The Record Newspaper - 04 September 2013 by The Record

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A Solitary

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Two years’ solitary confinement failed to break Perth Priest Fr Hong Pham. Why? - Page 15

What it takes to foster vocations to the priesthood - Pages 12-13

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PRIEST EQUATION

Visiting Priest draws faithful in three parishes to hear a Gospel of Conviction

Trust in Christ to lead you

After preaching and leading the congregation during an evening service at Good Shepherd Parish in Lockridge, Fr Michael Nguyen, a Vietnamese-born Redemptorist based in Rome, prays over participants. Hundreds attended his talks in three parishes in Perth and came forward to receive prayers for a myriad of intentions. See Robert Hiini’s interview - Page 6 PHOTO: ROBERT HIINI

In ‘beloved’ Syria’s moment of agony, Francis appeals for prayer UNDERSCORING growing international concern at the worsening situation in Syria, Pope Francis called on individual Catholics, “fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will” everywhere to enter into a day of fasting and penance for peace in the war-torn nation this coming Saturday September 7. His call came during his Angelus homily last Sunday. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB this week supported Pope Francis’s call to the whole Church in a statement issued to priests, deacons, staff and friends.

“Pope Francis will lead a Prayer Vigil in St Peter’s Square, Vatican City at 7.00pm on Saturday. He invites the whole Church, and indeed all people of good will, to unite with him in prayer and fasting for the gift of peace which only the Lord can give, and to pray in a special way for those whose lives are beset by turmoil and violence at this time,” Archbishop Costelloe said. “Although the notice is short,

and many of our parish and other communities will already be praying for peace in Syria, I would ask you to invite your people to pray in a special way on Saturday and Sunday with and for those who are suffering. You may choose to use the Prayers of the Faithful or any other opportunity for prayer you deem appropriate. “Let us join as best we can in solidarity with Pope Francis and the Church throughout the world at this time of great suffering for so many.” The day chosen by Pope Francis for the prayer initiative is the vigil

of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace. “On 7 September, in Saint Peter’s Square, here, from 19:00 until 24:00, we will gather in prayer and in a spirit of penance, invoking God’s great gift of peace upon the beloved nation of Syria and upon each situation of conflict and violence around the world,” the Pope said. “Humanity needs to see these gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and peace! I ask all the local churches, in addition to fasting, that they gather to pray for this intention. “Let us ask Mary to help us to

respond to violence, to conflict and to war, with the power of dialogue, reconciliation and love. She is our mother: may she help us to find peace; all of us are her children! Help us, Mary, to overcome this most difficult moment and to dedicate ourselves each day to building in every situation an authentic culture of encounter and peace. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!” Parishes and individuals can share their ideas and activities with readers of The Record on our Facebook page. What did your parish do? Send your stories to: editor@therecord.com.au

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Round-Up JUANITA SHEPHERD

Rumble in the jumble sale at Myaree Parishioners of Pater Noster Parish in Myree are holding a jumble sale on Saturday, September 14 from 10am till 4pm on the parish grounds situated on the corner of Marmion Street and North Lake Road. In June, the parishioners held a very successful book sale so, drawing on the success of that event, they have decided to come together once again and raise money for the new church that was built in 2007. All proceeds raised from the jumble sale will go towards keeping the payments incurred from the building of the new church regular.

School holiday youth camp at Eagles Nest

Men to come alive at City Beach weekend Thousands of Catholic men around Australia have participated in the menALIVE weekends, a program designed to bring men together, renew their faith in God and encourage them to become an active force in the Church. A menALIVE weekend is scheduled for September 14 and 15 at Holy Spirit Parish, City Beach. The cost is $50 per person. To register, or for more information, call Jon on 0409 800 841 or email menalive-citybeach@ live.com.au.

Married couples invited to mark anniversaries Celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage is a special occasion and Our Lady of the Mission Parish in

If you attended an AFL match anywhere around the country on the weekend of August 24-25, you would have noticed that a shorter version of The Record’s article on GWS Giants player Jonathan Giles appeared in the AFL Record. The 82-page, full-colour magazine has a readership of about 200,000 and commenced publication in 1912. Whitford is holding a Wedding Anniversary Mass on Saturday, October 19 at the 6.30pm Mass for couples who are celebrating their wedding anniversaries. The Wedding Anniversary Mass has become an annual and popular parish event and is open to all couples from across the Archdiocese. This year, couples have an option of ordering a Papal Blessing for $50 or $100. Our Lady of the Mission Parish celebrates anniversaries in multiples of five only and registration forms need to be filled out. For more information, contact the parish office on 9307

2776 or email whitford@optusnet. com.au.

received the award in recognition for their long time service to Marriage Encounter, an organisation with the aim of proclaiming the value of Marriage and Holy Orders in the Church and the rest of the world. The MPBA described the work of Mr and Mrs Cordina at Marriage Encounter as an enrichment weekend for married couples, which aims to help couples improve communication with one another and enhance their understanding of the significance of marriage in the life of the Church. Mr and Mrs Cordina have actively supported Marriage Encounter since

Recognition for special Maltese couple The Maltese Professional and Business Association (MPBA) awarded its 2013 St George Preca Community Service Award to Joe and Margaret Cordina at a specially hosted dinner on Friday, August 23. Mr and Mrs Cordina, parishioners of St Thomas More Parish in Bateman,

Blessed Teresa of Kolkata Editor editor@therecord.com.au

Accounts accounts@therecord.com.au Journalists Mark Reidy m.reidy@therecord.com.au Robert Hiini r.hiini@therecord.com.au Matthew Biddle m.biddle@therecord.com.au Juanita Shepherd j.shepherd@therecord.com.au Advertising/Production production@therecord.com.au

Classifieds/Panoramas/Subscriptions Helen Crosby

office@therecord.com.au

Record Bookshop Bibiana Kwaramba bookshop@therecord.com.au Proofreaders Eugen Mattes

Chris Jaques

Contributors Debbie Warrier Barbara Harris Bernard Toutounji

Long before her 2003 beatification, this tiny nun in a blue and white sari was considered saintly for her huge heart and loving care of India’s destitute and dying. Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, she left home at 18 to join the Loreto Sisters in Dublin, Ireland, and was assigned to teach at a fashionable Catholic girls’ school in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. In 1946, she received from Jesus a “call within a call” to serve the poorest of the poor. In response, she founded the Missionaries of Charity congregation, first for nuns, then for brothers and priests. Mother Teresa, the “saint of the gutters,” was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal in 1997.

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CRUISING Saints

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FLIGHTS

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TOURS

Tuesday 10th - Green 1st Reading: Col 2:6-15 Jesus the Lord Responsorial Ps 144:1-2,8-11 Psalm: I will bless you Gospel Reading: Lk 6:12-19 Twelve chosen Wednesday 11th - Green 1st Reading: Col 3:1-11 No distinction Responsorial Ps 144:2-3, 10-13 Psalm: The Lord is great Gospel Reading: Lk 6:20-26 Beatitudes

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Thinking of that

Thursday 12th - Green THE MOST HOLY NAME OF MARY (O) 1st Reading: Col 3:12-17 Chosen race Responsorial Ps 150:1-6 Psalm: Praise God Gospel Reading: Lk 6:27-38 Be merciful

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Catholic clarity for complex times CATHOLIC families and those searching for truth need resources to help them negotiate the complexities of modern life. At The Record’s bookshop you can find great books for the family at good prices. Turn to Page 20 for some brilliant deals NOW!!

Camp is always a time for fun, adventure and excitement and I Follow Camp 2013 is a camp for youth aged between 13 and 16 which will be held at Eagles Nest Retreat Centre on Monday, September 30 till Thursday, October 3. The theme of the camp is taken from a verse found in the Bible from the first letter of St Paul to Timothy, chapter four, verse 12, which reads: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity”. For bookings and further information, contact Deepak Kuriacose on deepakkuriacose@ gmail.com or Sylvester Ernest on sylvesterernest@gmail.com.

Send your Round-Up items to Juanita Shepherd office@therecord.com.au

READINGS OF THE WEEK

SAINT OF THE WEEK

Peter Rosengren

attending their first Enrichment Weekend in 1992. During the past 20 years, they have served as presenters, board members, booking couples, workshop coordinators and twice served two-year terms as State coordinators. In addition to their Marriage Encounter involvement, they have given their time to their parish, Mr Cordina as an acolyte and Mrs Cordina as a catechist coordinator and both as catechists. The MPBA inaugurated the St George Preca Award last year to recognise people of Maltese heritage who have made significant and long term contributions to the wider community. The award is named after Malta’s first and only saint, St George Preca, who dedicated his life to serving the needs of the poor in Malta.

Friday 13th - White ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, BISHOP, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (M) 1st Reading: 1 Tim 1:1-2,12-14 I became a believer Responsorial Ps 15 Psalm: You are my God Gospel Reading: Lk 6:39-42 Blind guiding blind Saturday 14th - Red THE EXULTATION OF THE CROSS (FEAST) 1st Reading: Num 21:4-9 Bronze serpent Responsorial Ps 77:1-2,34-38 Psalm: Hidden lessons 2nd Reading: Phil 2:6-11 Death on a cross Gospel Reading: Jn 3:13-17 Faithful servant Sunday 15th - Green 24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 1st Reading: Ex 32:7-11, 13-14 The Lord relented Responsorial Ps 50:3-4, 12-13,17,19 Psalm: Blot out my offence 2nd Reading: 1 Tim 1:12-17 Mercy shown me Gospel Reading: Lk 15:1-32 Merciful Father

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School defends Buddhist monks visit By Matthew Biddle THE VISIT of Buddhist monks to Corpus Christi College in Bateman on August 9 has received mixed responses from parents. Several parents told The Record they took their students out of school for the day, saying they were “devastated” at the inter-faith event. The Gyuto Monks of Tibet spent the day conducting workshops with students of all year groups except Year 11. The school has titled the event on its website as “Monks Bless Corpus”. Acting principal Mark Antulov told The Record the visit was to help celebrate International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. “To mark the occasion students from Clontarf College and the visiting Gyuto Monks were invited to share in the day that celebrates cultural diversity,” he said. “Young people are encouraged to dialogue with people of different faiths and backgrounds. In no way did it undermine the Catholicity of the school.” Mr Antulov said the response to the monks’ visit was “overwhelmingly positive”. In a video posted on the school’s Facebook page, the monks can be seen chanting in front of a room full of students, with a small Buddhist shrine set up in one side of the room. A representative of the Gyuto Monks told The Record such demonstrations of their chanting technique was more than just a performance. “With the Gyuto Monks, their chanting is a secret process whereby you don’t actually understand what they’re saying,” she said. “It is prayer for them, the prayers are for the well-being of all sentient beings.” During their visit to WA, the Buddhist monks also vis-

The Gyuto Monks of Tibet visited Corpus Christi College in Bateman on August 9, where they demonstrated their chanting technique.

ited Christchurch Grammar and Redcliffe Primary School. Mr Antulov said Corpus Christi welcomes “a range of opportunities and experiences for our students that foster joy in learning”. “One of our values challenges us to create and maintain a caring and inclusive College community,” he said. “We believe that celebrating diversity in all its forms honours that value.”

The Tibetan visitors also held a concert at the school’s auditorium, with all proceeds going to the monks.

board in different states have actually employed us to offer these programs in schools in the past,” she

“Their chanting is a secret process wherby you don’t actually understand what they’re saying.” The monks’ representative said the group has worked in many different kinds of schools. “In fact, the Catholic education

said. “Most of the schools we go to, particularly the Catholic schools… they seem to want to inculcate into

PHOTO: CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE

their students a sense of the differences among people, different views, different belief systems, comparative world religions as well. “Often, when we go into a Catholic school, we find that there have been different people there the week before. There might have been Muslims, there might have been other Christians, there might have been all sorts of people.”

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Seminarians lend a helping voice to good cause ON SATURDAY, August 10, eight young men from St Charles’ Seminary were one of the many groups which performed at the City Beach Parish Hall to help raise funds for the Respect Life Office. Known as the St Charles’ Seminary Schola Cantorum (Scola), they performed three hymns: the famous Panis Angelicus, Dona Nobis Pacem and the Magnificat. Schola Cantorum comes from the latin which means ‘school of singers’, especially for the purpose of rendering music in church. Led by Garner Vergara, the Schola’s musical director, the Panis Angelicus and Dona Nobis Pacem pieces were sung in three parts (tenor, baritone and bass) while the Magnificat was sung in polyphony. Mr Vergara, the Seminary musical director, said the repertoire was chosen for its beauty and to showcase the richness of the Catholic musical heritage. “Most importantly,” he added, “these precious and ancient hymns

are prayers in themselves. It helps us connect with God.” As St Augustine said “a person who sings, prays twice”. One member of the audience said that he was very impressed with the choir’s choral ability, and remarked on the musical talent of these young men who are journeying towards the priesthood.

These precious hymns are prayers in themselves... The seminarians engage in a thorough music program at St Charles’ Seminary through weekly musical/choral practice and regularly sing during Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. Mr Vergara went on to say that the Schola have another singing engagement booked for October, which they are looking forward to, so look out for them in the future.

St Charles’ seminarians - aka the St Charles’ Seminary Schola Cantorum - gave the Three Tenors a run for their money on August 10 at the Respect Life Office fundraiser. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Caritas team shows the way in City to Surf

Rip-roaring and ready to go. Some of the 17 Caritas team members in the City to Surf fun run get ready to head for the coast on August 25. Lending spiritual support was Perth Caritas volunteer Sr Anne Kavanagh, at centre. Among those who ran for Caritas were WA Deputy Opposition Leader Roger Cook MLA, Tony Simpson from WA’s Department of Premier and Cabinet and Dr James Setiawan, President of Perth’s Indonesian Catholic Community, who singlehandedly raised $4,200 for Caritas in his first entry in a marathon. Caritas Director Daniel Chan said he was delighted at the support and the effort put in by so many generous volunteers. PHOTO: CARITAS

Ordinariate invitation to English Spirituality The Australian Ordinariate will share a part of the Anglican patrimony next week, issuing a general invitation to join in Holy Cross Day celebrations, to be held at the University of Notre Dame (UNDA) in Fremantle on September 14. The day marks the ancient Christian Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross said to be related to St Helena, the mother of Constantine’s discovery of the cross of Christ; her son’s command to build churches over the sites where Christ died and was buried; and the return of that cross to Jerusalem after it was recaptured from the Persians. Although it has remained part of the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar, it has maintained much greater significance in other communions, including in the Anglican and Episcopalian churches. In honour of the day, Ordinariate priest Mgr Entwistle will celebrate Mass at UNDA’s Holy Spirit Chapel at 10.30am, followed by devotional Stations of the Cross at 11am, in conjunction with other parish clergy. “We extend our thanks to the University of Notre Dame for allowing us to use the venue,” Mgr Entwistle said. In former years, many members of the Ordinariate had celebrated the feast under the auspices of the Traditional Anglican Communion. “With the formation of the Australian Ordinariate, and being in full communion with the Holy See, we are now able to incorporate Holy Mass on this feast day.” More information on the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross’s Holy Cross Day celebrations is available at 9349 5798.

Centenarian a strong woman of love - and faith By Juanita Shepherd ELIZABETH Merlyn Fredericks (nee Bell) lived an extraordinary life. She survived two world wars, lived in the jungles of Burma, eloped at 22 and had a great devotion to Our Lady. Mrs Fredericks peacefully passed away at the age of 103 years on August 7, 2013, happy that she had received the letter of congratulations from Queen Elizabeth II after she had turned 100. Mrs Fredericks was born on August 24, 1910 in Burma, the youngest of eight children. She attended St Matthew’s Girls High School in Moulmein, Burma, and went on to become a trained and qualified Registered Sick Nurse

and Midwife at Rangoon General Hospital. She also worked for the Muslim Free Dispensary Hospital for many years as a Senior Midwife; Mrs Fredericks was well known and respected in the community. “My grandmother was very good at her profession,” Violet Faure told The Record. Mrs Fredericks would also help those less fortunate within the community; she would deliver the babies who could not afford to go to the hospital and the people would repay her with bread or other such items. However, it was Mrs Fredericks’ advice on faith and love that has stayed with Mrs Faure. “My grandmother never failed to

pray,” Mrs Faure said. “She prayed all the time, especially the Rosary; she had a great love for Our Lady.” Mrs Fredericks would tell her children ‘I am praying for my children to stay respectful and united when I’m gone.’ She also used to joke about not marrying a Burmese boy, even though Mrs Fredericks was married for 60 years to a Burmese boy. Mrs Fredericks met James Henry Fredericks during her training when he was one of her patients. The couple quickly fell in love. At 22 she eloped with him and they were married at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Burma. “They were our first example of a couple truly in love,” Mrs Faure said.

“Grandpa loved Grandma and he never left her alone. He was always holding her hand.” Elizabeth and Henry Fredericks had 10 children. Sadly, they lost three during the years of the Second World War. The Fredericks family had to evacuate their home due to the dangers of bombs and spent three years in the jungle. While Mrs Fredericks was the only nurse in the village, three of her children contracted malaria and due to the family’s isolation in the jungle they had no access to medicines. “Elizabeth was a very strong, proud and powerful lady,” Mrs Faure said. “She loved James and she kept

her family together through the hard times and good times during her 60 years of marriage,” In October 1976, Mrs Fredericks migrated to Australia and became a parishioner at St Jude’s Parish in Langford. She loved Australia and Mrs Faure shares the fond memories she has of her grandmother. “My childhood memories are of visits to Grandma’s house, making sandwiches in her kitchen, reading books in her back room and climbing the Chinese apple tree in her backyard,” she said. “There are no words to express the love my Grandmother’s children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren have for her.”

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Maida Vale’s new Garden of Prayers PARISH Priest Fr Elver Delicano and parishioners of St Francis of Assisi Parish in Maida Vale were delighted to open the Prayer Garden with a threefold purpose on August 15. The Garden, opened by Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey, consists of three components. The wall is dedicated to all unborn children who have died unknown except to God. Many children who die before birth have no gravestone. A new grotto to St Francis of Assisi was built by non-Catholic parish neighbour Tom Hogg together with parishioner Len Harrison in about six weeks. The Rosary Path built by Mr Harrison takes the shape of a Rosary; each tile step is a ‘bead’. On the day, Archbishop Hickey blessed the Memory of the Unborn Wall, the Grotto and the Rosary Walk. The blessings were followed by a morning tea reception featuring a special cake made by Judy Bell and her sister Mary. “I’m so excited with this project, especially since the whole Prayer Garden was conceived and built by our parishioners,” Fr Delicano said. “All the fundraising over the last few months has been worth it. Our parishioners can now enjoy and be proud of their Grotto and the two new and unique features - the In Memory of the Unborn Wall and the Rosary Path. We now look forward to our next project scheduled for completion this coming October, the Garden of Remembrance.”

Watched by happy Maida Vale parishioners, Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey cuts the ribbon to the new Garden of Prayer and its Rosary Walk.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

The Garden of Prayer as it looks after completion by non-Catholic Parish neighbour Tom Hogg and parishioner Len Harrison. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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Former radio director Fr Michael Nguyen, right, leads participants in prayer at an evening service at Good Shepherd Parish in Lockridge. Later, he prayed over numerous individuals, below, for their own intentions. PHOTOS: ROBERT HIINI

On fire for the Lord

A visiting Canadian priest who is a former Vietnamese radio director fired up hundreds for the Faith in three Perth parishes in recent weeks during several retreats and praise and worship services, reports Robert Hiini...

ome people step aside, serene, their eyes closed but fully conscious. Others fall back into the arms of ready-waiting men – men who had volunteered their strength before the “praying over” had gotten under way. Such was the scene at Good Shepherd Parish in Lockridge one evening last month at one of three retreats conducted by the Romebased retreat master Fr Michael Nguyen CSsR - his third visit to Perth in the past four years. He flew into Australia, having just given a retreat in Herzegovina and before that, Portugal, Germany, Rome, London, California, Houston and Canada. Earlier that evening, the priest stood at the lectern with a guitar, leading the congregation in his own unassuming brand of praise and worship before preaching up a storm, challenging people to get to know and experience God to an ever greater extent. Fr Nguyen told The Record he had some fairly definite ideas about what he was going to do as a priest working in Houston, Texas. Raised in Manitoba, Canada but born in Vietnam, it was to an English-speaking church that the Redemptorist priest wanted to minister in the late 1990s but his superior had other ideas. Between 1999 and 2011 he served as the director of Radio Me Hang Cuu Giup, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Radio, a service broadcasting in Vietnamese in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. It was a good lesson, he said, in learning that authentic joy comes from putting one’s life in the hands of God, and not in following one’s own will. “It has not been a struggle for me. I cannot hold on to my vocation by myself. It’s impossible. It’s a divine calling,” Fr Nguyen said. “You walk with the Lord. You follow the Lord, one day at a time.” That is not to say, Fr Nguyen hasn’t faced his own existential

Participants at one of the services led by Fr Nguyen prepare to go forward for prayers.

challenges - every Christian faces them. Fr Nguyen is the only priest of his seminary initial intake to be in ministry (the only other man to be ordained from his year left the priesthood last year). He not only challenges other Catholics to grow in their faith - in knowledge and love. It is a challenge he sets himself. “What do you do? You start thinking about formation and not just formation for other people but for myself asking myself ‘what does it mean to be a priest in today’s world?’ “I cannot give a definition for myself. I have to go back to the Apostles and Jesus. How does he live his life? Do we have any saintly role models? Of course, we do. “This is the Year of Faith and I

am asking myself, ‘what does faith mean?’ “I’ve said to people throughout Australia… it means theologising in order to understand – faith seeking understanding. I challenge people to think about what they believe and why they believe what they

Protestants, whoever - the nonCatholics and the atheists. “You share it not just at the intellectual level but you have the experiential encounter with the Lord.” As a former radio director, he sees a distinct role for Catholic media in furthering appreciation for truth and God’s plan for, and presence in, the world. “The media is supposed to present the whole truth to the people. We’re not cutting corners here or there,” Fr Nguyen said. “It takes a lot of courage to be a true journalist, a reporter. We are supposed to report to the people without bias. “What I look for as a Catholic, doing journalism or reporting, I seek for Good News not just news. We can create news. We look at a

It is a waste of Christ’s precious Blood just to ‘save Catholics only.’ We really need to offer salvation to everyone... believe, and how to explain their faith, not just to themselves, but to their children; to have the courage to share with non-Christians. “This is my conviction, it is a waste of Christ’s precious blood just to save Catholics only. Salvation is not just for Catholics alone. You need the Muslims, the Orthodox,

PHOTO: ROBERT HIINI

situation and then we look at some angle and we report it but what kind of angle are we reporting? “My preference is to report it from the spiritual side. That term is very abstract but basically it’s to see the presence of God in every situation. “The role of the media is to produce the truth from all sides and then to find the Good News… and to represent the voices of people, especially those who don’t have the choice to speak up, the poor, the abandoned.” The Church faces challenges of negative perception, because of the way in which people viewed priests owing to scandals such as abuse. “How are we going to change the perception of the people? I’m going to start with myself first, rethinking what is going on. “Pope Francis says go out there, be with the people, speak the voices of the people. Be there with the people, not just hiding in your parish, in your four walls. “Go out there. Live the poor life. Understand their suffering and pain,” Fr Nguyen said. He eschews the fire and brimstone rhetoric Redemptorists were known for, particularly prior to the 1960s. To be a Redemptorist, he said, is simply to be in love with our Holy Redeemer. “Who is in charge of my life? Me or the Lord? It is no longer between me and the world, me and my flesh, me and the devil, it is about me and the Lord. ‘You are in charge, or I am in charge.’ “Tomorrow, somehow I need to love him more, in my thoughts, study more, love him more in my heart by resolution, by doing something more. “When you’re in love, you know, it’s never enough. St Teresa of Avila or St Alphonsus said that love is never enough. And the moment you lack is when you stop creating. Love is very creative. It finds a way. Great poetry, music, art. When you are in love you do that... it’s loving all the time,” Fr Nguyen said.

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‘Way of Cross, not stroll in the park’ By Robert Hiini THE AUSTRALIAN Ordinariate will reach out to “baptised pagans” in the face of scepticism, negativity and anti-Catholicism, its leader Mgr Harry Entwistle announced last Sunday, saying there was “no shortage of people to invite” to communion with Christ. In a clarion call to its communities of former Anglicans throughout the country, Mgr Entwistle said the Ordinariate was entering a new phase of making its purpose, and therein itself, more widely known. “We live in a culture that is desperate to connect but very reluctant to commit. This is true as much in the area of personal relationships, to work, voluntary organisations as it is to the Church. So what can we do?” Mgr Entwistle said in his homily at St Ninian and St Chad’s in Maylands on September 1. “Congregations must ask themselves what would a visitor who is looking to connect, encounter in their parish worship? “A religious musical concert; a social justice forum; a weekly gathering of parish activity groups sharing a ritual meal together; a group of individuals who are there because they still feel they have an obligation to fulfil, but can’t wait for it to finish? “Or will they find a community that is excited about its faith in God; a community that studies the teachings of the Church; a community that reads and studies the Scriptures and other spiritual writings, and above all a community that worships and prays together and believes what it prays? Is it a community in which God is experienced? This is the sort of community we in the Ordinariate are called to be.” Thirteen priests and three deacons have been ordained to the Ordinariate since June 2012. One deacon will be ordained priest on Sept 8 while another candidate will

The mission is to make the Ordinariate more widely known says its Perth-based leader Mgr Harry Entwistle.

be ordained deacon and priest in October with another man awaiting approval to minister in Adelaide. Mgr Entwistle said that while former Anglican clergy have been willing to come into unity with the Catholic Church, laity have been more reluctant, saying anti-Catholicism was “very alive and well among Anglicans, even among those who no longer attend Anglican churches”. “This means that our next phase is one in which we make ourselves more widely known and explain exactly what the Ordinariate is and why it exists... a task we need to undertake both to those who are already Catholic as well as to those who may become so through the

Ordinariate,” Mgr Entwistle said. “Members of the laity must feel confident enough to invite those who show a willingness to connect with the Catholic Church to come and see for themselves.” The Ordinariate’s mission was

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many of them, in this painting she is focused on the child Jesus who is not looking at her, but out to the world,” Mgr Entwistle said. “She is not drawing attention to herself but to her son, the one through whom the reconciliation between heaven

The Ordinariate needs committed members, resolute in the face of society’s negativity. the same as that of its patroness, Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Mgr Entwistle said, referring to Paul Newton’s depiction of Mary and Jesus hanging in Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral. “As in most portrayals of the Blessed Virgin, Mary has an air of serenity and humility, but unlike

and earth, between the spiritual and the temporal, between God and his creation was achieved.” In 2009, then-Pope Benedict XVI paved the way for groups of former Anglicans to come into communion with the Catholic Church while retaining their English spirituality

by allowing the creation of personal Ordinariates. It was a gesture to demonstrate to the world, Mgr Entwistle said, that “true Christian unity, which is based on sharing the same faith while expressing that faith in different ways, can be a reality”. “This is being united without being absorbed by the larger body. Those who believe that unity means sharing communion together while believing very differing things want to settle for far less than real unity.” While the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, as it is formally known, is not open to existing Catholics who do not have a strong Anglican connection, it fully intends to reach out to Anglicans and former Anglicans who are considering becoming Catholic, and Catholics and other Christians who have been baptised but have not received any of the other Catholic Sacraments of Initiation. “There are those who have been baptised and that has been the beginning and end of their connection with the Church. These are those we might describe as baptised pagans. No shortage of people to invite,” Mgr Entwistle said. As the first group from a church of the Reformation to re-join the Catholic Church, the nascent Ordinariate was in need of financial support, Mgr Entwistle said, but more than that, it needed “committed members who are resolute in the face of scepticism and negativity”. “Christians are invited to travel the Way of the Cross, not to take a stroll in the park. It is costly, hard and at times disheartening, but we are not alone. “We have each other in the Church, the sustaining prayers of Our Lady and we have the One who promised to be with us always, if like our patroness, we keep our eyes firmly fixed on him.”

Historic Hawes cathedral readies for its renewal By Matthew Biddle THE HISTORIC St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Geraldton is set to be reinvigorated, with the diocese undertaking a series of works to help celebrate the Cathedral’s 100year anniversary in 2016. The Cathedral was designed and built by Monsignor John Hawes, and although its foundation stone was laid in 1916, the building wasn’t completed until 1938. But with several urgent problems becoming evident due to the building’s age, the Geraldton Diocese has decided to bring the building back to life in time for its major celebrations in less than three years. Campaign coordinator Gerry Eastman told The Record the upcoming anniversary was the impetus behind the project. “A lot of the things didn’t happen the way they were originally planned, so by 2016 we’d like to have it up to scratch,” she said. “It wasn’t built exactly to Mgr Hawes’ plans because they didn’t have the funds. The main idea is to bring it back to what he would have liked to have seen 100 years ago.” The proposed works include removing the asbestos from the roofs and recladding the dome in zinc and the nave and sanctuary roofs with tiles. While more than $1.6 million has already been donated or pledged, the work will not begin until next year. “We can’t start until we have an answer from government bodies about the funding of the Heritage Centre,” Mrs Eastman said. “We

hope to start in the middle of next year.” Mrs Eastman said most of the problems with the Cathedral building were due to its age. “There’s a clock tower, but there’s no clock in it… the bell had to be removed from the tower as it was too heavy for the stonework,” she said. “These things will all be rectified.” There will also be some interior relocations, including moving the organ and lectern. In addition to the repair work, there are plans to build a Monsignor

A lot of things didn’t happen the way Mgr Hawes planned. We want it to be as he would have wanted it. Hawes Heritage Centre that will be home to a large collection of memorabilia. “All of [Mgr Hawes’] plans are there, his notebooks, the cardboard models of his buildings and his photo albums,” Mrs Eastman said. “Scattered throughout the diocese, and mainly stored in the Bishop’s house, is a lot of memorabilia and artefacts related to Hawes, and it’s important that the public gets to see it.” The Heritage Centre will include a coffee shop for the benefit of visitors and the local community, while a wildflower garden displaying the

Hawes’ St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Geraldton. The vision of Geraldton Diocese is to rejuvenate the Cathedral for its 2016 centenary. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

best flora of the Mid-West region is also planned. A fundraising committee has been established to help generate the required funds, and monthly cake stalls, concerts and a gala day have proved successful so far. Mrs Eastman said people flock to the Cathedral because it is unique, and she hoped this would continue. “It’s so unusual to see this type

of architecture in country WA,” she said. One of the building’s features is a two-level section at the Cathedral’s rear, where the crypt is located beneath the sanctuary. Mgr Hawes described the 800-person capacity building as “Roman or Norman, but certainly not Gothic”. The former Anglican clergyman was the brains behind sev-

eral church buildings in rural WA, including Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Mullewa and St Mary’s in Ara Coeli in Northampton. WANT TO WIN A CAR? The fundraising committee is currently holding a car raffle. If you want to make a donation to the St Francis Xavier Cathedral Precinct Project or purchase raffle tickets, visit www.sfxcathedralproject.com.au or call (08) 9921 3221.

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therecord.com.au September 4, 2013

US alarms Egypt’s Christians By James Martone TWO WEEKS after the churches he used to pray in were ransacked and burned in the Egyptian port city of Suez, Istafanos Youssif sat “searching for God” in a Cairo convent. He said he hoped to get over the pain through “reflection and prayer” and that he understood who was behind the church burnings. What he said he could not understand was the US position toward his country, Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood “only has one goal, either to rule the country, or burn it. We love the American people, but not what (US President Barack) Obama is doing. He is supporting the Brotherhood, the terrorists”, said Youssif, a second-year university student and member of Egypt’s Coptic Catholic community. Since the military’s overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi in early July, many Christians in Cairo told Catholic News Service the United States is taking the wrong side, with some, like 21-year-old Youssif, even accusing Washington of openly supporting terrorism. Their concerns echo, almost to the word, Egypt’s military and its new interim government’s claims that Morsi was deposed by popular demand, that now-dismantled proMorsi camps in Cairo were armed, and that the Muslim Brotherhood and other groups with which Morsi was aligned are the ones behind a wave of attacks on state, security and Christian institutions around the country. “The US is calling for human rights, but where are our human rights?” Youssif asked, complaining about what he perceived was “a lack of US support” for Egypt’s military, which, he said, had “responded to the will of the people” by ousting Morsi. “It is wrong to call it a coup,” he added. Obama has not termed the takeover a coup, though some US lawmakers have. But Obama has condemned the forced dismantling of two pro-Morsi camps in Cairo on August 14, saying Washington supports “the right to peaceful protest”. Hundreds, mostly protesters, were killed when the camps were raided that day by security forces who maintain the protesters were not peaceful, were armed and that many of the country’s soldiers were killed and wounded in the raid. Since then, several US lawmakers, along with Western rights groups, have expressed concern over reported military abuses and

A Coptic Orthodox bishop prays with local residents at a burnt and damaged evangelical church in Minya, Egypt on August 26.

the Egyptian authorities’ widespread arrests of Morsi sympathisers. Several Muslim Brotherhood officials, including its leader, Mohammed el-Beltagy, have denied accusations that their organisation is behind acts of terrorism in the country. Before being detained by security forces on August 29, Beltagy accused Egypt’s new interim government of attempting to turn what he called a “political struggle” into a security problem by blaming the Brotherhood for attacks that have occurred. But most Christians believe the Brotherhood is behind the attacks and say the US and the rest of the world are wrong to think otherwise. “Show all over the world that Egypt is good now, especially the Christians,” 65-year-old retired engineer Samir Ebrahim told a Western reporter. “This is a real revolution; the army got the right from the people, from the public, to remove the Brotherhood” which had been trying since 2012 elections “to take over the country,” said Ebrahim,

a member of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church. Father Romany Adly, a Coptic Catholic priest in the village of Nazlet Khater in the southern governorate of Sohag, wonders why Americans call Morsi’s July 3 ouster a coup. “Please give Obama my personal message; that Fr Romany says it was not a military takeover. It was a revolution of the people,” the priest said in a cellphone interview. In 2012, Morsi won Egypt’s

The Coptic Orthodox Patriarch and the Coptic Catholic Patriarch both support the country’s military. first-ever free elections on a largely Islamist platform, with strong Muslim Brotherhood backing. Since the military takeover, Egyptian media has become almost entirely anti-Brotherhood and describes the ongoing crackdown

on that group’s members and other Morsi supporters as part of its “war on terror”. One network that has not been anti-Brotherhood is Al-Jazeera, and Egyptian officials are considering banning its Egyptian affiliate. Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II and Coptic Catholic Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak have put the support of their two communities behind the military, saying the overthrow of Morsi represents what the majority of Egypt’s Muslims and Christians want. In late August, Patriarch Sedrak reiterated his view “that the army and the police didn’t act against the people and that the (pro-Morsi) protests were not peaceful”. “America has interests,” he told a television anchor in answer to her question about Washington’s position toward the recent events in Egypt. The majority of the 82.5 million Egyptians are Sunni Muslims, and Egypt’s Al-Azhar University – Sunni Islam’s highest institute of learning – also supported the ouster of Morsi almost immediately after it happened, but has kept a low pro-

PHOTO: LOUAFI LARBI, REUTERS, CNS

file since. “Traitor,” Waffa Hassan said of anyone supporting what she called “the military coup” against Morsi, for whom she voted in the 2012 elections. Hassan, a Muslim, said she was present at the bigger of the two proMorsi camps with her 9-year-old son the day it was raided. She accused the military and anyone else who said the Brotherhood was behind the violence, including the attacks on churches, of “lying”. “Al-Azhar is a traitor, and the (Christian) Church leaders are afraid because some of their people are converting to Islam,” said Hassan, who works as an administrator in a foreign news organisation, but did not want to say which. Most estimates say 10-15 per cent of the Egyptian population are Christians, the majority of them Coptic Orthodox, but there are Catholics, Protestants and other various Christian communities in the country as well. The recent attacks on churches and other Christian properties are considered the most severe in the country’s modern history. - CNS

Egypt’s Copts are proud of their history, tracing By James Martone

A priest gives Communion during Sunday liturgy at the Coptic Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary in Cairo on August 25. PHOTO: DANA SMILLIE

THE COPTIC Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary sits in a tiled courtyard a few miles outside Cairo, on the left bank of the Nile as the river bends south toward Upper Egypt. The structure’s front doors overlook the famed river, which Egyptian Christians who pray and worship here are convinced transported Mary, Joseph and their small boy, Jesus, to safety from persecution back home. Many Copts – the name for Egypt’s Indigenous Christians – trace their religion all the way back to Jesus who, according to the Gospel of St Matthew, sought refuge in their country from the wrath of Herod the Great 2,000 years ago. Coptic tradition holds that Christ stayed in Egypt for three years and

that later, around the year 42, St Mark the Evangelist came to evangelise in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria, before being martyred. Christianity continued to spread among the locals called “Copts”, a derivative from the Greek word for Egypt and, by the 3rd century, Christianity was the country’s dominant religion. By the time the newer religion of Islam arrived in Egypt in the middle of the 7th century, Egyptian Christianity had already provided the Church with some of the world’s major Christian saints and had introduced new forms of monastic life. “The history of the Coptic Church is both glorious and tragic,” wrote Otto FA Meinardus in his authoritative book on Egyptian Christianity, Christians in Egypt. “Glorious,” he wrote “in the

number of her illustrious sons, such as Sts Athanasius, Cyril, Anthony and Pachomius, to mention but a few; and tragic in the vast number of her children who, in the various persecutions, suffered martyrdom for their adherence to the Christian faith.” Today, Egypt’s Christians represent the largest Christian minority group of the Middle East and North Africa, and they number anywhere from 10-15 per cent of Egypt’s 82.5 million people, who are predominantly Sunni Muslim. The vast majority of Egypt’s Christians are Coptic Orthodox, but there are other local Christian groups, including Protestants and Catholics from various Eastern Catholic rites. Egypt’s Coptic Catholic Church is the largest of the Catholic rites in the country and accounts for

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Families invited to October Vatican pilgrimage AS PART of the Year of Faith, the Vatican wants to celebrate bonds that last a lifetime. The international pilgrimage of families from October 26-27 is being planned as a celebration and not a protest against any policy or trend, said Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family. “The time has come to set aside conflicts,” he said, and “hit the streets” simply with the joy and happiness of being part of a loving family. Obviously, the Archbishop said, building a family and keeping it strong requires sacrifices, “but it’s still beautiful to say, ‘I love you’, to say, ‘I’m not afraid of tomorrow because I know you are there’, and to say, ‘I’m not afraid of the years passing, because I know you’ll be with me.’”

The Vatican is not pretending that the institution of marriage and the family aren’t under attack in many societies, he said, but “it’s time not for condemnation, but to extend a hand. It’s time for a warm friendship to help the sad, raise up the weak and console those who are hurting”. The Archbishop and his staff are hoping the pilgrimage will be “a beautiful celebration of parents and children, grandchildren and grandparents and families with other families”, he said. The central message will be that “happiness does not lie in going it alone”, the Archbishop said. In the run-up to the event, the Pontifical Council for the Family is seeking help from the younger generation: it is collecting children’s drawings of their families as a gift to the Pope; encouraging teenag-

ers to post photographs illustrating “living life to the fullest” on the council’s Facebook page; and accepting audition tapes or videos from young adults 18-32 who want to sing or dance at the pilgrimage gathering spot in Rome on October 26. The rules and instructions for submissions from all three age groups are found on the council’s website: www.family.va. For the 68-year-old Archbishop Paglia, the presence of grandparents at the pilgrimage will be particularly important because, as Pope Francis has emphasised on several occasions recently, modern culture seems to see some human lives – particularly the lives of the elderly and the unborn – as “disposable”. “I want to help people rediscover the positive force of bonds that last from one generation to the next,”

the Archbishop said. “It’s not an accident that Pope Francis continues to emphasise the importance of keeping intact the bonds between the beginning of life and the end of life. After all, a tree without roots is a tree without leaves and without fruit; it’s just a trunk and that’s sad to see.” Highlighting the central role of the family in the life of an individual and of society by promoting a lifelong bond between one man and one woman and insisting on the importance of strengthening relations among generations are, he said, responses to “a deep wound” many people carry, the wound of “a the lack of love”. “Despite the fact that one sees a growing desire to love and be loved, in reality it is increasingly rare. This is a wound that cuts deep and marks not just individual lives, but societal life as well,” he said. - CNS

This is a graphic promoting the Year of Faith international pilgrimage of families from October 26-27. PHOTO: CNS

Use truth and beauty to ward off culture: Pope By Carol Glatz FIGHT OFF a drug- and alcoholpushing culture and other hazardous trends sweeping across today’s world, Pope Francis told young people. “In life, there will always be people who will make you offers to slow or impede you on your way. Please, go against the current. Be courageous,” he said. He also asked for prayers for his ministry “because this work is unhealthy, it’s not good for you,” he said with a laugh. The Pope made his comments during a meeting in St Peter’s Basilica on August 28 with some 500 young people from the northern Italian diocese of PiacenzaBobbio. They were in Rome as part of a Year of Faith pilgrimage with their bishop. In unscripted remarks, the Pope said he loved being with young people because they always carry and share the joy and hope in their hearts. If older adults complain about how miserable things are in life and that nothing can be done about it, the Pope said he just reminds them that something can be done and an individual can actually do a lot. However, if a young person shows similar pessimism, “I send him to a psychiatrist”, because it’s incomprehensible when a young

Pope Francis poses with youth in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on August 28.

person doesn’t want to conquer the world, “do something great and bet on big, great ideals for the future”. “You are the makers, the craftsmen of the future,” he said. Young people need to follow and build on the desire they carry in their hearts: their love of and quest for beauty, goodness and truth, he said.

Pope Francis cautioned them against being too lazy or sad and melancholy. “This is the challenge, your challenge” because a sad or lazy young person “is an awful thing”, he said, and it will distort or take away the beauty, goodness and truth that person should be looking for. If people say they already know

PHOTO: L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO

the truth and don’t need to go looking for it, the Pope said he tells them they are mistaken “because the truth cannot be had, we don’t carry it, it’s encountered. It’s an encounter with the truth, who is God, but it’s necessary to go looking for it.” He urged his audience to go out and “make noise” because “where

there are young people there must be noise”. Be courageous, he said, and when people say “’have a little alcohol, take a bit of drugs.’ No. Go against this civilisation that is causing us so much harm.” Going against the current, he said, means making noise with the virtues of beauty, goodness and truth. - CNS

its ancient origins back to Christ and St Mark as many as 300,000 faithful. Both Coptic Catholics as well as Coptic Orthodox refer to their respective leaders as “patriarch of Alexandria” and see themselves as the “original” Egyptians. “A Copt is an Egyptian par excellence. Add to this the fact that the Coptic Church... is essentially a national church, identified with Egypt,” said Catherine MayeurJaouen, who has written extensively on Egypt, Islam and the Coptic Churches. The Copts’ deep roots in Egypt are reinforced all the more so because, until today, they have been as present in the Egyptian countryside as they are in cities, as opposed to other Christians of the Middle East who are mostly urban, said Mayeur-Jaouen, who teaches Middle Eastern History at

the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilisations in Paris. “We are the original inhabitants on Egyptian soil because we were here before anyone and before Islam,” said a priest from

We were worried. But our Muslim neighbours came and sat in front of the Church and prevented any harm. the Orthodox church on the Nile, Fr Tadros Youssef. Tension between Egypt’s Copts and Muslims has long been a problem but recently it has dangerously spiked, first since President Hosni

Mubarak’s overthrow by popular revolt in 2011, and even more so since the military’s July 3 ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Violence has surged even further since August 14 when security forces raided two pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo, which killed hundreds of people, most of them protestors. Church leaders and independent human rights groups have recorded attacks on dozens of churches, schools, buildings, homes and other institutions belonging to Christians. Egypt’s military and interim government have condemned all the attacks, calling them the “work of terrorists” and blaming them on the Muslim Brotherhood and other pro-Morsi groups. Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II and

Coptic Catholic Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak have openly supported the military, which is part of the reason their communities are being attacked, observers note. Coptic Catholic Fr Yuhanna Boulas, Arabic for John Paul, said that on the day the pro-Morsi camps were raided in Cairo, his parish in the town of Az-Zarabi in southern Egypt was threatened by an angry mob. “But we have great comprehension with our Muslim neighbours, and they came and said, ‘don’t worry, no one can harm you’ and they came and sat in front of the church, and prevented any harm,” Fr Yuhanna Boulas said. Still, he said many Copts had been trying to leave Egypt in a quest “for more security” abroad, especially since the 2012 election of now-disposed Morsi.

“And we are witnessing church burnings,” he said, surmising that even more Copts would consequently be tempted to immigrate. Back at the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Sunday liturgy was full and incense filled the air. Men in robes chanted in ancient Coptic, long since defunct as Egypt’s vernacular but still used for Coptic liturgy. Young families arrived with newborns to baptise. Off in a church annex, Samir Ebrahim, 65, prayed alone in front of a Bible framed case on the wall with an inscription above it. “This Bible was found floating on the water, opened on the page that reads ‘Blessed be Egypt my people’,” Ebrahim told an inquisitive reporter. “I hope Egypt will get better and better,” he said, and resumed praying. - CNS

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Prosecuting the case for love The poorest of children in India can get sucked into the juvenile justice system and never find their way out. One of the country's leading judges, a Norbertine priest, is doing something about it, writes Matthew Biddle.

Left, children participate in a protest against the use of child labour in Bangalore, part of Norbertine priest and judge Fr Antony Sebastion's advocacy work. Above, Fr Antony Sebastion among the key group he has dedicated his life to helping. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Top, Fr Antony Sebastion raises awareness at a workshop. Above, some of the young menin-the-making who have benefited from Fr Antony's advocacy. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

UVENILES imprisoned for criminal offences need to be given the chance to reform so they don’t continue to reoffend, India’s Norbertine priest, law court judge, and social worker, Fr Antony Sebastion, says. The jack-ofall-trades set up the Empowerment of Children and Human Rights Organisation (ECHO) in 2000, and recently spent two weeks in Perth learning how the juvenile justice system operates in Australia. ECHO assists juveniles who face hardship, including street children, child labourers and orphans, but its main concern is children who have been arrested for crimes. Its purpose is essentially three-fold – the rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration of juvenile criminals back into society. Fr Antony told The Record the problem of juvenile imprisonment is a worldwide problem that needs to be urgently addressed. Despite the significant progress India has made over the past decade in eradicating juvenile crime, largely thanks to Fr Antony’s work, it remains a constant challenge. “Almost 60 per cent of street children or child labourers are likely to get in conflict with the law,” Fr Antony says. “There are a number of agencies working for them in India, but when they get to the legal problems, no one comes to help them.” As such, ECHO works as an advocacy

group for such children. It has been estimated that Bangalore is home to about 150,000 street children. Fr Antony says Indian children can find their way into conflict with the law through all sorts of crimes. “They’re into everything, from petty offences to serious offences,” he explains. Unfortunately, Fr Antony says, poverty is responsible for the majority of juvenile crimes committed. “Almost 90 per cent of children that come to us belong to a very poor social and economic background,” he says. “The poverty is an underlying factor which has to be dealt with first to minimise the crimes in India.” Children, he says, are most likely to be guilty of stealing, which may be just a loaf of bread initially but much larger items later on. But the Norbertine priest says punishing such offenders heavily is not the best

and only detention centre run by an independent, non-government organisation, where reform, rather than punishment, is the focus. “It’s a model for India as well as for

He has good reason to be proud. Since Fr Antony Sebastion commenced the juvenile advocacy group ECHO's detention centre in Bangalore in 2011, not one child who has stayed there has re-offended." response to the problem. “Jail is not meant to punish them, it’s meant to reform and to help these children,” he says. And that’s where ECHO comes in. In Bangalore, ECHO set up the first

the international community,” Fr Antony says proudly. And he has good reason to be proud. Since commencing in 2011, not one child who has stayed at ECHO’s detention centre has re-offended. The ‘Juvenile Special Home’, as it is

known, houses children convicted by the Juvenile Court. Fr Antony says the home is designed to meet each child’s best interests, without requiring strict regulations and prison gates. One of ECHO’s strongest focuses in the reformation of children is education. “A child is in the process of the formation of his own personality, it’s not completed, it’s still at an early stage,” he says. “We try to instil values and high hopes in them. Whatever they want to [achieve] they should be able to.” Fr Antony says no one is born to commit a crime and, consequently, reforming one’s behaviour is almost always possible. “At least 90 per cent can be reformed,” he says. “Even if they are criminals they should be given ample opportunities for reform so they can come back to society.”

In addition to focusing on education programs, ECHO has also initiated several programs aimed at assisting juvenile criminals to regain their confidence and sense of self-worth. One such program that commenced in 2001 is the Traffic Police Assistants Program, in which young offenders work with local police to direct traffic. But Fr Antony says such programs may only be of assistance to juvenile criminals in India. “Every child is unique and different in its own way,” he says. “You have to look at each child’s background... to develop a program accordingly.” During his time in Perth, Fr Antony visited prisons in Canning Vale and Banksia, and met with the assistant commissioner for Corrective Services.

The visiting priest says he noticed a large number of Aboriginal juveniles in both facilities, which reflects a disturbing trend around the country. In 2007, Australia’s juvenile detention rate for non-Indigenous people was 14 per 100,000. But the rate for the Indigenous population was a staggering 28 times larger at 397 per 100,000. And WA has the highest juvenile detention rate in the country. Fr Antony says the discrepancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous offenders needs attention. “The whole approach here perhaps needs a re-thinking,” he says. “You need to think about what other opportunities can you open up for them while they are in the detention centres.” Fr Antony’s passion for helping chil-

dren, particularly those struggling with crime, was first noticed when, as a seminarian, he championed the rights of the poor. Friend and fellow Norbertine priest Fr Joshy Arimana Chacko says Fr Antony

tion and the water supply were disconnected from those two slums, and there were thousands of people deprived of power and drinking water. “One fine morning [Fr Antony] was successful in mobilising about 1,200 people, especially women and little children, all carrying their water buckets, and they blocked the national highway, stopping all the government officers from working, so the city came to a standstill. “The police issued an arrest warrant on the spot... and it appeared on the front page of the national newspapers, the seminarian most wanted. “All of a sudden there was a lot of pressure on the government and the politicians to get involved to rectify the issue... the police department had to drop the arrest warrant, and there were people congratulating him and encouraging him to take up other similar social causes.” A passion for the rights of the under-

"In 2007, Australia's juvenile detention rate was 14 per 100,000 for non-Indigenous versus 397 for Indigenous. "The whole approach here perhaps needs a re-thinking," Fr Antony said. was about 24 years old when he took up the cause. “There were two slums where the poorest of the poor lived,” he explains. “Thousands of people used to live there. For some reason, the electricity connec-

privileged now well and truly aflame within Fr Antony, it took a second, unforgettable incident to inspire him to do something for juveniles in India. Once during his theology studies, Fr Antony was preparing to board a train

travelling from Pune to Bombay. “As we were going to the platform we saw two or three policemen taking children, tied up by a single rope, to the first platform which is where the police station is,” he says. Despite questioning the police about it, Fr Antony and his friends were told to stay out of it, as the children were pushed into a truck and taken away. “I got a shock from it,” he says. “It has stayed in my mind ever since.” After his ordination in 1992, Fr Antony completed a Master’s degree in sociology at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands. His thesis was titled ‘An echo of the crime in the streets of Bangalore, India’. “My research was to understand the problems of street children from a legal perspective,” he says. “I found that the number of children picked up by the police was huge.” His study became the basis for establishing ECHO in 2000, initially as a means of providing children with legal assistance. In 2007, Fr Antony, by now a wellrespected figure in India, was appointed as a juvenile court judge in Karnataka, where he works one day a week. He’s the only Catholic priest in such a position in India. “It’s a great experience,” he says. “I used to be an advocate for the children from the other side, and sometimes it could take weeks or months to get a child released. Now, in a second, I can do it. “It’s been a great move from an arguer to a decision-maker and we’ve been able to do a lot of good things because of that.”

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therecord.com.au September 4, 2013

It takes a Family to raise Fathers

God has not stopped calling men in the Archdiocese of Perth to be priests, vocations director Fr Jean-Noel Marie tells Robert Hiini. Moving forward means confronting the reality of where we are as families and as a Church.

At the Holy Hour for Vocations last month, you quoted Pope Benedict XVI’s 2012 message for vocations in which he quotes Paul VI at length, that a want of priests was “the precise and inescapable indicator of the vitality of faith”. What is the significance of that quote?

We are being indicted because it is an indicator of the vitality of the faith of the diocese and the parish and is evidence of the moral health of Christian families. It is true to echo the sentiments of Pope Paul VI in a radio address in April 1964 that wherever numerous vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life are to be found, that is where people are living the Gospel with generosity. It is like a gauge by which we can measure the pulse of the Archdiocese. If we are not getting a response that we should get from the people, because Christ hasn’t stopped calling people in the Archdiocese, this is because there are blockages, noises, turbulence that are preventing our young people from responding generously.

Q A

What and where are those blockages?

We need to make a concerted effort in reinforcing the religious education of our children, in encouraging families to understand their vocation in the nurturing and fostering and encouraging their children’s spiritual growth, not discouraging and nipping vocations to the priesthood within their own milieu in the bud - something that can cause a lot of damage. I think that religious vocations should be celebrated by respective faith communities as a precious gift that needs to be allowed to flourish rather than this sense of apprehension and foreboding that accompanies... for example, when a young man says to his parents “I have met this wonderful lady and I’m going to marry her”, the parents would

be overjoyed. The vocation of marriage is a wonderful and beautiful vocation and it comes from God. But if someone were to go to their mum or dad and say, “I think I’m being called to be a priest”, their first reaction would most probably be something like “have you really thought about this?” It always lands like a thunderbolt from a clear, blue sky. It shocks and is questioned. It’s sometimes a matter of culture as well. Where there were once large families, say if one family had six or seven sons, if one of them said he wanted to become a priest it wouldn’t be quite an issue. But if you have someone who has an only son, and the Lord is calling that only son, it’s like Abraham and Isaac. “Give me your son, your only son.” It’s quite a big sacrifice for some people because in their culture their son must carry the name of the family.

Q A

What issues or attitudes lie at the heart of that view?

The question of celibacy needs to be explained as a way of life that needs to be embraced and celebrated rather than this insurmountable obstacle or a thorn in one’s side. It was the first thing, when I was working, that came up when I first said I was studying to be a priest. “What about celibacy?” It is at the back of people’s minds but it shouldn’t be the first thing that people think of when considering the priesthood if we are prepared to give everything. It’s about Jesus, stripped of everything, the Son who comes down from heaven, who gives everything out of love for us in the marriage of the Lamb. The Church is the bride, and Christ is the bridegroom, and the priest being configured to Christ, head and shepherd is also the bridegroom married to the people, married to the Church. That’s why the bishop wears a ring. He is “married” to the people of God.

How are we to tackle what has been dubbed the “crisis of priestly vocations” in the Church, at least in the developed world?

I see vocation being addressed at two levels. There is one that is being addressed now but it is not enough. That is the tactical approach. We in the Western world have a “crisis”. We don’t have enough priests. What are we going to do? The immediate reaction because we have an urgent need is to appeal for men to listen and respond. Approaching young men and saying “the Church needs more priests. Have you thought about the priesthood? What are we going to do?” That’s one aspect of it. The other aspect is the strategic approach. It begins at the baptismal font. It is our duty to remind all Catholic families that it is their responsibility, not just the priest’s and the bishop’s, to raise their children in the spirit of service and mission. We ask the parents “are you prepared to accept the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith... and all that this promise implies?” There is the universal call to holiness and then, through Baptism flow all the other vocations: married life, single life, religious and priestly life. All these flow from Baptism and it is the parents’ responsibility to keep that flame alive. The candle that the God-parents hold in their hands implies that commitment that they make which the parents and families may not realise. If they shift this responsi-

bility onto the priests and the vocations director alone, by the time the topic of vocations is raised, say when the young man is 20, if he hasn’t been nurtured in the faith by his parents who have the responsibility to do so, then this opportunity may have passed by. The sower would then find himself sowing on arid and rocky road.

Are parents the only factor in explaining the vocations “crisis”?

Not the only one. But maybe parents in these confusing times we are living in don’t feel equipped enough to meet those requirements; they need to be encouraged and deserve to be supported in every way possible so that they can fulfil their duties as Christian parents. We are very blessed to have a considerable number of overseas priests serving across the Archdiocese of Perth. This diversity brings richness, both culturally and spiritually. We must do everything we can to foster unity and focus on the beauty of our faith and the treasures and richness of our Catholic heritage rather than the artificial boundaries that are unnecessary and harmful to the Body of Christ. The first thing is to have a heart that yearns to serve; to love the people; to be like Christ; to heal; to listen; to uplift, to comfort and to guide; that’s the most important aspect of our lives - to be able to be like Christ to people. Saying “if they don’t do this way or that way” then I don’t want to be

a priest, displays a lack of understanding and acceptance of the true mission of the Church and what Christ is calling us to do and to be for his people. The people are there, they are hungry and thirsty for good shepherds, they are lost, they are confused. We cannot leave them in the dark to fend for themselves. They have lost even the very basics …

You’ve been vocations director since the beginning of this year. How do you feel you are going?

It is not something I was prepared for. You are not trained to be a vocations director. You don’t go to a class or get any manuals that would prepare you for this. So at this stage, I am learning. I’ve got a lot more to learn. While I’m assisting these men to discern, I am finding myself in a position where I too have to do some serious discerning of my own. Together with the whole community, I have been praying for people to respond. I have received some expression of interest from overseas and also from Perth. What is important is that the message is slowly getting through and there seems to be an awakening in people’s minds and hearts of the centrality of vocations within our faith communities. We need to keep vocations at the top of our agenda. I have been talking to other vocations directors over east in Melbourne and Brisbane recently with a view to sharing ideas and resources. “I have a dream.” I am very much interested, in due

VISTA

therecord.com.au September 4, 2013

In His Service all Greek for ancient Church monogram I have inherited a lapel pin with the letters “IHS” on it. I’ve seen this on priests’ vestments and would like to know what it stands for.

Top, Perth vocations director Fr Jean-Noel Marie recites the Divine Praises at the Holy Hour for Vocations at St Mary’s Cathedral on August 11. Above, Fr Anthony Van Dyke OP, right, and St Charles’ seminarians at the Holy Hour. R HIINI

course, in setting up a Vocations Office in Perth that would liaise and collaborate with the other agencies within the Archdiocese. I would like to see a much broader and more cohesive approach to vocations. This mission must not be a “solo performance” but rather a concerto that involves and engages every aspect of our faith journey ie our Sacramental programmes, appropriate use of technology, etc. As I said before, this is not a recruitment program but a noble

and resolute attempt to remind all Catholics of their responsibility to live up to what it really means to be a Christian by virtue of our baptism. All Catholics are called to holiness and mission and also to foster and support vocations from their midst [families, schools, universities]. With God, it’s never too late. What seems impossible to us is possible to him. From a practical point of view, as happens in other dioceses, I would like to set aside a

day or evening where once a month young people could gather around the vocations director or someone else to reflect on Scripture, to share their hopes and dreams and pray for the wisdom and courage to embrace what the Lord is calling them to be. There will be an enquiry evening for all men discerning a call to the priesthood at St Charles’ Seminary in Guildford on Saturday, September 14 at 4pm. If you are interested please call Fr Jean-Noel Marie on 9223 1372.

N ADDITION to “IHS”, there are a number of other symbols which we see commonly and which go back to the early Church. I will take advantage of your question to look here at several of them and then, in another column, I will explain the meaning of other early Christian symbols, some of which are still used today. IHS is one of the more commonly used Christian monograms. It comes from the first three letters of the name Jesus in Greek: ΙΗΣ. The full name, as written in capitals, is ΙΗΣΟΥΣ. Since the Greek letter Eta, which corresponds to the English “E” when written as a capital is our English “H”, some may think this is an “H” where in fact it is the Greek “E”. The symbol appears rarely in the Roman catacombs, although it is found in the catacomb of Priscilla in a square chamber known as the Cappella Greca, or Greek Chapel. This catacomb, on the Via Salaria, was used for Christian burials from the late 2nd century through the 4th century. The IHS was popularised in the 15th century by the Franciscan St Bernardine of Siena (d 1444) as a symbol of peace. In 1541, St Ignatius of Loyola adopted it with three nails below and surrounded by the sun as the seal of the newly founded Jesuit order. Contrary to popular opinion, the monogram originally stood neither for “Jesus Saviour of Men” (Iesus Hominum Salvator) nor for the English “In His Service”. Another explanation, which at least has a degree of credibility for its antiquity, is that the letters are an acronym for In Hoc Signo from the vision of the Emperor Constantine where he saw the Chi-Rho sign in the heavens with the words In hoc signo vinces (In this sign you will conquer). But the most likely explanation is clearly that it stands for “Jesus”, and for this reason St Ignatius used it as the seal for the Society of Jesus. Another early Christian symbol is the Chi-Rho, written as a “P”, the Greek letter Rho, with an “X”, the Greek letter Chi, superimposed on it. Chi and Rho are the first two letters in the name of Christ in Greek: ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (Christos). The monogram was used often by the early Christians and it appears frequently in the catacombs. Then, in the year 312 AD, the emperor Constantine, not yet a Christian, was about to lead his army in a decisive battle against his rival Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge outside Rome. The winner would command the whole Roman empire. Constantine prayed

Q&A FR JOHN FLADER

to the “supreme God” for help and, according to the story, at midday he saw a cross of light superimposed on the sun, with the Greek words Τούτω Νίκα, “Conquer by this” (sign). It was later rendered in Latin as In hoc signo vinces (In this sign you will conquer). Not only Constantine but the whole army saw the spectacle. That night, Christ appeared to Constantine in a dream and told him to make a replica of the sign he had seen, which would be a sure defence in the battle that was to be fought the following day. The emperor ordered the sign to be emblazoned on the shields of his soldiers and they won the battle. Eusebius of Caesarea (d 339), the great Christian bishop and historian, writes of the labarum, or military standard later used by Constantine: “Now it was made in the fol-

Contrary to popular opinion, “IHS” does not stand for “Jesus Saviour of Men” or “In His Service”. lowing manner. A long spear, overlaid with gold, formed the figure of the cross by means of a transverse bar laid over it. On the top of the whole was fixed a wreath of gold and precious stones; and within this, the symbol of the Saviour’s name, two letters indicating the name of Christ by means of its initial characters, the letter P being intersected by X in its centre...” (Life of Constantine, 1.31). From the earliest times, the Chi-Rho was often represented with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega (Λ and lower case ω or upper case Ω) depicted on the left and right within the crossbars of the Chi. They are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. They too represent Christ, who says in the book of Revelation, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev 22:13). These two letters are often used today in various ways on priestly vestments, altars, chalices, stained glass windows, etc. So we see how some of the Christian symbols we use today go back to the very first centuries.

For more, see Fr Flader’s blog at fatherfladerblog.wordpress.com or contact Fr Flader on frjflader@gmail.com.

FUN FAITH With

SEPTEMBER 8, 2013 • LUKE 14: 25-33 • 23RD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

CROSSWORD

TODAY’S GOSPEL Luke: 14:25-33

EMBASSY BUILD CARRY KING DISCIPLE Across 1. For which of you, desiring to ____ a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 3. Or what king, going to encounter another ____ in war, will not sit down first and take counsel... 5. And if not, while the other is yet a

great way off, he sends an ____ and asks terms of peace.

Now great numbers of people accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, `This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace. So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Down 2. So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my ____. 4. Whoever does not ____ his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

WORD SEARCH HOW MANY WORDS FROM THE CROSSWORD CAN YOU FIND?

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

VISTA

therecord.com.au September 4, 2013

Black Belt in faith and fortitude Fr Quang Hong Pham endured ten brutal years of imprisonment in Vietnam. A trip to Australia as part of Vietnam’s Sydney Olympics Karate team provided the opportunity he needed to realise his vocation, he tells Debbie Warrier.

WAS BORN in Saigon on January 17, 1949 and had three sisters (one passed away at childbirth) and four brothers. My whole family was Catholic and I attended a Catholic school taught by the De La Salle brothers. One brother particularly stuck in my mind – Brother Aimee. That means “beloved”. He was so lovely. He organised youth activities and after school he taught Catechism very gently and very delicately. That touched every heart. He lived very humbly, like a poor person and loved children. At the age of 14, I joined the De La Salle Congregation although I must confess I didn’t know anything about vocations. It was just a natural call to be like that one brother whom I loved the best. Before entering the priesthood as a late vocation, I had been a De La Salle Brother for 40 years. I joined in 1963 and, on the Feast of the Assumption in 1975, I made my final vow and then I went to prison. When the Communists took over South Vietnam they tried to take all the monasteries and buildings to do with religion. In my case, we were put in jail along with the other three big Congregations: Dominican, Redemptorists and Salesians of Don Bosco – we all went together. They confiscated our monasteries and accused us of attempting a coup against the government. No proof, no evidence was given. In jail, it was strictly forbidden to learn any foreign language, to talk about religion or to do any services associated with religion. Otherwise, you would be put in the dungeon. When I first came to jail I had two years in a dark cell completely alone. My hands were handcuffed behind my back and they put shackles around my ankles. Until now I don’t know how I survived it other then it was with God’s help. I kept my mind open by remembering every story I had read including Bible stories as well as novels, then praying a little bit and after that I continued to learn and conjugate the verbs in French. The worst part of that period was the loneliness. The cell was completely dark. Except at midnight when they woke you up for interrogation. It was terrible. Then I realised I had friends. Rats came and crawled on my chest. I accepted that and said, “Hello friends, stay here”. And the next day a lot came. Then I made little friends out of the cockroaches. They were everywhere. Never mind. I wasn’t lonely anymore. In my first week in prison, the interrogator said to me, “If you say you don’t believe in God, I will release you. Just say it in your mouth. If you still believe, we won’t know”. I thought I would be like St Peter. Peter denied Jesus and He forgave Him. I tried to say it but after one week I realised that I could not deny Him even in my mouth. I was tempted to hesitate for the first time in my life but I found the strength to affirm my faith when I saw the interrogation room stained with the blood of all the other prisoners there on the wall. I was shaken and suddenly I remembered the blood of Jesus - on His cross was the same blood. I said, “No, I cannot make Him shed blood again.” So I said to the interrogator, “No. I will never say that.” That was my first conversion. When I moved to the common rooms there were hundreds of prisoners. I organised story telling every night for two hours and they called me “Cinema.” For the next

These days, Fr Quang Hong Pham, above, serves God in freedom, ministering among the Vietnamese Catholic community in Perth. He uses some of the 400 card tricks he learnt while a religious prisoner in Vietnam to delight local children. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

eight years that I was in jail I tried to tell them every detail I remembered and sometimes I would imagine and invent. When I told a story they would give me a bit of sugar to give me energy to go on and all who had received a gift would share it with the Cinema. My family did not know where I was until I had spent seven years in jail and when they found me they sent me a piece of sugar – that’s all because that was all they could spare. The best story I told to convert all the non-Catholics to Catholic was Quo Vadis. I had seen the movie and I had already read the book in French so it was easy to tell the story in Vietnamese. It took me eight months to tell the story. After that I found out that some prisoners came to the priests to be baptised. That was very moving. I was sentenced in prison for 13 years. After I stayed for over ten years I had Amnesty. Those that had less than three years left of their sentence were released. God said, “That’s enough for you.” That was 1998. I have done martial arts since I was eight years old and have a black belt in Karate, Judo, Tae-

Kwon-Do, Aikido and Kendo and the government needed instructors so that was what I became. Then my Vietnamese Karate group was invited to attend the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000. I was the coach of a team of 10 athletes. We went to Australia in 1998 for an intensive ‘Martial Art

ered with my limited English that I could not teach in the Catholic schools of the De La Salle Brothers. I realised many Vietnamese immigrants would be in the same position with their English and I decided the best way I could help them was in the Sacramental ministry, Reconciliation and all the pasto-

I spent the first two years in a dark cell, shackled and handcuffed, completely alone. Until now, I still don’t know how I survived it other than it was through God’s help. Training Course’ preparing for the Games and, after the Olympics, everyone escaped to begin a new life in Australia, including me. That is why I have my name on the blacklist of the Vietnamese government. They accused me of organising the escape but after the training course everyone escaped privately. How could I come home alone to go to jail again? After several attempts, I discov-

ral ministries. That’s why I went to St Charles’ seminary to become a priest and sat for an interview with Bishop Don Sproxton and the staff. They must have looked at me and thought I was too old at the age of 53!! But they accepted me and, in June 2003, I left my Congregation to join St Charles’ Seminary in Guildford. On May 12, 2006 I was ordained a priest by Archbishop Barry Hickey

and was the last one to be ordained at the old St Mary’s Cathedral before it was renovated. I am happy to be the old man ordained in the old Cathedral. I served at Lockridge Parish, Port Kennedy Parish and now I am an Assistant Priest at the Vietnamese Community Catholic Centre. The Parish Priest is Rev Fr Huynh Nguyen. I must confess that I learnt magic tricks whilst I was in prison. A lot of prisoners are experts at pickpocketing. Now I can open any lock (I couldn’t escape from prison because they gave us nothing made in metal, only plastic). I used to know 400 card tricks when I was a prisoner and now I still remember over 40. I used my magic tricks with cards as a way to connect with children in my ministry. It is easy to perform one trick and then they stay and listen to me. I think God didn’t call me once. Instead, I like the definition that God calls you in every stage of your life and you respond at each stage. Father Quang Hong Pham’s vocation story was told to Debbie Warrier.

OPINION

EDITORIAL

Brilliant challenge to modernity’s anti-spirit

n “new” atheist and secularist circles today, faith is regularly ridiculed. It is presented as pre-scientific mumbo jumbo, Bronze Age credulity, the surrender of the intellect, unwarranted submission to authority, etc. Time and again, the late Christopher Hitchens, echoing Immanuel Kant, called on people to be intellectually responsible, to think for themselves, to dare to know. This coming of age would be impossible, he insisted, without the abandonment of religious faith. And, in standard accounts of cultural history, the “age of faith” is presented as a retrograde and regressive dark age, out of which emerged, only after a long twilight struggle, the modern physical sciences and their attendant technologies. In accord with this cynical reading, the contemporary media almost invariably present people of “faith” as hopelessly unenlightened yahoos or dangerous fanatics. If you want the very best example of this, watch Bill Maher’s film Religulous. It was to counter this deeply distorted understanding of faith that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI composed an encyclical letter, which appeared in early July under the name of his papal successor and bears the title Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith). The text—smart, allusive, ruminative, informed by a profound grasp of cultural trends—is, though signed by Pope Francis, unmistakably Ratzingerian. Though it is impossible in the context of this brief editorial to do justice to its rich content, I should like to gesture, however briefly, to a few of its principal motifs. The Holy Father’s move is to confront directly the sort of rationalistic dismissal of faith that I just outlined. Moderns, in love with the illuminating power of technological reason, have, as we have seen, tended to view faith, not as light, but as obscurity. But the Pope insists that faith is the proper, indeed reasonable, response to the experience of the living God, who is not an object in the world, but rather the Creator of the world. Precisely because he is the source of all finite existence, God is not one being among many and hence cannot be pinned down on an examining table and lit up with the harsh light of technological reason. The prophet Isaiah expressed this point with admirable economy: “Truly you are God who hides himself, O God of Israel, Saviour.” Isaiah does not mean that God is a worldly reality that is, for the moment, hidden away, like the dark side of the moon; rather, he means that PO Box 3075 God is a reality which cannot, Adelaide Terrace even in principle, be seen in PERTH WA 6832 the ordinary way. Further, the hidden God is not an abstract force or a distant first cause. office@therecord.com.au He is, instead, a living person, Tel: (08) 9220 5900 and this means that he cannot Fax: (08) 9325 4580 be manipulated, controlled, or analysed in an intrusive manner. Therefore, faith or trusting acceptance is the only legitimate response to an experience of such a reality. The encyclical’s second move is to show how the darkness of faith, once embraced, actually turns into light. By accepting God’s overture, the faith-filled person finds the supreme value, which unifies and gives direction to the whole of his life; he basks in the light, which illumines every aspect of his existence. In the absence of faith in the one God, a person necessarily drifts from idol to idol, that is to say, from one fleeting value to another. One of the Pope’s most brilliant observations is that idolatry, therefore, is always a type of polytheism, a chase after a multiplicity of gods, none of which can satisfy: “Idolatry does not offer a journey but rather a plethora of paths leading nowhere and forming a vast labyrinth.” What an apt description of the spiritual state of so many in our postmodern condition. And how deeply congruent with the Biblical notion that the rejection of God conduces automatically to a disintegration of the self. Notice that Biblical demons speak typically in the plural. The Pope’s third major move is to show that authentic faith is liberating, and he does this by returning to St Paul’s classic texts on justification. Famously, the apostle argued, in his letter to the Romans and elsewhere that salvation comes, not through works of the law, but through faith in what Jesus has accomplished. The Holy Father reads this, not in the Lutheran manner, as a demonisation of “good works”, but rather as a reminder that real salvation comes by way of surrendering to God’s purposes. When we are convinced that our fundamental well-being depends on our efforts and the accomplishment of our plans, we lock ourselves into the cramped quarters of the sovereign Self. But when we acknowledge through faith the primacy of grace, we move in the infinite and exciting space of God’s intentions for us. As all of the great spiritual masters have acknowledged, our lives are not, finally, about us, and in that realisation, we find peace and joy. Dante expressed the idea splendidly: “In your will, O Lord, is our peace.” I think that this encyclical could best be interpreted as Pope Emeritus Benedict’s and Pope Francis’ challenge to the secularist ideology that has already enveloped Western Europe and that is now threatening our country. It is a reminder that faith alone can deliver us from the tyranny and sadness of the closed-in self.

In his encyclical, the Holy Father confronts directly modernity’s dismissal of religious faith...

THE RECORD

From time to time The Record samples editorial opinion from around the global Catholic press. The above editorial by Fr Robert Barron was published on Fr Barron’s Word on Fire website.

therecord.com.au September 4, 2013

LETTERS

Partnering Indigenous faith experience THE NATIONAL Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) has recently launched a consultation to deal with the inculturation of faith by Indigenous Catholics in Australia. NATSICC itself proposes that the consultation focus on three key areas: liturgy, symbols and involvement of the laity. In this last week before our national election, I think we have an opportunity to come to grips with what “involvement of the laity” ought to mean to Indigenous Catholics, and, indeed, to any of us concerned about the inculturation of our faith at this time. All of us, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Catholics, have a chance to get beyond looking at liturgy and symbols as the first targets of the inculturation of faith. More pressing areas are evoked by the phrase, your kingdom come, and include the maintenance, or retrieval, of stable family relationships, the development of relevant education that links culture with humanising work, and a mature approach to the entrenched ideology of welfare. I hope that the Catholic faith of Indigenous Australians will always run with that crucial kingdom phrase of the Lord’s Prayer. I would add that the nonIndigenous role is to appreciate the importance of being their partners in kingdom faith instead of patrons too easily naive and/ or romantic in the cross-cultural context, especially with liturgy and symbols. Noel McMaster Halls Creek, WA

Happy clappy liturgical music impresses no-one IN REPLY to “Record was wrong on rock music at Masses”, Mr O’Connell seems to take issue with the article’s quote: “The pipe organ has more power to raise hearts and minds to God than other musical instruments...”. He says that this denies the legitimacy of using other instruments in Mass - which the quote clearly does not - and that it somehow means that African choirs or others without access to a Church organ cannot “raise hearts and minds to God”. Mr O’Connell clearly read the article incorrectly. He also quotes, for no apparent reason, Article 119 which states that an importance and a suitable place should be given to the traditional music of non-western countries. But I must ask the question, where in the world is rock music a traditional form of worship? Mr O’Connell also makes a statement about the article demeaning the hard work of musicians worldwide, which has no grounding in Mr Biddle’s article at all. Finally, he states that listening to “pipe organs, classical music and cathedral choirs” are more for concerts than making the congregation feel like “participants in a community liturgical celebration”. This point I find is the only part of Mr O’Connell’s letter which actually engages with the issue and has some credence; the rest of his letter appears to be a criticism against ‘conservative’ Church musicians and not actually attached to the original article at all. I support Mr Biddle’s article; it is true that rock music has no place in worship and that the pipe organ has a great power to lift up man’s soul to God. Perhaps rock music or any type of music has a place in feel-good “community liturgical celebrations”, but when attending

the most Solemn Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, anything that makes you clap or want to dance is completely out of place. And, no, I am not ‘out of touch’ as Mr O’Connell seems to believe anyone holding such views is. I am a 22-year-old Catholic who has witnessed the Sacrifice in numerous countries, in several different rites, studied theology and philosophy and find it annoying that people assume that as a ‘young person’ I need a guitar and a rousing tune to make me go to Mass. Name and address supplied

Rock music at Mass just plain embarrassing I WOULD like to respond to some of the people who are criticising sacred music and promoting rock music at Mass. I want to first acknowledge and respect the efforts and good intentions of musos who give up their time and talent to their parishes. This is in no way criticising you. I have also been a Church musician for many years. However, our good intentions and contributions are not the end all. How the parish worships is what is most important. A young person who left the Church told me that many of our parishes are stuck in a 70s singalong time warp. He said “these musos have hijacked the liturgy and it sounds horrible”. In many parishes today (in spite of the good works of musos), the choice of music is daggy, some songs sound like playschool singalongs (not my words) and many feel embarrassed to participate. There is a very low participation rate despite our intentions to make it singable. Our youth Masses with secular-style music also don’t do very well in attracting young people. In fact, many young people are turned off by rock music at what is supposed to be a sacred space at Mass. I think young people want something sacred and beautiful, not rock Masses. They have been robbed of their heritage of Gregorian chant for B-grade, secular-style music. Even the Magisterium has encouraged us to avoid secular (ie rock) music as not the answer for our time since it takes away the sense of the sacred and what is spiritually happening (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 1963; Musicam Sacram, 1967; etc). I think a lot of people go to Mass in spite of the music. The evidence that the young and old don’t like 70s rock in churches is reflected by the fact that in most parishes the only people who enjoy singing at Church are people of the 70s. I believe that if we continue this rock trend we will not further the cause of evangelisation but impede it. Why are some Church musicians so against chant? Is something so timeless outdated? Are you sure chant will really turn young people off? Name and address supplied (Writer aged in his/her 30s)

War vet: Fr Belitz is welcome anytime I AM writing to say how delighted I was to read on page 2 of The Record that Fr Justin Belitz was coming to Willetton Parish. Fr Belitz has been coming to Perth and enriching our lives since the 1980s. I have attended and enjoyed numerous retreats and workshops over the past 20 or more years. In all my experiences, he has only taught and encouraged me to learn how to meditate and get in touch with the God who is within me. As a retired Vietnam Veteran

pensioner, I have suffered some traumatic experiences but I have only found consolation and relaxation through his method of meditation. The peace, calm and tranquillity of being in touch with my God through his dedicated method of practising meditation has been of tremendous comfort for me in dealing with the traumas of war service. I have actively encouraged Fr Justin’s method of meditation in seeking a ‘success: full life’ to my family members, to my veteran mates and our parish congregation. The spirituality of getting in touch with the God who is within you is a sacred and holy experience in my life. During the stressful ordeal of going through chemotherapy sessions for six months, I found Fr Justin’s method of meditation extremely helpful. Focusing your mind on recovering in a stressfree and relaxed state is far more beneficial than just trying to get through the pain and suffering. May God continue to bring peace and relaxation to the people of Perth through Fr Justin’s ministry. MW Linden Armadale WA

What about the eighth deadly sin? I ENJOYED reading The Record edition dated August 21, 2013 (Healing Marist priest returns to Perth). I have not the opportunity to attend one of Fr Rea’s healing ministry, with the healing of cancer, infertility, broken bones, restoration of sight with many other miracle healings which comes as an answer to those who are broken, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I still have many beautiful memories when I was involved with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in its heights in the 80s and 90s. In the article, it states “The only things Fr Rea says he can’t do anything about are curing people of the seven deadly sins. You can’t be healed from pride, envy, greed, anger, gluttony, lust or sloth he says”. But why has the eighth deadly sin not been included? ‘Well,’ you may say, ‘I am not familiar with the eighth deadly sin?’ I would name ‘unforgiveness’ as the eighth on my list. Here is a sin that divides and shatters individuals, families and nations with outcomes of silence, bitterness, hatred... ending in a sea of war, engulfed in the flames of Hell itself not only for a lifetime but sometimes for generations to come. Sure, Fr Rea has seen many miracles and wonders through his ministry only because of God’s great mercy and love for us all. And people have declared been set free from their physical and mental afflictions, but the article doesn’t mention that these afflictions may return worse than their original state. Why? Well, the affliction is the branch, but the root is unforgiveness. Until the roots are pulled out, only then can resolution and freedom take place. More often than not, it is unforgiveness that gives birth to affliction and suffering. Thank you, Fr Rea, for your ministry; may the Lord give you and your ministry many more years to come. Jose’ Guerrero Stirling WA

Disappointed by Record marriage protest report AS SUPPORTERS of traditional marriage and National Marriage

OPINION

therecord.com.au September 4, 2013

Another ‘ministry?’ No. Domestic Church is first When the relentless busy-ness of life impinges on our faith and family life, stand firm, say no and cultivate at home first. @ Home MARIETTE ULRICH

“Y

ou should be more involved.” I wish I had a dollar—or better yet, a day off purgatory—for every time I heard that phrase as a young mother. The siren call came from people who were active in the various communities and parishes where we lived. Sometimes I resisted, sometimes I succumbed. Regardless, it was at a time in my life when I simply did not have much of that commodity. Time, that is. I don’t know at what point people began believing that frenetic busy-ness was a necessary part of parish life, but for the sheer amount of activities undertaken and hours spent, I’m not sure we’re any further ahead, as a Church or a civilisation. My brother (a father of seven), is fond of the saying, “Everybody wants to save the world; nobody wants to help Mother with the dishes”. On a parish level, it might be said, “Everybody wants to renew the parish; nobody wants to say the Rosary before bedtime”. One parish to which we belonged, many years ago, employed an energetic and highly motivated ‘parish co-coordinator.’ (The whole idea of which is problematic, but must be left as fodder for another day.) This

Day, we were dismayed and disappointed with the publicity given to the protestors at the Marriage Day Mass. To actually photograph and publish the comments of the protestors seem to us counterproductive to the aims of the Australian Family Association. The space allocated to the photograph of the protestors would have been better used to exhort more Catholic couples to support the National Marriage Mass and to advertise the event to all Catholics. Norma and John Ryan MORLEY, WA

Response on rock music missed the point PATRICK O’Connell certainly let fly in his letter in this week’s Record. Unfortunately, Mr O’Connell is mistaken on a number of points: • “Pipe organs are the domain of large, mostly Western Churches.” This is not true. In Victoria alone, there are magnificent small organs in small country churches throughout country/ goldfields areas. These are so highly valued that there is an annual Organ Festival in which organ lovers travel around these churches to enjoy hearing the variety and depth of the music. In Perth alone, there is at least one small pipe organ in a parish church (St Anne’s, Belmont) which is played regularly and is much enjoyed by attendees as an aid to prayer. • Presumably Mr O’Connell is too young to have any knowledge or memory of the beautiful Masses sung in the Latin rite. Every child grew up learning all the Gregorian Masses and the whole parish sang them with gusto; no one felt like a spectator but was fully engaged in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament or whatever “liturgical celebration” was taking place. There is a place and a time

lady had a good heart and the best intentions, but let’s face it: she also had to justify her existence and her salary. So the path to parish renewal was programs, programs and more programs. Knowing my background (education, past volunteer experience), she constantly requested that I “come out of hiding” (her phrase) and get involved in parish programs (some of which were floundering, due to lack of interest or lack of–in my opinion–solid Church teaching). At that time, I had three children aged six and under, with Number Four on the way. “Hiding” was therefore defined as mothering my children, home-schooling my eldest, refereeing the two younger ones, surviving pregnancy (I tended to suffer acute “morning” sickness, 24 hours a day), and–when I could manage it—freelance writing. It was all I could do to get through most days, yet the parish coordinator wanted me to add meetings, talks and workshops to the agenda. I tried to explain that I was indeed building up the parish (and the Kingdom) by having babies, mothering, teaching and freelance writing. She remained unimpressed by the Sanctity of Motherhood theme, so I tried appealing to more worldly considerations: I informed her that my articles were reaching Catholics in Canada, the US, UK and even Africa (this was before everyone had internet). “You see? That’s my point,” she

for everything, as the Bible says; rock music is not really appropriate for the solemnity of Sacrifice or Adoration and, in fact, distracts from the sense of worship which one should experience. The Liturgy is about worship of God, not the entertainment of the congregation. No-one is denying the dedication and hard work of musicians who give time to preparing for the Liturgy; that is not what the comments in the article were about. Over many centuries the Church has advocated the use of an organ as the official and primary instrument to be used in liturgical worship and it has not changed that position, even though it has become common practice to use rock music and similar songs at the weekly Sunday service. Mr O’Connell is not being obliged to subject himself to the ordeal of organ music; there are any number of rock Masses for him to attend. At the end of the day, the article was a personal and informed opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own preference. Mrs Rosemary Lorrimar PALMYRA, WA

The timeless beauty of chant is waiting for us WE ARE blessed in the Catholic Church to have many dedicated and skilled musicians who commit years of hard work to give glory to God through their service. The fact that they are not using an organ or singing chant does not disqualify them from edifying the faithful or assisting them pray. Certainly, no one is arguing with this. Centuries of experience and extensive Church documentation shows the organ is the most effective instrument in supporting chant music. Chant music is the ideal music of the Church. Don’t believe it? Open up any missal sitting on every altar at any Mass – it’s only been revised recently. The

and me to spend our evenings with our children, and pray with them daily? We felt God calling us to the latter. We didn’t entirely quit volunteering but were very selective about what we felt we could take on. And we were not afraid to say no, even in the face of criticism and resentment. Young parents, spend time cultivating family life. Carefully and

I had three children aged six and under, with number four on the way. ‘Hiding’ was therefore defined as mothering my children...

scolded. “You have all this talent and you’re not using it for God and the Church.” Oy vay—is there a patron saint for the chronically obtuse? Ironically, the parish coordinator’s home life (and the lives of other Super-Busy middle aged women in my parish) was part of the reason for my decision to pull back from activism. Too many of the older mums I knew were in shaky mar-

riages; too many had teenage or adult children who had abandoned their practice of the faith. While I was not (and never will be) in a position to make any judgements about their circumstances, I nevertheless had a responsibility to discern what was best for my family. Would parish programs, meetings and busy-ness rectify the loss of faith and family life? Or would it make more sense for my husband

General Instruction of the Roman Missal No 41 states that “the main place should be given, all things being equal, to Gregorian chant as being proper to the Roman Liturgy”. Flick through the pages: from the sign of the cross to the dismissal, the entire Mass is laid out in chant liturgical music. Those who disagree with this ideal have an issue with the Church, not The Record. Chant music and the instruments that support it are not necessarily easy or popular. But then is our worship always easy or popular? It is an ideal that we don’t always have the resources or skills to reproduce, yet it still remains the goal for which we should strive, because God is worth it. We don’t discard the ideals of the Sermon on the Mount just because we fail to arrive at the perfection they hold out to us. This is the ideal and standard by which we have always measured other genres of music as to how closely/distantly they approach this standard. If we are afraid young people won’t turn up to Mass without incorporating something resembling “Hillsong” or a popular genre of music, than we miss the point. If young people “aren’t getting anything out of Mass”, we have failed as a community to hand on the faith that Christ speaks to us in His Word, and lovingly gives His very Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity to us. Pax

with us this week, presenting our annual Parish Retreat. Fr Justin is presenting the course “Success: Full Living”, not the Silva Mind Control Course. I sincerely wish the writer would attend this wonderful course at our parish this week, and realise he/she has nothing to be afraid of. The Silva Mind Control Course is a very different experience, and is not being held in this parish. The Silva Mind Control Course is also not to be feared and is not part of the occult. It is a course which enables one to use more of our brain–a brain which has been given to us by God, of which we don’t even use 10 per cent. I have previously attended a number of courses with Fr Justin, and believe these experiences have very positively contributed in enabling me to continue walking my life journey, by increasing my knowledge, love of, and belief in Jesus and God. Through the teaching of meditation, with visualisation, we are enabled to go within: to a place of quietness, of calm. There is nothing evil about this. Medical research is also promoting the benefits of meditation and visualisation for people as they deal with various medical conditions.

Name and address supplied

It’s an honour to host Fr Belitz in our parish I AM writing in reference to a letter from Bri Lowe in the latest Record expressing concern that the Willetton Parish was promoting the Silva Mind Control Course. I am a parishioner of this parish and I believe we are honoured to have Father Justin Belitz, OFM

Sandra O’Connell Willetton, WA

Disturbed by promotion of classical music I WAS deeply disturbed by the article in last week’s The Record promoting classical, not rock music, as best befitting Church settings. At the risk of igniting an unresolvable debate, I am compelled to comment. I will not argue the pros and cons of various music styles and their suitability for liturgical music. Neither will I expound on how deeply offensive the article is to the hundreds of local parishbased music ministers committed to providing accessible liturgical

prayerfully limit your involvement in activities that take you away from your children on a regular basis. A time will come when you will have more hours to volunteer and, when it does, be generous. Programs and committees will come and go, but your children are young for a very short time. If you don’t take the time to be with them, to teach them to pray, to teach them to know, love, and serve the Lord, who will? Or perhaps I can borrow from Blessed Teresa of Calcutta who once said, “Make sure whatever you do would be pleasing to God, and then deal with what is at your feet.”

music week after week, year after year – using voices and instruments not nearly as lofty as the pipe organ. Perhaps the closing comments of the article lend themselves as the best target for my derision. The final paragraphs describe the use of classical music in local shopping centres as an apparently effective means of reducing antisocial incidents that occur there. Numerous examples of this can be found in news reports on the web using the search terms “classical music”, “shopping” and “antisocial”. The most poignant and potent comment I can make on this approach is to point out the reason the approach worked: the young people left. Dr Christine Carson, Music Minister Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Hilton, WA

Photo not appreciated in The Record I AM writing in response to the letter by Bri Lowe in the August 28 Record entitled “Concerned at Silva Mind Control course”. The course being delivered is in fact the “Success: Full Living Retreat” by Fr Justin Belitz OFM with over 350 persons attending the first evening. The title “Willetton to host Silva Mind Control method” was incorrectly published by The Record in the Round-up on Wednesday, August 21 as they are two different courses. André Sequeira Willetton, WA

Record Poll Have your say! Yes or No - Is rock music an appropriate form of liturgical music? Go to The Record’s Facebook page to register your answer!

PANORAMA

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 AND NOVEMBER 1 First Friday Holy Hour 7.30pm at St Bernadette’s Parish, Glendalough, corner Jugan and Leeder Sts. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, music and chants, silence, readings and meditative decades of the holy Rosary. Tea/coffee and cake to follow. Enq: Sean Tobin of Bl Elisabeth of the Trinity Choir 0439 720 066. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Day With Mary 9am-5pm at St Brigid’s Church, 69 Morrison Rd, Midland. 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, Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286. 25th Anniversary of the 48-Hour Perpetual Rosary Bouquet Mass 10.30am at St Joachim’s Church, Shepperton Rd, Victoria Park. Begins with a meditative Rosary followed by holy Mass celebrated by Archbishop Emeritus BJ Hickey at 11am. The scroll with pledges will be presented during the Mass. A light finger food luncheon will follow. Please bring a plate to share. All welcome. Enq: to rosarybouquet13@gmail.com or 0478 598 860. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Eucharistic Hour – World Apostolate of Fatima 3pm at St Joseph Pignatelli, Davidson Rd, Attadale. All welcome. Enq: 9339 2614. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Holy Hour and Reflection Hosted By Fr Timothy Deeter 7.30pm at St Paul’s Catholic Church, 106 Rookwood St, Mt Lawley. Scriptural Rosary, homily and Benediction celebrating the theme: Mary, Woman of Faith, Model of Discipleship. Followed by supper. Enq: 9271 5253 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Spirituality and the Sunday Gospels 7-8pm at St Benedict’s school hall, Alness St, Applecross. Presented by Norma Woodcock. Everyone is welcome. Cost: collection. Accreditation recognition by the CEO. Enq: 9487 1772 or www.normawoodcock.com. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Faith As A Journey Talk by Jesuit Priest 7.30-9pm at John XXIII College, MacKillop Multi-Purpose Room, Mooro Dr, Mt Claremont. A scriptural exploration presented by scriptural authority Dr Joseph Sobb SJ. Cost: donation for Inigo Centre. Enq: Murray Graham 9383 0444, graham.murray@johnxxiii.edu.au. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 TO SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 A Live-in/Live-out Retreat - Faith and Grace Held at the Redemptorist Retreat House, North Perth. Fr Carl Schafer OFM from Sydney, National Spiritual Assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order in Oceania, will lead the retreat. Fr Carl’s ministry to the Secular Franciscans spans 48 years, 12 of those in Rome. Enq: Angela 9275 5658, or angelmich@bigpond.com. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Fundraising Jumble Sale - Myaree Parish 10am–4pm at Pater Noster Parish grounds. Wide range of all pre-loved items. Entrance Evershed St. Enq: Margaret 9330 3848. Divine Mercy Healing Mass 2.30pm at St Francis Xavier’s Church, 25 Windsor St, East Perth. Main celebrant is Fr Marcellinus Meilak OFM. Reconciliation offered 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, SEPTEMBER 15 Auslan Cafe 10.30am-12 noon Emmanuel Centre hall next to St Francis Xavier Church, Windsor St, Perth. Ever thought about learning how to communicate with profoundly deaf people through Auslan (Australian Sign Language)? Now you can and it’s FREE. Come and learn in a relaxed and fun way. There is always an interpreter at St Francis Xavier Church for the 9.30am Sunday Mass. Lunch provided. Enq: Emma or Barbara emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.au or 9328 8113. Meditative Prayer in the Style of Taizé 7-8pm at St Joseph’s Convent Chapel, 16 York St, South Perth. Includes: prayer, chants, scripture reading and silence in candlelight. Come and pray around the Cross. Chapel doors open 6.30pm. Bring a friend and a torch. Enq: Sr Maree Riddler 0414 683 926. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 AND 22 Latin Mass 8.15am at The Good Shepherd Church, Streich Ave, Kelmscott. Enq: John 9390 6646. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 TO SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Inaugural Zimbabwe Catholics Australia and New Zealand Congress Starting Afresh In Jesus Christ. 7pm at Swanleigh, 58 Yule Ave, Middle Swan. Drums have been warmed. The Zimbabwe Catholics Perth com-

munity will host this inaugural congress. Two dynamic priests from Zimbabwe will be guest speakers supported by local priests. Various activities have been lined up to make this congress spiritually uplifting. Come, let us journey together in the Year of Faith. Enq: Bibiana 0458 945 444, Jane 0424 007 819. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 AND THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Small Group Emmaus Walks 2.30pm at Bardon Park carpark, cnr Fourth Ave East and Bardon Pl, Maylands. Sunday and Thursday, 10am. 10 minutes’ walk from the carpark to Friendship 2000 Townhouse on the Swan River walkway. With Gospel reading and reflection session on life’s Emmaus experiences. Refreshments, donation to Mission Partners Morley outreach. Bookings essential. Enq: margaretbox7@icloud.com or 9272 8263. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 St Padre Pio Feast Day 6pm at Infant Jesus Church, 47 Wellington Rd, Morley. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Divine Mercy, Silent Adoration and Benediction; 7pm holy Mass, main celebrant Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey, St Padre Pio Liturgy. Confession available in English and Italian. Enq: Des 6278 1540. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 TO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 St Francis of Assisi and Br Andrew’s 13th 7.45pm at God’s Farm, 94 Woodlands Rd, Wilabrup, 40km south of Busselton. Marist priest Paul Glynn from NSW, outstanding author and Retreat Master, to give one retreat here commencing with holy Mass. Map sent if requested. Bookings/Enq: Betty Peaker Tel/Fax 9755 6212. Bus reservations Yvonne 9343 1897. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 TO SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 Individual Silent Directed Retreat 4.30pm at St Catherine’s House of Hospitality, 113 Tyler St, Tuart Hill. Meet daily with your retreat directors, Celia Joyce or Fr Stephen Truscott SM, to explore the movement of God within your life. The retreat unfolds at your own pace. (Limited to 10 retreatants.) Enq: 9485 8980 or www.fullnessoflife.org. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 TO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 Inner Healing Live-In Retreat 7.30am at Epiphany Retreat Centre, 50 Fifth Ave, Rossmoyne. Come and receive Jesus’ embrace and healing through his Word and Sacraments during this retreat. Led by the Vincentian Fathers. Enq: Melanie 0410 605 743 or vincentiansperth@ yahoo.com. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24 Peranakan Community Perth - Fair 9am-2pm at Fr O’Reilly Centre, St Norbert College, 135 Treasure Rd, Queens Park. Proceeds from fair will go towards St Norbert College’s “breakfast club” to feed students who come to school without any basic nutrition; Holy Spirit Freedom Community for their Perth’s homeless, abused, poor ministry and those who have been hurt. Those interested in helping or running a stall offering anything typically Peranakan, are welcome. Enq: Fr Christopher Lim 0437 307 170 or 9458 2729.

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.

Cathedral Cafe Cathedral Cafe is now open every Sunday 9.30am1pm at St Mary’s Cathedral parish centre, downstairs after Mass. Coffee, tea, cakes, sweets, friendship with Cathedral parishioners. Further info: Tammy on smcperthwyd@yahoo.com.au or 0415 370 357. 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. Praise and Worship 5.30pm at St Denis Parish, corner Osborne St and Roberts Rd, Joondanna. Followed by 6pm Mass. Enq: Admin on admin@stdenis.com.au. EVERY FIRST SUNDAY Singles Prayer and Social Group 7pm at All Saints Chapel, Allendale Sq, 77 St Georges 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. EVERY SECOND SUNDAY Healing Hour 7-8pm at St Lawrence Parish, Balcatta. Songs of praise and worship, Exposition of Blessed Sacrament and prayers for sick. Enq: Fr Irek Czech

therecord.com.au September 4, 2013

SDS or office Tue-Thu, 9am-2.30pm on 9344 7066.

EVERY FIRST THURSDAY

EVERY THIRD SUNDAY Oblates of St Benedict’s 2pm at St Joseph’s Convent, York St, South Perth. We welcome all who are interested in studying the Rule of St Benedict and its relevance to the everyday life of today for laypeople. Vespers and afternoon tea conclude our meetings. Enq: Secretary 9457 5758.

Holy Hour Prayer for Priests 7-8pm at Holy Spirit Parish, 2 Keaney Pl, City Beach. All welcome. Enq: Linda 9341 3079.

Divine Mercy Hour 3pm at St Pius X Church, 23 Paterson St, Manning. There will be Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy Prayers, Rosary and Benediction. Please join us in prayer. Enq: Mrs K Henderson 9450 4195. EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY Shrine Time for Young Adults 18-35 Years 7.30-8.30pm at Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Dr, Mt Richon; Holy Hour with prayer, reflection, meditation, praise and worship; followed by a social gathering. Come and pray at a place of grace. Enq: shrinetimemtrichon@gmail.com. Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life 2-3pm at Infant Jesus Parish, Wellington St, Morley. Includes Exposition of Blessed Sacrament, silent prayer, scripture, prayers of intercession. Come and pray that those discerning vocations can hear clearly God’s call. EVERY LAST SUNDAY 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 For You My Soul is Thirsting (Psalm 62:1) 7pm at St Thomas Parish, 2 College Rd, Claremont. Tend to your thirst for God. Begins with Adoration, then 7.45pm - Evening Prayer; 8pm - Communion Service and Night Prayer. Come to the whole thing, or just to a part! Enq: Michelle: 0404 564 890.

LAST MONDAY 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 cuppa. Enq: Lynne 9293 3848 or 0435 252 941. 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, Vic 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. EVERY WEDNESDAY Holy Spirit of Freedom Community 7.30pm at Church of Christ, 111 Stirling St, Perth. We welcome everyone to attend our praise meeting. Enq: 0423 907 869 or hsofperth@gmail.com. Bible Study at Cathedral 6.15pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Victoria Sq, Perth. Deepen your faith through reading and reflecting on holy Scripture with Fr Jean-Noel Marie. Meeting room beneath Cathedral. Enq: 9223 1372. Holy Hour - Catholic Youth Ministry 5.30pm at Catholic Pastoral Centre, 40A Mary St, Highgate. Mass followed at 6.30pm with Holy Hour. Enq: 9422 7912 or admin@cym.com.au. EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY Novena to St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 7-7.45pm at Blessed Mary MacKillop Parish, corner 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 at St Thomas More Parish, Dean Rd, Bateman. Accompanied by Exposition, then Benediction. Enq: George 9310 9493 or 6242 0702 (w). EVERY THURSDAY Divine Mercy 11am at Sts John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. Pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy and for consecrated life, especially in our parish. Concludes with veneration of the first class relic of St Faustina. Enq: John 9457 7771. St Mary’s Cathedral Praise Meeting 7.45pm 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 Redemptorist Monastery, 150 Vincent St, North Perth. Includes prayer, praise and Mass. Enq: Elaine 9440 3661.

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 SECOND THURSDAY Life in the Spirit Seminar 6pm at 2 King St, Coogee. The Resource Centre for Personal Development and Catholic Charismatic Renewal will hold seven sessions every second Thursday until October. Enq: Eva 0409 405 585. FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY Social Dinner (Young Adults aged up to 35) and Rosary Cenacle 6.30pm at St Bernadette’s Church, 49 Jugan St, Mt Hawthorn. Begins at 6.30pm with dinner at a local restaurant, followed at 8pm by a Rosary Cenacle, short talk and refreshments at the church. Great way to meet new people, pray and socialise! Enq: 9444 6131 or st.bernadettesyouth@gmail.com. EVERY FRIDAY Eucharistic Adoration at Schoenstatt Shrine 10am at Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Dr, Mt Richon. Includes holy Mass, Exposition of Blessed Sacrament, silent adoration till 8.15pm. Join us in prayer at a place of grace. Enq: Sisters of Schoenstatt 9399 2349. Healing Mass 6pm at Holy Family Parish, Lot 375, Alcock St, Maddington. Begins with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Healing Mass followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Enq: admin 9493 1703 or www.vpcp. org.au. Eucharistic Adoration - Voice of the Voiceless Ministry 7.30-9pm at St Brigid’s Parish, 211 Aberdeen St, Northbridge. Eucharistic Adoration, beginning with praise and worship; and reflection to the scriptures. All welcome. Enq: adrianluke1999@ yahoo.com.au. EVERY FIRST FRIDAY Mass and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 11am-4pm at Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins St, Glendalough. Exposition of Blessed Sacrament after Mass until 4pm, finishing with Rosary. Enq: Sr Marie MS.Perth@lsp.org.au. Healing and Anointing Mass 8.45am Pater Noster Church, Evershed St, Myaree. Begins with Reconciliation, then 9am Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, anointing of the sick and prayers to St Peregrine. Enq: Joy 9337 7189. Pro-life Witness – Mass and Procession 9.30am at St Brigid’s Parish, corner Great Northern Hwy and Morrison Rd, Midland. Begins with Mass followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at nearby abortion clinic, 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. Catholic Faith Renewal Evening 7.30pm at Sts John Paul Parish, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. There will be songs of praise, prayer, sharing by a priest, then thanksgiving Mass and light refreshments. Enq: Ivan 0428 898 833 or Ann 0412 166 164 or catholicfaithrenewal@gmail. com. Communion of Reparation All Night Vigils 7pm-1.30am at Corpus Christie Church, Loch St, Mosman Park or St Gerard Majella Church, corner Ravenswood Dr/Majella Rd, Mirrabooka. Vigils are two Masses, Adoration, Benediction, prayers, Confession in reparation for outrages committed against the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Enq: Vicky 0400 282 357, Fr Giosue 9349 2315, John/ Joy 9344 2609. EVERY SECOND FRIDAY Discover Spirituality of St Francis of Assisi 12pm at St Brigid’s parish centre. The Secular Franciscans of Midland Fraternity have lunch, then 1-3pm meeting. Enq: Antoinette 9297 2314. EVERY SATURDAY Teachers, Parents and Friends Mission Outreach 10am at Morley Parish Centre, 47 Wellington Rd, Morley. Meet during school terms. Primary English teachers and prospective aides offer their services for a small remuneration and donations from the tuition are distributed to missionaries. “Come and See” sessions are offered. Enq: Maggie 9272 8263, margaretbox7@icloud.com. Children’s Religious Education Program (Pre-Primary and Year One): 11am–12.30pm at Our Lady Queen of Poland Parish, 35 Eighth Ave, Maylands. The official Perth Archdiocese Parish Religious Education Program gives an opportunity to children attending non-Catholic schools age-appropriate religious education in a creative and fun environment. Families outside of Maylands welcome. Enq: Hayley 0423 008 500. EVERY FIRST SATURDAY Vigil for Life – Mass and Procession 8.30am at St Augustine Parish, Gladstone St,

Rivervale. Begins with Mass celebrated by Fr Carey, followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at nearby abortion clinic. Please join us to pray for the conversion of hearts and an end to abortion. Enq. Helen 9402 0349. Mission Rosary Making at the Legion of Mary 9.30am-2pm at 36 Windsor St, East Perth. All materials are supplied. The Rosaries made are distributed to the schools, missions and those who ask for a Rosary. Please join us and learn the art of Rosary making on rope and chain. Enq: 0478 598 860. EVERY SECOND SATURDAY Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Succour) and Divine Mercy Chaplet (Chant) 8.30am at Our Lady of the Mission Parish, Whitford, 270 Camberwarra Dr, Craigie. Holy Mass at 8.30am followed by Novena. Enq: Margaret 9307 7276. EVERY FOURTH SATURDAY Voice of the Voiceless Healing Mass 11.30am 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 of very high quality. For any parish willing to accept and place inside the church. Oil paintings: 160 x 90cm; glossy print - 100 x 60cm. Enq: Irene 9417 3267 (w). Sacred Heart Pioneers Would anyone like to know 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 Dr, 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 is set in beautiful gardens in the suburb of Glendalough. “Making the elderly happy, that is everything!” St Jeanne Jugan (foundress). Registration and enq: Sr Marie 9443 3155. Is your son or daughter unsure of what to do this year? Suggest a Cert IV course to discern God’s purpose. They will also learn more about the Catholic faith and develop skills in communication and leadership. Acts 2 College of Mission and Evangelisation (National Code 51452).Enq: Jane 9202 6859. Continued from Page 18 AA Alcoholics Anonymous Is alcohol costing you more than just money? Enq: AA 9325 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 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, 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 now accepting enrolments for Year 7, 2014. For prospectus and enrolment, please contact college reception on 9274 6266 or email lasalle@lasalle.wa.edu.au. 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 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. Donate Online at www. ginginchitteringparish.org.au. Abortion Grief Association Inc A not-for-profit association is looking for premises to establish a Trauma Recovery Centre (pref SOR) in response to increasing demand for our services (ref.www.abortiongrief.asn.au). Enq: Julie (08) 9313 1784. RESOURCE CENTRE FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT - 2013 COURSES Holistic Health Seminar The Instinct to Heal (began July 25) Thursdays 11am-1pm; RCPD2 Internalise Principles of Successful Relationships, and Use Emotional Intelligence and Communication Skills, now on Thursdays 11am-1pm. 197 High

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CLASSIFIEDS Deadline: 11am Monday BEAUTY

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LOOK YOUNGER. The Younger You Mobile Clinic for facial rejuvenation. We come to you. Visit: www.youngeryouclinic.com.au or call 0478616781.

YEARNING TO GO TO HOLY LAND? Join us on a pilgrimage to the “Treasures of the Promised Land” in Jordan and Israel from November 17 to December 1, 2013. For details, email Sheila at info@alternative-events.net or call 9461 6183 or 0433 77 1979.

HOME-BASED BUSINESS. Wellness industry. Call 02 8230 0290 or www.dreamlife1.com

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.

BOOKBINDING RESTORATION BOOKBINDING and Conservation; General Book Repairs, Bibles, Breviaries and Liturgical. Tel: 0401 941 577. Now servicing the South-West @ Myalup.

OCT 8-24. ROME/Italy/Assisi/ Loretto/Eucharistic Miracle (Lanciano)/Cave of St Michael the Archangel/San Giovanni Rotondo (Padre Pio) plus 6 nights Medjugorje. Overnight Dubrovnik. Spiritual Director Fr Joseph Asnabun. Cost $3,999 includes flights, transfers, tipping, guides, bed, breakfast, and evening meals in Italy, and Medjugorje. Enq: 9402 2480, 0407 471 256 or email medjugorje@y7mail.com.

SETTLEMENTS

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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, no hidden costs. Ring 9481 4499 for a quote. Check our website on www. excelsettlements.com.au.

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.

FURNITURE REMOVAL ALL AREAS. Competitive rates. Mike Murphy Ph 0416 226 434.

TAX SERVICE QUALITY TAX RETURNS PREPARED by registered tax agent with over 35 years’ experience. Call Tony Marchei 0412 055 184 for appt. AXXO Accounting & Management, Unit 20/222 Walter Rd, Morley. Trade services.

RICH HARVEST - YOUR CHRISTIAN SHOP Looking for Bibles, CDs, books, cards, gifts, statues, Baptism and Wedding candles, 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. KINLAR VESTMENTS www.kinlarvestments.com.au Quality vestments, Australianmade, embroidered and appliquéd. Contact Vickii for a quote - 08 9402 1318, 0409 114 093 or kinlarvestments@gmail.com.

SERVICES BRENDAN HANDYMAN SERVICES Home, building maintenance, repairs and renovations. NOR. Ph 0427 539 588. PAINTERS IN PERTH since 1933. AJ Cochrane & Sons 08 9248 8211. BRICK RE-POINTING Ph Nigel 9242 2952. PERROTT PAINTING Pty Ltd For all your residential, commercial painting requirements. Ph Tom Perrott 9444 1200. BOB’S PAINTING Registered and insured. Free quotes 0422 485 433 www.bobthepainter.com. au. WRR PEST & WEED CONTROL PHD 1690. Pre treatment, full treatment, inspection for Termites. General Pests Control: spiders, ants, cockroaches, bugs etc. On time, fully licensed, fully insured, work guaranteed. Contact: 0402 326 637 or 6161 3264, william. rao@optusnet.com.au.

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St, Fremantle. Bookings essential. Enq: Eva 0409 405 585 or www.rcpd.net.au. Drop-In Centre and Op Shop - Volunteers urgently needed at RCPD, 197 High St, Fremantle. 1) RCPD6 ‘The Cost of Discipleship’ This course combines theology with relationship education and personal/ spiritual awareness by teaching selfanalysis. 2) ‘The Wounded Heart’ Healing for emotional and sexual abuse promotes healing and understanding for the victim and the offender. Holistic counselling available - http://members. dodo.com.au/~evalenz/.

ACROSS 7 Catholic United States Chief Justice Taney 8 Part of the Eucharistic Prayer 10 Liturgical ___ 12 “He is ___!” 13 Jesus turned water into wine here 16 Bathsheba’s first husband 18 Catholic governor of Florida and brother of a president 20 “___ the Good Shepherd” (Jn 10:14) 21 Italian city of St Clare 22 “Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had ___” (Jn 12:1) 25 Fear of the Lord 26 Catholic dancer and movie star Kelly 27 One of two names in a Catholic book publishing company 28 Novena number 29 He housed Paul and Silas in Thessalonica 31 The Diocese of Fairbanks is here 34 Certain part of the Mass 35 Catholic Canadian Prime Minister, Joe ___ DOWN 1 One of the three theological virtues 2 The Dead and the Red 3 At Mass, the entrance prayers or song 4 He called for justice to roll down like water 5 Catholic novelist Koontz

The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a valuable resource either for personal reflection or for anyone enquiring about Catholic belief.

Continued from Page 18

C R O S S W O R D

PERPETUAL ADORATION Would You Not Watch One Hour with Me? Adoration - St Jerome’s, Spearwood Adorers are needed. Please contact Mary 0402 289 418. Pilgrimage: Following Christ and His Saints Fr Tim Deeter and Fr Michael Rowe will lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Italy, Jan 6-31, 2014. Israel and Jordan, Rome, Subiaco, Genazzano, Norcia and Cascia in Italy. $7,850 from Perth is allinclusive except your drinks and souvenirs. Enq: casapgf@iinet.net.au or 9271 5253.

PANORAMA Deadline for submission is every Friday by 5pm the week prior to publication.

S L E U T H

6 9 11 14 15 17 18 19 23 24 26 29 30 32 33

Longest of the prophetic books of the Old Testament The Works of Mercy require us to forgive all these Father-in-law of Caiaphas (Jn 18:13) Road to the altar? Vestment worn under the alb She wanted the head of John the Baptist (Mt 14:8) Catholic Canadian Prime Minister Mulroney Catholic actor who played Peter Maurin in “Entertaining Angels” Vatican Guard Saint of Clairvaux A biblical judge Woman in the Book of Judges who killed Sisera Fourth man Catholic songwriter Guthrie Catholic author of The Liars Club

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