The cruel reality is closer than you think
Mark Reidy spent three nights living with those who are all around us yet we are often blind to their presence. What he found will shake you to the core.
Pages 8-10
Keep the faith: Archbishop wants you at post-WYD08 events
Salvation is at hand: Dark Knight could mark a new era in superhero films
Abigail is the wife of Nabal, a drunken selfish man possessing large herds of sheep and goats.
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From Eve to Mary Magdalen the immortal women of Holy Scripture.
Featuring a gallery of ready-to-colour illustrations with scenes from the lives of the Bible’s most remarkable women. Each illustration is accompanied by a short summary explaining the significance of the picture in relation to Bible lore (as shown left). Such as:
j Esther, who saved her kingdom from Haman’s treachery
j Wicked Jezebel, the idolatrous queen
j Bathsheba, mother of Solomon, whose beauty drove David to murder
j Devout Judith, who slew Holofernes and rescued her besieged city
j The great judge and prophet Deborah, known as the Mother of Israel
j Mary Magdalen, first to witness the risen Christ
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Women of the Bible colouring book is also available from The Record Bookshop 9227 7080 for $7.95
Michelle Jones, who has a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum in Rome and now lectures at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle, will speak on Love Changes Everything: The message of St Therese of Lisieux, at ECL building, Lecture Theatre 1, Murdoch University on September 19 at 12.30pm. Carpark 3 is free.
For enquiries call Fr Joe Cardoso on 0403 303 667.
Youth urged to keep the Faith, as Archbishop Hickey offers pilgrims returning from WYD08 - and their family and friends- a range of opportunities to go even deeper into the spiritual experience.
n By Robert HiiniKEEPING the fire alive after the spiritual high of World Youth Day is the name of the game for the Perth WYD Office as a series of events are lined up for pilgrims, their families and their friends.
Archbishop Barry Hickey and the Perth WYD Office have announced a series of retreats and conferences to capitalise on the momentum generated by WYD.
The Archbishop’s new Lumen Christi Centre for evangelisation is facilitating three retreats for young adults at St Columba’s Parish Centre in South Perth:
l The Christian Alternative, September 12-13, led by Archbishop Hickey,
l Meeting Jesus in the Gospels, October 17-18, led by Bishop Don
Chores make kids more compassionate
PARENTS in the US giving up the struggle to get their kids to help with household chores are missing an important way of cultivating virtues in their offspring and preparing them for a successful marriage later on.
These are points made by Wall Street Journal writer Sue Shellenbarger in her column last month. New research, she reports, shows a drop of 25 per cent in time spent by children aged 6 to 12 on chores since 1981.
Sproxton, Fr Kevin Long and Fr Greg Donovan,
l Dear Christians: Letters from St Paul November 14-15, led by Fr Hugh Thomas CSsR.
The retreats aim at helping young adults to develop their own spiritual lives and to discern God’s will, featuring guided prayer and reflection.
“I believe that a retreat can be a powerful religious experience; especially valuable to young adults as they deal with a complex and often wayward society in terms of values,” Archbishop Hickey said in a letter to youth agency directors regarding the retreats.
The Perth WYD Office has announced two conferences, inviting young people to “re-live World Youth Day, or experience it for the first time”:
l Activ8 Post-WYD Conference for Teenagers, September 30–October 2, St Norbert College, Queens Park.
l Activ8 Post-WYD Conference for Young Adults, October 10-12, at Chisholm College.
The conferences are an initiative of the Catholic Youth Network, a body made up of agencies and individuals working to evangelise young people in the archdiocese. The events continue World Youth
Kids of that age now spend on average only 24 minutes a day helping with housework. One immediate result is that kids going to college for the first time have no idea what to do with their laundry - apparently they “destroy” it. Partly the decline is explained by the fact that parents are doing less housework too.
“Pitching in at home has become a crucial marriage-preservation skill for young men. Studies show parents still assign more housework to girls than boys. Yet these same young women hope as adults to find
Day’s Activ8 theme – drawn from Acts 1:8 – to empower young people with the Holy Spirit.
Perth WYD Office coordinator Anita Parker says the aim of the first conference is to develop the faith of teens; the second is aimed at helping young adults to “activate their gifts” in their local communities. Both conferences will feature an array of prominent speakers, prayer, liturgies, games and live entertainment as well an opportunity to relive WYD highlights via multimedia.
Asked about WYD’s place in the life of the Church, Miss Parker likens WYD to building the roof of a cathedral.
“WYD creates the roof of the cathedral in which we now need to build the walls and the structure and fill it with people” she said.
“WYD gives us that overarching (structure) but it’s still not a cathedral unless you continue to build the walls and bring the people inside.”
Young adults interested in the Archbishop’s retreats can find out more by calling 9223 1351.
Teens and young adults interested in the Activ8 conferences can call the Perth WYD Office on 9422 7944 or visit www.wydperth. com.
men who will help out; 90 per cent of 60 women aged 18-32 studied by Kathleen Gerson, a New York University sociology professor, said they hoped to share housework and child care with spouses “in a committed, mutually supportive and egalitarian way.”
After controlling for other factors, US marriages tend to be more stable when men participate more in domestic tasks, says a study of 506 US couples published in 2006 in the American Journal of Sociology.” -
Created from the Jarrah of St Mary’s Cathedral laid down in 1865, these fine writing instruments are the result of individually hand-made craftsmanship that truly brings yesteryear alive. Each individually numbered pen (fountain pen or rollerball) is at least 143 years old. Available from and on display at The Record Bookshop. Phone Caroline or Cathy on (08) 9227 7080 or contact via email: bookshop@therecord.com.au
Introductory
no T r E Dame’s b roome Campus has a special mission to promote the process of reconciliation between the indigenous and non-indigenous people of Australia.
To facilitate this process of reconciliation, education students at the broome campus are encouraged to undertake a teaching experience in an Aboriginal community where they are able to use and further develop their knowledge and skills in an authentic situation.
Completing a teaching practicum in an Aboriginal community enables students to learn about the elements of teaching that cannot be imparted in broome or learnt from a textbook. A key goal is to develop teachers who are able to create inclusive classrooms where the cultures and languages of indigenous students are respected and valued. A teaching practicum
in a remote and rural community can be a life-changing experience for students and is viewed as an essential part of teacher training. broome’s campus has introduced a new Practicum Support Program for Education students. The support program exists to assist the students in carrying out their practicum. loss of income, making rent or mortgage payments during the 10 weeks while they are away, cost of travel to and from the community and the cost of accommodation while living in the community are all factors which can prevent and impact students completing their Practicum in remote communities. The Practicum Support Program is designed to help these students.
For more info on how to contribute to the Broome Practicum Support Program, contact the Office of Alumni & Development at UNDA on 9433 0614 or email slinton@nd.edu.au.
UNDA on path of success through partnerships with Argyle Diamond Mine.
The University of notre Dame Australia has joined forces with the gelganyem Trust, Argyle Diamond Mine and East Kimberley Aboriginal communities to develop the Youth and Community Wellbeing Program. The program, which was designed, implemented and funded by the gelganyem Trust on behalf of the community, involves notre Dame’s Arts and Sciences students.
The students travel to the remote East Kimberley region to live and learn alongside the local people for two months each year. Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Professor neil Drew, believes the opportunities that the program offers to the students are unique. “This is a life changing experience that shows students the importance of ‘walking the talk’ for social justice
and reconciliation. living and learning alongside the people of the East Kimberley provides an opportunity for authentic community engagement,” said Professor Drew.
Students work with community members and leaders on a wide range of projects. in July, members of the program were involved in a photographic exhibition which was launched at the Wyndham recreation Centre, showcasing the talent of young photographers from the Wyndham and oombulgurri communities.
The photographs in the exhibition, Kids from Cliff Country, tell the story of growing up as a young person in the East Kimberley. Each image is accompanied with a story by the photographer.
The photos from the exhibition will be published in a book in September this year and are available for purchase. All profits will be used to support the program. Please contact Professor neil Drew on 9433 0103 for more information.
VC celebrates her first graduation with students
AboriginAl Studies, indigenous teacher assistants and enrolled nursing graduates celebrated a special day on August 22, as the broome Campus of the University of notre Dame Australia held its annual graduation Ceremony with 200 family and friends present.
The Ceremony included the awarding of degree certificates to graduates from the Schools of business, Education and nursing. in addition Certificates and Diplomas were awarded in Aboriginal Studies, Teacher Assistant ( indigenous) and Enrolled nursing.
Valedictorian Katherine Corkill addressed the students, staff and visitors and spoke of her memories of her time studying the bachelor of nursing. on behalf of the graduates she expressed thanks to all those who had supported them in their studies.
Katherine spent time at Meekatharra, Three Springs and Carnarvon as part of her clinical rotation in the nursing degree. in the future she hopes to move on to study Medicine.
Among the Vocational Education and Training graduates was Cindy Murray, the first Enrolled nursing graduate. Cindy is now employed at Kununurra Hospital. She told staff that she was proud to have achieved her goal and was enjoy-
ing her role as an Enrolled nurse. bishop Christopher Saunders of broome led the gathering in the graduation Prayer, followed by the occasional Address by Dr Peter Tannock, the Vice Chancellor Emeritus (former VC) of UnDA, who spoke of the development of Catholic education in the Kimberley and his hopes for the future. He remarked on the importance of having a university campus in the region and notre Dame’s commitment to providing quality university education to students in a remote location.
The University’s new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Celia Hammond, officiating at her first graduation, used her concluding words to congratulate the students on their achievements and wish them well for their future endeavours.
Multicultural week to throw up a whole host of activities in one of UNDA’s highlights of the year
THE University of Notre Dame Australia staff and students welcomed members of the public to join them on campus to celebrate Multicultural Week from September 8-12, and enjoyed the rich cultural aspects of Asia while they’re at it.
The week featured week-long and day-long intensive festivities. The highlight of the week would be the Multicultural Day on Wednesday, September 10 between 10.30am–1.30pm. Events took place in Malloy Courtyard, between Henry and Mouat Streets.
During Multicultural Day there will be a free Indian music performance at 12.30pm by Balvinder and Hardial Singh and an Indian Sitar and Tabla Duo.
Information booths will highlight Australian aid organisations’ efforts in Asia, Cultural Societies will be presenting, and University of Notre Dame Australia student groups will be setting up visual displays and selling ‘Asian themed’ food. A Henna artist will feature,
offering to paint visitors’ hands and feet, while members of the public will also have the opportunity to take part in free sumo wrestling, just for something different as part of the day’s festivities.
As part of the celebrations, a photographic competition called People, Places, Things is being held, which will exhibit photographs of Asia taken by Notre Dame staff and students. The photographs will be on display around the Fremantle campus for viewing. Voting will be encouraged to judge the best photograph of the competition.
The Multicultural Week celebrations are being coordinated by the University’s Student Life Office and student volunteers from Notre Dame’s International Student Association. Manager of the Student Life Office, Dave McLean, was looking forward to the event as one of the highlights of the year for the Catholic university.
“Multicultural Week is always an exciting time around Campus,” Mr McLean said. He also said that the celebration of different cultures “not only opens our eyes to the world around us but also provides a friendly and vibrant atmosphere”. “This year’s program promises to be no exception,” Mr McLean said.
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The Caucasian Chalk Circle was performed by the Yr 11 and 12 drama students at Mater Dei College from June 9-11.
Bertolt Brecht’s musical drama, written in 1944, centres around two stories. The first part shows how Grusha, a servant girl, gets engaged to Simon, a soldier, and then rescues the Governor’s son during a palace revolution and flees with him to the mountains. After many perils, she ends up marrying an ‘invalid’ to provide for the child.
The second part tells the story of Azdak who goes to the town to confess to a crime and is placed, by a quirk of fate, in the Judge’s chair.
His astutely biased judgements bring justice to the poor and needy, and when the Governor’s wife brings an action against Grusha for the return of her son, he uses the chalk circle test to decide who should get custody of the child, the biological mother, or the woman who saved him.
Brecht’s main aim was to convey a political message. The Caucasian Chalk Circle’s original prologue concerns the disputed ownership of a valley in the Caucasus during World War II. The conflict over land ownership issues in Sri Lanka was the topical parallel we chose to explore, and its message awakens a wider political awareness of world events.
Bertolt Brecht created “Epic Theatre” which is a form of theatre that puts a social or political message before the exploration of a character. It is political theatre in its broadest form. He wanted a theatre that asked questions of the audience and actors.
That entertained the audience whilst informing them and being a tool for political and social change. To understand and examine the world around them. He was not interested in his actors becoming their characters. He wanted them to step in and out of role and remain detached from the emotional centre of their character.
The aim was to employ Brechtian methodology in our production. We included the use of a narrator, multi role-playing which discourages empathy from the audience for a character and the use of gest, gesture and attitude to convey character. The use of montage, and specifically, contrasting images and music is typically Brechtian and designed to provoke thought.
College Head of Drama Kathy La Brooy’s clever adaptation of this play accepted rave reviews from all that attended it over its three nights of performance. Staff, students and members of the public were in attendance, many of whom commented on the sophisticated methods of character role changes on stage. The meticulous attention to details and mimicking of the characters physical gestures were very effective and added vibrancy to each characters delivery.
The incorporation of digital projections onto the stage backdrop created a spectacular visual effect. The projections included photographic slide shows and live video.
Lumen
CURRENT and former college students, young adults from Langford and Thornlie parishes, accompanying adults plus two young women from Southern India sponsored by the College made the trek to WYD08 as part of the Lumen Christi group.
Despite the months of preparation few of the group members could fully appreciate the impact each aspect of the 18-day adventure would have on their lives.
Returning students admitted that they feel the Holy Spirit working in their lives.
Year 11 student Sheldon Burke said: “World Youth Day was the best, wicked, and most phenomenal experience of my life so far.
“Words cannot explain how each of us felt while there, and I truly feel my life has been transformed by the experience.
“Seeing Pope Benedict XVI at such close quarters (as he drove past us along the edge of the Botanical Gardens) I will never forget. It was awesome, and well worth the hours spent waiting.
“I’m already waiting for WYD 2011 in Madrid – I just can’t get enough of WYD.”
Year 12 student Tessa Brown said: “World Youth Day was fantastic; a life changing experience for me.
“Events such as the three days of catechesis and the Vocations Expo at Darling Harbour opened up new possibilities and directions for me, and so many other pilgrims.
“Some of us were touched by the Mother Teresa photo Gallery, others by the huge, happy singing crowds at the many concerts at Barangaroo and other locations.
“Since returning home from WYD08 I feel that I’m to be guided throughout my life.
“As a year 12 student there are many important decisions ahead for me. I now have faith that when the time comes the power of the Holy Spirit will help me to make the right decisions confidently.”
Meet
Newman College students get to mingle with their footy heroes, while others visited by Beagle Bay folk.
FoR three days in June, the Lavalla Campus (Years 4-7) of Newman College was very fortunate to have eight students and two staff members visit from Sacred Heart School in Beagle Bay.
Beagle Bay is a small community of approximately 300 on the western side of the Dampier Peninsula, 100km north of Broome.
Along with participating in the usual Year 6 and 7 class and sport activities, students also visited the state library to meet with children’s author Craig Smith, saw a performance by Michael Mangan - a children’s liturgical singer and musician.
The highlight for some students, however, was the chance to see what few ever get to do - attend a closed West Coast Eagles training session, where they met many of the AFL team including coach John Worsfold and star utility player David Wirrpanda.
Eight families from the Newman College community generously opened their homes to billet the visiting students for their stay. It was a wonderful learning and cultural experience for all students.
Actor and youth educator Emman Drewery gives his account of a theatre tour during World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney.
With the invitation from Anne Lanyon of Columban Mission institute in Sydney, the Filippino Preda-Akbay theatre group made seven outstanding presentations of their well acclaimed play Once We had a Dream
Our mission was to challenge the youth gathered at WYD08 to be socially and spiritually aware of the realities of child trafficking in the world with an emotionally charged musical drama with a strong message of hope and redemption, part of the Columban Youth Theatre of the Oppressed event.
three theatre groups came together in Sydney including Brazilian Cena Um Dance troupe, organised by Columban Fr Colm McClean and led by Augusto Boan, the students of Sydney’s St Peters College and Preda-Akbay theatre. We immediately bonded as performers with a common goal to help change attitudes and bring youth to a greater understanding of social and moral issues in the developed world and to act for justice and human dignity.
We put together a two-hour showcase of dance, music
and drama, showing the culture, ideas and real-life stories of slavery, oppression and injustices that still goes on in the world today.
We challenged our audience to take a stand and act against evil and exploitation and to get involved to change the world. the first show was held on a cold evening in tumbi Umbi, a town not far from Sydney, where St Peter’s College is. there was a huge crowd attending Social Justice Day organised by the Broken Bay Diocese. A huge tent was set up, which was filled with about 2000 young people.
then the time came for the serious play of Preda-Akbay. it’s always a tense time for me when i step out on the stage. how will the audience react?
the crowd cheered as the opening music filled the tent, the audience fell silent and the drama began. Not a single member of the audience moved from the tent for the entire presentation, riveted and carried away by story of the sad reality of trafficking, child abuse and exploitation, but were uplifed by redemption that the story also involved.
the message was clear, the commercial exploitation of children is widespread and is destroying hundreds of thousands of children. it is time for us all to stand up and do something to help these children.
When the Preda-Akbay’s presentation came to a dramatic close it finished with a enlivening and uplifting song with
AssistAnt
Luurnpa Catholic school has been run by the De La salle Brothers in Balgo Hills since 1983. Brothers from the same order also established La salle College Middle swan in what was originally known as Midland Junction back in 1954.
the visit was an initiative to establish closer links with Luurnpa Catholic school with the hope that at some time in the future, students from Balgo Hills may also take the opportunity to continue their secondary education at La salle College in Middle swan.
the visit was a very rich experience for the teachers involved who were able to deliver specialist lessons to the students. A measure of the success was the number of students who took part in the week-long program and the many fine pieces of jewellery and woodwork completed throughout the week.
pounding rock music We’re Gonna change the world, Yeah yeah yeah! there was hardly a dry eye among the audience.
Many were weeping, deeply touched by the presentation.
then the Cena Um Group put on their show about their ancestors’ slavery and discrimination that still goes on today in Brazil. the Australian students presented a powerful play about the human suffering and exploitation in the garment trade where sweat shops exploit the workers without mercy.
We then went on to make several more performances in different parts of Sydney, all making a significant contribution to the social awareness among people, young and old, within the area. All of them were touched by the presentations and everyone applauded and appreciated the show.
they told us it is very moving and definitely made an impact on their lives.
that lifted our spirits and made it so worthwhile.
Although on a very tight schedule, we found time to visit the Reptile Park in tuggerah where we saw kangaroos and koalas. then our group travelled to Mt Penang Youth Penitentiary to visit the juveniles who are undergoing rehabilitation and made a short presentation for them.
After a three-week advocacy tour in Australia, the PredaAkbay group went back to the Philippines full of new knowledge about the culture, beliefs and ideas discovered during WYD08.
Five years of venturing onto Perth’s streets working with homeless people through a Catholic outreach community could not prepare discovery’s Mark Reidy for actually living, for just three days, with what he has called the ‘shadow people’ - because we all know they’re there but we rarely take any notice of them. It was a powerful experience that rammed the reality home for him - and for us.
Ashadow is voiceless and insignificant, it is so inconsequential to our daily lives that inevitably, we do not even acknowledge its presence.
For three nights I stayed on the streets of Perth and received just a taste of what is it is like to live in the shoes of one of our homeless citizens. For a brief, yet haunting, moment, I became one of the Shadow People.
During the day we drifted between welfare agencies and drop-in centres in pursuit of food and a place to at least temporarily belong, and at night, we disappeared into the squats, laneways and doorways of the dark and deserted city.
For the last five years I have ventured onto the streets several times a week on a voluntary capacity with a Catholic outreach, known as the Holy Spirit of Freedom Community, and have earned the trust of a number of those who are homeless. “Why don’t you come out and live out with us some time?” Len, 40, had proposed several weeks earlier. “Come and see what it’s really like”, he said. “And do it before the winter’s over”, he added with a wry smile. So I did.
Armed with a sleeping bag, a change of underclothes and a few coins, I bid farewell to my comfortable existence and explained to my children that I was going to see what it was like to live without a home. “Are you being banished?” asked my six year old. At the time I laughed at his misuse of the term, but by the time I returned I recognised that there had been a prophetic ring to his words.
Despite knowing that my time on the streets was temporary and that at any stage I could return to a comfortable bed and readily accessible utilities, a sense of emptiness and abandonment steadily pervaded me over those three nights.
While the biting wind that blew through the dilapidated building each night, the absence of water and electricity and sleeping on hard floors all proved to be gruelling ordeals in themselves, I soon became aware that it was the psychological and emotional trauma that took the biggest toll on those who were trapped in this existence.
With no place to go and nowhere to belong, they lived on the periphery of a society that was often oblivious to their existence.
Accompanied by a friend, Murray, who joined me on the three-night venture, we met up with Len on a dim lit corner where the Red Cross soup van pulled up every evening.
A group of 20 to 30 people, ranging from young teenagers to the elderly, were gathering as a chill began to envelope the darkening streets. Most of them were there because it was the last feed of the day, but others, so they could have some company while the city streets rapidly emptied.
out of your sight”, he announces as he produces it, “Trust no one”. I have only been on the streets for several minutes and I have already learnt a valuable lesson.
Our day ahead, of moving drop in centre to the next in next meal, seems one-dimensional meaningless by comparison. no sense of fulfilment by the sets on this long day, only a vu as we crawl through the darkened premises.
After a meat pie, soup fruit for breakfast we make Northbridge to the Ruah Centre, provides, among other services; showers, a medical doctor importantly, a place to belong.
For a brief, yet haunting, moment, I became one of the Shadow People.
Len then leads us to the outskirts of town, pointing out other occupied squats on the way, until we reach the place we would be sleeping for the next three nights. It is an old rundown building and Len slides back a small wooden panel so that we can crawl inside.
We are greeted by Lisa, 34, who laughs at the sight of us. “I can’t believe you’re choosing to live like this”, she says shaking her head. “Welcome to our ‘home’”. Surrounding a pair of flickering candles are Andy, 21, Mick, 16, Shona, 17, Jeff, 22, Alex, 17, Brian, 17, David, 15 and a dog called “Buster”.
They have been here for several weeks, as has Len and about four or five others who are camped in an equally derelict adjacent building. Lisa, who watches over this young brood like a mother hen, says that her group have moved many times in the eight months they have lived on the streets.
She explains how her “ street family” had camped in Kings Park when the weather was hotter, but as the number of people joining them swelled to well over twenty, they were eventually asked to move on.
From there, six of them had moved into a City Car Park for a few months, slipping in after closing hours and moving on before workers arrived each morning. Eventually and it seems, inevitably, they were again discovered and evicted.
After a cycle of living in inner city buildings and being moved on by police or owners, the itinerant group finally arrived where they are today. “We’re not sure how long this one will last,” says Lisa, casting her eyes around the crumbling, damp surroundings.
This is the life of those who have nowhere to call home. There is no permanency, physically or emotionally, nor is there any sense of purpose as they battle to get through each day.
The first night is particularly restless. It is not just the absence of a mattress, the cold wind or the regular coughing and spluttering that is associated with a group of people who have lived a winter with no heating, but there is also the constant psychological stress of hoping that no one will burst in during the night.
... I soon became aware that it was the psychological and emotional trauma that took the biggest toll on those who were trapped in this existence.
I wonder how those on the street who don’t have the company of others even get to sleep at night. I am relieved when light finally peeps through the boarded windows.
We begin the journey into town to line up at the Salvation Army van with many others who emerge from their nocturnal hiding places.
We then move on to Army centre as “Genesis” offers computers, coffee Once this 2pm there hours to kill, idling around the world go by, before feed provided by, “Manna”, dedicated volunteers, who in a park. If you miss this you cup of hot soup from the Red Cross van at 7pm.
I leave my backpack at Len’s feet while I chat to someone close by. When I return a few minutes later the backpack, containing my sleeping bag and belongings, is missing. Those around me laugh at the expression on my face and Len shakes his head knowingly. “Never let your bag
During the sunrise walk, the shadow metaphor takes on a more visual reality.
As the vehicle and pedestrian traffic steadily builds and rushes by, we seem to be lost in its wake. These are people with a purpose, heading towards a day of activity and productivity.
The day is then finished for many as they slink into the darkness to find a new place to sleep or to check whether their previous one has been raided, robbed or occupied in their Others cannot bear of spending the hours before their own and they hang streets. Some even stay awake night, wandering aimlessly, police, especially if they are waiting until daylight when safer to catch a few hours sleep or in a park.
sometimes of and and
During the day I was able to a number of people who me the circumstances that homelessness. Each story was uniformly tragic.
As they opened their hearts the pieces of their shattered privileged to encounter the behind the “shadows”, to beauty and vulnerability that hidden behind veils of anger, crime, drug and alcohol use, and other forms of self-harm.
I came to better understand façades are not reflections person, but rather, are behaviours to help cope with, or separate past pain.
Unfortunately, the momentum choices, usually borne from can thrust one further into They become more deeply the rut of homelessness, both and emotionally, and are unable the widening chasm that separates from those who are prospering current climate.
It is a cycle that, according I spoke to, is exacerbated positions of power and authority, and respond to preconceived of those living on the streets take time to get to know or them as individuals.
Steve, a man in his mid that his dignity and very been crushed by three years Perth’s streets. “Once my identity my role as a husband, father but now all that is all gone”, “People make their judgements they see and that’s how they I am now is an empty shell.”
It is a cycle that is difficult from. Ironically many become in their homelessness. Without there is little prospect of work, work there is no way to financially out of the mire in which they
moving from one search of our one-dimensional and There will be the time the sun sense of déjà the hole to our and piece of make our way to Centre, which services; coffee, doctor and most belong. the Salvation centre known “Genesis” which a pool table, computers, TV, more and a lunch. this closes at there are a few and watching the 5 o’clock “Manna”, a group of serve dinner you can grab a
And as rents continue to increase, both their opportunity and their hopes are further crushed.
With government housing unable to promise anything for years, and hostels and boarding houses overflowing, most have no choice but to cope with their current dilemma.
Teresa is 19 and says that she has lived on and off the streets for the past nine years. She was taken from her family at the age of ten because of sexual abuse from her father and has since drifted between foster families, hostels and the streets. She said that her behaviours made it difficult to be able to conform to the rules and regulations that are required for shared housing, which, she says, is why she often found herself on the streets.
It is a story familiar to many I met who were under the age of 18. Teresa says that she tends to stick to herself as she has little trust of others. Unfortunately this makes life on the street, especially for a female, particularly dangerous.
...discover the beauty and vulnerability that is sometimes hidden behind veils anger, violence, crime, drug and alcohol use, prostitution and other forms of self-harm.
absence.
the thought before sleep on out on the awake for the avoiding the under 18, and when it becomes sleep on a bench able to speak who shared with led to their was unique, but hearts to share shattered past, I was the true people discover the that is sometimes anger, violence, use, prostitution self-harm. understand that these reflections of the true behaviours adopted separate one, from momentum of such from desperation, into darkness. entrenched in both financially unable to bridge separates them prospering in the according to many by those in authority, who see preconceived perceptions streets and do not or understand thirties, said identity had years of living on identity lay in and a worker, he lamented. judgements by what they treat me. All difficult to break free become imprisoned Without housing work, without financially step they are stuck.
She described a recent encounter when all her possessions were stolen as she slept in the doorway of a city building. She was left with only the clothes she was wearing and a few belongings that she had been using as a pillow. She was devastated by her loss, but relieved that she wasn’t physically or sexually assaulted as she had been in the past. She showed me her scarred arms, a common sight of many of the young women on the street, and said that she often cut or burned herself to relieve the pain she carried inside.
Brian is 17 and has regularly been on the streets for the past four years. At 13 his mother left him in a government hostel and without telling him, disappeared from his life.
“People make their judgements by what they see and that’s how they treat me. All I am now is an empty shell.”
He has since existed in a rotation of hostels, juvenile detention centres, foster families and the streets. “This is my family now”, he says, pointing to the other teenagers around him. It is a life of violence, crime and drug use, he says, “But it is the only place I belong”.
This sense of belonging is a common theme; with many I met sharing a feeling of alienation from the wider community. Gary, 21, who began hearing voices when he was 17, said that he had once spent 12 months living on his own in a block of units occupied by what he described as “normal” people.
For that entire year, he said, his existence consisted of drinking every day and talking to the television. Not once did any of his neighbours communicate with him. He eventually opted to live on the streets where he was, at least, surrounded by other people who knew what it was like not to fit in.
Another young man, Colin, who had drifted across from the eastern states spoke of the same sense of isolation.
look forward to”, he shares. When we arrive back at our squat we sit around the candlelit room sharing our day. Brian is sitting next to me with blackened eyes and a plaster across his face. He has just had two pins inserted in his nose that day, the result of a beating he received a few nights ago when he was attacked by a group of eight men who weren’t pleased with the fact that he had no money to give them.
The hospital had sent him “home” to recover. I could think of plenty of other places that I would rather be recuperating after a serious operation.
The sleep comes a little easier this night as Murray and I have been given a few blankets from a couple in a squat down the road who suggested we roll them up and use them as a mattress.
I won’t say that we slept well, but it was certainly an improvement.
...she often cut or burned herself to relieve the pain she carried inside.
“People go out of their way not to make eye contact”, he said. “And those that do look, do so with either fear or disgust”.
He had arrived in Perth six months ago in a bid to escape a past of family breakdown and self-abuse. He had lived a life of drug use, imprisonment and violence on the streets of Sydney since his mother threw him out as a 15-year-old and he had wanted a fresh start.
However he soon found that he could only find acceptance and understanding from others who had also been broken by the depths of such pain. His drug use continues. “It is the only thing I have to
We begin the next day at “Tranbys”, a centre that provides toast, coffee, cereal and a place to hang out until 11am. The worker says that they usually serve over 60 people each morning. The Soup Van caters for 100. The rest of the day is more or less the same as yesterday. I speak to Darren who is 15. He was beaten up by his stepfather and thrown out by his mother at 13. He tells me a sad, but familiar story of meeting other young people in a hostel and following them onto the streets.
He was using heroin by the time he was 14 and was stealing to support his habit. A cycle of incarceration, hostels and homelessness followed and he is currently awaiting charges for armed robbery and motor vehicle theft.
That evening an angry, drunken and muscular young man who wants to fight confronts Murray. Fortunately he recognises me and calms down. We find out that John was released from jail that
continued on page 10
Archbishop Barry Hickey on government responses to homelessness.
It seems that urban homelessness is almost too hard for State or Federal Governments.
A Green Paper has been issued recently by the Australian Government outlining possible strategies. It follows numerous other reports on homelessness that have still left people sleeping in the streets. I am not confident that a new Green or White Paper will make any difference because these inquiries do not highlight the reality of homeless people whom Mother Teresa would call the ‘poorest of the poor’.
Most reports take too broad a view of homelessness. They include overcrowding and long waiting lists for accommodation. While these are valid forms of homelessness they distract from the real homeless who are sleeping in shop doorfronts, alleys, parks and verandahs, including mine. Many of them have addictions, usually glue or paint sniffing, or alcohol. Some have mental health problems, others come from a history of home violence and have to escape.
There are relatively easy solutions to overcrowding. It is a matter of providing sufficient finance for housing, but the will to do so is not there.
Our next WA Government would do well to investigate the problem of homelessness after dark, not during the day, and speak to people sleeping out. It might persuade them to allow at least rough shelters to be made available and to find workable rehabilitation services for people as a step towards more permanent housing. There is almost zero emergency housing in Perth at this present moment.
If the research is done, they will be dealing with mental health problems, zero selfimage, anger, despair, sadness, depression and addiction. They will find that most of the street sleepers are Aboriginal. They should count the number of blankets issued each day by the many emergency services, mostly voluntary, mostly with Christian motivation.
They might be persuaded that these people are not hopeless cases, but men and women whose dignity needs to be respected. They will also discover that their concern and their promises will sound empty to these people and will not be believed by them because little has ever happened to give them any hope at all.
They will also find, if they meet them personally, that the answers to their problems are less about money than about love, friendship and inclusion.
Most agencies work 9 to 5. The real problems of loneliness can only be understood after the sun goes down.
ROME (Zenit.org) - Homelessness is nothing new - it’s been around since Adam and Eve were expelled from paradise, according to the president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travellers.
Cardinal Renato Martino said this at the 1st International Encounter for the Pastoral Care for People Without Stable Housing last November in Rome, which also addressed the situation of those living in unsuitable or unhygienic housing.
“The lack of a home is nothing new,” said the cardinal. “It occurred the moment that sin appeared in the world and our ancestors were thrown out from the place which had been prepared for them.”
The 50 participants in the meeting representing 28 countries, among them bishops, priests, religious men and women, and members of apostolate and volunteer associations, reflected on the theme “In Christ and With the Church, at the Service of Those Without a Fixed Dwelling.”
The encounter is the third in a series of international congresses on the plight of the homeless.
The council organised the 1st International Meeting for the Pastoral Care of Street
Children in October 2004, and the 1st International Meeting of Pastoral Care for the Liberation of Women of the Street in June 2005.
Cardinal Martino emphasised the call to make themselves “authentic witnesses and an example for governments and communities, inviting everyone to recognise the dignity of each human being,” and to “offer and to receive the love of God, in an active catechesis. Above all, love should be at the centre of our action,” which gives “strength through a personal encounter with Christ,” nourished by constant prayer.
The cardinal said a deep dedication is also needed: “It is not enough to give temporal things, but we have to be present on a personal level in all that we do.”
Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, secretary of the dicastery, reported that “since the end of World War II, the number of homeless in Western Europe has reached its highest level, with an estimated 3 million people, while in the United States we are talking about 3.5 million, of whom 1.4 million are minors.”
Despite the sparseness of data from developing countries, he added, “India is
one of the few countries that has tried to take a census, in 1981, the result of which is that there are around 2.5 million homeless people. Another census taken 10 years later showed a decrease of more than one million from the previous one.”
He added that the largest increase in the number of homeless has been in Africa, Asia and Latin America, where there appears to be “close to 30 per cent of the population living in illegal settlements, lacking infrastructure and services, or crowded in damaged places.”
In drawing guidelines for an efficacious pastoral focus, Archbishop Marchetto said “the situation of the homeless is not only of the one who does not have a house, but it is also the collapse of one’s own world, one’s security, personal relationships and dignity. It is the loss of the capacity of having a ‘truly human’ life.”
Because of this, he said, pastoral agents should understand that it is not enough to satisfy the fundamental and immediate needs for human survival because, “in their depths, each homeless person has a greater, original need, that of being accepted and treated with dignity.”
Continued from page 9 day after spending 18 months inside. Physically he is barely recognisable from the skinny paint sniffer that I knew several years ago. He is bigger and stronger and, it seems, angrier. We later hear that he was locked up soon after we left him after robbing a passer-by. I wonder how he will ever break out of the spiral he is in.
We later meet up with Alex who has heard about what we are doing. “You’ve got it too easy staying in squats”, he tells us. He shows us the alcove in the office block where he sleeps each night with his girlfriend and challenges us to find out just how dangerous and cold it gets.
Michael, another young man, overhears and advises us against it. He says that on the previous night a Security Officer had moved on his group of nine, aged between 19-30 in the middle of the night.
When they asked the Officer where he expected them to go, he told them, “anywhere but here”. A City Ranger who found them huddled in a park a few hours later, told them the same thing. It seems that no one has an answer.
Michael is particularly concerned for his 19yo girlfriend who is five months pregnant and is grateful that the Pastor of an inner city church has allowed them to camp under the overhang on his premises.
By my third night I am literally counting down the hours until I will be returning to the comfort of my own house, bed and particularly, my family. Even the thought of staying longer weighed heavily upon me and I felt ashamed by such feelings.
My time on the streets has been as pampered as one could get. Unlike those who have no idea of when they would next know a place they could call home, I knew my time was limited. I had been looked after, watched over and shown where to eat and sleep. Most are not afforded such luxuries. In increasing numbers people are entering this homeless scene with little or no knowledge of how to survive.
I can’t even imagine the fear that must permeate them when they first step into this
world. It would be even worse for those who are not accepted by others on the street, who must confront each day on their own. Or for those with mental illness who must wrestle with their own demons as they attempt to survive the daily grind.
I left the streets with a feeling of emptiness. How does one address the plethora of issues that contribute to homelessness? One thing that I am sure of is that it is not simply a matter of just providing a roof over one’s head, although this is an essential foundation. Equally important is the need to have one’s dignity restored. But this process can only begin when both governments and individual members of our community firstly, acknowledge their plight and secondly, recognise their worth as fellow human beings.
Many use illegal drugs, medication and alcohol to escape past pain and/or to cope with their present circumstance and this pushes them further away from finding
a place to call home, both physically and emotionally.
Processes need to be put in place that will draw them back. If people aren’t using these substances when they arrive on the streets, then many soon will be, simply to help them get through.
Most have lost their sense of hope and this leads them to becoming more deeply entrenched and lost in these shadowlands.
A young man known as Jungle best summed up my new understanding of life on the streets. He is 35 and says he has been homeless or in jail for most of the past 25 years. He is currently sleeping under a bridge. On my last few hours on the street, someone yelled at him, “Why don’t you go to hell?”
He didn’t even look up from the ground, “No need to mate”; he said with a slow shake of his head, “I’m there everyday”.
Names have been changed for the protection of those in this story.
WHEN The Record ran a May 21 story on City Beach parish priest Fr Don Kettle’s innovative idea for an ‘Ice cream Sunday’ to attract kids to church who will in turn draw their non-practicing parents along, it prompted a mixed response from the community.
While many agreed it was an innovative idea to build a sense of community, some were critical; but Dianella parish, where he started it, saw it as a great opportunity for the parents and parishioners to come together in a relaxed atmosphere after sharing in the Sunday Mass.
Fr Kettle launched the idea at Our Lady’s Assumption (OLA) parish in Dianella when he was parish administrator there in 2005 after experiencing his first Ice Cream Sunday in St Michael’s parish in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Children’s Liturgy Team and the Social Committee provide all the necessary man - and woman - power to host the event.
Children are first encouraged to join in the Children’s Liturgy program, then volunteers from Year 6 and 7 students at Our Lady’s Assumption school provide a range of games and activities to keep the kids entertained, while mums, dads, grandparents and parishioners can sit back, relax and enjoy a cuppa or even an ice cream. Held four times a year during the school terms, Ice Cream Sundays provide a chance for the parish and school communities of Our Lady’s Assumption to come together and celebrate their united future. Organiser Tracey Harris said that two years ago, at a Children’s Liturgy Meeting, the team was discussing what they could do to encourage the children of the OLA Parish to attend Mass.
The team was unanimous in the idea of conducting Ice Cream Sundays regularly to unite the parish and school communities and give them the chance to meet and mingle in a friendly and relaxed environment. Tracey said: “We are fortunate in being strongly supported by our school’s principal and staff and by the Our Lady’s Assumption Social Committee who assist with the running of the event and encourage our Year 6 and 7 students to give up their time and assist.
For more info contact Our Lady’s Assumption Dianella 9276 1008.
‘COMPASSION for the elderly, frail and sick required to form a Keeping in Touch group at Morley parish. Apply within.’
This was the framework for an organisation that has been fruitful in caring for precious members of the community.
Aileen Budge, coordinator of the “Keeping in Touch” group at Infant Jesus Parish in Morley, said that each year the parish has a Parish Week celebrating what is happening in it. Parishioners were invited to declare their interest in being part of a new Home Visitation Team in 2006, and prospective volunteers were told they would need “a friendly, listening ear and a compassion for those housebound – the elderly, the frail and sick.”
A team of nine accepted selection, a training session was held and the team members were invited to come together and share why they wanted to be a part of the group.
A set of 14 guidelines were created with great emphasis on client confidentiality.
A report of the visit was also introduced so that the outcome of each visit could be monitored to ensure all support needs were met.
Prior to a visitation, members of the team were encouraged to pray together - either a suggested or
a spontaneous prayer. “With our multicultural parish, it was considered important that we included Italian speaking members,” Aileen said. “We are fortunate to have two at present.”
The parish secretary provides the team with the details of parishioners to be visited, mostly at home but also some in hospital and at aged care facilities.
Following visits to the residents, they take turns to have afternoon tea at one of their homes, share the experiences of the day and discuss any news relevant to the group.
Aileen said the group has bonded well and all have expressed great satisfaction of being a part of this new venture.
“We have all met so many wonderful people, with interesting and challenging life experiences and great stories to tell,” she said.
“Their faith journeys are also so varied, from different cultures and backgrounds and so important in their lives.
“Many of those we visit are very lonely and welcome exchanging conversation and catching up on parish happenings and other news.
“We all look forward to ‘Keeping in Touch’.”
For more info contact Aileen Budge at the Morley parish on 9276 8500.
THE hidden treasures of parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Perth are set to be unearthed and shared among its parish communities.
Under its set objective to “identify needs of families and develop creative initiatives to address them”, the Committee for Family and for Life’s Parish Survey has and will continue to gather information about what parishes do to grab the attention for their flock, to bring them together in a true spiritual community that they are designed to be.
However, CFFFL chairperson Barbara Harris said it won’t be as many people might assume - a faceless survey that parishioners fill out which they never see or hear of again. She said it’s not too late for parishes to send in their survey form.
The CFFFL has already received 45 surveys - 35 from city parishes and 10 from country parishes.
They hope to present the bishops with the completed survey within the next month. Respondents’ answers will be noted and form part of future planning for the Archdiocese of Perth, so that parishes can share the great ideas that their brother parishes have about ministering to their flock and making it a living, breathing commu-
nity, a true body of Christ. The Committee encourages parishes to share ideas and encourages parishes to adapt programs from other parishes. The Committee is setting up a website where parishes will be able to both publish their own programs and activities and to access programs and activities of other parishes. Sometimes there can be information gaps within the parish itself, and the Survey has already brought to light many of these. Feedback has already indicated that for many parishes it was a real reminder of how much the parish is doing already.
The survey asked for descriptions of programs or activities, how often they occurred, how long they went for and why the parish was doing them. Writing it down helped many parishes to clarify and reinforce for themselves the reasons for doing what they were doing.
The Committee divided the survey into eight categories: Family Life, Marriage, Parenting, Children, Young People, Dignity of the Human Person, Miscellaneous and None. (No parish ticked ‘None’.)
However, statistics, no matter how comprehensive, will never tell the full story of what is involved in parish life. But statistics can provide a snapshot.
From returned surveys so far we note that 31 parishes are doing 77 activities to promote Family Life; 31 parishes organise 55 activities to promote marriage; 24 parishes actively run 48 events for Parenting; 35 parishes run 118 programs for children; 30 parishes run 84 activities for young pople; 33 parishes hold 80 activities to raise awareness of the Dignity of the Human Person; and activities and events from all parishes numbered 162 Miscellaneous.
Several parishes indicated they have some innovative programs either recently established or long standing.
These included a Bible Study group at 9.15am in the morning to cater for mothers who had dropped their children off at school, a Legion of Mary doorknock on 3000 homes that found 460 new Catholic families and a system where parishioners invite the parish priest to dinner on Wednesday nights.
Parish-based youth initiative generates creative outlet for young Catholics
INFANT Jesus parish in Morley is going the extra mile to help young people connect with the parish community and with God.
The parish calls it IJ Angels Young Adults Group, and it has several initiatives on the go for youth to immerse themselves in the parish community and build friendships. Tung Nguyen, Coordinator of the IJ Angels Young Adults Group, says that the aim of IJ Angels is to ‘connect young adults’ - the group’s motto - within the Infant Jesus Community”. The group began six years ago under the guidance of Fr Joe Cardosa. The group strives to connect young adults to the parish community, God, each other and to the broader community. Activities include:
l Tree planting (as a part of National Tree Day)
l Monthly Youth Mass, led by IJ Band and choir
l Co-ordination of Youth Christmas Mass
l The Stations of the Cross on Good Friday
l Various social gatherings including Australia Day barbeque
l World Youth Day related activities and fundraisers (i.e. Fundraising Feast Fundraiser, monthly WYD formation meetings, and Movie Fundraiser etc).
Last year was a milestone in the history of the IJ Angels Band when it received an invitation to perform at the annual Ballet at Chittering.
Leonard Ong, coordinator of the music ministry, said that the IJ Band moved out of the church setting to perform contemporary covers in an outdoor setting. They have also had two recording sessions.
Tung Nguyen and Leonard Ong can be contacted through Infant Jesus Morley
The Golden Age Club at Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Gosnells came into being in March 1987.
IT all started with a candle-lit dinner.
Gosnells parish priest Fr Tom O’Prey and his assistant priest Fr Joss Breen were present at a senior parishioners’ dinner, where seniors of the parish were fed at a candle-lit dinner and entertained with local music and entertainment.
And thus, the Golden Age Club of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Gosnells was born.
It has since then has gone on to become one of the great success stories of the parish.
The Golden Age Club celebrated its 21st birthday in March.
It caters for people aged 50 years and over from the parish, although members from other faith traditions and other parishes are also members. Tuesday each week is club day, when, from 8.30am, indoor activities like carpet bowls, cards, board games, computer use and other activities are held.
Morning tea is held and after a BYO lunch, Bingo is played until 2.30–2.45pm.
On occasions, a guest speaker is invited and a range of topics have been discussed, providing lively banter.
Lunch outings to local venues are held at various times of the year. Bring and share lunches are truly international buffets.
Club activities are held in the Catholic Community Centre in the grounds of the Parish Church and St Munchins Primary School, Isdell Place, Gosnells.
For more information contact the president, Brian Cutjar, on 9398 8765.
Modern-day Priory a place of discovery and enrichment for young men of Perth
THE term “The Priory” conjures up many imaginative images – anything from Benedictine monks beavering away at ancient manuscripts, translating them, keeping the knowledge acquired from centuries of gothic texts alive with their diligent work throughout what has been known as ‘The Dark Ages’.
Such medieval imagery are not dissimilar to what still happens today – like the image to the right – monks praying for the Church and for the world in a tight-knit community forged in the Holy Spirit.
‘The Priory’ as it is known down at City Beach was an intriguing group mentioned in the responses to the Committee for Family and for Life Survey.
It is a fruit of the Survey that could just prove to be a model for other parishes to foster vocations. It is the brainchild of Fr Don Kettle, parish priest at the Holy Spirit Church in City Beach.
Fr Don explained that when he was director of the Catholic Youth Ministry from January 2004 until March 2007, some of the young men he associated with through the ministry decided to get together to look at where their life was going.
Fr Don was well aware from his own experience of the lonely roller coaster period it could be when discerning one’s vocation.
“While a person mostly knows what he or she must do, there is a fear in taking that step,” he said. When Fr Don was assigned to City Beach parish, he again found a group of young men who were discerning their vocation, so he set up a group called ‘The Priory’, which meets regularly sharing Scripture and faith experiences. Fr Don, who attends the
FOR decades, women and couples have been haunted by the idea that their baby who died early, especially if through abortion, went to hell. North Beach parish has started The Tree of Life to help such people.
It is an initiative of Fr Ken Keating, former parish priest there, and is now the pastor emeritus.
“For many years the concept of “limbo” for babies who die before Baptism has caused much pain for many parents whose children had died before receiving Baptism,” he says.
In 1980, then-Archbishop of Perth Lancelot Goody gave Fr Keating and Guido and Rosina Vogels a copy of the Australian Episcopal Conference’s “Statement on Abortion”, in which they say “Christ offers his pardon and peace”, recognising that women “are not mindless or vicious or callous. They are often victims of fear or social pressure. Many are tormented with guilt at the memory of what they have had done.” The Bishops call on the prophet Isaiah, who asks, “Can a mother forget the child of her womb?” (Isaiah 49: 15).
The bishops say “abortion does not fall beyond the merciful providence of God.” From the Gospel of Matthew, the bishops note, “not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father knowing.” (Matthew 10:29). They also said: “A human baby, even if unwanted on earth, is prized in heaven as being worth more than many sparrows.”
(Matt 10:31) “These little ones go to be cradled in the everlasting arms of a loving God,” the bishops said. In 1984, Fr Keating visited a church in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the US.
In the church there was a wall hanging which showed the tree of life with birds coming to it with a few leaves on it. Fr Keating witnessed a ceremony there that seemed to touch the hearts of the people whose children had died through abortion or other causes such as infant death.
On Fr Keating’s return to Perth, he had some small cards printed on one side showing a baby cradled in the palm of God’s hand and on the reverse side the words, “Cradled
in the everlasting arms of a loving God.” A common issue is that while we are encouraged to pray “for” the dead it seems such an anomaly when we talk about innocent babies and children. In the case of a baby’s death, before or after birth, one can pray “to” rather than “for”. In the North Beach church there is a permanent wall hanging near the baptistery and people who are grieving the death of an unborn from any source at any time, they are encouraged to name the baby, if the baby hasn’t been named already. Fr Keating said “this ritual is also used for those grieving anyone”.
There is a ceremony where two child sized-coffins representing boy and girl babies are brought into the church and a memorial Mass is celebrated, then they are carried in procession around the church to the baptismal font. The coffins are laid on a black cope on the ground at the bottom of the font. Draped over the baptismal font is blue material with stars, symbolic of heaven. . The Paschal candle is placed there to show ‘going into the tomb and resurrected with Christ, symbolising in Christ.” The coffins are then covered with rose petals.
Contact Joan Burke 9448 4888 for further info.
meetings, said he also gets plenty out of them, as people are encouraged to move forward with their lives.The Priory now has 14 men, the youngest aged 18 and the oldest 38
The meetings help the men to discern their futures not only for priesthood and religious life but also for married or single life.
For more info, contact Fr Don on 9341 3131.
The Record has helped generate a pro-life culture in the Archdiocese of Perth, if the Hills Pro-Life Group is anything to go by.
Group member Eric Miller said: “The Record was instrumental in setting up the Hills Pro-life Group. In 1997 it printed a request by the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants (HGPI) for people to join in their activities like counselling and prayer vigils.
“This resulted in the birth of our group.” Though numbers are small, members are fully committed to the Hills Pro-life Group prayer vigil outside Rivervale abortion clinic. They celebrate a monthly Mass on
Mondays and march in procession to the Rivervale abortion clinic on first Saturdays. The group also collects and delivers baby clothing and equipment for Pregnancy Assistance for new mothers. Both Eric and Val Miller’s energies are directed towards attending pro-life rallies, writing letters to the media on pro-life issues, and supporting pro-life politicians.
“We believe that the only way to overturn evil legislation is to get a majority of good people into parliament,” Eric said.
Contact Eric Miller, Tel/fax: 9291-7580 or email emiller@ hotlinks.net.au.
King Me: What every son wants and needs from his father
By Steve Farrar RRP: $21.95 The Record Bookshop
n Reviewed by Mark Reidy
If you don’t believe that fathering is your most important mission in life, or if you believe that you can fulfil your role as father without God, then this book is not for you.
But if you sense or understand the truth of these two principles, then “King Me” may provide the avenue to a renewed and more fulfilling relationship with your son/s, no matter what their age.
This is a book for parents who want their boys to become the men God created them to be.
Author Steve farrar, who writes from the experience of raising two boys, offers hope to modern-day fathers, founded on the wisdom, experience but, more often, failures of the 43 Kings of Judah and Israel
who feature in the Old Testament. “Deep down”, he writes, “Every son wants to know his father and be as close to him as possible.”
The problem, he suggests, is that the Biblical principles of fatherhood that were ignored by the ancient kings are the same principles that are being ignored or misunderstood today. farrar claims that by failing to fulfil God’s “job description” of loving Him with all our heart, soul and might and very intentionally passing this wisdom onto our sons, we are repeating the errors of the past and ensuring that individuals, generations and even cultures are continuing to suffer. farrar’s tone in this book is firm and challenging and he makes no apologies for his call to fathers to stop building their own kingdoms
and to take seriously their God anointed role of building their sons into future leaders. Believing that we are all born with a tendency for self-gratification, farrar states that obedience is not an optional aspect of parenting but is a matter of life and death. He is adamant however, that fathers who discipline without ever having spent time “hearing the ticking of your son’s heart” are promoting rather than extinguishing the rebellion within them. By intertwining personal experience and relevant stories, the author is adamant that fathers must guide their sons into recognising their gifts and consequently God’s purpose for their lives, but that they can only do this by helping them move from self-centredness to self-discipline. farrar explores
issues of masculinity and looks at how these have been altered over the last century or so, causing, he claims, a feminisation of males and our overall culture.
Also explored is the issue of authority versus authoritarianism and the importance of mentoring in areas, among others, of sexual purity, anger and choosing friends.
Whilst farrar could be deemed “old fashioned” in his attitude, I found myself not only nodding in agreement at his appraisal of the fatherhood vacuum that is currently undermining the unique qualities of masculinity, but also becoming caught up in his pervading sense of hope that all could be restored if the wisdom of these Old Testament principles were understood and adopted.
The Dark Knight
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal
SupErHErO movies rarely display value outside of the realm of entertainment and box office numbers. The Spiderman and X-Men series may have been great fun, but admit it – you didn’t really leave the theatre pondering the redemptive qualities of humankind.
The Dark Knight could mark the beginning of a new era in superhero films. America’s failed attempts at decisively resolving the conflict in Iraq has left Americans in a shroud of fear, political distrust and moral ambiguity.
Screenwriter Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman Begins) has capitalised on this sentiment by eschewing the traditional goodversus-evil plot devices that have driven the superhero genre since its conception decades ago. His characters represent the thin line between right and wrong, where the average person is faced with the moral dilemmas about negotiating a route between self-preservation and self-righteousness. The main plot revolves around Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), an honest lawyer and politician who chooses to fight crime the legal way. Bruce Wayne (aka Batman, played by Christian Bale) publicly supports Dent as the real superhero of Gotham City for his efforts to protect justice without usurping the law in the process.
Batman also fights crime, but only as a vigilante acting above the law. This hypocrisy forces Wayne to detest himself for breaking the
very rules he strives to protect. But Wayne’s self-loathing must take a back seat, for there is a new villain in town.
The Joker (played by the late Heath Ledger) earns his name more for his macabre sense of humour than his face paint. In his efforts to outsmart Batman and murder all of Gotham’s keepers of the peace, he inadvertently uses Batman’s true love, rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) as a pawn in his murderous game. unbeknownst to the Joker, putting Dawes in harm’s way has far-reaching consequences for everyone involved.
Whereas Batman operates under an unshakable moral code that prevents him from murdering even the most hard-bitten criminals, the Joker pits the entire population of Gotham City against each other to prove once and for all that mankind is evil and self-serving.
In this sense, the Joker believes himself to be a mere microcosm of all men and that there is no use implementing order for an inherently chaotic nature. In this sense, the Joker is the most fitting counterpoint to Batman. Both egos were born out of a history of crime and despair. Both responded in the extreme, one choosing to right the wrongs of the world and the other trying to give company to misery.
The Joker’s greatest victory is his success in transforming the seemingly steadfast Harvey Dent into a murderous villain, Two face. Dent embodies the halfway point between good and evil, a man who neither chooses one side or the other, but rather leaves everything up to chance.
There are elements of No Country for Old Men’s Anton Chigurh in Two face, who decides
one’s fate on the flip of a coin. If Batman and the Joker represent the argument between humanism and nihilism, then Two face is the ultimate fatalist. Indeed, Nolan analyses the same themes of free will, destiny and chance as in No Country, but whereas the latter concludes on a bleak note, The Dark Knight remains a superhero movie to the end.
One cannot underestimate the power that the late Ledger brings
to his role as the Joker. This is not posthumous hype. Ledger brings to the table a calculated and thoroughly convincing effort as a psychopath embracing his fallen nature. One critic likened his performance to that of the tragic character Guinplaine from the silent classic, The Man Who Laughs (1928). It is an honour well deserved and the Oscar buzz surrounding Ledger should not be dismissed.
The film, like its characters, does not display a clear-cut answer to right and wrong. for all of Batman’s virtuosity, he displays a blatant contempt for the truth and his intrusive methods for locating the Joker is virtually the patriot Act operating out of his basement.
In fact, every character in this film lies to help the forces of good succeed, and yet no lie goes unpunished. This causality is what makes the film so unique for its genre. At what point may we allow ourselves to compromise our own principles to defend a greater objective? And if we do make that compromise, what must we sacrifice? Batman himself makes such compromises, and for that, he sacrifices more than he could have imagined. for any fan of philosophy, this film is an ethicist’s nightmare. r arely before have our masked crusaders delved into the depths of consequentialism and returned without a clear answer. Nolan’s script makes obvious parallels to the current issues in American society today. Wire-tapping, execution videos and the use of fear to manipulate the masses make this script one of the most shameless post-9/11 film analogies of the year. Some writers have even made the Batman-Bush connection, claiming that The Dark Knight is a metaphor for the president’s unpopular policy-making (although this critic is yet to be convinced).
If Nolan is making any political statement whatsoever, it is undoubtedly that, for all of society’s evils and the corruption of mankind, there still exists a redeemable value in the hearts of men and women that warrants salvation.
By David Demers,who teaches in Mexico City. He writes here for Mercatornet
readership: 5-8yrs
readership: 5-8yrs
Delightfully illustrated, this colourful booklet presents an entertaining story about paying attention that children encounter in their daily lives. Written through a child’s eyes and words, this presentation expresses with Scriptural support, the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness, while encouraging children to try to be better in the future.
also available: God, I Need To Talk To You About Sharing.
$2.35 +postage
Delightfully illustrated, this colourful booklet presents an entertaining story about bad words that children encounter in their daily lives. Written through a child’s eyes and words, this presentation expresses with Scriptural support, the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness, while encouraging children to try to be better in the future.
$2.35+postage
Was the “forbidden fruit” of the Garden of Eden really an apple? What in the world is St Peter’s Fish? What was in the bowl that Jesus dipped into at the Last Supper? Within the pages of this book you will find a uniquely in-depth and easy-to-read survey of every aspect of food in the Bible. With beautiful illustrations and photographs, the reader will take a fresh look at food through the eyes of Scripture, as well discovering numerous biblical recipes that they can prepare themselves..
$29.95 + postage
ellen becker and mary barnes readership: family
Make your family’s preparation for the Advent season truly memorable with a collection of easy, fun, faith-building activities for the entire family! Created for today’s busy families these activities will create family memories while passing on the faith. Each craft, prayer, recipes and project sets up in minutes with simple, handy materials and offers hassle-free cleanup. No technical expertise required!.
$23.95 + postage
Prove It! Jesus gives you the true facts about Jesus and explains all those difficult questions you have about Jesus. Who He really was, His teachings and most importantly, what His words and His living presence can mean for you today, if you believe.
$12.95 + postage
The Social Benefits of Homeschooling
by rachel GathercoleA must-have resource for anyone wanting to find out more about homeschooling. Critics of homeschooling often point to socialisation as a reason for sending their children to traditional schools. Rachel Gathercole illustrates, in depth, how homeschooled children, besides performing better academically, are better prepared socially than their traditionally schooled counterparts. This book provides a compelling presentation, on the subject of socialisation for homeschoolers, more thoroughly and definitively than any other.
$24.95 + postage
The key to successful home education is determining your educational philosophy and marrying it to your child’s learning style. Once this is determined you can make an informed decision in choosing the right curriculum for your child.
Cathy Duffy, a household name among homeschooling communities, provides her top choices from every subject area to assist you in accomplishing this critical task.
$36.95 + postage
From a very young age I have wanted to become a teacher. I knew that teaching required a university degree, but at the time I thought I was more suited to a non-TEE path, so during my final year in high school I worked hard and achieved a Wholly School Assessed Award.
Due to my high school success, I was offered a place in teaching at another institution. A strong part of me wanted to choose the degree but I always wanted to attend Notre Dame and I wanted to be better prepared for degree studies. It was a gamble but I followed my instincts and chose to go through the TEP, and I have valued my choice ever since! I’m currently in my 2nd year doing a Bachelor of Education Early Childhood. I’ve found the lecturers and tutors are available for any queries or concerns. The TEP has better prepared me for my degree studies. It’s been a great journey so far and I haven’t looked back.
Studying at Notre Dame has been a brilliant experience and I would recommend no other university.
EMMA PRITCHARD TEP 2007 Graduate Bachelor of Education Early
Childhood - 2nd Year
The University of Notre Dame has been awarded seven 5-star ratings by Australia’s premium university publication, the Good Universities Guide. Ratings include the following areas:
����� For graduate satisfaction
����� For graduate employment
����� For teaching quality
����� For development of generic skills
����� For positive graduate outcomes
Source: Good Universities Guide 2009
If you want to be part of the University that treats you like a person, not a number... We are now accepting applications.
Completed applications can be delivered by mail, courier or in person to:
The Admissions Office
19 Mouat Street
PO Box 1225
Fremantle, Western Australia 6959
Opening hours: 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday
Phone: 9433 0537
The University of Notre Dame Australia offers courses to suit students at different academic stages and periods in their life. This is particularly demonstrated in Notre Dame’s range of counselling courses.
For example, the Bachelor of Behavioural Science with a minor in counselling is available for school leavers and undergraduates who are thinking about entering the counselling sector.
Then there is the Bachelor of Counselling which is available for mature undergraduates wishing to pursue a career in a wide range of counselling professions.
For those wanting to continue further study in counselling, Notre Dame is pleased to announce the new course Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Counselling.
“...the Bachelor of Counselling is exciting and very satisfying both professionally and personally...”
JULIE WATTS
3rd year Counselling student 2008
The University of Notre Dame’s International Student Association in conjunction with Student Life Office are hosting Asian Multicultural Week with the main event happening on Wednesday 10 September. See inside for more details on this event.
I followed my instincts and chose to go through the TEP, and I have valued my choice ever since! ”