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St Norbert’s students asked the tough questions during Mr Rudd’s visit - Page 5
Visiting Zimbabwean priest, talks about his country’s tortured sufferings - Pages 8-9
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As Sr Dolores retires, Indigenous lose a champion...
Mercy Sister Dolores Coffey, director of the Dawdawn Advocacy Centre since 2007, was feted at a celebration in the meeting room of St Mary’s Cathedral last week for her work among local Indigenous people, promoting individual rights, inclusion and participation in wider Australian society. Full story - page 4. PHOTO: JUANITA SHEPHERD
Students at Catholic schools throughout the state complete
Tests for Catholic literacy By Matthew Biddle CATHOLIC students around Western Australia completed the annual Bishops Religious Literacy Assessment last week. Students from Years 3, 5 and 9 at Catholic schools throughout the State took part in the assessment, which is developed by the Catholic Education Office of WA and was introduced in 2006. The test examines students’ ability to recall content about the Catholic faith and assesses their knowledge and understanding of Religious Education. Diana Alteri from the Catholic Education Office said the test is an important part of establishing what improvements can be made
to Religious Education. “It’s meant to be a diagnostic tool for the teachers,” she said. Ms Alteri said the tests are based on the Religious Education curriculum taught at Catholic schools, and are aimed at seeing how much knowledge and understanding students are gaining. She said previous years’ results have shown Catholic students in WA are “achieving to quite a high standard”. The religious literacy assessment operates in the same way as NAPLAN testing does around Australia. This allows for easy comparison, according to Ms Alteri. “We can actually compare how they’re going in RE against how they’re going in literacy and numer-
acy and science and other things,” she said. Year 9 students were given 100 minutes to complete the test, which consisted of multiple choice and short and extended answer questions. Each section contained questions on four topics – Jesus, the Bible, Sacraments and Prayer, and the Church. Teachers, principals and students are all asked to complete a survey about the assessment, which is used for development purposes. Parents will receive their child’s test report at the end of the school year, while teachers and bishops will also receive a report of the assessment results. Bishop Elliott on Melbourne’s new digital frontier - Page 6
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unnatural contraception, IVF, premarital sex and same-sex attraction. Entry to the sessions costs $20. For more information or to register, call 9207 3350 or email rcia@ perthcatholic.org.au.
Round-Up JUANITA SHEPHERD
Faiths unite to build pews for new church
Show your talents for YouthCARE Concert
Good Shepherd Kelmscott parishioners Tim Haydon, Mario Retiza and Scott and Mark O’Callaghan, together with LatterDay Saints missionaries Elder Poi and Elder Quaresima, joined forces on August 5 to build pews for the new parish church, which is scheduled to open on September 8. Despite the hard work, it was an enjoyable day and parishioner Wendy Voysey said it was wonderful to see members of another faith lend a hand. “They didn’t have to help but they did, it’s great,” she said. Assistant parish priest Fr Marcelo Parra Gonzalez told The Record, “It is beautiful and fantastic that all the people gathered here to help for the beauty of God.”
Our Lady of Victories Church and St Cecilia’s Church are holding Floreat Wembley’s Got Talent on Friday, September 6 at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome, from singers and dancers, musicians, stand-up comedians and magicians. The talent show is part of the annual YouthCARE Concert which supports the chaplains in the Cambridge area. YouthCARE provides school chaplaincy and religious education services. The show will be held at Churchlands Senior High School. For more information, contact Damian on 9446 2123.
Experience the Notre Dame difference
Dance the night away for a good cause It’ll be a blast from the past when St Thomas More Catholic Parish in Bateman hosts a 50s and 60s themed dance night on Saturday, August 10 from 7.30pm to 11pm at Corpus Christi College Gymnasium. The dance is for anyone 18 years and older, with tickets priced at $25 each or $30 each at the door. All money raised will go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association. Finger foods, tea, coffee and soft drinks will be available. Call the parish office on 9310 1747 to purchase tickets.
Holy Hour at St Mary’s for all vocations A Holy Hour will be held at St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth on Sunday, August 11 from 3pm in celebration
Volunteers from Good Shepherd Parish in Kelmscott, along with help from two Mormon missionaries, spent Monday assembling pews for the new parish church, which will be officially consecrated on September 8. PHOTO: JUANITA SHEPHERD of National Vocations Awareness Week which commenced on August 4 and concludes on August 11. The week provides us all with an opportunity to pray for our vocation. During Vocations Week, it is advised to take part in activities including group reflections, discussion groups, and praying the Rosary.
Social justice issues set to be explained Social Justice Sunday will be celebrated on September 29.
This year, the focus will be on the issues of world development, the alleviation of poverty and inequality, and Australia’s commitment to the UN’s Eight Millennium Development Goals. These goals range from halving extreme poverty rates to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS as well as providing primary education for all children, with the target year of the goals being 2015. Countries around the globe have galvanised unparalleled efforts to meet the needs of the world’s poorest, and Social Justice Sunday will shed light on these issues.
Radegund 518-587 August 13
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A Thuringian princess, Radegund was captured by invading Franks about 531 and taken to France, where she was groomed to become one of the wives of Clotaire, who became king of the Franks. Clothaire was a brutal womanizer, and Radegund retreated into pious devotions and care of the sick, which included founding a hospital for those with leprosy, now called Hansen’s disease. In 550 she fled the court, and with help from St. Germanus of Paris, persuaded Clotaire to leave her in peace. She founded a monastery near Poitiers, and spent 30 years there in prayer, scholarship and good works. She became a patron for prisoners like herself, and also for shoemakers and potters because of her monastery chores.
Double Canonisation
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John XXIII and John Paul II
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Special pilgrimage
Mariette Ulrich Fr John Flader Glynnis Grainger
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Monday 12th - Green ST JANE FRANCES DE CHANTEL, RELIGIOUS (O) 1st Reading: Deut 10:12-22 Follow God’s ways Responsorial Ps 147:12-20 Psalm: Praise the Lord Gospel Reading: Mt 17:22-27 The half-shekel Tuesday 13th - Green STS PONTIAN, POPE, AND HIPPOLYTUS, PRIEST, MARTYRS (O) 1st Reading: Deut 31:1-8 New leader Responsorial Ps/Deut 32:3-9 Psalm: God’s perfect work Gospel Reading: Mt 18:1-5,10,12-14 None be lost
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The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is facing moral issues which will be addressed in a series of talks facilitated by Fr Joseph Parkinson STL PhD. One session ran on August 6 and the second will be August 13 from 7-9.30pm at the LJ Goody Bioethics Centre, located at 30 Jugan Street, Glendalough. The topics that will be covered are the Church’s teachings on marriage, divorce, remarriage, annulment, sexuality, reproduction, natural and
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With the end of Year 12 drawing near, the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle is holding an Open Day Festival inviting prospective students, families and friends to experience the Notre Dame difference. On Sunday, August 18 from 10am to 4pm the University will be on display for anyone interested in taking a look. The Open Day Festival includes food stalls, entertainment and activities, and offers information about life and study at Notre Dame. For more information, call 9433 0533 or email future@nd.edu.au.
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Gospel Reading: During the Day 1st Reading: Responsorial Psalm: 2nd Reading: Gospel Reading:
Victory through Jesus Lk 11:27-28 Blessed womb Rev 11:19; 12:1-6,10 A sign in heaven Ps 44:10-12, 16 The queen in gold 1 Cor 15:20-26 Christ, first fruits Lk 1:39-56 Lord’s greatness
Wednesday 14th - Red ST MAXIMILIAN MARY KOLBE, PRIEST, MARTYR (M) 1st Reading: Deut 34:1-12 Signs and wonders Responsorial Ps 65 Psalm: The works of the Lord Gospel Reading: Mt 18:15-20 I shall be there
Friday 16th - Green ST STEPHEN OF HUNGARY (O) 1st Reading: Josh 24:1-13 God’s providence Responsorial Ps 135:1-3, 16-24 Psalm: Everlasting love Gospel Reading: Mt 19:3-12 Writ of dismissal Saturday 17th - Green 1st Reading: Josh 24:14-29 Holy, jealous God Responsorial Ps 15:1-2,5,7,8-11 Psalm: You are my God Gospel Reading: Mt 19:13-15 Jesus and children
Thursday 15th - White THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BVM (SOLEMNITY) Vigil Mass 1st Reading: 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2 The Ark installed Responsorial Ps 131:6-7,9-10,13-14 Psalm: God’s footstool 2nd Reading: 1 Cor 15:54-57
Sunday 18th - Green 20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 1st Reading: Jer 38:4-6, 8-10 Not welfare but ruin Responsorial Ps 39:2-4, 18 Psalm: Lord hear my cry 2nd Reading: Heb 12:1-4 Patient struggle Gospel Reading: Lk 12:49-53 Division, not peace
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Following in the footsteps of Christ By Robert Hiini BEING a good priest is about giving - giving until it hurts. So says the parish priest of Good Shepherd Lockridge, Father Francis Ly, some 32 years after arriving in Australia as a Vietnamese refugee and a year shy of his 30th year in the priesthood. Fr Ly cuts an unassuming figure behind the desk in his parish office. Several phone calls about funeral arrangements and the faith formation of children at the adjacent primary school punctuate the conversation. “The priest must sacrifice himself for the service of the people,” he says in a matter-of-fact way, void of any detectable trace of conceit or false humility. “It’s not a job. I learn how you can always say ‘yes’, even if it is hurting you.” Behind him, to his left, are photographs of children at the orphanages and care centres in North and South Vietnam that he, and the parishes he has led, have supported over the years. In the parish garage, he tells me, are donation bins for projects in Burma and India; projects which the parishioners of Lockridge have gotten behind. For ten years he was the Archdiocesan chaplain to the Vietnamese community in Westminster after stints as an assistant priest at Greenwood and Highgate. Since finishing up as Vietnamese chaplain in 2000, he has also helmed the parishes of Santa Clara, Bentley and Holy Family, Maddington, as well as his current posting at Good Shepherd. The most rewarding thing about being a priest, he says, is seeing the good that God has worked through his own priestly ministry. It is something of which he is reminded when the children of Vietnamese migrants he baptised more than 25 years ago come to him for marriage preparation. “I’ve done six weddings this year. I make the couples come to me ten times before the weddings,” he says. “They spend one hour of time here. We enjoy friendship. How else will they know me?” Fr Ly is hands-on with the details. Conscious of his accent and his English, he prepares PowerPoint slides for every Mass he celebrates, and they include every word of the homily.
Parish priest of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Lockridge, Fr Franics Ly, has filled a variety of roles in the Archdiocese of Perth over the past three decades. He says the most rewarding thing about priesthood is seeing the good that God has worked through his ministry. PHOTO: ROBERT HIINI
Engaged couples must send him their proposed Mass booklet so he can check the liturgy and readings conform to the correct usage. The same applies when it comes to funerals. The liturgy is not about preference, he says, but about unity. “We must be united in the liturgy. We must follow the policy and instruction of the Church. Even if I don’t do the funeral myself, my assistant must follow my instruction. You can have your ideas but you must accept – the
liturgy, only one idea, the unity of the Church.” He is very happy with his current
“In my age, we learn from the senior priests, how we adopt the new life of a priest in the future,
“The priest must sacrifice himself for the service of the people,” he says in a matter-of-fact way, void of any trace of conceit or false humility. assistant priest, Fr Victor Lujano, who was ordained a priest earlier this year, describing him as a humble and respectful man.
we have to learn the way we serve. “We have to select good priests. If they provide bad example, ’destroy your life. That’s my challenge.”
“I’ve met at least three saints,” he says, pointing to photographs with Pope John Paul II, Blessed Mother Theresa of Kolkata, and the Vietnamese Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan - people whose faith and love were exemplary. He says he felt a sense of pride upon leaving each of his parishes at providing his succeeding brother priests with resources for continuing ‘the ministry’. For men seeking guidance in their vocation, contact Fr Jean-Noël Antoine Marie on 9223 1372.
UNDA academic joins new project THE University of Notre Dame’s Dawn Darlaston-Jones will join a team of leading researchers in an exciting and unique project designed to increase the number of Indigenous psychologists in Australia. The project was made possible through a $350,000 grant from the Federal Government’s Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT). Coordinator of the Behavioural Science program on the Fremantle campus, Associate Professor Darlaston-Jones, will join academics from the University of Western Australia, Charles Sturt University, Macquarie University, the University of NSW, the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and the Western NSW Local Health District as part of the collaboration. Assoc Prof Darlaston-Jones said the research had the potential to change lives. “Aboriginal students don’t yet see psychology as a legiti-
mate post-secondary option and non-Indigenous students are rarely exposed to the role that the discipline played in our colonial history – and both these aspects need to change,” she said. The aim of the project is to design, implement and evaluate curricular and support frameworks in psychology and mental health programs in order to maximise recruitment and retention of Indigenous students, and to integrate Indigenous knowledge and content in psychology for all students. “The degree is an exciting new discipline that explicitly positions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as First Nations with Sovereign rights,” Assoc Prof Darlaston-Jones said. “[It] opens up new opportunities for conversations around reconciliation and the shared history of colonisation.”
Just over the Causeway on Shepperton Road, Victoria Park. 9415 0000 D/L 6061
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Sr Dolores steps down from Daydawn By Juanita Shepherd A CELEBRATION of appreciation was held for the retiring director of Aboriginal outreach agency Daydawn Advocacy Centre in Perth last week. Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey joined many Sisters of Mercy, friends and volunteers in the meeting room at St Mary’s Cathedral on July 31 to bid farewell to Sr Dolores Coffey RSM. Sr Dolores, from County Meath, Ireland, was professed in 1967 and then came out to Victoria Square. “I started in Victoria Square [site of Mercy school, Mercedes College and St Mary’s Cathedral]
“She’s just full of spirit and love,” a volunteer said. “So giving.” and I ended in Victoria Square,” she said. With a background in education and social justice, she has also worked with the First Nation peoples in Canada, as well as refugees in North America, together with the Jesuits. Sr Dolores was appointed the Director of Daydawn Advocacy Centre in 2007. An initiative of the Perth archdiocese, Daydawn Advocacy Centre promotes the individual rights and full participation of the Indigenous population in society, especially the
Sr Dolores Coffey RSM at her retirement celebration on July 31.
Noongar people of the South West. “We are all precious,” Archbishop Emeritus Hickey said in his address. “Daydawn is a different agency, it’s an advocacy; the people on the bottom of the rung are a priority and Sr Dolores has taken on this priority.”
Sr Dolores said she hadn’t made any plans yet regarding her retirement but she leaves with fond memories. “I’m going to miss the people, the amazing advocates and the Indigenous families.” The future of Daydawn remains
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bright: “It will continue advocating for the Indigenous families with government and non-government agencies,” she said. “She’s just full of spirit and love; so giving,” Sharon Ross-O’Beirne, a volunteer at Daydawn told The Record.
IN BRIEF
Church leaders urge calm in Zimbabwe CAPE TOWN - As Zimbabwe’s church leaders called on the country’s political parties to accept the results of July 31 elections, a spokesman for the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference said he hoped the Church can help mediate a peaceful resolution. “I hope the Churches can play a key role in finding a peaceful resolution so that Zimbabwe can make the new start it so desperately needs,” Fr Frederick Chiromba, secretary-general of the bishops’ conference said. President Robert Mugabe took 62 percent of the presidential vote, while opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won 34 percent, according to official results. The 89-year-old president has been in power since 1980 and was running for a seventh term. Tsvangirai rejected the results, charging that there was widespread vote-rigging. He said he will challenge the outcome as well as the count that gave Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party a two-thirds majority in parliament. “We urge all political parties and stakeholders who feel aggrieved by any challenge or issue to act in a restrained manner that will allow for dialogue, due process and the preservation of peace and stability in Zimbabwe,” said the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations in an August 2 statement. The organisation includes the leaders of the bishops’ conference, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s challenges - Pages 8-9
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PM fields the questions without notice IF PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd thought question time at Parliament House was tough, it paled in comparison to the challenging questions he faced at St Norbert’s, on July 26. Students from the Student Representative Council put the PM through his paces as they made the most of a unique opportunity to ask questions ranging from immigration issues to the performance of the Australian Cricket Team. Mr Rudd’s visit to St Norbert’s was part of a whirlwind two-day visit to the West as he attempted to sign the WA Government up to the Better Schools Plan before Friday’s deadline.
They fired off questions more punishing than during Question Time. Principal of St Norbert’s, Annette Morey, spoke of the significance of the visit for the school community. “We were very pleased that the Prime Minister took the opportunity to visit the fantastic facilities at St Norbert’s. I was very proud of how the students represented the college and delighted that they didn’t shy away from asking Mr Rudd some tough but respectful questions,” said Mrs Morey. Last Tuesday, the National Catholic Education Commission endorsed the PM’s Better Schools Plan on behalf of Catholic Schools across the country. Catholic Schools in WA have unique needs and two outstanding funding issues remain unresolved. Representatives of Catholic Education in WA will continue discussions with the Australian Government to ensure funding reflects the needs of students and schools in Western Australia and remain hopeful of achieving a resolution that meets the needs of Catholic students in WA in the very near future.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd answers questions at St Norbert’s College on July 26.
Young adult retreat in wonderland By Juanita Shepherd IT MIGHT be surprising to learn that Lewis Carroll’s character Alice in Alice in Wonderland would ever be the basis of a Catholic retreat, but the titular character’s question ‘Who Am I Really?’ was the focus of participants at the young adults retreat sponsored by Catholic Faith Renewal (CFR) recently. The retreat was held over the weekend of June 28-30. It started off with a video of people from different walks of life asking Alice’s question, sometimes with great anguish like Jean Valjean, the protagonist in Les Miserables. Father Gino Henriques, the retreat master, was the keynote speaker for the retreat. The CFR consist of people from various Perth parishes who are dedicated to evangelising. With Fr Gino’s guidance, the organising committee crafted an agenda with the aim of helping participants come to an awareness of their personhood. Fr Gino addressed the young people using an acrostic - a favourite form of Lewis Carroll: A for Atom, he likened the positive and negative traits of people to the positive and negative electrons on an atom; B for behind, referring to leaving behind negative aspects from the past; C for choosing to become the person God has created; D for decisive moments in our lives which is
part of God’s plan; E for embracing the hurt everyone feels and learning to heal; and F for fruits, which were affirming positive traits and using them as a gift to others. The retreat also included a camp fire, and games which tested the participants’ mental speed. One of the participants used Hollywood analogies to describe the retreat. The participant affectionately dubbed Fr Gino “Batman”, saying he was like a saving action hero who brought clarity to his career deliberations as a graduate. Another participant said she was touched during the healing session of the retreat. The session led her to realise she needed to consciously forgive and obtain healing for a particular area of her life, in order for her to live a fuller life. One thought which resonated with the retreat participants was, “I am not alone”. The words of the speakers and their own interactions during the retreat highlighted that others have had or are having the same challenges as they are. Fr Gino emphasised that it was important for us to have a sense of direction in our lives. “Without this, we can get lost in this harried world of ours,” he said quoting David P Campbell. “If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.”
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Stronger law ties in offing with China THE UNIVERSITY of Notre Dame Australia law school wants to establish stronger links with law schools in the People’s Republic of China. Senior Law Lecturer at its Sydney Campus, Francisco Esparraga recently spent three weeks in China guest lecturing at various universities in Beijing and Hangzhou. Mr Esparraga accepted the invitation from Deputy Dean Professor Wang Wenhua in the School of Law at Beijing Foreign Studies University and from Executive Dean, Professor Zhu Xinli, in the Guanghua School of Law at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, near Shanghai. Both schools of law are in the top five per cent of Chinese universities. The visit, the first by a Notre Dame Law academic, included a meeting with Professor Jin Huang, Editor of the Beijing Law Journal, and the dean of the China University of Political Science and Law. Discussions in Beijing also took place with Professor Liu Guofu, Vice Chairman of the Commission of Legislative Affairs, from the School of Law at the Beijing Institute of Technology. Mr Esparraga’s lectures were presented to Masters students, PhD candidates and senior academic staff from the various Chinese law schools. Apar t f rom Australian Administrative Law, the lectures covered the Australian legal system and the ‘Spirit of Don Quixote’ as a means of challenging the law for the pursuit of just causes. All English-speaking students engaged in open discussions about the Rule of Law in China; legal decision-making by government; teaching methodologies and the current obstacles facing the most populous nation on earth.
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RE takes digital path in Melbourne By Robert Hiini A CATHOLIC education initiative in Melbourne and Sydney aims to achieve where previous catechetical approaches have failed, Melbourne Bishop Peter Elliott told The Record recently. Both the Melbourne and Sydney archdioceses are trialling the provision of their secondary Religious Education texts in a digital format. The format is free for Catholic schools throughout Melbourne and Sydney for the remainder of 2013, for use on personal computers, as well as on increasingly ubiquitous tablet devices. It will become a paid subscription service in 2014. Bishop Elliott said the initiative was not only an answer to requests from schools dating back to the late 1990s, but also enabled integration with other material through the use of web links, integrated in the text. “What began as a request from one school has now become very widespread,” Bishop Elliott said. “It parallels what is happening with media information… in [the news media] industry, and we have to make the shift as smoothly as possible. “The Religious Education texts were never meant to be standalone. They’re meant to provide core curriculum but they’ve always been open to be enriched.” While the prospect of integrating external material with the To Know, Worship and Love series of texts brought many advantages, all links would be vetted for their suitability. “We have to be cautious because the texts are never meant to be gateways into the purely secular, or worse still, anti-Christian material. “So it’s not an open slather approach which would be highly irresponsible but it is within the ambit of the Catholic culture, the Catholic faith, and Catholic heritage.” Although the texts are richer in their doctrinal content, they do not represent a retreat to earlier
Melbourne Bishop Peter Elliott, right, pictured with Bishop Don Sproxton at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth, last year.
didactic methods of teaching. Its treatment of vocation for Year 11 and 12 students was a case in point, Bishop Elliott said, beginning with the vocation to be human at conception, through to Baptism, the specific vocations, martyrdom and, finally, death itself as a potential gateway to eternal life. The ability of an online format to link to websites, films and audio made much more concrete, histori-
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cal examples of people trusting in and cooperating with grace. “It’s what life is about. This is
R HIINI
attempted but failed 40 years ago with the ‘life situation’ approach because we integrate doctrine,
The texts were never meant to be standalone but, neither, gateways into the anti-Christian. where the RE texts and the philosophy behind it in Melbourne and Sydney can achieve what was
Scripture, liturgy, and life.” Bishop Elliott said that while he had ‘a lot of criticisms’ of the
catechetical approaches that dominated Catholic education from the 1960s on, he did not doubt the good intentions of the educators who implemented them. “It had a lot of ideals in it but I think it overestimated human capacities… They drained content out and jumped ahead to get effect; the life situation dominated the message and content of Catholic faith. You have to mix them together in a very specific way, which is what [contemporary] catechetics is attempting all around this country, right now.” The texts integrate the three main themes of Catholic education over the last 50 years, Bishop Elliott said: The doctrinal content of the traditional approach; the Kerygmatic approach of situating contemporary life in the Scriptures, prominent in the 50s and 60s; and the life situation approach of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Bishop Elliott said that while past Catholic graduates may have had little doctrinal knowledge and experience of religious practice, they had a great fondness for the concept of social justice. “That would be about the best effect that came out of that era. It left people with goodwill toward the Church who didn’t know what they believed but they knew they were meant to be good and just. “Now we’ve tightened all that up and enriched it. Justice… runs right through the text.” The teaching materials are steeped in Catholic culture and heritage in art and literature, from the very realistic to more abstract styles. Melbourne will not abandon hard copy versions of the textbooks entirely. Bishop Elliott said there would always be a need, and for some, a preference, for hard copy texts. More information about the Melbourne and Sydney trial of the To Know, Worship and Love e-Text trial is available at kwl.com.au.
Perth archbishop biographer celebrates with close friends By Matthew Biddle D OMINICAN pr i e s t Fr Christopher Dowd OP celebrated his Silver Jubilee of ordination to the priesthood on July 30 at St Anne’s Catholic Church in Belmont. A large crowd gathered for the Solemn High Mass, celebrated with Fr Michael Rowe as deacon and Fr Tim Deeter as sub-deacon. The Mass was followed by dinner in the parish hall where Fr Dowd was presented with a gift and card that parishioners had compiled over the past few weeks. Based at St Laurence’s Priory in North Adelaide, Fr Dowd was ordained in East Camberwell, Victoria on July 30, 1988 by Bishop Peter Connors. Fr Dowd said it was “providential” that he happened to be in Perth at the time his Silver Jubilee occurred. “I regard Perth as my second Catholic home,” he said in his homily. “I have been visiting Perth regularly for well over 10 years now… principally to engage in historical research, and over those years I have come to know many of you and I count you among my best friends.” Reflecting on his priesthood, Fr Dowd said it was not himself but God who has achieved the good work of his ministry. “I hope that I’ve made a contri-
bution to the life of the Church over 25 years,” he said. “Whatever good God has worked through my priestly ministry has too often been worked despite the incompetence, defects, failures and the sins of his human instrument.” Fr Dowd said felt a “sense of satisfaction” and was pleased to reach the milestone. “It sort of crept up on me, I hadn’t been thinking about it for a long period of time, and all of a sudden it came up,” he said. While he said his idea of the
The North Adelaidebased priest was asked to write a biography of Perth’s first Archbishop Patrick Clune. priesthood before ordination was not far off the mark, Fr Dowd admitted he was somewhat apprehensive when he began his ministry. “When you first start out it’s all very daunting, I remember the first time... I started hearing confessions. I was terrified,” he said. “After 25 years I’m much more knowledgeable of what I’ve got to do, and I’m certainly more confident as a priest.” But the life of a priest is not
always easy, Fr Dowd explained. “Like everybody else, priests can be very happy and content with their work sometimes; other times you’re tired, bored, fed up, worried,” he said. “But it’s precisely the same for lay people.” With this week being National Vocations Awareness Week in Australia, Fr Dowd said good marriages and families were important in fostering vocations. “The Church does need [vocations to the priesthood],” he said. “But equally important is to encourage young Catholic men and women to form good, holy, committed Christian marriages, and to raise good Christian families, that is vital today.” In 2007, Fr Dowd was commissioned by the Archdiocese of Perth to write a biography of the first Archbishop of Perth, Patrick Clune CSsR. He said while he has enjoyed the project immensely, the sheer scale of the project was the biggest challenge. “There’s a vast amount of information around the place, I would have read thousands upon thousands of letters, documents, reports, minutes of meetings and so on,” Fr Dowd said. “Sometimes I thought it would never end.” Fr Dowd said the book was in the final stages of production and expects it to be published later this year.
FUN FAITH With
AUGUST 11, 2013 • LUKE 12: 32-48 • 19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
CROSSWORD
TODAY’S GOSPEL Luke: 12:32-48
MASTER EXPECT BURGULAR SERVANTS PARABLE Across
Down
2. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time the ____ would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house.
1. Jesus told this ____ to the disciples, ‘Be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast...’
4. Blessed those ____ whom the master finds awake when he comes. In truth, I tell you, he will do up his belt, sit them down at table and wait on them.
3. Blessed that servant if his ____’s arrival finds him doing exactly that.
Jesus told this parable to the disciples, ‘Be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. In truth, I tell you, he will do up his belt, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch that he comes, or in the third, but blessed are those servants if he finds them ready. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’ Peter said, ‘Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?’ The Lord replied, ‘Who, then, is the wise and trustworthy steward whom the master will place over his household to give them at the proper time their allowance of food? Blessed that servant if his master’s arrival finds him doing exactly that. I tell you truly, he will put him in charge of everything that he owns. But if the servant says to himself, “My master is taking his time coming” and sets about beating the men servants, his master will come on a day he does not expect. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful’.
5. You too must stand ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not ____.’
WORD SEARCH HOW MANY WORDS FROM THE CROSSWORD CAN YOU FIND?
SEND YOUR COLOURED IN PICTURE TO THE RECORD AT PO BOX 3075, ADELAIDE TERRACE, PERTH WA 6832 TO BE IN THE RUNNNG TO WIN THIS WEEK’S PRIZE.
Blessed those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. In truth, I tell you, he will do up his belt, sit them down at table and wait on them.
8
VISTA
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
Time for
A visiting Zimbabwean priest reports on the current situation in his homeland
I
MAGINE if Kevin Rudd had a legion of cronies who patrolled the streets of Australia in large army tanks, destroying anything and anyone who stood in their path. Imagine if, when he ousted Julia Gillard as the nation’s Prime Minister, there were riots, chaos, looting and bloodshed all over the country. It’s not a pretty picture. But it’s the reality that the people of Zimbabwe could be dealing with as a result of yet another disputed election, according to the regional superior of the Redemptorists in Zimbabwe, Fr William Guri. Fr Guri visited Perth in June as part of Catholic Mission’s propagation of the faith appeal and explained the disturbing political reality in Zimbabwe to several parishes and schools. He told The Record Australians tend to forget just how fortunate they are to live in a democratic society. “I could not avoid being impressed by the fact that the Prime Minister left office and another one came in and, to the naked eye, there was very little collateral damage,” he said. “You just don’t realise the disruption to ordinary life that could have happened if you did not have the stable institutions of government that you have here and the rule of law.” Fr Guri said he was surprised to see buses running, shops open and money in the banks when he went into the city the day after the leadership change. “I got a fright because where I come from… a long time of suffering usually accompanies regime change,” he said. “So I was very impressed… I think it is a beautiful system, and that is what we are trying to achieve in my country.” Zimbabwe has faced a number of major challenges in recent times, including mass inflation, widespread poverty and the effects of an AIDS epidemic. The African country was forced to take up the US$ after their own currency became virtually worthless. Trillion dollar notes were the equivalent of about $5. But abandoning the Zimbabwean currency and adopting the US$ has not been an immediate solution, according to Fr Guri. “We are still in a very inflationary environment... there is not much employment and not much production in the country, and when there is no employment there is no tax base,” he said. Fr Guri said a result of heavy unemployment was increased poverty, with everyday survival the people’s greatest concern. “Most families survive under US$1 so life is very basic and it’s very much a struggle for survival which diminishes other aspects of life,” he explained. “When people are always trying to gather and hunt for food, they have no time for reflection, cultural pursuits, leisure, arts and entertainment.” Fr Guri said the fight against HIV-AIDS, which continues to ravage the country, is closely connected to the fight against poverty. “You can provide anti-retroviral drugs but, when the people do not eat well enough, those drugs can work against their system,” he said.
“I know a woman who nearly died of AIDS because there was no saline in the country. I happened to know someone who was coming from Scotland and I mentioned in desperation that this was the situation… they came with a box of saline from Scotland in their hand luggage, and that woman is alive today.” Although there has been significant progress in halting the spread of HIV-AIDS in Zimbabwe, Fr Guri said the battle was far from over. “There are still sectors of the population that are very vulnerable to HIV-AIDS, and part of our evangelisation is trying to come up with interventions which are critical in dealing with this epidemic,” he said. “What we can also do for ourselves is continue to sustain the awareness of HIV-AIDS, to fight the stigma around [it], and streamlining HIV-AIDS awareness in all our programs and our activities.” The highly learned priest has himself initiated a program called Transformative Masculinity that is aimed at altering the mindset of Zimbabwean men. The program looks at how Africans conceive masculinity, and how that conception can be both helpful and self-destructive. “We find, because of our historical experience as African men, the way we conceive ourselves as men
today does have some problematic consequences, especially in the fight against AIDS,” Fr Guri said. “We’ve been… trying to do a little cognitive restructuring of how men think about themselves so that they can engage in behaviours that are more life-giving. “For example, the myth of the African man as a bull who has
ger than fighting AIDS or alleviating poverty. “The highest priority is to restore the rule of law in the country of Zimbabwe,” he said. While the international community generally attributes the cause of such problems in Zimbabwe to the nation’s government, Fr Guri said the government delivers a specific
“The Church is very much involved in the situation... in Zimbabwe, it’s very much part of the struggle of the people... many wives and must father many children by many wives, and does not have to take responsibility for those children. “A lot of African men subscribe to that, they use it as a cop out for having affairs, and that is very counter-productive to men themselves, it destroys men.” Yet Fr Guri said there is another issue for Zimbabwe that is even big-
message to its people when quizzed about their responsibility. “They will tell you... we have got all these economic problems because Britain has forced the international community to boycott us because Britain wants to engage in change and to decolonise our country,” he explained. “It sells very well with people who are not well educated... but I
know that our problems are due to the mismanagement of the economy by the current regime.” In particular, the government’s interference with farming and mining ownership has significantly hampered Zimbabwe’s agriculturalbased economy. “At one stage, 80 per cent of Zimbabweans were not formally employed, so that just puts things in serious disarray, so I think the crisis of governance in Zimbabwe and the mismanagement of economy is what has resulted in this situation we are in,” Fr Guri said. The way forward for Zimbabwe revolves around a major reform of the current government, according to the Redemptorist leader. “If the government turns its hearts towards the people, if the government becomes aware of the plight of all the people because of this economic situation, then things will change,” he said. “The people of Zimbabwe are willing to work, they are very educated, very intelligent, and they will build the economy in a very short time if they are given the chance.” Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Mugabe, has ruled the country during the tumultuous last three decades, and Fr Guri said he had been disappointed by the way Mugabe has run the country.
VISTA
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
Change after three decades of rule by a despot, reports Matthew Biddle...
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Aparecida from sunken statue to national feast When Pope Francis went to the Marian shrine of Aparecida, he mentioned that some fishermen had found the statue of Our Lady that is venerated there. Can you tell me more about it? Did Our Lady appear?
T
Centre: A girl eats outside her home in the Harare suburb of Epworth, Zimbabwe in 2009. At that time, the country’s economy was in ruins with runaway inflation and a nonfunctioning health care system. Above: Protests against Robert Mugabe. Left: A Zimbabwean election official in Harare counts ballot papers. PHOTOS:CNS
“President Mugabe is a very, very remarkable fellow,” he said. “To have managed to stay in power for 30 years is an act of genius. “But I am very disappointed in him for overseeing and presiding over a litany of destruction of the country and of the people’s will. “A lot of our people have left the country because of the mismanagement that has happened in the last 10 years, and are languishing in the diaspora.” The Catholic Church in Zimbabwe has also had its run-ins with the Mugabe regime, but continues to fight for social justice. “The Church is very much involved in the situation of people in Zimbabwe,” he said. “It’s very much part of the struggle of the people of Zimbabwe for democracy and for good governance.” Although Zimbabwe is a predominantly Christian country, with a large percentage of evangelical Protestants, religious freedom has been compromised in recent times. “On the surface, people in Zimbabwe are free to worship... however, in the past 10 years there has been a lot of friction between Church groups and the current regime, when the Church challenged the government, or the Church provided support or protection to peo-
ple who were being persecuted by the government,” Fr Guri said. Nevertheless, Catholicism in Zimbabwe is steadily growing, with religion perhaps the only place to which people can turn in desperate times. “The Church in Zimbabwe is very alive,” Fr Guri said. “There’s a lot of interest and a lot of activity of people in the Church, a lot of enthusiasm, and a lot of willingness of people to go to Church.” Fr Guri said the major challenges faced by the Church in Zimbabwe were vastly different to those faced by the Church in Australia. “We are two Churches at different stages,” he said. “If I was going to come and work here on a permanent basis I would have to overhaul my pastoral theology.” One of the biggest ongoing challenges for the Church in Zimbabwe has been the struggle to develop and express an authentically Zimbabwean Catholicism. “We adopted a very Western form of Catholicism, and trying to make it a truly African expression and experience is the challenge of our catechesis, the challenge of our theology, the challenge of our liturgy,” Fr Guri said. Another equally difficult task for the Church in Zimbabwe is pro-
viding sufficient formation to an unstable community. “People have become more mobile, people tend to move a lot and it’s very difficult to have stable formation and catechetical programs when people are moving a lot,” Fr Guri said. “We’ve got a new generation of people who... will easily do the seven years of primary school in seven different locations. The challenge for the Church is to keep apace with the new reality.” While the future of the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe appears bright, the nation’s people are struggling to remain hopeful about their country’s future. “A lot of people have given up on the possibility of a change, not just a change in regime, but a change in regime mentality,” Fr Guri said. “It’s very difficult to see another alternative after being battered for the past 10 years.” For Fr Guri, the only way to combat such pessimism is by cultivating a firm hope and faith in God. “I’ve been tempted a lot to think like everybody else,” he said. “But I keep fighting my doubts and believing that there is hope that Zimbabwe has what it takes to change, to reinvent itself again. “Without that hope and faith we are doomed.”
HE shrine of Aparecida has an interesting history dating back to the 18th century. The word Aparecida, by the way, is the past participle of “appear” in Portuguese and Spanish. The name was applied to a statue of Our Lady which had quite miraculously appeared. According to the official account, in October 1717, Dom Pedro de Almeida, Count of Assumar and Governor of the Province of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, was passing through the area of Guaratinguetá, a small city in the Paraíba river valley near São Paulo, Brazil. The local people decided to celebrate a feast in his honour with a banquet in which fish would be served. Three fishermen then went out to fish on the river, haing prayed to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception for a good catch as they had the custom of doing. It should be noted that their devotion preceded the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by over 100 years (cf J Flader, Question Time 1, Connor Court 2012, q 32). After many hours of fishing they had caught nothing and were very discouraged. They cast their nets once more and, instead of fish, hauled in a clay statue of Our Lady without its head. One more cast netted the head of the statue. They washed the statue and recognised it as a dark-skinned representation of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. They wrapped it in cloth and named it Nossa Senhora da Aparecida Conceição, Our Lady of the Conception which has Appeared. The statue was less than a metre high and, after a long time in the water, had lost its polychrome colouring. It is believed to have been made around 1650 by Fray Agostinho de Jesus, a monk from São Paulo known for his sacred images in clay. Buoyed up by hope in the image they had found and having entrusted themselves once more to Our Lady, the fishermen went back to their fishing. This time they were successful, filling their nets completely. They attributed the miraculous catch to Our Lady’s intercession. One of the fishermen, Felipe Pedroso, took the statue to his home where his family and friends began to venerate it. For the next 15 years the statue remained in his home and devotion to Our Lady increased. People were coming from far and wide, having heard of the many favours and
Q&A FR JOHN FLADER
miracles attributed to Our Lady. The Pedroso family built a small chapel for the statue but this soon became too small for the many visitors. In 1732, the Pedrosos moved to Porto Iguassu, taking the statue with them. There, a larger chapel was built on the Morro dos Coqueiros (Hill of the Palm Trees), and it was opened in 1745. With the number of visitors increasing constantly, work on a larger church began in 1834. It was granted the title of Minor Basilica in 1908. In 1904, the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, the statue was adorned with a gold crown following a decree of Pope Pius X. The statue at present is dark brown in colour and is clothed in a dark blue robe of richly embroidered cloth, with gold
The feast of Our Lady of Aparecida on October 12 is a holy day of obligation in Brazil - and a national public holiday. clasps. Only Our Lady’s face and hands can be seen. In 1930, the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title Our Lady of Aparecida, was proclaimed Queen and Principal Patroness of Brazil by Pope Pius XI. In 1955, work began on the present Basilica, which is in the form of Greek cross and can hold up to 45,000 people. It is the largest Marian temple and the second largest basilica in the world, second only to St Peter’s in Rome. It was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1980 and given the title of Minor Basilica. Due to the growth of the town of Aparecida and the importance of the shrine, the Holy See in 1958 created the new Archdiocese of Aparecida. Since the 19th century, the feast of Our Lady Aparecida has been celebrated on October 12. In Brazil, it is a holy day of obligation and, since Pope John Paul II’s visit to the country in June 1980, it has been a national public holiday. Some five million pilgrims visit the shrine each year. - FRJFLADER@GMAIL.COM
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PANORAMA
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 TO SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 Retreat 7.30pm at St Bernadette’s Church, Glendalough. Begins with Holy Mass. Fr Michael CSsR will be conducting a retreat based on his Gospel-centred ministry which has a focus on the Eucharist and Confession, as well as Divine Mercy, spiritual direction, and healing. Enq: Parish Office 9444 6131. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 The Secular Franciscan Order Honour St Clare 6.30pm Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. We honour this day and gather for The Transitus of St Clare of Assisi who died in 1253, to remember when she was taken up into the Glory of God. Please bring a plate. Visitors welcome. Enq: Angela 9275 5658 or email angelmich@ bigpond.com. St Padre Pio Prayer Day 8.30am-1pm at St Mary’s, Franklin St, Leederville. St Padre Pio DVD in parish centre; 10am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Divine Mercy, Silent Adoration and Benediction; 11am Holy Mass, St Padre Pio Liturgy, Confessions available; 12pm bring a plate for a shared lunch, tea and coffee provided. Search You Tube.com type “Hello from San Giovanni Rotondo” Enq: Des 6278 1540. Big Screen Saturday 5.30pm at 67 Howe St, Osborne Park. A film adaptation of Bethany Hamilton’s autobiography, Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family and Fighting to get back on the Board (PG). Adult $10, concession $8, family $30. Snacks and refreshments available and free kids movie. For details and bookings: perth.disciplesofjesus.org/ movies or 0419 923 420. Divine Mercy Church Fundraiser Dinner Dance 7.30pm at Greek/Macedonian Club, corner Homer St and Wordsworth Ave, Dianella. Organised by Viet/Aust Charity Group. S/East Asian dinner, live performances, disco, dancing and raffle draw. Entry $40 (all profits donated to Divine Mercy Church, Lower Chittering). Enq: Tickets Fr Chris 0420 449 820, Doris 9571 8135, Fr Paul Fox 9571 8068 or 0427 085 093. Divine Mercy Healing Mass 2.30pm at St Francis Xavier Church, Windsor St, East Perth. Main celebrant 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. Refreshments later. Enq: John 9457 7771. SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 Latin Mass 8.15am at The Good Shepherd Church, Streich Ave, Kelmscott. To be celebrated by Emeritus Archbishop Barry Hickey. Enq: John 9390 6646. TUESDAY, AUGUST 13 Spirituality and the Sunday Gospels 7-8pm at St Benedict’s school hall, Alness St, Applecross. Presented by Norma Woodcock. Everyone is welcome. Cost: collection. Accreditation recognition by the CEO. Enq: 9487 1772 or www.normawoodcock.com. National Marriage Day Annual Mass 6.20pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth. Holy Mass celebrated by Bishop Don Sproxton. National Marriage Day commemorates the amendment made on August 13, 2004 to define marriage as: “a union between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life”. A light supper to follow. Enq: please register for catering purposes 9277 1644 www.family.org. au/marriageday. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15 Biggest Youth Event - Extreme Mission 6-9pm at the University of Notre Dame, Drill Hall. There will be music, mission and living loud. Archbishop Costelloe SDB and the WYD Pilgrims will bring a dynamic night to share in the WYD Mission. The night starts with a free sausage sizzle concluding with Mass for the Feast of the Assumption. Book free individual or group tickets for catering purposes. Enq: UNDA 9433 0658, CYM 9422 7912 or admin@cym.com.au. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16 TO THURSDAY, AUGUST 22 The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue comes to Perth, Mandurah and Bunbury Aug 16 7pm at St Jerome’s, Troode St, Munster. Activities will include Holy Mass, Rosary, talks, veneration and vigil at the following parishes and dates: Aug 17 Our Lady of the the Mission, Camberwarra Dr, Craigie, 8.30am-noon and 6pm at Our Lady of Mercy, Patrick Ct, Girrawheen. Aug 18 Holy Spirit, Keaney Pl, City Beach, 8am and 9.30am Holy Mass and 5.45pm Our Lady of the Assumption, Stevenson Rd, Mandurah. Aug 19 St Patrick’s Cathedral, Bunbury starting 11am. Aug 20 10.30am and 5.45pm St Bernadette’s, Jugan St, Glendalough. Aug 21 9am at St Gerard Majella, Ravenswood Dr, Mirrabooka, 12.10pm All Saints Chapel, 77 St Georges Tce, Perth, and 7pm St Francis of Assisi, Lilian Rd, Maida Vale. Aug 22 11am St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth, Holy Mass and 7.30pm Solemn Holy Mass, Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB. Enq: Yolanda 0413 707 707. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 Children’s Religious Education Program (PrePrimary and Year One) 11am–12.30pm (including lunch). Our Lady Queen of Poland Parish, 35 Eighth Ave, Maylands. The official Perth Archdiocese Parish Religious
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
Education Program (PREP). An opportunity to give young children attending non-Catholic schools age-appropriate Religious Education in a creative and fun environment. Families outside Maylands welcome. Enq: Hayley Doan 0423 008 500.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Fundraising Jumble Sale - Myaree Parish 10am–4pm at Pater Noster Parish grounds. Wide range of all pre-loved items. Entrance Evershed St. Enq: Margaret 9330 3848.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 TO FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 Fr John Rea - Public Healing Ministry 7.30am at 67 Howe St, Osborne Park. Men’s Breakfast at Disciples of Jesus; Aug 22, 7pm, healing Mass at St Andrew's, 60 Victorsen Pde, Clarkson; Aug 23, Sacred Heart Parish, Guppy St, Pemberton. Enq: DOJ 9202 6868, and Betty 0427 711 916, respectively.
THURSDAY, SPTEMBER 19 TO SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Inaugural Zimbabwe Catholics Australia and New Zealand Congress Starting Afresh In Jesus Christ. 7pm at Swanleigh, 58 Yule Ave, Middle Swan. Drums have been warmed. The Zimbabwe Catholics Perth community will host this inaugural congress. Two dynamic priests from Zimbabwe will be the guest speakers supported by local priests. Various other activities have been lined to make this congress spiritually uplifting. Come let us journey together in the Year of Faith. Enq: Bibiana 0458 945 444, Jane 04240 667 819.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18 Meditative Prayer in the Style of Taizé 7-8pm at St Joseph’s Convent Chapel, 16 York St, South Perth. Includes scripture, prayer, song (mantra) and silence in candlelight. Chapel door open 6.30pm. Bring a friend and a torch. Enq: Sr Maree Riddler 0414 683 926. Auslan Cafe 10.30am to 12 noon Emmanuel Centre Hall next to St Francis Xavier Church, Windsor St, Perth. Ever thought about learning how to communicate with profoundly Deaf people through Auslan (Australian Sign Language)? Now you can and it’s FREE. Come and learn in a relaxed and fun way. There is always an interpreter at St Francis Xavier Church for the 9.30am Sunday Mass. Light lunch provided. Enq: Emma or Barbara by email emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.au or 9328 8113. World Apostolate of Fatima 3pm at Our Lady Queen of Peace, cnr Milroy and Harfoot Sts, Willagee. All welcome. Enq: 9339 2614. SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 International Food Fair at The Little Sisters of the Poor 10am to 3pm at 2 Rawlins St, Glendalough. All welcome to eat or take away great varieties of Asian and continental food - Satay, Char Kway Teow and more. Live music to entertain. All proceeds are for upgrading the Marian Centre in the home. Enq: Francis Lim 0437 562 263. MONDAY, AUGUST 26 TO FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 Fr John Rea - Five-Night Healing Mission, Gosnells 7.30pm at the Catholic Church, 175 Corfield St, Gosnells. Catholic Charismatic Renewal presents Fr John Rea SM, a New Zealand priest gifted in the healing ministry, who will conduct a five-night Healing Mission, includes Holy Mass. Teaching builds over five nights, so try to attend all. Cost: collection. Enq: Dan Hewitt on 9398 4973 or daniel.hewitt5@bigpond.com. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 Medjugorje Evening of Prayer Group 7-9pm at St. Bernadette’s Parish, 49 Jugan St, Mt Hawthorn. It is reported Our Blessed Mother has been appearing daily in Medjugorje since 1981 with messages for all her children. In thanksgiving, the Medjugorje evening of prayer group meet monthly in a different parish to spread Our Blessed Mother's messages. Free DVDs on Medjugorje. NEWSFLASH Pilgrimage. Oct 8-24 Rome/Italy/ Medjugorje. $3,999. Enq: 9402 2480 or 0407 471 256; medjugorje@y7mail.com. FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 TO SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 30th Novena to Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni with Fr Leo Spicer OSM 7pm at Holy Trinity Church, 8 Burnett St, Embleton. Mass, procession and supper. Aug 31 and Sept 1, 6pm Mass and blessing of fathers. Sept 2-5, 7pm homily, Benediction, Exposition, children’s blessing, the sick and the elderly. Sept 6, 6pm, Exposition, Divine Mercy, Adoration, 7pm holy Mass, anointing of the sick, Benediction; Sept 7, 6pm Mass and Benediction; Sept 8, Our Lady’s Nativity, concelebrated Mass, procession, raffle draw. Enq: 9271 5528, 0417 185 203. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 TO TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Fr John Rea - Public Healing Ministry 7.30pm, 67 Howe St, Osborne Park. Healing service for women. 6.45pm Sept 4, Healing Mass at All Saints Parish, 7 Liwara Pl, Greenwood; 7.30pm Sept 5, Healing Mass, St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth; 7.30pm Sept 7, Healing Service for Marriages and 3pm Sept 8, Healing Service, both at 67 Howe St, Osborne Park; 10am Sept 10, Healing Mass at Holy Spirit Parish, City Beach. Enq: Disciples of Jesus 9202 6868. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Day With Mary 9am-5pm at St Brigid’s Church, 69 Morrison Rd, Midland. Day of prayer and instruction based on the Fatima message. 9am Video; 10.10am holy Mass; Reconciliation, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons on Eucharist and on Our Lady, Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 TO SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 A Live-in/Live-out Retreat - Faith and Grace Held at the Redemptorist Retreat House, North Perth. Fr Carl Schafer OFM from Sydney, National Spiritual Assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order in Oceania, will lead the retreat. Fr Carl’s ministry to the Secular Franciscans spans 48 years, 12 of those in Rome. Enq: Angela 9275 5658, or angelmich@bigpond.com.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 TO SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 Individual Silent Directed Retreat 4.30pm at St Catherine’s House of Hospitality, 113 Tyler St, Tuart Hill. Meet daily with your retreat directors, Celia Joyce or Fr Stephen Truscott SM, to explore the movement of God within your life. The retreat unfolds at your own pace. (Limited to 10 retreatants.) Enq: 9485 8980 or www.fullnessoflife.org.
REGULAR EVENTS EVERY SUNDAY Gate of Heaven Catholic Radio Join the Franciscans of the Immaculate from 7.309pm on Radio Fremantle 107.9FM for Catholic radio broadcast of EWTN and our own live shows. Enq: radio@ausmaria.com.
Cathedral Cafe Cathedral Cafe is now open every Sunday 9.30am1pm at St Mary’s Cathedral parish centre, downstairs after Mass. Coffee, tea, cakes, sweets, friendship with Cathedral parishioners. Further info: Tammy on smcperthwyd@yahoo.com.au or 0415 370 357. Pilgrim Mass - Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation 2pm at Shrine, 36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook. Commencing with Rosary followed by Benediction. Reconciliation available before every celebration. Anointing of the sick administered during Mass every second Sunday of the month. Pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin of the Revelation last Sunday of the month. Side entrance to church and shrine open daily between 9am-5pm. Enq Sacri 9447 3292. Praise and Worship 5.30pm at St Denis Parish, corner Osborne St and Roberts Rd, Joondanna. Followed by 6pm Mass. Enq: Admin on admin@stdenis.com.au. EVERY FIRST SUNDAY Singles Prayer and Social Group 7pm at All Saints Chapel, Allendale Sq, 77 St Georges Tce, Perth. Begins with holy hour (Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary and teaching) followed by dinner at local restaurant. Meet new people, pray and socialise with other single men and women. Enq: Veronica 0403 841 202. EVERY SECOND SUNDAY Healing Hour 7-8pm at St Lawrence Parish, Balcatta. Songs of praise and worship, Exposition of Blessed Sacrament and prayers for sick. Enq: Fr Irek Czech SDS or office Tue-Thu, 9am-2.30pm on 9344 7066. EVERY THIRD SUNDAY Oblates of St Benedict’s 2pm at St Joseph’s Convent, York St, South Perth. We welcome all who are interested in studying the Rule of St Benedict and its relevance to the everyday life of today for laypeople. Vespers and afternoon tea conclude our meetings. Enq: Secretary 9457 5758. Divine Mercy Hour 3pm at St Pius X Church, 23 Paterson St, Manning. There will be Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy Prayers, Rosary and Benediction. Please join us in prayer. Enq: Mrs K Henderson 9450 4195.
Tend to your thirst for God. Begins with Adoration, then 7.45pm - Evening Prayer; 8pm - Communion Service and Night Prayer. Come to the whole thing, or just to a part! Enq: Michelle: 0404 564 890.
LAST MONDAY Be Still in His Presence – Ecumenical Christian Program 7.30-8.45pm at St Swithun Anglican Church, 195 Lesmurdie St, Lesmurdie (hall behind church). Begins with songs of praise and worship, silent time, lectio divina, small group sharing and cuppa. Enq: Lynne 9293 3848 or 0435 252 941. EVERY TUESDAY Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal 6pm at Pater Noster Church, Marmion and Evershed Sts, Myaree. Mass at 5.30pm followed by Benediction. Enq: John 0408 952 194. Novena to God the Father 7.30pm at St Joachim’s parish hall, Vic Park. Novena followed by reflection and discussions on forthcoming Sunday Gospel. Enq: Jan 9284 1662. EVERY FIRST TUESDAY Short MMP Cenacle for Priests 2pm at Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. Enq: Fr Watt 9376 1734. EVERY WEDNESDAY Holy Spirit of Freedom Community 7.30pm at Church of Christ, 111 Stirling St, Perth. We welcome everyone to attend our praise meeting. Enq: 0423 907 869 or hsofperth@gmail.com. Bible Study at Cathedral 6.15pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Victoria Sq, Perth. Deepen your faith through reading and reflecting on holy Scripture with Fr Jean-Noel Marie. Meeting room beneath Cathedral. Enq: 9223 1372. Holy Hour - Catholic Youth Ministry 5.30pm at Catholic Pastoral Centre, 40A Mary St, Highgate. Mass followed at 6.30pm with Holy Hour. Enq: 9422 7912 or admin@cym.com.au. EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY Novena to St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 7-7.45pm at Blessed Mary MacKillop Parish, corner Cassowary Dr and Pelican Pde, Ballajura. Begins with Mass, novena prayers and Benediction. Followed by healing prayers and anointing of the sick. Enq: Madi 9249 9093 or Gerry 0417 187 240. EVERY SECOND WEDNESDAY Chaplets of Divine Mercy 7.30pm at St Thomas More Parish, Dean Rd, Bateman. Accompanied by Exposition, then Benediction. Enq: George 9310 9493 or 6242 0702 (w). EVERY THURSDAY Divine Mercy 11am at Sts John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. Pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy and for consecrated life, especially in our parish. Concludes with veneration of the first class relic of St Faustina. Enq: John 9457 7771. St Mary’s Cathedral Praise Meeting 7.45pm at the Legion of Mary’s Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. Includes praise, song and healing ministry. Enq: Kay 9382 3668 or fmi@ flameministries.org. Group Fifty - Charismatic Renewal Group 7.30pm at Redemptorist Monastery, 150 Vincent St, North Perth. Includes prayer, praise and Mass. Enq: Elaine 9440 3661. EVERY THURSDAY IN AUGUST Introduction to the Study of Contemporary Christian Spirituality Course 7-9pm at St Catherine’s House of Hospitality, 113 Tyler St, Tuart Hill. Presented by Fr Stephen Truscott SM PhD; course examines contemporary Christian spirituality as both lived experience and academic discipline, combining reading, discussion, lectures and reflective exercises. You will build the capacity to develop beyond yourself in relationship with others and with God in understanding, liberty and love. Enq: 9485 8980 or www.fullnessoflife.org. EVERY FIRST THURSDAY
EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY Shrine Time for Young Adults 18-35 Years 7.30-8.30pm at Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Dr, Mt Richon; Holy Hour with prayer, reflection, meditation, praise and worship; followed by a social gathering. Come and pray at a place of grace. Enq: shrinetimemtrichon@gmail.com.
Holy Hour Prayer for Priests 7-8pm at Holy Spirit Parish, 2 Keaney Pl, City Beach. All welcome. Enq: Linda 9341 3079. Prayer in Style of Taizé 7.30-8.30pm at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 3 Kitchener St, North Beach. Includes prayer, song and silence in candlelight – symbol of Christ the light of the world. Taizé info: www.taize.fr. Enq: secretary 9448 4888 or 9448 4457.
Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life 2-3pm at Infant Jesus Parish, Wellington St, Morley. Includes Exposition of Blessed Sacrament, silent prayer, scripture, prayers of intercession. Come and pray that those discerning vocations can hear clearly God’s call.
EVERY SECOND THURSDAY Life in the Spirit Seminar 6pm at 2 King St, Coogee. The Resource Centre for Personal Development and Catholic Charismatic Renewal will hold seven sessions every second Thursday until October. Enq: Eva 0409 405 585.
EVERY LAST SUNDAY Filipino Mass 3pm at Notre Dame Church, cnr Daley and Wright Sts, Cloverdale. Please bring a plate to share for socialisation after Mass. Enq: Fr Nelson Po 0410 843 412, Elsa 0404 038 483. EVERY MONDAY For You My Soul is Thirsting (Psalm 62:1) 7pm at St Thomas Parish, 2 College Rd, Claremont.
FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY Social Dinner (Young Adults aged up to 35) and Rosary Cenacle 6.30pm at St Bernadette’s Church, 49 Jugan St, Mt Hawthorn. Begins at 6.30pm with dinner at a local restaurant, followed at 8pm by a Rosary Cenacle, short talk and refreshments at the church. Great way to meet new people, pray and socialise! Enq: 9444 6131 or st.bernadettesyouth@gmail.com.
EVERY FRIDAY Eucharistic Adoration at Schoenstatt Shrine 10am at Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Dr, Mt Richon. Includes holy Mass, Exposition of Blessed Sacrament, silent adoration till 8.15pm. Join us in prayer at a place of grace. Enq: Sisters of Schoenstatt 9399 2349. Healing Mass 6pm at Holy Family Parish, Lot 375, Alcock St, Maddington. Begins with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Healing Mass followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Enq: admin 9493 1703 or www.vpcp. org.au. EVERY FIRST FRIDAY Mass and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 11am-4pm at Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins St, Glendalough. Exposition of Blessed Sacrament after Mass until 4pm, finishing with Rosary. Enq: Sr Marie MS.Perth@lsp.org.au. Healing and Anointing Mass 8.45am Pater Noster Church, Evershed St, Myaree. Begins with Reconciliation, then 9am Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, anointing of the sick and prayers to St Peregrine. Enq: Joy 9337 7189. Pro-life Witness – Mass and Procession 9.30am at St Brigid’s Parish, corner Great Northern Hwy and Morrison Rd, Midland. Begins with Mass followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at nearby abortion clinic, led by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. Please join us to pray for an end to abortion and the conversion of hearts. Enq: Helen 9402 0349. Combined All Night Communion of Reparation Vigil with Fr Bing 9pm-4am Saturday at St Anne Church, Hehir St, Belmont. August will be a combined Vigil with Fr Bing. There will be no vigils at Corpus Christi Church and St Gerard Church for August only. Mass, Adoration, Benediction, confession in reparation for outrages committed against the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Enq: Vicky 0400 282 357, John/Joy 9344 2609. Catholic Faith Renewal Evening 7.30pm at Sts John Paul Parish, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. There will be songs of praise, prayer, sharing by a priest, then thanksgiving Mass and light refreshments. Enq: Ivan 0428 898 833 or Ann 0412 166 164 or catholicfaithrenewal@gmail. com. EVERY SECOND FRIDAY Discover Spirituality of St Francis of Assisi 12pm at St Brigid’s parish centre. The Secular Franciscans of Midland Fraternity have lunch, then 1-3pm meeting. Enq: Antoinette 9297 2314. EVERY SATURDAY Teachers, parents and friends mission outreach 10am at Morley Parish Centre, 47 Wellington Rd, Morley. Meet during school terms. Primary English teachers and prospective aides offer their services for a small remuneration and donations from the tuition are distributed to missionaries. “Come and See” sessions are offered. Enq: Maggie-9272 8263, margaretbox7@icloud.com. EVERY FIRST SATURDAY Vigil for Life – Mass and Procession 8.30am at St Augustine Parish, Gladstone St, Rivervale. Begins with Mass celebrated by Fr Carey, followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at nearby abortion clinic. Please join us to pray for the conversion of hearts and an end to abortion. Enq. Helen 9402 0349. Mission Rosary Making at the Legion of Mary 9.30am-2pm at 36 Windsor St, East Perth. All materials are supplied. The Rosaries made are distributed to the schools, missions and those who ask for a Rosary. Please join us and learn the art of Rosary making on rope and chain. Enq: 0478 598 860. EVERY SECOND SATURDAY Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Succour) and Divine Mercy Chaplet (Chant) 8.30am at Our Lady of the Mission Parish, Whitford, 270 Camberwarra Dr, Craigie. Holy Mass at 8.30am followed by Novena. Enq: Margaret 9307 7276. EVERY FOURTH SATURDAY Voice of the Voiceless Healing Mass 11.30am at St Brigid’s Parish, 211 Aberdeen St, Northbridge. Bring a plate to share after Mass. Enq. Frank 9296 7591 or 0408 183 325.
GENERAL Free Divine Mercy Image for Parishes High quality oil painting and glossy print – Divine Mercy Promotions. Images of very high quality. For any parish willing to accept and place inside the church. Oil paintings: 160 x 90cm; glossy print - 100 x 60cm. Enq: Irene 9417 3267 (w). Sacred Heart Pioneers Would anyone like to know about the Sacred Heart pioneers? If so, please contact Spiritual Director Fr Doug Harris 9444 6131 or John 9457 7771. St Philomena’s Chapel 3/24 Juna Dr, Malaga. Mass of the day: Mon 6.45am. Vigil Masses: Mon-Fri 4.45pm. Enq: Fr David 9376 1734.
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CLASSIFIEDS Deadline: 11am Monday BOOKBINDING RESTORATION BOOKBINDING and Conservation; General Book Repairs, Bibles, Breviaries and Liturgical. Tel: 0401 941 577. Now servicing the South-West @ Myalup.
SETTLEMENTS ARE YOU BUYING OR SELLING real estate or a business? Why not ask Excel Settlements for a quote for your settlement. We offer reasonable fees, excellent service, no hidden costs. Ring 9481 4499 for a quote. Check our website on www. excelsettlements.com.au.
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. RICH HARVEST - YOUR CHRISTIAN SHOP Looking for Bibles, CDs, books, cards, gifts, statues, Baptism and Wedding candles, etc. Visit us at 39 Hulme Ct (off McCoy St), Myaree. Ph 9329 9889 (after 10.30am Mon to Sat). We are here to serve. KINLAR VESTMENTS www.kinlarvestments.com.au Quality vestments, Australianmade, embroidered and appliquéd. Contact Vickii for a quote - 08 9402 1318, 0409 114 093 or kinlarvestments@gmail.com.
TUITION PRIMARY LEVEL ENGLISH LESSONS. Morley Parish Centre, 47 Wellington Rd, Morley. Small group or individual. Saturdays. Enq: Maggie 9272 8263 margaretbox7@icloud.com.
Continued from Page 18 Mary MacKillop Merchandise Available for sale from Mary MacKillop Centre. Enq: Sr Maree 041 4683 926 or 08 9334 0933. Financially Disadvantaged People Requiring Low Care Aged Care Placement The Little Sisters of the Poor community is set in beautiful gardens in the suburb of Glendalough. “Making the elderly happy, that is everything!” St Jeanne Jugan (foundress). Registration and enq: Sr Marie 9443 3155. Is your son or daughter unsure of what to do this year? Suggest a Cert IV course to discern God’s purpose. They will also learn more about the Catholic faith and develop skills in communication and leadership. Acts 2 College of Mission and Evangelisation (National Code 51452).Enq: Jane 9202 6859. AA Alcoholics Anonymous Is alcohol costing you more than just money? Enq: AA 9325 3566. Saints and Sacred Relics Apostolate Invite SSRA Perth invites interested parties, parish priests, leaders of religious communities, lay associations to organise relic visitations to parishes, communities, etc. We have available authenticated relics, mostly first-class, of Catholic saints and blesseds including Sts Mary MacKillop, Padre Pio, Anthony of Padua, Therese of Lisieux, Maximilian Kolbe, Simon Stock and Blessed Pope John Paul II. Free of charge and all welcome. Enq: Giovanny 0478 201 092 or ssra-perth@ catholic.org. Enrolments, Year 7, 2014 La Salle College now accepting enrolments for Year 7, 2014. For prospectus and enrolment, please contact college reception on 9274 6266 or email lasalle@lasalle. wa.edu.au.
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QUALITY TAX RETURNS PREPARED by registered tax agent with over 35 years’ experience. Call Tony Marchei 0412 055 184 for appt. AXXO Accounting & Management, Unit 20/222 Walter Rd, Morley. Trade services.
SERVICES BRENDAN HANDYMAN SERVICES Home, building maintenance, repairs and renovations. NOR. Ph 0427 539 588. PAINTERS IN PERTH since 1933. AJ Cochrane & Sons 08 9248 8211. BRICK RE-POINTING Ph Nigel 9242 2952. PERROTT PAINTING Pty Ltd For all your residential, commercial painting requirements. Ph Tom Perrott 9444 1200. BOB’S PAINTING Registered and insured. Free quotes 0422 485 433 www.bobthepainter.com. au.
PILGRIMAGE Oct 8-24. Rome/Italy/Assisi/ Loretto/Eucharistic Miracle (Lanciano)/Cave of St Michael the Archangel/San Giovanni Rotondo (Padre Pio) plus 6 nights Medjugorje. Overnight Dubrovnik. Spiritual Director Fr Joseph Asnabun. Cost $3,999 includes flights, transfers, tipping, guides, bed, breakfast, and evening meals in Italy, and Medjugorje. Enq: 9402 2480, 0407 471 256 or email medjugorje@y7mail.com.
WRR Pest & Weed Control PHD 1690 Pre-treatment, full treatment, inspection for termites. general pest control: spiders, ants, cockroaches, bugs etc. On time, fully licensed, fully insured, work guaranteed. Contact: 0402 326 637 or 6161 3264 [william. rao@optusnet.com.au].
TREASURES OF THE PROMISED LAND (Jordan and Israel) from December 7-22, 2013. Email Sheila at info@ alternative-events.net or call 0433 771 979 or 6461 6183 (leave voice message) to receive details on pilgrimages to Holy Land, Turkey and Greece, West, East and the New Europe, South America and Asia.
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ALL AREAS. Competitive rates. Mike Murphy Ph 0416 226 434.
KIRKWOOD (Arthur) In loving memory of my dear Father who died on August 11, 1991. On this sad anniversary and always, you are in my heart and prayers, O my Pappa. May God be with you always, and with darling wonderful Mother. I miss you both so much until we are all again together with God. Love endures forever and fond memories bring comfort. Moira. May perpetual light shine upon them, May they rest in peace.
BEAUTY LOOK YOUNGER. The Younger You Mobile Clinic for facial rejuvenation. We come to you. Visit: www.youngeryouclinic.com.au or call 0478616781. RURI STUDIO FOR HAIR Vincent and Miki welcome you to their newly opened, international, award-winning salon. Shop 2, 401 Oxford St, Leederville. 9444 3113. Ruri-studio-for-hair@ hotmail.com.
Acts 2 College, Perth’s Catholic Bible College Is now pleased to be able to offer tax deductibility for donations to the college. If you are looking for an opportunity to help grow the faith of young people and evangelise the next generation of apostles, please contact Jane Borg, Principal at Acts 2 College on 0401 692 690 or principal@ acts2come.wa.edu.au. Divine Mercy Church Pews Would you like to assist, at the same time becoming part of the history of the new Divine Mercy Church in Lower Chittering, by donating a beautifully handcrafted jarrah pew currently under construction, costing only $1,000 each. A beautiful brass plaque with your inscription will be placed at the end of the pew. Please make cheques payable to Divine Mercy Church Building fund and send with inscription to PO Box 8, Bullsbrook WA 6084. Enq: Fr Paul 0427 085 093. Abortion Grief Association Inc A not-for-profit association is looking for premises to establish a Trauma Recovery Centre (pref SOR) in response to increasing demand for our services (ref.www. abortiongrief.asn.au). Enq: Julie (08) 9313 1784. RESOURCE CENTRE FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT - 2013 COURSES Holistic Health Seminar The Instinct to Heal (begins July 25) Thursday 11am-1pm; RCPD2 Internalise Principles of Successful Relationships, and Use Emotional Intelligence and Communication Skills, now on Thursdays 11am-1pm. 197 High St, Fremantle. Bookings essential. Enq: Eva 0409 405 585 or www.rcpd.net.au. Drop-In Centre and Op Shop - Volunteers urgently needed at RCPD, 197 High St, Fremantle. 1) RCPD6 ‘The Cost of Discipleship’ This course combines theology with relationship education and personal/ spiritual awareness by teaching selfanalysis. 2) ‘The Wounded Heart’ Healing for emotional and sexual abuse
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promotes healing and understanding for the victim and the offender. Holistic counselling available - http://members. dodo.com.au/~evalenz/. Would You Not Watch One Hour with Me? Adoration - St Jerome’s, Spearwood We have been able to add Sunday night/ Monday morning to our Adoration Roster. It is now continuous from Wednesday, 6am through to Monday, 10pm. Please pray for new Adorers to keep Jesus company on the two nights (Monday and Tuesday) which still finish at 10pm. Adorers needed urgently: Thursday, 10am, 11am and 12 noon. Please see the roster for other times Adorers are needed. Enq. Mary 0402 289 418. Pilgrimage: Following Christ and His Saints Fr Tim Deeter and Fr Michael Rowe will lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Italy, Jan 6-31, 2014. Israel and Jordan, Rome, Subiaco, Genazzano, Norcia and Cascia in Italy. $7,850 from Perth is allinclusive except your drinks and souvenirs. Enq: casapgf@iinet.net.au or 9271 5253.
PANORAMA The deadline for Panorama is every Friday at 5pm, the week before the edition is published..
C R O S S W O R D ACROSS 1 Number of times each day the soldiers of Joshua marched around Jericho (Josh 6:3) 4 Martyred Salvadoran, Bishop Romero 7 His Holiness 9 An end to repent? 10 NT book 12 First patriarch, to his friends? 13 Direction from Bethlehem to the Jordan 14 Enemies of ancient Israel 17 To do this is human, but to forgive is divine 18 “Do not put the Lord your God to the ___” (Lk 4:12) 21 Fish part for Jonah 23 Biblical animal of transport 24 The Church is the ___ of Christ 26 Our ___ of Lourdes 29 Opus ___ 30 Days of fast and this 33 It burned without being consumed 35 The ___ Dolorosa 37 “…world without ___. Amen” 38 God is the Supreme Being who ___ all things and keeps them in existence 40 OT historical book 41 “Silent ___” 42 Novena number DOWN 2 She takes vows 3 One of the prophets 5 A queen from this country came to hear Solomon speak 6 First NT epistle 7 Aaron was anointed to be this (Ex 30:30) 8 They fill the church 9 Balaam spoke to one (Num
W O R D S L E U T H
22:28) 10 Paul says this is “the pride of a woman” (1 Cor 11:15) 11 “…at the name of Jesus every knee should ___…” (Phil 2:10) 15 What the sea bottom became when Moses parted it 16 “…and there was no man to ___ the ground” (Gen 2:5) 19 “…___ lema sabachthani?” (Mk 15:34) 20 “…the Lord is with ___.” 21 Angelus call 22 “…and ___ us not into temptation…” 23 Amos compared the women of Bashan to these animals (Am 4:1) 24 “Son of” in Hebrew 25 He left sad when Jesus told him to sell all he owned 27 Name of God 28 Number of loaves Christ had to feed the 5,000 29 Lifeless biblical sea 31 A non-coveting commandment 32 Holy day cusp 34 “___ to us a child is born” 36 Evil deed 39 Son of Jacob
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“
From this moment your is set
vocation
”
The week of August 4-11 is National Vocations Week in Australia. The one vocation - the most important vocation - we all share is the universal call to holiness spelled out by Vatican II. This week, The Record looks at the richness of vocation in the Christian life...
Priesthood is not the only vocation in life but there can be no better example of vocation than this remarkable moment captured by the world’s photographers at World Youth Day in Brazil on July 26. Nine-year-old Nathan de Brito broke through the barriers to jump aboard Pope Francis’ Popemobile, announcing to the Holy Father that he wanted to be a priest. The chance encounter brought tears to the Holy Father’s eyes. “You must pray for me,” he told the young Brazilian boy, adding “From this moment your vocation is set!” This week, The Record explores vocation - your vocation, our vocation, the vocation of every member of the Church - single, married, religious or priestly. Read about Nathan’s remarkable encounter on Page 3. PHOTO: L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO, CNS
On the high seas
www... Marriage!
That’s the way!
Fr Francis Ly came to Australia a refugee and now finds fulfilment as a priest in Perth. News edition Page 3
If you want to search for a spouse online, here’s some websites that could help. Vocations Page 6
Pope Francis’ how-to guide for a happy vocation as a priest or religious. Vocations Page 7
Vocations Week 2013
VOCATIONS WEEK 2013
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
WYD a seedbed of vocations By Peter Jesserer Smith HUNDREDS of thousands of young pilgrims from all over the world converged on Rio de Janeiro to join Pope Francis for World Youth Day, but for many of these youth, the road to Rio will also put them on the road to the priesthood or religious life. Many priests and religious credit the Holy Spirit with awakening or confirming their vocations through World Youth Day pilgrimages. “It was a watershed moment,” said Father Jeffrey Gubbiotti, describing the impact his first World Youth Day had on his own vocation. A 17-year-old pilgrim at WYD 1993 in Denver, he had not thought much of a vocation or much about Catholic life outside his own parish. However, seeing the “universality of the Church” awakened in him the realisation that he could give his life to Christ. He recalled that seeing Pope John Paul II and the pilgrims from countries all over the world gathered together in prayer “transfigured” the Church in his eyes. “The Holy Spirit showed me something bigger and transcendent going on here,” he said. What’s more, he saw the witness of young
Praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament at WYD, she felt a call. “The Lord proposed to my heart,” she said. priests and religious not so distant in age from him. “That opened my eyes. I saw they were real people,” said Fr Gubbiotti, now pastor of the Church of the Assumption in Ansonia, Conn. “I finally could identify it as a real possibility in my life.” Sisters Spun From WYD: Before going to 2000 WYD in Rome, Sister of Life Antoniana Maria said she had plans to protect the environment. “I really wanted to make a difference in the world,” she recalled. At 19 years old, she was getting her degree in environmental studies from the University of British Columbia. “I was thinking, ‘I know
Religious life may seem as if it is dying in many parts of the world, but it’s not. Novices look on as Pope Francis meets with those discerning vocations and those on the path to becoming members of religious orders on July 6 in Paul VI hall at the Vatican. PHOTO: TONY GENTILE, REUTERS, CNS
what God’s plan is; it is my plan!’” Praying before the Eucharist in a WYD adoration chapel, she experienced the Holy Spirit calling her in a different direction: to care for post-abortive women and pregnant women in need with the Sisters of Life in New York City. “The Lord proposed to my heart,” she said. Now the vocations director for the Sisters of Life in New York, Sr Antoniana said a third of the order’s 70 sisters have cited WYD as a factor in their vocation. Sr Veronica can also attest that adoring the Eucharistic Christ during exposition with Pope Benedict at the 2005 WYD in Cologne, Germany proved decisive in her own decision to become a contemplative nun. “That really struck me: to adore Jesus with the Holy Father,” Sr Veronica said. While the witness of many priests, religious and lay-
people impressed her, one person’s words struck a chord with her. “I remember one young man from England on fire with the faith, and his last words he shared with me were, ‘Have courage; Jesus has a mission for you.’” The next year, she joined the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. Skateboarder to priest: The Lord also plants the seeds of vocation at World Youth Day in mysterious ways, and that certainly applies to the vocation of Fr Peter Mussett, pastor of the St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center at the University of Colorado in Boulder. At 16 years old, Peter Mussett’s involvement at the 1993 youth gathering differed greatly from the flood of pilgrims in his hometown of Denver: two weeks before WYD, he and his friends found a bunch of World Youth Day yard signs and stole them for fun. The skateboarding punk rocker also took out one reporter’s WYD coverage when he crashed his 1968 Mustang convertible right into the trunk of the reporter’s car, destroying all his equipment. “I came to my vocation in kind of a strange way,” Fr Mussett admitted. But when he learned most of the neighbourhood was Catholic and heading out to see the Pope, Fr Mussett then asked his father to get him a ticket so he could also see John Paul II at the papal Mass. Caught up in the excitement and feeling “religiously Catholic” as he walked with the pilgrims to go to Mass with the Pope, a “very powerful moment” occurred. “My heart just went into my stomach,” he recalled. “I realised the signs I had stolen were the same ones leading people to [the WYD Mass at] Cherry State Park. I thought, ‘I had led all these people astray!’” His friends invited him to smoke pot with them at the portable toilets but, instead, the teen stuck with the pilgrims. “I ended up meeting some real Christians, people who were really willing to pour out the love of the
Pope Francis speaks to a young man in confession during World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. The Pope showed the world his forte as a communicator is the simple, seemingly artless action that resonates powerfully in context.
L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO, CNS
Lord toward me,” Fr Mussett said. “It was a small seed of my vocation, but it was a very important moment.” Six years later, with the Holy Spirit planting many other seeds along the way, including a moral conversion in college, Fr Mussett joined the first class of the new St John Vianney Seminary in Denver in 1999. He and his friends still have the stolen WYD sign they all signed their names onto. One in five vocations: According to the most recent studies done for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), 25 per cent of new religious making their professions reported they had participated in a World Youth Day. Also 20 per cent of newly ordained priests in the Class of 2013 said they went to a WYD before entering the seminary. “It’s quite incredible,” said Fr Shawn McKnight, executive director the USCCB Secretariat
of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. “A small percentage of our Catholic youth go to a World Youth Day, but 20 per cent of those getting ordained have been to one. So it obviously has an impact.” The organisers of this year’s World Youth Day hope that the Rio event will prove as fruitful as previous ones in terms of fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life. “Want to discover your vocation, the calling God has for you?” asks a webpage on the official WYD website providing information about the event’s Vocation Fair, which was located at the Quinta da Boa Vista WYD site. “The Vocation Fair could be the perfect place for you to encounter the will of God.” The webpage states that almost 150 religious congregations and new communities were expected to be represented at the Vocations Fair. To ensure these congregations and communities were accessible to pilgrims, WYD organisers specified that they must be working internationally, not merely locally, and have representatives available who speak other languages as well as Brazil’s native Portuguese. The seeds of vocation planted by the Holy Spirit at World Youth Day, however, need watering through prayer and support from the returning pilgrim’s community, Fr Gubbiotti said. Follow-up flourish: “It’s easy for this to be just a flash-in-the-pan experience,” he recalled. “So it’s very wise to seize on that energy.” His pastor followed up on his teenage zeal by urging him to exercise his gifts and talents in a youth evangelisation group. He said that made all the difference in nourishing his vocation. But, ultimately, Fr Gubbiotti said pilgrims in Rio searching for God’s call for their lives should think of it as a pilgrimage and take it one step at a time. “The best question I ever asked in my life was not: ‘What do you want me to do with my life, God?’ but: ‘What is the next step you want me to take?’” - NCR
VOCATIONS WEEK 2013
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
Even the big men of papal security can’t stop Nathan THE YOUNG boy who told Pope Francis he wanted to be a priest and brought the Holy Father to tears during World Youth Day was greeted with cheers from his classmates when school resumed on July 30. “Your Holiness, I want to be a priest of Christ, a representative of Christ,” de Brito whispered into the ear of Pope Francis on July 26 as the leader of over a billion Catholics travelled through Rio de Janeiro on his way to hear confessions at World Youth Day. De Brito, 9, had jumped hurdles and made his way to the popemobile wearing his Brazilian national soccer team jersey. The boy later told reporters about the emotional exchange, which was also captured on video. “I am going to pray for you, but I ask you to pray for me,” Pope Francis told him. “As of today, your vocation is set,” said the Pope, moved to tears and embracing de Brito. Onlookers noticed that the boy did not want to leave the Holy Father. Only after several attempts did the Pope’s security detail finally take de Brito off the popemobile. Once on the street, de Brito walked next to the popemobile, waving to Francis and blowing him kisses. One of the security guards stopped to console the boy before bringing him back to his waiting family. Brazil’s O Globo TV network reported that Nathan de Brito, 9, came into school in the city of Cabo Rio wearing his World Youth Day apparel and a cross, when his schoolmates broke into applause and gave him “a hero’s welcome”. “Everyone already knew about his desire to be a priest and wanted to know about his encounter with the Pope and how he found the courage to get past the security guards,” the network reported. His friends said they were excited to know that one of their own was very close to the Pope. De Brito’s family also said they feel “very blessed”. “I need to learn a little bit of theology,” de Brito said with a smile, adding that he is ready for “everything” that the priestly vocation demands. During the papal motorcade through Rio on July 26, de Brito broke through the security barrier and climbed onto the popemobile to greet Pope Francis. He expressed his desire to be a priest, and the Holy Father said he would pray for him. “As of today, your vocation is set,” said Francis, moved to tears and embracing de Brito. The emotional encounter was captured on video by VATICAN
Pope writes Ramadan letter to Muslims AS A SIGN of his “esteem and friendship”, Pope Francis said he personally wanted to write this year’s Vatican message to Muslims about to celebrate the end of their month-long Ramadan fast. The Pope’s message, released by the Vatican on August 2, focused on the need for Catholics and Muslims to promote respect for one another, especially through the way they educate their youth. Catholics and Muslims must respect “the religion of the other, its teachings, its symbols, its val-
Following Christ the Priest Every religious congregation and society takes on its own particular way of walking in the footsteps of Jesus. The Church then gets to see many of Jesus’ amazing attributes by looking at each of these groups, and those whom Jesus calls to live in one of these groups can see which attribute rings a bell in their own hearts. The Confraternity of Christ the Priest walks in the footsteps of our compassionate high priest, Jesus, who offered his life, all of it, for the glory of God and the salvation of the human race. The Feast of Christ the Priest – 25 years in Australia What year was the first official Feast of Christ the Priest celebrated in an English-speaking country? 1988, in Australia, after the Confraternity of Christ the Priest was given permission by the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship. As far as we know, in no other English-speaking country has the Feast of Christ the Priest been celebrated officially. But it has in Australia for 25 years, and there is reason to believe that this Feast of Jesus, celebrated on the Thursday after Pentecost, may spread beyond Australia and numerous Spanishspeaking countries, even to become a world-wide feast. Pope Pius XI wrote a Votive Mass in honour of Christ the Priest, which is included in parish Missals, Venerable Pius XII wrote about Christ the Priest in one of his encyclicals, the Second Vatican Council explained in Lumen Gentium that we all share in the Priesthood of Christ by baptism and ordination, Blessed John Paul II frequently prayed the Litany of Jesus the Eternal High Priest. Now the head of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship is from Spain and a keen promoter of this feast. Along with its distinctive missionary work in Australia, the Confraternity of Christ the Priest is working to promote the devotion and Feast of Christ the Priest around the world.
Pope Francis embraces a patient at St Francis of Assisi Hospital, where the Pontiff addressed a group of recovering drug addicts, offering them a message of compassion and hope, on July 24 in Rio de Janeiro. PHOTO: L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO
Brazilian media. Keyla Fernandes, one of de Brito’s teachers, said the 9-year-old has excellent grades and behaviour. “His good behaviour shows the Christian principles that have been rooted in him, such as obedience,” she said. Father Valdir Mesquita, pastor of the parish where de Brito attends Mass, said that de Brito’s encounter with the Pope “will inspire many others to want to be priests”. Ever since de Brito reached age 5 or 6, “he was already saying he wanted to be a priest”, Fr Mesquita said. “This encounter will certainly remain in his heart and will forever change his life.” CNA, NCR
ues”, he said. “Particular respect is due to religious leaders and to places of worship. How painful are attacks on one or other of these!” Most Muslims around the world will begin their Eid al-Fitr celebrations marking the end of their 30-day fast on August 7 or 8. Since 1973, the Vatican has sent formal greetings to Muslims to mark the feast and propose a theme for common reflection. The message is distributed by Vatican diplomats and by Catholic leaders taking part in Eid celebrations. After the 1991 Gulf War, Pope John Paul II also wrote the message himself. - CNS
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VOCATIONS WEEK 2013
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
When you know you’re called By Robert Hiini LEARNING is important but the truest knowledge is the love of God experienced in our own hearts. It is that ineffable understanding which Salvatorian Father Karol Kulczycki SDS tries to pass on in his priestly ministry - at the parish and school in which he serves, and as the leader of 20 Salvatorian priests and brothers serving in Western Australia and Sydney. Born in the Western Polish village of Czernina, Fr Karol has lived out the majority of his priesthood in Western Australia, arriving from Krakow in 1997. In the years since, he has served in parishes in Esperance, Willetton, Merredin, Greenmount and Ocean Reef, as well as being a chaplain to Chisholm and Prendiville colleges. Whereas other religious orders might have a specific area of mission - such as teaching or nursing the motivation of the Salvatorians’ founder Fr John Baptist Jordan SDS was simply to proclaim that Jesus is Our Saviour. Fr Karol said the call and charism, or special gift of the order is found in John 17:3: “And eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” The life of a religious is distinct from that of a diocesan priest in being constituted by, and steeped in, community life. “We grow in the community of religious life and grow as a family and we support each other,” Fr Karol said. “It’s the way we live our lives; how we coordinate certain ministries; how we cooperate and strongly work together. We support each other at a personal level… a family of priests and brothers working in the same direction, supporting each other like a family”. In discerning his own vocation as a young man he did not suffer from the terminal indecision that VATICAN
Francis denounces consumerism POPE FRANCIS denounced consumerism as a poison that threatens true happiness which comes from membership in the Church. The Pope made his remarks on August 4, before praying the Angelus with a noontime crowd in St Peter’s Square. “The encounter with the living Jesus, in the great family that is the Church, fills the
plagues many people’s discernment. He attributes it to the culture of his homeland, at least as it was in the mid to late 1980s when it was common for young people to make long term decisions about their futures at the end of highschool. The Salvatorian Fathers held a holiday retreat and his parish priest asked handed him a flier, asking him if he wanted to go. It was there, during Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament, that the then-18-year-old first felt called. His advice to young men who might have such an inkling echoes that of his countryman, Blessed John Paul II, himself echoing an unceasing message in Scripture. “If people are feeling that call, don’t be afraid to respond to that. We are afraid to make commitments but it is the journey of life. “If you fall in love with someone
then you just respond to that, and you make radical decisions. “Vocation is just falling in love with God. That’s how we build our relationship with him. It is always a struggle to pass on the faith, he said, but the best way is to share “what is alive in your own heart”: “Many people are searching for the more theological responses and they are important to research
because knowledge is essential and important. You can study all the theology but without a personal encounter with Christ, it’s not building anything.” Young men are invited to the Salvatorian Reflection Weekend at 2 Caledonia Ave, Currambine from 3pm, Saturday to 1pm, Sunday, August 17-18. For more information, call Fr Karol Kulczycki SDS on 9304 2907.
Fr Karol Kulczycki SDS, superior of the Salvatorians, preaches with an image of Salvatorian founder Fr John Baptist Jordan SDS in the background.
heart with joy, because it fills it with true life, a profound goodness that does not pass away or decay,” he said. “But this experience must face the daily vanity, the poison of emptiness that insinuates itself into our society based on profit and having (things), that deludes young people with consumerism. Young people are particularly sensitive to the emptiness of meaning and values that surrounds them. And they, unfortunately, pay the consequences.” - CNS
No regrets in half a century for Irish Norbertine priest By Mark Reidy “MY PRIESTHOOD has been a beautiful way of life and I wouldn’t change a moment,” Father Stephen Cooney OPraem reflects with a distinct but faded Irish lilt. It is an impressive statement considering his vocation has extended over five decades and half the globe. Growing up in Ireland in a family of 13 children, Fr Stephen told The Record he had been encom-
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passed by a community of faith that allowed for a seamless transition to his life as priest. “I was surrounded by so many wonderful role models in my neighbourhood... my parents, teachers and priests, that I guess I took for granted the normality of it all,” he said. “I also had an older brother who had entered the priesthood and there were probably 30 to 40 per cent of my classmates who desired to follow the same path.” Despite the hardships inflicted on a large family by a depression and world war, Fr Stephen describes his childhood as “tough, but enjoyable”. Such austerity, and time spent in the army, contributed to the smooth adjustment to the priesthood in 1955. Fr Stephen enjoyed the Norbertine’s marriage of a contemplative and active ministry and embraced their call to “prepare for all good works”. By 1959 he found himself in a far-flung corner of Australia, with the order invited by the Bishop of Perth to reside in the parish of York. With the development of a Priory farm, the running of retreats, a 15-year stint in Queen’s Park and travelling throughout WA to relieve and assist priests, in what he describes as a “parish without boundaries”, Fr Stephen said there
Fr Stephen Cooney has served the Church as a shepherd of its flock for more than 50 years. PHOTO: SUUPLIED
was “never a dull moment” over the next 54 years. It is a life that continues to provide challenges, satisfaction and perpetual motion for this joy-filled octogenarian as he fulfils the daily demands of four separate centres in York, Brookton, Beverley and Pingelly. “My life has been like a dream - it has passed by so fast,” he says with a chuckle. “But I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
VOCATIONS WEEK 2013
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
Patient prayer the key to vocation discernment By Matthew Biddle BRENNAN Sia’s journey from pharmacist to priest will soon be complete, as he prepares to be ordained for the Perth Archdiocese on September 27. The 31-year-old admits he hasn’t been thinking too much about the occasion, preferring to keep his mind focused on his role as deacon. “At the moment I’ve been more occupied with the work in the parish but I think very soon I’ll have to start focusing on the ordination,” he said. “But I’m feeling very good about it, very peaceful about it, and I’m looking forward to it.” Deacon Brennan, who has been assisting at St Mary MacKillop parish in Ballajura for more than a year, said his ordination to the diaconate in December 2012 was a significant step in his journey to the priesthood: “In a sense, becoming a deacon was a bigger step than the step in becoming a priest,” he said. “At the same time, priesthood is a wonderful calling and you take on an even greater responsibility than being a deacon.” After spending five years at St Charles’ Seminary in Guildford and two years at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Deacon Brennan said he had thoroughly enjoyed his time as a seminarian. “Over the years I’ve really
Brennan Sia at his ordination as a deacon in December 2012 at St Mary MacKillop Church in Ballajura.
enjoyed the camaraderie among the seminarians,” he said. “We all have different personalities, but we’ve all got a very common goal in mind, to become priests.” But making the initial decision to enter the seminary only
came after a long period of discernment, Deacon Brennan said. He studied pharmacy at university and subsequently worked full-time in the profession before enrolling at St Charles’ Seminary in 2006. “For me, there was a very
PHOTO: ROBERT HIINI
gradual process of just being more and more aware and being more comfortable with the idea that this is where the Lord wants me to serve him, in the role of being a priest,” he explained. “I had a very strong sense that this was what the Lord
wanted me to do with my life. As I got to know more and more about the priesthood, the more I thought this is something I could see myself being and doing.” However, even upon entering the seminary, Deacon Brennan said uncertainty about his vocation was not entirely quelled. “To be honest, I think that uncertainty was only quelled once the entrance procession started for my ordination Mass,” he said. “Even up to that point there was a lot of nervousness and tension, and even cold feet a little bit.” The former pharmacist said he believes families are an integral part of fostering and encouraging vocations. “Usually a priest in the person’s life has played a significant role, but I think often not far behind is at least a member of the family itself,” he said. “There are certain qualities that most candidates for the priesthood need… a lot of these are normally developed within the family environment in those formative years before they enter the seminary.” The soon-to-be priest said anyone considering a vocation to the priesthood or religious life should be patient and persevering in his or her discernment. “My main advice would be to pray about it, and to really discern and think about it seriously, not just to let it be a fleeting thought and dismiss it too quickly,” he said. “It’s also just as important to find someone they can trust, that they can open up to and talk very frankly and honestly about their vocation.” Brennan Sia will be ordained at St Mary’s Cathedral. For men seeking guidance in their vocation, contact Fr Jean-Noël Antoine Marie on 9223 1372.
Mercy at work across the Pacific – and beyond SISTERS of Mercy in Australia and Papua New Guinea work in traditional ministries in education and health care, and serve the homeless, asylum seekers and refugees, Aboriginal communities including in remote areas, those with mental illnesses, and women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The sisters promote human rights and social justice, and support long-term development projects among the most challenged people in Australia and the Asia Pacific, particularly in PNG and Timor-Lesté. The two years of formal formation for candidates (novices) for the Sisters of Mercy is a discernment period, with time for the development of spiritual and prayer life, theological study, exploration and study of the religious vows, involvement in Mercy community life and apostolic ministry. Mercy candidates from Australia and PNG have the opportunity to spend time together each year in combined formation programs. This year, Mai Nguyen-Doan and Michelle Goh from Melbourne
joined Marianna Kolkia and Janet Andrew in Goroka, PNG for a fourweek program. The time together offered the chance to renew friendships and to meet other sisters and their colleagues in ministry. The candidates explored their own family history, heritage and traditions, discovering the richness and diversity that they bring to Mercy and to the world. Time was also given to examine and reflect on the impact and challenges of Christian mission in the Melanesian cultural context, both historically and in today’s world. The evidence of widespread poverty and lack of access to education, health care and social services in PNG served to remind the candidates of the words of Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy: “The poor need our help today, not next week”. The program explored several Mercy ministries in PNG, such as Mercy Works, whose projects engage in partnerships with local communities to promote justice and human rights, and improve the education, health care, social and
spiritual well-being of the poor and displaced. Participants of the formation program were deeply touched
by the depth of poverty they had witnessed, while enjoying the warmth of friendships, the deeper Mercy connections established,
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Pictured from left to right, Marianna Kolkia, Michelle Goh, Janet Andrew and Mai Nguyen-Doan are candidates for the Sisters of Mercy. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
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VOCATIONS WEEK 2013
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
VOCATIONS WEEK 2013
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
Meeting a spouse online - what about you? AN increasingly secular Aussie society and the effective disappearance of a wide-ranging Catholic social scene poses real problems for Catholic singles who have discerned their vocation is marriage. This is where the internet can prove to be a remarkable help. Are you curious about the people you might meet online, but are reluctant to take that first step? Have you already tried online dating, but are convinced it isn’t for you? Whether you have never tried an online dating site—or you are already using a service or have in the past—Catholic Match’s guide to online dating will answer some of your most fundamental questions, address some of the more common objections, and encourage you to take a closer look at a tool that has benefited the lives of thousands of single Catholics. In the US website’s free e-book, you can find an
The online
THING
Former Pope Benedict XVI’s parents met through a classified advertisement so online dating should not put anyone off, least of all Catholics searching for a spouse in an age when the Catholic social scene has effectively disappeared. Jason King sets out some of the options available to those who have discerned that their vocation is the Sacrament of Christian marriage...
introduction to online dating, tips to improve your profile, best practices for communication and additional resources to help you navigate the world of online dating. Nor should Aussies be put off just because the site is based in the US. Plenty of marriages in Australia, including Catholic ones, have begun on reputable Catholic sites such as Catholic Match. Additionally, the downloadable guide will educate and inspire married Catholics who either work in the Church or simply want to help a friend or family member by encouraging them to join an online dating site. Why not commit to the experience of being a single Catholic in search of God’s plan. All you have to do is be open to meeting other sincere people who love the Catholic faith. God will do the rest. The free downloadable guide is available from www.catholicmatch.com. - USCCB
Path to God’s friendship
T
he United States has over 40 million people registered on over 1,500 online dating sites. These numbers are a bit overwhelming, so it is helpful to go over sites that might be most useful to Catholics. There are two basic types: general dating sites that have large numbers of people and those that are specifically Catholic dating sites. General Dating Sites Match.com typifies a general dating site. You begin by setting up a profile. Match.com asks a series of questions about you, your interests, lifestyle and background and values. At the end of the questions, Match.com encourages you to post a picture of yourself to generate greater interest in your profile. Once your profile is set up, you can search by age, interests, postcode, gender, or even key words. This searching ability is necessary as Match.com has more than 20 million users. (Its already high number of users was increased in 2010 when it absorbed Yahoo! Personals.) If you worry about being able to sort through these numbers yourself, you can use the Match.com sister site, Chemistry.com. Chemistry.com has you take a personality test and then uses this information to suggest people who would be a good match, ideally for long term relationships. Also, Match.com has started organising and sponsoring events and enables its users to sign up for them through their new feature called the The Stir. The site charges around $40 a month for these services, more for a monthto-month contract and less for a sixmonth contract. eHarmony is another large dating site, also around 20 million users, and focuses on people who are interested in marital relationships. To set up a profile on eHarmony, you take a personality questionnaire consisting of over 400 questions. Your answers are analysed by eHarmony’s “patented Compatibility Matching System” that uses personality traits to match individuals. This process eliminates those interested in casual dating and attracts those who are looking for serious relationships. Some believe that this is the reason eHarmony is one of the few online dating sites that has more women than men. eHarmony’s uniqueness and popularity are reflected in its approximately $50
a month cost. While there are other general dating sites, Match.com and eHarmony are the most prominent. Other general sites operate in a similar manner but typically have some features that distinguish them from these two goliaths. The best examples are the totally ad-supported site PlentyOfFish (POF.com) that has no monthly fees and Zoosk that works through Facebook and other social networking sites. These sites have around 10 million users each. These sites can be useful for Catholics for a number of reasons. First, they provide a large pool of potential matches and they all have a large number of Catholics present on them. Second, they all have ways of indicating how important your faith is to you and matching you with people based on this characteristic. The limitation is that it’s up to you to indicate how important your faith is and what values you hold most important. You must take the initiative in attending to those whose faith and morals seem compatible. In short, these sites have lots of people and many useful tools for matching, but it’s your responsibility to make your faith a key component of these matches. Catholic Dating Sites Catholic dating sites have opposite strengths and weaknesses. On the one hand, they make faith and morals central to the process of matching. They facilitate both talking and learning about the faith. Their weakness is that they have smaller numbers of users. Catholic dating sites all function similarly to the general dating sites with profiles, search options and messaging systems. They supplement helping people find matches by providing articles and advice columns about the Catholic faith. Finally, they all charge around $20 a month, lower if you sign up for six months. Catholicmatch and Catholicmingle are two of the more prominent sites. Catholicmatch is run by Acolyte, LLC (whose founder is a Catholic) and seems to be the largest site with approximately 200,000 users. Its perspective is expressed through its seven “Do you agree with the Catholic Church’s teaching on . . .” questions that everyone must answer when they set up their profile. (These questions focus on the Eucharist, premarital sex, contraception, life issues, papal
Wedding rings with the date July 13, 1858, are seen on a reliquary containing the remains of Louis and Marie Zelie Guerin Martin, parents of St Thérèse of Lisieux. The Martins were beatified in 2008. PHOTO: SANCTUARY OF LISIEUX
Marriage - the vocation
Online dating sites can be a sound option for finding a spouse.
infallibility, Mary, and holy orders.) These questions can be answered by agreeing, slightly agreeing, or not agreeing, and the answers are used to find matches. Catholicmingle is for a broad Catholic audience. It seeks to bring together “like-minded Catholic singles” and makes “you feel comfortable expressing yourself as both a Catholic and a single”. Catholicmingle has over 100,000 users. It is run by SparkNetworks, which competes with general dating sites by operating a consortium of niche sites that includes BlackSingles, ChristianMingle, and,
its most famous site, JDate, for Jews. The one site that is slightly different is AveMariaSingles. It focuses on a very specific Catholic audience. The website “pledges to offer a service solely dedicated to helping faithful, practising Catholics find their future spouse and help them become a better follower of Christ”. The site is for Catholics who are able to marry in the Church and opposed to using contraception. Members have discerned a vocation to sacramental marriage but have not yet found the right person. AveMariaSingles offers a slightly different payment plan: a one time fee
PHOTO: ONLINE
of over $150 that allows permanent access to the site. The result of this approach is a highly active membership that is just over 10,000 people. While this list of sites is not exhaustive, it should give you a sense of the kind of sites that are available as well as their popularity and usefulness. Note that coupons and promotional deals for some of these websites, and others, are available at CatholicDatingSites.net. Jason King is the Chairman, Theology Department, at St Vincent College, Latrobe, Philadelphia
WHEN the Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a Christian vocation, it is saying that the couple’s relationship is more than simply their choice to enter a union which is a social and legal institution. In addition to these things, marriage involves a call from God and a response from two people who promise to build, with the help of divine grace, a life-long, intimate and sacramental partnership of love and life. The Second Vatican Council teaches that “all Christians in whatever state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity” (Constitution on the Church, n 40). The call to marriage is a particular way of living the universal call to holiness given to every Christian in the Sacrament of Baptism. The calls to priesthood, or to the vowed religious life, or to the single life are other Christian vocations. Along with marriage, all of them equally though in different ways, are a response to the Lord who says, “Follow me”. The call to love is “the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being”. In the vocation of marriage – something which “is written in the very
nature of man and woman”, we see that “the love of husband and wife becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves” (#1603 and 1604). A vocation is a personal call. It is offered freely and must be accepted freely. Attraction to a certain way of life or to a specific person can be a good sign of being called. Most often a person comes to recognise and accept a vocation gradually. This process, sometimes called discernment, is an opportunity for growth. It can be helped by prayer and guidance from trusted mentors, friends and family. However, what begins as attraction must deepen into conviction and commitment. Those who are called to the married life should be ready to learn what their vocation means and to acquire the virtues and skills needed for a happy and holy marriage. The vocation to marriage is a call to a life of holiness and service within the couple’s own relationship and in their family. As a particular way of following the Lord, this vocation also challenges a couple to live their marriage in a way that expresses God’s truth and love in the world. - USCCB
VOCATIONS WEEK 2013
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
The Joy in the
CALL Speaking to thousands of young people contemplating religious life, Pope Francis highlighted the importance of finding true joy in loving and being loved rather than materialism and fleeting experiences, reports Carol Glatz...
B
E JOYOUS, authentic and loving while resisting fly-by-night commitments, catty gossip and sleek cars, Pope Francis told future priests, brothers and nuns in early July. Vocations don’t come from catchy campaigns or pursuing personal goals; the consecrated life is the result of prayer and answering an “unsettling” yet loving invitation from God, he told some 6,000 seminarians and men and women who were considering religious life. Men and women from 66 nations came to Rome on a four-day pilgrimage as part of the Year of Faith celebrations, which included an informal audience with Pope Francis on July 6 and a papal Mass on July 7. The Pope spent more than 45 minutes speaking off-the-cuff to a packed audience hall, giving young and old a thorough how-to guide on the secrets of a successful vocation. Some of the greatest dangers standing in the way of a happy religious life are materialism and a culture that believes nothing is forever, he said. Even religious men and women have to avoid the temptation of thinking “the latest smartphone, the fastest moped and a car that turns heads” will make them happy, he said. He said it pains him when he sees a nun or priest driving an expensive car, and he praised the beauty of the bicycle, noting his 54-year-old personal secretary, Mgr Alfred Xuereb, gets around on a bike. However, with all the work to be done and distances to be covered, cars are a necessity, he said. Just “get a humbler one” and, if the flashier model still looks tempting, “think about how many children are dying of hunger”, he said. True joy doesn’t come from things or “living on the edge”, having wild, fleeting experiences, he said. “It springs from an encounter, a relation with others, it comes from feeling accepted, understood and loved, and from accepting, understanding and loving” others, he said. Jesus is telling people: “You are important to me, I love you and I’m counting on you”, the Pope said. Opening up to this love and divine call is “the secret of our joy”, he said. “Don’t be afraid of showing the joy of having answered the Lord’s call,” he said, “and of giving witness to his Gospel in service to the Church.”
Joy is contagious, he said, and attracts people to learn more about the source of that happiness. “Please, no nuns or priests with the face of a pickled pepper,” he insisted. “There is no holiness in sadness.” The source of that dissatisfaction and sadness is not celibacy, the Pope said; it’s living a consecrated life that is sterile and lifeless. Nuns and priests are called to be spiritual and pastoral mothers and fathers, bringing life, healing and love to all they meet. The Pope pointed to a petite, elderly nun whom he had spared from the crush of an overexuberant crowd pressing down on her as they sought to shake the Pope’s hand before the audience. The Pope had told a guard to lift her from the fray and give her a front-row seat, safe from the scrum. He said in his talk that he was struck by the sister’s bright eyes and smiling face, despite the difficulties of being squeezed against the barricade, and said she was a beautiful example for everyone. The Pope also told everyone to always be clear and honest with their confessors. Jesus already knows people’s sins, defects and limits, “he just wants you to tell him what he already knows”. Truth and transparency “do good because they make us humble”. Don’t be hypocrites, and practise what is preached, he added.
“In this world in which wealth does harm, it’s necessary we priests, we nuns, all of us are consistent with our poverty,” he said. Midway through his talk, the Pope told the event’s main organiser, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, that he could go on all night, but that someone had better bring everyone “a sandwich and Coca Cola if it goes until tomorrow”.
And finally, the Pope said, never see your own vocation as a job. It’s a relationship. With God. It needs cultivation... The Pope then highlighted the importance of living as a community and avoiding petty gossip and rivalries. The Pope said he was guilty and ashamed of being caught up in gossip and complaining. He said ideally he preferred speaking directly to the people he has a problem with or with someone who can resolve the issue, never talking behind people’s backs “to smear them”. He urged everyone to be contemplative, pray the Rosary and be
a missionary, reaching out to the outcast and disadvantaged. The next day, at Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, the Pope used his homily to offer additional encouragement and wisdom for a happy vocation. “The paschal mystery” of death and resurrection helps shelter religious men and women “from a worldly and triumphalistic view” of their mission and “from the discouragement that can result from trials and failures”. Effective evangelisation can’t be measured by the human notions of success and failure, but only “by becoming conformed to the logic of the Cross of Jesus” of giving oneself totally and completely with love, he said. Vocations come from prayer because it is God who chooses his disciples, not “advertising campaigns or appeals of service and generosity”. Prayer also gives the strength and direction needed to be a courageous, loving apostle. And finally, the Pope said, never see one’s vocation as a job. It’s a relationship with God that requires constant cultivation, being united with Christ, especially “amid the whirlwind of more urgent and heavy duties”, he said. “What counts is to be permeated by the love of Christ, to let oneself be led by the Holy Spirit and to graft one’s own life onto the tree of life,” the Lord’s cross, he said. - CNS
VOCATIONS WEEK 2013
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
The men we are made to be It’s possible the failings of human fathers influence a lot more than we think, reflects Mark Reidy...
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Far Left: A religious wearing a clown nose smiles as Pope Francis meets with patients, family and staff at St Francis of Assisi Hospital on July 24 in Rio de Janeiro. Above: Lucon Rigaud waves as he processes with fellow seminarians in 2011 into St Agnes Cathedral in New York, prior to the ordination of Father John Sureau. Left: Pope Francis greets bishops as he arrives to celebrate Mass with bishops, priests, religious and seminarians on July 27 in the Cathedral of St Sebastian in Rio de Janeiro. PHOTOS: CNS/PAUL HARING/ GREGORY A. SHEMITZ, LONG ISLAND CATHOLIC
AVE you ever wondered why God sent his son and not a daughter to deliver humanity’s salvation? Was it simply because a male figure would garner more attention in a patriarchal, Middle Eastern society? Was it a logical progression to continue the gender dominance of Old Testament prophets? Or did it simply come down to God drawing straws. I am not spiritually or theologically equipped enough to do anything but curiously speculate but, in hindsight, it would appear God knew exactly what he was doing. The recent national tour of a documentary, Absent, highlighted the destructive ripples spreading through the world as a result of men not fulfilling their anointing in today’s world. The film focused particularly on those men who had abandoned their responsibilities as fathers and the devastating personal and social malaise that has resulted. From wars to crime to single mothers, it is difficult to think of a negative social issue that does not have its root in the failure of men. And then we must consider the countless others whose fathers may have been physically present but have inflicted scars on their children through emotional absence. The repercussions of this absence have trickled and then flowed through the past century like an insidious disease, corroding the bedrock of God’s intended plan. For thousands of years there seemed to be a basic understanding that men were protectors and providers and women were gifted with the role of nurturing. According to the producers of Absent, these roles have taken a twist over recent generations, altered by the industrial revolution which drew men to work away from their family homes, thus depriving them of a male presence and role model. This was further disturbed by two world wars and the resulting social and personal upheaval. The chain linking generations of men together, of fathers modelling the Godgiven attributes of leadership, protectors, moral teachers and providers, was damaged, and sons were not receiving the bonding and formation necessary to transition them into a responsible manhood. The absence of mature men providing a process of emotional and physiological guidance from boy to man meant that each subsequent generation became further estranged from God’s intended purpose, and consequently from God himself. Both men and women began to, consciously or
Justin Hunt, director of Absent, on stage discussing the documentary in front of a San Rafael audience. PHOTO: ABSENT
unconsciously, associate the imperfections and failures of earthly fathers with their heavenly one, inevitably linking the escalation of absent fathers with the decline in faith. It became increasingly difficult to reconcile a loving deity, who had always been portrayed as a father figure, with the human males in their lives. It is what made me think of God’s choice of gender. Many surveys have indicated that,
Both men and women, I think, began to associate the failures of earthly fathers with their heavenly one... whether believers or not, most people see Jesus in a positive light. He is the perfection of manhood – loving, passionate, strong, gentle, humble, a protector of the vulnerable and downtrodden, compassionate, sensitive to the pain of others, uncompromising in the face of fear, undeterred by the opinion of others, a seeker of justice, not willing to compromise the truth, and most of all willing to sacrifice himself for another. God the Father, on the other
hand, is often seen as angry, inflexible, officious, distant and judgemental – almost polar opposite to the human Jesus. But if we truly believed in what Jesus taught we would recognise the lie that has been embraced. “If you know me, you will know my Father. From this moment you know him and have seen him,” he told his apostles (John 14:7). In other words, he is the very essence of God, a perfect human reflection, or as we say in Mass, of “one being with the Father”. In hindsight, it makes complete sense that God sent his Son as our Saviour. God created us in his spiritual image and after we used our free will to turn our back on him, he created himself in our physical image. He must have seen the chaos coming and knew the spiritual, emotional and social ramifications of the male species not fulfilling its intended purpose. He must have known that we would distort, misinterpret and misunderstand his true nature. And he must have known that we would need a perfect male role model to turn to if we were to repair the damage. When we come to know Jesus, we will know the true nature and heart of God. And when we come to know the heart of our heavenly Father, we will know exactly what it takes to become the men he intended us to be.
VOCATIONS WEEK 2013
Finding the grace to love perfectly for a lifetime
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
Couples witness Bateman Catholics were provided with a great example of
Only through the Sacrament of Matrimony can a couple receive the grace to love each other unconditionally, faithfully and in the way that perfectly fulfills their vocation.
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An icon depicting the Wedding at Cana, the scene of Christ's first public miracle. PHOTO: PUBLIC SOURCE
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HEN the Catholic Church teaches that marriage between two baptised persons is a sacrament, it is saying that the couple’s relationship expresses in a unique way the unbreakable bond of love between Christ and his people. Like the other six sacraments of the Church, marriage is a sign or symbol which reveals the Lord Jesus and through which his divine life and love are communicated. All seven sacraments were instituted by Christ and were entrusted to the Church to be celebrated in faith within and for the community of believers. The rituals and prayers by which a sacrament is celebrated serve to express visibly what God is doing invisibly. In a sacramental marriage, God’s love becomes present to the spouses in their total union and also flows through them to their family and community. By their permanent, faithful and exclusive giving to each other, symbolised in sexual intercourse, the couple reveals something of God’s unconditional love. The sacrament of Christian marriage involves their entire life as they journey together through the ups and downs of marriage and become more able to give to and receive from each other. Their life becomes sacramental to the extent that the couple cooperates with God’s action in their life and sees themselves as living “in Christ” and Christ
living and acting in their relationship, attitudes and actions. Catholic teaching holds that sacraments bring grace to those who receive them with the proper disposition. Grace is a way of describing how God shares the divine life with us and gives us the help we need to live as followers of Christ. In marriage, the grace of this sacrament brings to the spouses the particular help they need to be faithful and to be good parents. It also helps a couple to serve others beyond their
In a sacramental marriage, God's love becomes present to the spouses in their total union and flows through them to their family and community. immediate family and to show the community that a loving and lasting marriage is both desirable and possible. Pope Paul VI wrote: “By [the Sacrament of Matrimony] husband and wife are strengthened and… consecrated for the faithful accomplishment of their proper duties, for the carrying out of their proper vocation even to perfection, and the Christian witness which is proper to them before the whole world” (Humanae Vitae, n 25). FROM WWW.FORYOURMARRIAGE.ORG
WENTY-three couples took part in a special Mass at Bateman parish on August 3 to celebrate reaching significant wedding anniversaries this year. About 300 people gathered for the annual Mass, which had a particular focus on marriage, and the married couples and their families shared dinner in the parish hall at its conclusion. Each of the couples present, who were celebrating 25, 30, 40, 50, and 55 years of marriage in 2013, were presented with a certificate commemorating their milestone at the end of Mass. Parish priest of St Thomas More, Fr Philip Perreau, said during National Vocations Awareness Week we are called to remember all vocations, including marriage. “I must say, looking at them all smiling, I think I’m getting a vocation crisis,” he joked at the start of the Mass. During his homily, Fr Philip shared several humorous perspectives on marriage. “It is said that when man admits that he is wrong when he knows he has done wrong, he is a good man,” he said. “But when a man admits he’s wrong though he knows he’s right, he’s a married man.”
Couples celebrating major wedding anniversaries in 2013 took part in a special Mass followed by a champagne dinner. PHOTOS: MATTHEW TLOCZEK
Fr Philip went on to assert that couples can struggle sometimes because “they feel that the person they’re living with is not the person they thought they were married to”. “The other person can feel that sometimes their spouse expects perfection in them,” he said. “Often, it's not perfection that we expect from each other in a marriage; often people want their spouse to become like them, to think like them.” But this, Fr Philip reminded the congregation, is not what spouses
commit themselves to when they make their wedding vows. “When you say that you love someone, it’s about seeing always the good in them, in spite of their failings,” he said. “It’s about holding them near to your heart. It’s about caring for and respecting them. It’s about seeking their happiness before all else. “The happiest wife in the world is not the one who marries the best man in the world, but the one who makes the best man of the one she marries.”
Three of the happily married couples who took part in Bateman's Wedding Anniversary Mass.
PHOTO: MATTHEW TLOCZEK
VOCATIONS WEEK 2013
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
to married bliss the joy of holy matrimony, as Matthew Biddle reports...
Following the covenant model of love The unitive love of a married couple should resemble the faithful love of God for his people, demonstrated in the Old Testament covenant with Abraham and Moses.
National Vocations Awareness Week
Holy Hour
Marriage is a commitment by which spouses pledge to each other all aspects of their lives when they recite their wedding vows. PHOTO: CNS
for Vocations
Sunday 11th August 2013 St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth 3-4pm Contact: The Vocations Director Fr Jean-Noël Marie 9223 1372
Come follow me - Matthew 4: 19
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HEN the Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a covenant, it is using an ancient and rich biblical concept to describe how God’s steadfast and exclusive love for his people is a model for the loving union of a married couple. The Old Testament writers trace the relationship between God and the chosen people of Israel by speaking of the covenant he offers to them through Abraham and Moses. This covenant is an invitation to enter into a relationship in which “I will be your God and you will be my people” (see Exodus 19:5ff). A covenant is a commitment which God initiates. The Bible tells a story of Israel repeatedly straying from the demands of this covenantal relationship and God always trying to call the people back to their original commitment (see Jeremiah 22:9 and Hosea 2:4). Despite the fact that the people continually break the covenant, God still promises them a new and everlasting covenant (see Jeremiah 31). These prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In his life, death and resurrection, God manifests in a definitive way his desire to draw us into a loving relationship with him and with one another. St Paul teaches marriage is a preeminent symbol (or sacrament) of the covenant which Christ has with his people. This is because marriage is a commitment by which spouses pledge to each other all aspects of their lives “until death do us part”. But also, in daily acts of kindness, service, mutual love and forgiveness, couples are called to imitate, however
imperfectly, the unconditional love which Christ offers to us. Seeing marriage as rooted in the broader covenant of love between God and humanity has led Pope John Paul II and others to say marriage is a sacrament “from the beginning” and not merely after the coming of Christ. The teaching of the Second Vatican Council (see Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, n 48ff) placed special emphasis on understanding marriage as a covenant, while not ignoring that every marriage also involves contractual obliga-
In daily acts of kindness, service, mutual love and forgiveness, couples are called to imitate the unconditional love Christ offers us. tions between the spouses. Placing covenant at the heart of a marriage shows that the interpersonal relationship of the couple, their unitive love, is what makes all other dimensions of a marriage possible and, in some cases, bearable. Understanding marriage as a covenant which establishes between husband and wife a “partnership of the whole life” in which they “mutually hand over and accept each other” (see Code of Canon Law, c 1055 and c 1057) can greatly enrich our appreciation of this special union that is: (a) sacred in the plan of God; (b) permanent, faithful and fruitful; and (c) a living symbol of God’s love for his people.
VOCATIONS WEEK 2013
therecord.com.au August 7, 2013
Single for a Season Emily Stimpson is the author of The Catholic Girl’s Survival Guide for the Single Years, in which she shares her firsthand advice for Catholic single women who hope to get married one day.
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What prompted you to write this book? How did your own experiences affect this work?
date chastely and who practises the faith (or any faith for that matter). Be supportive about their decision to put God and the Church’s teachings first and stay hopeful for them. In other words, don’t encourage them to compromise what they believe to be right and true, but also don’t consign them to “permanent bachelor” or “old maid” territory just because they’re not married at 35 or 40.
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Mostly, a growing recognition that more and more single women were wrestling with the same issues I’ve wrestled with over the past 15 years, and there weren’t any practical resources from a Catholic perspective to help them in that wrestling. There were books that talked about how to find a spouse, books about how great the single life can be, and books that were memoirs of the single life — but nothing that addressed many of the concrete challenges faced by faithful single Catholic women wanting to get married, still hoping to get married, but trying to live the best life they can now. So my book attempts to give them that resource, addressing not just questions about dating and chastity, but also careers, finances, housing, friendships, coping with depression and more. I address those issues both through explaining what the Church teaches, then offering practical applications of the teaching based on my own and other women’s experiences.
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What is the most important message you want to give to single Catholic women in terms of them having hope in God’s plan for their desire for marriage?
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To trust God. He really does know what he’s doing, and this time of singleness is not unaccounted for. It’s part of his perfect plan to lead us to himself and make us the women he’s calling us to be. Likewise, to never give up hope. It’s never too late to get married. Probably the only expiration date on a vocation to marriage is death. What response have you gotten from your fellow singles?
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Probably the most common is: “It’s so good to know I’m not the only one struggling with these issues.” It’s hard for most women to admit their struggles with singleness, and, because of that, they can end up feeling very alone in it.
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You have an upcoming column about lists versus standards. Can you elaborate on what are the non-negotiables when it comes to looking for a good Catholic spouse?
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What more can the Church do for singles in terms of helping them find their spouses?
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I’m not sure what more the institutional Church can do. Praying during the General Intercessions for singles discerning their vocation, struggling with loneliness or seeking a spouse would be a start. Offering events at parishes that aren’t just for families or couples, but for all adult parishioners would also be great. But the most helpful thing might just be individual Catholics welcoming single people into their homes, introducing singles to each other, and just encouraging us and guiding us as we navigate the dating scene.
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What practical tips would you give your fellow single Catholics?
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To set aside the world’s opinion of what you should be doing or what’s impressive and discern as best you can what God has for you in this moment and do it. Also, to take advantage of all the
opportunities singleness brings: travelling, serving, learning. Spend time with married friends and their children, learning as much as you can from them about the nuts and bolts of family life. Above all, spend time with God. Learn to go to him in all things, and depend upon him for everything. Let him mould you and form you into the person he made you to be so you can live the life he wants you to live.
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This book is for women, but what does it offer Catholic single men?
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More insight into the feminine mind than is probably fair. Besides that, it has some practical advice on vocations, dating, chastity, finances, career decisions, marriage and suffering that I’m hearing some guys are finding helpful. That surprised me, as the book was written for women, but I guess if it works, it works.
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Is there a special saint you’d recommend single Catholics seek the intercession of?
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I’ve dubbed St Catherine of Siena (a lay consecrated virgin), St Edith Stein (a philosopher and religious) and St Gianna Beretta Molla (a wife, mother and doctor) as my book’s three patronesses. I figure between the three of them I’ve got all the vocational bases covered, and, more importantly, each I believe has something very important to teach single women today. Two of them actually were single women for a time in the modern era — St Edith and St Gianna. Accordingly, I think they understand a bit what we’re going through and can offer some particularly powerful assistance to us in our struggles.
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How can families support their single children/grandchildren, etc?
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The most important thing they can do is pray for them. It also helps if they make an effort to understand just how hard it is right now for most Catholic singles to find someone who is willing to
Well, I like to say that love, among other things, means never asking someone to commit a mortal sin. So, in terms of dating, that means only dating someone who loves you and respects you enough to remain chaste while dating and remain open to life after marriage. Also, someone who — if not already a Catholic or a strong Catholic — admires and respects your faith, is interested in learning more about it, and has demonstrated that he desires to grow in both faith and virtue. Our spouses are our life’s companion on the journey to God. They’re supposed to help us grow in holiness, so we want to make sure that the person we marry is going to be a help in that journey and not pull us in the opposite direction.
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Modern culture is very much opposed to a good single Catholic’s way of life. How can Catholic singles best live their singleness in this world we’re living in?
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By being joyful, hopeful, uncompromising witnesses to the truth of the Church’s teachings about femininity, sexuality, vocation and holiness. For anyone, married or single, those teachings are the only path to peace, wholeness and joy. But if no one in the culture sees people walking that path, it’s going to be awfully hard for them to believe that or walk it themselves. - NCR
Pallottine life answers a call to radical openness THE PALLOTINES share a privileged position in the history of the Church in Western Australia. In 1901, a group of four men arrived from overseas to minister to the Indigenous peoples of the Kimberley and from these foundations, for over 100 years, many other Pallottines worked in the outback of Western Australia. Through much of this history and in various locations, we have worked collaboratively with many people - generous volunteers and the Indigenous themselves. Pallotti’s own story of initiative shows from the very beginnings of his own ministry in Rome where he was open to new ideas and sought to challenge the Church of his day. Consecrated life in the Church is a healthy irritant that does give rise to new imperatives and by its character keeps us firmly aware of the world around us. Yet it is also focused on God and
A young man prays during the Eucharist adoration led by Pope Francis at World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. PHOTO: PAUL HARING, CNS
the service to wider communities. For the Australian Pallottines today, there are opportunities in excit-
ing and varied ways. In Western Australia and Victoria, there are parishes and retreat and youth
centres and regionally, through an international presence, Pallottines are found in Asia in different circumstances – from cities like Hong Kong, to the mission parishes in Papua New Guinea and Korea where we serve God’s people through the ordinary means of daily life. But the Pallottine is essentially a man of prayer, following the example of Vincent who was both contemplative and active. We offer open welcome and, as Br Kevin from Melbourne noted recently, Vincent wanted our houses to exude an atmosphere of contemplative silence, this being reflective prayer. But there is also a daring in life, a mischief to be sure – to be more open to God’s yearning and his foolish ideas. What has happened since the first four men arrived in 1901 would seem beyond their wildest
dreams. And yet God was present and the sensitive yearning hearts of both men and women listening, dared to dream. We Pallottines have a rich and diverse history that finds at its heart a role for everyone. In Church-language, we call this ‘vocation’ but I am looking for a more explosive word that expresses the revolutionary idea that is given birth and yet is as old as Wisdom herself. Pallotti reminds us that God calls with an infinite love – the wildest kind of love which is irrational and won’t listen to reason but which is passionate and engrossed in the other. But it is a stirring, provocative love that calls for response – the yea or ... the no, but never indifference! A daring dream or nothing! And so, what is your response, your explosive word? How does our conversation continue...?