The Record Newspaper 07 July 2010

THE R ECORD

“Be

-Bishop

Willetton launches Parish Prayer and festival

Audience silent as Immaculée shares horror of massacre...

PHOTO: ANTHONY BARICH

Southern parish marks parish feast with evangelical vigour

BY ANTHONY BARICH

THE parish of Sts John and Paul in Willetton launched a new era on 26 June as it celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Parish priest Fr Thai Vu concelebrated Mass with his assistant Fr Anand Reddy, Vicar General Monsignor Brian O’Loughlin and Fr Thi Lam, who spent time at the parish while a seminarian, as the parish launched its new Parish Prayer and inaugural Parish Feast Day.

The Parish Feast Day is to be held each year from now on in the last weekend of June to coincide with the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul, 29 June.

Last month’s celebration marked the third parish fair weekend, during which the parish’s many pastoral ministries, including Personal Advocacy Service and stewardship, are on display in the parish hall.

Continued on Page 8

...and experience of the victory of love, forgiveness, over revenge and hatred

BY MARK REIDY

Immaculée Ilibagiza confessed to over 1,000 people at the Notre Dame University in Fremantle on 29 June that, during the first weeks of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, she would alternate her decades of the Rosary with graphic visualisations of how she would kill as many of her persecutors as possible.

Speaking for the first time in Australia, as part of a nationwide tour, Immaculée mesmerised the capacity audience with her journey from bitter hatred, as she spent 91 days trapped in a

small bathroom with seven other women, to her moment of complete surrender to God, who she discovered beyond the merciless brutality that surrounded her.

“I knew that I was lying to God in my heart”, she shared with a crowd that spilt into the

cold night air, “But I also knew that I wasn’t capable of forgiving on my own.” It was only when she begged God to lift her above the fear and hate that was consuming her, that she understood the depth of His love and the Continued on Page 13

Cathedral architect takes out major awards

BY PETER ROSENGREN

SUBIACO architect Peter Quinn won three prestigious awards in June for his completion of St Mary’s Cathedral, including WA’s top architecture award.

Mr Quinn won the Jeffrey Howlett Award for Public Architecture, the Architecture Award for Heritage and the George Temple Poole Award.

The Poole Award is for the best overall winner across the ten categories in the Western Australia Architecture Awards given by the Australian Institute of Architects.

The awards cover ten categories of architecture including divisions such as commercial, residential, small projects, etc.

As a result, Mr Quinn is now eligible to enter the national architecture awards, which will be announced in October.

“The Poole award in particular is a great honour, because it the highest award in WA, but also having looked at the other entries it’s made me feel very honoured, given their calibre,” he told The Record

The day after MrQuinn’s wins, the company which managed construction on the Cathedral also won an award for its work on the Cathedral.

Emco, the construction managers for the Cathedral completion, won the Master Builders’ Association award for best historic restoration or renovation.

Meanwhile, just metres away, Cathedral House in Victoria Square, Perth won an award in the 2010 WA Heritage awards.

Cathedral House, which was built in 1855 and predates St Mary’s Cathedral by 10 years, houses Cathedral clergy and Archdiocesan offices.

It has been renovated and saved for future generations over the last two years after parts of the historic building were found to be in serious decay or disrepair.

Cathedral House was a joint winner of the Heritage awards for conservation and/or interpretation of a place on a State Register of Heritage Places, together with the Colwyn building in Claremont.

Full report and pictures in next week’s edition

Western Australia’s award-winning Catholic newspaper since

- Wednesday, 7 July 2010 Perth, Western Australia $2

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Led by Faith: Immaculée Ilibagiza, above, gave powerful testimony to the fact that “God is real,” vividly recounting how she lasted for 91 days in hiding while her Rwandan brothers and sisters were murdered. God revealed Himself to her and Immaculée revealed this to Perth Catholics, leaving something to tell. Immaculée Ilibagiza, below, with Celia Hammond, UNDA Vice Chancellor. PHOTOS: TOP, BRIDGET SPINKS; BELOW, MICHELLE EBBS

Willetton parish priest Fr Thai Vu blesses parish chlldren after the Eucharist celebrating their parish feast. The parish, which has several active pastoral groups, launched its own parish prayer, a plaque with all its priests and a festival weekend marking the feast of one of its patrons, St Paul.

Filipino chaplaincy re-established

BY ANTHONY BARICH

THE chaplaincy for the Perth Archdiocese’s Filipino community was re-established on 4 July after an eight-year hiatus.

Archbishop Barry Hickey installed University of WA chaplain and former Archdiocesan vocations director Fr Armando Carandang and Mundaring parish administrator Fr Elver Delicano as senior and assistant Filipino Chaplains respectively at St Mary’s Cathedral.

There are currently up to 10,000 Filipinos in the Perth metropolitan area, Fr Armando told The Record

The chaplaincy was re-estblished with a view to a deeper evangelisation and an integrated support of the growing number of Filipinos and Filipino-Australians within the Archdiocese, in cooperation with various Filipino groups.

During this time, and before, Archbishop Hickey showed “great fatherly care” towards the Filipino people, Fr Armando said during the special Cathedral Mass, and thanked the prelate for his ongoing support, adding that, though the Archbishop is due to retire soon, “we don’t want you to go … we’ll miss you”.

Fr Elver, who was previously a missionary in Africa, told The Record that the Filipino people live to serve the Church – “that’s what we’re known for” – and the country, which is up to 85 per cent Catholic, is known among the global community for its strong faith.

This faith came to them from the Spanish, who were originally evangelised by the Apostle St James. Spain “discovered” the Philippine Islands in 1521 before granting them independence as a nation on 12 June 1898.

The renowned Catholic circumnavigator Ferdinand Magellan died during the voyage of discovery on the Philippine Island of Mactan.

This independence was short-lived, however, as the Spanish-American War broke out after which the US “purchased” the country for $20 million, but eventually granted the Philippines independence as a nation on 4 July 1946.

Today, the Filipino Catholic community in Perth thrives with four officially registered organisations - Couples for Christ (Australia) Global Mission, Damayang Filipino, El Shaddai and the Filipino Australian Club of Perth.

The Filipino Catholic community also has at least 15 prayer groups, which Fr Armando said reflects the “devotional”, Hispanic influence of their country.

These groups include San Lorenzo Ruiz, Padre Pio, Our Lady of the Rule, Alliance of Two Hearts, Queen of Angels Cenacle, Our Lady of Missions, Our Lady of Fatima, Divine Mercy, Sacred Heart, St Therese, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Immaculate Conception, Sto Nino, St Joseph and Marian Family Cenacle Prayer Groups (managed by the Franciscan priests and nuns of Mary Immaculate).

The Filipino Catholic community also holds three major events each year, including Santo Nino on the third Sunday of January at St Joachim’s Church in Victoria Park; Philippine Indepenence Day on the Sunday closest to 12 June at St Mary’s

Bring about God’s Kingdom, Hickey tells Filipino Mass

Cathedral; and San Lorenzo on the last Sunday in September at Bedford. Other parish-based events are also prominent.

Wherever Filipino Catholics are present in parishes, they are “very conspicuous”, Fr Elver said, especially in music ministry.

Chaplaincy to the Filipino people has a three-fold purpose, Fr Armando said:

● To provide a unified spiritual and pastoral support to all Filipino religious organisations and prayer groups in the Archdiocese of Perth,

● To facilitate incorporation, especially of new migrants, individual and family, into the parish life and the Archdiocese as a whole,

● To provide assistance, if and when needed or requested, in attaining fuller participation of already established

establish it by touching the hearts of others, led by the Spirit.

Establishing the Kingdom does not require large sums of money, he said, but is a victory over evil, and requires the faithful to “withdraw from evil in our own hearts”.

Filipino-Australians in their respective parishes.

Filipinos have not traditionally had problems integrating into Australian parishes, he said, as they already speak English – a product of American control of the Philippines for nearly 50 years, as the US facilitated country-wide English education programmes and instituted a democratic government.

Philippine-born Royal Perth Hospital chaplain Fr Nelson Po, who concelebrated the 4 July Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, is part of an advisory and consultative council which includes all present Filipino priests of the Archdiocese.

Presently, this includes Frs Robert Carillo, Andrew Albis, Nelson Po, Rainier Fernandez, Arnel Taracina and Fr Denis

Like the 72 disciples whom Jesus sent out in the Gospel of the day (Luke 10:1-2, 17-20), Catholics are called to proclaim to anyone that the Kingdom of God is already here - “a spiritual Kingdom” that is a kingdom of justice which, once it is established, “is worth all the sacrifices”.

Catholics are called to proclaim “to anybody” that the Kingdom of God is near, which requires the transformation of lives and hearts, Archbishop Barry Hickey told the Mass in which he installed the Filipino chaplains on 4 July at St Mary’s Cathedral.

Just as the 72 whom Christ sent out were called to proclaim God’s Kingdom, so too are today’s Catholics called to

“He established His Kingdom by His death and resurrection, and we are now living in the time of the Kingdom but it is not an earthly Kingdom. Peace in one’s hearts and on earth is a sign of the Kingdom of God,” the Archbishop said, before praying for peace in the Church, in Australia and in the world, especially in areas where “Australian troops are dying”. He prayed for “genuine peacenot just an armistice”.

The Kingdom, the Archbishop said, is one where people become people of God who are equal in God’s eyes and equal in the eyes of people.

“There is so much evil in the world, but it can be crushed by the Kingdom of God,” Archbishop Hickey said. “The Kingdom is among you, so Catholic communities need to be at peace with one another.”

Top: Frs Nelson Po, Armando Carandang and Elver Delicano during the Mass installing the latter two as chaplains to Perth’s Filipino community; above: Archbishop Barry Hickey installs Frs Armando and Elver as chaplains at St Mary’s Cathedral. PHOTOS: ANTHONY BARICH

Primary schools set clothing drive record

WA primary schools donate over 20,000 clothing outfits

A RECORD number of 56 Perth primary schools donated 38,872kg of pre-loved clothing for the St Vincent de Paul Society’s 2010 Mini Vinnies Clothing Drive.

The donated amount of clothing will essentially provide 20,690 outfits for people in need this winter.

Part of the Society’s Winter Appeal, the annual Clothing Drive runs every year and encourages primary schools to raise awareness amongst students about social justice issues within their community and the importance of helping people in need.

As part of the Clothing Drive, the St Vincent de Paul Society rewards the school which donates the most amount of clothing per student with a “Mini Vinnies Fun Day” – this year the top spot went to Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in Nollamara who donated 6.5kg of clothing per student.

On 2 July, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School students celebrated their contribution to the Winter Appeal with the Fun Day.

The St Vincent de Paul Society is entering its final month of the 2010 Winter Appeal.

To aid in responding to the 500 calls for assistance the Society receives each week, donate to the 2010 Winter Appeal, with all funds raised assisting West Australians in need throughout winter with essential items such as food, clothing, furniture and assistance with utility bills.

The Winter Appeal aims to raise $600,000 by the end of July. To donate, call 13 18 12 or visit www. vinnies.org.au.

CEOs freeze for $450,000

NINETY-NINE business and community leaders slept out at the WACA on 17 June for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout which raised over $450,000 in WA.

The event was held on the same night in every capital city around Australia with 685 participants experiencing a long and cold night outdoors, raising a total of $2.7million for Vinnies services nationally.

Participants signed up for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout to gain a small insight into what life is like to be homeless, sleeping on a thin piece of cardboard with only a cup of soup and a bread roll for dinner.

Bishop wants Gillard guarantee on education

Bunbury Bishop calls on Gillard to be straight with Catholic parents

BUNBURY Bishop Gerard Holohan has called on the Prime Minister to guarantee before the election that Commonwealth funding for Catholic schools under the new Commonwealth funding 2013–2016 agreement will at least continue to be maintained in real terms, and indexed to the cost of educating a student in a government school.

The Bishop said that Julia Gillard, who was installed as Prime Minister after a controversial leadership spill on 24 June, has refused to give this guarantee, adding that she has promised only that no school will be worse off in dollar terms under the next funding agreement.

“Political parties need to be straightforward and honest with parents of students in Catholic schools in these matters,” said Bishop Holohan, the former chair of the Australian Bishops’ Commission for Catholic Education.

“They should avoid any form of dissembling.

“Let us have no pre-election reassuring sentiments only to find, after the election, that our post 2013 Commonwealth funding has been cut in real dollar terms, and that parents will have to pay higher fees to meet higher school costs.”

The election is expected to be held as early as next month though, at time of writing, one

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St Vincent de Paul Society WA Spokesperson Lucinda Ardagh said that over 13,000 West Australians are homeless every night of the year and many of the participants did not know this scary fact. She noted that one CEO later wrote, “I learned so much from being involved; things I am ashamed to admit at 56 I knew little of; certainly I did not ‘get’ the extent of the problem, or that such things were even happening in a state as wealthy and well-heeled as our own” proving that this event was very much an awareness raising initiative amongst Australians.

had not been called yet. Bishop Holohan said that any freeze of school funding levels under any new Commonwealth funding formula would be unfair.

Teacher salary costs alone will continue to escalate at around four per cent per year, not to mention other costs.

If there were to be a future funding freeze, Bishop Holohan said that this would lead to:

● School fees needing to rise to pay the gap between Commonwealth funding and rising school costs

● The commitment of Catholic schools to disadvantaged students would be threatened

● The Western Australian scheme guaranteeing that parents on Health Cards will pay no more to attend a Catholic school than they would pay in a government school.

While noting that the Prime Minister has established a funding review committee, Bishop Holohan said that she could easily reassure parents if the current

THE Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has welcomed Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s commitment to marriage between a man and a woman.

ACL’s national chief of staff Lyle Shelton said that both major parties have shown a long-standing commitment to ensuring marriage remains exclusively between a man and

funding formula was not, in fact, under threat. Commonwealth and State funding for Catholic schools is slightly less than half the combined funding given to government schools.

The Bishop also described the Opposition as “being asleep” on this issue. He called on both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, to guarantee before the next election that:

● Future Commonwealth funding for Catholic schools will at least be maintained in real, not just dollar, terms

● The Commonwealth grant for every Catholic school student will be indexed to the grant for every government school student

● Catholic schools will continue to be funded through the Catholic school system on a needs basis

● There will be funding increases at least for Catholic schools which serve students of real disadvantage.

a woman, and it is pleasing to see Ms Gillard state her personal commitment in this area.

“Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had been active in supporting marriage and we very much welcome Julia Gillard’s clear expression of support for marriage as being between a man and a woman.” Mr Shelton said.

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Right: Our Lady of Lourdes Primary Students enjoy the Fun Day.

Volunteer Carlo Bamundo serves soup to David Forsey, managing director of Nauti Clean, during the SVDP CEO Sleepout. PHOTO: SVDP SOCIETY

Disabilities course breaks new ground

Priests in training from St Charles Seminary have their eyes opened at Emmanuel Centre to the often-forgotten basic pastoral needs of people with disabilities in the Church

BY ANTHONY BARICH

TWO of St Charles Seminary’s first year students have embarked on a ground breaking 10-week pastoral placement course at selfhelp Emmanuel Centre run for and by people with disabilities.

The programme, which started on 8 April, involved seminarians Thomas Zureich and Mariusz Grzech learning foundational theology about disability in Scripture and Church documents and the underpinning philosophy on which Emmanuel Centre bases its services.

The seminarians also met with some of the centre’s volunteers, who have a wide range of disabilities, and their parents.

The seminarians gained a basic understanding and skill in using sign language, through which many deaf and hard of hearing people communicate.

They also did some hands-on interactions and activities involved in the running of Emmanuel.

The students, both in their first year at the seminary, told The Record that they had their eyes opened about the reality of the world of people with a disability.

They especially were interested in relation to their involvement with the Church, in parishes, schools and other communities.

Mariusz, who did not have prior experience with people with disabilities, said the experiences of the volunteers he met at Emmanuel made him acutely aware that the basic needs of people with disabilities are too often ignored in parish communities.

“We are not even aware that people with disabilities are no different from others in the Church

and have a need and a want to receive the Sacraments and participate in the liturgy”.

This year’s programme is a dramatic break with the past, when seminary pastoral placement involved a one-off visit, and the students rarely, if ever, had any contact with the Emmanuel Centre again.

Both Mariusz and Thomas discovered that an awareness of the daily struggles faced by people with disabilities is essential to their ministries as future priests of the Archdiocese.

“I had experience with people with disabilities before but this time I got information on Emmanuel’s work and service and how it helps people with communication skills to work together by empowering them,” Thomas said.

One volunteer, Rachel (not her real name) broke down in tears as she shared how she did not have contact with her family. She was born with a disability.

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child. Family breakdown meant that Rachel lost contact with her family. She came to Emmanuel Centre 20 years ago.

Emmanuel helped Rachel to reconnect with her family. For Mariusz, Rachel’s story was a good illustration of how Emmanuel helps people with disabilities to maintain their dignity in spite of their all too often negative experiences.

“Too often,” Mariusz said, “people with disabilities are not given any dignity simply because people don’t understand them or their issues.

“It awakened something in us, the realisation that people with disabilities are people first. That’s the main thing we learned from our time with Emmanuel Centre.

“People with disabilities think, feel and go through challenges in life just as we do.

“The difference is that people with disabilities are ostracised because we don’t understand, we don’t integrate them into our communities.”

The students were also at Emmanuel Centre after its chaplain Fr Paul Pitzen suffered multiple injuries in a scooter accident and wound up in a wheelchair and rehabilitation for quite some time.

It brought home to the students that Fr Paul’s injuries, as serious as they were, were only temporary.

For many others, it’s for life.

One of the greatest challenges for the students was engaging a deaf person in conversation.

“We quickly learned the boundaries of conversation and it took us a while to develop fluency,” Mariusz said.

“I found it very important to take the time and effort to understand; to go outside my comfort zone.

“Patience had to be present because the conversation was very ‘stop-start’.”

Emmanuel coordinator Mrs Barbara Harris encouraged the students to see how their experience related to talking to someone with Alzheimer’s.

“The whole dynamic of con-

versation needs to be re-thought,” she said.

Geoff, a deaf volunteer at Emmanuel who is an artist, often interacts with hearing people. Mariusz said he felt he struggled to give Geoff the dignity of understanding, appreciating and absorbing what he was trying to say.

“I felt I wasn’t doing him justice,” Mariusz said. “Geoff told us how some people are just dismissive and don’t even try to read his expressions as he tries to tell of his passions like his work and his life in the Church.

Both Thomas and Mariusz appreciated the great lengths Geoff went to just to communicate with them. Geoff was happy to show them one of his favourite paintings, a quilt pattern, which reflected his life experience, including the joy and sadness.

Thomas mused, “If we reciprocated the effort that Geoff put into communicating with us, our lives would be enriched and people with disabilities would be better integrated into Catholic community life.”

The seminarians also were allowed into the story of a parent of a young woman with a disability.

The mother told the two seminarians how difficult it was for her to let her daughter have more independence – an understandable reaction for any parent, the students said, but the emotion was especially strong for this parent.

After many years of being a protective mum, it was Emmanuel who taught her how to let go more so that her daughter can experience more freedom.

When asked how their experiences at Emmanuel Centre would help them as priests, both seminarians said that they will need to make sure that people with disabilities are more than tolerated in the parish.

As parish priests, they can be a role model for inclusion.

Mariusz said, “Support groups for people with various disabilities are an integral part of parish life and an outlet of support”.

Thomas said of his time at Emmanuel Centre, “I became very aware of the important role of the Catholic school in providing parents of children with disabilities the welcoming face of Church.”

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Mariusz Grzech and Thomas Zureich admire deaf artist Geoff’s work at the Emmanuel Centre in Perth. The piece reflects his life experience, including his joy and sadness.

PHOTO: ANTHONY BARICH

Australian first for deaf Catholics in Perth

Liturgical resource given broader access at Archdiocesan event

FOR anyone who has ever watched a foreign film with subtitles, the idea of captioning an event would not be foreign.

Captioning, unlike subtitles, assigns different colours to different speakers so that those who cannot hear can still keep track of who is speaking.

Captioning will also briefly describe what is happening off screen like dogs barking, car starting, screech of brakes, doorbell or phone ringing, etc.

Fr Peter Williams, director of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference’s National Liturgical Office was in Perth on 17-18 June to deliver some seminars to clergy, the laity and Catholic educators. Fr Peter has been leading the development of a resource to implement new changes in the English version Roman Missal.

The resource, called One Body, One Spirit in Christ, was produced by Fraynework, a digital media company based in Melbourne and established under the auspices of the Sisters of Mercy Religious con-

gregation named after the Irish nun who founded the order in Australia in 1846, Mother Ursula Frayne.

In a first for Australia, live captioning was available to those who attended Fr Peter Williams’ presentation at the Vietnamese Catholic Community Centre in Westminster. The Emmanuel

Centre had arranged for an internet connection to send an audio feed to Adelaide where a stenographer typed up what she heard and sent it back to Perth to be projected on the large screen. The stenographer was very accurate and quick.

Barbara Harris, coordinator of Emmanuel Centre, interpreted the

proceedings in sign language. Deaf and hard of hearing people present at Fr Williams’ talk about the DVD resource, said, “It was really nice to have the text on the screen because if we turned away from Barbara or we don’t know sign language because we have become deafened later in life, we can still hear. We could catch up on what we missed by looking at the screen.It was wonderful.”

“Many people thought Fr Paul was typing it up because he sat at the computer. His job, though, was to make sure that the connection with Adelaide didn’t drop out and that the sounds being sent there were loud and clear,” Ms Harris said.

“The whole process, once I understood it, was very simply done.”

The backbone of the process was Skype (a software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet) and CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation). The sound went to Adelaide via Skype, the typing came back through Skype and straight into the CART program for projection.

Deaf and hard of hearing people are hoping that an edition of the new DVD resource One

Body, One Spirit in Christ, produced by Fraynework, for ICEL, International Commission on English in the Liturgy, will also include a version with captions and Auslan.

Barbara Harris and Fr Paul said they have been “inundated with positive feedback” from people who experienced the captioning at the Vietnamese Centre.

“We are desperately looking for volunteers in the West who are involved in stenography who would be interested in developing a service here in Perth,” they said in a statement to The Record

They said that advances in Information technology opens up doors for deaf and hard of hearing like ramps do for people with mobility issues.

“The need for inclusion is seen in all community services such as television, Internet and Web pages,” they said. “Eighty per cent of television programmes are captioned, and we see more movies captioned. The Church needs to be at the forefront.”

For more information about how you can provide live captioning, please contact Fr Paul at Emmanuel Centre on ( 08 ) 9328 8 11 3 or emai l emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.au.

African growth pays dividends for Sydney Archdiocese

Sharp increase in Catholics on Africa subcontinent bears fruit for Archdiocese of Sydney with two more men ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ

TWO young seminarians were ordained to the priesthood in Uganda for the Archdiocese of Sydney on 4 July.

The ordination of Deacon Simon Kitimbo and Deacon John Ssemanganda, who have been studying theology at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd for the past three years, occurred at Kampala’s St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, also known as the Rubaga Cathedral.

The Archbishop, Cyprian Kizito Lwanga of Kampala, ordained the two men with his permission for both to return to Sydney to work as parish priests.

Sydney’s Seminary of the Good Shepherd Rector Fr Anthony Percy, the seminary’s First Year Director Fr Bernard Gordon and its Dean of Studies Sister M Isabell Naumann ISSM were present for the ordination.

Deacon Simon said he had been looking forward to the occasion for a “very long time”, adding that it represented the culmination of six years of hard work, study and prayer. When he and his fellow Ugandan-born seminarian were ordained deacons by the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, on 28 November last year, neither had any family present for the milestone.

The ceremony was instead attended by the Ugandan High Commissioner to Australia, Margaret Kadesi, and friends the pair had made during their three years in Australia.

But their families were out in force, along with school friends and those they studied with at the seminary in Kampala.

Fr Percy said that Deacon Simon has been granted leave for five years by the Kempala Archbishop, while Deacon John will spend three years in Sydney as a parish priest.

The Rector added that, unlike Australia which has for centuries relied on overseas countries to support its ministry in parishes, hospitals and schools, there is no shortage of priests in Uganda.

The two men did their philosophy studies in Uganda and then decided to come to Australia and the Seminary of the Good Shepherd for their theological training and studies.

The ordinations of Deacons Simon and John brings the number

of those ordained as priests in the Archdiocese of Sydney this year to eight - the highest number in more than 27 years, following the ordination by Cardinal Pell of six men to the priesthood from the Seminary of the Good Shepherd on 11 June at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral.

“There is no doubt there has been an upsurge in interest in priestly vocations,” Fr Percy said.

He also believes that this is due in part to the success not only of Sydney’s World Youth Day in 2008 but of the many World Youth Days held over the past 15 years.

He also believes the just-ended Year for Priests proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI in June 2009 has also helped.

“Today many young people are seeking deeper meaning to their lives and rather than just looking

for a career, are seeking a vocation which can answer the big questions of life,” he said.

He added that, in today’s postmodern culture “with few guide posts, standards, values or foundations on which to build young minds, youth are turning to the Church for stability”.

Fr Percy and the team from the Seminary of the Good Shepherd are looking forward to the Ordination of the Institute’s two Ugandanborn seminarians and will extend their time in Africa by a few days to visit Kenya as well and one of the leading seminaries there.

“I studied with several Kenyan priests and I am looking forward immensely to catching up with

them and seeing what they are doing and how much they are accomplishing,” Fr Percy said.

Data released by the Vatican earlier this year showed the sharpest increase in Catholics worldwide originating in Africa with the years between 2000 and 2008 showing a rise of more than 33 per cent in African countries against a rise of 16 per cent for Asia and just one percent for Europe.

According to the Vatican currently one out of every five priests comes from Africa or Asia with the number of Catholics worldwide now standing at more than 1.166 million, an increase of more than 100 million on the number back in 2000.

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Fr Peter Williams, director of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ National Liturgical Office, addresses liturgists at the Vietamese Catholic Community Centre in Westminster on 17 June with his speech captioned behind him.

Justice sought for elder’s death

Edmund Rice Institute for Social Justice director David Freeman has called on the WA Government to reopen the inquest into the death of an Aboriginal elder known only as Mr Ward.

This follows reports that the original police investigation immediately following Mr Ward’s death may have involved several processual errors.

Mr Freeman expressed concern about the social justice and the legal justice implications of last week’s decision by WA’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) not to lay criminal charges over the matter, which Mr Freeman said confirms a widespread sense of different standards for different groups of people in the community.

“The decision may reinforce

the widespread observation of many Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people that, in WA, an Aboriginal life is worth less than a non-indigenous one,” he said.

“It’s bound to reinforce doubts about the impartiality of the justice system.” He claims that maintaining public confidence in the impartial administration of justice is a reason in itself to sometimes bring proceedings, such as when a highprofile defendant is brought to trial. Mr Freeman also expressed concerns as to whether a correct interpretation of ‘black letter law’ had been applied.

“The DPP’s conclusion means the prospects of successful prosecution are diminished when multiple participants are each partly culpable,” he said.

“Coroner Hope earlier reported that Mr Ward’s death was contributed to by the actions of Department of Corrective Services, the security officers and their employer, GS4 – so the DPP should therefore consider multiple rather than no prosecutions.”

Australian Bishops first aware of abuse crisis

Two of Australia’s leading prelates issue pastoral letters addressing sexual abuse crisis

BY ANTHONY BARICH

AUSTRALIAN Bishops were among the first in the world to become aware of a sexual abuse crisis, Hobart Archbishop Adrian Doyle said.

the complaints relate to incidents that occurred decades ago. Few complaints have been received of abuse which has taken place since the 1970s.

In his June ‘Reflections’ pastoral letter, Archbishop Doyle said that the suffering generated by sexual abuse by clergy is likely to never go away, but added that Catholics are also suffering criticism and hurtful remarks in their workplaces as a result of the abuse that had nothing to do with them, “and you need to be supported in this difficult time”.

He said that in Australia, the 1970s were the worst period of reported sexual abuse cases. Most of the complaints relate to incidents from 30 to up to 80 years ago.

rience that such meetings “have been a precious opportunity for me to again apologise on behalf of the Church for the totally reprehensible behaviour of a member of the clergy or a person employed by the Church”.

“The suffering generated by this conduct radiates out into the families of the victims, and also into the wider community,” he said. “I am aware that many of you are faced with criticism and hurtful remarks in your workplaces and you need to be supported at this difficult time.”

“It has also been an opportunity for the victim to speak about their experience and how their lives had been deeply scarred by the abuse,” he said.

“I believe that it is fair to say that here in Australia the Bishops of the Catholic Church became aware somewhat earlier than in other countries that there is a serious problem in relation to sexual abuse within the Church.

“That does not mean mistakes have been made. I have admitted that in one instance I could have and should have acted more promptly in response to a situation that was brought to my attention.

“Prompt and decisive action following the receipt of a complaint is absolutely essential.”

In his 1 July pastoral letter, the Archbishop expressed his “deep sorrow and sense of betrayal” over the sexual abuse scandals confronting the Catholic Church in Australia and around the world, and offered his “unreserved apology” to all victims of sexual abuse and to their families.

He added that while it is “never possible to eliminate completely the suffering endured, or to cancel out the experience”, it is possible –with the help of skilled facilitatorsto reach a point where “what needs to be said has been said and what needs to be done has been done”.

The pastoral letter came just weeks before Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart issued an apology on his Archdiocesan website in a statement, which the Archbishop read on a video which was also presented in text form.

He said that in the past 14 years, about 300 people have been compensated as victims of sexual abuse within the Archdiocese. Most of

“Sexual abuse in any form, and any attempt to conceal it, is a grave evil and is totally unacceptable. As Christ’s Church we must face up to the truth of these revelations and not attempt to disguise, diminish or avoid in any way the actions of priests and Religious who have betrayed their sacred trust,” he said. “The criminal offences and breaches of vows committed by some priests and Religious bring shame upon the entire Church. How can we Catholics not be shocked and shamed?”

He also proceeded in his pastoral letter to clarify Church policies regarding the handling of abuse allegations, the accused perpetrators and the victims, and matters of reporting to police, as laid out in Towards Healing Towards Healing is a pastoral paper issued in 1996 by Australia’s Bishops and Leaders of Religious Institutes to respond to allegations of abuse by personnel of the Catholic Church.

Archbishop Doyle said that personal meetings on the part of a Bishop is one of the most important parts of the process of dealing with the crisis in the Catholic Church.

He testified to his own expe-

Archbishop Hart said that the Melbourne Response process, introduced in 1996 in consultation with Victoria Police, “goes a long way towards addressing compassionately the issue of sexual abuse in the Melbourne Archdiocese”. Melbourne is the only diocese with its own process, while the rest of Australia uses Towards Healing.

Catholic body seeks to clarify health confusion

CATHOLIC Health Australia raised a plan with senior health and medical officials last week to resolve the confusion about the role of private hospitals in soon to be established Local Hospital Networks.

Speaking at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) Conference

- Reforming Australia’s Health System - in Melbourne, CHA chief executive Martin Laverty detailed five requirements for the design of Local Hospital Networks considered essential for private hospitals to play any future role in helping achieve COAG’s very ambitious target of treating 95 per cent of all public elective surgery patients within clinically recommended times. CHA’s key points are:

Private hospital organisations within new Local Hospital Network boundaries need a place in local service planning, with a figurative seat at the national oversight and Local Hospital Network board tables;

Local Hospital Network service plans need to include the opportunity for private service provision. The plans should allow for using currently available private hospital capacity and for new private capacity to be created; Local Hospital Network agreements with private hospital providers need to be both certain and long term;

Private patient services must continue in private hospitals as they do today; Local Hospital Networks must be established and operate in full public transparency. The promised new methods of cost, performance and patient outcome accountability need to be achieved, and these accountabilities applied across both the private and public sectors.

● MORE Australians are concerned about aged care than they are about employment, education and the environment, according to a new poll. The online survey was undertaken by the Campaign for Care of Older Australians

(CCOA) to launch The Grand Plan – a new vision for the care of older Australians.

The Grand Plan, with radio personality spokesmen Fr Bob Maguire and John Safran, aims to raise awareness in the community and with federal politicians of the importance of giving older Australians the dignity of being able to choose where and how they receive aged care.

The Campaign, which brings together CHA and 10 other national organisations providing aged care to Australians, is pushing for a sustainable aged care sector that can provide equal access to aged care for all who need it, and allow people to choose the setting in which they receive care.

Ninety-one per cent of respondents to the survey agreed aged care should be an entitlement; 96 per cent supported increased government funding; and 95 per cent agreed that those who can’t afford to pay should receive additional assistance.

Archbishop Adrian DoyleArchbishop Denis Hart

Perth priests grow perpetual adoration in Indonesia

Redemptorist, Archdiocesan priest on a mission to spread a love for Jesus Christ in the Eucharist

BY BRIDGET SPINKS

A PERTH-based Redemptorist and an Archdiocesan priest have started yet another chapel of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, this time in Sumba, an island in eastern Indonesia.

Every year since 2006, Fr Hugh Thomas CsSR and Glendalough parish priest Fr Doug Harris have visited various Indonesian parishes and dioceses leading retreats and promoting Eucharistic adoration.

Fr Hugh is invited to lead retreats for priests in the dioceses. He comes on the condition that they start a chapel of perpetual adoration - “these are the terms,” Fr Doug says, who has accompanied Fr Hugh on his mission trips each year.

Between them, they have personally started several perpetual Eucharistic chapels in Indonesia, Fr Doug said.

These have inspired other local parishes to start their own, making Indonesia home to up to 15 chapels of perpetual Eucharistic adoration.

The success of this year’s two month Indonesian mission (MayJune) was in Sumba where Fr Doug and Fr Hugh gave a seminar to establish perpetual adoration in Sumba to 800 people.

After the final Mass on the Sunday, they processed the Blessed Sacrament to the Perpetual Adoration Chapel.

“The procession was a sight to behold - a distance of about 1km down the main street of Waitabula,” Fr Doug says.

Two priests of the Cathedral have committed themselves to one Holy Hour every day; one at 1-2am, and the other at 4-5am.

● Fr Doug and Fr Hugh also returned to Maumere, Flores, an island of Indonesia, which set up a chapel of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in 2009.

Since last year’s visit, the people of Maumere have started another chapel and the diocese has purpose built a chapel for adoration, which opened two months ago.

Fr Doug noticed that there is a strong faith in Maumere, even in children, adding that the schools have Holy Hours for children.

One evening, he saw a 12 or 14-year-old girl in adoration.

Even though he could only see her from behind, he said he could see the love she had for the Blessed Sacrament.

“You could sense the peace; she was in love,” he said.

“If the chapel was built for her alone, it’d be worth it.

“The people have a lot of faith. To be able to satisfy it, it’s worth it. It’s a joy,” Fr Doug said.

● It was ten years ago that Fr Doug was ordained on 30 June

and commenced his priesthood as an assistant priest for St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth.

On 22 November 2002 he was appointed parish priest of St Bernadette’s Church in Glendalough and in 2005 a chapel for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration was established there.

While a seminarian in the Philippines in 1993, Fr Doug joined the Order of the Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament.

He joined with another Perth priest, Fr Patrick Barry, who has since established Perpetual Adoration in Moscow, other Eastern Bloc countries, South Africa, Mexico, the United States and China and now resides in Holland.

In Perth, Fr Doug has started five chapels of perpetual Eucharistic adoration since his ordination to the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

After Fr Doug shared his experiences of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament with Fr Eugene McGrath, Fr McGrath invited him to start perpetual adoration in St Anne’s Church Belmont, which recently ended when the church closed for renovations.

Established in 2002, this Belmont perpetual adoration chapel was the first of its kind in Perth.

It was soon followed by two more in 2003: one in Sacred Heart Church, Highgate and Christ the King, Beaconsfield; St Joseph’s Church in Bassendean in 2004 and at St Bernadette’s Church in Glendalough in 2005.

“In 2006, the focus was Indonesia,” Fr Doug said.

This year, Fr Doug Harris and Fr Hugh spent May and June on mission in Indonesia and returned on 28 June.

Two days later, Fr Doug celebrated his 10-year anniversary as a priest with his Perth parish.

“I’ve seen a lot of grace working in my priesthood,” he says, both at Mass and in the confessional “You can just sense the spirit, the presence of God, during Mass; probably rarely you can sense it, but it does come,” he says.

In a diary extract from his recent time in Indonesia, he wrote, “Nothing is more fulfilling than to bring people to Jesus.”

Pope

People from the Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community, which Fr Doug Harris is a chaplain to, hold up 10 fingers representing his 10 years of priesthood. Below left: Fr Doug Harris, left, with a parishioner and retired Broome priest Fr Pat McAtamney, who assists from time to time at St Bernadette’s. Below right: St Bernadette’s parish children celebrate Fr Doug’s anniversary. PHOTOS: BRIDGET SPINKS

Above: The Church and perpetual adoration chapel in Maumere, Flores, an island of Indonesia.

Willetton celebrates with evangelical thrust

Continued from Page 1

These ministries also carried out some key parts of the Vigil Mass – the parish lectors (called ‘proclaimers’) did the first and second readings and the Psalm; catechists and students from Orana Primary, the school adjacent to the parish, read the Prayers of the Faithful; Personal Advocacy Service did the Offertory; and the John Paul Prayer Ministry handed out prayer cards after Mass with the newly launched Parish Prayer and copies of the church’s stained glass window portrayals of Sts John and Paul on them.

Mgr O’Loughlin also used his homily to call for young men and women to “respond generously” to the call to priestly and Religious vocations, and asked the parish to pray for them.

As chair of the Archdiocesan Historical Commission, the Vicar General also urged the parish to begin work on a book covering its history.

Up to 30 students also professed their commitment prior to the Vicar General bestowing the Sacrament of Confirmation on them in August, before their parents also promised to help prepare their children for the Sacrament by, among other things, regular attendance at Mass.

The packed congregation also pledged to give both prayerful and pastoral support to families of the youth preparing for their Confirmation.

Three parishioners who found St Joseph prayer cards that Fr Thai had slipped randomly into parish bulletins were presented with Living Biblically, the book written by Archbishop Barry Hickey on the links between the New and Old Testament inspired by his recent trips to the Holy Land.

Fr Thai, who did his pastoral placement at Willetton parish when a student at St Charles Seminary in Guildford, also spoke briefly on the Year for Priests which closed last month, urging parishioners to continue to support priests both pastorally and in prayer, as “we too are only human”. He also displayed after the Mass two plaques made by a parishioner which displays the names of all the parish’s priests. One of these is Fr Richard Rutkauskas, who started the parish’s successful Stewardship

initiative after attending a conference on it in Sydney.

After the Eucharist, Fr Thai also tweaked the parish’s tradition of children approaching the sanctuary for a blessing by the priest, by handing the three other concelebrating priests Rosary beads to give to each child before blessing them.

The anniversary of the Willetton parish also celebrates 30 years of stability, as people living in the southern suburb had to travel to nearby suburbs before the Church of Sts John and Paul was built.

Willetton fell under Brentwood’s jurisdiction, which itself was part of the Applecross parish, then Riverton before Brentwood was named a parish itself in 1955. Two years later, Regina Coeli Church was built in Brentwood.

Prior to this, for parishioners who could not make the trip to Applecross, Mass was celebrated in homes.

In February 2009, Regina Coeli was sold and is now used by a branch of the Presbyterian Church as a place of worship – much to the relief of Willetton and Brentwood parishioners who were sorry to leave the small but much-loved church which for a time hosted perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Due to increased numbers, in 1980 a parish hall was built in Willetton where Mass was celebrated until the parish Church of Sts John and Paul was blessed and opened by Archbishop William

Foley on 22 December 1985. The Jubilee Year of 2000 as declared by Pope John Paul II saw the construction of an immersion font for Baptism at Sts John and Paul parish. Carved from a solid block of Donnybrook stone, it was the first parish to have such a font, which allows for the Sacrament of Baptism to be celebrated by pouring or immersion.

The water continually flows, reminding the faithful that Jesus is the life giving water.

On reflecting on the parish’s 30 years, Mgr O’Loughlin urged the faithful to consider - along with all the prayers offered up of contrition and thanks - all the Sacraments bestowed at the parish that have enhanced the parish life:

● Baptism, praying that all who have been baptised in the parish will be faithful to the calling as followers of Christ,

● Reconciliation, praying for all who have been called away from sin in the Sacrament and renewed their following of Christ and that they may be strengthened by it,

● First Holy Communion, praying that those who have received it will be nourished to be stronger followers of Christ to fulfill their role as members of His body,

● Confirmation, praying that those upon whom the Holy Spirit’s seven gifts have been bestowed go forth and be the Spirit’s medium to others in daily life,

● Matrimony, praying that those who have been married in the parish mirror faithfully the image of Christ and His Church,

● Anointing of the Sick, and those who have walked with parishioners in the final stage of their earthly journey, and

● Requiem Masses, where parishioners entrusted the deceased to God’s mercy.

In the spirit of the Gospel of the day, the Monsignor also urged the parishioners to pray to discern the signs of the times to see how God is inspiring them to respond to the needs in the parish.

The anniversary, he said, is a time to “take stock” and think of any unaddressed needs for which parish groups parish can cater.

The next four editions of The Word parish newsletter will have special feature articles from longstanding parishioners and from its various groups.

Sts John and Paul Parish Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Bless our parish of Sts John and Paul and help us grow as a Eucharistic community.

We pray that as we are nourished by your Word and Sacrament we respond with courage to proclaim the Good News.

We ask you to strengthen the gift of faith in our children, our youth and our families and show us the way to be good stewards. Inspire us to use the gifts of our time, talent and treasure generously in the service of our parish.

May the love of St John and the zeal and tenacity of St Paul teach us to be a community of love and faith.

We ask the intercession of our parish patrons to lead us to Jesus, and may we, like Mary, be open to the Holy Spirit.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY

Above: Frs Anand Reddy and Thai Vu, Mgr Brian O’Loughlin and Fr Thi Lam distribute Rosaries to parish children and bless them after the Eucharist celebrating the parish’s 30th anniversary.

PHOTOS: ANTHONY BARICH

A parish youth plays the drums during the Eucharist for the parish festival.

PHOTO: ANTHONY BARICH

Above: Personal Advocacy Service’s Maria Lisa Hill and her friend Brett participate in the Offertory. Below: Fr Thai with the plaque with all the parish priests on it; Fr Thai blesses children.

Faith of our Fathers

The Record presents a special feature: the Archdiocese of Perth’s adult faith formation centre which provides important catechesis

The Archdiocese of Perth’s Maranatha Centre of Adult Faith Formation is about to launch its third term. The Record presents a detailed analysis of what it has to offer, who’s offering it and how participants can be enriched by its programmes.

Units presented in Term Three, 2010 Faith

FAITH IN O UR T IME: O UR

C HRISTIAN FOUNDATIONS

Sr Philomena Burrell pvbm (Tue, 27 Jul-14 Sep, 1-3pm)

This course explores the foundations of our Christian conviction and the way of life that flows from that conviction.

As an overview of the major issues in the Christian life, the course will validate how we are called to live out this Christian message today.

BACK TO GALILEE – EXAMINING

CREATIVE WAYS OF BEING C HURCH

IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Fr Paschal Kearney cssp (Tue, 27 Jul-14 Sep, 9.30am-12pm; Mon, 2 Aug-6 Sep, 7-9pm)

Faith communities in the Church are an ever evolving reality. This course looks at the way we have understood faith communities in the past and in the present, and finally how we might envision a new way to be a faith community that is relevant and meaningful in this 21st Century.

Theology

T HE LAW OF FREEDOM

Rev Dr Joseph Parkinson (Fri, 6 Aug-24 Sep, 9.30am-12pm)

Living a Christian life responsibly and freely means much more than simply ‘following the rules’. It takes a commitment to personal growth and a willingness to take the risk of trusting that God actually calls us to live ‘by the law of freedom’ (James 2:12).

This unit unpacks the rich tradition of Christian conscience and explores how we can live ‘the law of freedom’ in daily life.

BEGINNING T HEOLOGY

Sr Philomena Burrell pvbm (Mon, 2 Aug-6 Sep, 7-9pm)

Theology is human language about God and God’s relationship with the world, inspired by and rooted in Biblical tradition.

The God of Jesus is a relational God, ever-present, ever-loving, and yet, paradoxically, incomprehensible mystery to us, constantly gracing our humanity.

This course will be offered over four terms and will cover four Modules.

Scripture

T HE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES:

SEQUEL TO LUKE’S GOSPEL AND ‘C HRISTIAN’ BEGINNINGS

Sr Shelley Barlow rndm (Thu, 29 Jul-16 Sep, 1-3pm)

This course explores St Luke’s second volume. Acts provides a window into the dynamic development, struggles and joys of the first Christian communities. The early Christian story would have been diminished but for Luke’s daring initiative to show the impact of the Christ event, and how the Gospel took fire across the Roman Empire, spreading throughout the known world.

Spirituality

ECOLOGICAL SPIRITUALITY : T HE COVENANT BETWEEN HUMAN BEINGS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Sr Shelley Barlow rndm (Wed, 4 Aug-8 Sep, 7-9pm)

Creation comes forth from the womb of God’s love, calling all life to rejoice and flourish.

This course takes its title from Pope Benedict’s call to strengthen the covenantal bonds between humans and the environment (Caritas In Veritate, 120). It engages scientific knowledge of creation in the light of Scripture, Catholic teaching and mystical tradition.

Christian Living

WOMEN AS PEACEMAKERS: THE SPIRITUALITY OF NON-VIOLENCE

Judith Woodward, Ann Graham, Ann Semaan, Grace Reid (Wed, 4 Aug-8 Sept, 7-9pm)

In this course, we will consider women’s experience of violence and conflict and habitual responses to them, and then explore concrete ways of making peace that are practical, creative, transformative, inclusive and non-violent.

Presentation Sister Philomena Burrell, dire ctor of the Maranatha Centre, at their Double vie w base, the old Siena College.

Presentation Sister Philomena Burrell, director of the Maranatha Centre, at their Doubleview base, the old Siena

Above: Presenters at Maranatha Centre for Adult Faith Formation enjoy some fraternity. Below, participants enjoy a break in proceedings.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MARANATHA CENTRE FOR ADULT FAITH FORMATION

that the Forming our adults: Forming our adults:

Presenting ... Maranatha’s lecturers

A member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.

He spent 34 years ministering in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. His pastoral work was directed mainly to the establishment of small Christian communities. During this time, Paschal was a part-time staff member of the National Pastoral Centre and for several years was Chairperson of the National Commission for Justice and Peace.

After returning to Ireland he was engaged in retreat work before coming to Western Australia where he was parish priest of Albany for six years.

Notes on The Director

Holds degrees from the Universities of Melbourne, Stanford and Chicago. John has been actively involved in the Christian Meditation Community for more than 20 years.

He is an experienced spiritual director, having studied at the Ignation Spirituality Centre in London, as well as at York (UK). He leads retreats, workshops and days of reflection on the themes of Contemplative and Ignatian Spirituality, and presents for the Christian Meditation Community and Benedictine Community at New Norcia.

SR PHILOMENA BURRELL PVNM

Director of the Maranatha Centre of Adult Faith Formation in the Archdiocese of Perth

A member of the Congregation of Presentation Sisters, Sister Philomena has over 40 years’ teaching experience and was a member of the Catholic Institute of WA staff, teaching at Curtin and Edith Cowan Universities before taking up her present position.

Sister Philomena has a Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and a Graduate Diploma of Ministry.

A teacher and bridge-builder who has worked in the challenging settings of faith-formation for over 20 years.

Shelley’s zest for her work is sparked by her missionary charism as a Sister of Our Lady of the Missions, and by her deep and abiding interest in the universal yearning for wholeness.

Shelley has a Bachelor of Theology from Melbourne College of Divinity, and Masters degrees in Pastoral Ministry and Religious Education from Boston College, USA.

People of the Way

JUDITH

WOODWARD,

ANN GRAHAM, GRACE REID, ANN SEMAAN

Passionate about the desert spirituality of the early Church and Carmelite spirituality, and interested in how the wisdom from these contemplative traditions can be lived today. Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts (English Literature and Theology) and a Masters in Theology from the University of Notre Dame Australia. She recently completed a Baccalaureate in Theology and a Licence in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) in Rome and is presently working on the thesis for her Doctorate in Spiritual Theology from the Angelicum.

Began their journey as ‘People of the Way’ in 1997. During the following 10 years each of them has facilitated “From Violence to Wholeness” courses and workshops, locally and interstate, in parishes of various denominations, in Religious congregations, with school personnel and the University of Notre Dame Australia staff and students. They are now particularly interested in women’s spirituality and peacemaking.

A teacher and principal for many years in Catholic education, has also worked with the Catechist Service in the area of Adult Faith Education. She holds a Diploma of Teaching, a Bachelor of Education[Rel Educ], and a Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies [M] from the Sydney College of Divinity. Jan’s main focus has been the writing and presentation of Scripture courses, the teaching of Sacramental Theology, and Spirituality.

John Auer

Fr Paschal Kearney cssp

Sr Shelley BarlowMichelle JonesMrs Jan O’Connor

Faith of the Church may thrive

Maranatha: the breakdown

The formation of adults in the Faith of the Chuch is crucial, so that it may be passed on in joy and love to the next generation. Enter Maranatha, Perth’s Archdiocesan adult faith formation centre, which facilitates just this.

Vision Statement

Maranatha …Our Lord Come (1Cor 16:22)

In response to our baptismal call to ‘build the city of God’, the Maranatha Institute is commit-

The Director of the LJ Goody Bioethics Centre. He holds a Licentiate in Moral Theology from the Alphonsian Academy in Rome and a PhD in Moral Theology from the University of Notre Dame Australia.

He sits on three Ethics Committees at the Department of Health (WA) as well as Ethics committees of St John of God Hospital and MercyCare.

Admin staff:

TRACY STEVENS

Office Coordinator

BILL BELLAIR

Admin Assistant

Contact details:

ADDRESS:

33 Williamstown Rd,

Doubleview WA 5221

PHONE: 08 9241 5221

EMAIL: maranatha@ceo.wa.edu.au

ted to providing Christian Adult Faith Education for the sake of the ‘Kingdom’ through the ministry of the local Church. We are committed to work for the realisation of the Gospel values of human dignity, freedom and peace by offering opportunities of personal growth through inspiration and formation.

For the sake of the ‘Kingdom’ our desire is to empower all to participate through personal ministry in ‘building the City of God’.

The Maranatha Institute is an Archdiocesan Agency for Adult Faith Education (recently renamed Maranatha Centre for Adult Faith Formation). It is constituted for the formation of adults in faith and ministry.

The Centre provides formal programmes with a view to educating adult Catholics in their faith with particular emphases

Has been Executive Officer of the Catholic Social Justice Council of Perth since 1997. He studied philosophy and theology in Sydney, Social Science and Biblical Studies at Murdoch University in WA, and has taught History and Religious Education in secondary schools.

A trained Social Welfare Officer, Terry has worked with indigenous people in WA and NSW. He has studied the connections between Biblical faith and Australian Indigenous religion. He holds a BA[Hons] in Theology and a Diploma of Education [Adult and Tertiary].

on Mission and Ministry. These programmes are for adults who wish to deepen their knowledge and understanding of their Catholic faith and practice.

A wide range of courses cover such areas as Faith, Church, Scripture, Spirituality, Theology, Liturgy, Pastoral Care and Christian Living.

The Maranatha programmes are of particular value to individuals who wish to become more effectively involved in the life of their parish, particularly those in formal parish ministry such as Pastoral Associates or Assistants, Parish Workers and Volunteers.

Students may enrol in individual units of interest or in a formal course leading to either a Certificate of Adult Faith Education or a Certificate of Pastoral Formation.

COURSES

Daytime courses consists of

A grief Counsellor and Educator. He is Director of Grief Management and Educational Services Pty Ltd, having completed studies on Grief and Bereavement in WA and the Eastern States.

Gerry is a member of the National Association for Loss and Grief as well as the Advisory Panel of the SOLACE Association (WA). He also lectures at Tabor Bible College, TAFE, the WA Police Service and The Australian College of Funeral Service.

eight two-hour sessions - 16 hours presented over eight weeks. The presentation of unit material may be in lecture form, workshops or group work, depending on the material being presented and the lecturer. Evening courses consist of six two-hour sessions. There is no formal assessment of work - that is, no examinations or assignments.

Attendance and participation in class will be acknowledged if at least six out of eight sessions are attended.

CERTIFICATES

It is not necessary to enrol in a certificate course; however, the courses have been designed to work together to offer comprehensive and systematic adult faith formation, especially for those engaged in the work of catechesis, evangelisation and pastoral care.

A mother and teacher who has spent 18 years as Parish Catechist Coordinator involving sacramental preparation of children, the RCIA process, and has tutored in Initial Catechist Formation courses with the Catechist Service in the Archdiocese of Perth, WA. Apart from the Maranatha Institute, she also presents for the Christian Meditation Community WA, Wollaston Community, the Benedictine Community at New Norcia and at various parishes facilitating days of adult education.

CERTIFICATE OF ADULT FAITH

FORMATION:

[Formation for Parish Ministry]

To gain this certificate, students must complete at least six units - three Core Area units and three other units.

C ERTIFICATE OF PASTORAL

FORMATION:

This is a two year course.

First Year - general units

Second Year - Pastoral Care units

T IMETABLE:

Classes are conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.30am12 noon and 1-3.30pm; Fridays, 9.30am-12 noon; Monday and Wednesday, 7–9pm.

VENUE:

33 Williamstown Road, Doubleview WA 6018

Fees: Eight-week courses $50 per course Evening courses $35 per course.

Judith has a long history of involvement with different cultures and ethnicities as well as social justice. While a lecturer in History at the University of Western Australia, she interviewed Latin American migrant and refugee women in Mexico as part of her research there on the women’s movements. Since her retirement from fulltime paid work she has been a long-term volunteer for Caritas, has completed a Master of Theology and engaged in doctoral studies at Notre Dame University with her doctoral thesis being in Pastoral Theology.

Rev Dr Joseph Parkinson

Terry Quinn

Gerry SmithStephanie Woods

Judith Woodward

Michelle Jones conducts a session at Maranatha Centre for Adult Faith Formation. Photo: Courtesy of Maranatha

Euthanasia: debate it, don’t legalise it

Health

matters

Martin Laverty

Western Australia’s Parliament is still debating the Voluntary Euthanasia Bill.

Catholic Health Australia (CHA) opposes this Bill. Representing all Catholic providers of hospital and aged care services in Western Australia and across the nation, our opposition should come as no amazing surprise.

When introducing the legislation to Parliament in May, the proponent of the Bill articulated five arguments as to why Upper House members should vote yes to euthanasia. We don’t simply dismiss these arguments. Each contains some substance.

Many of the medical, nursing, and pastoral staff in our hospitals and aged care services have cared for thousands of people at the time of their natural death. They will tell you there is another side to each of the five arguments.

The first of the five was that “the last stages of terminal illness are often times of unbearable pain, suffering, and great anguish.” For some this is tragically true, but it needn’t be that way. For many it isn’t.

Palliative Care, when available and of good quality, relieves pain, addresses suffering, and alleviates anguish. That high quality pallia-

tive care is not available to all who need it is no reason to sanction euthanasia as an alternative.

Only one in three of all people who could benefit from quality palliative care receives it because of inadequate funding. Surely we should address this funding shortfall so that all can be provided with appropriate care when it is needed.

The second of the five arguments is that we should “no longer force a person to suffer just because we used to believe, or because some still believe, it is wrong to end suffering through death”.

Yes, many still believe euthana-

sia is wrong, CHA included. But even those who don’t hold such a view needn’t put up with themselves or their loved one facing suffering through illness.

When a multidisciplinary care team is available to a person who is dying, suffering can be genuinely relieved. The proponents of the Bill don’t seem to, or want to, believe this. The reason some today don’t have their suffering relieved is because of government funding shortfalls.

While there are shortfalls in funding for palliative care in Australia today, in Holland there

has been a 10 per cent increase in euthanasia this year because of a massive decline in Dutch palliative care funding. There is evidence that people there are opting to die because of palliative care shortages. The third argument offered is a right to personal autonomy. It was argued a person should determine when they want to die.

This argument of a personal right was central to the decision to allow euthanasia in Belgium. A study released there this year found nearly half of a group of euthanasia nurses - 120 of 248 - admitted they had taken part in “terminations of patients’ lives without request or consent”.

As the Belgium experience indicates, euthanasia does not necessarily result in autonomy if people are being euthanised without request.

In fact, many believe where euthanasia exists, it creates a new pressure on some with terminal illnesses to end their lives for financial, family, or other reasons.

The fourth argument, labelled when the Bill was introduced as almost irrefutable, is that euthanasia already occurs without any legal framework and that “euthanasia is a frequent ... result of good palliative care”.

There is a legal framework that responds to death with intent. It is called the criminal law.

The suggestion palliative care is a cause of death is also to misunderstand its purpose. Its purpose is to attend to suffering, to relieve pain, and support a person facing the end of their natural life. This is in part achieved through medication control, but where palliative

Devastating tale’s message makes end of times

I say I say

By Mark Reidy

The end of times, so often hypothesised by Hollywood, is more subtle than you think...

If you mingle in Christian circles for long enough you are destined to confront the topic of “end times”.

Not that it is new phenomenon – in fact it can be found in the urgent pleadings of the newly converted St Paul – but it seems that the subject is currently experiencing a renaissance.

However it isn’t just the religious-minded that are promoting this rebirth - Hollywood has, in fact, sensed the growing interest and has plugged in accordingly.

Recent movies such as 2012, I Am Legend, 28 Weeks Later and The Book of Eli all tap into the public fascination with life after a global apocalypse.

Personally, when it comes to the subject of “end times”, I tend to heed the words of Jesus, “But of that day or that hour no one knows … only the Father” (Mk 13:32).

In other words, don’t fix your eyes on the future and what may or may not occur, but rather, focus your time and energy on the

present and what you can do now.

Ironically, though, it was while I was viewing one of these ‘life after’ movies that I came to the realisation that we are already living in an apocalyptic climate.

In the movie The Road, a father finds himself in the aftermath of a global calamity.

He is desperately trekking across a decimated landscape in an attempt to protect his young son

from the marauding cannibalistic mobs that have formed. The father, himself slowly dying, is forced to teach his son some difficult lessons in an attempt to prepare him for life on his own. With the realisation that he cannot preserve the innocence of his child in an environment so physically and morally ravaged, he sets about teaching him how to exist within this world without becom-

care is provided properly, its purpose is not to end life.

The fifth and final reason offered in support of the euthanasia Bill is that a majority of West Australians want it.

It sure is hard to argue with a majority.

But we should be grateful that whereas market surveys determine the colour of a breakfast cereal box or the smell of a shampoo, they need not determine the outcomes of complex questions of life and death.

Parliamentarians have a much more serious challenge to manage.

The debate in Parliament today is one that should occur. It is appropriate for our Parliamentarians to be tackling the real moral challenges of our time.

But instead of the option of allowing the premature end a person’s life, the Parliament should focus on how to expand palliative care to all who might need it.

Expanded palliative care means training more doctors and nurses in how to properly care for the dying. It means funding more palliative care teams to be able to work in people’s homes. It means extending palliative care to the two out of three who currently miss out.

The doctors and nurses who oppose euthanasia, who number in their thousands and all of whom vote, are trained to care for the sick. They are hopeful the Parliament will reaffirm their role to do just that.

Martin Laverty is the CEO of Catholic Health Australia, representing the Catholic hospital and aged care network that operates one in ten of all hospital and aged care beds in Australia.

endurable

these times. Our children exist in an environment in which the predators that seek to consume them for their own selfish gain are well and truly entrenched.

Tragically though, unlike the blatantly ugly, dark and terrifying backdrop of The Road our children are being spiritually cannibalised by stealth.

The forces at work today are subtle and attractive. They promote attitudes and activities that, without the guidance of a loving and protective parent, are corroding the truth that God has planted in the hearts of our children.

We are spending less time with them and increasingly allowing access to influences that are subtly enticing them into a spiritual wasteland.

The father in The Road clearly recognised the life-threatening dangers that lurked around every corner and his sole mission became protecting his son from this evil.

But he also understood that he needed to equip his son with the wisdom to recognise these dangers for himself, because one day he would have to make his own decisions.

ing prey to its evil. He tells him to look for those people who have “the fire burning within them”, as these will be the ones who will lead him along the path to safety. These are the ones who will not use and abuse him for their own gain, but will recognise and understand his true worth.

It made me think of our world today.

Spiritually, we are already in

His love became more deeply sacrificial as he was able to step beyond his own needs and fear. He did not allow himself be imprisoned by helplessness, but rather chose to empower his son to become the man that he wanted him to be.

This meant that he had to make difficult decisions that were not always going to please his son - but they were going to keep the light burning within him, even when the father was gone.

It is a tale of heroism. It is a message for all parents today.

A protestor with a placard displaying the irony of those who support euthansia - often Greens, as is the case in Australia and currently in WA, where Greens MP Robin Chapple has introduced a Voluntary Euthanasia Bill.

A scene from the 2009 movie The Road, based on the haunting book by Cormac McCarthy.

Immaculée’s tale of love conquering evil

Continued from Page 1 healing power of His grace. One day, as she was meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries of Christ, Immaculée said that she heard Him speak, ‘They do not know what they do’ and these words resonated, “like a thunder in my heart”, she shared. “It was as though a huge baggage of bitterness was lifted from me” she said, “and I felt freedom.” For the first time since the massacre began, which claimed almost one million Tutsi lives, she was able to move her focus away from the killers and turn them toward her heavenly Father.

“I used to think that forgiving was giving in and condoning what was wrong”, she said, “But I began to see it as an opportunity to pray for someone who needs it”. And pray she did. During her time cramped in the bathroom, Immaculée revealed that despite being tormented by evil voices of ridicule and doubt, enduring many searches by machete-wielding Hutus who came within inches of her hiding place and dropping from 52 to 29 kilograms, she would pray 27 Rosaries a day.

She continued her intimate relationship with God even after learning of the brutal deaths of most of her family and friends, and was able to nurture the seed of peace that had been planted in her heart.

Immaculée’s powerful and heart wrenchingly honest testimony bore witness to the message that, through the grace of God, love and hope can never be extinguished - even by the worst elements of human depravity.

Cath Holliday, 45, visiting from Melbourne was moved by what she heard. “It is a powerful story and, while difficult to comprehend the scale of such horror, the message of forgiveness is a message for us all,” she said.

Immaculee’s plea also resonated with fellow genocide survivor, Musi Peace Mimi, 26. “What

Immaculée shared is true and real. Forgiveness is the first step to healing, both in an individual and a country”, she said. Now living in Perth and undertaking a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Musi said that, like Immaculée, she had been able to find peace in her own heart, but knows of others in her homeland who continue to struggle with the devastation that was inflicted upon them.

Today, Immaculée lives in New York with her husband Bryan and her two children and travels the globe sharing the healing power of forgiveness and promoting the messages given to three visionaries in the Rwandan village of Kibeho from 1981. The site has become the first and only Vatican approved Marian site in Africa to which Immaculée regularly leads pilgrimages.

It was in these messages, Immaculée shared, that Our Lady of Kibeho warned that, unless the Rwandan people turned back to God and away from the ethnic tensions that had simmered for decades, it would become a country flooded with “rivers of blood”.

Immaculée, who knew of these messages as a young child, became excruciatingly aware of their reality during the 1994 horror. She is now determined to take these messages to the world. “Rwanda did not listen”, she stated at the conclusion of her talk, “But the world must. God is as real as I am to you and you are to me”.

But Immaculée is adamant that prayer and fasting are the pathways to discovering His reality. “If I can forgive, then everyone can”, she says. “Prior to the genocide I would have never believed that it was possible … but when God says that all things are possible, that is exactly what He means - ALL things”.

Immaculée’s books are available from The Record Bookshop: Left To Tell – $26.95; Led By Faith - $26.95; Our Lady of Kibeho- $19.95.

ARCHDIOCESAN EVANGELISATION CENTRE

Archbishop Hickey circulated the following notice to parishes this week:

If you feel called to evangelise, we are looking for a good organiser to set up an Archdiocesan Evangelisation Centre over the next few months. The appointed person (male or female) will have an enthusiastic desire to reach out to unbelievers, faraway Catholics and practising Catholics, and to establish a welcoming evangelising environment close to St Mary’s Cathedral.

The person must be a practising Catholic of strong Faith, an excellent communicator with proven organisational and administrative abilities. The task will include setting up the Centre, including resources, and building up and supervising a small team of volunteers for its day-to-day running.

This is a paid position – hours and remuneration to be negotiated.

If you are interested, please contact the Catholic Church Office in Victoria Square on (08) 9223 1351.

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS 2010

JULY

9 &10 Couples for Christ Conference – Bishop Sproxton

11 Closing Mass, Couples for Christ Conference – Archbishop Hickey

13 New Evangelisation Congress, Sydney – Archbishop Hickey

15 Impacters Winter Conference Mass – Archbishop Hickey

16 Mass for Carmelite Monastery Feastday – Archbishop Hickey

18 Impact Catholic Ministry Confirmation – Archbishop Hickey

22 Blessing of Parish Facility, St Joseph’s, Subiaco – Archbishop Hickey

23 Opening of Performing Arts – Mgr Michael Keating

24 Marian Movement Retreat Mass – Archbishop Hickey

25 Mass and Blessing, St Anne’s Church, Belmont – Archbishop Hickey

AT A GLANCE

Forthcoming events around the Archdiocese

Pontifical Mass

Pontifical Mass with Archbishop Hickey on the Feast of St Anne.

When: 25 July at St Anne’s Church, 11 Hehir St, Belmont

Alive Men

menALIVE weekend retreat - a Catholic ministry to men. “God is fully glorified when men are fully alive,” St Ireneaus said. The menALIVE retreat programme is designed to “wake the sleeping Giant” aka the men of the Church. It aims to cast a vision of the real man alive pointing men to Jesus, articulate key truths about men as well as provide an opportunity for men to share stories, participate in workshops and make use of the Sacraments. This will be the fourth menALIVE to be held in WA. The retreat is open to men 15 years and over. Investment (cost) is $50 for workshops, morning and afternoon tea and bbq Sunday dinner. RSVP by 30 July.

Enq: Kim 0414 537 023 or Greg 9382 1897 and for more information visit www.stjosephssubiaco. org.au/projects/menalive or www. menalive.org.au.

When: 7-8 August at St Joseph’s Parish Centre, 3 Salvado Road, Subiaco.

Clergy Changes

Fr Phillip Fleay CM, Parish Priest of Cloverdale, has been appointed to the Parish of Sacred Heart, Mundaring from 1 September 2010. After a short break he will take up residence on 1 October. Archbishop Hickey told priests and deacons in his ad clerum letter of 5 July that “Fr Phillip has presided over the task of uniting Belmont, Rivervale, Redcliffe and Cloverdale into one

parish, for which we are most grateful.”

Expressions of interest are now called for the Parish of Notre Dame, Cloverdale.

Fr Brian Harris has retired to the Little Sisters of the Poor. Fr Arulraj, formerly of Spearwood and Midland parishes, has been appointed Parish Priest of Our Lady Help of Christians, East Victoria Park, from 9 July.

Above: Immaculée speaks with warmth, passion and humour, captivating hundreds. There was barely any noise or movement throughout the 90-minute sharing which, below, was followed by a standing ovation. PHOTOS: BRIDGET SPINKS

Liturgy renewal to inspire martyrs’ love for the Mass in people

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNA)Christian witness is intended to prepare for and to live the “cosmic liturgy” in which all mankind adores God, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput said on 24 June.

Noting the cultural obstacles to liturgical understanding, he said the renewed liturgy should create Christians who would die rather than not celebrate Mass.

Delivering the Hildebrand Distinguished Lecture at the Liturgical Institute of the University of St Mary of the Lake in Illinois, the Archbishop of Denver praised Chicago’s “historic role” in the renewal of the liturgy and the evangelisation of America. He said the 10th anniversary of the Liturgical Institute shows that this legacy continues.

He opened with a reflection on the respected liturgist and theologian, Fr Romano Guardini. Soon after the Second Vatican Council published its “groundbreaking” document on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, the priest sent a letter to the Third German Liturgical Conference wondering whether man in an industrial and scientific age is “no longer capable of the liturgical act.”

“I think he put his finger on one of the key questions of mission in his time, and also in ours,” Archbishop Chaput remarked, explaining that the liturgical act is the transformation of personal prayer and piety into “genuine corporate worship” and “the public service that the Church offers to God.”

This act requires an inward awareness of the unity of the whole person, body and soul, with the spiritual body of the Church, present in heaven and on earth, he added.

“It also requires an appreciation that the sacred signs and actions of the Mass - standing, kneeling, singing and so forth - are themselves ‘prayer’.”

However, he warned, this awareness is obscured in a society organised around a “narrow” vision of technological progress in which truth is judged by what can be perceived and verified through research and experiment.

“In practice, almost nothing of what we believe as Catholics is affirmed by our culture,” commented the Archbishop.

“Even the meaning of the words ‘human’ and ‘person’ are subject to debate.”

This has implications for Catholic worship in which we profess to be in contact with “spiritual realities” and to receive the true Body and Blood of the Lord.

“We preach the good news that this world has a Saviour who can free us from the bondage of sin and death. What can our good news mean in a world where people don’t believe in sin or that there is anything they need to be saved from?” Archbishop Chaput asked.

“What does the promise of victory over death mean to people who don’t believe in the existence of any reality beyond this visible world?”

The Archbishop said that Chicago priest Fr Robert Barron is one of the few to have wrestled with such issues.

For him, the liturgy is not to be shaped according to modern sup-

positions; rather, the liturgy should “question and shape the suppositions of any age.” While modern man is probably incapable of the liturgical act, this is no grounds for despair. Instead, we should “let the liturgy be itself,” the priest has said.

Archbishop Chaput agreed with Fr Barron that in recent decades the “professional liturgical establishment” chose to shape the liturgy according to the world, which has proven to be “a dead end.” Seeking relevance through “a kind of relentless cult of novelty” has only resulted in confusion and division between the faithful and the true spirit of the liturgy, continued the Archbishop.

He said liturgical renewal should build “an authentic Eucharistic culture” to instil “a new sacramental and liturgical sensibility that enables Catholics to face the idols and suppositions of our culture with the confidence of believers who draw life from the sacred mysteries.”

To this end, the Archbishop of Denver offered several suggestions: the need to recover the “intrinsic and inseparable connection” between liturgy and evangelisation; the need to see the liturgy as a participation in the “liturgy of heaven” where Christians worship “in Spirit and truth” with the Church and the communion of the saints; and the need to recover and live the early Christians’ “vibrant liturgical and evangelical spirituality.”

“Liturgy is both the source of the Church’s mission and its goal,” explained the prelate.

“The reason we evangelise is in order to bring people into communion with the living God in the Eucharistic liturgy. And this expe-

in brief...

Russian Patriarch: Protestants’ gay marriage acceptance undermines ecumenism

PATRIARCH Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, met with the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 28 June and said that the acceptance of homosexuality by some Protestant communities undermines ecumenism. “Kirill expressed a serious concern about some difficulties faced by ecumenical dialogue in view of what he labelled as new positions of some Protestant churches on important moral issues, including the understanding of homosexuality,” a WCC press release noted.

European court unanimous: no obligation for nations to legalise same-sex marriage

IN a unanimous decision, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union “did not impose an obligation on the Austrian Government to grant a same-sex couple … access to marriage” and that the “decision whether or not to allow same-sex marriage [is left] to regulation by member States’ national law.” Austria has legalised homosexual civil unions but does not permit homosexual marriage; two Austrian men had filed suit, claiming they were victims of discrimination. The Court, however, also concluded in its 24 June decision that “the relationship of the applicants, a cohabiting same-sex couple living in a stable partnership, fell within the notion of ‘family life,’ just as the relationship of a different-sex couple in the same situation would.”

Dissent widespread within Austrian clergy: poll

MORE than half of Austria’s Catholic priests believe that women should be ordained, despite the Church’s definitive pronouncement that this is impossible, a new poll shows.

Among the 500 priests surveyed, 51 per cent favoured the ordination of women. The poll showed an overwhelming majority of clerics - 79 per cent - in favour of opening the priesthood to married men.

rience of communion with God, in turn, impels us to evangelise.”

The “pedestrian” and selffocused nature of many contemporary liturgies results from the loss of the sense of this participation in the heavenly liturgy, he suggested.

“The Eucharist … is a cosmic liturgy that unites the worship of heaven with our own worship here on earth … Heaven and earth are filled with the glory of God,” he continued. Worship is a window through which “the reality and destiny of our lives is glimpsed.”

This truth should “make us strive for liturgies that are reverent and beautiful, and that point our hearts and minds to things above.” The ultimate purpose of Christian witness is to “prepare the way for the cosmic liturgy in which all humanity will adore the Creator.”

The Archbishop encouraged the faithful to look to the early Christians, who found their identity in the liturgy and said “we cannot live without the Mass.”

“This is the kind of faith that should inspire our worship. And this is the kind of faith that our worship should inspire. Can we really say today that we’re ready to die rather than not celebrate the Mass?”

Describing the liturgy as “a school of sacrificial love,” he said that all Christians should see themselves as a Eucharistic offering, “a perfect offering holy and acceptable to God.”

“The liturgical act becomes possible for modern man when you make your lives a liturgy, when you live your lives liturgically - as an offering to God in thanksgiving and praise for his gifts and salvation. You are the future of the liturgical renewal.”

12.3 million in slavery as human trafficking expands

CATHOLIC Relief Services, the US Bishops’ humanitarian agency, has drawn attention to the US State Department’s recent annual report on human trafficking, which estimates that the number of “adults and children in forced labour, bonded labour, and forced prostitution around the world” is 12.3 million. The State Department recently honoured Brother Xavier Passat, a French Dominican, for his efforts to combat human trafficking in Brazil.

Priest who earned KKK’s wrath up for sainthood

BISHOP Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn opened a canonical inquiry on 24 June into the canonisation cause of Mgr Bernard J Quinn (1888-1940), a diocesan priest who fought racial bigotry. During the Great Depression, the Ku Klux Klan, which he courageously opposed, twice burned down an orphanage he built for African-American children.

“Almighty God blessed the Diocese of Brooklyn by sending Father Quinn to minister among us,” said Bishop DiMarzio. “That ministry did not end upon his death but has continued to grow and take root in the hearts and souls of the faithful and clergy of this church in New York, which has continually ministered to the poor and oppressed. I am delighted to be given the privilege to preside at the opening of the cause of canonisation for this priest who was a courageous and tireless proponent of the equality of all people.”

Restoration complete for Rio’s statue of Christ

Restoration work has been completed on the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 130 foot statue, perched on a mountaintop overlooking the city, had been surrounded by scaffolds during a four-month restoration project, which repaired damage done by lightning, erosion, and - earlier this year, for the first time since the statue was erected in 1931 - vandalism.

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, right, and a deacon stand in prayer during a Mass for the Tekakwitha Conference at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington in 2007. The prelate said last month that the current liturgical renewal should inspire the martyrs’ love for the Mass, which is the sacrifice of Christ Himself.

PHOTO: CNS/NANCY WIECHEC

Liturgy renewal to inspire martyrs’ love for the Mass in people

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNA)Christian witness is intended to prepare for and to live the “cosmic liturgy” in which all mankind adores God, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput said on 24 June.

Noting the cultural obstacles to liturgical understanding, he said the renewed liturgy should create Christians who would die rather than not celebrate Mass.

Delivering the Hildebrand Distinguished Lecture at the Liturgical Institute of the University of St Mary of the Lake in Illinois, the Archbishop of Denver praised Chicago’s “historic role” in the renewal of the liturgy and the evangelisation of America. He said the 10th anniversary of the Liturgical Institute shows that this legacy continues.

He opened with a reflection on the respected liturgist and theologian, Fr Romano Guardini. Soon after the Second Vatican Council published its “groundbreaking” document on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, the priest sent a letter to the Third German Liturgical Conference wondering whether man in an industrial and scientific age is “no longer capable of the liturgical act.”

“I think he put his finger on one of the key questions of mission in his time, and also in ours,” Archbishop Chaput remarked, explaining that the liturgical act is the transformation of personal prayer and piety into “genuine corporate worship” and “the public service that the Church offers to God.”

This act requires an inward awareness of the unity of the whole person, body and soul, with the spiritual body of the Church, present in heaven and on earth, he added.

“It also requires an appreciation that the sacred signs and actions of the Mass - standing, kneeling, singing and so forth - are themselves ‘prayer’.”

However, he warned, this awareness is obscured in a society organised around a “narrow” vision of technological progress in which truth is judged by what can be perceived and verified through research and experiment.

“In practice, almost nothing of what we believe as Catholics is affirmed by our culture,” commented the Archbishop.

“Even the meaning of the words ‘human’ and ‘person’ are subject to debate.”

This has implications for Catholic worship in which we profess to be in contact with “spiritual realities” and to receive the true Body and Blood of the Lord.

“We preach the good news that this world has a Saviour who can free us from the bondage of sin and death. What can our good news mean in a world where people don’t believe in sin or that there is anything they need to be saved from?” Archbishop Chaput asked.

“What does the promise of victory over death mean to people who don’t believe in the existence of any reality beyond this visible world?”

The Archbishop said that Chicago priest Fr Robert Barron is one of the few to have wrestled with such issues.

For him, the liturgy is not to be shaped according to modern sup-

positions; rather, the liturgy should “question and shape the suppositions of any age.” While modern man is probably incapable of the liturgical act, this is no grounds for despair. Instead, we should “let the liturgy be itself,” the priest has said.

Archbishop Chaput agreed with Fr Barron that in recent decades the “professional liturgical establishment” chose to shape the liturgy according to the world, which has proven to be “a dead end.” Seeking relevance through “a kind of relentless cult of novelty” has only resulted in confusion and division between the faithful and the true spirit of the liturgy, continued the Archbishop.

He said liturgical renewal should build “an authentic Eucharistic culture” to instil “a new sacramental and liturgical sensibility that enables Catholics to face the idols and suppositions of our culture with the confidence of believers who draw life from the sacred mysteries.”

To this end, the Archbishop of Denver offered several suggestions: the need to recover the “intrinsic and inseparable connection” between liturgy and evangelisation; the need to see the liturgy as a participation in the “liturgy of heaven” where Christians worship “in Spirit and truth” with the Church and the communion of the saints; and the need to recover and live the early Christians’ “vibrant liturgical and evangelical spirituality.”

“Liturgy is both the source of the Church’s mission and its goal,” explained the prelate.

“The reason we evangelise is in order to bring people into communion with the living God in the Eucharistic liturgy. And this expe-

in brief...

Russian Patriarch: Protestants’ gay marriage acceptance undermines ecumenism

PATRIARCH Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, met with the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 28 June and said that the acceptance of homosexuality by some Protestant communities undermines ecumenism. “Kirill expressed a serious concern about some difficulties faced by ecumenical dialogue in view of what he labelled as new positions of some Protestant churches on important moral issues, including the understanding of homosexuality,” a WCC press release noted.

European court unanimous: no obligation for nations to legalise same-sex marriage

IN a unanimous decision, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union “did not impose an obligation on the Austrian Government to grant a same-sex couple … access to marriage” and that the “decision whether or not to allow same-sex marriage [is left] to regulation by member States’ national law.” Austria has legalised homosexual civil unions but does not permit homosexual marriage; two Austrian men had filed suit, claiming they were victims of discrimination. The Court, however, also concluded in its 24 June decision that “the relationship of the applicants, a cohabiting same-sex couple living in a stable partnership, fell within the notion of ‘family life,’ just as the relationship of a different-sex couple in the same situation would.”

Dissent widespread within Austrian clergy: poll

MORE than half of Austria’s Catholic priests believe that women should be ordained, despite the Church’s definitive pronouncement that this is impossible, a new poll shows.

Among the 500 priests surveyed, 51 per cent favoured the ordination of women. The poll showed an overwhelming majority of clerics - 79 per cent - in favour of opening the priesthood to married men.

rience of communion with God, in turn, impels us to evangelise.”

The “pedestrian” and selffocused nature of many contemporary liturgies results from the loss of the sense of this participation in the heavenly liturgy, he suggested.

“The Eucharist … is a cosmic liturgy that unites the worship of heaven with our own worship here on earth … Heaven and earth are filled with the glory of God,” he continued. Worship is a window through which “the reality and destiny of our lives is glimpsed.”

This truth should “make us strive for liturgies that are reverent and beautiful, and that point our hearts and minds to things above.” The ultimate purpose of Christian witness is to “prepare the way for the cosmic liturgy in which all humanity will adore the Creator.”

The Archbishop encouraged the faithful to look to the early Christians, who found their identity in the liturgy and said “we cannot live without the Mass.”

“This is the kind of faith that should inspire our worship. And this is the kind of faith that our worship should inspire. Can we really say today that we’re ready to die rather than not celebrate the Mass?”

Describing the liturgy as “a school of sacrificial love,” he said that all Christians should see themselves as a Eucharistic offering, “a perfect offering holy and acceptable to God.”

“The liturgical act becomes possible for modern man when you make your lives a liturgy, when you live your lives liturgically - as an offering to God in thanksgiving and praise for his gifts and salvation. You are the future of the liturgical renewal.”

12.3 million in slavery as human trafficking expands

CATHOLIC Relief Services, the US Bishops’ humanitarian agency, has drawn attention to the US State Department’s recent annual report on human trafficking, which estimates that the number of “adults and children in forced labour, bonded labour, and forced prostitution around the world” is 12.3 million. The State Department recently honoured Brother Xavier Passat, a French Dominican, for his efforts to combat human trafficking in Brazil.

Priest who earned KKK’s wrath up for sainthood

BISHOP Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn opened a canonical inquiry on 24 June into the canonisation cause of Mgr Bernard J Quinn (1888-1940), a diocesan priest who fought racial bigotry. During the Great Depression, the Ku Klux Klan, which he courageously opposed, twice burned down an orphanage he built for African-American children.

“Almighty God blessed the Diocese of Brooklyn by sending Father Quinn to minister among us,” said Bishop DiMarzio. “That ministry did not end upon his death but has continued to grow and take root in the hearts and souls of the faithful and clergy of this church in New York, which has continually ministered to the poor and oppressed. I am delighted to be given the privilege to preside at the opening of the cause of canonisation for this priest who was a courageous and tireless proponent of the equality of all people.”

Restoration complete for Rio’s statue of Christ

Restoration work has been completed on the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 130 foot statue, perched on a mountaintop overlooking the city, had been surrounded by scaffolds during a four-month restoration project, which repaired damage done by lightning, erosion, and - earlier this year, for the first time since the statue was erected in 1931 - vandalism.

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, right, and a deacon stand in prayer during a Mass for the Tekakwitha Conference at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington in 2007. The prelate said last month that the current liturgical renewal should inspire the martyrs’ love for the Mass, which is the sacrifice of Christ Himself.

PHOTO: CNS/NANCY WIECHEC

Gluten-free Eucharist hits US parishes

BY MARY GORRY Catholic News Service

ROOSEVELT, New York

(CNS) - At Christ the King Church in Commack, a man receives Communion only in the form of wine. At St Christopher’s Church in Baldwin, a girl does the same.

They are only two of many Catholics on Long Island who are taking advantage of the Communion options available to people living with coeliac disease or other gluten intolerances. People who live with celiac disease are unable to digest gluten, a type of protein commonly found in grains such as rye, barley and wheat. There also are people who live with non-coeliac gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity whose health can be adversely affected by gluten.

Guidance from the Secretariat of Divine Worship at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops explains that “from the time that the Lord Jesus took bread and wine and told his disciples, ‘Do this in memory of me,’” the Church “has tried faithfully to fulfill Christ’s command by taking unleavened bread made from water and wheat flour, and wine made from grapes for use at the Eucharist.”

Although canon law requires that the host be made with wheat flour, which contains gluten, the Church makes it possible for most people with gluten intolerance to receive the Eucharist in a way that is not harmful to them.

According to guidelines adopted by the Rockville Centre Diocese in 2004, people with coeliac disease or other forms of gluten intolerance might receive a small amount of a regular host; use a low-gluten host; or receive Communion under the form of wine only. Those who cannot risk ingesting even a tiny bit of gluten can ask the priest to consecrate some wine in a separate chalice.

At St Lawrence the Martyr Church in Sayville, Fr Brian Ingram said: “It seems that in recent years, a greater number of people are being diagnosed with either coeliac disease or some form of gluten intolerance, so the staff at St Lawrence thought it important to offer a Communion host that these parishioners could receive without aggravating their symptoms,” he said. “The Church does insist that at least a minute amount of wheat flour be used in the host in order for it to be considered valid matter for the Sacrament,” Fr Ingram added. “The (low-gluten) hosts we purchase come from a group of Benedictine sisters in the Midwest. They contain only a fractional amount of wheat flour, less than one per cent, and are approved by the USCCB.”

Anyone who cannot consume a regular wheat host can receive Communion only from the chalice, Fr Ingram said, since “the Eucharistic Lord is entirely present in either the consecrated bread or wine.”

Pope slams Belgian police raids

Pope deplores police methods in raid on Belgian church headquarters

BY SARAH DELANEY Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI joined a chorus of criticism of a raid on Belgian Church headquarters by police seeking evidence of alleged clergy sexual abuse.

In a 27 June letter of solidarity to Belgian Bishops, he called the blitz on the Mechelen-Brussels Archdiocese “surprising and deplorable” for the heavy-handed way it was carried out. However, the Pope also reiterated his position that accusations of abuse of minors within the Catholic Church should be pursued by civil as well as church authorities.

Meanwhile, members of an independent commission created by the Church to examine clerical sexual abuse accusations resigned on 28 June, saying that the police raids have made it impossible for them to continue their work.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, had harsher words regarding the 24 June raid, in which Bishops gathered for a plenary meeting were detained all day as police confiscated cell phones, documents and computers.

“There are no precedents for this, not even in the old Communist regimes,” he told reporters in Rome on 26 June.

“Magistrates held Bishops for nine hours and searched the tombs of two cardinals,” Cardinal Bertone said, likening the “unheard of” episode to a “kidnapping.”

He said that during the detention, the nine Bishops and archdiocesan personnel were unable to eat or drink, an accusation Belgian authorities have denied.

Pope Benedict’s letter marking “this sad moment” was addressed to Mechelen-Brussels Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard, president of the Belgian Bishops’ conference.

The Pope expressed his “closeness and solidarity” with the bishops “for the surprising and deplorable methods of the searches” of the Mechelen Cathedral and archdiocesan buildings.

Mechelen, the seat of the Church in Belgium, is a suburb of Brussels.

During the plenary meeting, the Pope wrote, “the Belgian bishops’ conference was to have discussed aspects of the abuse of minors on the part of members of the clergy.”

“Many times,” he continued, “I have reiterated that such serious charges must be dealt with by civil and canonical authorities, in respect of reciprocal specificity and autonomy.”

The Pope said justice should take its course, while respecting the rights of individuals, institutions and especially the victims. He urged that the efforts of those in the church who are collaborating

with civil authorities and trying to shed light on the problem be recognised.

During the nine-hour search, a spokesman for the bishops’ conference said, police seized more than 400 files belonging to a commission established to investigate alleged abuse cases.

Commission members announced they would resign because “the indispensable trust” between the commission and judicial authorities “no longer exists,” therefore compromising the commission’s relationship of trust with the victims, according to a statement from the Bishops’ conference.

The statement also said that members were prohibited from working because police had confiscated all of their materials.

Belgian Justice Minister Stefaan De Clerck defended the action, saying that bishops had been treated normally and that proper legal procedures were followed.

Vatican and Belgian Church authorities were particularly

angered over the search of the tombs of two cardinals in the cathedral crypt. News reports said that holes had been drilled in the tombs and cameras inserted to look for possible hidden material.

Police searched the homes of Archbishop Leonard as well as his predecessor at the helm of the Mechelen-Brussels Archdiocese, Cardinal Godfried Danneels.

It was not known what police were looking for at the cardinal’s home. He was Archbishop during the service of former Bishop Roger Vangheluwe of Brugge, who stepped down in April after admitting to having sexually abused a young boy.

On 25 June, the Vatican announced he would be replaced by Bishop Jozef De Kesel, who had been Auxiliary Bishop of Mechelen-Brussels.

In May, the Bishops of Belgium asked forgiveness of victims of priestly sexual abuse and promised wide-ranging steps to curb the problem in the future in a pastoral letter addressed to the faithful.

Pro-life teens urged to bring joy to debate

BY W ILLIAM CONE Catholic News Service

PITTSBURGH - It can be difficult keeping a smile on your face when dealing with people who don’t share your pro-life views. Conversations can sometimes erupt into hurtful arguments, so it’s vital that you maintain an attitude of compassion and understanding.

Mgr Jim Lisante of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, gave young people that advice on 26 June during the National Teens for Life convention, held during the National Right to Life Committee convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at Pittsburgh International Airport.

“Bring some joy to the situation. I find, very often in the Church especially, people feel that sombreness or sourness is a sign of holiness. And I’m a big believer, with Fr John Powell, that you earn more opportunities for changing people’s hearts if you approach with joy,” he said.

“Be joyous that you are a prolifer, but bring your joy into the debate, too, and don’t become negative, critical, nasty or put down because they don’t see things the way you do,” he said.

Besides being a pastor for 14 years and former director of the

diocesan family life office, Mgr Lisante is well known as the host of Personally Speaking on TV and Sirius XM satellite radio.

He formerly hosted Christopher Closeup on television, and a new TV programme Close Encounter, is coming soon to CBS and PBS affiliates.

“What the show’s about is what all these shows are about: It’s me interviewing people about their faith, values and ideals to get people to talk about spirituality and religion as a positive force in the world,” he said in an interview with the Pittsburgh Catholic, a diocesan newspaper.

Recent interviewees have included actors Carol Channing and Stephen Baldwin, novelists Nicholas Sparks and Mary Higgins Clark, and shortstop Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees. Upcoming guests include New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and actorcomedian Billy Crystal.

“They all bring different perspectives. I discover so much with each guest, that’s what I love,” Mgr Lisante said.

Among his favorite TV guests were actresses Rue McClanahan and Patricia Neal.

The late McClanahan, who was best known for appearing on The Golden Girls sitcom, once spoke of her faith journey.

“What I loved was she said she was raised in a Baptist tradition in Oklahoma and was so scared of everything about God from an early age,” but when McClanahan was in her 70s, Mgr Lisante said, she was relieved to have come to an understanding that Jesus was far more loving.

Neal, who recently became a Catholic, spoke movingly about how, in the early 1950s, she became pregnant by actor Gary Cooper, who was married.

“And she just said on the show, ‘I have for 45 years, alone in the night, cried for the stupid decision I made to abort that child,’ and, she said, ‘So my message would be, don’t make my mistake and let your child live.’”

Mgr Lisante gave the keynote speech at National Right to Life’s closing banquet on 26 June, focusing on “Keeping the Faith in Obama-esque Times.” He said President Barack Obama’s life illustrates the pro-life message.

“If I worked at Planned Parenthood and someone came in to me and said, ‘I’m in an interracial marriage, we’re poor, I have an abusive husband who’s rarely present and my child is going to have to be raised for several years by the grandparents, what should I do?’ they would certainly have indicated abortion. And that’s my

point,” Mgr Lisante said. “If he could just get that, that he wouldn’t be here if we followed the traditional pro-choice thinking.

“I’m a believer that we have to approach him (Obama) with respect and love,” he said. “He is, in fact, in my mind a great example of our message.”

Mgr Lisante considers health care reform and concern over the use of taxpayer funds to pay for abortion to be the most urgent liferelated issue.

“There’s no doubt that the more we create laws that in any way service or promote abortion we’re just creating more abortion. And at a time when you have polls indicating that now the majority of Americans consider themselves pro-life, this is exactly the time to stop that,” Mgr Lisante said.

He is disheartened when opinion polls indicate that Catholics are as likely, if not more likely, to undergo or support abortion than the rest of American society. Certainly, there’s a need for more catechesis and preaching, he said, though often priests seem afraid to deliver a powerful pro-life talk because some parishioners may have had abortions.

“We say to people, ‘Know the Church teaching,’ but I wonder how well they know it, how deeply they know it,” he said. “

Police officers stand outside the residence of the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels in Mechelen, Belgium on 24 June. Belgian investigators searched the headquarters of the Belgian Catholic Church, the archbishop’s residence as well as the home of Cardinal Godfried Danneels, right, as part of an investigation into alleged priestly sexual abuse.

PHOTO: CNS/ERIC VIDAL, REUTERS

Excommunication prompts clarification of Church teaching on indirect abortions

USCCB committee explains direct abortion, legitimate medical procedure

WASHINGTON (CNS) -

The US Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine has discussed the distinction between the Church’s definitions of a direct abortion and a legitimate medical procedure that could result in an indirect abortion.

The committee’s 23 June statement, provided to all US Bishops, came in response to an evolving debate among ethicists and theologians over the excommunication of Mercy Sister Margaret Mary McBride and her subsequent reassignment at a Phoenix Catholic hospital after news surfaced in May about her role in a decision to let an abortion take place there in late 2009.

The wide-ranging debate has focused on whether the decision by the ethics committee at St Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Centre that an abortion could proceed in the case of a gravely ill pregnant woman was a direct abortion or an indirect abortion that resulted from performing a legitimate medical procedure to save her life.

The woman was 11 weeks pregnant and suffered from pulmonary hypertension, a condition the hospital said carried a near-certain risk of death for the mother if the pregnancy continued.

Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix said on 14 May that Sr Margaret, then vice president of mission integration at St Joseph’s, incurred automatic excommunica-

tion when she agreed as a member of the hospital’s ethics committee that the abortion could take place.

The Bishop said that “the direct killing of an unborn child is always immoral, no matter the circumstances, and it cannot be permitted in any institution that claims to be authentically Catholic.”

In response, top officials at Catholic Healthcare West, the San Francisco-based health system to which St Joseph’s belongs, said in a 17 May letter to Bishop Olmsted, “If there had been a way to save the pregnancy and still prevent the death of the mother, we would have done it. We are convinced there was not.”

Catholic institutions are guided in making such decisions by the “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services,” and the doctrine committee cited two directives - Number 45 and

Number 47 - that guide medical decisions regarding direct abortion and legitimate medical procedures that might end the life of an unborn child through an indirect abortion.

The committee’s statement quoted directive 45: “Abortion (that is, the directly intended termination of pregnancy before viability or the directly intended destruction of a viable fetus) is never permitted. Every procedure whose sole immediate effect is the termination of pregnancy before viability is an abortion, which, in its moral context, includes the interval between conception and implantation of the embryo.” Therefore, the committee’s statement said, “Direct abortion is never morally permissible. One may never directly kill an innocent human being, no matter what the reason.”

The committee’s statement also

Vietnam move may backfire

Pope to name envoy to Vietnam as step toward full relations

BY CINDY WOODEN Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Benedict XVI will appoint a representative to the government of Vietnam as a first step toward establishing full diplomatic relations with the communist country, the Vatican announced.

After a meeting of Vatican and Vietnamese representatives on 23-24 June at the Vatican, a statement said that unlike a nuncio, the Vatican’s representative would not be residing in Vietnam for the time being.

The meeting of the VietnamHoly See Joint Working Group was chaired by Mgr Ettore Balestrero, Vatican undersecretary for relations with states, and Nguyen Quoc Cuong, Vietnam’s vice minister of foreign affairs.

The June meeting was the second encounter of the joint working group. The meeting took place about six weeks after 57 year old Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi resigned his post amid rumors that the Vietnamese government had told the Vatican that the Archbishop must go.

The Archbishop denied he had

been pressured to step down after he asked Catholics in 2007 to pray for the government to return the former apostolic nunciature to the Church. AsiaNews, a Rome-based Catholic news agency, said the Archbishop stepped down because the Vietnamese government made his ouster a condition for launching full diplomatic relations.

In a 26 June statement, the Vatican said the Vietnamese representatives said their country has a “consistent policy of respect for freedoms of religion and belief as well as the legal provisions to guarantee its implementation.”

“The delegation of the Holy See took note of this explanation and asked that further conditions be established so that the Church may participate effectively in the development of the country, especially in the spiritual, educational, health care, social and charitable fields,” the statement said.

Vietnamese Bishops were surprised by the Vatican’s announcement last week that it would appoint a “non-resident representative” to Hanoi.

Local Church leaders seemed bewildered by the move, and unsure what to expect. “I’m really confused,” said Fr Jean Baptiste Huynh Cong Minh, an assistant to Cardinal Jean Baptiste Pham Minh Man of Ho Chi Minh City, “because this morning when I met with the Cardinal he seemed

to know nothing about the move either.”

Many Vietnamese Catholics were surprised in April when the Vatican appointed a coadjutor Archbishop of Hanoi, and soon thereafter accepted the resignation of Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet. The move, they feared, seemed to signal an accommodation with the Hanoi regime, which had been sharply critical of the outgoing Archbishop.

Vietnamese Church officials expressed concern that the Vatican was taking action without consulting local Catholic leaders. “We expect that in everything relating to Vietnam, even if it relates only to the Vietnam government, we live in Vietnam, we should be informed and involved,” said Fr Huynh.

Echoing the concern of many that the Vietnamese government’s direct conduit to Rome might have the effect of weakening the local Bishops, who have often clashed with the government on issues involving the freedom to worship and the control of properties owned by the Church but seized by the Communist regime, the Cardinal’s assistant expressed his desire that “there would be means to allow Bishops in Vietnam to have a direct say in Vatican” on issues relating to the life of the Church in the country.”

- Additional reporting by Catholic World News

doctor recommends surgery to remove the cancerous uterus as the only way to prevent the cancer from spreading. Removing the uterus also will result in the death of the unborn child.

The committee said the first case is an example of a direct abortion. The surgery, the committee explained, does not directly address the health problem of the woman by repairing the organ that is malfunctioning.

“The surgery is likely to improve the functioning of the organ or organs, but only in an indirect way, i.e., by lessening the overall demands placed upon the organ or organs, since the burden posed by the pregnancy will be removed,” the committee’s statement said. “The abortion is the means by which a reduced strain upon the organ or organs is achieved.”

quoted directive 47: “Operations, treatments and medications that have as their direct purpose the cure of a proportionately serious pathological condition of a pregnant woman are permitted when they cannot be safely postponed until the unborn child is viable, even if they will result in the death of the unborn child.”

In explaining the distinction, the committee offered two examples involving an unborn child not old enough to survive outside the womb.

The first involves a pregnant woman who is experiencing problems with one or more of her organs, apparently because of the added burden of pregnancy. In this case, the doctor recommends an abortion to protect the woman’s health. In the second example, a pregnant woman develops cancer in her uterus. In this case, the

In the second example, the committee explained, “an urgently needed medical procedure indirectly and unintentionally ... results in the death of an unborn child.”

The surgery directly addresses the woman’s health problem by removing a malfunctioning organ and, the committee’s statement continued, “does not directly target the life of the unborn child ... the death of the child is an unintended and unavoidable side effect and not the aim of the surgery.”

“There is nothing intrinsically wrong with surgery to remove a malfunctioning organ,” the doctrine committee’s statement said. “It is morally justified when the continued presence of the organ causes problems for the rest of the body. Surgery to terminate the life of an innocent person, however, is intrinsically wrong.

“There are no situations in which it can be justified.”

Left, Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix is pictured during an 11 May press conference. According to Bishop Olmsted, Mercy Sister Margaret Mary McBride, right, the former vice president of mission integration at St Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Clinic in Phoenix, was “automatically excommunicated” because she concurred in an ethics committee decision to abort the child of a gravely ill woman at the hospital in 2009.

PHOTO: CNS/JD LONGGARCIA, CATHOLIC SUN

Vietnamese Catholics hold banners in support of Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi, Vietnam, as they protest outside St Joseph’s Cathedral on 7 May during a welcoming ceremony for Coadjutor Archbishop Peter Nguyen Van Nhon. Archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet , popular with the Catholic community in the Vietnamese capital, submitted his resignation several months prior to this 7 May photo. The banner reads, “Beloved Archbishop, Please Stay With Us.”

PHOTO: CNS/KHAM, REUTERS

PANORAMA

A roundup of events in the Archdiocese

Panorama entries must be in by 12pm Monday.

Contributions may be emailed to administration@therecord.com.au, faxed to 9325 4580, or mailed to PO Box 3075, Adelaide Terrace, Perth WA 6832.

SATURDAY, 10 JULY

St Padre Pio Day of Prayer Sts John and Paul, 5 Inham Ct, Willetton-Brentwood Programme as follows:

8.30am - St Padre Pio DVD

10am - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary. Divine Mercy, Silent Adoration and Benediction.

11am - Holy Mass, celebrant Fr Tiziano Bogoni, St Padre Pio Liturgy, Confessions available.

12pm - Bring a plate for a shared lunch. Tea and coffee supplied. For more information contact us on 6278 1540.

Divine Mercy

The Divine Mercy Healing Mass will be offered at St Francis Xavier’s Church, Windsor St, East Perth at 2.30pm. The main Celebrant will be Fr Marcellinus Meilak, OFM. Reconciliation in English and Italian will be offered. Divine Mercy prayers followed by Veneration of First Class relic of St Faustina Kowalska, refreshments afterwards. All enquiries call John on 9457 7771.

WEDNESDAY, 14 JULY

Chaplets of the Divine Mercy

7.30pm at St Thomas More Catholic Church, Dean Rd, Bateman, a beautiful, prayerful, sung devotion accompanied by Exposition and followed by Benediction. All welcome. Enq: George 9310 9493 home or 9325 2010 work.

FRIDAY, 16 JULY

Carmelite Feast – 75th Anniversary

11am at 100 Aldema Rd, Nedlands. A concelebrated Mass will be offered with Archbishop B Hickey as principal Celebrant for the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mt Carmel and we also celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the Monastery. All welcome. Light refreshments offered after Mass.

SATURDAY, 17 JULY  SUNDAY, 18 JULY

Change of date for Annual Retreat – Alliance of the Two Hearts

8am at St Peter’s Church, 91 Wood St, Inglewood. There will be talks by Fr Edgardo Arellano, Rosary, Confession and Holy Mass. BYO lunch. Enq: Vicky 0400 282 357 or Catalina 0439 931 151.

TUESDAY, 20 JULY AND TUESDAY, 3 AUGUST

Christian Life Community

7.30pm at Holy Rosary Parish Centre, Elizabeth and Tyrell Sts, Nedlands. We come together in small prayerful groups to support each other to live out Gospel values in our everyday lives. We explore how the spirituality pioneered by Ignatius of Loyola , founder of the Jesuits, can guide us in this. All welcome to attend one or both sessions. Enq: Judith 9387 8605 or Chiara 9284 4234.

SATURDAY, 24 JULY

Christian Meditation Community

10am-3.45pm at St Cecilia’s Parish Centre, Grantham and Kenmore Rd, Floreat. Does ‘spirituality,’ as it is often presented today avoid or evade the struggle for a more equal and just world? What is the link between ‘spirituality’ and human liberation? Presented by, Fr Paschal Kearney. BYO Lunch. Tea and coffee provided. Donation $10. Enq:

in brief...

Irish Bishops rap MP for saying Pope fuels homophobia

The Irish Bishops have issued a strong protest against a leading politician’s charge

Marian 9387 4716 or christianmeditation@iinet.net.au.

FRIDAY, 30 JULY

Medjugorje-Evening of Prayer

7pm at Our Lady Queen of Poland, 35 Eighth Ave, Maylands. An Evening of Prayer with Our Lady Queen of Peace with Adoration, Rosary, Benediction concluding with Holy Mass. Free DVD on Donald Calloway’s testimony from life of sexual promiscuity, drugs and crime through to his conversion to the priesthood. Approximate conclusion 9pm. All warmly welcomed. Enq: Eileen 9402 2480 for Fr Bogoni.

FRIDAY, 13 AUGUSTSUNDAY, 15 AUGUST

Beginning Experience Weekend Programme

Separated, Divorced, or Widowed 7pm at Epiphany Retreat Centre, Rossmoyne. Beginning Experience is designed to assist and support people in learning to close the door gently on a relationship that has ended, in order to get on with living. Enq: Maureen 9537 1915 or Bev 9332 7971.

GENERAL NOTICES

Perpetual Adoration

Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is in its seventh year at Christ the King Church, Beaconsfield. Open 24 hours except at Mass times. All welcome. Enq Joe 9319 1169.

Perpetual Adoration

Sacred Heart Church, 64 Mary St, Highgate. All that is needed is for each one of us to be willing to spend one hour a week with Jesus so that all the hours are covered with one person in the Chapel. Available times, Monday 2-3am, 4-5am, Saturday 11am-12 noon, Tuesday 11am12 noon, Sunday 2-3pm, 3-4pm; Thursday 7-8pm. Enq Helen 9444 7962.

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

The Church of St Jude in Langford is seeking to put together a visit to Jordan, the Holy Land and Egypt, leaving 8 September 2010. The duration of pilgrimage is expected to be 15 days and could accommodate 28-30 people. Fr Terry Raj will be the Spiritual Director. Enq Matt 6460 6877, mattpicc1@gmail.com.

Archbishop Goody Award Applications

Award established by The Most Reverend Sir Lancelot Goody, KBE to further the lay apostolate in the Archdiocese of Perth by financing the formation, education and training of lay people. This year we are particularly interested in endeavours having to do with the Rite of Christian Initiation. Applications for the Award are to be submitted before 31 July 2010. Enq: Kim 9384 0598 or claremont@perthcatholic.org.au.

EVERY SUNDAY

Pilgrim Mass - Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation 2pm at Shrine, 36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook. Commencing with Rosary followed by Benediction. Reconciliation is 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

that Pope Benedict XVI is “giving comfort” to bullies who attack homosexuals. Eamon Gilmore, the leader of the Labor Party, told the Irish Examiner that the Pope should temper his language. With a vague reference to a papal statement, Gilmore said, “there has been nasty homophobic bullying and assaults on gay people and I think opinions like that give comfort to that.” In a sharply worded rebuttal, the Irish bishops’ conference noted that Gilmore appeared to referring to a talk

Revelation, last Sunday of the month. Side entrance to the church and shrine open daily between 9am-5pm. Enq SACRI 9447 3292.

EVERY SUNDAY AND MONDAY

Extraordinary Form of Latin Holy Mass 11am Sunday and 7.30pm Monday except 3rd Monday of the month, at St Joseph’s Parish, 20 Hamilton St, Bassendean.

EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life

2-3pm at Infant Jesus Parish, Wellington St, Morley. The hour includes Exposition of the Blessed Eucharist, silent prayer, Scripture and prayers of intercession. Come and pray that those discerning vocations to the Priesthood or Religious life hear clearly God’s loving call to them.

LAST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH

Christian Spirituality Presentation

7.30-9.15pm at the Church hall behind St Swithan’s Anglican Church, 195 Lesmurdie Rd, Lesmurdie. Stephanie Woods will present The Desert Period of Christianity, 260 to 600AD. From this time period came the understanding of the monastic lifestyle and contemplative prayer. No cost. Enq Lynne 9293 3848.

EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT

Novena and Benediction to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

6pm at the Pater Noster Church, Marmion and Evershed Sts, Myaree. Mass at 5.30pm. Enq: John 0408 952 194.

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Holy Spirit of Freedom Community

7.30pm at The Church of Christ, 111 Stirling St, Perth. We are delighted to welcome everyone to attend our Holy Spirit of Freedom Praise Meeting. Enq 9475 0155 or hsofperth@gmail.com.

EVERY THURSDAY

Catholic Questions and Answers

7-7.30pm at St Joseph’s Parish Centre, 20 Hamilton St, Bassendean. Catechesis learned easily with questions and answers. The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Adult learning and deepening of the Catholic Faith, with Fr John Corapi DVD series, 7.30-9pm.

EVERY FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

Group 50 – Catholic Charismatic Renewal Prayer Meeting

7.30pm at Redemptorist Monastery, 190 Vincent St, North Perth. Prayer and Praise, Mass and the Sacrament of Anointing. All welcome.

FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

Communion of Reparation All Night Vigil All warmly invited 7pm-1am at Corpus Christi Church, Lochee St, Mosman Park. Mass, Rosary, Confession and Adoration. Enq Vicky 0400 282 357.

Mass for Vocations

7pm at the Sisters of the Poor, 2 Rawlins St, Glendalough.

given by Pope Benedict in December 2008, which was badly distorted in some media accounts. “The fact is that homosexuality was not referred to anywhere in this text,” the Bishops noted. “For a leader of a political party to misrepresent remarks made by the Holy Father on such a profound subject as human sexuality, is regrettable,” the statement from the Irish hierarchy continued. “Mr Gilmore’s comments are also highly offensive to Catholics and anyone with an interest in the truth.”

Celebrated by Fr Doug Harris, followed by Holy Hour and Benediction, refreshments will follow.

Healing Mass

7pm at St Peter’s Church, 93 Wood St, Inglewood. Benediction, Praise and Worship followed by Mass with Fr Sam and Fr Joseph Tran as celebrants, later fellowship. Enq: Priscilla 0433 457 352.

EVERY FRIDAY LUNCHTIME

Christian Meditation comes to the City

12.15-12.45pm at The Wesley Uniting Church, William and Hay Sts, Perth. Ecumenical Christian meditation as taught by Fr Laurence Freeman. All Welcome. Enq: CMC WA 9444 5810, Anne 9335 8142 or christianmedittion@ iinet.net.au or www.christianmeditationaustralia.org.

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Mr and Mrs John Smith

Your announcement of the marriage of someone you care about could make this even more special by placing it in the newspaper for everyone to see.

ANNIVERSARIES DEATHS

Text only: $10.00 Text with photo: $20.00 Limit of 30 words per announcement.

To place an announcment in next week’s issue, please contact production@therecord.com.au.

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

CATHOLICS CORNER Retailer of Catholic products specialising in gifts, cards and apparel for Baptism, Communion and Confirmation. Ph 9456 1777. Shop 12, 64-66 Bannister Rd, Canning Vale. Open Mon-Sat.

OTTIMO Convenient city location for books, CDs/DVDs, cards, candles, statues, Bibles, medals and much more. Shop 108, Trinity Arcade (Terrace level), 671 Hay St, Perth. Ph 9322 4520. Mon-Fri 9am-6pm.

RICH HARVEST YOUR CHRISTIAN SHOP Looking for Bibles, CDs, books, cards, gifts, statues, Baptism/Communion apparel, religious vestments, etc? Visit us at 39 Hulme Ct (off McCoy St), Myaree, Ph 9329 9889 (after 10.30am Mon to Sat). We are here to serve.

KINLAR VESTMENTS Quality hand-made and decorated vestments: Albs, Stoles, Chasubles, altar linen, banners etc. 12 Favenc Way, Padbury. By appointment only. Ph Vicki 9402 1318 or 0409 114 093.

SETTLEMENTS

539 588.

PLASTERING homes and renovations. Ph Neil 9390 6333.

BRICK REPOINTING

Ph Nigel 9242 2952.

PERROTT PAINTING Pty Ltd

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

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

MINI EXCAVATOR HIRE Trenching and civil works. Daniel Mob 0428 170 379.

FURNITURE REMOVAL

ALL AREAS. Competitive Rates. Mike Murphy Ph 0416 226 434.

ARE YOU BUYING OR SELLING real estate or a business? Why not ask Excel Settlements for a quote for your settlement. We offer reasonable fees, excellent service and no hidden costs. Ring Excel on 9481 4499 for a quote. Check our website on www. excelsettlements.com. SINE

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Haddons’ translation of St Augustine On the Trinity. Post to 19 Lorikeet Loop, Broadwater WA 6280 or phone 9754 4069.

BEAUTY

Complimentary facial and skin care update. Ph Rose 0417 905 505.

Gr Isa 7:1-9 Have no fear!

Ps 47:2-8 The Lord is great

Mt 11:20-24 Refusal to repent

14 W ST CAMILLUS DE LELLIS, PRIEST, O

Gr Isa 10:5-7.13-16A wasting sickness

Ps 93:5-10.14-15 God pays no heed

Mt 11:25-27 I bless you, Father

15 TH ST BONAVENTURE, BISHOP, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH M

Wh Isa 26:7-9.12.16-19 We search for you

Ps 101:13-21 Time for mercy

FOR SALE

ART FOR THE CATHEDRAL

www.margaretfane.com.au.

PEEKABOO CORNER Good quality & affordable branded kids’ clothing. For boys & girls 0 to 6 years. Don’t miss out 20% discount for first 20 customers. Errina: 0401 454 933. Email: peekaboo.corner@gmail.com or visit www.peekaboo-corner.blogspot. com.

ORGAN FOR SALE Old fashioned chamber organ. Wilcox and White. Meridian Gonn USA. Photo and details email:gschaefer@ amnet.net.au or call George on 08 9386 1695.

CHURCH KNEELERS

Pair of splendid jarrah three metre kneelers. Photo and details email: gschaefer@amnet.net.au or call George on 08 9386 1695. Your advertisement could be very effective here.

Mt 11:28-30 Come to me

16 F OUR LADY OF MT CARMEL O Gr Isa 38:1-8.21-22 I will cure you

Isa 38:10-1216 My life half spent Mt 12:1-8 Disciples hungry

17 S MIC 2:15 PLOTTERS OF EVIL

Gr Ps 98:1-4.7-8.14 ‘There is no God’

Mt 12:14-21 A plot against Jesus Rom 6:3-11 Life with God

Lk 24:1-12 He is not here

Catholic clarity in a complex world...

AT a time when “the God question’’ has rarely been as controversial, Test Everything, Hold fast to what is good puts the case that: “It is more reasonable to believe in God than to reject the hypothesis of God by appealing to chance. Goodness, truth and beauty call for an explanation as do the principles of mathematics, physics, and the purpose-driven miracles of biology which run through our universe.’’

Regardless of whether readers share his values and outlook, Cardinal George Pell has given them a provocative incitement to think and wonder about life’s biggest questions that confront us all, sooner or later.

The Record is proud to offer the Cardinal’s new book, a collection of 80 pieces that are incisive, often unpredictable, sometimes sensitive, occasionally hard-hitting, always engaging and never, ever dull. Readers will feel closer to Christ, and feel that they know Him a little better after exploring His life, teachings and what they mean for our lives and our loved ones in the cyber age.

.....”His critical choices regarding `the cultural wars’ are on target. With irony, humour and easily worn scholarship, he counsels and cajoles the reader, always using the Cross of Christ as the unique and final measure of what it means to be human and thus holy ... His writings reveal a strong, gentle, and an all-embracing heart. The style is fluent and fresh. Mulling over them is a source of joy, wisdom, and wonder.’’

- Cardinal Francis Stafford, the Vatican

Contact

on (08) 9220 5900 or via: bookshop@therecord.com.au