Jon 3:1-10 Forty days more Ps 50:3-4.12-13.18-19 Blot out my offence Lk 11:29-32 Wicked generations

5 TH Vio Esth 4:1.3-5.12-14 No helper but you 137:1-3.7-8 I thank you Lord Mt 7:7-12 A stone for bread?

6 F Vio Ezek 18:21-28 Is what I do unjust? 129:1-8 Be attentive to pleas Mt 5:20-26 Leave your offering

7 S Vio Deut 26:16-19 With all your heart Ps 118:1-2.4-5.7-8 Blameless life Mt 5:43-48 But I say to you

are a liturgical choir and also perform an annual charity concert. Enq: Chris 9276 2736 or Angela 9275 2066.

Every First Friday of the month

ST PADRE PIO - LATIN MASS

7.30pm at St Joseph’s Church, 22 Hamilton Street, Bassendean. Latin Mass according to the 1962 missal will be offered in honour of St Padre Pio. The Latin Mass is also offered every Monday evening - except the third week of the month at 7.30pm. All welcome.

Third Sunday of the Month

OBLATES OF ST BENEDICT

2pm at St Joseph’s Convent, York Street, South Perth. Oblates affiliated with the Benedictine Abbey New Norcia welcome all who are interested in studying the rule of St Benedict and its relevance to the everyday life of today for lay people. Vespers and afternoon tea conclude meetings. Enq: 9457 5758.

Every Sunday DIVINE MERCY PRAYER AS NOVENA

3pm St Aloysius Church, 84 Keightley Road, West Shenton Park. An opportunity for all to gather once a week and say the powerful Divine Mercy, Eucharistic Adoration, healing prayers followed by Holy Mass at 4pm. Enq: 9381 5383.

Every 1st Thursday of the Month

PRAYER AND MEDITATION SERVICE USING SONGS FROM TAIZE

7.30pm at Our Lady of Grace, 3 Kitchener Street, North

Beach. The service is a prayerful meditation in which we sing beautiful chants from Taize together, spend time in prayerful, meditative silence, bathed in candlelight reflecting upon themed readings. Enq: Beth 9447 0061.

MEMORIES OF AFRICA CHOIR

Calling all to come and join this small but vibrant group. Come let us sing and praise God with the African melody and rhythm. Enq: Bibiana, 9451 6602 after 6pm.

Every First Friday and Saturday of month COMMUNION OF REPARATION – ALL NIGHT VIGIL

7pm Friday at Corpus Christi Church, Mosman Park, 47 Lochee Road. Mass with Fr Bogoni and concluding with midnight Mass. Confessions, Rosaries, prayers and silent hourly adoration. Please join us for reparation to Two Hearts according to the message of Our Lady of Fatima. Enq: Vicky 0400 282 357.

Every First Friday HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE

7pm at Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins Street, Glendalough. Mass celebrated by Fr Saminedi. 7.30pm, Adoration with Fr Don Kettle. All welcome. Refreshments provided.

Every Sunday LATIN MASS KELMSCOTT

The Latin Mass according to the 1962 missal will be offered every Sunday at 2pm at the Good Shepherd Parish, 40-42 Streich Avenue, Kelmscott, with Rosary preceding. All welcome.

ADVERTISEMENTS

Classifieds: $3.30/line incl. GST Deadline: 12pm Monday

ACCOMMODATION

■ AVAILABLE

Willetton single room for female student in family home, on bus to Curtin or Murdoch uni. $150.00 Ph: 0416 815 804.

■ DUNSBOROUGH Beach cottage, 3 bedrooms, sleeps 7, 300m to Quindalup beach. Great price for Dunsborough! Tel: Sheila 9309 5071 / 0408 866 593 or email: shannons3s@optusnet.com.au.

■ GUADALUPE HILL www.beachhouseperth.com 0400 292 100.

BUILDING TRADES

■ BRICK RE-POINTING Phone Nigel 9242 2952.

■ PERROTT PAINTING PTY LTD

For all your residential, commercial painting requirements. Phone Tom Perrott 9444 1200.

■ BRICKLAYING

20 years exp. Quality work. Ph 9405 7333 or 0409 296 598.

■ PICASSO PAINTING Top service. Phone 0419 915 836, fax 9345 0505.

BOOK REPAIRS

■ REPAIR YOUR LITURGICAL BOOKS

General repairs to books, old Bibles and Missals. 2ndhand Catholic books avail. Tydewi Bindery 9293 3092.

PERSONAL

■ CHRISTIAN SINGLES

Widowed, divorced or never married. All age groups. Meet-for-Drinks, Dinner Seminars and Individual Dates. Phone 9472 8218. Tues-Fri 10am - 6pm. www.figtrees.com.au

HEALTH

■ FREE Sample pack for Extra energy and Weight loss. Call - 02 98075337 or 0432 274 643.

■ COUNSELLING/PSYCHOTHERAPY Peter Watt www.christianpsychologist.info Tel: 9203 5278.

■ EDUCATION & COUNSELLING

Invest in your relationships and happiness for the whole family. RCPD courses beginning in Fro also family counselling and Austudy Appr. ADV. Dip in Christian counselling. 0404 405 585.

Every 4th Sunday of the Month HOLY HOUR PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE

2-3pm at Infant Jesus Church, Wellington Road, Morley. The hour includes exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Let us implore God to pour an abundance of new life into our Church, open our hearts and those of the young people of the world to hear His Word. Enq: 9276 8500.

Every Monday and Tuesday ADVENTURES IN EXODUS – 9 WEEK STUDY

Church of St Emilie, 174 Amherst Road, Canning Vale. New and exciting study into the heart of the Bible - ‘Called To Freedom’ is also our story of what God calls us to be. Free. Limited places. Enq: Dominic celestialorchids@gmail. com, 6253 8041 or 0447 053 347.

Every Tuesday NOVENA TO GOD THE FATHER

7.30pm St Joachim’s Parish Hall, Shepperton Road, Victoria Park; incorporating a Bible teaching, a Perpetual Novena to God the Father and hymns. Light refreshments will follow. Bring a Bible and a friend. Enq: Jan 9323 8089.

Every Monday

ADORATION, RECONCILIATION AND MASS

7pm at St Thomas, corner Melville and College Roads, Claremont. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Evening Prayer and Benediction, spend 40 minutes quietly before our Lord for the health, faith and safety of yourself and your loved ones; Reconciliation 7.30pm, Mass and Night Prayer 8pm.

TUITION

English/tutor, primary specialist, reading/writing, spelling and comprehension. Single/group, limit of four. Diagnostic placement test. Maggie 9272 8263 or 0438 946 621.

FURNITURE REMOVAL

■ ALL AREAS Mike Murphy 0416 226 434.

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

■ CATHOLICS CORNER

Retailer of Catholic products specialising in gifts, cards and apparel for baptism, communion and confirmation. Ph: 9456 1777. Shop 12, 64-66 Bannister Road, Canning Vale. Open Mon-Sat.

■ RICH HARVEST – YOUR CHRISTIAN SHOP

Looking for Bibles, CDs, books, cards, gifts, statues, baptism/communion apparel, religious vestments, etc? Visit us at 39 Hulme Court (off McCoy St), Myaree, 9329 9889 (after 10.30am Mon to Sat). We are here to serve.

■ OTTIMO

Shop 108 TRINITY ARCADE (Terrace Level) Hay St, Perth Ph 9322 4520. Convenient city location for a good selection of Christian products/ gifts. We also have handbags, fashion accessories. Opening hours Monday-Friday 9am-6pm.

SETTLEMENTS / FINANCE

EFFECTIVE LEGAL, family owned law firm focusing on property settlements and wills. If you are buying, selling or investing in property, protect your family and your investment, contact us on (08) 9218 9177.

FOR EVERYTHING FINANCE – Ph. Declan 0422 487 563, www.goalfinancialservices. com.au Save yourself time, money and stress. FBL 4712

PASTORAL CARE COURSE

FOR MINISTRY WITH THE MENTALLY ILL. For those wanting to know about mental illness this 17 week course will run on Fridays, 8.45am to 3.30pm from 5th June to 25th Sept. 2009. This course involves information sessions on schizophrenia, bipolar, suicide awareness, eating disorders etc plus group work and ward visits. Course donation of $100 is invited. Applications close 8th May. For information contact Bob Milne, Graylands Hospital, Pastoral Centre 9347 6685 0413 325 486.

Every Thursday

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

11pm to midnight at Holy Trinity Church, 8 Burnett Street, Embleton. Enq: Office 9271 5528 or George 9272 1379.

Every Saturday

HOLY SPIRIT OF FREEDOM CHARISMATIC PRAYER MEETING

10.30am to 12.30pm at St Peter the Apostle Church Hall, 91 Wood Street, Inglewood. All are most welcome. More Info: 9475 0554.

Every Thursday

JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE

7.30pm, Acts 2 College of Mission and Evangelisation, Osborne Park. Using The Bible Timeline, The Great Adventure can be studied towards accredited course or for interest. Resources provided. See www.acts2come. wa.edu.au/ or Jane 0401 692 690.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Jesuit Volunteers Australia calls for part-time volunteers to respond to the needs of people in the community who live in marginalised circumstances. At the heart of this program is a reflective process, based on Gospel values, which underpins the work of the volunteers. Enq: Kevin 9316 3469 or kwringe@iinet.net.au, www.jss.org.au.

Every 2nd Wednesday of Each Month

CHAPLETS OF THE DIVINE MERCY

7.30 pm at St Thomas More Catholic Church, Dean Road, Bateman. All welcome to a beautiful, prayerful, and sung devotion. Enq: George 9310 9493 home or 9325 2010 work. Every Friday

Ugandan Sister prays for the bushfire victims in Victoria.

PHOTO: CATHOLIC MISSION

The Record Bookshop

ST PATRICK’S RANGE FEAST DAY MARCH 17

This beautifully crafted picture story book describes the life of Ireland’s patron saint, Patrick. The book draws on both legend and his own writings to tell the thrilling story of how the boy-slave returned to the land of his captivity to preach the Christian message of faith.

(Stock currently in shipment. Please call Caroline 9227 7080 to place your order).

RRP $22.95

ST JOSEP H’S RANGE NEW! ARRIVING SOON! FEAST DAY MARCH 19

(Shipment due to arrive end March. Please call Caroline 92277080 to place your order)

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9am - 2.30pm on (08) 9227 7080 or via bookshop@therecord.com.au 587 Newcastle St, West Perth

The Man Closest to Christ DVD

Patrick DVD

Few historical figures inspire more celebration than Ireland's St Patrick. This docudrama takes a new look at one of the best-loved and least-understood icons of world religion. The story of the real St Patrick is part adventure tale and part spiritual awakening, with the future saint rising from slave to liberator; learning to forgive and ultimately love his enemies; taking up a cause no one believed in; and finally lighting a fire that kept western civilisation alive.

(Stock currently in shipment. Please call Caroline 92277080 to place your order)

RRP $30.00

Trinity

A different take on the traditional Celtic cross, this unique design features four triquetra at each point. Within the main silhouette there are linear knot patters surrounded a four square design.

Celtic Trinity Emerald Isle Rosary Adorned with Celtic trinity knots (triquetra) this Rosary has olivine hued accent beads. The crucifix is set on a cross resembling a classic Celtic design. There are also four small triquetra placed in the frame surrounding the cross. Each Vatican Rosary comes in a beautiful gift box with the Vatican Library seal imprinted in gold, and a Vatican Library Collection information card. RRP $112.95

$74.95 Celtic Trinity Knot Cross Necklace 16” P4318

A cross created using four intertwined Celtic trinity knots (triquetra) is called a Carolingian Cross. Used here, the pendant is looped in the classic lovely lines known to adorn the famous book of Kells. Suspended from a rope style chain, this is a gorgeous way to represent your faith.

RRP$54.95 Also Avail. 24” Knot Cross Necklace

None of his words were recorded in scripture, yet he clearly teaches us what it means to be a husband, father, and true man of God. This powerful film explores all aspects of St Joseph as a man of uncompromised obedience and includes beautiful artwork and interviews with Catholic priests, teachers and others including Jesse Romero (Catholic evangelist) and Mark Miravalle, STD (professor). Colour. Approximately 60 minutes. RRP $29.95

The tradition of burying a statue of Saint Joseph finds its roots in the ancient Catholic custom of burying blessed medals in the ground, invoking God's blessing on the area. Kit contains one 5" resin statue, a full colour story card, and a full-colour tear-off Saint Joseph holy card with the Prayer to Saint Joseph, Patron of a Happy Home on the back. Individual Box measures 3" W x 5 1/2" H x 2" D. RRP $18.95

subscribers receive a copy of

(VHS) The life of Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II * Please note this special includes Postage & Handling cost of $5.00

Tools from Joseph’s Workshop A 30-Day Apprenticeship With the Man Closest to Christ By: Rick Sarkisian Find the "Tools" for building Joseph's virtues into your life and become the man God wants you to be, with this 30-day devotional companion to the Joseph video. RRP $21.95

Name: Address:

Suburb:

Postcode: Telephone: I enclose cheque/money order for $78 For $78 + P&H of $5.00 you can receive a year of The Record Please debit my Bankcard Mastercard Visa

Celtic

Knotted Cross Necklace 18” P4319

St Patrick Green Stone Locket P4549 RRP $94.95

Patrick Saint of Ireland By Diana Mayo

St Joseph Home Selling Kit

Joseph