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Denver Archbishop guides shocked faithful after US cinema massacre
Evil doesn’t have last word
By Nissa LaPoint
THE CONFUSION and carnage that unfolded in the dark Aurora theatre in Denver, Colorado on July 20th was surreal for Emily Stetson. The loud pops she heard and irri-
tating smoke she inhaled eventually forced her and the midnight moviegoers out of the packed theatres inside Century Aurora 16. In the lobby, she witnessed a police officer cradle a child with blood-stained clothes and hurry outside.
She watched the massacre and wondered about the presence of Christ, she said. “It’s hard to see God in something so sad,” said 21-year-old Stetson, a parishioner at Queen of Peace Church in Aurora. “But how
else can you hope to move on if this is all that life is? There’s got to be something better.” It was at an evening Mass the day of the shooting that Stetson found supportive friends and sympathetic words. She joined a large gathering
of faithful who sought healing and answers to the questions in their hearts. Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila was the main celebrant of the Mass – joined by 25 deacons Please turn to Page 7
Big day out for Santa Clara youth a hit with all By Clarissa Quek Santa Clara Parish, Bentley THE PRAYERS of a few can be as powerful as the prayers of many. Just as thousands of youth united in prayer for favourable weather at World Youth Day 2008 so Bentley’s Santa Clara youth ministry gathered for the parish Youth Outing on July 15th were blessed with clear skies despite a wet weather prediction. God’s grace allowed Santa Clara’s youth ministry to carry out its mission of forming community within the youth of the parish. Oftentimes, our brothers and sisters quickly disperse from church immediately after Mass – leaving little opportunity to get to know their siblings-in-Christ in the parish and to form community. The youth group’s second event of the year, held at Kings Park and led by parish priest Fr Dennis Sudla, was a step towards changing that. The fun-filled and prayerful outing included games which tested the youths’ memory for names, movies and biblical events, and tasks which developed teamwork and team spirit among the youth. Even though the many have different backgrounds and experiences, and span a wide age range, what connected the group during the seven-hour event was their common Catholic faith. The Outing gave young people of Santa Clara an opportunity not only to unite in community, but to reconnect in faith and to be visible witnesses of Christ. This was through the event concluding with a time of prayer through the Rosary led by Fr Dennis and an action song – Jesus is My Rock – led by three of the youth group’s leaders.
Cold, but bright and sunny, a great day for an outing. Although poor weather had been forecast, July 15th turned out great for Bentley’s Santa Clara parish youth group planned activities which mixed fun, games, activities and prayer. PHOTO: COURTESY CLARISSA QUEK
A day of games and social activities were followed by praying the Rosary together in King’s Park. Praying collectively in the park was, as one of the young people, Constance Tang, shared: “A reminder that God is always with us, not only just when we are in church or when we are in need of Him. God can be with us in the midst of having fun and in the little things that
we do in our everyday life.” Fun and games are fleeting but the seeds of friendship and God’s grace planted in the hearts of the young people of Santa Clara through the Youth Outing hopefully, will continue to grow and bear fruit so that each young person may grow to support each other to truly be ‘planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith’ (Col 2:7).
If anyone is interested in the Santa Clara Youth Group and its upcoming activities they can contact the parish on (08) 9458 2944 or via: youth.santaclara@gmail.com
Youth relax, at right, praying the Rosary in Kings’ Park. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Wheatbelt’s Christians celebrate a Year of Grace ON A CLEAR, cold Wheatbelt day some 47 people travelled from places such as Bencubbin, Trayning, Merredin, Bruce Rock, Southern Cross, York, Meckering, Cunderdin and even Esperance to attend an ecumenical Reflection Day in Kellerberrin on Wednesday, 25th July. Taking the theme of ‘The Year of Grace’, Sr Leonie Mayne rsj and Sr Dora Maguire rsj of the MacKillop Rural Network lead those Christians from across the Wheatbelt gather in Kellerberrin for an ecumenical reflection on the Year of Grace. PHOTO: ATTRIBUTION HERE
present in an opportunity to get know God Sisters Ellena Hynes rsj and Gemma Scott rsj and Fr Stephen Cooney, parish priest from York, were also present. The day commenced with morning tea which led into an enlightening session by Sr Dora about the life of John Newton, the creator of the 1779 hymn ‘Amazing Grace’. Sr Leonie gave some background to the icon chosen to pictorially represent The Year of Grace and also the symbol designed for this purpose. She also shared what grace means and entails, with segments taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Throughout the day Leonie and Dora ‘broke open The Word’ leading those present in the process of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). Dora also spoke of the meaning of the Parables, particularly the political, cultural and religious background in which they are set. With an enlightened understanding of those aspects, the messages the parables convey are as poignant and relevant in our age as when Jesus spoke them. It was a day of hospitality and spirituality, with people bringing food, good company and a desire to enrich their friendship with God.
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Cuppa’ for a good cause: you’re invited
Round-Up ROBERT HIINI
For further information contact Ben Sinagra on 0407 088 431 or Martin Marbeck on 9444 6607.
Play will focus on women and Christ
Holy Hour to focus on Year of Grace A HOLY HOUR of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction will proceed to a reflection on the mysteries of the Rosary at Aquinas College on August 14th as part of Perth’s Year of Grace celebrations. The evening is being put on by the Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, a national association for priests, as one of its contributions to the Year, called by Australia’s bishops last October during their ad limina visit to Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. Well-known Perth priest Fr Timothy Deeter’s talk is entitled ‘From Grace to Glory’ and will be held in the Aquinas College chapel at 7.30pm. The provision of the chapel and college grounds for parking, to be directed by boarders, will be a contribution from the college to the Year. Supper will be served after the evening’s events in the Aquinas College dining room.
Blind and deaf priest to visit Perth in August FATHER Cyril Axelrod, the first recorded Deafblind priest in the Church’s history, will be visiting Perth from August 22 – 26. Born to a Jewish family in South Africa, Fr Cyril now travels the world sharing his vision of Inclusive Communities, where people with disability work and learn from each other through a model of educational empowerment.
Perth man and Cathedral Assistant Supervisor Bradley Barbuto, wearing the OZTAG t-shirt, is almost lost in the centre of the crowd at the Tuka Bali Franciscan Orphanage as he takes a break to relax with some friends in Bali during a recent visit. An opportunity to assist the Balinese orphanage by enjoying an afternoon tea is being offered by the High Tea Social Club and The Knights of the Southern Cross. The August 26 event at St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Hall will include gourmet foods, live music, raffles, door prizes, gift bags, a manicure station and other succulent delights, with money being raised assisting the Orphanage. The event will run between 1- 4pm and tickets are $60. Bookings can be made online through www.trybooking.com/29184. For further details and special dietary requirements contact Bobbi on 0421 245 991. PHOTO: BRADLEY BARBUTO
He also challenges his audiences to recognise that people with disability have been sent by God to help others learn valuable lessons of unconditional love, trust, hope, faith and inner peace. There will be several opportunities to meet and hear from Father Cyril during his visit to Perth, including August 26 when he will celebrate Mass and deliver talks at St Francis Xavier Emmanuel Centre in Perth. To find out details of Fr Cyril’s itinerary, or to RSVP to the August
26 event, contact the Emmanuel Centre on 9328 8113 (voice), 9328 9571(TTY), 9227 9720 (fax) or email emmanuelcentre@westnet. com.au.
Weekend offers men a chance to re-focus A WEEKEND designed to reinvigorate men in their personal and spiritual journeys will be held at the St Denis parish in Joondanna
on September 8-9. menAlive is a ministry that seeks to renew faith and encourage men to become more active within their Church communities. It has touched the lives of thousands of men since its inception in 2003 and is open to men from 15 years of age. The cost of the weekend is $50 (concessions available) which includes workshops, morning and afternoon tea and BBQ dinner on Saturday. RSVP by Wednesday, August 22 as numbers for the event are strictly limited.
A FAITH-ENRICHING play about women in the Scriptures who are transformed by their encounter with Christ will be presented by the St Simon Peter Players on August 31 and September 1. Women on the Fringe, which will be staged at the state of the art Prendiville Catholic College Performing Arts Centre in Ocean Reef, is the fourth play written by Gerald Searle of St Anthony’s in Wanneroo. The St Simon Peter Players is an inter-parish group made up of members from Ocean Reef, Wanneroo, Clarkson, Whitford and Perth. They will be supported by the InSpiritus Music Group, directed by Thierry Venaille, who will provide music composed and performed for the first time. The play focuses on the lives of the women in the times of Christ who were marginalised by their gender, race, nationality, culture, religion and moral standing, portraying how their lives were changed when they meet Jesus. The play will be performed at 7.30pm on Friday August 31 and Saturday September 1, with a matinee session at 2.30pm on the Saturday. Tickets for the evening shows are $20 (concession $15) and for the Matinee -$15 (concession $10). Children under 13 are $5. For more information contact Gerald on 9404 7292.
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This Austrian farmer and parish sexton had done his basic training in Hitler’s army in 1940-41, but refused to serve active duty in 1943. A military court in Berlin sentenced him to death as “an enemy of the state,” and he was beheaded Aug. 9, 1943. In prison awaiting his fate, he wrote about a dream he’d had in 1938. In it, many people were boarding a new train, but he heard the announcer say, “This train is bound for hell.” For him, the train symbolized the evils of Nazism, and he had become a conscientious objector. His wife and three daughters were still living when he was beatified in Austria in 2007.
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therecord.com.au August 1, 2012
A new school for Hammond Park
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Minjee’s on target in US world win
Minjee Lee fires during the 36-hole final competition. PHOTO: USGA
By Sarah Motherwell CORPUS CHRISTI student Minjee Lee, 16, is the first Australian to win the US Girl’s Junior Amateur championship in its 64-year history. She won four of the final six holes for a 1-up victory over Californian competitor Alison Lee, 17, in last Saturday’s 36-hole finale at Lake Merced Golf Club in California. Minjee is currently ranked number eight in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking. She is the eighth USGA champion to hail from Australia, and the first since Geoff Ogilvy won the 2006 US Open at Winged Foot Golf Club and is the third Australian female to win a USGA championship.
Hammond Park Catholic Primary School Foundation Principal Chris Cully surveys plans for the new complex on site. Architect’s plans, at right, set out the complex as it will look when it is completed. PHOTO: COURTESY CEOWA
HAMMOND Park residents will soon see a new Primary School constructed along Woodrow Avenue. The school is the latest building programme for a new primary school undertaken by the Catholic Education Commission of WA. “The school will provide for families of Hammond Park and surrounds an opportunity for their children to gain an education within a Catholic school”, said Mr Ron Dullard, the Director of Catholic Education, noting also that demand for education facilities had increased in the area. An interim School Board has been established to oversee all operational aspects of the new school, including the Principal appointment process, resulting in longtime Catholic educator Mr Chris Cully being appointed as the Foundation Principal. “Mr Cully’s previous appointments as principal in both the country and metropolitan area have equipped him well to lead this new Catholic school,” Mr Dullard said. Mr Cully described establishing a new school as an exciting
proposition. “It is not just about the building the classrooms, or the administration block, it’s about gathering people and forming a new Christian community. A new community which seeks to educate children within a faith tradition”, he said. Those involved in the project say the school is being designed with the best examples of playground design, use of technology and teaching spaces available. “We want our students at Hammond Park CPS to experience meaningful and interesting learning that will be applicable to their lives. Our careful consideration on all aspects of the development of this new school will have a positive impact on students’ learning”, said Jasmine Tie, a member of the Interim Board. The School will be built in three stages with stage one ready for children in February 2013. Enrolment interviews are currently being conducted. For more information regarding the enrolment process contact Ms Pip Foster, at the Catholic Education Office on 6380 5200.
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August 1, 2012
Performing Arts Festival begins with a flourish
UNDA wins $5.96m for Indigenous health study
By Juanita Shepherd
THE FEDERAL Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans, has announced that the University of Notre Dame Australia will receive $5.96 million over the next three years for research into Indigenous health, wellbeing, aging and chronic disease management. The grant was awarded under the Gillard Government’s Collaborative Research Network (CRN) program. The CRN program fosters partnerships between regional universities and larger organisations with more established research capacity. Notre Dame applied for funding for a research project entitled: Healthy People, Healthy Country: Translating evidence into action to improve health and well being in vulnerable populations. The University will partner with several other major Australian universities, including the Australian National University, the University of Western Australia, Curtin University, the Kimberley Institute and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research for the project. UNDA Vice Chancellor, Professor Celia Hammond, said the funding will significantly enhance the University’s research endeavours. “I am absolutely thrilled with the opportunities it provides us. In particular, the opportunity to collaborate with our partners who have significant research experience in the areas of health and Indigenous wellbeing,” Professor Hammond said. Senator Evans said the program delivers benefits to those in the academic community and beyond; to local and regional communities, as well as businesses and industry Australia-wide. “Notre Dame’s proposal to develop its research strengths and performance outcomes in three healthrelated areas has the potential to make a highly relevant contribution to the health and wellbeing of Australians,” said Senator Evans.
Students from Lumen Christi College in Gosnells perform a liturgical dance in St Mary’s Cathedral after the opening Mass for the 2012 Catholic Schools Performing Arts Festival on July 26th. PHOTO: PETER ROSENGREN
Did you know that the most powerful, practical and lasting way to help the St Vincent de Paul Society is to leave a gift in your Will? It ensures that our programs that support people in need will continue well into the future.
Remember Vinnies in your Will and leave a lasting legacy.
While no one likes to think about Will-related matters, it is never too early to plan ahead. We have prepared three useful publications to help you ensure your personal affairs are in order. Simply complete and return this form for your free no-obligation copies.
Please tick all that apply Mapping your Assets – a valuable and practical tool for recording your personal information Preparing your Will – a simple guide to putting your legal and financial affairs in order Executors and Probate – A complete guide to everything you need to know about the role and responsibility of an executor when making or executing a Will I would like to remember the St Vincent de Paul Society in my Will – please contact me for a confidential discussion. I have already remembered the St Vincent de Paul Society in my Will
Title ..................................................................................... First Name .......................................................................... Last Name .......................................................................... Address .............................................................................. ............................................................................................ Postcode............................................................................. Phone ................................................................................. Mobile ................................................................................. Email...................................................................................
Post to: The Bequest Officer, St Vincent de Paul Society (WA) Inc, PO Box 473, BELMONT, WA 6984 or contact our Bequest Officer on Tel: 08 9475 5400, Fax: 08 9475 5425 or email bequests@vinnies.org.au/wa
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ARCHBISHOP Timothy Costelloe SDB celebrated the opening mass for the 23rd annual Performing Arts Festival for Catholic Schools and Colleges at St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday 26 July. “The Performing Arts is a wonderful way for our young people to give expression to the gifts Jesus gave them,” Archbishop Costelloe said. Catholic schools and colleges all over Perth were invited to attend the opening mass; many schools also participated in the mass. The First Reading was read by a student from Mazenod College, students from Newman College, Mater Dei College, St Joseph’s School, Queen’s Park, and St Jude’s Primary School read the prayers of intercession, and students from St Anthony’s Primary School, Greenmount presnted the offertory gifts. The mass concluded with a liturgical movement by the dance group from Lumen Christi College, Gosnells; the students gracefully danced to the hymn titled ‘Grace’ by Michael W Smith. This year, in accordance with the Year of Grace, the Performing Arts Festival has adopted the Year of Grace as its theme. The Performing Arts Festival started in 1990, with only a few schools taking part. Nearly 22 years later there are approximately 18,000 students participating, with 2145 entries and 107 schools engaging in the various and different activities on offer. In the following five weeks schools across Perth will participate in 34 different categories including, orchestral music, drama, dance and bible reading. “The performing arts shows the beauty of our faith to the wider community of Perth,” Archbishop Costelloe said. “Jesus stands at the heart of everything we do.”
Our community - stories bringing the Catholic community in WA together Every parish has something going on that can capture the attention of Catholics everywhere - a youth event, a parish anniversary, a procession, a major celebration. They all express the thing that unites us: our faith. If you have a parish story maybe it’s of interest to Catholics elsewhere in this great state of WA. Send your parish stories and photos to: editor@therecord.com.au
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State’s secondary students glimpse future possibilities HOMER SIMPSON - a pain in the buttock; To Catch a Thief - a day in the life of a forensic corporate investigator; and Sports Sciences Testing – the fastest, strongest and most powerful. These were just some of the topics and fun presentations that students in years 10, 11 and 12 had the chance to attend as part of The University of Notre Dame Australia’s A Day in the Life of a University Student on Friday 20 July. Each year, UNDA’s Fremantle Campus hosts the day which attracts high school students from across Western Australia. “Having the opportunity to experience a day at university is an important and unique opportunity for high school students considering tertiary studies,” explains Deputy Director, Admissions and Student Services, Liz Beal. “We offer them the chance to take part in lectures and interactive activities, tour the Campus, meet academic staff and have a chat to our students. “This day is an ideal opportunity to gain an understanding of what the transition from high school to university studies can be like.” Carine Senior High School student, Mia Lindsay, said she was keen to know more about the journalism units the University offered
as her ambition is to work in the media as a fashion or travel writer. She said she was excited at the prospect of learning new ways that news could be recorded by journalists and received by audiences. “Having attended the journalism workshop at Notre Dame, I can now see just how influential the use of mobile technology is in the daily production of news bulletins and other media publications,” Mia said. The Health Sciences workshops provided a hands-on experience for Mazenod College student Vincent Sala-Tenna, who tested his strength, stamina and ‘vertical leap’ when he attended the Sports Science session. He said the day provided him with an insight into a possible future career as a personal trainer. “It was great to know that Notre Dame has several options available for students wanting to pursue a future in Health Sciences. Overall, I really enjoyed participating in the event and learning about life as a university student.,” he said. The UNDA Open Day Festival on Sunday 19 August will offer interactive workshops for prospective students and live entertainment for families from 10am onwards. For more information, please contact the Prospective Students Office on (08) 9433 0533 or email future@nd.edu.au.
‘French’ concert to revel in the romance of the Organ
A Notre Dame student takes a visitor through a Health Sciences activity at its ‘A Day in the Life of a University Student’ on July 20th at the university’s Fremantle campus. PHOTO: UNDA
Child’s Bible - ‘God Speaks to His Children’ The Catholic Church’s most successful Child’s Bible ever! Feed a Child with the Word of God
Worldwide, the Church is under attack Beautifully illustrated by Spanish nun, from atheistic regimes, militant Islam, Miren Sorne, this delightful Child’s bible is sects and basic ignorance of the Faith. available for a donation of $7.00. The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is able to counter these attacks by supplying Child’s Bibles to children and families who simply cannot afford them, in countries where the Church is poor or persecuted. Since its launch in 1979, ACN has printed and distributed 50 million copies of God Speaks to His Children in 172 languages. It is the Catholic Church’s most successful Child’s bible ever!
St Mary’s Cathedral Music Director Jacinta Jakovcevic with the Dodd organ which will star in the concert on August 12th PHOTO: SUPPLIED
in effect, almost three times its original 1910 size. Coupled with the Cathedral’s resonant acoustics, this combination enables strikingly realistic interpretations of the great French organ works of the 19th and 20th centuries. Included in the programme are chamber vocal works of Faure and Gounod - including the hymn to Christ, ‘O Divine Redeemer’. The programme concludes with Widor’s ‘Toccata in F major’ - the finale to his Symphony No. 6. The afternoon features the now traditional complimentary Miss Maud afternoon tea served in the Cathedral’s Parish Centre and adjoining courtyard during interval. Tickets are $35 ($28 concession) and are available at BOCS (08) 9484 1133 or via: bocsticketing.com.au
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Simple in design and yet profound in its symbolic significance, the olivewood rosary, handmade in Bethlehem by Christian families struggling for survival, are also available for a donation of $7.00. All proceeds will go towards the work of Aid to the Church in Need for the poor and persecuted Church worldwide.
This inspiring book can also teach the Faith here in Australia: with your family, godchildren, or in your parish or school. The Child’s Bible is a perfect gift for children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces, especially to mark a First Holy Communion. The Bible complements the catechism and children’s rosary booklet also published by ACN and available via our website.
BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED THROUGHOUT 48 Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments Available for a donation of $7.00 A lovely gift idea!
Record WA
ST MARY’S Cathedral will host a concert of French romantic organ music performed on the Cathedral’s Dodd Organ in a programme set to evoke the great cathedrals and pipe organs of France on Sunday August 12th at 2pm. The title of the programme, ‘Grand Orgue de Notre Dame’ (the Great Organ of Our Lady) alludes to the Cathedral’s grand organ built by Josiah Eustace Dodd in 1910 and rebuilt twice since then - the first time in 1963 and then in 2009. Through these two rebuilds it has not only maintained its symphonic character but has had its tonal palette considerably expanded with the addition of many ranks of pipes and a completely new ‘Choir’ division (in 1963). Cathedral music director Jacinta Jakocevic says the organ is now,
Rosary from the Holy Land
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‘Evil happens, but it can’t finally win’
atholics
Continued from Page 1 and concelebrating priests – at Queen of Peace for victims and families impacted by the massacre, which claimed lives and wounded dozens. In his homily, Archbishop Aquila asked the faithful to bring their sorrow to the Lord and open their hearts so that he may give comfort. “As we present it to our Lord, though it may not be removed immediately, we know that the Lord is with us in the midst of the suffering,” he said. “Certainly, the love of the father is stronger than the bullets that killed 12 people and wounded (dozens more). And the
make a SCENE
What happens when Catholic parishes, organisations, movements and youth by the truckload decide to join forces to publicly proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord? It happened in Sydney a fortnight ago...
Mass. They said they went to the Mass to find peace and understanding. Once the community learned of the shooting, priests at Aurora parishes responded to requests for help. Father Terry Kissell of St Michael the Archangel Parish talked to concerned and upset youth who learned some friends were at the Aurora movie theatre. Father Mauricio Bermudez of Queen of Peace talked to a distraught 6-yearold child who learned her cousin had died in the theatre. The Denver Archdiocese is offering support for all survivors and family members of victims with
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way process through the streets of Sydney during SCENE, the evangelisation congress organised by the Archdiocese of Sydney in July.
Fr Tony Trafford holds a cross in preparation for a street procession.
Sydney Catholic Youth perform a drama focused on evangelisation.
Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver, Colorado, blesses a woman after a Mass on July 20 at Queen of Peace Church in Aurora. People gathered for the Mass to mourn the lives lost and families impacted by the shooting at the Aurora movie theatre early that morning. A gunman killed 12 people and wounded 58 at a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises.” PHOTO: JAMES BACA, DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER/CNS
Bishop Julian Porteous of Sydney relaxes during one of the numerous SCENE activities, all focused on evalgelisation.
Young people and members of religious orders pray in St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney during SCENE.
Sydney Catholic youth talk to a passer-by in the middle of Sydney central business district.
By Natalie Ambrose Photos by Patrick Lee
as Catholics are very good at doing things, however there is a danger that we get so caught up in doing that we forget about the being, just like the story of Martha and Mary … we need to look at, not just what we do, but to really refocus on our being”. Emphasising the importance of Grace he told those attending that, “… we are saved by Grace through faith. “There is a tendency among many Catholics to think that we merit eternal life because we have lived good lives, worked hard and been good people, that it is through the good that we have done and ourselves that we will be saved, however in St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he writes that, it is by Grace that you have been saved and this is not from ourselves, it is a gift of God, not only by works. We are therefore saved by the Grace of God”. Fr David Nugent, a member of
message spoke to her. “I see that the Lord in His Real Presence must be the fuel for our evangelisation and must draw us closer and closer to His Eucharist as part of our daily conversion. I think it’s important that SCENE provides such a platform for personal reflection and spiritual growth as this is integral to evangelisation,” she said. On each of the Congress’s five days the Vocations Office of the Archdiocese held a Vocations Expo in Martin Place, allowing for religious communities and Catholic organisations to not only meet discerning Catholics, but to be a visible presence of the faith for busy workers in the CBD. Br Joseph Pham, a Franciscan Capuchin who worked on the Capuchin stall making Cappuccinos, described the expo as being “important for the wider community to know that the Catholic Church is still alive and that it still is very
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n some ways, the streets of Sydney city are like any other major city in the world, filled with black and grey buildings, black and grey cars, black and grey business workers all wearing their black and grey suits. But for a brief moment from July 11-15th the inner city of Sydney became a completely different place. Walking through the middle of Sydney’s Martin Place earlier this month the average Australian would have been flabbergasted by what met them there. Capuchin friars serving free cappuccinos, the cast from Artes Christi performing a scene from their up and coming musical Fiddler on the Roof, Religious Sisters in full habit like a scene from Sister Act, just to mention a few of the wonderfully ‘odd’ sights this month brought to Sydney.
What happened? Sydney became a Catholic stomping ground of sorts as SCENE, the brain child of Bishop Julian Porteous, an auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese, took over the city to encourage attendees to be inspired by the New Evangelisation. SCENE (Sydney Congress Embracing the New Evangelisation) was held in and around Sydney’s CBD from the July 11–15th, offering attendees the formation and practical skills to be able to live out the call to be ‘evangelising’ through daily life, focusing on faith and understanding what evangelisation is. It also sought to equip participants with the skills needed to go forth and share their faith with others. The conference started off with a bang in Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral with Bishop Porteous introducing the Year of Grace. He touched on the importance of the quality of the inner life of faith, telling participants that “we
the Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist, presented a morning session on day three on “Contemplating the Face of Christ in the Eucharist”. Speaking on the importance of a personal encounter with Christ
One old man was amazed by the processions leading to the cathedral. He turned to me and said “Is this Catholic? I’ve never seen anything like this.” through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament he emphasised how Christ transforms those who come to adore him in this way. One of those attending, Jessica Leach, told The Record that this
vibrant and full of life with an ever modern face that’ll never go out of fashion.” While many of the workshops and talks were guaged a success, the main event that got Sydney Catholics buzzing was the six separate icon processions, which saw hundreds of people at each Procession moving through Sydney’s streets in prayer and meeting at St Mary’s Cathedral for a Night of Mercy. Hundreds gathered for a night of worship, prayer and participation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. “I encountered one elderly man who was amazed by the street processions leading to the Cathedral on the Friday night. He turned to me and asked ‘This is Catholic? I have never seen anything like this.’ He was so surprised to see such a beautiful and public expression of the Catholic faith,” Ms Leach told The Record. SCENE 2012 was characterised by
numerous catecheses and opportunities for prayer, a move by organisers to ground the whole event in the spiritual, while also providing participants with a social and fun time. Sarah Coppola, the Manager of Cradio, a Catholic online podcasting radio website, described the importance of SCENE, saying “It’s easy for us to get stuck in the bubble of our own communities and routines, but Christ called us to make disciples of all the nations. “Evangelisation is necessary, but it doesn’t seem to be ingrained into us as Catholics, so I think we need a bit of a kick every so often. “SCENE is a great opportunity to be renewed in our own efforts, to learn from the experiences of others and to be challenged to proactively share the faith in new ways. “The event itself provides a chance to engage in this work through the Vocations Expo, icon processions and street evangelisation. These
public displays can be a little out of our comfort zones, but are a really powerful opportunity for witness.” SCENE also strongly emphasised the coming together from parishes and communities across Sydney, providing opportunities to be together, to celebrate the Catholic faith they have in common and to inspire each another in their mission to share their faith with others. “The greatest thing at SCENE – as a religious – was to see the faces of the young people of the same faith working together joyfully as one Church because if at least one person has grown deeper in their faith due to the efforts of SCENE then it has all been worthwhile,” said Br Pham. Recordings of talks from SCENE 2012 can be accessed on the web at www.cradio.org.au/scene-2012 and via www.xt3.com.
risen Christ points to that truth.” Death and evil, he added, will not have the last word. “We recognise in the resurrection of Jesus Christ that he encountered victory over death,” Archbishop Aquila said. “The Father does not leave his Son dead or his beloved children dead, but rather he calls them home to live with him and he gives to us the promise of eternal life and resurrection.” With many prayers, the Denver Archdiocese responded to the early morning rampage on July 20 that ranks among the worst mass shootings in US history. A gunman killed 12 people and wounded 58 at a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises. Police arrested 24-year-old James Holmes as the suspected shooter. One of the wounded is a friend of Jo Ann Younger, 15, of Queen of Peace. She and her mother, Juliet, spent hours visiting her 14-yearold friend before the Mass. She said he remains in critical condition at University of Colorado Hospital after suffering wounds to the chest. “We got to see him, but he could not respond,” Younger told the Denver Catholic Register after the
counselling and spiritual direction from counsellors and priests. At a July 22 prayer service at the Aurora Municipal Centre that drew thousands, Auxiliary Bishop James Conley said the “senseless and evil act of violence” at the theatre has left many wondering how and why such a tragedy could have happened. “Questions arise when the everyday securities and certainties of life – the trust we carry in our fellow human beings, that we can safely go to work each day, or to school, or to the movies, are shaken,” Bishop Conley said at the prayer service. “It’s natural for us to wonder why does this kind of suffering happen and what does it really mean? “Let us trust God with our doubts and let us turn to him with our fears. Let us ask him for the hope we need to see in the midst of this darkness,” he added. He urged all to mourn “for those who have perished” and “grieve with their loved ones” and “acknowledge the real evil which has wounded our community,” but also reminded them that God is “the great comforter” and is “truly present to us.” LaPoint writes for the Denver Catholic Register.
OPINION
8
EDITORIAL
‘Tone at the top’ was completely wrong The following guest editorial is from the US national Catholic newspaper Our Sunday Visitor of July 29, focusing on events over several decades at one of America’s most respected institutions of tertiary education, Pennsylvania State University.
A
t the request of the shell-shocked board of trustees of Pennsylvania State University, who also promised full independence to his team of investigators, former FBI director Louis Freeh spent more than six months interviewing hundreds of people associated with the school and combing through more than 3.5 million emails, documents and handwritten meeting notes. The scope of his investigation was ascertaining whether university officials failed in their handling of accusations of child sex abuse more than a decade ago against a football coach, Jerry Sandusky. He was convicted on 45 out of 48 counts in June and faces a maximum prison sentence of 442 years. At least two of his prepubescent male victims were abused after the 2001 allegations under investigation. Freeh’s final report, published this month, is a damning 162-page chronicle of a culture of concealment among the highest officials – including legendary Head Coach Joe Paterno – and concern above all for the public image of the school and its powerful football program. “Our most saddening and sobering finding,” Freeh said, “is the total disregard for the safety and welfare of Sandusky’s child victims by the most senior leaders at Penn State.” “Penn State’s ‘Tone at the Top’ for transparency, compliance, police reporting and child protection was completely wrong, as shown by the inaction and concealment on the part of its most senior leaders, and followed by those at the bottom of the university’s pyramid of power,” Freeh said. Details in Freeh’s report bear striking similarities to those in the multimillion-dollar, years-long study of clerical sex abuse published in recent years by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the request of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. What they both record is not only the sinfulness of individuals but also a destructive culture of hubris, exaggerated commitment to the institution’s public perception, and lack of accountability of some of those in leadership. What the Freeh report also tragically records is that even family men with children of their own at home – not just celibate clerics – will stand tranquilly by in the face of suffering of children they have a direct duty to protect. Penn State is now putting in place a host of new policies suggested by Freeh. Some of the bigger ones are those PO Box 3075 that the Catholic Church in Adelaide Terrace the United States adopted a PERTH WA 6832 decade ago in response to the abuse crisis: background office@therecord.com.au checks for personnel (more Tel: (08) 9220 5900 than 2.2 million have already Fax: (08) 9325 4580 been performed for Catholic seminarians, priests, employees and volunteers); safe environment training for youth (which more than 4.8 million Catholic school and religious education students have already received), and creation of new senior positions specifically to monitor compliance with the safe environment policies. Recent reports of rampant sexual abuse of children by teachers in Southern California public schools, to take just one example, show that many American institutions have yet to take this scourge seriously and implement similar policies. We hope one silver lining of Penn State’s scandal – and the growing public outrage at such disregard for children’s protection – is that other institutions make an honest assessment of their own internal cultures. And we hope that it prompts Catholics to stand firm to the Church’s new policies and remain vigilant. As the bishops’ National Review Board said in June, “While the current trend shows a decrease in clergy sexual abuse, we must never let our guard down.”
Details in the report into the Penn State University abuse bear striking similarities to those in the US Catholic Church.
THE RECORD
If Olympians don’t win, stick the knives in
T
his week, readers of The West Australian on Tuesday would have been confronted with an entire front cover of one of Australia’s young swimmers at the Olympic Games declaring that ‘He blew a gold medal’ because he had swum a weaker time by 1.1 seconds in one leg of the men’s 100 metre freestyle relay final against the best swimmers in the world. Turning the page, readers were confronted with another headline about an Australian Olympian competing in the women’s skeet shooting spread wide across what was effectively page 3 of the newspaper: ‘Aussie hot shot blows it.’ Commentary posing as journalism was insulting, scathing and dismissive in both stories. Perusing the headlines one could almost smell the arrogance and the outrage of the newspaper. A week earlier Melbourne’s Herald Sun effectively declared Australian Olympic swimmer Liesel Jones to be too fat. All too often, journalists are mere meddlers, taking a big stick to every story, desperate to be important by associating themselves with victory or moment but all too ready to assassinate those who fail to please and honour them.
therecord.com.au
August 1, 2012
LETTERS
My ambiguous feelings towards ABC’s mindset GERARD Henderson is right to warn us to be wary of the ABC. (The Record July 25). I speak as a long-time fan of the ABC. This year ABC Radio is celebrating 80 years of broadcasting. I have been a listener of almost 70 of those years. It was the only radio broadcast we could get in Wiluna during the Second World War, and only possible by having a very tall aerial in the backyard. Those were the days of Jack Davey, who even visited Wiluna. He caused some consternation when he arrived on the very day that Mrs Miniver was showing at the local theatre. People my age and over will know what I am talking about. I have loved and admired the ABC from those early days and saw no reason to switch to commercial radio when it came. I still feel the same today. Over the past 20 years I have felt admiration for, and acute frustration with, the ABC as it became the promoter and advocate of a raft of controversial social issues and changes. For years the “Coming Out” program delivered the propaganda week after week for a number of feminist issues. This program called for the acceptance of contraception and abortion as necessary for women’s liberation. Other programs supported the acceptance of homosexuality. There were a series of programs on gay art, gay literature and gay theatre, all of which showed the homosexual lifestyle in a positive light, and this right in the middle of the AIDS scare. All this paved a way for a new sexual ethic to replace the traditional Christian understanding of human sexuality. In all of these areas the ABC has been extremely successful. I felt as a priest and later as a Bishop that I should listen to these programs in order to examine them critically and offer some Christian comment. The Church has not been as media savvy as the ABC in putting its views forward and has conceded so much ground that the counteroffensive is now extremely difficult and the people able to mount it are few and far between. Part of my frustration with the ABC was its failure to present any contrary views to those presented in the “Coming Out” program and other more recent programs along the same lines. I have to admit that I did have a chance personally to join in a talk-back program on the ABC in Canberra some years ago, with Eva Cox on fetal abnormalities and the rights of such children to be born. From the callers to the program it was clear many people defended the pro-life stance I advanced. I only wish the ABC would make an effort to find spokespersons for
traditional Christian or Catholic positions and give them air time. They do exist. Cardinal Pell fearlessly shapes up when required. Bishop Anthony Fisher, author of “Catholic Bioethics” is coherent and convincing, and he is only one of many clerics and lay people, yet the people the ABC choose to speak for the Catholic Church are not true representatives of the orthodox Catholic teaching, nor of the mainstream of the Catholic people. Whenever the ABC journalists interview Buddhists, Muslims or Bahais, they treat them with great respect and let them put forward their views politely. But whenever Christians, particularly Catholics, are interviewed, they reach for the blowtorch. Why is this? Nevertheless I cannot do without my ABC Radio nor my ABC TV. Both set an extremely high standard in broadcasting. They present matters of substance across a wide spectrum and attract very talented and informed people who think through issues and produce marvellous programs. Look at their science programs, for instance. Oh, if only the ABC would reach for talent beyond their present mindset! I can forgive them their fascination with man-bags, or for smuggling in their favourite tipple on Beaujolais Day, but not their negativity towards the Christian heritage of Australia. A more objective approach is needed, at least as accommodating to the Church as to other faiths. I can now reveal here my secret wish I have harboured for many years, to be a member of the Board of the ABC. It didn’t happen and it is too late now. But it is still my hope that the set of values and beliefs I hold will eventually find a respected place on the ABC Board. Most Rev B J Hickey Archbishop Emeritus of Perth
Evangelical Christians are friend, not enemy IT SADDENS me to hear terms like “Battling” and “compete” in relation to our response to what is termed the “Evangelical influence” (Vista article 11/7). I do not see these terms as reflecting the attitude of heart that Jesus tried to teach us and the ways of His Kingdom. When the issue of the rapid growth in Evangelical churches arises, I repeatedly hear talk of us as a Catholic Church needing to become more friendly and community minded - all of which is true. However, I believe this is missing the real issue. Jesus, who comes to us in the Blessed Sacrament, spent His life operating in the miraculous and supernatural, yet we His “Body”, the Church, to a large extent are not comfortable with these things. As I regularly meet people who refer to themselves as “ex-Cath-
olics” who now worship in these Evangelical churches, I repeatedly hear testimonies of how it is in these other Churches that they have discovered the healing and deliverance they needed and have come into an awareness and experience of the power of the Holy Spirit working in their lives. Our Evangelical brothers and sisters are also part of the body of Christ. We must be open to learn from each other and to deepen and awaken our own faith. We all need the power of God that is available to us through the Holy Spirit to help make “His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. We have a greater enemy than one another. Elena Reidy, GREENWOOD, WA
For some concerts a Church is inappropriate IT IS WITH surprise that tonight I discovered that the recent winner of The Voice, Karise Eden, will be touring Australia, and performing in Perth on October 17 at St Joseph’s Church, Subiaco under the title of Heavenly Sounds. Online publicity for the concert states: “Set in the architectural splendour, rich acoustics and ethereal ambience of these church settings for Heavenly Sounds, Karise Eden will delight audiences with her distinct vocal style and personable approach.” “I was made aware of the Heavenly Sounds concept just after the show finished. The idea of singing soul and blues in beautiful churches is so exciting. When we were planning the first tour, I really wanted to try and make these shows as unique as possible and keep them feeling intimate. Heavenly Sounds is the perfect way to do it! I’ll be playing songs from the current album as well as new material I have been working on.” I do not believe that this is a suitable venue for such a concert. On the new album there is the song “Hallelujah” but no others I would consider to be praise and worship. The house of God is a place of prayer and worship, where daily Our Lord makes himself present to us in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; never a venue for entertainment. I sincerely implore the administrators of Subiaco Parish to withdraw their approval to host this event. Julie Bogoni BYFORD, WA
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Put it in a letter to the Editor office@therecord.com.au
Free speech and tolerance strike again ... A NEW ZEALAND website dedicated to opposing gay marriage was removed from the internet the day it was launched after it was the target of one of the “largest unprecedented attacks” on a website in New Zealand. It is suspected the attack was politically based. The New Zealand-based news website, stuff.co.nz, reported on July 20 that: “The “Protect Marriage” website, launched today by Family First, crashed in a matter of hours as a result of a “large-scale denial of service attack” according to the site’s webhost. “It was back up and running at 1pm, but had been removed com-
The Family First New Zealand website as it appeared on the web before being downed by internet attack. PHOTO: WWW.MERCATORNET.COM
pletely by the web hosting company later this afternoon, to “protect its own servers”. “Due to large scale
Denial of Service attacks against this domain it has been decided to ensure the stability and security of our servers and network, this account has been removed,” said a message from 24/7 Hosting. “Launched to oppose MP Louisa Wall’s same-sex marriage bill drawn recently from the ballot, Family First director Bob McCroskrie said the site was apparently the target of “the largest unprecedented attack on a website in New Zealand history”. “McCroskrie said he had expected “a good amount of debate” on the issue, but the attack was “obviously a desperate attempt” at shutting down one side of the argument.” - WWW.MERCATORNET.COM
OPINION
therecord.com.au August 1, 2012
9
Truth’s not just a mark on comfort’s speedometer When we seek personal fulfilment by abandoning truth and objective moral standards, we also increase our unhappiness.
I
WAS filling in an online form recently and the security question at the end was “2+9=” and I had to type in the answer to submit the page. I found it interesting that this very mainstream form on the website of this very mainstream company was not only telling me that there was objective truth but that they actually knew what it was. If I had tried to type that 2+9=5 I would have been told I was wrong. No message was going to appear and tell me that while they respected my freedom to believe that 2+9=5 they preferred the response to be 11. The message would very simply say, ‘Incorrect. Try again’. I found this small incident amusing because for the most part we exist in a truth-free society where definitive statements are not welcome. Our society does, of course, acknowledge right and wrong but these are mostly understood to be established by the Parliament and upheld by the police. Something
Foolish Wisdom BERNARD TOUTOUNJI
that is ‘right’ today can be declared ‘wrong’ tomorrow by a simple legislative adjustment. People have lost the idea that there is a genuine reality that is bigger than the law. To declare that something is right or wrong is very different to stating that something is true or untrue. The debate over the possibility of truth is not a new phenomenon. Two thousand years ago Pontius Pilate, Prefect of the Province of the Roman Empire in Judea, had a man brought before him who claimed to bear witness to truth. Pilate is recorded as famously asking this Jesus figure: “Quid est veritas” (what is truth?). Perhaps Pilate was genuinely asking for a response or perhaps he was stating that there was no such reality as truth. Either
way, Pilate had his particular version of truth and so the rest of the story to do with Jesus is, as they say, … history. Before being elected as Pope Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger once stated that “Truth is not determined by the majority vote”. In other words, even if the entire world legislated and believed that
Before being elected as Pope Benedict XVI, Josef Ratzinger once said that truth is not determined by majority vote. 2+9=5 it would quite simply be wrong. The belief that real truth exists is the belief that there is a reality bigger than our ability to perceive or understand it. You might have heard someone
say ‘that is your truth’ or ‘this is my truth’ but we should not allow such a statement to pass unchallenged. If something is true then by its very nature it must be true for everyone. Either the words you are reading now are truly here or they are not. Their existence does not depend on you having seen or read them. We really have only two choices then: to acknowledge that some definitive truth can exist, or, to state that the idea of truth is impossible. We live in a society that desires to create reality in response to what the majority vote wants. Euthanasia is good if enough people say it is. Same sex marriage is real if enough people say it is. Drugs can be legalised if enough people want it. Our moral and ethical code becomes not something that we strive for to make ourselves better people, but rather something that is adjusted to where we feel comfortable. In all this, what is legal becomes the mark for what is moral and that is a dangerous path to tread. If the
measure of right and wrong (and thus the standard of ‘truth’) is in the hands of a person or a political party then the only standard they have is themselves. And that has been the way for every dictator from Julius Caesar to Pol Pot to Slobodan Milosevic. It is easy to find a very long list of tyrants ranging from the benevolent to the inhumane but they share in common the notion that their truth is the truth. When we, as a ‘modern’ society, decided that it would be better to live with our personal truths instead of under the one truth, we may not have realised that we handed over to anyone who wanted to take it the ideas of right and wrong. Genuine happiness however is not to be found in creating our own realities and labelling them as truth. Happiness comes in discovering what is true and living our lives in accordance with that. After all, two plus nine will always equal eleven, whether we like it or not.
When labels obscure the other’s face
Parents who choose to keep the gender of their baby a secret to avoid stereotyping are actually not that far from a truth.
I Say, I Say MARK REIDY
L
AST year a Canadian father and mother decided to keep the sex of their new born a secret from the rest of the world so that they could raise a “genderless child”. Understandably, once media outlets embraced the story, the child lived up to its name – Storm – and the parents gained notoriety for their controversial decision. There is no biological ambiguity with Storm’s sexuality, the parents simply believe that a child’s sex should not determine or mould his or her place in the world. It is a contentious stance but it brings to the surface a number of issues related to how our society perceives and orders the world. From the very beginning, humanity has attempted to manufacture some semblance of understanding and control over our environment. This has resulted in a process of labelling and defining everything around us; over time these perceptions have become so cemented in our psyche and language that we simply accept them as fact. While I believe that some factors, such as our sexuality, are God-given and a non-negotiable reality of who we were created to be, I can find a degree of merit in the motivation of Storm’s parents who claim that they are seeking to dismantle the stereotyping that orders our society. We should not totally disregard their desire to question many of the labels we place on one another. Clinical psychologists have determined that we automatically make up to 15 judgements in the first few seconds of seeing another person and our responses to them will be guided by these first impressions. The problem here lies in the foundations of why and how we arrive at our conclusions. We all carry the Spirit of God within us and ideally we would always interact and communicate with one another according to His perfect will. In reality, however, most of us have not been nurtured and guided in accordance to this innate divine wisdom and consequently we have
learned and adopted responses that have been moulded and distorted according to our social and personal experiences. If we do not perpetually seek God’s Spirit within us then we are left with no alternative but to live life guided by our socially learned responses and complicated further by our personal emotional history. I would suggest that this is how many of us live our lives. Our reactions to people or situations are automatically driven by preconceived ideas and we allow these to override the responses that God desires from us. This can sometimes be the reason why certain individuals trigger emotions within us that are something other than love. Storm’s parents are correct – we do live in a world that stereotypes and labels people. We do it with
every person we meet. We will unconsciously judge one another according to sex, just as we will according to looks, dress, stance, occupation, etc. Each observation
We make an individual’s struggle their very identity and we deem it way beyond our capacity to reach out to them. will conjure within us a perception and a reaction that has been psychologically and socially moulded over our lifetime. Even our language embraces the concept of labelling one another.
We often refer to ourselves or others by what we do. e.g. “I am an accountant”, “she’s unemployed”, “he’s a teacher.” and so on. By doing this we subconsciously place people in a box that we have constructed in our mind. It is not necessarily a negative response, as we need a sense of order in our society and our minds, but we must also be aware of the subtle danger that loiters when we allow ourselves to identify someone by their action or how they present rather than as the person God created them to be. “Prostitute”, “drug addict”, “mentally ill”, “homeless”. Labels such as these can allow us to dehumanise a person and create a protective buffer of helplessness to hide behind. We make an individual’s struggle their identity and we deem it way
beyond our capabilities to reach out to them. It is a subtle distinction yet it can have a profound influence over how we choose to react. Jesus was passionate in His desire to help us see beyond established societal and individual perceptions. He did not see a Pharisee or a leper, but rather, saw the person beyond the label. Just as today He would see the person beyond the act of prostitution and the person beyond the drug addiction or the mental illness or the homelessness. Jesus came to “set the captive free” – to overturn the labels that ranked people according to what they did or did not do. He came to give us access to the heart of His Father, who sees each of us as a son and daughter - so that we, in turn, could come to see one another as a brother and a sister.
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PANORAMA
NEXT WEEK SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 Divine Mercy Pilgrimage – with Br Stanley Villavicencio 11.30am BYO lunch, Divine Mercy Church site, cnr Muchea East Rd and Santa Gertrudas Dr, Lower Chittering. 12.30pm Exposition, Rosary and Benediction, 1pm Holy Mass. 2pm Br Stanley’s talk, 3pm Chaplet of Divine Mercy and veneration service. Tea provided. Transport booking: Francis 9459 3873 / 0404 893 877 or Laurie 0448 833 472. Day with Mary 9am-5pm at St Emilie de Vialar Parish, 151 Amherst Rd, Canning Vale. Day of prayer and instruction based on the Fatima message. 9am video; 10.10am holy Mass; Reconciliation, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament, Eucharistic Adoration, sermons on Eucharist and on Our Lady, Rosaries and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286. Bingo Night – Acts 2 College Fundraising Event 7-10.30pm at 67 Howe St, Osborne Park. Night includes bingo, bar, games, raffles, kids room and much more. By Acts 2 College of Mission & Evangelisation (Perth’s only nationally accredited Catholic Bible College). Cost: $10. Enq: Marie 0410 139 992.
UPCOMING SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 Divine Mercy 1.30pm at St Francis Xavier Parish, 25 Windsor St, Perth. The priest for the afternoon will be Fr Peter Meo. Includes Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Homily: Our Lady of Assumption. Followed by holy Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy and First Class Relics of St Faustina. Refreshments afterwards. Enq: John 9457 7771. TUESDAY, 7 AUGUST ‘Are you weary? God will provide’ Seminar 7-8pm at St Benedict’s School Hall, Alness, St Applecross. Presenter: Norma Woodcock View a weekly short video broadcast at www. thefaith.org.au. Cost: collection. Enq: 94871772 or www.normawoodcock.com THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 Healing Mass – in Honour of St Peregrine, Patron of Cancer Sufferers 7pm at Sts John and Paul Parish, Pinetree Gulley Rd, Willetton. Begins with Mass followed by veneration of the relic of St Peregrine and anointing of the sick. Enq: Jim 9457 1539. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 The Transitus of St Clare – 800th Anniversary 6.30pm at the Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. The Secular Franciscan Order will celebrate The Transitus of St Clare on the 800th Anniversary of her entering into religious life. Please bring a plate to share. Enq: Angela 9275 5658 or 0408 801 215 or angelmich@bigpond. com. St Philomena Relic - Mass 4.45pm at St Philomena’s Chapel, 3/24 Juna Dr, Malaga. A first class relic will be donated to the chapel. Begins with Mass, followed by Rosary and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. 5.30pm – veneration of the relic. Enq: Fr Watt 9376 1734 or Giovanny 9358 6065.
2.30pm at St Francis Xavier Parish, Windsor St, Perth. Begins with Divine Mercy Healing Mass. Main Celebrant: Fr Marcellinus Meilak. Reconciliation available in English and Italian. Divine Mercy prayers followed by veneration of first class relic of St Faustina Kowalska. Refreshments afterwards. Enq: John 9457 7771. SUNDAY, 12 AUGUST The World Apostolate of Fatima 3pm at St Emilie de Vialar Parish, 151 Amherst St, Canning Vale. Eucharistic Hour. Enq: Admin 9339 2614. WEDNESDAY, 15 AUGUST Year of Grace – Youth Concert 6.30pm at Notre Dame, Drill Hall. Mass for the feast of the Assumption celebrated by Bishop Sproxton, followed by concert featuring a guest musician Steve Angrisano from the USA. Cost: free. cym.com.au. Tickets & Enq: Priscilla 9422 7912 or admin@cym.com.au SATURDAY, 18 AUGUST Carmelite Monastery Nedlands - Final Vows 11am at the Carmelite Monastery, 100 Adelma Rd, Nedlands. There will be a concelebrated Mass during which Sr. Quynh Mary (Nguyen) will make her Final Vows. Principal Celebrant: Archbishop Costelloe. Refreshments afterwards. Enq: Monastery 9386 3672. SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 Meditative Prayer in the Style of Taizé 7-8pm at Sisters of St Joseph Chapel, 16 York St, South Perth. Theme: Celebrating St Mary MacKillop’s feast day. Includes prayer, song and silence in a candlelight chapel – symbol of Christ the Light of the world. Please bring a torch and a friend. Enq: Sr Maree 0414 683 926. SUNDAYY, 19 AUGUST Feast of the Dedication - Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament 9.30am at Gosnells Parish, 175 Corfield St, Gosnells. Mass followed by a multi cultural lunch in the Parish Centre. Past parishioners and former students of St Munchin's Primary School and Lumen Christi College are all welcome. Enq: Admin 93982331 or secretary@gosnellsparish. org.au. SATURDAY, 25 AUGUST Women of Grace Retreat 9.15am-2pm at Good Shepherd Parish, Cnr Morley Dr & Altone Rd, Lockridge. Retreat Mass, talks and prayer presented by Archbishop Emeritus Hickey and Dr Michelle Jones (doctorate in Spiritual Theology from the University of St Thomas Aquinas [the Angelicum] in Rome) Cost: donation. Booking essential. RSVP & Enq: catholicwomen. perth@gmail.com or Lydia, 0413 993 987 SATURDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER
August 1, 2012
St Mary’s Cathedral Youth Group – Fellowship with Pizza 5pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, 17 Victoria Sq, Perth. Begins with youth Mass followed by fellowship downstairs in parish centre. Bring a plate to share. Enq: Bradley on youthfromsmc@gmail.com. Singles Prayer and Social Group 7pm at All Saints Chapel, Allendale Sq, 77 St George’s Tce, Perth. Begins with Holy Hour (Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary and teaching) followed by dinner at local restaurant. Meet new people, pray and socialise with other single men and women. Enq: Veronica 0403 841 202. Divine Mercy 1.30pm at St Francis Xavier Parish, 25 Windsor St, East Perth. Homily: The Body and Blood of Jesus. Main celebrant: Fr Johnson Malayil. With Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Reconciliation, holy Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Divine Mercy prayers, followed by Benediction and veneration of first class relic of St Faustina Kowalska. Refreshments afterwards. Enq: John 9457 7771. EVERY SECOND SUNDAY Healing Hour 7-8pm at St Lawrence Parish, Balcatta. Join us for songs of praise and worship, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and prayers for the sick. Enq: Fr Irek Czech SDS or parish office Tue-Thu, 9am2.30pm 9344 7066. EVERY THIRD SUNDAY Oblates of St Benedict – Meeting 2pm at St Joseph’s Convent, York St, South Perth. For all interested in studying the Rule of St Benedict and its relevance to the everyday life of today for laypeople: Vespers and afternoon tea afterwards. Enq: Secretary 9457 5758. EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life 2-3pm at Infant Jesus Parish, Wellington St, Morley. The hour includes exposition of the blessed Eucharist, silent prayer, scripture and prayers of intercession. Come and pray that those discerning vocations can hear clearly God’s call. EVERY SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAY A Ministry to the Un-Churched 12.30-1.30pm at St John’s Pro-Cathedral, Victoria Ave, Perth (opposite church offices). With charismatic praise, and prayer teams available. Help us ‘reach out to the pagans’ or soak in the praise. Enq: Dan 9398 4973. EVERY LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH Filipino Mass 3pm at Notre Dame Church, cnr Daley and Wright Sts, Cloverdale. Please bring a plate to share for socialisation after Mass. Enq: Fr Nelson Po 0410 843 412, Elsa 0404 038 483. EVERY MONDAY
ismatic prayer and praise. Enq: Win 9387 2802 or Noreen 9298 9938. EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY Holy Hour Prayer for Priests 7.30-8.30pm at Holy Spirit Parish, 2 Keaney Pl, City Beach. All welcome. Enq: Linda 9341 3079. Novena to St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 7-7.45pm at Blessed Mary MacKillop Parish, cnr Cassowary Dr and Pelican Pde, Ballajura. Begins with Mass, novena prayers and benediction. Followed by healing prayers and anointing of the sick. Enq: Madi 9249 9093 or Gerry 0417 187 240. EVERY SECOND WEDNESDAY Chaplets of Divine Mercy 7.30pm St Thomas More Catholic Parish, Dean Rd Bateman. It will be accompanied by Exposition and followed by Benediction. Next devotion: Wednesday, August 8. Enq: George 9310 9493 or 6242 0702 (w). EVERY THURSDAY Divine Mercy 11am at Ss John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. Pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy and for the consecrated life, especially here in John Paul Parish. Concludes with veneration of the first class relic of St Faustina. Enq: John 9457 7771. St Mary’s Cathedral Praise Meeting 7.45pm every Thursday at the Legion of Mary’s Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. Includes praise, song and healing ministry. Enq: Kay 9382 3668 or fmi@flameministries.org. Group Fifty - Charismatic Renewal Group 7.30pm at the Redemptorist Monastery, 150 Vincent St, North Perth. Includes prayer, praise and Mass. Enq: Elaine 9440 3661. EVERY FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH Prayer in Style of Taizé 7.30-8.30pm at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 3 Kitchener St, North Beach. Includes prayer, song and silence in candlelight – symbol of Christ the light of the world. Taizé info: www.taize.fr. Enq: secretary 9448 4888 or 9448 4457. EVERY FIRST FRIDAY Healing Mass 7pm at St Peter’s Parish, Inglewood. Praise and worship, Exposition and Eucharistic Adoration, Benediction and anointing of the sick followed by holy Mass and fellowship. Celebrants Fr Dat and invited priests. 6.45pm Reconciliation. Enq: Mary Ann 0409 672 304, Prescilla 0433 457 352 and Catherine 0433 923 083. Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life 7pm - Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins St, Glendalough. Mass followed by Adoration with Fr Doug Harris. All welcome. Refreshments provided.
Discovering culture night – Indian 7pm at Gosnells Parish, 175 Corfield St, Gosnells. Celebrating the multi cultural nature of our parish community with a series entitled "Discovering Culture". Join us for the food, fun and just a hint of "Bollywood" in the St Munchin’s School Hall. Tickets & Enq: Arlene 0432 630 108 or Sandra 9398 8583.
Evening Adoration and Mass 7pm at St Thomas Parish, Claremont, cnr Melville St and College Rd. Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, evening prayer and Benediction, followed by Mass and night prayer at 8pm. Enq: Kim on 9384 0598 or email to claremont@perthcatholic. org.au.
Healing and Anointing Mass 8.45am Pater Noster Church, Evershed St, Myaree. Begins with Reconciliation followed by 9am Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, anointing of the sick and prayers to St Peregrine. Enq: Joy 9337 7189.
SATURDAY, 8 TO SUNDAY 9 SETEMBER
LAST MONDAY OF THE MONTH
MenAlive men’s weekend 8am at St Denis Parish, Cnr Roberts & Osborne Sts, Joondana. Finishes 1.30pm Sunday. Enq: Ben 0407 088 431
Be Still in His Presence – Ecumenical Christian Program 7.30-8.45pm at St Swithun Anglican Church, 195 Lesmurdie St, Lesmurdie (hall behind church). Begins with songs of praise and worship, silent time, lectio divina, small group sharing and a cuppa at the end. Enq: Lynne 9293 3848 or 043 5252 941.
7.30pm at Ss John and Paul Parish, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton – Songs of Praise and Prayer, sharing by a priest followed by thanksgiving Mass and light refreshments after Mass. Enq: Kathy 9295 0913 or Ann 0412 166 164 or catholicfaithrenewal@gmail.com.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 TO SUNDAY, AUGUST 12
FRIDAY TO SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14-16
Renewing the Light of Hope - Separated, Divorced, Widowed 7.30pm at Epiphany Retreat Centre, Rossmoyne. Beginning Experience is running a weekend 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. Registration: Josie 9285 8661 or Mauz 0419 928 110. www.beginningexperienceperth.org.au.
‘Contemplating the Face of Christ in the Franciscan Tradition’ Retreat Retreat live in/live out at the Redemptorist Retreat House, 190 Vincent St, North Perth. Leader: Fr John Cooper from Sydney. Enq: Anthony 0449 864 287 or anthony.porrins@gmail.com and Angela 9275 5658 or 0408 801 215 or angelmich@bigpond.com.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11
Inner Healing Retreat (live-in) 7.30am t Epiphany retreat Centre, 50 Fifth Ave, Rossmoyne. A time to be healed and renewed. Leaders: Vincentian Father. Registration & Enq: Melanie 0410 605 743 or m.fonseca@curtin.edu. au
Friends of L’Arche Retreat 10am at Infant Jesus Parish Hall, Wellington St, Morley. Learn more about the worldwide family of L’Arche and explore how we can live the essence of L’Arche locally at retreat by Archbishop Roger Herft. No charge, please bring a plate to share for lunch. Nora 9440 1046 or 0408 865 899, Evelyn 9370 2541 or 0432 451 171, or tierneyfamily@ gotalk.net.au. Natural Family Planning Week – an invitation from billings LIFE WA 1pm at Newman Siena Centre (Bishop Clune Lecture Theatre), 33 Williamstown Rd, Doubleview. Begins with tea and coffee greeting; 1.30pm: “Responsible Honesty”, a presentation with time to reflect and share. 3.30pm Mass by Bishop Sproxton. Followed by wine and cheese. RSVP: August 3. Enq: Mandie 9399 3140 or 0407 577 435 or bnfpwa@westnet.com.au.
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FRIDAY, 12 TO SUNDAY, 14 OCTOBER
REGULAR EVENTS EVERY SUNDAY Gate of Heaven Catholic Radio Join the Franciscans of the Immaculate from 7.309pm on Radio Fremantle 107.9FM for Catholic radio broadcast of EWTN and our own live shows. Enq: radio@ausmaria.com.
St Padre Pio Prayer Day 8.30am at St Joseph Parish, Hamilton St, Bassendean. Begins with Padre Pio DVD; 10am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Divine Mercy, Silent Adoration and Benediction. 11am holy Mass. Confessions available, 12pm lunch: bring a plate. Enq: Des 6278 1540.
Pilgrim Mass - Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation 2pm at Shrine, 36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook. Commencing with Rosary followed by Benediction. Reconciliation available before every celebration. Anointing of the sick administered during Mass every second Sunday of the month. Pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin of the Revelation last Sunday of the month. Side entrance to church and shrine open daily between 9am-5pm. Enq Sacri 9447 3292.
Divine Mercy
EVERY FIRST SUNDAY
EVERY TUESDAY Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal 6pm at Pater Noster Church, Marmion and Evershed Sts, Myaree. Mass at 5.30pm followed by Benediction. Enq: John 0408 952 194. Novena to God the Father 7.30pm at St Joachim’s parish hall, Victoria Park. Novena followed by reflection and discussions on forthcoming Sunday Gospel. Enq: Jan 9284 1662. EVERY FIRST TUESDAY Short MMP Cenacle for Priests 2pm at Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. Enq: Fr Watt 9376 1734.
Catholic Faith Renewal Evening
Communion of Reparation All Night Vigils 7pm-1.30am at Corpus Christi Church, Lochee St, Mosman Park or St Gerard Majella Church, cnr Ravenswood Dr/Majella Rd, Westminster (Mirrabooka). The Vigils consist of two Masses, Adoration, Benediction, prayers and Confession in reparation for the outrages committed against the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Enq: Vicky 0400 282 357 or Fr Giosue 9349 2315or John/Joy 9344 2609. Pro-Life Witness Holy Mass at St Brigid’s Midland at 9.30am, followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at nearby abortion clinic, and led by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. Please join us to pray for an end to abortion and the conversion of hearts. Enq Helen 9402 0349.
EVERY WEDNESDAY
EVERY SECOND FRIDAY OF THE MONTH
Holy Spirit of Freedom Community 7.30pm at The Church of Christ, 111 Stirling St, Perth. We are delighted to welcome everyone to attend our Holy Spirit of Freedom praise meeting. Enq: 0423 907 869 or hsofperth@gmail.com.
Discover the Spirituality of St Francis of Assisi 12pm at St Brigid’s Catholic Parish Centre. The Secular Franciscans of Midland Fraternity meet for lunch followed by 1-3pm meeting. Enq: Antoinette 9297 2314.
Bible Study at Cathedral 6.15pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, 17 Victoria Sq, Perth. Deepen your faith through reading and reflecting on holy Scripture by Fr Jean-Noel. Meeting room beneath Cathedral. Enq: Marie 9223 1372. Holy Hour - Catholic Youth Ministry Mass at 5.30pm and Holy Hour (Adoration) at 6.30pm at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 40A Mary St, Highgate. Enq: www.cym.com or 9422 7912. Adonai Ladies Prayer Group 10am in the upper room of St Joseph’s Parish, 3 Salvado Rd, Subiaco. Come and join us for char-
EVERY FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH Healing Mass 12.35pm at St Thomas Parish, cnr Melville St and College Rd, Claremont. Spiritual leader Fr Waddell. Enq: Kim 9384 0598, claremont@perthcatholic.org. au. EVERY LAST SATURDAY Novena Devotions – Our Lady Vailankanni of Good Health 5pm at Holy Trinity Parish, 8 Burnett St, Embleton. Followed by Mass at 6pm. Enq: George 9272 1379.
EVERY FOURTH SATURDAY OF THE MONTH Voice of the Voiceless Healing Mass 12pm at St Brigid’s Parish, 211 Aberdeen St, Northbridge. Bring a plate to share after Mass. Enq: Frank 9296 7591 or 0408 183 325.
GENERAL Free Divine Mercy Image for Parishes High quality oil painting and glossy print – Divine Mercy Promotions. Images are of very high quality. For any parish willing to accept and place inside the church. Oil paintings - 160 x 90cm and glossy print - 100 x 60cm. Enq: Irene 9417 3267 (w). Sacred Heart Pioneers Is there anyone out there who would like to know more about the Sacred Heart pioneers? If so, please contact Spiritual Director Fr Doug Harris 9444 6131 or John 9457 7771. St Philomena’s Chapel 3/24 Juna Drive, Malaga. Mass of the day: Mon 6.45am. Vigil Masses: Mon-Fri 4.45pm. Enq: Fr David 9376 1734. Mary MacKillop Merchandise Available for sale from Mary MacKillop Centre. Enq: Sr Maree 041 4683 926 or 08 9334 0933. Financially Disadvantaged People Requiring Low Care Aged Care Placement The Little Sisters of the Poor community set in beautiful gardens in suburb of Glendalough. “Making the elderly happy, that is everything!” St Jeanne Jugan (foundress). Registration and enq: Sr Marie 9443 3155. Resource Centre for Personal Development The Holistic Health Seminar “The Instinct to Heal’’, every Tuesday 3-4.30pm; and RCPD2 “Internalise Principles of Successful Relationships and Use Emotional Intelligence and Communication Skills” every Tuesday 4.30-6.30pm, 197 High St, Fremantle - Tuesdays 3-4.30pm. Enq: Eva 0409 405 585. Bookings are essential. Is your son or daughter unsure of what to do this year? Suggest a Certificate IV course to discern God’s purpose for their life. They will also learn more about the Catholic faith and develop skills in communication and leadership. Acts 2 College of Mission & Evangelisation (National Code 51452). Enq: Jane 9202 6859. AA Alcoholics Anonymous Is alcohol costing you more than just money? Enq: AA9523 3566. Saints and Sacred Relics Apostolate Invite SSRA, Perth invites interested parties, parish priests, leaders of religious communities, lay associations, to organise relic visitations to their own parishes, communities, etc. We have available authenticated relics, mostly first-class, of Catholic saints and blesseds including Sts Mary Mackillop, Padre Pio, Anthony of Padua, Therese of Lisieux, Maximilian Kolbe and Simon Stock and Blessed Pope John Paul II. Free of charge and all welcome. Enq: Giovanny 0478 201 092 or ssra-perth@catholic.org. Enrolments, Year 7, 2014 La Salle College is now accepting enrolments for Year 7, 2014. For a prospectus and enrolment form please contact college reception on 9274 6266 or email lasalle@lasalle.wa.edu.au. Pellegrini Books Wanted An order of Sisters in Italy is looking for the following: The Living Pyx of Jesus, Fervourings From Galilee’s Hills, Fervourings From the LoveBroken Heart of Christ, Fervourings From the Lips of the Master, Listening to the Indwelling Presence, Sheltering the Divine Outcast, Daily Inspection and Cleansing of the Living Temple of God, and Staunch Friends of Jesus, the Lover of Youth. If you are able to help, please contact Justine on 0419 964 624 or justine@waterempire.com. Novena to Our Lady of Vailankanni Holy Trinity Parish, 8 Burnett St, Embleton. Leader: Fr Trevor (India). Enq: Admin 9271 5528, Gordon 9377 4472, Anita 9375 1794 or George 9272 1379. THURSDAY, AUGUST 30 - Day 1 of Novena 7pm – Begins with Mass, Novena devotions and Benediction, followed by procession. Fellowship afterwards. Please bring plate. FRIDAY, AUGUST 31 - Day 2 of Novena 7pm – Begins with Novena devotions, homily and Benediction. Followed by blessing of children. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 - Day 3 of Novena 6pm – Begins with Vigil Mass, followed by Novena devotions and Benediction. Followed by food fete in hall. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 - Day 4 of Novena 6pm – Begins with Mass followed by Novena devotions, Benediction and blessing of all fathers. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 - Day 5 of Novena 7pm – Begins with Novena devotions, homily and Benediction. Followed by Blessing of the sick and elderly with the Blessed Sacrament. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 - Day 6 of Novena 7pm – Begins with Novena devotions, homily and Benediction. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 - Day 7 of Novena 7pm – Begins with Novena devotions, homily and Benediction (Novena raffle will be drawn). THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 - Day 8 of Novena 7pm – Begins Novena Devotions, homily and Benediction.
CLASSIFIEDS
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CLASSIFIEDS Deadline: 11am Monday RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS
TAX SERVICE
TO LET
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 Rd, Canning Vale. Open Mon-Sat.
QUALITY TAX RETURNS PREPARED by registered tax agent with over 35 years’ experience. Call Tony Marchei on 0412 055 184 for appointment. AXXO Accounting & Management, Unit 20/222 Walter Rd, Morley.
ROOM TO LET with two other Catholic young men. Townhouse on the water Scarborough (has everything) $130pw. Mike 0410 689 325.
RICH HARVEST YOUR CHRISTIAN SHOP Looking for Bibles, CDs, books, cards, gifts, statues, Baptism/Communion apparel, religious vestments, etc. Visit us at 39 Hulme Ct (off McCoy St), Myaree. Ph 9329 9889 (after 10.30am Mon to Sat). We are here to serve.
SETTLEMENTS
KINLAR VESTMENTS www.kinlarvestments.com.au Quality handmade and decorated vestments: albs, stoles, chasubles, altar linen, banners. Ph Vickii on 9402 1318, 0409 114 093 or kinlar. vestments@gmail.com.
BOOK BINDING RESTORATION BOOKBINDING and Conservation, General Book Repairs, Bibles, Breviaries, sad, old and leather bindings renewed. Tel: 0401 941 577.
HAIRDRESSER RURI STUDIO FOR HAIR – Vincent and Miki welcome you to their newly opened, international, award-winning salon. Shop 2, 401 Oxford St, Leederville. 9444 3113. ruri-studio-for-hair@ hotmail.com.
FURNITURE REMOVAL ALL AREAS. Competitive rates. Mike Murphy Ph 0416 226 434.
ARE YOU BUYING OR SELLING real estate or a business? Why not ask Excel Settlements for a quote for your settlement. We offer reasonable fees, excellent service and no hidden costs. Ring Excel on 9481 4499 for a quote. Check our web site on www.excelsettlements.com.au.
TRADE SERVICES BRENDAN HANDYMAN SERVICES Home, building maintenance, repairs and renovations. NOR. Ph 0427 539 588. PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Your handyperson. No job too small. SOR. Jim 0413 309 821. BRICK RE-POINTING Ph Nigel 9242 2952. PICASSO PAINTING Top service. Ph 0419 915 836, 9345 0557 or fax 9345 0505. PERROTT PAINTING Pty Ltd For all your residential, commercial painting requirements. Ph Tom Perrott 9444 1200. WRR LAWN MOWING AND WEED SPRAYING Garden clean ups and rubbish removal. Get rid of bindii, jojo and other unsightly weeds. Based in Tuart Hill. Enq: 9443 9243 or 0402 326 637.
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ACCOMMODATION HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION Esperance holiday accommodation, three bedroom house, fully furnished. Phone 08 9076 5083.
MEMENTO CANDLES BAPTISM, WEDDING AND ABSENCE Candles that are personalised with your name that are beautifully decorated. Please call Anna: 0402 961 901 or email: anna77luca@hotmail.com to order a candle.
WANTED TABERNACLE SUITABLE FOR CHAPEL 2 brass/alabaster/wood candle sticks – 40cm-50cm. Phone Brother John Hermirage 9853 3112 or johnw9765@gmail. com.
HELP NEEDED GOAN COUPLE with 2 small kids migrate to Perth 1/9/2012. Seek furn accommodation. Willing to pay in advance. Contact: John 0438 520 993
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C R O S S W O R D ACROSS 2 Eden fruit? 5 Old Testament hymn 8 Leader of the Church 9 Rev.’s alma mater 11 Genuflection joint 13 ___ of Contrition 14 Pilate ordered this above the cross (abbr.) 15 Catholic actor Guinness 16 “…the kingdom of heaven is like a ___” (Mt 13:47) 17 ___ Union 20 Holy 22 “___ the handmaid of the Lord…” 27 Priestly 28 “How Great Thou ___” 29 NT epistle 30 What we are forbidden to do by the fifth commandment 32 ___ of omission 33 Easter flower 35 Holy ___ 36 Direction from Bethlehem to the Jordan 37 First of the twelve Minor Prophets 38 Abbr. for two NT epistles
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 - Day 9 of Novena 6pm – Begins with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Litany of the Most Sacred Heart. Followed by silent Adoration. 7pm – Mass, anointing of the sick, followed by Novena devotions and Benediction. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 - Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 6pm – Begins with concelebrated Mass by candlelight procession. Followed by fellowship. Please bring plate. Secondhand Electric Organ Good working condition. Angela Vigolo would like to give it away to a good home; maybe a parish would like it? Enq: Angela 9276 9317. Acts 2 College, Perth’s Catholic Bible College, is now pleased to be able to offer tax deductibility for donations to the College. If you are looking for an opportunity to help grow the faith of young people and to evangelise the next generation of apostles, please contact Jane Borg, Principal at Acts 2 College on 0401 692 690 or principal@acts2come.wa.edu.au. Divine Mercy Church Pews Would you like to assist, at the same time becoming part of the history of the new Divine Mercy Church in Lower Chittering, by donating a beautifully handcrafted jarrah pew currently under construction, costing only $1,000 each. A beautiful brass plaque with your inscription will be placed at the end of the pew. Please make cheques payable to Divine Mercy Church Building fund and send with inscription to: PO Box 8, Bullsbrook WA 6084. Enq: Fr Paul 0427 085 093. A Testimony on Divine Mercy
Powerful testimony of Brother Stanley Villavincencio. After being pronounced ‘clinically dead’ in 1993, Stanley has been travelling the world sharing his amazing spiritual encounters with Jesus. Sessions last for 2 hours. Tuesday, July 31 10.30am – Mass followed by talk. St Paul’s, Rookwood St, Mt Lawley. 7.30pm – talk. St Bernadette’s, Jugan St, Glendalough. Wednesday, August 1 10.30am - talk. All Saints Chapel, 77 St George’s Tce, Perth. 7.30pm – talk. St Joseph’s, 19 Hamilton St, Bassendean. Thursday, August 2 9am – Mass followed by talk. St Lawrence, Albert St, Balcatta. 7.30pm – talk. Our Lady of Mercy, 5 Patrick St, Girrawheen. Friday, August 3 9am - Mass followed by talk. St Jerome’s, Troode St, Spearwood. 7.30pm - talk. Gosnells Catholic Church,175 Corfield St, Gosnells. Saturday, August 4 11.30am Divine Mercy Pilgrimage. BYO lunch. Maryville, Chittering. Contact: Francis 9459 3873 / 0404 893 877. Enq: Paulyne: 9364 4228. FRIDAY, AUGUST 31 AND SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Theatrical play Women on the Fringe 7.30pm at Prendiville Performing Arts Centre by St Simon Peter Players. Written by Gerald Searle of St Anthony’s Parish about women marginalised because of gender, race, nationality, culture, religion and moral standing who were transformed when they encountered Jesus. 2pm matinee. Tickets after all Masses at parishes in Ocean Reef, Whitfords, Wanneroo, Clarkson, and the Cathedral. Enq: Gerald 9404 7292. SUNDAY, 19 AUGUST 40th Anniversary An invitation is extended to all “Shalomites” (past and present). Enq: Anne 9248 1767 or theshalomites@gmail.com
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6:20) ___ of the Covenant Religious offshoots “Ite, ___ est” Papal ambassador ___ Pio Boss monk Papal residence, ___ Gandolfo Title for the pope Outer vestment worn by a deacon Paul was upset because of the number of these in Athens (Acts 17:16) Catholic artist Picasso The Archdiocese of Dubuque is here Brother of Cain “…be ___ and your no…” (Jas 5:12)
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CROSSWORD Across 1. When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into those boats and crossed to ______ to look for Jesus. 3. Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is carrying out God’s work: you must ________ in the one he has sent.’ 5. When they found him on the other side, they said to him, ‘_____, when did you
ETERNAL
For the bread of God is the bread which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. - John 6: 24-35
WORD LIST
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SIGNS
come here?’ 6. So they said, ‘What sign will you yourself do, the _____ of which will make us believe in you? What work will you do? Down 2. Do not work for food that goes bad, but work for food that endures for ______ life, which the Son of man will give
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you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal. 4. Jesus answered: In all truth I tell you, you are looking for me not because you have seen the _____ but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat. 7. they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to carry out ____’s work?’
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V O C AT I O N S 2 0 1 2
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“Every life is a vocation...
Every believer is invited to build up the Church.” - Blessed John Paul II
PHOTO: MICHAEL CONNOLLY
2
VOCATIONS
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August 1, 2012
Proposal in front of Christ romantic - and smart By Juanita Shepherd IT ALL BEGAN in a car park following a Catholic Youth Ministry event; two years later Catherine Gallo Martinez and Gaetan Raspanti celebrated their engagement at St Lawrence Parish hall after Eucharistic Adoration with family and friends at St Lawrence and Mary Immaculate church in Balcatta. “I was lost, limping and it was dark” Miss Gallo Martinez said, about the night she first meet Mr Raspanti. “I was praying to God to
Catherine Gallo Martinez and Gaetan Raspanti enjoy the moment at their engagement party at St Lawrence’s parish hall in Balcatta. The couple have chosen to prepare their marriage in the Catholic faith. Mr Raspanti proposed to his bride in front of the tabernacle in a Church and the two meet with a Catholic priest to help them explore the vocation they will follow. Above: the engagement cake. PHOTOS: N CORNELIUS
guide me to my car.” Miss Gallo Martinez had forgotten where she had parked her car when Mr Raspanti arrived to the rescue. “I remember seeing her wandering about as if she was lost.” Mr Raspanti said. “I stopped to ask her is she was okay, then I directed her to the street around the other side of the church and gave her a lift to where she had parked her car.” Miss Gallo Martinez describes this moment as if it was something out of a fairy tale. “He was just like a prince on his white horse who came to save the day.” She said. “Instead he came in his white car to my rescue.” It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship that would result in a marriage proposal in the presence of the Tabernacle and Our Blessed Mother on 29 April 2012, the feast day of St Catherine of Sienna. “Gaetan took me to an old church.” Miss Gallo Martinez said. “He was praying and kneeling down then he turned to me and said that he loved me in good and bad in sickness and health and that he wants to give his whole life to me and asked me ‘Catherine Gallo Martinez will you marry me and be my wife?’” Miss Gallo Martinez admits she cried as she nodded and said ‘yes.’ In the months that followed the couple have come to recognise that
the Sacrament ofMmarriage is not one to be treated lightly. Every week they meet with Father Andre from the Franciscans of the Immaculate and together they are learning about the importance and true meaning of marriage, and why matrimony has been given the special status of being a Sacrament. “The sacrament of Holy Matrimony in the Roman Catholic church is the best and surest means for married couples to live and become holy.” Mr Raspanti said. “It is Christ’s own plan for all those who would desire the most blessed and fruitful marriage, as it is a Sacrament instituted by Christ himself, raising the state of marriage to a vocation.” Miss Martinez echo’s her fiancé’s view. “I have felt many graces already from taking this step (engagement).” She said. “Father Andre is preparing us for marriage and the graces from his teachings and guidance are amazing. I feel overwhelmingly blessed and I thank God for Father Andre. “I am already experiencing the beauty of my vocation in the maturing of my soul and refining the way I love. “Holy Catholic marriages are definitely important because they are sacred and where there is sacredness there is truth.”
Couple celebrate with Betrothal Rite By Juanita Shepherd Photo by Nigel Cornelius FOR possibly the first time in Perth in years, if not decades, the forgotten practice of the ‘rite of betrothal’ was brought to life at the engagement mass for James Chua and Lisa Aarts, featured on the front cover of this edition of The Record. Father Joseph McShane FI celebrated the mass, and the rite of betrothal began with the priest bidding the couple to join their right hands while praying a promise of love, faith and loyalty. The ancient tradition of the rite of betrothal followed. After the prayer Father McShane took the two ends of his stole and in the form of the cross placed them over the joined hands of Mr Chua and Miss Aarts. Holding the stole in place with his left hand he said “I bear witness of your solemn proposal and I declare you betrothed, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.” As he pronounced the last words he sprinkled the couple with Holy Water. The blessing of the engagement rings, which were sprinkled with Holy Water as well, followed this
act and lastly Father McShane presented Mr. Chua and Miss Aarts with a crucifix. The couple kissed the crucifix symbolising their desire to imitate Jesus’s act of self-offering on the cross. Mr Chua first met Miss Aarts at Campion College in Sydney on April 20th, 2011. Distance could not keep them apart, when Mr. Chua moved back to Perth; they kept in touch over Skype and found that they shared similar interests. “Lisa was studying Liberal Arts.”
We believe God put us together for a purpose. That’s a vocation. Mr. Chua said. “I am a high school Religious Education teacher so I appreciate philosophy, history literature and theology so we got along very well.” As the months passed the couple realised that Skype wasn’t going to last forever, serious decisions had to be made if they were going to be together, so Miss Aarts moved to Perth to get to know Mr Chua better. “We were not interested in dragging out a long distance relation-
ship,” Mr. Chua said. “We just wanted to know if we were called to marriage with one another. We agreed that ‘if we think this is God’s will then we will get married or we should be able to tell if its not right and Lisa will move back to Sydney’.” It was definitely God’s will that the couple were meant to be. On their one-year anniversary Mr Chua proposed. “I had spoken to her father several days before hand, got the ring and picked the spot” Mr Chua said. At the end of the day on the harbour bridge Mr Chua got down on one knee and asked Miss Aarts to become his wife, which she gladly consented too. The couple are excited and happy about their impending marriage and do not simply see it as a commitment to each other. “Marriage is a commitment to follow Christ as well.” Mr. Chua said. “We believe that God has put us together for a reason and a purpose. That is what we call a vocation - a calling from God. We look forward to following that call to walk with God together and to see what he will give us, maybe a family and a way to continue to serve Him in the church and in our community.”
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God has a plan for everybody Gay, faithful and chaste, Steve Gershon once despaired of ever discovering God’s plan for his life. Although he has not arrived at his destination, he says he has discovered that the call of the universal vocation to love knows no boundaries.
W
HAT would I know about vocation? I’m 28, a faithful Catholic and gay. A little explanation of that last part: It would be more accurate to say that I have same-sex attraction than that I’m gay. My attraction to men is deep and, as far as I can tell, permanent, but I’m celibate. I sometimes use the word “gay” as a convenient shorthand, but it carries a lot of political and even theological baggage, and doesn’t really apply to me, because of my celibacy and for other reasons that I’ll try to make clear below. The upshot is that I’m unmarried and likely to remain that way. I’m not discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, either. I’ve been there, done that, and I’ve let the Lord know he can do whatever he wants with me but that if he wants me to be a priest or a monk, he’ll have to do something drastic. I’ve spent a long time checking my internal compasses, and none of them point in that direction. So what then? I know what not to do: Don’t believe the gay activists, don’t water down the faith, don’t pretend homosexual actions aren’t sinful. Don’t have a boyfriend; don’t get married. Don’t, don’t, don’t. But nobody ever had a vocation that consisted in not doing something. Marriage, the priesthood, the religious life – these involve definite actions, definite commitments. Parched, despondent I’d like to give a road map to people like me – I mean not only other men and women with SSA, but everyone called to the single life – but it’s difficult to make a map when you’re still on the ground. At least I’m not lost in the desert any more, parched and exhausted like I was through my teens and early 20s. I’m heading toward civilization now, or better yet toward Zion, but there’s a lot of rugged landscape between here and there. The best I can do is to tell you where I’ve been and what I’ve learned. It’s good to start on the edge of the desert. I’ll pick age 14, because that’s when I first started thinking of myself as gay. At the time, I understood exactly two things by the word. The first was that I was totally, irrevocably different from
other boys. The second was that being gay and Catholic meant a long, dreary life of self-repression. So I believed at the time. That was the beginning of my vocation as a professional sufferer, a position I held until somewhere in my early 20s. The darkness gathered around me, and I let it in, and was even proud of it. My suffering meant I was deep, sensitive and tragic. I don’t mean to downplay the experience; when I call it a desert, I’m being poetic but I’m not exaggerating. This was Death Valley in July, except when it was Antarctica. But in more literal terms, the darkness consisted of these things: intense self-consciousness; near-constant feelings of isolation; pervasive regret at what I considered a wasted past; an absolute inability to live in the present; and terror at the prospect of the long, lonely future. The technical name for the
This was Death Valley in Summer – except it was Antarctica. condition is despondency. I call it despondency, rather than depression, because depression is a state of the mind, the emotions, and even the body; whereas despondency is a state of the will. It comprises a particular response to depression. Depression doesn’t necessarily constitute a roadblock to one’s vocation. Despondency does, because we are judged on the basis of what we do rather than what we feel. What I was doing was precisely nothing, because that was all I believed I could do. That’s what despondency is. I thought I was doing something, namely living through the suffering that I believed was my vocation, that I even believed God wanted for me. And maybe I was justified in believing these things, given the premises I had accepted. It’s just that my premises were very, very wrong. Leaving behind self-pity In the middle of my desert I encountered a different set of premises, from a variety of sources: mostly my spiritual director, Father T, but also from good books (Growth Into Manhood, by Alan Medinger), good organizations (People Can
Change), good experiences (three months in Peru), and good friends (you know who you are). Up until that point I had believed that the statement “I am gay” is the same sort of statement as “I am male” or “I am human.” Homosexuality was supposed to be an essential, rather than an accidental, part of me, just as deep as gender or species, or deeper. This idea comes from the gay rights movement, but an awful lot of Christians believe it too. It is utter poison. If gay is what I am (or “who I am,” as the saying goes), then Catholicism really does require a mode of existence in direct contradiction to the deepest parts of me. That didn’t make sense to me, because I had always understood the Christian life as the only thing that could fulfill the deepest parts of me. But I was still trying to believe both things. No wonder I was lost. If, on the other hand, my homosexuality is a part of me, rather than being my nature – something I have, rather than something I am – then things are different. It became apparent that I could change. I don’t mean stop liking men and start liking women. I mean everything else: my self-imposed vocation of suffering, my self-pity, my self-isolation, my chronic fear and regret and loneliness. Next to those things, a little celibacy isn’t too bad. Ongoing journey I discovered that I had a lot of work ahead of me. But I also discovered that there was something worth working for. This space is too small to tell about my journey out of the desert. I only want to say that it is possible, that it didn’t take as long as I thought, and that it’s good to be out. And I want to say a few things about what comes afterward; what a vocation entails, and how the single life can be one. When I was in the desert, I thought that the journey out of it would only end when I was dead. That’s true, sort of, because no place on earth is final; our hearts are restless until they rest in God. But I didn’t expect ever to be doing this well, and I didn’t expect to have to figure what to do with myself besides feeling bad. Some gay activists build their identity around
being gay; I had built mine around melancholy. When the melancholy started to dry up, the temptation was to sit still and tell myself I had arrived. But just as surely as negative action (not-having-sex, not-getting-married) doesn’t constitute a vocation, inaction doesn’t constitute a vocation, either. The universal vocation is the call to love, and love always involves action – not nice feelings, not happy dreams, but doing real things for real people. I look at the married people I know, and at the priests and monks and nuns, and what I see is that they constantly spend themselves. Selfdonation isn’t something they do on weekends, or when they have the time. It’s the air they breathe. I look at them and I see grains of wheat, falling deep into the ground and bursting open into fruitfulness. Celibacy doesn’t mean not being fertile; it just means bearing a different kind of fruit.
There’s one difference between me and them. For them, there was a moment beyond which they were definitively no longer their own. Vows were made, rings were exchanged, rites were performed; they are different now. Is something like that necessary for me? I don’t know yet. It might be easier if it were. There’s something to be said for leaps of faith, for making vows and closing off options. I have options. There’s Opus Dei. There’s the Franciscans – third order, of course. Or I could just keep doing what I’m doing: saying my morning offering, uniting my prayers and works and joys and sufferings to those of Jesus, trying to live in the presence of God. But whatever I do, I can’t live for myself forever. The grain of wheat has to die and be buried if it’s going to bloom. God brought me out of the desert, but he has a destination in mind, and wherever it is, I haven’t arrived. I’m just getting started.
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Deacon’s parish is a seafarer’s port By Robert Hiini DEACON Patrick Moore received a strange phone call one Monday morning last month. The Stella Maris Seafarers centre in Fremantle which he adminsters has no shortage of phone calls, with around 600 seafarers seeking solace through its doors, each and every month, but this call was a little different. The Australian newspaper’s Chief of Staff was on the other end of the line, saying he had some money he wanted to give him. Three days before, the newspaper had run full-colour photographs on the front page of its weekend edition showing a container ship’s harrowing rescue of 27 capsised assylum seekers. The photographs had been taken by the JPO Vulpecula’s Captain, Eric Bilango. “They offered Captain Bilango some money for the pics,” Deacon Patrick told The Record, “and [the Captain] said, “we don’t want it, give it as a donation to the Stella
Maris Seafarers Association who made us feel so at home.” Next time the ship was at port in Fremantle, Deacon Patrick, went down to the port to see if he could offer any solace to the ship’s crew, who had seen many of the 200 asylum seekers on board the leaking vessel perish in the waves before they could be rescued.
The Australian’s Chief of Staff was on the line, saying he had some money he wanted to give him. Deacon Patrick said he is busier now, as an ordained minister, than he ever was during his 36 years at the State Library of Western Australia. The seafarers who come are typically on-leave from their ships for a few hours, looking for a place to rest and recuperate, and for help to
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reconnect with their families back home. “They’re poorly paid fellers,” he said of his visiting seafarers, standing in a room with several computers set up for internet access and magazines for light reading. “They love the women’s magazines. As soon as I put out the women’s magazines they just go. Same with the [donated] clothes,” he said. He will often get a call from security guards down at the port to alert him to a ship’s arrival. Throughout the week, he takes the Stella Maris van down to port to pick up sailors who hail from all over the world; Ukraine, Russia, the Phillipines and China, among many other countries. “I really love it here. And it’s funny, isn’t it. I never expected to be here,” he said. In early 2007, shortly after he was ordained to the permanent diaconate, he received a call from the then-Vicar General, Mgr Brian O’Loughlin asking if he would consider the post of Stella Maris Administrator. The centre had been closed and left empty for two years. The whole place was a wreck when he saw it, Deacon Patrick said, with graffiti and rotting carpet throughout the building. Getting it back to a functional state was tough but re-establishing connections with seafarers was noless difficult. He had expected to be working exclusively in a parish – visiting parishioners, doing baptisms and burials, and assisting the liturgy. In addition to Stella Maris, Deacon Patrick serves at his home parish of St Francis Xavier in Armadale, living with Carol, his wife of 40 years, in the neighbouring town of Roleystone. A father of six, he has had the pleasure of baptising one of his three grandchildren, with the hope of baptising more in the not-toodistant future. Although happy in his ministry, he said he felt frustrated that he could not anoint people when they were near death, recounting the story of one man who he regularly visited throughout his sickness and
Deacon Patrick Moore at the Stella Maris Centre for Seafarers in Fremantle. The Centre is run by the Catholic Church to offer friendship and hospitality to seafarers, many of whom experience loneliness or are poorly paid. PHOTO: PETER ROSENGREN
whose family asked him to anoint the night before he died. Down at Stella Maris, he said he was blessed to have two capable and generous part-time staff and several excellent volunteers. Volunteers were hard to come by but he had a man starting on the Monday of the following week. The man’s daughter was one of two Iona Presentation College stu-
dents who had done work experience at Stella Maris recently. “They were good as gold these girls. They worked so hard, beavering away, and were very cheerful,” Deacon Patrick said. “The father thought, ‘I could help there’. He’s not a Catholic but it doesn’t matter, he’s got a good heart. “So there you go, the Holy Spirit works in amazing ways.”
From union official and Party By Robert Hiini FR PETER Porteous says he has never been more content than where he is right now. That, for the Parish Priest of the central Perth suburb of Joondanna, is no mean feat, given the demanding picture he paints of the priesthood. But it is a vision no less compelling than it is daunting and the only one, he says, that could ever deliver the fulfilment a priest seeks and the ministry God’s people need. “It’s a life of being in love with Jesus, totally devoted to him, to his people, and to his Church, so that the love that I have for Jesus transfers to his Church to the extent that Jesus becomes the singular focus of my entire life,” Fr Porteous said, remembering some of his favourite phrases of Mother Theresa of Calcutta. “It’s very difficult for me to be able to separate my life, in everything I do, from my love for Him; it’s real and its concrete and it’s the reason why I do what I do.” He calls a blessing, what many, outside and inside the Catholic Church, have labelled a curse. Celibacy, he said, enables him to serve God with an undivided heart. He also cites fidelity to the Holy Magisterium, respect for Bishops and Church leaders and listening intently to his parishioners, as essential to maintaining a Christ-
centred life, and a happy and holy priesthood. As a young man, Fr Porteous seriously entertained the idea of the priesthood, studying at a St Francis Xavier Seminary in Adelaide for six years, while training to be a priest for the Archdiocese of Perth. Before rekindling his discernment with the Servites, he worked as a union and then Labor party official and spent many years working with street kids as part of the Holy Spirit of Freedom Community. Several signs, he said, were there in his childhood.
He calls a blessing what many inside and outside the Church have labelled a curse – celibacy His mother would often find his younger self preaching to his cousins at family gatherings. Back then, she used to tell people she was sure he would be a minister, following in the tradition of her own Anglican or her husband’s Methodist backgrounds. After years of feeling an inkling towards it, his mother converted to Catholicism via the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults along
with her husband and Fr Porteous’s own father, when Fr Porteous was around 18. Around six months later, Fr Porteous followed suit, joining the Catholic Church on Mother’s Day, 1980, after earlier joining the youth group at his home parish of St Francis Xavier in Armadale. It was a day that would prove portentous to his life as a Religious priest of the Servite Order, one that promotes special devotion to the Mother of God, as a means of finding and communing with her son. Instead of living by himself or with an assistant priest, Fr Porteous lives at the Servite Priory of St Philip in Tuart Hill, with five other men, Brothers and Priests, most of whom are chaplains throughout the Archdiocese. “The person I was before entering the community, the effect that Jesus has had on me through my brothers has changed me; we’re all changing each other, we’re all growing together,” Fr Porteous said. “One of the beauties of religious life, is that as much as your brothers support you, at the same time, we are individuals and we are going to be rubbing-up against each other and there is a lot of growth in that. We are all able to resolve difficulties, in that context, with love.” Any difficulties of life as a member of a religious order are not the only ones he has to face.
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Lawyer’s experience of WYD ‘08 struck a spark By Robert Hiini
WHEN Chris De Sousa made the decision to discern a Religious vocation with the Somascans, most people were more than a little confused. “‘What are you doing? Are you serious?”, that’s what most people said,” Mr De Sousa, 28, told The Record. He had been practising law for five years, steadily working his way up from office dogsbody, just after graduating, to the level of Associate. Chris De Sousa had always felt a call to a missionary kind of life but said he had become complacent with regard to discerning further and pursuing the vocation to which God was calling him. His ascendancy in migration law saw him move to Sydney in 2009. It was a blessing in disguise, he said; an opportunity to discern whether what he had felt at World Youth Day, a year earlier, had been real or not. “I think I thought it was a little bit of hype from 2008 and I was just letting it fizzle and then when I was transferred to Sydney I really felt that God was giving me an opening there, by myself, to really take it seriously,” Mr De Sousa said. When he wasn’t at work, he was doing anything he could to aid his discernment - retreats, silence and solitude mornings, teaching RCIA at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral, and assisting in youth ministry. Working with destitute youth is a special charism, a hallmark, of the Somascan Order who have administered Mr De Sousa’s home parish of St Jerome’s in Spearwood since 2004. That youth focus has been part and parcel of his own spiritual development. Somascan Father and St Jerome’s Parish Priest, Fr Johnson Malayil CRS, asked him to form a parish youth group back in 2005, a group that continues to meet every Sunday. Ever since the Somascans arrived at Spearwood, he has been impressed by their communitycentred approach, both among the priestly brothers themselves and in
Chris De Sousa has gone from being a legal high-flyer to a postulant with the Somascans, an order of priests and brothers based at Spearwood.
their appreciation of the cultural make-up of the parish. “As much as St Jerome’s has always been my home, when the Somascans came, there was something about them that just drew me in,” Mr De Sousa said. “They were very traditional and very welcoming of all the different cultures that make up our parish and incorporated them in community life.” The youth group is not an ‘addon,’ it’s an integrated part of the par-
ish, he said; working with youth is something he wants to continue. “I really love catechising young people and bringing the faith to them, reaching out to all those who may
fessional may also come in handy, he said, in helping others confront the challenges of modern, relatively affluent life. “[Legal practice] was a very
If I didn’t have my faith I might have turned to alcohol and drugs, like many in the profession. be troubled and looking for something to grasp, and bringing Christ to them.” His background as a young pro-
stressful atmosphere with very long hours. “If I didn’t have my faith that got me through those stressful times,
PHOTO: M DE SOUSA
I probably would have turned to alcohol and drugs, which I know a lot of my colleagues in the legal industry have unfortunately turned to,” he said. “At the teenager level, again, they may have a lot more (relative to youth, elsewhere in the world) but that comes with a lot more access to addictions, or feeling abandoned by peers or their own families. “I hope to be able to reach out to them as well. That charism is really, deeply planted in my heart.”
man to Priest of the Church Making hard administrative decisions can cause great stress, not least because of the conflict they might involve. “The first thing I need to be aware of is that I am not here for my own personal popularity. I am not here to use these people to promote my own self-esteem ... It’s not a matter of whether people like you
The first thing is that I’m not here for my own popularity. or not, the primary focus is “what is the most loving and pastorally caring thing to do, what needs to be done, what would Jesus do in this situation”. “In the end it’s not about me its about him and his Church,” Fr Porteous said. What of the persistently negative public image of priests, particularly in the wake of clerical sexual abuse crises? Does he ever get despondent? “Yes, you do, because you feel the hurt of the Church ... If your heart is open to Christ and his Church, which naturally follows, then you do feel the hurt and it’s a very real hurt … in the end the last person or persons you would want to hurt, in any way, is the persons you love the most,” Fr Porteous said.
Cup of coffee in hand, Servite Fr Peter Porteous takes a break from a parish meeting at Joondana, where he is Parish Priest. PHOTO: ROBERT HIINI
Whether he or his fellow priests liked it or not, he said, when people see a priest they see Christ. Whatever one’s vocation, it is important for all people to bring their weakness and also, their many strengths, before God, to receive his
grace. “God’s grace keeps you honest about yourself, an honesty from the Spirit, an honesty about the life you are being called to live. (It’s) an integrity on your part that can only be fulfilled if the spirit of God is moving within you.”
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“You are in my thoughts Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB had some direct and encouraging words to say to St Charles’ seminarians when he
By Robert Hiini ARCHBISHOP Timothy Costelloe SDB made the most of his first opportunity to address archdiocesan seminarians directly when he attended Solemn Vespers and Benediction at St Charles Seminary last Sunday. After welcoming words from Seminary Rector, Mgr Kevin Long, Archbishop Costelloe told the seminarians they were very much, in his thoughts and prayers, and that as a bishop, he was acutely aware of the importance of the seminary to the health and future of priestly ministry. “There are so many things that I would like to say to you this evening that I hardly know where to start,” the Archbishop told the seminarians and the seminary’s teaching faculty. The Archbishop stressed the importance of prayer and of dedi-
cation to philosophical and theological studies. He spoke to the seminarians about fidelity to the Church’s liturgy - “the importance of making sure it is Christ, rather than yourselves, who shines through when you celebrate the liturgy” - as well as the need to develop pastoral sensitivity, to be the Good Shepherds they needed to be. “I would like to talk to you about developing a real love for the Church, the Body of Christ, not so much as you would like it to be but as it is, with all its beauty and all its fragility,” Archbishop Costelloe said. “I would like to talk to you about all these things, but I keep reminding myself that, God willing, I have many years ahead of me as archbishop of Perth and what I can’t say today perhaps I can say tomorrow.” Speaking to the teaching of St Paul and of Bl John Paul II’s Novo
Millennio Ineunte, which inspired the Year of Grace, the Archbishop urged the Seminary and Seminarian to foster a “spirituality of communion”: “A spirituality of communion indicates above all the heart’s contemplation of the mystery of the
Develop a real love for the Church, not so much as you would like it to but as it is. Trinity dwelling in us, and whose light we must also be able to see shining on the face of the brothers and sisters around us,” the Archbishop said. In his opening remarks, Mgr Kevin Long said it was too easy for the Church to get side-tracked by
negative sentiment and challenging circumstances: “It is seductively easy for each of us to become so immersed in the challenges, opportunities and problems of our own particular time, that we risk forgetting what is truly promised and given to us each day in Christ Jesus,” Mgr Long said. “It is also seductively easy to be side tracked from genuine Christian Faith and Christian Charity by the various battles, important, as they might be, raging which the Church and the World.” Church history provided hope, the Rector said, giving the example of Mexican Bishop Rafael Valencia’s underground seminary during the 1920s and 1930s. Priesthood, like marriage, was a life-long endeavour, he said: “It seems to me no sociological accident or mere coincidence that marriage and priesthood are under such severe stress at present.
“In a society so often devoid of any theological and historical memory, and a Church often driven by activism and sheer survival, the challenges remain the same,” Mgr Long said. The Rector drew attention to Archbishop Costelloe’s teaching charism and said he, the seminarians, and the seminary faculty, looked forward to all the things he had to say to them. Both Rector Long and Archbishop Costelloe said they were pleased to welcome special guests to the occasion, which included Syrian Orthodox Archbishop Boutros Touma Issa, Baptist leader Dr Noel Vose, Anglican Bishop Brian Kyme, Redemptoris Mater Seminary Rector, Fr Michael Moore, the Catholic Education Office’s Director of Religious Education, Debra Sayce and Mgr Long’s visiting mother, Mrs Claire Long.
Archbishop urges prayer and communion In this (edited) homily from Sunday, July 29, Archbishop Costelloe lays out his hopes for Perth’s seminarians. I HAVE always understood that, as the [Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops] puts it, the continuity and fruitfulness of the Church’s priestly ministry depends largely on the work of the seminary ... I have you, the seminarians, very much in my thoughts and prayers, as I do the rector and staff and the many benefactors and supporters of St Charles ... I would like to talk to you of the importance of the life of prayer that your time in the seminary should help you to establish and deepen. I would like to speak of the necessity to devote yourselves as fully as you can to your philosophical and theologi-
cal studies, not just because you can’t get ordained without them but much more because they will help you to be the faithful pastors that the Church needs you to be. I would like to talk to you about fidelity to the Church’s liturgy and of the importance of making sure that it is Christ, rather than yourselves, who shines through when you celebrate the liturgy. I would like to talk about the pastoral sensitivity you will need to develop if you are to really be the Good Shepherds to Christ’s flock that he needs you to be. I would like to talk to you about developing a real love for the Church, the Body of Christ, not so much as you would
like it to be but as it is, with all its beauty and all its fragility. I would like to talk to you about just why it is that the Church requires so many years of formation for men who are seeking to be ordained as priest, and about the humility you need to accept that you are in formation because you need to be formed. You are not yet all that you need to be if you are to be the priest that both you and the Lord want you to be ... [I]nstead of talking about all these things tonight, things which I hope to come back and talk to you about in the future, let me simply direct you to the second reading from today’s liturgy. In
that reading, from the letter to the Ephesians, St Paul could have been speaking directly to a community of seminarians, although of course what he says is valid for any Christian community. I hope I am not being pretentious if I say that I would like to make Paul’s words my own as I speak to you tonight. And so, with St Paul, I say to all of you who are part of the seminary community that I implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. I beg you to bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. I urge you to do all you can to preserve the unity of the
Spirit by the peace that binds you together. I ask you to remember that there is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. If you do all this then the words of the psalm will make sense to you: how good and how pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity. We are living through the Year of Grace and we are being invited to “start afresh from Christ” and “contemplate his face.” These are words which come from Pope John Paul II, and they form the heart of his vision for the Church in this third Christian millennium.
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and prayers” joined them for evening prayer, last Sunday.
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God’s call is the only one that fulfills
Mariusz Grzech, 35, leading St Charles seminarians in worship on July 29 for the visit of Archbishop Costelloe and special guests. PHOTO: R HIINI
By Robert Hiini
Leaders from the Syrian Orthodox, Anglican and Baptists Churches, above, and other guest from Redemptoris Mater Seminary and the Catholic Education Office, below, joined St Charles Seminary staff and students for Vespers and Benediction with Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, last Sunday. PHOTOS: R HIINI
In the same document in which we find this invitation, Novo Millennio Ineunte, the document which inspired the Bishops to proclaim this Year of Grace, we also find the Pope’s reflection on what the Church is called to and how we might become all that God is asking us to be. As a commentary of St Paul’s words in today’s liturgy I offer you Pope John Paul’s reflection and ask you to make it a source of reflection and action for your life in the seminary as you move into the future. To make the Church the home and the school of communion: that is the great challenge facing us in the millennium which is now beginning, if we wish to be faithful to God’s plan and respond to the world’s deepest yearnings. But what does this mean in practice? Here too, our thoughts could run immediately to the action to be undertaken, but that
would not be the right impulse to follow. Before making practical plans, we need to promote a spirituality of communion, making it the guiding principle of education wherever individuals and Christians are formed, wherever ministers of the altar, consecrated persons, and pastoral workers are trained, wherever families and communities are being built up. A spirituality of communion indicates above all the heart’s contemplation of the mystery of the Trinity dwelling in us, and whose light we must also be able to see shining on the face of the brothers and sisters around us. A spirituality of communion also means an ability to think of our brothers and sisters in faith within the profound unity of the Mystical Body, and therefore as “those who are a part of me”. This makes us able to share their joys and sufferings, to sense their desires and attend to their needs, to offer them deep
and genuine friendship. A spirituality of communion implies also the ability to see what is positive in others, to welcome it and prize it as a gift from God: not only as a gift for the brother or sister who has received it directly, but also as a “gift for me”. A spirituality of communion means, finally, to know how to “make room” for our brothers and sisters, bearing “each other’s burdens” (Gal 6:2) and resisting the selfish temptations which constantly beset us and provoke competition, careerism, distrust and jealousy. Let us have no illusions: unless we follow this spiritual path, external structures of communion will serve very little purpose. They would become mechanisms without a soul, “masks” of communion rather than its means of expression and growth. Here at St Charles we are trying to form priests who will really be men of communion.
TO SAY St Charles’ Seminarian Mariusz Grzech made a decision to become a priest, would be to get things the wrong way around, he told The Record earlier this week. The 35-year-old former accountant is now in his third year at St Charles Seminary at Guildford. Like a lot of men at the seminary, to all outward appearances, his life before entering was a highly successful one. He had reached the level of manager, had a very good income, and a good girlfriend, but still felt like something was missing. Prayer helped him to figure out the life to which he believes he is being called. “It was not because I made a decision. I felt someone was prompting me very strongly, it’s never been a conscious thing, like one day I decided I’m going to try this priesthood business. He’s prompted me along, meeting good people and receiving good insights,” Mr Grzech said. When people seem puzzled as to his choice to enter the seminary, he responds by saying it’s not confusing if you understand the concept of vocation, as the plan of a good God who desires fulfilment in your life. “That’s how I respond because people think married life is it, and [sexual] relationships. Sure, God designed us, for men and women to be attracted to one another but he gave the grace for those urgings to be overcome, and we all need those graces,” Mr Grzech said. Mr Grzech prays the full Divine Office with his seminary confreres, participates in Mass and the other Sacraments, and studies during teaching semesters at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle. Each seminarian does community service within the seminary community. Mr
Grzech serves as the music co-ordinator, organising music for the Solemn Vespers and Benediction attended by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and leaders form other churches, at the seminary, last Sunday. The seminarians hail from local surrounds and neighbouring dioceses, as well as from further afield; from Burma, the Philippines, India and Vietnam. Most of the men are in their mid-to-late twenties. Living in community is a shaping process, Mr Grzech said, and a largely positive one, even with all the challenges it brings: “Everybody brings their gifts and talents to the seminary
I felt someone was prompting me, it was never a conscious thing, like one day I decided to try this priesthood business. and that’s the melting pot that builds us up. “I feel quite inspired by the guys I am surrounded by. Everyone contributes something, it’s been a good process for me.” After 2.5 years at St Charles, he said he feels he has his study under control and hopes to dedicate more of his time to becoming the kind of priest he hopes to be. “I’m starting to cultivate myself and form myself into the image and character of the good priests I look up to...I’m trying to grow in spirituality and [in my] prayer life and really understand the essence of priesthood as Christ wanted it, and as John Paul II wanted it, but I always look back to those good priests I look up to,” Mr Grzech said.
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900 years of community, liturgy, love By Br Christopher Lim EACH time when I ponder over how the Lord has led me in life to embrace my vocation as a Norbertine Canon, I feel drawn back to Jeremiah 29: 11 – 14. These verses were given to me when I was at a retreat discerning my life’s direction a few years ago. Praying over them now often leave me pondering and wondering at how true the Lord has been to His promises by leading and shaping me to be His Canon and Deacon (I was ordained on 19th March this year). As Canons Regular of Premontre, we place the core of our identity in our community. There are currently five in the community with one aspirant/postulant (currently we are quite international with Australians, Irish, Indians and myself a Malaysian). “Encountering God amongst us” is concretised when we commit our lives through our vows to a particular community in which it becomes for others and us a privileged place of communal grace. The Rule of St Augustine which we follow says that, “the first reason that we have gathered in this monastery is that we should be of one heart and one mind on the way to God.” It invites my confreres and I to share ourselves and the traditions from which we come so that it not only enriches our communal living but makes it more interesting. Each day, our expression of our communal life shared with our parishioners and friends is chiefly
through the celebration of the sung choral office and the Eucharistic celebration. Strengthened by the Word of God and refreshed by the Bread of Life we move on to serve others through our educational institutions like St Norbert College, St Joseph’s Primary school, through pastoral work in our Parishes of East Cannington–Queens Park and York. With a nearly 900 year history stretching from the first community in Premontre, (in north-eastern France) set up by St Norbert, Blessed Hugh of Fosse and companions in 1120, it is in our tradition that we trace our Canonry here in Queens Park to our found-
We Norbertines are a community focused on the resurrection, dignified liturgy, and waiting for you to visit. ing Canonry of Kilnacrott Abbey, Ireland (where our only pioneer – Fr Stephen Cooney, O. Praem hails from) and beyond to Tongerlo Abbey, Flanders, St Michael’s in Antwerp and Premontre. What has nourished me throughout these years has been my time spent in personal prayer, sharing and listening to my spiritual director, having good encouraging friends and looking at the example of the commitment of my parents and my De LaSalle brothers
Norbertine Deacon Christopher Lim stands in front of his community’s priory in Queens Park.
and Infant Jesus Sisters educators’ commitment to their vows. Therefore, in this Year of Grace, as a community it is our ardent hope that the “Lord of the Harvest” would touch the hearts of many young men to consider our way of life. Young men, if you are looking at
dedicating your life to a communal setting, wear a unique form of habit reflecting the Resurrection of the Lord, have great esteem for the dignified celebration of the liturgy and yet being truly Australian then you have a community waiting for you here. We would love it if you want to
PHOTO: ROBERT HIINI
drop by and want to know more. Come and have coffee with us. We are at 135, Treasure Road, Queens Park, WA 6107. Our contact numbers are 9458 2729 / 94515586 or email me at clim@norbert.wa.edu.au or visit us in Facebook at Norbertines of Queens Park.
Victor finds fulfilment following God’s way By Robert Hiini
Deacon Victor Lujano found his vocation to the priesthood through the Neocatechumenal Way. PHOTO: R HIINI
THE VENEZUELAN native is a long way away from his home city of Barinas, close to the Andes, and many years have elapsed since fear of a very concrete kind gripped him as a younger man. Victor Lujano was 19 when he stepped forward at a gathering of the Neocatechumenal Way to say he felt called to ordained ministry but for five years afterwards, he was plagued by a mysterious neurological illness which caused occasional convulsions. Deacon Lujano was ordained to the diaconate for Perth by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB at St Gerard Majella Church in Mirabooka last Friday July 27th. With treatment in the area being at a somewhat nascent stage, his greatest fear was of needing to undergo brain surgery if the prescribed course of medication failed to provide the hoped-for relief. The medication did cure his ailment and Deacon Lujano took it as a sign, that with the Lord, he needn’t fear the future. “It was a word from God, not to be afraid,” Deacon Lujano said. “After that I knew that was a call for me, when he healed me from that sickness.” God had also provided his with meaning in his teenage years, he said, when he struggled to understand and deal with his parents’ separation. After years of turmoil, he came in contact with Neocatechumenal Way catechists when he was 16. “Little by little, I began to discover – because before I didn’t understand the separation of my parents, because everybody wants a beautiful family, everyone wants to see the beautiful (happy) children, I didn’t understand that. Little by little, the Lord was making things clear, in my history,” the Deacon said. He was 24 when he was finally healed of his neurological illness,
but was waylaid in his vocational journey by the joys of youth, working instead in his brother’s mechanics business, while also studying at night to complete the studies he had missed at high school. “That call of God was there, in the separation, the sickness. Being a young fellow you have not so much emotion to go [and join a seminary]. “You enjoy the life of going to the cinema and the discotheque but after a while there is an emptiness there,” he said. “It was enjoyable and wonderful to go to my friends’ houses but it wasn’t enough. God was calling me to do something serious, in that
Cinema, discos, friends weren’t enough. God was calling me. sense,” he told The Record. In 2004 he went to Rome and travelled on to a Neocatechumenal Way gathering at Porto San Giorgio, with around 300 other men. There, they volunteered to be sent to any one of the 70 or so Neocatechumenal Way seminaries throughout the world, with the specific seminary being decided by lot. He was chosen for Perth along with (now Father) Benny Calanza and two other men who have subsequently returned home. He said he sees priesthood as being much more than merely mechanically administering Sacraments. “You are called to bring this good news to the people. As a priest, it is true you perform the Sacraments, that is part of the priesthood – but you have to care for the people you are guiding as their shepherd; we need to care for people as well,” Deacon Lujano said. “[It is] trying to give what the Lord has done in your life; to present how the Lord has helped you. It is hope for them and not just for you.”
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Blinded by the light
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Three women share their own very personal stories of vocation and founding a new religious community in Australia - the Sisters of the Immaculata, based in Lewisham, Sydney. The charism of the Sisters is parish renewal.
Sr Mary THERESE
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WAS adopted into an Anglican family when I was three months old. My mother used to sing me songs about Jesus but, as they got older, I think the faith slipped away. I came to the Lord through the Rosary when I was 29. When I first became Catholic I never thought about being a religious Sister - absolutely never. Even though I didn’t feel any desire for religious life, I remember a Sister asked me if I’d like to become a nun and because of how I felt I said, “no way!” Coming from a Protestant background, it had never even seemed like an option to me. Nevertheless, I went into the church and prayed, “You know my heart, Lord, you know what I want, but let it be Your will, not mine.” In my heart, I wanted to be loved and so I thought this meant marriage and this was what I hoped for. I dated a few strong Catholic men but I could never be totally myself; it never felt right. I had to let go of what I thought would make me happy - it’s natural to think that marriage is the only way, especially if you’ve never seen religious life. The thing was, though, I had encountered God’s love and I knew He was more important than anything. I knew that my Catholic faith was the most important gift and I wanted to share that gift. I realised that if I was married I would have other obligations and I really felt Him calling me to be entirely His. At the same time I felt Him give me His Heart for parish revival. My vocation became apparent through sitting with the Lord in Adoration - prayer is the key. If we don’t pray, we cannot have a relationship with Him. It was in prayer that I discovered so many things. I discovered myself, I grew in wholeness and I realised what I was made for. My vocation is the best thing that ever happened in my life. It’s a supernatural grace and I’ve never felt so loved. Ultimately, God granted the deepest desires of my heart. I have been asked if it’s scary to start something new, to form this order. The answer is no, because we’re not doing it alone. It can be hard sometimes, because we have very little, but in all honesty, it’s a joy to be in the will of the Father and to be a bride of Christ - I don’t want to be anywhere else.
I discovered what I was made for. My vocation is the best thing that ever happened.
Sr Francis MARY
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y mother was raised Mormon and converted to Catholicism after she married. Although I attended two Catholic girls’ high schools I didn’t have much formation in my faith. Throughout my childhood I was exposed to alcohol, gambling and violence; I thought it was normal. When I was 14 my parents separated for a while and I had Mormon missionaries knocking on my door and I converted to Mormonism. I wanted to be Mormon was because I saw that it was a moral and safe environment, with no alcohol, gambling or violence. I thought it was the true church of Christ and I felt accepted. I liked the unity and the youth activities. After a few months my parents got back together and I was not allowed to go to Mormon activities. I was forced to go to Mass on Sundays but I wouldn’t receive communion because I didn’t believe in the true presence and in my heart I was Mormon; if I did receive communion it was for the sake of pleasing my grandmother. I was sitting at Mass on a Sunday when I was 23 and I heard Karin (now Mother Mary Therese) ask for volunteers. She was a recent convert to the Church and she said that Our Lady led her to the Catholic Church and that it is the true Church of Jesus. I thought that was the Mormon church, but I’ve always prayed for truth, so I listened. In 2002 I moved into the convent to help work for the parish, to learn more about my faith and to prepare for World Youth Day Toronto. As I learnt more about my faith I fell in love with Jesus in the Eucharist and I started to discern my vocation. About five years ago I was seriously discerning religious life and which community would fit my charism. I was blessed to have four religious vocations in my family. My dad’s sister is a Carmelite nun and she has been a great influence on me. I was looking at communities but they didn’t fit my charism or the mission in my heart for parish revival. I also struggled with the fact that I had deep roots here in Lewisham with the Immaculata Community so when the Lord opened the door for a new religious community coming from the Immaculata I knew this was where I was called. Now, as a Sister I feel more at peace and I have more joy. I love my vocation.
Throughout my childhood I thought gambling and violence were normal.
Sr Mary IMMANUEL
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HE very thought of a vocation left me with panic attacks and anxiety; I was bent on marriage with a man I was deeply in love with and there was no way I would become a Sister… but God obviously had other plans. At the beginning of 2010 I was very unhappy. Even though I had been very involved in my parish, I felt a certain disconnection of purpose and meaning to my life and just wanted out. I realised I was not ready for marriage and even though I loved my boyfriend very much, I felt I had to end the relationship. I went to Alice Springs for my final social work university placement and, to be honest, things just went downhill. Instead of embracing the sacrifice He asked of me, I responded with anger and neglected my relationship with Him. By the end of my placement, I was unhappy. Those few months after I came home to Sydney, although they were unimaginably hard, were a very special time with the Lord because He showed me the depths of His love. In those few months, I found myself clinging to Him in a way I had never done before and the Cross became very healing for me. One fine October day, Mother Mary Therese asked me about joining them. I thought it was a joke and laughed it off, but the question stuck with me and I began to see things falling into place. It was now or never because I knew if I didn’t say yes I would keep running away. After a few months of discernment (and many tears) I finally gained courage to say yes, and on February 11, I entered as an aspirant. It’s now been a year and a half since I’ve joined. I was always worrying about the future and to be honest, much of my aspirancy and postulancy was a struggle with this. But with each step I have taken I have found more peace, more joy and more purpose. I have never felt so free and so happy. As I surrendered and listened to Him, letting go of what I thought was best, He showed me what was even greater and I am still discovering that! When I first entered, I said I’d give Him a year. A year later, to my surprise, I became a novicee. How my life will unfold I do not know, but what I do know is this, “gently He will lead me, his rod and his staff, gently to still waters”, into a future that I know is filled with great hope.
One fine October day Mother Mary asked me about joining. I thought it was a joke.
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What Women Want
Hallie Lord is editor of Style, Sex & Substance: 10 Catholic Women Consider The Things That Really Matter, a paperback published by Our Sunday Visitor. She was happy to field questions for CatholicMatch, a US Catholic match-making website. What inspired this book? A COUPLE of things, actually. First, I was eager to demonstrate that there is no one correct way to live out our vocation. I think many of us worry that we’re not doing this whole Catholic womanhood thing right. The truth is that God is endlessly creative and sets forth a unique path for each of us to follow. I wanted to encourage women to embrace their passions, and trust in God’s guidance and love for them. I also had a desire to create a book that would help Catholic women to feel a little less alone. Our vocation to Catholic womanhood is such a gift but, especially in this day and age, it can sometimes feel a little isolating. By choosing to collaborate with so many unique voices, I hoped to show women that we’re all in this together and that together we will prevail! I was pleased to see a chapter addressing single life, which can feel overlooked by married Catholics. It’s written by Anna Mitchell, news director for EWTN’s
“Son Rise Morning Show,” and she begins by stating that, in her late 20s, she’s been a bridesmaid eight times and she’s “jealous” of married women: “I won’t sugarcoat the frustration that comes from waiting for a vocation to be realised.” What did you make of this observation and the insights that followed?
women. Though it’s true that most of the chapters are written by married women, the majority of the topics – including the chapters on faith, style, engaging the culture, work, and friendship – are relevant to all women regardless of their state in life. Wrestling with the topic of singlehood was part of the plan from day one.
WHEN I SET out to create this book, I made it a point to approach authors who had demonstrated that they were unafraid of being honest. I didn’t want to create a book that was full of platitudes but rather one that said, “Yeah, this vocation of ours isn’t always fun and it isn’t always pretty, but it is always good.” I think Anna did that very, very well in her chapter. I loved reading her insights into both the struggles and joys that come with being a single Catholic woman.
What ’s your adv ice to CatholicMatch members yearning for marriage and growing weary of the wait?
At what point did you decide to include a chapter for single Catholic women? I WANTED this book to have something to offer to all Catholic
LIVE IN THE moment. I love being married and wouldn’t change it for the world, but there are things I miss about being single. There is a lot of freedom – and opportunities for sleep! – during that phase of life that you lose when you get married and have children. Sometimes I kick myself for not enjoying those things more while I had them. I know how hard it is, though, and don’t mean to make light of that cross. But to the best of your ability, savor the goodness that God has given you each and every day.
I really appreciated Jennifer Fulwiler’s exhortation to “reject your sins, but love your quirks.” In your own life, Hallie, how have you come to do this, growing in holiness as well as self-acceptance? WHEN I FIRST converted to Catholicism I took a very narrow view of what it meant to be a Catholic woman. I rejected a lot of my passions and preferences
I made a point of approaching authors unafraid to be honest. because they didn’t fit into that vision. What I eventually realised, though, was that it was God who had given me my quirks – the fact that I love vintage fashion, dry humor, and am forever in search of the perfect red lipstick. What we need to remember is that God plans to use all of these things. Embrace what you love – as long as it’s not sinful, as Jen points out so eloquently – be true to your-
self, and trust that God will use that in ways that will astound you. More broadly put, you make the case that style and substance aren’t mutually exclusive. Since that’s the title of the book – along with that always-provocative three-letter word in the middle – reflect on that balance a bit, how a woman can admire fashion shoes and reserve time for daily prayer, that there’s room for both in the right proportion. OH, YOU’RE a girl after my own heart. But to answer your question, I think the key is to not become preoccupied with any one thing. It’s fine and good for me to delight in fashion but if I’m emptying my bank account, neglecting my children, and failing to make time for prayer because all I can think about is my wardrobe, than something has gone terribly awry. Ultimately, everything we do during the course of a day should lead us closer to God. Even fashion! God wants us to celebrate all of the many earthly joys He has given to us. Fashion is just one of
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Single vocation is full of potential to change the world By Jennifer Fulwiler
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Two young catholic women, above, attend the SCENE Conference in Sydney. Author Hallie Lord, at right, also a convert, says Catholic women can feel isolated in today's world and her book Style, Sex & Substance: 10 Catholic Women Consider The Things That Really Matter is an attempt to show Catholic women they are not alone in their vocation. PHOTO, ABOVE, PATRICK LEE:
those things that brings me joy. And when I am joyful I can more effectively serve my family, my community, and the world at large. The older I get the more interested I become in self-care. As you point out, women seem to have a harder time with this. So paint a picture for me of a quick fix you turn to on a stressful day. NOTHING revives me quite so quickly as a long, hot bath. Scented epsom salts are a must. The scent relaxes me – I’m especially fond of mint and lavender – and the magnesium in the epsom salts revives my body. I love the title of Karen Edmisten’s chapter on spirituality, “God and Godiva.” One of her suggestions is to play the kind of music that makes you think of God. What song does that for you? ADELE’S Set Fire to the Rain and Audrey Assad’s Lament are my current favorites. Random question for you, unre-
lated to the book: I’m interested in names and their influence. (I blogged a couple months ago about popular baby names and saint names.) I’m curious how you feel about Hallie – what it means to you, how you’ve come to own it? I WAS ACTUALLY named after my grandfather, William Haley, which always meant a lot to me since we were especially close. I must admit to feeling a little bummed after my conversion that there isn’t a St Hallie. A friend of mine recently discovered that Hallie is a derivation of Henry, though, so I’m looking forward to learning more about the life of St Henry. What writing advice would you give to the many members of CatholicMatch who are writers or aspiring writers? THERE ARE three things that helped me enormously: Invest in your career. By that I mean be willing to work for free to get experience. There are a lot of Catholic websites that may not be able to pay but will give you expo-
sure and experience and that is priceless. Malcolm Gladwell, author of Outliers, claims the key to success in any field is, to a large extent, a matter of practicing a specific task for a total of around 10,000 hours. Nothing beats plugging away at your craft. Don’t give up. Finally, it can be hard to hear criticism about your writing as it is such an intimate form of artistic expression but try to remain humble. Take to heart the feedback the experienced editors give you and use it to refine your writing. To answer your own subtitle, what really matters for Catholic women? WELL, of course, what really matters is all of those most important elements of a woman’s life: her relationship with God, marriage, motherhood, sex, friendship, work, etc. Beyond that, what matters is bringing balance to all of these elements. That, ultimately, was the goal of this book: to help women to “order, heal, and foster the individual elements of our life so that our entire life, as a whole, will better reflect the light of Christ.”
think that Catholic singles have a crucial role to play in modern culture. In fact, I've recently become convinced that the world needs to hear their voices now more than ever. Here's why: I recently wrote a post over at my personal blog about Catholic teaching and homosexuality, in which I recounted a conversation from a dinner I recently had with a friend and his partner. I've received hundreds of passionate replies, both from those who agree and those who disagree, but none have been more intense than those who wrote me to rail against the idea of people with samesex attraction abstaining from sexual activity. To paraphrase from multiple emails, the typical response went something like this: You should be ashamed of yourself for belonging to a religion that would tell gay people that they can't engage in sexual activity with the people they love. How could it be anything but cruel for your Church to doom homosexuals to lives of celibacy? It's terrible that you would suggest that an entire group of people should spend their whole lives in loneliness. The source of anger behind these notes seemed to centre around that last word: Loneliness. Almost without exception, these equated a life without sex to a life without love. They imagined that if someone were to follow the moral doctrines as laid out by the Catholic Church and give up homosexual sex to live chastely, he or she would be signing up for an isolated, sad existence. The notes that sit in my inbox are a written form of the reactions that Dr John Haas got when he advocated chastity to a group of US college students: after he was pelted with notepads and pencils and jeered off the stage, a university vice president responded with sympathy toward the unruly students, asking, "How do you expect people to live without sex?" I think that that question is at the very centre of the redhot cauldron of the modern cultural clashes on this issue. The Catholic Church preaches a design for human sexuality that means that plenty of people would have to go for long periods without engaging in any sexual activity – for some people, their whole lives. The world reacts to this news in horror, echoing the words of the university vice president and the people who have been emailing me after my post: How do you expect people to live without sex?! It's easy for people in the secular world to imagine the chaste single life as lonely misery, because, very often, they don't know anyone who is doing such a thing. I believe that if they could get a glimpse into the life of the average practicing Catholic who happens to be single, they would see something totally different. They would see someone who is surrounded by
life through his friendships, through his parish community, perhaps through his role as godparent. They would see someone whose life is inextricably connected with the lives of others through the Body of Christ. They would see someone whose source of joy is not sex or anything else in the material world, but Christ himself. In fact, I think that if anyone were to do an honest comparison of the Catholic single life to the worldly single life, one would seem distinctly more lonely than the other – and it wouldn't be the Catholic one. I am reminded of an insightful remark Father James Brent, OP made in a 2009 interview about his vocation to priesthood. When talking about the issue of celibacy, he pointed out any true sense of intimacy must ultimately be rooted in God. He wrote: "I'm not sure when I realised it, but celibacy is not the same as being alone. Celibacy is being alone with God. And being with God makes all the difference in whether one really finds love in this world.
I'm not sure when I first realised it, but celibacy is not the same as being alone. Celibacy is being alone with God: that makes all the difference in the world. That goes for the married and unmarried alike. Unless one is somehow with God, even the very best of spouses can never slake the thirst for love." This is what secular culture is missing when it reacts in horror to the Catholic idea of the chaste single life: Sexual activity is not a requirement for experiencing intimacy and love. In fact, as Father Check explains, the boundaries the Church places on human sexuality are boundaries of love, meant to ensure mutual respect and self-giving. It is when we violate them, not when we follow them, that we end up on a path that is sure to end in loneliness. The more I think about this, the more I think that single Catholics are going to play an increasingly important role in the evangelisation of modern culture. The truth about human sexuality is counter-cultural to an extent that the average person immersed in a secular worldview is going to find it hard to believe; and while we can share the truth in words, nothing speaks the truth more powerfully than the poetry of a real human life. Let's keep all single Catholics in our prayers, because as the world continues to preach the message that people who aren't married must engage in promiscuous behavior in order to be happy, it is our single brothers and sisters who offer the most powerful counter-argument, through the simple witness of their lives. - NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER
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VOCATIONS
therecord.com.au
August 1, 2012
Taking
MARRIAGE
from ‘ functional’ to ‘blossoming’ Stephen and Carmen Court share how their marriage changed for the better, thanks to Celebrate Love, an increasingly popular marriage enrichment program set in the context of the Catholic faith.
I
N THIS Year of Grace, it’s worth exploring grace in the context of marriage. Some marriages seem happy enough and relatively peaceful. Some operate at a reasonably efficient level and there is a sense that everything is OK. A marriage can seem ‘efficient’ but, at the same time, a bit bland and often mediocre. Some couples in this place may wonder “is this all there is to marriage”? Some may want to improve their position, but either look in the wrong places or don’t know where to look. About seven years ago, we were at that mediocre place with our marriage. We had been so busy raising our family of five children, working like crazy and being involved in our Church community that our life as a couple was ‘on the back-burner’. This had not happened purposefully. We thought that where we were was normal and where we were supposed to be. But a friend suggested we give each other a 25th wedding anniversary present and attend Celebrate Love, a weekend enrichment seminar for married couples. What a gift. Attending Celebrate Love helped us realise we needed to find a passion and enthusiasm to keep growing in our relationship if we wanted to live our vocation of marriage the way that God intends. The seminar recharged, reinvigorated and refreshed our marriage. It gave us knowledge and tools to strengthen our relationship. It gave us better ways of communicating effectively and being fully present to each other. Now, we look forward to seeing each other and spending time together just like we did when we first met. Since then we have become part of the Celebrate Love team in WA. Speaking with many other married couples has also helped us examine our relationship more closely and appreciate the graces that flow from our marriage. As a married couple we are so often the recipients of God’s graces and these manifest themselves when we face challenges that seem beyond our capabilities and need to rely on God to help us get through - graces of faith and
unity. Even when prayers are not answered the way we want, God gives us graces to help us cope graces of peace and patience. These have often been ‘the thing that made the difference’ to solving life’s challenges - graces of wisdom and knowledge. The graces of trust, gentleness, understanding, unity and passion have also enriched our love in ways beyond our imagining. We have also seen God’s amazing work in other marriages too, especially when couples are open to receiving His grace. Our philosophy is ‘never go to God for half a cup of grace, take a bucket.’ God is generous, loves us and desires to see our marriages work, grow and constantly improve. “We were ‘happy’ because we felt our marriage was basically
The seminar recharged, reinvigorated and refreshed our marriage. It gave us knowledge and tools to strengthen our relationship. functional. We didn’t realise that marriage has the potential of many more dimensions and much more depth,” said one couple who attended Celebrate Love. “We were ‘happy in the moment’ but almost ignorant of what marriage could really be. Now we have a much better sense of God’s grace working in our relationship and in our family.” In a world where so many marriages look like train wrecks, a “functional” marriage can seem adequate. But we have seen marriages that seem to glow with joy and love and radiate an energy that is something we all long for, deep down, in our own marriages. We sort of - know that this is the way it should be, but often find it difficult to achieve. In the past we wondered
what it is that they seem to have in their relationship that we did not necessarily have in our own. Taking our marriage to another level required trust, commitment, communication and a conscious investment in time and energy - as a couple. It meant asking for and receiving grace, as a couple. Among the fruits have been improved communication, emotional understanding, greater unity, intimacy, passion, growth, security for our families and a strengthening of our community. In our wedding ceremony we made a sacramental commitment. We promised each other and the Church to do everything in our power to “be the visible sign of something invisible.” This is what being ‘sacramental’ means; our love for each other should be the visible sign of Christ’s invisible love for us. Marriage is a mission and a vocation to which all married couples are called and when we have visibly strong marriages, we start to more closely resemble the love of Christ for His bride, the Church. Lived out the way that God wants us to live them, our marriages can image the love of Christ in the world to families, friends and communities. We must try to be the best we can and settling for mediocrity, therefore, is not an option. The next Celebrate Love marriage seminar weekend will be on Saturday and Sunday, August 25-26 at the Newman Siena Centre, Doubleview. The two-day seminar for married couples explores intimacy and spirituality in a Catholic context. Composed of presentations, reflective exercises and private couple discussion, it is designed to lead to deeper intimacy and a greater appreciation of masculine and feminine uniqueness. Couples identify individual needs for intimacy and emotional support, freeing them to trust more fully and rekindle the passion and joy of being ‘in love’. The program is facilitated by married couples. Presentations are followed by self-directed questionnaires and discussion so that
Above: Married couples from throughout Southern California renewing their wedding vows at the World Marriage Day Masses at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Right: Carmen and Stephen Court.
PHOTO: CNS
husband and wife can explore the topics together in complete privacy. There is no group discussion or counselling. Celebrate Love is suitable for married couples of all ages and while it is presented in the context of the Catholic faith, participants of all faiths and practices are most welcome. For more details please phone Carmen Court on 9316 4434 or 0419 945 277 or check the web site www.celebratelove.com.au. Advance registrations for the weekend are essential and can be done on-line. An early bird discount applies for registrations by Monday August 13. STEPHEN and CARMEN COURT have been married for nearly 32 years and have five children. They are members of the Applecross Parish and have been involved with the Celebrate Love seminar program for 4 years. They are also a mentor couple for the Embrace program run over 6 weeks, preparing engaged couples for marriage using a tailored version of Celebrate Love especially focused on engagement and preparation for marriage.
VOCATIONS
therecord.com.au August 1, 2012
13
The proposal is only the beginning of married life Those contemplating marriage can be beset by fears, doubts and illusions about all kinds of things, including themselves. The best policy? Be prudent – and don’t be frightened. By Simcha Fisher
S
PEAKING of marriage and expectations, a 2008 post from The Art of Manliness website (I don’t have anything against these folks, honest! They just keep popping up) gave some pretty decent advice about how to tell if you’ve found the right woman to marry. I agree wholeheartedly with two of the signs of a good choice: “there’s nothing major you want to change about her” and “she’s your best friend.” You have no business marrying someone you hope to alter dramatically, and you ought to prefer spending time with her above all others. But I’d like to challenge the other three criteria: “She gets along well with your family and friends” and “The thought of marrying her doesn’t scare you in the least” and “The relationship goes smoothly from the beginning.” These sound sensible, but they all imply the same thing: that you’ve got your act together yourself. Don’t get me wrong: Twisted, baffled or mentally disturbed people shouldn’t be contemplating marriage—they should be working on getting their own houses in order before merging lives with someone else (and the Church recognises that “insufficiency or inadequacy of judgement” may even make the marriage invalid). And I do not mean to denigrate people who are unfailingly mature and responsible, who make choices based purely on prayer, common sense and optimal timing. I just don’t know very many of them. I do, however, know many happily married, perfectly matched couples who have been married for decades - but who were kind of a mess when they first said Yes. She gets along well with your family and friends? Well, I know a guy who started contemplating marriage because his girlfriend was the only one who realised that his family was utterly nuts—and who encouraged him to break away from the disfunction. The thought of marrying her doesn’t scare you in the least? I know a guy who was rigid with fear before his wedding, petrified that he’d hurt his beloved the way he’d hurt his ex-fiancee. The relationship goes smoothly from the beginning? I know many couples who wrangle and battle their way through years and years of love
and fidelity, because that’s the kind of people they are: fighters, and they wouldn’t be suited to marry anyone who expects life to go smoothly. Some people only propose once they’re confident, happy and secure; but some may only become confident, happy and secure through the working of their marriages. Immature, unfinished, unpolished, insecure men and women may be ready for marriage, too—in fact, it may be exactly what they need. Some people grow up only once they come face to face with the demands of married life. Starting out with seamless calm and certainty might even bring troubles of its own: You might expect the entire marriage to go smoothly, and for the relationship to bring you nothing but strength and comfort. Maybe it will, and maybe it won’t—but at least people who’ve had some anxiety from the beginning won’t be taken by surprise if some bumps do appear along the road.
It’s foolish to go ahead and marry someone when you have serious doubts ... But neither should we wait for perfection. So, yes, it’s foolish to go ahead and marry someone when you have serious doubts about him or about the relationship. We must not ignore true red flags. But neither should we wait for perfection. Having doubts about yourself, and recognising that you’re launching into a long, long project with someone who is likely and willing to help you be better — that sounds like real life. Must we be squeaky clean and utterly grounded before we’re capable of making a good choice? I don’t think so, any more than I think we must own a home and have a robust college savings account in place before conceiving a child. There’s a fine line between mere prudence and an arrogant self-confidence, which doesn’t allow for messiness, unpredictability or weakness - or grace. Marriage isn’t all about laying good bets and then reaping the rewards. The proposal and the wedding and the vows, no matter how deeply felt, are just the beginning - and who we are when we’re first married is who we are just beginning to be.
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VOCATIONS
therecord.com.au
August 1, 2012
Habits
Seven Daily
of HOLY APOSTOLIC PEOPLE The Second Vatican Council said it. So does Wall Street banker-turned-priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei, Fr John McCloskey. The vocation all Christians share is the universal call to holiness. Here is his advice for anyone interested in achieving it.
Y
ou are reading this because you are interested in taking your spiritual life more seriously from this point on. You heartily assent to one of the key points of the Second Vatican Council: the importance of the doctrine of the universal call to holiness. You also know that Jesus is the one way to holiness, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” The secret of holiness is constant prayer which could be defined as continual contact with the Holy Trinity, “Pray always and do not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). There are various ways to come to know Jesus. We are going to speak briefly about some of them in this article. You want to come to know, love and serve Jesus the same way you learn to love and stay in love with anybody: your spouse, family members, and close friends, i.e. by spending a considerable amount of time with him on a
regular and, in this case, daily basis. The payoff, if you will, is the only true happiness in this life and the vision of God in the next. There are no easy substitutes. Sanctification is a work of a lifetime and it requires our determined effort to cooperate with God’s sanctifying grace coming through the sacraments. The seven daily habits that I propose to you are the morning offering, spiritual reading (New Testament and a spiritual book suggested to you by your spiritual advisor), the Holy Rosary, Holy Mass and Communion, at least fifteen minutes of mental prayer, the recitation of the Angelus at noon, and a brief examination of conscience at night. These are the principal means to achieve holiness. If you are a person who wants to bring Christ to others through your friendship, these are the instruments by which you store up the spiritual energy that
will enable you to so. Apostolic action without the sacraments and a deep solid interior life will in the long run be ineffective. You can be sure that all the saints incorporated in one way or another all of these habits into their daily routine. Your goal is to be like them, contemplatives in the middle of the world. I want to stress several points before examining the habits. One, remember that growing in these daily habits, just like taking on a diet or a physical exercise program, is a gradual work in progress. Don’t expect to insert all seven or even two or three of these in your daily schedule immediately, any more than you would attempt a 5K race after not having run regularly, or attempting to play Liszt after your third piano lesson. This haste would be inviting failure and God wants you to succeed at both your pace and His.
You should work closely with your spiritual advisor, and gradually and fruitfully incorporate the habits into your life over a period of time in a way that fits your particular situation. It may even be that your life circumstances require a modification of the seven habits. Second, at the same time you must make a firm commitment with the help of the Holy Spirit and your special intercessors, to make them the priority of your life -more important than meals, sleep, work and recreation. I want to make it clear that these habits cannot be acquired on the run. That is not the way we want to deal with people we love. They must be done when we are most alert, during the day, in a place that is silent and without distractions, where it is easy to put ourselves in God’s presence and address him. After all, is not eternal life more important than our temporal life?
All that will remain at the time of your particular judgement will be the amount of the love of God in your heart. Third, I want to point out that living the seven daily habits is not a zero sum game. You are not losing time but rather, in reality, gaining it. I have never met a person who lived them on a daily basis who became a less productive worker as a result, or a worse spouse, or who had less time for his friends, or could no longer grow in his cultural life. Quite the contrary, God always rewards those who put him first. Our Lord will multiply our time amazingly as he did with those few loaves and fishes that fed the multitude with plenty left over. You can be sure that Pope John Paul II, Mother Theresa, or St Maximilian Kolbe pray, or prayed, a lot more than the one and one-half hours that is required for the seven daily habits spread throughout the day.
VOCATIONS
therecord.com.au August 1, 2012
1
The first habit is the morning offering, when you kneel down and using your own words, or a formula, you briefly offer up all the day ahead for God’s glory. What is not so simple is what has to happen before the offering. As the founder of Opus Dei put it “Conquer yourself each day from the very first moment, getting up on the dot, at a set time, without granting a single minute to laziness. If with the help of God, you conquer yourself in the moment, you have accomplished a great deal for the rest of the day. It’s so discouraging to find yourself beaten in the first skirmish (The Way, 191). In my pastoral experience, those who can live the “heroic moment” in the morning and in the evening going to bed on time will have both the physical and spiritual energy throughout the day to stop what they are doing in order to live the other habits.
2
The second habit is at least 15 minutes of silent prayer. Over time you may want to augment this with an extra 15 minutes at another time during the day. After all, who will not seek more time with such excellent company? Prayer is simply one on one direct conversation with Jesus Christ, preferably before the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle. This is your “face time” or “quality time” if you will, when you can open up in speaking about what is on your mind and in your heart. At the same time you will be able to acquire the habit of listening carefully and prayerfully like another Mary (Lk. 10:38-42) to see what Jesus is asking of you and what he wants to give you. It is there
that we come to understand his saying, “Without Me, you can do nothing.”
3
The third habit is fifteen minutes of spiritual reading, usually consisting of a few minutes of systematic reading of the New Testament to identify ourselves with the words and actions of our Saviour, and the rest of the time spent on a classic book of Catholic spirituality recommended by your spiritual advisor. As Bl. Josemaria Escriva puts it, “Don’t neglect your spiritual reading. Reading has made many saints” (The Way, 116). In a way it is the most practical of our habits because over the course of years of practicing it we will read many times the life of Christ and acquire the wisdom of saints and the Church by reading dozens of books which enlighten our intellect so we can put the ideas expressed there into action.
4
The fourth daily habit is participating in Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion in the state of grace. This is the most important habit of all the seven (cfr. John 6:22-65). As such, it has to be at the very centre of our interior life and consequently our day. It is the most intimate act possible to man. There we encounter the living Christ, participate in the renewal of His sacrifice for us and unite body soul, to the Risen Christ and ourselves. As Pope John Paul II says in his Apostolic Exhortation, Ecclesia in America: “The Eucharist is the living and lasting centre around which the entire community of the Church
gathers” (no. 35).
5
The fifth daily habit takes but a moment or two. It is to stop what we are doing to pray the Angelus or Regina Coeli prayer to our Blessed Mother, according to the liturgical season, each day at noon. This is a Catholic custom that goes back many centuries. It is a wonderful way both to greet our Blessed Mother for a moment, as any good child remembers his mother during the day and meditate on the Incarnation and Resurrection of our Lord, which give such meaning to our entire existence.
6
The sixth habit is also Marian -praying the Holy Rosary each day and meditating on its mysteries, which surround the life of Our Lord and Our Lady. As Bl. Josemaria puts it, “For those who use their intelligence and their study as a weapon, the Rosary is most effective, because this apparently monotonous way of beseeching Our Lady, as children do their mother, can destroy every seed of vainglory and pride” (Furrow, 474). The Rosary is a habit that, once acquired, is hard to break. By repeating words of love to Mary and offering up each decade for our intentions, we take the shortcut to Jesus, which is to pass through the heart of Mary. He cannot refuse her anything!
7
The seventh habit is the brief examination of conscience at night before going to bed. Again the holy Founder of Opus Dei says “Examination of conscience. A daily task. Bookkeeping
-- never neglected by anyone in business. And is there any business worth more than that of eternal life?” (The Way, 235). You sit down, call on the Holy Spirit for light and for several minutes go over your day in God’s presence asking if you behaved as a child of God at home, at work, with your friends. You also look at that one particular area which you have identified with the help of spiritual direction in which you know you need to improve in order to become a saint. You may also take a quick look to see if you have been faithful to those daily habits that we have discussed in this article. Then you make an act of gratitude for all the good that you have done and an act of contrition for those areas in which you have wilfully failed. Then it is off to your well-deserved rest, which you strive to make holy through your interior dialogue with the Holy Trinity and your mother Mary as you drift off to sleep. If a person honestly looks at their day, no matter how busy he is, (and I never seem to meet people who admit they are not busy unless they are permanently retired), he can usually find that he wastes some time each day. Think of that needless extra cup of coffee when you might have been able to drop by and visit the Blessed Sacrament for 15 minutes before beginning work. Or the half-hour or much more wasted on watching vapid and inane television programs or videos. Then there is the commuting time spent sleeping on the train, or listening to the radio in the car that could be used for the Rosary. How about that newspaper that could be read in ten minutes rather than twenty minutes, leaving room for your spiritual reading? And that lunch which could be finished in a half-hour, leaving time for noon Mass? Don’t forget that half hour spent frittering away time at the end of the day when you could have done some good spiritual reading, examined your conscience and gone to bed at a fixed time restoring your energy for the next day’s battles. The list goes on. Make up your own. Be honest with yourself, and with God. These habits, lived well, enable us to obey the second part of the great commandment “to love our neighbour as ourselves.” We are on earth, as was the Lord, “to serve and not to be served.” This can only be achieved by our gradual transformation into another Christ through prayer and the sacraments. To live the seven habits will enable us to become holy and apostolic, always assured that when we fail in something big or small, we always have the loving Father awaiting us in the Sacrament of Penance and the prayerful help of our spiritual advisor to put us back on the right track.
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GREAT BRITAIN
Olympics remind that the body is beautiful ATHLETES competing in the Olympics serve as a reminder to all people to use their bodies to glorify God, the president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales said during a Mass of thanksgiving for the games. Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster said during the July 28 Mass at Westminster Cathedral that the games can help people to understand the link between spirituality and sport. He told the 900 Massgoers that the human body is beautiful in the eyes of God, even as it grew old. “We will see many fine sports (where) men and women use their bodies, their minds and their spirits in the quest for glory,” Archbishop Nichols said. “But the message of the Gospel goes deeper. It reminds us, vividly, that our bodies are for the glory of God. Indeed our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This does not detract from that physical achievement of sport, with its beauty, symmetry, harnessing of speed, finesse and power,” he said. “Rather it enhances those achievements and gives them their deepest purpose - that of giving glory to their Maker.”.
UNITED NATIONS
Vatican calls for end to arms trafficking THE FLOW of illicit arms across international borders would be stemmed more effectively by addressing the demand for such weapons through education and public awareness programs, the Vatican’s UN nuncio said. Addressing the UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty July 27, Archbishop Francis Chullikatt said such efforts would promote a culture of peace while opposing a “culture of criminality and violence. The treaty must establish mechanisms to curtail irresponsible and destabilising arms transfers,” the archbishop said, explaining that illicit arms transfers fuel or perpetuate conflict, lead to weapons being used against civilians and violate UN resolutions. “A true culture of peace requires that the ATT addresses both the supply and the demand side of arms trade, through close cooperation between states, in responsible partnership with the arms industry and in committed solidarity with civil society,” he said.
ITALY
Pope pleads for peace in Syrian conflict POPE Benedict XVI renewed his appeal for peace in Syria and humanitarian assistance for civilians threatened by the ongoing fighting or seeking refuge far from home. “I continue to follow with apprehension the tragic and increasing episodes of violence in Syria with their sad sequence of deaths and injuries, including among civilians, and a huge number of people internally displaced or seeking refuge in neighboring countries,” the pope said on July 29. After reciting the Angelus with visitors gathered in the courtyard of the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Benedict told the crowd that he hoped that suffering Syrians would be guaranteed the necessary humanitarian assistance. Asking for an end to “all violence and bloodshed,” he prayed that God would guide leaders in Syria and in the international community to a negotiated settlement to the fighting. Tensions began in March 2011 with increased calls for the ouster of President Bashar Assad as part of the Arab Spring movement across North Africa and the Middle East. An estimated 10,000 people have died in the conflict - CNS
16
VOCATIONS
therecord.com.au
August 1, 2012
Q&A with
CARDINAL
DOLAN TCA: Your Excellency, perhaps the best place to start is with a very basic question: What is the Church’s understanding of vocation? Cardinal Dolan: There is the generic sense of vocation. There is a precise sense of vocation. And I don’t think we can talk about the precise sense until we understand the generic sense. We have to believe — it is part of the Catholic worldview — that God has a plan for each of us. He is inviting us to live a life that will bring us back to Him. He is calling us to do that. The Latin word for call is vocatio. So, in a way, in a broad way, the whole sense of discipleship, the whole sense of divine Providence, the whole sense that God has a plan for us, stems from what you might call this generic sense of vocation. And in some ways that is the most pivotal question that you must answer: How does God want me to spend my life? Generically, we know that God wants us on a path that will get us back to Him. A precise sense of vocation is the very particular way that He wants us to do that. And that is where the priesthood, consecrated life, religious life, married life and consecrated single life come up. I always think that we miss the boat when we don’t speak about marriage as a vocation. I mean, that is the biggest vocations crisis in the Church today, if you ask me. When only half of our Catholic people are getting married, no wonder we have a crisis in the numbers of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. I just had a young couple say to me that they had asked their pastor — and he said that they had to ask their archbishop — if it was OK while they were getting married for them to lie prostrate on the floor while they were singing the Litany of Saints. I thought, “Wow, why not?” Now, that young couple: You talk about having a sense of vocation; they were sealing their vocation. We say to married couples: “What you two are doing is saying that together you want to get back to heaven. You want to help each other get to your eternal goal. And, of course, you want to do that through the vocation of marriage.”
TCA: Why is it so critical for us to discover God’s will and to learn how to live according to that will? Cardinal Dolan: Well, because, I think, as St. Thomas Aquinas would remind us, the most basic drive, the most raw drive that all of us have in our lives, is to be happy. We are born wanting to be happy. And we know through God’s revelation that the only way to be truly happy in this life and the next is to do God’s will. God longs for our happiness and has told us the way to be happy. So, in following His plan, in discerning His will, in obeying His law, we will arrive at happiness in this life and in the next. The Church is always looked upon as saying no to everything, and we aren’t saying no, the Church is one big “yes.” Yes to anything that will make us happy in this life and the next. And we just know from a long experience — and the Lord knows that Holy Mother Church is wise and has learned along the way — that if you go against God’s will, ultimately you’re not going to be happy. The older you get you see that, don’t you? It’s like the Psalms, like the Wisdom literature from the Old Testament. You shake your head and say this is a train wreck waiting to happen. Everybody learns the hard way. TCA: What do you see as the role of the family in discerning a vocation? Cardinal Dolan: Do you know how sad it is when you are talking to a young man about becoming a priest, and we’ll start chatting, and you see there is an interest there, and he has his wits about him, and the know-how and the enthusiasm and the sincerity, and then you’ll say to him, “How can I follow through? Can I give you a call?” And sometimes — it will break your heart — he’ll say, “Don’t call the house, because mum and dad will be upset if they hear I am thinking about becoming a priest.” There is what you might call the negative side of the family. I happen to think there might be a benevolent explanation for that, and that mums and dads deep down only want their kids to be happy, and they think that priests are unhappy. And if they think that priests are crabs, they don’t want their sons to
be that. So that’s why I always say to priests, “We’ve got to be men of joy, or else what parent is going to want his or her son to be a priest?” I think that is changing, and we’ve got a positive influence. When the family beams, when the family encourages, when the family fosters. You often see me write or speak about a “culture of vocations.” What I mean by a culture of vocations is that when our young people grow up in a culture that encourages you to do God’s will and that affirms one in his desire to be a priest, you are going to get priests. I grew up in such a culture. I said to my teachers in grade school, “I think I want to be a priest,” and they beamed and did everything possible to encourage me. My parish priest would. My folks would. My neighbours would. The parish would. I can remember as a kid — I must have been 9 or 10 years old — getting a haircut, and the barber said, “Hey shrimp, what do you want to be when you grow up?” I said, “I want to be a priest.” And he wasn’t even a Catholic, but he said, “Hey, isn’t that great?” Now that is the culture of vocations that we need in the Church. For awhile, I am afraid, we had a culture that discouraged vocations. And sometimes families were a part of that. I am always amazed, when I have the ordination of a priest, of how many times that becomes the occasion of bringing a family back to the faith, because they had drifted. And sometimes, today in the Church, we have young men ordained who are neo-converts. They may have been raised Catholics in a less than enthusiastic way, drifted from the faith, usually in high school and college, and then maybe embraced the faith in a newfound way in their early 20s, from where came a vocation. The family, in the meantime, is sort of left in the dust, sometimes not opposed to it, but just blasé about it. And very often, when I am getting to know seminarians, they will say, “My family is a little upset about this,” or “My family doesn’t know what to make of this,” or “My family keeps trying to get me to change my mind.” But very often the ordination will be an occasion of family unity and the family will come back to the practice of the faith and be radiant in their son’s choice, especially when they see a culture of
vocations in the seminary; when they see their son happy; when they see good men around him who share his values and a sense of that call. That’s a miracle there. TCA: The phrase is sometimes used that we’re experiencing a new springtime in priestly vocations. Do you see that? Cardinal Dolan: Well, you see it in the Church Universal. You see it in Africa; you see it in Asia; you see it in parts of Central America and Eastern Europe. You see it in some movements. I think we have to be realistic. I think we might be in early March. So it is a little too early to say that it is springtime. The Church always lives knowing that spring is coming. But we have to be realistic. I think the real answer is what we started talking about: the renewal of a sense of vocation in the widest sense of the Church. Now, in some ways, I don’t mean this generic, least common denominator preaching of “everybody has a vocation.” I always tell my priests that when we tell you to preach on vocations to the priesthood, preach on vocations to the priesthood bluntly, in an unapologetic way — not watering it down by saying, “I don’t mean to demean this other vocation,” or “I wish we could ordain married men,” that kind of stuff. By the time you get there, people are so confused that how can you give a compelling message for priestly vocations? Let’s preach priestly vocations directly and bluntly. Yes. But also we can never forget in our regular preaching that if we develop a sense of God’s providence, that God has a plan for all of us, that the most decisive question we can ask in life, as St. Ignatius Loyola reminded us, is that everything we do should be aimed at our eternal salvation. We have providence, we have our eternal goal, and we develop a sense of stewardship. By stewardship I mean that God has given us everything, including the next breath taken as a totally undeserved and lavish gift. So we want to live a response of humble gratitude for those gifts and a proper care for them to see that they are used to achieve their eternal goal and a love and service to others. If we achieve those three things … a sense of providence, a sense of our
eternal salvation, and a sense of stewardship, those are three biblical virtues from which I am convinced vocations will come. So that needs to lace our preaching all the time. And that will lead to a springtime. TCA: What advice do you give to a young man considering the priesthood? Cardinal Dolan: First and foremost is a sense of discipleship. You start by nurturing your relationship with Jesus Christ. We get to know Jesus, we talk to Him, we tell Him we need him, we love Him, that without Him we can do nothing. We tell Him He is our Lord and Saviour, but we also tell Him we consider Him our best friend. We tell Him we want to spend the rest of our lives, here and in eternity, with Him. We ask for His grace and mercy and virtue. We read His Gospel. We sit before Him in His Eucharistic Presence. We long to receive Him in holy Communion; we long to hear assurance of His mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation; we long to share that with good friends in wholesome community; we long to meet Him in the faces of the poor, in our acts of service. Pope Benedict XVI taught us all in his opening homily, “I am calling you to holiness, which is friendship with Jesus.” If a guy says to me I really think I want to be a priest, so I had better work on my spiritual life, I think he has it backward. You work on your spiritual life — you try your best to pray, you are frequent at Mass, you love to receive Our Lord at holy Communion and to spend time visiting with Him, you love the Scriptures, you are immersed in the lives of the saints, you are wanting to learn more and more about your Catholic faith, you cherish friendships with people who share your values, you love the Church and your parish, you’re involved in acts of service. All of those things intensify a life of friendship with Jesus, which means holiness. If we do that, if we develop holiness, if we develop discipleship, then the call to priesthood will come. Matthew E. Bunson is the general editor of Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Almanac and editor of The Catholic Answer Magazine.