The Record Newspaper 09 February 2011

THE R ECORD

Brady coming home, 140 years later

An historic moment for the Church in Perth is set to take place in March

BY BRIDGET SPINKS

PERTH’S first Bishop is coming home, 140 years after he left in controversial circumstances, it has been confirmed.

Perth priest Fr Robert Cross, who is Executive Assistant to Archbishop Hickey and also a trained archaeologist, met with relatives of Bishop John Brady in Ireland in January and gained their permission to bring the remains of the Bishop home from a French provincial graveyard in the village of Amélie-Les-Bains in southern France.

He has actively been pursuing the return of Bishop Brady’s remains to Perth for the last six months.

Among the relatives Fr Cross met were a priest, Fr Eddie Brady, 82, a member of the Missionaries of Africa Order. Fr Brady is a great grand-nephew of Bishop Brady.

Fr Cross also met Bishop Brady’s great-great-grand-niece, Lorna Lavelle, her husband Paddy and two of their sons in Dublin, Ireland.

The family gave its permission for Bishop Brady’s remains to be exhumed and re-interred in Perth, the diocese he founded. Family members were also delighted that Archbishop Hickey wants this to happen, Fr Cross told The Record

After the meeting, Fr Robert Cross travelled to France and visited the gravesite adjacent to the parish church of Amelie-Les-Baines.

The Record has established that Bishop Brady’s grave has also been visited on at least two other occasions, once by Bunbury priest Fr Noel Fitzsimons and on another by Vincentian priest Fr Denis Bourke CM, who wrote The History of the Catholic Church in Western Australia Archbishop Hickey and Mr and Mrs Lavelle joined Fr Cross on 20 January to visit the grave in southern France where they prayed three decades of the Rosary; one in Gaelic, one in French and one in

English. The family told Fr Cross and the Archbishop that Bishop Brady, believed to have been born in 1788, would have spoken Irish, also known as Gaelic, rather than English. When he came

to Australia, he would have been more fluent in French, given that he studied for the priesthood in France and spent his early years on French-speaking Bourbon Island (now called Réunion Island).

When Lorna and Paddy saw the grave for the first time, they were quite moved, Fr Cross said.

“There was a poignant, almost reverential silence,” he said.

The parish priest of Amelie-LesBaines, Pere Elie Raubert, who was unaware that Bishop Brady was buried there, was extremely cooperative and hospitable, Fr Cross said.

He hosted the visitors for lunch, showed them around the town and took them to meet with the civic authorities and funeral director.

Neither the civic authorities nor the funeral director could foresee any difficulties in exhuming the remains and, likewise, Bowra and O’Dea, funeral directors in Perth, have said there should be no complications at this end either, Fr Cross said.

There is no certainty that there will be any remains after 140 years since Bishop Brady’s burial, Fr Cross said.

Amelie-Les-Baines, which lies within sight of the Pyrenees, is a spa town with high concentrations of groundwater. It is possible any human remains may have effectively been dissolved by chemicals in the groundwater.

“Given that, it is necessary for the exhumation to be conducted by an archaeological method to ensure that any human skeletal material and other funerary items are recovered,” Fr Cross said.

When whatever remains of Perth’s first Bishop is exhumed in March and reinterred later in the year in St Mary’s Cathedral Crypt, all but one of Perth’s previous Bishops and Archbishops will be together.

In 2006, Bishops Martin Griver and Matthew Gibney were exhumed from the 1865 section of the Cathedral ready to be reinterred in the new Crypt.

Archbishops Redmond Please turn to Page 9

PRAY TO END ABORTION

Archbishop Barry Hickey contemplates the grave of his predecessor, the first Bishop of Perth, John Brady in the parish graveyard of Amelie-Les-Baines in southern France, above. He photographs it, below, with local parish priest Pere Elie Raubert, at right and relatives of Bishop Brady, Paddy and Lorna Lavelle. PHOTOS: COURTESY FR ROBERT CROSS

SAINTS OF THE WEEK

Miguel Febres Cordero Munoz

1854-1910 February 9

Born with crippled legs to a prominent Ecuadoran family, Francisco was schooled at home until age 9, when he began attending a new school run by

The Parish. The Nation. The World. Find it in The Record.

Editor

Sacraments eagerly beckon for priests in waiting

Bridget Spinks profiles Deacons Anibal Leite da Cunha and Cyprian Shikokoti, two of five Perth Deacons to be ordained to the Priesthood on 4 March at St Mary’s Cathedral

DEACON Anibal Leite da Cunha, who grew up in East Timor, has been experiencing country Western Australia since his ordination to the Diaconate on 20 August at Mary MacKillop parish in Ballajura last year.

He has been based at St Joseph’s parish in Northam since 1 October and is looking forward to being able to administer the Sacraments after his ordination to the priesthood at St Mary’s Cathedral on 4 March.

He said he has learnt a lot from parish priest Fr Andrew Bowron, assisting priest, Fr Richard Ye Mint, from the primary and secondary schools and all the parishioners at Northam. As well as Northam parish, placement included pastoral work in Toodyay, Bakers Hill, Wundowie, Cunderdin, Tammin and Meckering parishes and two aged care villages.

that I’m ready to accept my vocation to the priesthood and I just can’t wait to do my ministry as a priest,” he said.

Deacon Anibal spent seven years in the seminary in East Timor before moving to Perth in 2008. He did six months of pastoral work at Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Hilton and six months at St Mary Star of the Sea, Cottesloe/Mosman Park. He finished his studies at St Charles’ Seminary, Guildford in 2009. On the day of his ordination to the Diaconate last year, Deacon Anibal told The Record that he had wanted to be a priest since he was a teenager.

I would be a missionary priest. I wanted to become a priest and serve another people of another language and nationality; something that would get me out of my own cycle and boundaries.

“Today, I’m not being a missionary priest but I’m going to serve in Australia which is a mission in its own way. I’ll be a diocesan priest, but in Australia. So I’m still doing what I wanted to do earlier on.”

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Deacon Anibal, or “Abi” as he has been nick-named in Northam, has been busy. He has done nine Baptisms, assisted with up to six funerals, visited the hospital and gained experience proclaiming the Gospel as well as singing and preaching.

In the country, he said, the congregation is much smaller but the people are closer.

A small group devoted to Our Lady pray the Rosary before Mass each morning, Monday to Sunday, and Deacon Anibal has been joining them. “It’s a small community but they help a lot. There’s a few of them doing bits and pieces,” he said.

He gives the homily on Wednesdays and weekends and cites the heat and the distance that comes with providing pastoral care in a country parish as his only difficulties. “I hate travelling, besides that I love the ministry that I’m doing; it’s really good,” he said.

Deacon Anibal will be on retreat 7-15 February with his spiritual director to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders. While he is ready to be ordained, there is also the fear of making a mistake, he said, such as saying the wrong thing.

It’s the weakness of being human that frightens him a bit, he said. “But besides

DEACON Cyprian Shikokoti, who grew up in Kenya, has been on placement at St Mary’s Cathedral since his ordination to the Diaconate on 20 August last year. He has assisted at liturgies by proclaiming the Gospel, assisted Archbishop Barry Hickey at Mass, prepared and administered seven Baptisms and is preparing two couples for marriage at St Mary’s Cathedral later this year. He has also visited students in Years 8, 11 and 12 at Mercedes College to discuss life issues such as euthanasia and answered questions about Church teaching on the ordination of women and why he chose to become a priest.

But he couldn’t pinpoint his decision to become a priest to one particular thing because it has been an idea that has taken shape over many years.

It’s been the influence of other priests; the support from his Catholic parents and four siblings; the experience of attending a Catholic primary school, and the minor seminary for high school that inspired him to become a priest. “Through that the idea of becoming a priest in the future started taking shape,” he said. “My hope was that

Deacon Cyprian has been preparing for the priesthood for 11 years. In 1999 he entered the minor seminary in Kenya then studied at the major seminary with the Mill Hill priests and in 2006, at the invitation of Archbishop Hickey, he came to study at St Charles’ Seminary. He said he is feeling tentatively ready to be a priest now that he has completed all the formal formation and is open to getting experiential formation. “I have to learn things on the job. I’ll have to learn how to integrate what I’ve learnt during formation. That brings with it a bit of fear because I know I’ve learnt the things on paper but I don’t know how they’re going to come out in real life,” said Deacon Cyprian, who will be on retreat with a senior priest of the Archdiocese from 14-20 February. He said whenever he talks to people contemplating the priesthood he tells them that it’s worth trying out, even if you won’t make it. “You lose nothing for trying it out. So if you have just the slightest thought about it, throw it in there, and try it out, ” he said. “Of course it’s a very big step for one to take, but it comes if you just make an attempt. If you try it, you reward yourself by saying that you tried it. Of course, the world around you will say, you tried it but it wasn’t meant for you,” he said.

Narrogin Servite founder leaves for India

BY DAVID C HUA

SISTER Nirmala, Founder of Narrogin Servite community, has returned to India after 13 years of service with the elderly, sick and the lonely.

Sr Nirmala, now in her seventies, left on 20 December to return at the request of her Mother General to a Servite community in Bindigil, South India. Sr Nirmala celebrates 60 years as a professed Religious this year. She professed her vows in India, before spending several years with the Servites in the Philippines.

Sr Idaya, a Servite who joined the Narrogin community in 2003, told The Record that Sr Nirmala was one of several who first established the Servite community in Narrogin on 8 February 1998.

Sr Idaya and her fellow Servites continue active service work in the community. Sr Idaya assists the elderly and disabled at an aged care home, while Sisters Sahaya and Nimla assist at a local Catholic primary school. All the Sisters are actively involved with the Narrogin and neighbouring parishes.

Left, Deacon Anibal prepares the monstrance for Adoration while on placement at St Joseph’s, Northam; Right, Deacon Cyprian on placement at St Mary’s Cathedral.

PHOTOS: COURTESY ANIBAL DA CUNHA / BRIDGET SPINKS

Candlemas lights up

St Anne’s celebrates sung Candlemas

BY DAVID C HUA

SAINT Anne’s Church in Belmont celebrated the traditional feast of Candlemas on 2 February with a Holy hour, Benediction, and Missa Cantata (sung Mass) in the Extraordinary Form.

The feast of Candlemas is also known as the Purification of Our Lady, or more commonly the Presentation of Christ, both of which were ritual actions fulfilled by Mary in accordance with Mosaic Law.

The feast, celebrated every year on 2 February, is characterised by a blessing of candles before the Mass, together with a candlelit procession. Up to 50 people attended the Candlemas celebration as the candles were blessed in a ceremony prior to the Mass by celebrant Fr Michael Rowe, after which parishioners processed once around the church grounds.

During the procession, the St Anne’s men’s schola (choir) chanted Latin antiphons and hymns.

Fr Rowe explained in his homily that the feast of Candlemas originated in the 5th century from Pope St Gelasius, who ‘Christianised’ a pagan candlelit ritual in order to sanctify the customs of the Gentiles.

“The Church endeavoured to suppress pagan feasts or change them into Christian ones,” Fr Rowe said.

“Pope St Gelasius ordained that on this day a solemn procession should take place with candles previously blessed.”

Fr Rowe emphasised the relationship between the candles and the Purification of Our Lady by describing the symbolic purity of the candles.

“Bees are very clean insects; they tolerate nothing unclean either in themselves or their hives.

“Thus, the pure wax from which the candles are made represents to us the pure humanity of Our Lord; the clean bees which prepare the wax symbolise Mary, the Virgin Mother of God.

“On Candlemas we should do what the candles teach us, to frequently raise our eyes to heaven, considering that all earthly goods

US scholar visits UNDA

THE University of Notre Dame Australia’s Centre for Faith Ethics and Society will host a free public discussion with business ethicist and leadership coach Dr Mary Gentile on 24 February at St Benedict’s Hall at its Broadway, Sydney campus. Dr Gentile’s focus is on real life experience and ethical

and joys, which the children of the world in all their blind and perverse sense esteem so highly, are vain and fleeting.” St Anne’s Church is the Traditional Latin Mass centre for Perth and celebrates all its Masses in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

For more info on the Traditional Latin Mass contact Fr Rowe on 9444 9604.

action and, as such, this discussion aims to address the questions: “What if I were going to act on my values? What would I say and do? How could I be most effective?”

Dr Gentile created a curriculum for developing the skills, knowledge and commitment required to implement values-based leadership. She is also Senior Research Scholar at Babson College, Massachusetts.

Critical year for youth ministry

THE year 2011 looms as an important year for youth ministry, Bishop Donald Sproxton told the the Annual Youth Leaders’ Commissioning Mass of the Archdiocesan Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) office.

“With the Madrid World Youth Day (WYD) being held in August this year, many young people are looking forward to an encounter with the Pope and with many young people from across the nations,” the prelate said in his homily at St Mary’s Cathedral where youth leaders, priests, families and friends gathered on 3 February.

This event at the Cathedral followed the youth leaders’ retreat weekend at Eagle’s Nest retreat centre to refresh and renew youth leaders in their ministry.

The Annual Youth Leaders’ Commissioning Mass gathers together parish youth leaders, youth leaders in communities, movements and universities alongside the priests, families and friends who support them.

It is a time for commissioning and blessing the youth leaders for a year of ministry in their respective areas of the Church.

“In your ministry, let the young people see Christ through your work … Be open to being surprised and amazed in your ministry and be excited about

taking the Gospel message to young people,” Bishop Sproxton, as the appointed Bishop for Youth in the Archdiocese, said in his annual message to youth leaders to support them in their ministry. As the banners for the eight focus areas of the Australian Vision for CYM were hung around the Cathedral, the first one titled ‘Prayer and Worship’ reminds leaders to keep prayer at the centre of their ministries.

On this night, CYM launched its projects for 2011 which include continuing the catechesis style programmes called ‘Sunday Sesh’ in the parishes, providing monthly meetings and training for youth leaders, an increase in the youth retreats being held and, of course, the pilgrimage to WYD in Madrid. On a regular basis, the weekly Wednesday night Holy Hours will continue. The now fulltime CYM chaplain, Fr Roman Wroblewski SDS, is able to offer more time for spiritual direction with young people and increase the development of spiritual resources and reflections on the CYM website.

For any youth ministry assistance or to connect with the WYD pilgrimage to Madrid, you can contact CYM through cym. com.au, admin@cym.com.au or phone 9422 7912.

& bible.

Healing Mass Mar 2nd

Wednesday, Mar 2nd , also at Como, Final event for this ministry in Perth. Commences at 7.30pm. A collection will be taken up.

Perth Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton concelebrates the Youth Commissioning Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral with Frs Phillip Perreau, Roman Wroblewski SDS, Noel Latt, Joseph Tran, Joe Carroll CSsR, Andrew Albis and Zygmunt Smigowski SDS.

PHOTO: PETER BUI

Above, Belmont parishioners participate in the procession around St Anne’s Church. Below, Fr Michael Rowe blesses the candles as part of the ceremony.

Fr Asaba Lesmurdie’s first diocesan priest

BY BRIDGET SPINKS

KENYAN Fr Kenneth

Asaba’s three-year appointment at the country parish of Southern Cross has been cut short to take over Lesmurdie parish as its first diocesan priest.

The newly appointed parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lesmurdie started his new appointment on 31 January and is already receiving mail at his new address.

Ordained in 2005, Fr Ken said the appointment came as a surprise because he had only been at the country parish of Southern Cross for 15 months and was due to stay for three years.

Archbishop Barry Hickey had to phone him twice last year, asking him personally if he would consider taking up the appointment at Our Lady of Lourdes. Meanwhile, the Oblates will continue their presence at Mazenod College, carry out their prison and aged care ministries in Fremantle and continue to serve the parish of St Patrick’s Basilica and the Italian Chaplaincy.

Oblate Provincial Fr Harry Dyer OMI told The Record last year that the congregation was finding it difficult to “find placements” for the various Oblate ministries due to an ageing clergy in the Oblate congregation Order and a lack of vocations. The Oblate Fathers have cared for the parish since 1955, when Fr Felix Gavin OMI began pastoral work in Lesmurdie before the parish church was built, blessed and opened in 1958.

Fr Kenneth was meant to commence his appointment on 9 January but had planned to return to Kenya for holidays, returning on 30 January. Retired priest Fr Tom Smith has been filling in since the Oblates left on 9 January.

To his surprise, Fr Ken has already received mail addressing him as the parish priest and has also received a warm welcome from the parishioners.

“People are very happy; one even said ‘We’ve been waiting for you for so long.’ I think they knew my appointment was earlier,” he said.

This reception quells any fears he had of not being accepted because parishioners are accustomed to the Oblates and to priests from Europe, England and Ireland.

“Coming in as the first diocesan priest and African as well; it must be quite difficult for them,” he said. “So far they have been very welcoming. They’ve been giving me some encouragement,” he said Fr Asaba was chaplain at Edith Cowan University.

Como’s ‘micro-parishes’ promote deeper faith connection

BY ANTHONY BARICH

COMO parish has established several ‘microcosm’ parish communities that encourage people to think about their Faith more than once a week.

Two years ago, Spiritan Fr Paschal Kearney – who spent 34 years in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Gambia establishing Small Christian Communities – ran a session called Back to Galilee in Como, the same programme he teaches at Maranatha Adult Faith Education centre.

The lay participants of that session established a number of groups, who now congregate at

parishioners’ houses in central, east, north, south, west and north-east parts of the parish boundary.

Tony Pires, one of the organisers of the Small Christian Communities, said feedback forms from the 70-odd people who participate revealed they feel more connected to the parish, are more willing to take on leadership roles, are more attuned to the needs of their fellow parishioners and are more confident about their own Faith.

“Seeing the people becoming more confident in their Faith and being committed more to community and taking leadership roles, taking the initiative in the parish community and growing as

Christian people is most important,” he said.

Groups consist of between eight and 15 people.

“Many are already involved in many parish activities, but it has encouraged further involvement,” Mr Pires said.

The formats of the groups are similar – they read the Gospel for the coming Sunday, spend time in quiet reflection then share their thoughts on the Gospel.

He said this has resulted in Como becoming a real spiritual community; “it’s like a miniature version of a parish,” he said.

He also ran a weekend renewal where people testified at each week-

Jesuit introduces two papal documents to Notre Dame

Notre Dame students introduced to Love, Suffering and the Art of Medicine

BY BRIDGET SPINKS

JESUIT Fr Steve Astill SJ will introduce at least two papal documents to the University of Notre Dame Australia’s (UNDA) theology course at Fremantle, succeeding Mgr Kevin Long as the course coordinator.

Fr Astill, also the newly appointed parish priest of East Fremantle’s Immaculate Conception, will introduce Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 Encyclical Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth) on Integral Human Development In Charity And Truth, and Pope John Paul II’s 1984 Apostolic Letter, Salvifici Dolores (Salvific Suffering), On The Christian Meaning of Human Suffering. He will also introduce Patch Adams, a 1998 film starring Robin Williams based on Dr Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams who had an unconventional approach to medicine.

Mgr Long remains the Rector of St Charles Seminary in Guildford and will continue to teach with Fr Astill at UNDA.

Fr Astill said that students are educated in evidence-based medicine but it was also important to help students to empathise with the person suffering.

“We want human persons as doctors,” he said, adding that he wanted students to reflect on what medicine is really about. “One question for every experienced medical professional is when does the ‘art of medicine’ take over from

in brief...

Papal Blessing for Albany couples

THREE couples from Holy Family parish in Albany received Papal Blessings for their wedding anniversaries through the ini-

the science of medicine? The art of medicine means that the doctor is in tune with the particular patient. You need a little heart that beats with love of your patient,” he said.

All UNDA students study theology as part of the university’s liberal arts approach to education.

But when postgraduate students come to study medicine at UNDA, having already studied for four years, they take theology course MED100, specifically designed for graduates who come in highly educated and widely experienced.

Fr Astill said this programme takes a low-key approach that is thematic rather than doctrinal where the aim is not to convert the students but to educate them.

“The aim is to engage them; to come to an understanding of where they’re at. It’s not about their personal lives but their theology education which will equip them to have a conversation with a patient about God when that’s

tiative of newly installed parish priest Fr Concord Bagaoisan OSJ.

Bernard and Elsie Cook, together with June and Ron Wedd, celebrated 50 years of marriage.

Norma and Jim Doyle celebrated 60 years of marriage.

The Papal Blessings were presented to the couples during a special Mass held in their honour.

end Mass about how it had changed their lives and invited others to become involved.

Mr Pires set up similar groups in Kalgoorlie and Armadale when he was a priest for 25 years. Ordained in 1977 by Archbishop Launcelot Goody at St Mary’s Cathedral, he is now married and runs Como’s RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) programme.

Up to 40 people also attended when Fr Kearney started another eight-week programme, called Back to Galilee, at the North Perth Redemptorist Monastery on 4 February, and many of those people intend to start similar “Christian communities” in the area.

SJOG to host Pilgrimage of Blessings

what the patient wants to do,” he said. “We want them to have a working knowledge and understanding of religious and theological differences. We’re educating students to have a dialogue from where they’re at with regard to the subject of God and the Church”.

“I speak as a Catholic priest; yes, human suffering comes the way of every human being including Jesus Christ whose suffering and death on the cross was real,” he said.

Fr Astill said he will also be teaching the students about Swissborn psychiatrist Dr Elizabeth KüblerRoss’ work on the ‘five stages of grief’ which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance - a process dying patients can pass through (not always in that order) in coming to terms with terminal illness. When a person can say he is at peace, he can rest in peace,” Fr Astill said. “When patients are still in that confusing bargaining stage, it’s hard for them to die in peace.”

Fr Astill brings to the position 17 years of life experience gained while living in Nigeria from 1992 to 2009. He was chaplain to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos for 15 years.

Fr Astill was born in Sydney but grew up in Iran until he was 12 and attended high school with the Marist Brothers in Ashgrove, Brisbane. He entered the novitiate in 1975 in Sydney. After studying at La Trobe University, Melbourne University and Melbourne’s College of Divinity and after completing a one-year ‘tertianship’, Jesuit preparation for final vows, in Detroit, Michigan, he was ordained to the priesthood in Brisbane in 1985. He took final vows in 2006.

Filipino priest starts in Bunbury

RECENTLY ordained Bunbury priest Fr Edwin Ocho, ordained on 23 October 2010 in his home town of Loboc in the Philippines by Bunbury Bishop Gerard Holohan, has returned from Busselton to Bunbury to serve as Parish priest.

SAINT John of God Hospital in Subiaco will host a Pilgrimage of Blessings on 11 February.

A number of Sisters of St John of God and Hospital staff members have been invited to the Blessing Ceremony, where items such as the Hospital’s Heritage Area, Sisters’ Tribute Window, Mary Sculpture and Cross will be blessed. Of special significance is the Sisters’ Tribute window, designed by graphic artist David Walker with the theme “Sisters’ way of healthcare”. The window has four elements: The Cross, The Hands, The Image of Blood and the Sisters’ names.

The hands represent the way “we most eloquently communicate welcome, care, healing and companionship within the many journeys that occur within the life of the hospital,” a statement from SJOGHC said. The window also has the names of the Sisters who have ministered within the hospital since 1898, celebrating their contribution and commitment to the “St John of God way of caring”.

Fr Kenneth Asaba

The Sisters’ Window

Fr Steve Astill SJ

Consecrated secular goes to God

BY VERONICA PEAKE

JOY Peake, who died on 19 October last year, had already led a full life as a wife, mother and active parishioner before becoming a consecrated secular in her late sixties, two years after her husband Gavan died. And it was her husband, with a little help from the Holy Spirit, who kick-started her journey into the Catholic Church.

Joy Peake was born in Bunbury on 28 January 1923 and was schooled, with her brother, by correspondence before boarding at Methodist Ladies College in Claremont for five years.

Settling in Mt Lawley, she was working at a deli close to home where she first met her future husband, Gavan.

One night when she was walking past his house, he was leaning over his front gate, and spoke to her. She

asked him if he would like to make up the fourth player for bridge the next night and so their romance began.

After a week or two, Gavan told her that he would never marry her because she was not a Catholic which rather surprised her because she presumed God would be a uniting God, not a dividing one.

She decided not to worry about it but to leave it instead, entirely in God’s hands.

One night Gavan took her to a Redemptorist mission in Leederville and, to his horror the sermon was on mixed marriages.

Afterwards, Joy decided to go – just out of interest – to have a chat with a Father J J McGrath in Highgate.

The very first sentence the priest uttered bowled mum over. She was hit by the Holy Spirit though she new nothing about Him.

Three months later, on 2 July 1949, she was conditionally baptised into the Catholic faith. After her confirmation at 26 years of age Joy was forever saying that had Gavan decided he no longer wanted to get married she would have replied: “That’s OK. I’ve found what I need to fulfill life’s purpose and I give never ending thanks to God

for using you to lead me to where I’m sure I belong in His Love. May He bless you muchly wherever your life’s journey now leads you.”

The following year they were married and from then on their life was filled with all the dramas and traumas that go with having nine children; the first three years being spent with the first two, living in shacks on the block like so many people did after the war ended.

In her faith life, daily Mass was Joy’s top priority but getting there was becoming difficult. There was no such thing as concelebrated Masses in those days and normally daily public Mass was at 6.30am so she rang the Redemptorist Monastery one day to find out if any of the priests would be celebrating his Mass on the side altar.

As a result, Fr Cecil Dennehy decided they needed another Mass more suited to mothers and all

those whose lives would make the earlier Mass time a difficulty for them. And so the 11am Mass began – which has now been celebrated at the Redemptorist Monastery since 1965.

Mum became a founder, along with a couple of Redemptorist priests, of Group 50 and so began the Catholic Charismatic movement in the Church. Group 50 is still meeting at the monastery on Thursday nights as it has since it began. May she now be rejoicing in the eternal spring time of heaven with God, Mother Mary, and all the family of Heaven with whom she talked daily.

Joy quoted her favourite Scripture verse, Psalm 143:8, on everything she wrote: “Let me hear in the morning of Thy steadfast love, for in Thee I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to Thee I lift up my soul.”

It’s all or nothing for Anglican Catholics

BY ANTHONY BARICH

ANGLICANS entering the Catholic Church through the special Ordinariate established for them must do so with genuine acceptance of the Church’s teachings or not at all, one of its key figures said at a historic gathering last week.

Traditional Anglican Communion Bishop Harry Entwistle, who will host a Festival for the Anglican Ordinariate in Australia at Como parish on 26 February, told the gathering in Coomera on Queensland’s Gold Coast that unity can only exist when there is unity of faith.

With a relic of Thomas Beckett to his left, Bishop Entwistle quoted TS Eliot’s play Murder in the Cathedral, where he gave the martyred Archbishop of Canterbury the line: “Above all things this is the greatest treason, to do the right thing for the wrong reason.” This is critical to Anglicans seeking unity with Rome, Bishop Entwistle said during his homily at an Anglican Mass for unity on 3 February at the Festival that drew 62 people. “Those entering the Ordinariate must be quite clear that we wish to embrace the Catholic faith and not just enter into this Ordinariate because there’s no other option. So we must do it for the right reason, otherwise it’s not real,” he said.

Thomas Becket was martyred at the altar of his own Canterbury Cathedral during a service by King Henry II’s knights and buried in a vault in the church, which was wrecked during the Protestant Reformation.

The relic of his hand, on the altar at the Anglican Festival in Coomera, has been authenticated.

The 1-3 February Festival was historic as it was the first time Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Anglicans who have been received into the Catholic Church have gathered in the one place.

The Queensland Festival also saw two Catholic Bishops celebrating Mass in an Anglican Church – a rare event as it’s often traditional Anglicans who have had to celebrate their Mass in Catholic churches as they have been ostracised from their own Church.

The Mass also included the customary blessing of the candles for Candlemas, otherwise known as the Presentation of the Lord.

Melbourne Auxiliary Bishop Peter Elliott, a former Anglican and delegate for the Holy See for the Australian Ordinariate, celebrated Mass of the Presentation of the Lord with another ex-Anglican Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett of Lismore and Fr John Fleming, a former Anglican priest who was instrumental in advising the traditional Anglicans canonically on how to approach the Holy See for unity.

Catholic and Anglican priests also celebrated the anniversaries of their ordinations on Candlemas.

In his homily at the Queensland Festival, Bishop Entwistle also quoted TS Eliot’s poem Little Gidding, where the writer Bishop Entwislte described as a US “Anglican of Catholic ilk,” said: “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”

This is apt for Anglicans seeking union with Rome, the Bishop said, as “we came from the western Catholic Church where we started, we’ve been up and down, in rough patches; we’re all now where we are starting from, so that we all know it and come to love it”.

Over 50 people have already confirmed their attendance at the 26 February Festival at Holy Family parish in Como, which promises to reveal much about the personal struggles of Anglicans leaving the Church of their forefathers and becoming Catholics.

It will also reveal what attraction the new Ordinariate has for ‘cradle Catholics’ and Anglicans who are struggling to reconcile their own beliefs with the increasing liberalisation of the mainstream Anglican Church.

On 9 November 2009, the Vatican published Pope Benedict’s apostolic constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus (“Groups of Anglicans”) along with specific norms governing the establishment and governance of “personal ordinariates,” structures similar to

dioceses, for former Anglicans who become Catholic. Bishop Elliott said that at the Coomera Festival, “difficult questions were raised frankly”, but added that he was moved when people gave testimonies of their journeys towards the Ordinariate.

“We all came to understand the urgent pastoral need for this unique community in full communion with the Successor of St Peter,” he said. The Bishops met with traditional Anglicans after the Festival and discussed key issues to be sorted out. Top on the list was property – “how the TAC and those Anglicans are going to be able to move into the Ordinariate without losing everything they have”, as Bishop Entwistle said.

Even Bishop Entwistle’s Sts Ninian and Chad parish church in Maylands, a former Catholic East Maylands Mission that the WA Synod of TAC purchased, cannot simply become a Catholic parish without sorting out legal technicalities as the TAC is an incorporated body with properties and

trusts. TAC Bishop Tolowa Nona of the Church of the Torres Strait and his own priests and laity also attended the Coomera Festival, which was hosted by TAC Primate Archbishop John Hepworth of Adelaide, chair of St Stephen’s College where it was held. While Australian Catholic and traditional Anglican prelates are still aiming for Pentecost as the date when the local Ordinariate will be established, “until the CDF (the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) announces it, we can never be certain”, Bishop Entwistle said. Numbers are also hard to predict until the Ordinariate is established, he said. Other festivals are being planned for Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide to inform people as plans for an Australian Ordinariate take shape.

Anyone interested in the 26 February Festival can register by calling 08 9328 4473 or forward a form and fee to Ordinariate Festival, PO Box 457, North Perth WA 6906.

Joy Peake, left, with Fr Owen Ryan

Bishop Peter Elliott Bishop Harry Entwistle

Youth get serious formation in Busselton

BY BRIDGET SPINKS

A MANDURAH-based youth group held its ‘Life for Life’ retreat on 23-26 January at Busselton Baptist campsite, Gums.

Thirty-five young people aged 12 to 20 from Mandurah, Pinjarra, Dawesville and Perth attended the Ministry of FIRE (Fellowship to Inspire to Reach out through the Eucharist) to discover how to live life to its fullest while constantly drawing closer to God.

Guest speakers included Mandurah Catholic College religion teacher Josh Stock who gave a talk on ‘Living Life’ and Chisholm Catholic College religion teacher James Chua who gave two talks: ‘Live for Love’ and ‘The Existence of God’.

University of Notre Dame Australia Law and Politics student and former founding member of Ministry of FIRE (MoF) youth group, Jarrad Goold, gave a talk on ‘Lifelessness’ and Notre Dame education student and the MoF’s new youth group coordinator, Aaron Faure, gave his testimony.

Mandurah Catholic College Head of Religion Richard Sellwood gave a workshop on ‘Prayer’ and Josh Stock led a workshop on ‘Charisms’.

Former MoF youth group coordinator Alicia Sun led a workshop for the girls while Aaron Faure led the workshop for the guys.

Bunbury Vicar General Fr Tony Chiera spoke about Healing and Forgiveness and celebrated Mass on the final day.

‘Live for Life’ is the youth group’s third retreat. The Move was inaugurated in July 2009, when they held their first retreat at Fairbridge, Pinjarra in July 2009 with the second being held at their parish centre in July last year.

Montana McCann (MC), Eliza McKay (Games coordinator), Mark Flatt (Games) and Aaron Faure (Retreat Coordinator), are the group’s current leaders with members coming mainly from Mandurah and Dawesville parishes and surrounds.

The MoF youth group also runs the 4.30 FIRE youth group meetings, fundraisers, and community awareness events such as the Caritas Walk for Water and retreats.

For more information, email ministryoffire@hotmail.com.au or call Aaron on 0425 62 2788 or 9581 2061 or visit: http://www.olaparishmh.org.au/youth.html.

What is Ministry of FIRE?

MINISTRY of FIRE is a Mandurah-based Catholic Youth Group (but in no way limited to those of the Catholic Faith) for the areas of Dawesville, Pinjarra, Rockingham, Mandurah and surrounds.

Ministry of FIRE is run by a group of young people to bring about a coming together in friendship (and a lot of fun) to serve Our Lord God. We want to redefine what a youth group is and grow into an undeniable presence in the Church.

Check out MinistryofFire Mandurah on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/ profile.php?id=100002015744430

First term MINISTRY OF FIRE CALENDAR

2 February to 19 April

6 Feb - 4.30 FIRE Retreat Reunion

13 Feb – 4.30 FIRE Reaching out!

Kicking off our first 4.30 FIRE meeting with a topic on Reaching Out.

20 Feb – 4.30 FIRE Integrity

27 Feb – Service – MoF’s getting hands in service of others.

6 Mar – Summer Night – This is one to bring your friends to. Chill out, catch up and have some awesome fun.

13 Mar – 4.30 FIRE Purple Haze

– Dress in something purple to symbolise the Lenten period.

20 Mar – FIRE Up – Our first FIRE Up where we get deep and connected with Christ.

27 Mar – Bible Study

3 Apr – Summer Night

10 Apr – Service

17 Apr – 4.30 FIRE Joy to the World!

24 Apr – No 4.30 FIRE – Easter Sausage Sizzle, 9.30am Mass

1 May – Easter Picnic

Another overhaul for St Kieran’s Church

BY ANTHONY BARICH

OSBORNE Park parish priest

Fr Michael Gatt is on the brink of completing yet another major overhaul at St Kieran’s – a $300,000 job to replace the roof.

On 20 February, Archbishop Barry Hickey will open the renovated church – an event which will include a special Mass and which all past and present parishioners are invited to attend.

When Maltese-born Fr Gatt arrived at the parish in 2000, much work needed to be done.

Since then he has painted and added a backyard and fencing to the presbytery in 2000.

The hard-working priest has also renovated the parish centre by replacing the roof and adding parking and paving in 2004.

In the past five years, he has

changed the seating plan, installed a centre aisle which was nonexistent initially, changed the lights, replaced the PA system, replaced the fans with airconditioning and installed new carpets.

The ‘new’ church built 27 years ago is a more modern design compared with the previous church building, located adjacent to the new one.

The old church was renovated before Fr Gatt’s arrival in 1985 to include a recreation hall, two meeting rooms, a kitchen, toilet block, mezzanine, verandah and parish hall.

It now serves as the multifunctional parish centre.

As workmen are currently working on the spire of the church with a cherrypicker and the church is a construction site, Fr Gatt has been offering the sacrifice of the Mass for

the past six weeks in the old church building.

After completing his October 2010 pastoral visit to the parish, Archbishop Hickey reported: “Financially, the parish is in good shape, without a debt.

“However, an agreement has been reached to repair the church roof.

“This has involved a grant from Lotteries West, a facility from the Archdiocese and a commitment (of $50,000) from the parish so that the work can be done and paid for in a relatively short time.”

February will prove a big month for Fr Gatt - the secondlongest serving priest at Osborne Park behind Monsignor Albert Longmead (1937-40, 1946-58) – as 3 February marked the 11th anniversary of the first Mass he offered up there.

Above, Jarrad Goold, Montana McCann (MCs) with Caitlan Kerr Wilson. Below, L-R Zach Maxwell, Montana McCann, Jeremey Forrester, Caitlan Kerr Wilson and Mark Flatt play touch rugby at the camp.

Above, the students enjoy themselves at the camp. Below, Mary Depiazzi, Katie Douglas, Caitlan Kerr Wilson enjoy friendship at the event for youth.

Luke Fitzgerald slides during the camp designed to awaken young people’s faith in a fun setting. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MOF ORGANISERS

Workers on the roof of the Osborne Park parish church renovate it at a cost of $300,000.

PHOTO: ANTHONY BARICH

Legals called to join euthanasia fight

BY ANTHONY BARICH

AN Australian Bishop has called on the country’s judiciary to join the Catholic Church’s nationwide fight against euthanasia.

With bills to legalise euthanasia having been introduced or foreshadowed in each of Australia’s State and Federal parliaments, Parramatta Bishop Anthony Fisher OP called on the legal community to join health professionals and others to resist these moves at the 81st Red Mass on 31 January at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral.

During his homily at the Mass to mark the beginning of the new Law Term, he said legalised euthanasia would undermine the legitimacy of the State and its criminal law which has a primary purpose to protect all people from attacks on their life and person.

Bishop Fisher, who completed a Doctorate in Bioethics at the University of Oxford and was a practising solicitor before he entered the seminary, said that even if such a proposal did gain a parliamentary majority, this would not make it right.

“We may be standing on the verge of legalising, somewhere in this country, the killing of those who suffer by those who are comfortable, of the vulnerable by the powerful and of the sick by those professed to heal them,” he told more than 1000 judges, barristers, solicitors, professors and lecturers in law, as well as many law students.

Concelebrating the Red Mass with Fr Peter Joseph, spiritual director of the guild of the city’s Catholic lawyers, the St Thomas More Society, Bishop Anthony drew on the Gospels to remind

the city’s legal community of Christ’s response when asked by a lawyer what he must do and was told by Jesus: ‘you know the Ten Commandments; you must not kill or steal or perjure yourself’ (Luke 18:18-29).

“State-sanctioned killing of the innocent endangers the weak, demonstrates the violence of a Solomoncorrupted and harms the common good,” said Bishop Fisher, who was the chief organiser for World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney.

Bishop Fisher, the youngest prelate in Australia, quoted Pope Benedict XVI’s address to inaugurate the Vatican’s legal year, where he spoke of how Jews and Christians had always been taught that “the resolution of conflicts and the pursuit of justice through legal and rational means ... is indispensable for a truly humane and har-

monious social order.” “The Pope went on to explain that law can be a place where the highest human values and virtues are exemplified; not only justice and mercy, but prudence, courage and more,” Bishop Fisher said at the Mass.

He stressed that love for God and for neighbour can and should inform every legal activity, even the most technical and bureaucratic.

“Justice without charity forgets people; charity without justice degenerates into sentimentality; but if both are found in the practice of law, the common good is serviced and lawyers are the friends of God and humanity,” he said.

He recalled how seven years ago he had suggested that the law could be a path to sanctity, but warned that Solomon – a wise judge responsible for implementing fair and just laws in the Old

Testament – fell from grace as his lust for power and wealth overtook him.

“He is a warning to us all who have experienced the power of the law and the weakness of our own natures,” the Bishop said.

“At the time, I noted that after religious and clerical vocations, the law was the most common [station] amongst the saints,” he said.

The Red Mass dates back to the 12th century when it was celebrated by the Papal courts of Avignon. Over the centuries it became a tradition throughout Europe and on 16 February 1931, the first Red Mass was held in Australia at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney.

Today Red Masses are held at churches across Australia. The new legal year is also marked with special services by Jews, Anglicans and Orthodox Christians.

Dawesville adopts school on Catholic island

Dawesville helps build community of love

BY ANTHONY BARICH

DAWESVILLE Catholic Primary School and its adjacent parish have adopted a school on an island with over 16 volcanoes in the eastern Indonesian archipelago.

Dawesville’s Catholic community has joined nearby Assemblies of God, Baptists and other Christian denominations in the Eastern States to adopt the school situated in a village called Zeu on the “Catholic” island of Flores.

Dawesville Catholic Primary School (DCPS) has personally spent up to $5,000 funding school uniforms for the 150 students, a volleyball court, sporting equipment and the conversion of a storeroom into a principal’s office.

DCPS’ founding principal Steve Dowie will use his six months’ professional renewal leave and long service leave in July to help teach English at the Zeu school with his wife Jenny, who is also a teacher at Dawesville.

Dawesville’s Catholic community will soon help Zeu access electricity, having already helped it to access clean water as well as assisting with the construction of the school, four teacher houses and a toilet block.

St Damien’s parish priest Fr Leon Russell visited Zeu recently with local St Vincent de Paul conference president Vince Spargo while

six teachers from DCPS visited last July. Flores has a Carmelite monastery of nuns and, according to Mr Dowie, has “seminaries all over the island”. Nuns from the nearby city of Bajawa will also start teaching in the Zeu school later this year.

“Without a doubt, the whole environment is Catholic. The liturgy is Catholic and [Fr Maximus, a Salesian priest from Bajawa] now comes to celebrate Mass there once a fortnight in the village, which is great for them,” Fr Russell said.

Zeu is the central congregating place for Catholics of eight surrounding villages who unite there every fortnight for Mass.

Mr Dowie said a local priest told him Flores has more seminarians than anywhere else in the world.

Up to 90 per cent of the island’s 1.5 million population is Catholic, the product of Portuguese missionaries - the only one of its kind in the Indonesian archipelago where most people are Muslim.

Mr Dowie has also enlisted the help of the Leschenaultia St Vincent de Paul Society and would like to enlist any school in Bunbury, Perth, “or Australia for that matter – they need a lot. They’ve got next to nothing”.

Fr Russell said the project is a “great spiritual outreach” for Dawesville’s parish and school community, as it is badly needed by the Indonesian island. “One boy from Zeu walked over 5km every day just to attend school at Bajawa, so building a school in the village has made life easier for them,” Fr Russell said.

Adoration fosters model Catholics

BY ANTHONY BARICH

THE newly opened and dedicated St Damien’s Church in Dawesville has started three hours of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday.

Parish priest Fr Leon Russell said the benefits of adoration, which was started by parish laypeople, are “obvious” to the parish, and attendance is “gradually picking up” though presently it mainly draws the older generation.

“It fosters the sort of prayer life that allows God to be more present among the community, especially in families, and helps model good Catholic people,” Fr Russell said.

“It creates the sense of climate in the church itself as a place of prayer – which in many ways it already is – but it adds to a certain culture and demeanour (that is befitting for a Catholic church).”

The Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the church every Friday from 9am to midday, followed by Mass.

Left, a local student works on the school that the Indonesian islanders have claimed as their own. Above, Dawesville Catholic Primary School Principal Steve Dowie with locals. Bottom, students pray and below, enjoy fraternity.

Keep first things first: a papal admonishment

GUEST EDITORIAL

The Criterion Newspaper of Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

“Above all else, we must try to make sure that people do not lose sight of God” (Pope Benedict XVI, Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times, p 57).

It’s a startlingly simple statement.

Above all else, the Holy Father says, we must make sure that we don’t lose sight of God. Simple, but not easy.

It can be argued that the original sin, the sin of our first parents, was losing sight of God.

As sinful people, we constantly focus on other things - good things, bad things, things that in themselves are neutral - but all too often, as a consequence, we lose sight of God.

That’s why, in response to a question about the most important law, Jesus says, “The first is: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Mk 12:29-31).

THE RECORD

PO Box 3075

Adelaide Terrace PERTH WA 6832

office@therecord.com.au

Tel: (08) 9220 5900

Fax: (08) 9325 4580

Letters to the editor

Long live mothers and fathers

Federal Parliamentarians will shortly resume the marriage debate. The current definition of marriage is seen by some politicians as “out of date.”

They want to make significant changes to the Marriage Act. I believe this will have a negative effect on our country.

Many readers support this union, being married with children.

Approximately eight million Australians believe in marriage because they are in one.

I am a wife and a mother, married to my husband whom I love and who is the father of my children. I believe that marriage is a special union between a man and a woman. I also believe it is an exclusive and very sacred relationship. The tradition of marriage between a man and woman has lasted hundreds of years as a permanent relationship and nurturing environment in which to create and bring up children.

We all know that no marriage is perfect and that is even more reason for society to support men and women and their families who enter into this community.

Research shows that children who grow up with a mother and father are more likely to be well adjusted and able to contribute positively to society. (I know marriages do break down but it does not stop people wanting it and lamenting its passing.)

Children growing up with samesex caregivers do not have the opportunity to be with both their biological parents and experience feminine and masculine parenting.

Girls particularly need their mothers at many significant times in their lives. A mother is of most influence and needed by her son in his early years (see Raising Boys by Steve Bidduph). Mothers have some innate qualities (as I have experienced being a daughter and mother) that only we as women can provide for our children. This is not discriminatory to men - just complementary to parenting.

Article 7.1 of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child state that every “child has the right to know and be raised by their own biological parents”.

Please think now before it is too late how this could alter society for the worse.

I feel so sad that many want to elevate gay relationships to the same status as heterosexual marriage. It is biologically impossible for these to be the same. If you must, call it an agreement or contract but please don’t call it marriage.

Long live marriage between woman and man - husband and wife.

Yours sincerely

Jenni Del Marco Mt Lawley

The First Commandment is to keep God first in our lives, and not be distracted by all the diversions offered to us by the Evil One. All the other commandments flow from this primary focus on God. If God is in the centre of our vision, everything else is seen in its proper perspective.

“Above all else,” Pope Benedict says. This is much more than a casual connecting phrase. It is the heart of the matter.

First and foremost, before everything else, we must try to keep God first in our lives. God cannot be an afterthought. He cannot be someone we think about only when we are in trouble or filled with emotions of fear or joy or gratitude or hopelessness. We must keep God in sight always -- above all else.

Nothing is more important, or more difficult, than keeping God in plain sight. The Church’s liturgy, her sacraments and devotions, her teaching and her charitable works are all designed to help us focus on God as the most important person in our life. The Church works hard to capture and maintain our attention, but there is strong competition, especially today.

The Church constantly strives to help us focus on God, but we must cooperate. We must attend Sunday Mass. We must receive the sacraments - especially the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance. We must participate. We must reach out to those in need. Above all else, whatever we do, we must not lose sight of God.

What happens when we allow other things to take priority in our lives? We lose our way.

We become spiritually empty, unhappy people. We focus on ourselves and on our selfish wants and desires. We forget who we are and how we are supposed to live as free people made in the image and likeness of God.

No one - with the exception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was conceived without sin - succeeds at keeping God in sight all the time. That’s why the Holy Father says, “Above all else, we must try.”

Losing sight of God is part of our sinful human condition. Recovering our sight is the ongoing challenge of discipleship and continuing conversion of life.

How do we maintain - or regain - our vision of God? Pope Benedict provides us with a simple programme. As Church, a community of Christian disciples standing together in faith, the Holy Father says, “The task is to live the faith in an exemplary way, to proclaim it and at the same time to keep this voluntary association, which cuts across all cultures, nations and times, and is not based on external interests, spiritually connected with Christ, and so with God Himself.”

The task is simple but not easy - to live our faith, to proclaim it and, so, stay spiritually connected to God.

Above all else, let’s try to keep first things first. Let’s set aside all the distractions and turn to God as the No 1 priority in our lives.

When God is at the centre of our field of vision, everything else in our dark and dreary world becomes clear and bright.

Baldivis Parish finds permanent venue for church

FATHER Geoffrey Aldous, the parish priest of Baldivis, has found a permanent venue for regular Sunday Mass: Tranby College.

Commencing on Sunday, 20 February, a regular Sunday Mass will be celebrated at 9.30am at Tranby College (entrance off Arpenteur Road).

La Salle takes own boarders

BY ANTHONY BARICH

LA SALLE College in Middle Swan has officially begun taking in its own boarders.

In what has been described as a “big shift”, La Salle College is now personally staffing a building with about 80 boarders at a building which La Salle is renting out.

Ben Calleja is Dean of Boarding, with a roster of two full time and two part time staff and a number of relief staff who look after the students while they’re away from their home.

This is an upgrade from the previous arrangement where 53 boarders – 52 of them Aboriginal – stayed at a boarding house offsite.

The boarding programme is part of a wider scheme with Luurnpa Catholic School in Balgo, whose principal is De La Salle Brother Rick Gaffney.

La Salle College has been taking its Year 11 students there for a community service programme since 2009, where they organise discos, artwork, face painting and sport with the local students.

Once the Luurnpa students are ready for high school a teacher assesses the students, talks to their guardian parents and recruits them to La Salle College.

Narrogin farm retreat is on

BY BRIDGET SPINKS

PILGRIMS of all ages from Bunbury diocese and Perth Archdiocese are invited to Narrogin on 4-6 March for a Youth Farm Spiritual Retreat.

The retreat is organised by Narrogin resident Brendan O’Reilly, the Upper Great Southern World Youth Day youth group coordinator, in collaboration with the MSCCA (Malaysian Singaporean Catholic Community Association) and chaplain Fr Roy Pereira.

The MSCCA has held several fundraising events to raise money to subsidise pilgrims’ WYD costs, including some country and disadvantaged youth. Bunbury Vicar General

As part of La Salle’s outreach to parishes, its boarders also get involved with the Midland parish on Sundays, which La Salle College Principal Debra Sayce told The Record complements the college’s evangelisation plan by helping them understand liturgy.

Mrs Sayce has been appointed as college principal as part of a oneyear swap with Wayne Bull, who will take over her role as Director of

Fr Tony Chiera; Disciples of Jesus member Mario Borg and WYD veteran Joanna Lawson will speak at the retreat and there will be Mass, adoration and Reconciliation.The retreat includes a farm tour of Narrogin Agricultural College and a spit roast on the Saturday night with a pig provided by the O’Reilly pig farm in Narrogin.

Musicians are invited to bring their instruments to contribute to music during Masses and for the Saturday night festivity that will follow Fr Tony’s talk.

The theme for the weekend is Planted in Faith, inspired by the words of St Paul for this year’s WYD, Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith

Nearly 50 participants have already registered. Accommodation is available for 100 but any more weekend retreaters will be billeted out.

“This is a major event for

Religious Education at the Catholic Education Office in Perth.

“It’s a big culture shock for them, but [they] have success because, while we’re not the only school that accepts Aborigines from a remote community, we have lots from the one community so they know each other,” which helps the students enjoy their experience more, said Adrian Martino, La Salle’s Deputy Principal in charge of Boarding.

us,” said Brendan, who has been coordinating the youth in Narrogin since late 2008 when Bunbury Bishop Gerard Holohan began trying to reach out to the country youth.

Youth ministry in Narrogin is usually limited to three youth Masses a year for primary and a few high school aged youth in the town. “There aren’t many young people in Narrogin. That’s all we’ve been able to do. There’s not much interest for a youth group; the parents have talked about it but haven’t got anything off the ground,” Brendan said.

Sunday Mass at 11am as part of the retreat will be unusual for Narrogin. On the first weekend of the month, there is a Saturday Vigil Mass at 6.30pm and a communion service on Sunday at 9.30am.

To register for the retreat, contact Lucas Boon on 0409 518 131 or Colin on 0438 643 070.

La Salle College students from Balgo desert community.

PHOTO: LA SALLE COLLEGE

When art imitates death

Maria Schneider, the French actress who shot to fame for her role in the 1972 movie Last Tango in Paris, died this week, another victim of Hollywood’s obsession with exploiting female actresses for pornography. Is Black Swan just another example?

REVIEW BY CATHERINE GALLO MARTINEZ

It seems that nowadays filmmakers are all about ‘the rollercoaster’ films: films that take us into the world of pleasures and violence, where our physical senses are stimulated by raw and explicit visuals that lack depth or purpose. There is no longer any behaviour with integrity, redemption of evil nor dignity to suffering. Such was the case for Black Swan, a film directed by Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream).

This dark thriller presents the audience with a story about Nina (Natalie Portman), a dedicated ballerina with a mental illness who is misled into entering a disturbed reality of perfection by ballet company director, Thomas (Vincent Cassel).

Although this destroyed her mentally and personally and ultimately killed her, it seemed that

the filmmaker depicted this only to thrill us and provoke our physical senses. He didn’t depict the journey that led to her demise in order to leave us with any moral discernment

or valuable lessons. The filmmaker’s technical production seemed to be highly focused on the ‘shock factor’ element: brooding music scores, horror undertoned mis-en-scenes

and increasingly explicit sexual and violent scenes. In the process of creating this ‘shock factor’ film, the artists behind the film took away the ‘humane’ side to the issues.

In doing so, the audience walked out without any moral conviction. This film is a great example of the relative philosophy in the media: that the road to truth is not thought but feeling.

Like many other young women, Nina struggles with relationships: her mother’s (Barbara Hershey), her rival female ballerina friend, Lily (Mila Kunis) and the relationship with herself. Throughout the film we see Nina trying to find her identity – an identity which is misconstrued by the notion of ‘perfection’: the more you succeed the closer you are to achieving ‘internal’ perfection.

In Nina’s case, success was based on winning the main part in the ballet company’s production of The Swan Queen, a role that was dually good and bad. Nina’s obstacle in becoming the Swan Queen was her inability to be the raw and seductive ‘black swan’.

The film was shot to convey a certain glorification and ‘proudness’ in Nina’s renunciation of her ‘purity’ when she decides to undertake a ‘freeing’ of self – a liberation that will give her the ability to become less ‘frigid’ and portray the black swan in the production.

Early in the film Nina refuses to submit to Thomas’ sexual advances; he pointedly tells her “Yes, you are beautiful but …” and gives her a task to sexually experiment with herself. It’s ‘homework for freeing oneself’.

As the story progresses, the film portrays a modern reality of sex and relationships among the unmarried youth. It is as if the violation of purity throughout the story was calculated. Nina experiments sexually with some men at a nightclub and later with her ballerina friend Please turn to Page 10

The man who made Perth a diocese is set to return

Continued from Page 1

Prendiville, Launcelot Goody and William Foley were exhumed from Karrakatta cemetery in October 2009 and reinterred in the Cathedral Crypt.

Places have been reserved for Bishop Brady and Archbishop Patrick Clune.

The controversy surrounding Bishop Brady is still unsolved.

The missionary who had previously served in the colony of New South Wales in the 1830s and won high regard from some for his saintly character, arrived in Albany in 1843 with Belgian priest Fr John Joostens and Patrick O’Reilly, a catechist.

He visited Rome the following year, asking that a diocese be created for WA, telling authorities

there were approximately two million Aborigines in need of evangelisation.

Rome agreed to the creation of a diocese and appointed Brady as the first Bishop of Perth.

While in Rome, he recruited new clergy for his diocese includ-

ing Benedictines Joseph Serra and Rosendo Salvado, and then other clergy and Religious from France and Ireland including Sisters of Mercy. He returned to Perth with a total party of 28 but soon found difficulty in feeding and financing them.

One party of missionary priests sent to the south-west of WA nearly starved to death, but the seriousness of this was overshadowed by the dispute between Bishop Brady and Bishop Serra.

In 1851, Bishop Brady was suspended by Rome, Serra was

appointed Apostolic Administrator and a series of violent legal disputes between the two and their supporters ensued, dividing the young Church in Perth.

The dispute forced Archbishop Polding of New South Wales to come to Perth to try and settle the issue.

Bishop Brady was at one point excommunicated and left Perth in 1852 for Ireland.

Brady family folklore holds that Bishop Brady was returning from the first Vatican Council in 1871 when he visited the natural springs health resort town of Amélie-LesBains for health reasons.

He subsequently died there.

However, Fr Cross said the issues were complex.

Armchair historians are quick to judge Brady negatively, he said, but a number of factors complicated the matter.

A papal letter from Rome appointing Serra to head the Church in Perth, sent to Port Essington near Darwin, was lost for 12 months and would have been unseen by Bishop Brady.

When in Rome arguing his case, the Vatican office in charge of missions ordered him not to return to Perth but the Pope apparently did.

The Church in Perth was divided along cultural lines between the Spanish and the Irish and it is thought Brady’s understanding of English was poor.

Although he never returned to Perth, he remained its Bishop until his death in 1871 in France.

A portrait of Bishop Brady, above at left, which hangs in the dining room of Cathedral House in Perth. The Bishop’s relatives met by Fr Robert Cross in Ireland, above, including Lorna Lavelle, her husband Paddy; two of their sons and Fr Eddie Brady, 82, a member of the Missionaries of Africa order. Mrs Lavelle is a great-great- grand-niece of Perth’s first Bishop while Fr Brady is a great-grand-nephew of Bishop Brady.

PHOTO: FR ROBERT CROSS

Natalie Portman stars in a scene from the movie Black Swan. When the movie was reviewed by Catholic News Service, a news agency run by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, its reviewer rated it as morally offensive.

PHOTO: CNS PHOTO/FOX SEARCHLIGHT

A stench of death and pseudointellectualism Singing

Continued from Page 9

Lily. She wakes up confused, not sure if that part really happened. Again, there was no redeeming side to this part of the story and the audience is left with explicit visuals for nothing.

The film’s screenwriters use the metaphor that art imitates life. The Swan represents Nina: a girl who couldn’t attain self-confidence or become a woman because of her purity and naivety. In this sense, we can say that her purity served as the internal antagonist for her progression, independence and womanhood. We see an example of this when Thomas publically and crudely asks Nina’s male ballet partner if he would “have sex with her”. The partner replies in the negative. The other ballet dancers smirk and Nina is left ashamed and frustrated at herself.

From this point onwards, Nina’s character intensifies and thus her transformation into a ‘black swan’ begins. Through this process we see her garner success; she gains respect from her dancing team and Thomas.

However, the filmmakers were not cautious to separate which side they supported, what actions they condoned. And I think this is where the story failed. There was no redemptive view of the dark world presented, nor is ‘beauty’ of any use unless you have the sexual experience; talent is not enough unless you are willing to overcome your morality and identity cannot be achieved without sexual liberation.

As a technical production, Black Swan was brilliantly done but the narrative aspect of the film was weak; only Nina’s character development kept the story together. There was inconsistency in character portrayals and broken story links throughout the film.

At the end we are left with characters who seemed to be created without any depth and who were used solely as pawns to corrupt Nina’s character and who ultimately fall prey to her violent schizophrenic attacks.

I don’t think the director did the film or audience any favours by filming the attacks with such intensity; there was a lack of complexity in the way schizophrenia was scripted. But, more importantly, if artists are trying to imitate reality, then what message are we sending by taking away the dignity of suffering?

Art imitates life and so with this film, where the protagonist Nina could be a real representation of some of the struggles facing youth today: a generation of youth obsessed with the rediscovery of self, attainment of identity through the feel-good experiences of life, where there is no longer a sense of the common good or consequences of actions, where happiness is a matter of ‘now’ and of ‘me’. This kind of happiness is something to cultivate for ‘today’; the fruit it bears is in the instant, passing pleasures and self-gratification.

At the end of film, Nina realises that she has mortally wounded herself from one of her violet outbursts. The film culminates simultaneously with the tragic ending of the ballet production when the white swan falls to her death. Likewise in reality, Nina also dies.

This could have been redemptive, but instead this was filmed as a heroic death: a wave of applause breaks out in the background, bright light engulfs Nina and as the centre of attention, she dies slowly with a smile on her face. She dies a heroine; she had won the fight; she attained the duality that caused her sought-after success and now she dies in peace.

The message of this film, as it is in so many aspects of the media, is that we cannot go wrong if we just follow our hearts. The danger is that people thus indoctrinated soon believe what they want to believe and never bother to consider the truth in Christianity that is logical and evidenced.

Artists have an enormous ‘moral’ responsibility when they translate and support ideologies.

But in most cases, even this ‘morality’ is viewed as relative or subjective rather than objective.

This tends to mean two things: firstly, that we can’t reason about morality because it’s just a matter of taste and secondly, that morality is merely indoctrinated behaviour regulation.

But if Black Swan is revered as a masterpiece, and I am here watching myself and other people squirm at the visuals exposed in front of us - a stab in the face, sexual experimentation, drugs, brutality - with no conclusive dignity or redeeming elements - we have to wonder, whether it is true that art imitates life.

If so, then what type of life are we creating?

Catholic Songwriter Audrey Assad talks about her musical journey

BY BARB ERNSTER

Audrey Assad, a 27 year old Phoenix-based singer-songwriter, isn’t afraid to lay bare her soul in music and in her relationship with God. It’s from that point of vulnerability that her success as a Catholic/Christian musician was born.

Assad’s love of literature, the works of Catholic intellectual writers and poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins and Francis Thompson, and feelings even today of “not quite fitting in”, form the basis for her surprise hit CD, The House You’re Building, released last July by Sparrow Records. The standout track Restless comes from St Augustine’s Confessions and addresses her own restlessness and that of a generation whose “relationships have increased in numbers and decreased in depth.”

What was your experience of God and faith as a youth?

I grew up in a small town in New Jersey in a multicultural household. My father is from the Damascus area, and my mother is from the South. We were definitely devout evangelicals. All of my friends growing up

were Catholic. Most of them didn’t go to Mass very often. I remember as young as 7, asking them, “How do you think you’re going to get to heaven?” They would tell me, “By being a good person,” and I would say, “No, the answer is Jesus, and if you don’t know Him, you’re not going to go there.” I went to a couple of Confirmations, First Communions and things like that. I remember thinking it was so foreign, and I didn’t understand what they were doing. I just figured the Catholic Church was for people who wanted some kind of good feeling about being religious.

I believe my love for God was real even at a young age, but I went through my different phases. When I was in high school, I was very outwardly committed to God, but my heart was just not right. I judged people. I was uptight. I had major problems. It got pretty crazy there for a while.

You had what you call a “second conversion,” which sparked a deeper pursuit of God and your songwriting career. What happened at that time?

I have always been a musician since I can remember, but it was pretty much a hobby for me until I turned 19. I tried to write songs a few times, but it just didn’t work for me.

I had a second conversion in my bedroom one day, and it was as if I was hearing God’s voice for the first time ever, so loud and clear, telling me what I was gifted to do. It was

almost instantaneous. I started writing and singing, and from there, it snowballed slowly. That was almost nine years ago.

At the time it felt like God was breathing down my neck. I felt as if he was just pounding at my door: “I am the King of your life.” Now, I look back and I think that it had been a slow process of Him following me around, pursuing me. I had a very strong intellectual vision of God from the time I was five, but I never understood that it was not just about believing in God, but belonging to God, so I had a lot of areas in my

You’ve got a problem when you’ve let your

BY BERNARD TOUTOUNJI

As I write this I am sitting on a train and the girl next to me is listening to her iPod. She is flicking through her playlist to find a song that she likes, however it seems that just because she starts a song does not mean she will finish it. Some songs get ten seconds of play time, some get a minute, but it seems she is not satisfied with the level of enjoyment she is receiving from her playlist (which I assume is made up of songs she herself selected).

This inability to be satisfied is not limited to this young lady, nor is it limited to iPods. This is an age which has a general inability to commit, but perhaps more to the point; this is an age that must be continually entertained.

Commercial radio believes that any piece of music needs to be three minutes or less for fear that we will not ‘commit’ to the song; one

day cricket is becoming increasingly popular at the expense of test matches which require several days of investment; the TV remote control reminds us that there might always be something better on the

next channel. The problem is that when the highest value in one’s life is immediate gratification, we lose the ability to persevere. After all, why spend the afternoon cooking over a hot stove when we can simply reheat

Mila Kunis stars in a scene from the movie Black Swan. The movie has captivated many critics but Catherine Gallo Martinez finds the fact that someone made the movie disturbing.

PHOTO: CNS/FOX SEARCHLIGHT

Audrey Assad’s first album, The House You

of Conversion

heart and mind where He was not welcome. For whatever reason, He chose that night to break through to me. I was in a place where I was looking for direction: What do you want me to do with my life? I never could figure it out.

The reason I couldn’t hear is because there were these major blocks in my life, and that night I gave them up.

Where did you go from there?

I had moved to Florida with my parents when I was 18. I lived there for six years. Then I went to Nashville

because people kept telling me that’s where I had to go if I wanted to write Christian music. I quit my job, packed my car and drove there to live with a friend. I worked different jobs and started connecting with people at EMI and Sparrow Records. After a year and a half, I signed a record deal (with Sparrow Records).

I toured with Matt Maher [who is also Catholic], and that led me to move to Phoenix, where I live now. I’ve also toured with Tenth Avenue North, Chris Tomlin and Jars of Clay. You converted to Catholicism in 2007 and were inspired by the works

of some deep thinkers, including CS Lewis and St Augustine. What drew you to these writers?

When I was thinking about becoming Catholic, that’s who I went to. Catholics usually didn’t know too much about their Church, at least not those who I grew up with, so I thought, I’ll just go above their heads. Of course, it humbled me. It showed me that Catholics had many gifts, not the least of which is a comfort level with the Church that I didn’t understand. I read and read and read. Lewis

isn’t Catholic, but he still helped me become Catholic; [also] Chesterton, Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God; Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence (by Jesuit Father JP de Caussade). When I was converting, I read all kinds of books by Protestants and Catholics, and the weight of the Catholic intellectual tradition tipped the scale in that area for me.

Where does this desire to dig deep into your spiritual self come from?

Necessity; it’s the mother of invention. When you suffer you’re looking for reasons why you’re suffering. I don’t think it’s because I’m really holy.

When you have pain in your life, you’re always wondering why. Is this from God? It’s kind of what your heart naturally does. I hope that God has changed my life to the point to convince me that He’s good no matter what and in any trial. His goodness is apparent and clear to me, and I hope it’ll always be there for me.

How does this transfer to your music?

My first CD — The House You’re Building — came out in July 2010. I’m proud of that record, but I have been humbled and honoured by the amount of attention it’s received. The best I can tell is that it’s reaching people, and that’s because the songs are written from a place of vulnerability. It’s not easy to be honest with people you’ve never met.

The songs are more mature just in terms of skill. The suffering of my recent years with my parents’ divorce brought out an element of depth that wasn’t there in my relationship with God, and the songs reveal that; they’re deeper. The more you live and the more you experience, if you’re walking with God, you know yourself much better and you know Him better, and that’s very evident in this album.

Has your conversion to Catholicism changed how other Christian artists view you?

Not really. It’s been surprisingly easy. The only times it’s ever affected me with music is sometimes the fans get confused. I’ve tried my best to maintain my online presence with my fans. I do notice that a lot of my musical contemporaries tend to be questioning the form of the Church, whether they’re Protestant or whatever. They’re looking for something older and deeper, so there’s been a tidal wave of people turning to Anglicanism and Episcopalianism, which are closer to Catholicism. I’m the token Catholic they can ask questions of, so they’ve been pretty open.

What is next on your agenda?

I’ll be on nationwide tour with Jars of Clay in the spring and recording in June, so we’ll hopefully have the second CD coming out in the fall of 2011.

 NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER

a frozen meal in the microwave? Life, however, is not a microwave, nor is it an iPod or a remote control. Life will not always entertain. There will be times that are joyous and there will be times that are difficult. Life will not always give, so that we can simply lie back and receive.

If we have an inability to look at the bigger picture of life and understand the overall good, then every inconvenience, every suffering, every second listening to a song we do not like, become moments to be avoided at all costs.

Now, of course, this is not to say we must delight in everything we do, but we do need to have an awareness of when we are becoming too quick to ‘change songs’. Life is full of ups and downs, they cannot be avoided.

What happens, for example, when two people who are always used to ‘changing the channel’ get married? What will happen when the inevitable trials of life come upon them? Will they have the ability to see the

greater good and sacrifice immediate self-gratification for the greater good of the other person or the relationship as a whole?

Once we have become serial ‘channel changers’ we find that nothing satisfies. There may always be something better; there may always be more fun to be had elsewhere.

Real and lasting joy, however, can only come through perseverance and commitment to the task and duties before us.

Would Sir Edmund Hillary have reached the top of Mt Everest and been able to appreciate its views if he was seeking immediate pleasure every step of the way?

So go on … think about getting yourself in training. Go for a long walk in the mountains; bake a cake from scratch; listen to an entire symphony. Experience the fullness of the beauty in the world around us. And most importantly; stop flicking though the songs on your iPod!

www.bernardtoutounji.com

Sexy women in bikinis really do inspire some men to see them as objects, according to a 2009 study of male behaviour.

Brain scans revealed that when men are shown pictures of scantily clad women, the region of the brain associated with tool use lights up.

Men were also more likely to associate images of sexualised women with first-person action verbs such as “I push, I grasp, I handle,” said lead researcher Susan Fiske, a psychologist at Princeton University.

And in a “shocking” finding, Fiske noted, some of the men studied showed no activity in the part of the brain that usually responds when a person ponders another’s intentions.

This means that these men see women “as sexually inviting, but they are not thinking about their minds,” Fiske said. “The lack of activation in this social cognition

area is really odd, because it hardly ever happens.”

Fiske and colleagues asked 21 heterosexual male volunteers to first take a test that scores people based on different types of sexist attitudes. The subjects were then shown pictures of both skimpily dressed and fully clothed men and women.

Most of the men best remembered headless photographs of women in bikinis, even if they’d only seen the image for two-tenths of a second, Fiske reported this weekend in Chicago during the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

And the men who scored higher as “hostile sexists”—those who view women as controlling and invaders of male space—didn’t show brain activity that indicates they saw the women in bikinis as humans with thoughts and intentions.

Scientists have seen this absence of activation only once before, in a study where people were shown off-putting photographs of homeless people and drug addicts.

If a similar study was done with women, Fiske told National Geographic News, it would be hard to predict whether a woman shown a scantily clad male body would dehumanise him in the same way.

Evolutionary psychologists have proposed that women tend to look for mates who have wealth and power, so some of Fiske’s colleagues have suggested running a similar test where women are shown pictures of men next to expensive cars or other affluent symbols.

But Fiske doesn’t think such an experiment would work the same way, because women usually react to men they desire by “interpreting their minds, thinking about what they’re interested in, and then trying to please them,” she said.

’re Building, released in July 2010 is available for download on iTunes. Her second CD is due to come out later this year.

Filipino Bishops ready to risk arrest opposing birth control law

THE Catholic Bishops of the Philippines have endorsed a campaign of civil disobedience against aggressive family planning legislation that is due to go into effect in February.

“We, together with our priests, are willing to go to jail to protest this immoral action,” said Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorgoson.

Bishop Nereo Odchimar of Tandag, the president of the Bishops’ conference, has written a pastoral letter urging public opposition to the new legislation. Although he says that the faithful must choose for themselves whether or not to join in public protests, the AsiaNews service reports that the Filipino Bishops are united in a willingness to challenge the law. The new legislation, which is subject to final legislative approval this month, allows for the sale of abortifacient pills, promotes family-planning programmes in schools, and offers no conscience protection for health-care workers.

French Constitutional Council says no to same-sex ‘marriage’

THE French Constitutional Council has ruled that prohibiting same-sex “marriage” in the country does not violate the Constitution. The council noted that only Parliament can change the law. The news comes barely a week after the country’s Senate rejected legislation allowing euthanasia on demand.

Nine judges ruled that according to articles 75 and 144 of the Civil Code, “Marriage is the union between one man and one woman.” They also noted that lawmakers, “acting within their competency, determined that the difference in status between same-sex couples and couples comprised of a man and a woman could justify a difference in treatment with regards to family law.”

“It is not within the competence of the Constitutional Council to substitute its view (for that of the legislature) when taking into account the differences in these situations,” the judges said.

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the prohibition against gay “marriage” by a lesbian couple. The women alleged that without a marriage, their four children would be without certain legal protections.

Corinne Cestino and Sophie Hasslauer, who have been living together for 14 years, stated that marriage “is the only solution to protect their children, to share parental authority, to regulate inheritance and custodial issues in the event that one of them was to die,” the French daily Le Figaro reported. According to a recent survey carried by TNS Sofres, 58 per cent of the French support gay “marriage,” up from 45 per cent in 2006. The adoption of children by same-sex couples is supported by 49 percent, up from 30 per cent in 2001. Gay “marriage” is legal in the European countries of Belgium, Holland, Norway, Sweden and Spain.

Prayer essential for grasping life’s meaning: Benedict

PEOPLE don’t really know who they are or what their life’s purpose is unless they pray regularly, Pope Benedict XVI said. Each day people need “to dedicate the proper amount of time to prayer, to this openness to God, to this journey to seek God in order to see Him and find friendship with Him so that we can experience true life,” the Pope said on 2 February at his weekly general audience dedicated to the life and teaching of St Teresa of Avila, the 16th century mystic and doctor of the Church who “teaches us to truly feel the thirst for God that exists in the depths of our hearts, this desire to see God, to seek God, to speak to God, to be God’s friend”.

“All of us need this friendship, which we must renew day by day,” he said. The Pope said that after a series of talks focusing on women who made important contributions to the Church in the Middle Ages, he would begin dedicating his audience talks to St Teresa and other doctors of the Church, saints who made important contributions to understanding Christian doctrine. “St Teresa is a true master of Christian life for the faithful in every age. In our society, frequently lacking spiritual values, St Teresa teaches us to be untiring witnesses of God, of His presence and His action,” he said.

The Pope said St Teresa’s teaching and example should encourage all Christians to be serious about their prayer, which is an essential part of a truly human life. “Many of us, we must admit, do not really live because we do not experience the essence of our lives. Time for prayer is not wasted time; it’s time in which the path opens toward the fullness of life and to love of God, a burning love for Him and His church and a concrete love for our brothers and sisters.”

Pope’s February prayers urge respect for families

Pope Benedict XVI’s general prayer intention for February is: “That all may respect the family and recognise it for its unmatched contribution to the advancement of society.”

Commission to hear Legion founder’s victims

BY CINDY WOODEN Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY - The Cardinal serving as papal delegate for the Legionaries of Christ has set up a five-man commission to listen to victims of the Legionaries’ founder and present their claims to the order.

Members of the “Outreach Commission” will “listen to the people who are requesting a response from the Legionaries of Christ because of Fr Marcial Maciel (Degollado) or in relation to him,” said a 1 February notice on the Legionaries’ website.

The commission will “deal only with cases having a direct relation to the person of Fr Maciel. It will not intervene in cases awaiting decisions from civil or ecclesiastical courts,” the notice said.

Pope Benedict XVI named Cardinal Velasio De Paolis papal delegate of the Legionaries after it became clear that Fr Maciel, who died in 2008, had fathered children and sexually abused seminarians. Under Pope Benedict’s orders and Cardinal De Paolis’ guidance, the Legionaries of Christ have begun a process of reform and the rewriting of their constitutions.

In October, Cardinal De Paolis said he was forming a commission to rewrite the constitutions, another to handle financial matters and a third “to approach those who in some way put forward claims against the Legion.”

The 1 February statement said the Outreach Commission will be chaired by Mgr Mario Marchesi, vicar general of the Diocese of Cremona, Italy, and will include two Legionary priests: Fr Florencio Sanchez, chaplain at the Legionaries’ Francisco de Vitoria University in

Madrid, and Fr Eduardo RoblesGil, director of the Legionaries’ lay branch, Regnum Christi, in Mexico. The other members of the commission are Fr Silverio Nieto Nunez, a priest of the Archdiocese of Madrid and former judge; and Jorge Adame Goddard, a researcher at the UNAM Juridical Research Institute and a professor of law at the Panamerican University in Mexico City. The Legionaries’ website - www.legionariesofchrist. org - lists a postal address in Rome and an e-mail address for people who want to contact the commission. The members of the Outreach Commission are to write a detailed report on each victim’s statement and present the report to Cardinal

De Paolis, who will consult his advisers and “then make decisions about what the Legion of Christ should do in each case.”

Legionary Fr Alvaro Corcuera, director general of the Order, said the commission’s role is to help the Order “continue facing with seriousness and responsibility our recent history as regards Fr Marcial Maciel’s conduct and the implications and consequences it has had on some people.”

“Insofar as it is humanly possible, we want to close this chapter in its more painful aspects, seek reconciliation and allow justice and charity to prevail,” Fr Corcuera said, according to the published statement.

New Vatican guidelines due on AIDS care

Vatican plans conference, pastoral guidelines on AIDS care

BY JOHN T HAVIS Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican will host international scientists at a conference on AIDS in late May, an encounter Church officials hope will help clarify Pope Benedict XVI’s recent comments on condom use in AIDS prevention, a Vatican official said.

Following the 28 May one-day conference, the Vatican plans to publish a handbook of pastoral guidelines for Catholic health care workers on AIDS care and prevention, Mgr Jean-Marie Mpendawatu, undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, said on 3 February.

Mgr Mpendawatu said the Vatican conference and the subsequent guidelines would take a “global” approach to the AIDS question, and not focus on condoms. But he said the condom issue would be addressed, in the wake of the

recent debate over Pope Benedict’s remarks and a Vatican doctrinal note that followed.

In the book-length interview

Light of the World, published in November, the Pope said that while condoms were not the answer to the AIDS epidemic, the use of condoms may be a sign of moral responsibility in some specific situations when the intention is to reduce the risk of infection. He gave the example of a prostitute.

The papal comments sparked discussion and debate, including among Catholic health care professionals. In December, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued an explanatory note saying the Pope’s remarks did not signify a change in the Church’s moral teaching or its pastoral practice, in particular on birth control.

Mgr Mpendawatu said that among those attending the May conference would be leading scientific experts on AIDS, including Michel Sibide, executive director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/ AIDS. He said ranking Vatican officials would also address the conference, and explain to participants in further detail the points made in the doctrinal congregation’s note.

“Sometimes there is a problem of understanding, of explaining things well: What did the Pope say, really, authentically? What is the thinking of the Pope?” he said.

He said the results of the May conference, which will look at the Church’s global effort to assist AIDS patients, would also represent a contribution to the 6th International AIDS Society scientific conference to be held in Rome from 17-20 July.

Mgr Mpendawatu said the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry would probably issue the pastoral guidelines on AIDS care and prevention some time later in 2011, after review by Vatican doctrinal officials. The pontifical council provides guidance and assistance to Catholic health care institutions, organisations and individual professionals, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

The council also is preparing to update its “Charter for Health Care Workers,” which dates to 1994. The charter was framed by the principle that all health care must be performed in the service of life and with full respect for the human person, and new bioethical issues need to be addressed, he said.

Bishop Nereo Odchimar

St Teresa of Avila

Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, the papal delegate in charge of governing the Legionaries of Christ, leads the ordination of 61 Legionary priests at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome on 24 December 2010. The Cardinal, who is serving as papal delegate for the Legionaries, has established a five-member commission to hear claims from victims of the Order’s founder, Fr Marcial Maciel Degollado.

PHOTO: CNS/PAUL HARING

‘Liberation theology nearly destroyed my faith’: Archbishop

Theologians call for teaching overhaul

European Catholic

the Church

Focolare movement saved Brazilian Archbishop from leaving

BY CAROL GLATZ Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY - The Brazilian Archbishop who now heads the congregation for Religious said he almost abandoned the seminary and the Catholic Church because of the ideological excesses that emerged in the early years of liberation theology.

“Personally, I lived with a lot of anguish during the years of the birth of liberation theology,” Archbishop Joao Braz de Aviz told Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano on 2 February.

In January, Pope Benedict XVI appointed the former Archbishop of Brasilia to head the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

The 63 year old Archbishop said he was studying theology in Rome when the liberation theology movement was building in Latin America, and it was at that time that “I came very close to abandoning my priestly vocation and even the Church.”

But a strong relationship with the Focolare movement and a dedication to its spirituality of unity “saved me,” he said.

Archbishop Braz de Aviz said he appreciated that liberation theology promoted the preferential option for the poor, which represents “the Church’s sincere and

responsible concern for the vast phenomenon of social exclusion.”

But while liberation theology, which saw a strong tie between the spiritual liberation from sin and the need for temporal liberation from poverty and social ills, had positive elements, there were tendencies that needed correction, he said.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith prepared two documents in the 1980s “correcting issues linked to using the Marxist method in the interpretation of reality,” he said.

Christians must understand the option for the poor as a religious obligation and not part of an ideology, he said.

The prefect of the congregation overseeing Religious life in the Catholic Church said that when he was picked for the post, he was concerned that his not being a member of a Religious Order

would somehow be a detriment. But Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican’s secretary of state, told him “it didn’t cause any problems.”

He said his experience with the Focolare movement from the time he was 17 brought him into close contact with many members of Religious Orders and congregations.

Part of the problem behind a lack of vocations in religious life, he said, is because “the influence of today’s individualism and relativism has reached, at least in part, even some areas of consecrated life, diminishing its vigour.”

“The lack of a theological and mystical experience of the Holy Trinity as the source of communion has brought negative statements about community life,” such as when some Religious say the biggest penance they face is communal living, he said.

The Archbishop said consecrated men and women need to explore more deeply the mystery of God to strengthen their relationships with others. By truly understanding that God is love and that all people are created in His image, men and women living in a Religious community will be better able to see those they live with as an opportunity to experience God and love, he said.

When asked about the problem of misunderstandings between Religious congregations and local Bishops, Archbishop Braz de Aviz said, “When autonomy and dependence became experiences of love, then obedience and authority reach a balance and foster great inner joy.”

theologians call for end to Church teachings regarding women priests, same-sex marriages, celibacy, divorce, liturgy

WASHINGTON - More than 140 Catholic theologians from universities in Austria, Germany and Switzerland called for the Church to end priestly celibacy, ordain women and allow laypeople to help select Bishops, among other changes.

The 143 professors said their appeal on 4 February was made in response to the clergy sexual abuse scandals that surfaced in Europe in 2010 and that they no longer could remain silent in the face of what they say is a lingering crisis within the Catholic Church.

The theologians, who also called for the Church to welcome same-sex couples and divorced and remarried couples, said their statement was issued to open a discussion about the future of the Church.

“We have the responsibility to contribute to a new start,” the statement said.

“It looks like we struck a nerve,” said Judith Konemann, a professor from Munster and one of the signatories, reported the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Most of the changes sought by the theologians have no chance of being adopted since the Church considers them nondebatable issues.

The Church teaches that it has no right to ordain women

Confession app to break down barriers

Developers of new app say it could bring Catholics back to confession

SOUTH BEND, Indiana (CNS)

- Can modern technology help strengthen our faith? Some technosavvy Catholics from South Bend think so.

In his message for the 2011 World Communications Day, Pope Benedict XVI said it’s not enough to just “proclaim the Gospel through the new media,” but one must also “witness consistently.” The developers of “Confession: A Roman Catholic App” for Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch think their product helps people do both.

Brothers Patrick and Chip Leinen and their friend Ryan Kreager said feedback has been positive. The app, reportedly the only one with an imprimatur, is designed to help people make a better confession.

Given in this case by Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort WayneSouth Bend, an imprimatur is an official declaration by a Church authority that a book or other printed work may be published. It declares the published work contains nothing offensive to Catholic teaching on faith and morals.

“The app is really built for

two kinds of people,” Kreager explained. “For Catholics who go to Confession regularly, it gives the user information. They enter their name, age, their sex, their vocation and their last confession date, and it generates an examination of conscience based on that information.”

Centred on the Ten Commandments, the examination would be different for a young mother than for a teenage boy, for example. The examinations were provided by two different priests, the app developers said.

In addition to helping Catholics

who already make use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Kreager said the Confession app is helping another group of people.

“It’s also for people who’ve been away from the Church and want the opportunity to go to Confession,” he told Today’s Catholic, newspaper of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese. “You go to the examination of conscience and it literally walks you through, step by step, your confessions as you’re in the confessional.”

Patrick Leinen said that during testing, a man who hadn’t been to confession in 20 years used the app and made his way back to the sacrament.

“Just the fact that someone had used the app like that, even before it was released to Apple. ... That’s the coolest thing in the world!” he said.

Serving as a kind of digital notebook designed to help people remember the various prayers as well as to list the sins they want to confess, the confession app provides several versions of the act of contrition, including one in Latin.

Melanie Williams, a 17 year old junior at Marian High School in Mishawaka, said going to confession is an important part of her life. A fan of technology, she appreciates the customised examination of conscience. “It makes me evaluate my personal situation in life,” she

to the priesthood, and it teaches that any sexual activity outside marriage, understood to be between a woman and a man only, is sinful.

Regarding divorce and remarriage, in the Catholic Church civil divorce doesn’t exclude one from the sacraments.

A person cannot receive the sacraments if he or she remarries outside the Church while still bound by a previous marriage.

The German Bishops’ Conference said it would discuss the proposals at a mid-March meeting.

Pope Benedict XVI will visit his native Germany from 22-25 September.

The theologians’ appeal comes two weeks after a group of prominent German politicians urged the Bishops to ordain older married men because of the dwindling number of priests.

The German Bishops have said two-thirds of all parishes will not have their own priest by 2020 and have embarked on an effort to merge parishes in response.

Enacting the reforms the theologians outlined would attract people back to the Church, the statement said.

“The Church needs married priests and women in Church ministry,” the theologians said.

The Church should not “shut out people who live in love, loyalty and mutual support as same-sex couples or remarried divorced people,” they said.

The professors also questioned actions by Pope Benedict that have brought back older worship practices.

“The liturgy must not be frozen in traditionalism,” they said.

- Catholic News Service

Signs of hope in Iraq

said, noting how easy it is for her to understand and remember the sins she wants to confess. “My favourite part is definitely the inspirational quote that pops up after you have gone to Confession. Each time I feel like it really tells me what I really need to hear at that moment. It is a great motivational tool after a good Confession.” In addition to customising each user’s list, everything is password-protected for privacy.

“Once you go to Confession, all that information is wiped out,” said Kreager. “All it’s going to remember is personal data like your name, age and date of last Confession.”

The three developers of the Confession app named their company Littleiapps - little “i” as in “I must decrease and He must increase,” explained Chip Leinen. They say they hope to create more Catholic apps in the future. “I think it has the potential to bring many teens back to the faith and Confession,” said Williams, adding that she knows kids who haven’t been to Confession in years for various reasons. “I think this app will be a wonderful helper for teens to encourage them to go to Confession. They won’t have the excuse that they don’t know how to go to Confession anymore.”

For information on downloading the confession app, go to www.littleiapps.com.

THE Archdiocese of Arbil in northern Iraq has announced plans for the construction of a university and hospital. Both projects come in response to the increasing number of Christians moving into the area, including skilled professionals trained in education and medicine.

On 31 January, the regional government guaranteed the local Archdiocese a gift of two pieces of land for the projects. The university and hospital will be run by the Church and owned by the Archdiocese but will be open to all people regardless of their religious or political preferences.

Archbishop Bashar Warda of Arbil said construction of the university and hospital would provide jobs, training and other opportunities to thousands of Christians. “We do not want Christians to leave Iraq,” Archbishop Warda said.

“It is clear that our society needs schools, universities and hospitals and this provides us with an opportunity to encourage the Christians to build a future for themselves here.”

Archbishop Joao Braz de Aviz

‘Benedict sees Educational emergency’ in flight from truth

POPE Benedict XVI spoke of an “educational emergency” caused by relativism in a 7 February address to members of the Congregation for Catholic Education.

“Educational work seems to be becoming ever more arduous because, in a culture which all too often makes relativism its creed, the light of truth is lacking,” the Pope said. “Indeed, it is considered dangerous even to speak about truth, thus instilling doubt about the basic values of individual and community life.”

The Pope devoted most of his talk to the role of Catholic universities in pursuing and defending truth.

Bishops join Jews, Protestants to defend marriage

THE Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts are joining with Jewish and Protestant groups to defend a Federal law that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

The Massachusetts Catholic Conference (MCC) has joined with 17 other major Catholic, Jewish and Protestant groups in filing an amicus brief on 27 January in support of the Federal Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA).

DOMA became law in 1996 and defines marriage for Federal purposes as the union of one man and one woman.

The Federal case is now before the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston.

The brief is urging the Federal court to overturn a decision last July that struck down DOMA on Federal constitutional grounds, as applied to Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage is recognised by the State’s Supreme Judicial Court.

The groups affirmed to the court that despite theological differences, they are united in their view of the social and legal importance of thus defining marriage. The brief faulted the trial judge for characterising DOMA as a product of bigotry.

It affirmed that the groups are “united in condemning hatred and mistreatment of homosexuals” and that “God calls us to love homosexual persons.” But it also asserted that “we steadfastly defend our belief that traditional marriage is both divinely ordained and experientially best for families and society.”

“This considered judgement is informed by our moral reasoning, our religious convictions, and our long experience counselling and ministering to adults and children,” the groups affirmed.

They protested the district court’s ruling that Congress “could only have been motivated by bigotry against homosexuals - and, hence, by implication, that our own support for DOMA and traditional marriage is so motivated,” calling this “inaccurate and unfair.”

The challenge to DOMA could go to the US Supreme Court, especially if the lower court ruling is affirmed.

Vatican to update bioethics teachings

Vatican to update bioethics guidelines for Catholic health care workers

BY ALAN HOLDREN Catholic News Agency

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican department in charge of supporting Catholic health care workers has announced that it will soon release updated guidelines on bioethics issues.

The guidelines offered in the “Charter for Health Care Workers” provide a point of reference on Church teaching for medical professionals. It is being updated to provide current teaching on complex topics in the health care field like stem-cell research, reproductive issues, euthanasia and abortion.

Representatives from the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Workers spoke to journalists about the theme on 3 February after presenting the Pope’s message for the 19th World Day for the Sick.

Bishop Jose L Redrado, secretary of the council, said Catholic facilities are battling a “culture of death.”

In Phoenix, Arizona, one such clash involved doctors at a Catholic hospital choosing to abort the child of a mother with severe pulmonary hypertension.

Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix reacted to the news of the abortion by ordering an investigation and, after attempting to reconcile differences with the hospital staff, stripped the facility of its Catholic identity.

These types of cases demonstrate that there is a need to translate Church teaching into terms that are understandable in “modern society,” Redrado said.

“The language should be clear, explaining what the Church says, where the frontiers are, where there is a risk of crossing the line.”

Under-secretary of the council, Mgr Jean-Marie Mpendawatu, sug-

gested that the revised document could serve to reduce the “mystification” attached to bioethical themes and offer health workers the truth of Catholic Church teaching in the area.

The Monsignor lamented the way that “invasive ideologies” often bury authentic Catholic Church teaching on issues of bioethics. He referred specifically to reproductive issues and the use of adult stem-cell research and treatment.

“Many say that the Church on stem cells is behind the times, it doesn’t want to do anything, it’s not interested.” But the Church has

centres for developing and promoting ethical treatments using nonembryonic stem cells, “centres also of research and treatment using (adult) stem cells.” he said.

The council, led by Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, is in contact with Catholic institutions to pair their knowledge with Vaticanapproved doctrine.

Bioethics centres and Bishops’ conferences throughout the world are contributing. Mgr Mpendawatu said that it could be “very important” for the formation of health care workers who are often not trained specifically in bioethics.

Net ‘useful’ for seminary life

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The Internet can be a valuable tool for Catholic education and evangelisation, and its proper use should be encouraged in seminaries as well as other Church institutions, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“Internet, with its capacity to reach across distances and put people in contact, offers great possibilities for the Church and her mission,” the Pope said in an address to members of the Congregation for Catholic Education holding their plenary meeting at the Vatican from 7-9 February.

The Pope said the congregation was working on a document titled “Internet and Formation in Seminaries,” but did not say when it would be published.

When used with caution and discernment, the Pope said, the Internet can be useful for future priests not only for studying, but for pastoral work in areas of evangelisation, missionary action, catechism, educational projects and administration of various institutions.

The Church will therefore need well-prepared teachers to keep the

seminarians up to date on the “correct and positive” use of information technology, he said. Addressing congregation members, the Pope said the education and formation of future priests in seminaries is “one of the most urgent challenges” of the Church today because of the culture of relativism dominant in contemporary society.

“For this reason, the service performed by so many formation

institutions in the world that are inspired by the Christian vision of man and reality is so important today,” the Pope said.

The seminary is one of the most important institutions of the Church and requires a thorough programme that takes into account the context in which they exist today, he said. “Many times I have said that the seminary is a precious phase of life, in which the candidate for priesthood has the experience of being ‘a disciple of God,’” he said.

The Pope has made recent references to the potential - and the dangers - offered by new media technology. Last month, in a message for the upcoming World Communications Day, he said, “this means of spreading information and knowledge is giving birth to a new way of learning and thinking, with unprecedented opportunities for establishing relationships and building fellowship.”

He encouraged the use of social media such as Facebook as a means of spreading the Christian message, but warned of the dangers of substituting human relationships with virtual contacts.

An illustration depicts an early stage human embryo following the union of an egg cell and a sperm cell. The 2008 Vatican document Dignitas Personae (“The Dignity of a Person”) warns that certain recent developments in stemcell research, gene therapy and embryonic experimentation violate moral principles and reflect an attempt by man to “take the place of his Creator.”

ILLUSTRATION: CNS/EMILY THOMPSON

Cardinal Justin Rigali appears on YouTube with video reflections for each Sunday of Lent. PHOTO: CNS

Pope challenges China on freedom

POPE Benedict XVI renewed his challenge to China to respect religious freedom and challenged Beijing to consecrate a Bishop for Hong King as he presided at the ordination of five new Bishops.

All five of the new Bishops consecrated by the Pontiff on 5 February are Vatican officials. But Bishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, the Hong Kong native who now serves as secretary of the Congregation for Evangelisation, drew the most widespread attention.

The consecration of Bishop Savio, the 60 year old Salesian who translated the Catechism of the Catholic Church into Chinese, took place in a time of tension after the ordination of a Chinese Bishop without papal approval. In early December, Bishops loyal to Rome were forced to participate in a government-sponsored assembly of Chinese Catholics, prompting an additional Vatican protest.

By personally ordaining a Chinese Bishop, Pope Benedict was calling attention to the continuing dispute between the Holy See and the Beijing regime, which claims the right to name its own Catholic Bishops.

During the ceremony, the Pope reiterated the argument that the Vatican has consistently put forward: that only the Holy See has the authority to name new Bishops.

Speaking about the essence of a Bishop’s duty, the Pope said that each Bishop should zealously guard the chain of succession that links him to the original apostles.

Newly ordained Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, from Hong Kong, bows toward Pope Benedict XVI during an ordination Mass in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on 5 February. Pope Benedict XVI ordained to the espicopacy two Vatican diplomats and three secret aries of Vatican congregations.

“The essence of apostolic succession is to maintain our communion with the people who visibly and tangibly met with the Lord,” Pope Benedict said

At the same time, he said, communion among the faithful requires the Bishops to maintain close ties with the universal Church under the guidance of the Holy See.

In his homily, Pope Benedict challenged the new Bishops to be “labourers in the harvest of world history” while also “cooperating in the mission of Jesus Christ.” He urged them to be intrepid in their approach to pastoral problems,

showing “the courage to oppose the trends of the moment.” Constancy in teaching is essential, he said.

“Only where there is stability can there also be growth.”

Along with Bishop Hon Tai-Fai, the others consecrated by Pope Benedict were Bishop Marcello Bartolucci, the secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints; Bishop Celso Morga Iruzubieta, the secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy; and Bishops Antonio Guido Filipazzi and Bishop Edgar Pena Parra, who were appointed in January to serve as Apostolic Nuncios.

US diocese restarts Sheen beatification cause

PEORIA, Illinois (CNA/EWTN News) – Australia’s Perth-based promoters of the canonisation cause of renowned TV evangelist Archbishop Fulton Sheen are confident it will continue unabated despite disputes over the final resting place of his remains.

The Diocese of Peoria has resumed its promotion of Archbishop Sheen’s cause for beatification despite its dispute with the Archdiocese of New York over the final resting place of the great evangelist’s remains.

In November 2010, the diocese said it was no longer in a position to continue its nine years of work on Archbishop Sheen’s beatification and canonisation. The Archdiocese of New York’s failure to transfer Sheen’s body to a Cathedral tomb in his hometown of Peoria had upset the diocese and stalled plans to create a national shrine for him there.

Now Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria has announced that the Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation has resumed its efforts to advance Sheen’s cause.

Daniel Tobin, who founded the Fulton Sheen Society in Perth with his son Martin in 1999, said they believe the Cause “will continue in the same positive vein that Bishop Jenky CSC directed, because of the great interest in Archbishop Sheen in New York and the admiration that the present Archbishop of New York,Timothy Dolan, has for the life and legacy of Archbishop Sheen”.

Monsignor Peter Wells, an official at the Vatican’s Secretary of State, received materials supporting the Archbishop’s cause from the Tobins and has forwarded them

to Pope Benedict XVI. “The Holy Father has asked me to assure you of his prayers,” Mgr Wells told the Tobins.

The US-based Sheen Foundation said in a 27 January statement that, after further consultation and having “heard the desire of the faithful to see the cause advance, Bishop Jenky, as president of the Sheen Foundation, is happy to work with the postulator in Rome and is hopeful that the Cause will advance quickly”.

The foundation added that the Archdiocese of New York’s failure to fulfill a verbal promise to transfer Sheen’s remains caused “great upset and even scandal among those who had so long supported the cause”, and that the people and clergy of the Diocese of Peoria were “particularly distressed”.

Patricia Gibson, chancellor of the Diocese of Peoria and an officer of the Sheen Foundation, explained that Bishop Jenky felt compelled

Vietnam to host Asian prelates

THE 2012 meeting of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences is expected to be hosted by Vietnam.

Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Mân of Ho Chi Minh City reported the FABC decision to UCANews last week.

The 2012 FABC assembly will be the group’s tenth; the meetings are held every four years.

Cardinal Mân said the Church in Vietnam will report a list of participants to the government for approval one or two months prior to the assembly. After authorisation is given, participants will then apply for their visas. Relations are steadily improving between the Holy See and the Communist country, though Vietnam still restricts the organised activities of many religious groups, according to the US State Department’s annual report on religious freedom.

Last month, Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli as a “non-residential pontifical representative” for the Asian country, a post that reflects the improvement in relations. FABC has 15

Bishops’ conference members: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, LaosCambodia, Malaysia-SingaporeBrunei, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. It also has 10 associate members: Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Siberia (Russia), Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and East Timor.

Slovaks defend medics’ right to refuse abortion

at the time to pause the beatification effort “in light of the months of unresolved questions regarding the transfer of the remains.”

“Even though this issue remains unsettled, Bishop Jenky received encouragement from Cardinals, Bishops and the faithful from around the world, and especially from within his own diocese,” she said. Bishop Jenky has asked the Vatican congregation for saints to help resolve the question of the tomb, while also definitively deciding to continue the foundation’s work to advance Archbishop Sheen’s Cause. Sheen Foundation executive director Mgr Stanley Deptula said: “Sheen was born in Peoria. His cause for sainthood was begun in Peoria. And I look forward to seeing this good work completed in Peoria.”

Sheen has a significant history in both Peoria and New York City. He first served as an altar boy in Peoria’s Cathedral and was ordained a priest for the diocese in 1919. After international studies, he briefly served as a pastor there in 1926.

He was ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop in New York City in 1951 and broadcast his famous television programme Life is Worth Living from there. He was Bishop of Rochester from 1966 until his 1969 retirement and was buried in the crypt of St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City after his death in 1979. Sheen was one of the first national television personalities and an author of bestselling works on Christianity and Jesus Christ.

More information about his life is available at the Sheen Foundation website: http://www. ArchbishopSheenCause.org.

WARSAW, Poland (CNS)Slovakia’s Catholic Church vowed to defend the right of medical staff to refuse to participate in abortions after the country’s largest State teaching hospital withdrew a decision to stop performing them.

“More doctors and nurses are opting out in Slovakia each year and we support their decision,” said Fr Jozef Kovacik, spokesman for the Bishops’ Conference of Slovakia. “They have a right of conscience which deserves protection under the law, and which is as important in its own way as the right to life itself.”

The priest’s comments came after Bratislava University Hospital, the UNB, reversed a late January decision to stop conducting abortions in response to staff objections. Fr Kovacik said the hospital’s initial decision had been backed by the Church and pro-life groups as “a matter of freedom of conscience.” He said he believed the reversal reflected “political rather than ethical problems.”

Abortions are allowed in Slovakia up to 12 weeks of pregnancy under specified conditions, including threats to a mother’s “mental health” and “economic and social difficulties.”

However, medical staff are entitled to avoid abortions and artificial reproductive treatments on religious grounds under a 2003 agreement with the Vatican. The agreement also committed the country not to “impose an obli-

gation” on Catholic health care facilities to perform terminations. A statement by the hospital that it would stop carrying out patientrequested abortions beginning 1 February was welcomed by Slovakia’s Life Forum, Red Cross, Forum of Christian Institutions and the Bishops’ conference, which described the move as a “gesture of true humanism.”

The Pravda daily reported the decision had been made “unofficially and without due justification” under alleged pressure from members of Slovakia’s governing Christian Democrat Party, and had been opposed by the party’s smaller coalition partners.

Speaking on 27 January, Zuzana Cizmarikova, a hospital spokeswoman, said administrators were “surprised at the negative response” to the move which reflected “a new philosophy in the development of the UNB’s gynaecological and obstetrical clinics.”

She added that hospital clinicians had invoked their “fundamental right to exercise their own free will,” but said abortions would continue “according to patients’ requests.”

Fr Kovacik said the Catholic Church, which includes about two-thirds of Slovakia’s 5.4 million people, considered it “essential” that doctors and nurses should “make their choices publicly in freedom.” “From the Church’s viewpoint, however, it’s very important for society that the government itself should be on the side of life,” he said.

PHOTO: CNS/PAUL HARING

Cardinal Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Mân.

PHOTO: CNS

Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Relief services evacuate besieged Cairo

JERUSALEM (CNS)Catholic Relief Services’ international staff and their families in Cairo were evacuated as pro-democracy demonstrations entered their seventh day.

“Our current thinking is that we will be out for no more than two days,” CRS country representative Jason Berlanger told CNS as he was on his way to Cairo’s international airport with his wife and two children.

He said he was travelling with two other American staff members and their dependents and the group planned to fly to Amman, Jordan. However, flights to the Jordanian capital were unavailable late 30 January and were not expected to resume soon, according to news reports.

About 25 Egyptian staff members of the US Bishops’ aid and development agency remained at home, Berlanger said. One Palestinian staff member was scheduled to leave for Amman as well, he said.

The CRS office was closed for

the Egyptian Friday-Saturday weekend of 28-29 January but did not reopen on 30 January, Berlanger said.

“It is just a wait and see situation,” Berlanger said.

Military personnel and armed community guard groups checked identification cards as the staffers left their Cairo neighbourhood, said Berlanger, who described traffic on the road to the airport as normally heavy and appeared partly to be made up of Americans and other internationals.

The US State Department announced on 30 January that it would send planes to evacuate Americans. Meanwhile, the airport was overwhelmed by thousands of foreigners, many of whom arrived without reservations because the government had disrupted Internet access and cell phone service beginning 27 January. The international staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Association left the Egyptian capital early on 31 January.

Youth Catechism

‘gripping’: Pope

BY ALAN HOLDREN Catholic News Agency

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI has great expectations for the Youcat , a text designed to teach young people the ABCs of Catholicism using a language tailored to their generation.

The 300-page volume is the new and official Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church. A team has produced the volume and enlisted its translations under the guidance of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna, Austria, who also served as the editor of the universal 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church

According to its American publisher Ignatius Press, the new text was produced with adolescents and young adults in mind as “an accessible, contemporary expression of the Catholic faith.”

It covers questions of doctrine, the sacraments, moral life and prayer and spirituality in a format friendly to young readers. According to the publisher, it uses a straightforward question-answer format, commentary, a variety of images and a glossary of terms along with Bible passages and the words of great Catholic saints and teachers.

In a presentation during meetings last month, organisers for World Youth Day 2011 said that Youcat “is expected to become the ‘go-to’ catechetical resource for young people with questions about the faith.”

Organisers of the international youth gathering have ordered 700,000 copies for the backpack kits to be given out to registered young pilgrims next August along with a sleeping bag, map and other accessories.

In the book’s preface, published in the 3 January edition of the Vatican paper L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI himself calls it “extraordinary.”

In addition to its content, its basis in the 1992 Catechism makes it special, he writes.

As a Cardinal, the Pope was heavily involved in the process of creating the Catechism of the Catholic Church

In the 1980s, Pope John Paul II asked him to organise the Bishops of the world to produce a text that could explain the faith to any person. It was no simple task producing a book for readers from all cultures, backgrounds and levels of education, he recalls in the preface.

It “seemed like a miracle” when the Cathechism was finally produced, with all of the difficulty, discussion and collaboration that was needed to compile it, he writes.

The new Youth Catechism derives from that book as the response to a need for a Catechism translated into “the language of young people and to make its words penetrate their world,” Pope Benedict explains. He hopes that young people across the world will “allow themselves to be fascinated” by the adaptation designed for them.

The read is a “gripping” one, he writes, because “it speaks to us of our very destiny and because it

looks at each one of us closely.” He invites youth to approach the book with passion and perseverance, to “remain in dialogue” with the faith by speaking with friends, forming study networks and exchanging ideas on the Internet.

Youth must know their beliefs and faith with the same precision as “a computer specialist knows an operating system” or “a musician knows a piece of music,” he says.

“Yes, you must be more deeply rooted in the faith than your parents’ generation to be able to endure the challenges and temptations of this time with strength and decision.”

He tells them not to let the evil and sin of the world, even that within the Church, keep them from learning their faith. “You carry intact the fire of your love in this Church every time that men have darkened her face,” he tells them.

Cardinal Schönborn told the Vatican newspaper that the Pope was interested in every stage of the process from the very beginning. The idea for the youth-based catechism, he said, was proposed by young Catholics in Austria.

The first draft was created by theologians and teachers in German-speaking areas. The text was then put to the test during a pair of summer camps to see if it retained its relevance across language and cultural barriers.

“In this way, the entire book is an expression of the youth culture profoundly implanted with the fruitful seed of the Gospel,” said Cardinal Schönborn.

The world, he added, has become so “small” that it was necessary to give young people a new perpective on the Gospel, “and Youcat will be able to carry out this mission.”

The resource will be available in 13 languages by 4 April 2011.

Ignatius Press has announced the English edition will be released in March 2011.

Other volumes in world languages, including Chinese and Arabic, are being prepared.

Catholic nurses see rise in threats to conscience

VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN

News) - Catholic health care workers are facing a worldwide erosion of spiritual and moral standards in their profession, according to the leader of a Vatican-affiliated organisation for Catholic nurses.

“In the United States, the biggest problem that Catholic nurses are facing is the ability to use their conscience,” said Marylee Meehan, president of the International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medical-Social Assistants (CICIAMS), a Dublin-based umbrella organisation that unites national associations of Catholic nurses, midwives and health assistants from 26 active nations on five continents.

The international scope of the nurses’ organisation allows it to see trends in ethical and moral realms.

In Rome to speak at a Vatican seminar on world health issues, Meehan told CNA that pro-life issues are at the top of US health workers’ concerns.

Many young nurses and health

assistants are “timid” about breaching the subject, especially in regard to abortions. Veterans fear that if they speak out, or refuse to take part in certain procedures, they will be fired.

“It’s a problem when you want to apply for a job and you will not provide abortions, they will not accept you,” said Meehan about some US hospitals.

She explained that an applicant to a maternity unit can be screened out with direct questions about their position on the issue. Those with the courage to call themselves pro-life at a job interview could be blocked from serious consideration.

Meehan seeks to provide support for these men and women through their national associations to give them a voice and a place to share their stories. It is necessary, she said, because “somebody made abortion legal, but that didn’t make it moral.”

On an international level, the association is witnessing an “implo-

sion” where “new cultural trends” are eroding the spiritual side of health care, she said in her address at the seminar. The “circle of Catholic health institutions” is not immune to these cultural changes, she said.

She cited the recent stripping of the “Catholic” status of St Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona for providing an abortion in “clear violation of the US Bishops’ Ethical and Medical Directives” as an example of an action “contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church.”

In addition to abortion and euthanasia, the committee is seeing concerns related to “children’s condoms,” in-vitro fertilisation, AIDS transmission and the concept of bearing children as a “right.” There are also questions about adequate medical attention for the elderly.

Amid the many issues that assail the nurse’s conscience today, “it takes extreme courage to be a Catholic living the Catholic life in their professional environment,” said Meehan.

The newly produced Youcat , a Catechism for youth that Pope Benedict has praised.

A water cannon blasts a protester holding an Egyptian flag during clashes in Cairo, Egypt on 28 January. Police and demonstrators fought running battles on the streets of Cairo in a fourth day of unprecedented protests by tens of thousands of Egyptians demanding an end to President Hosni Mubarak’s three-decade rule. PHOTO: CNS/YANNIS BEHRAKIS, REUTERS

Requiem for the handwritten letter

BY TONY EVANS

Of all the changes that the computer has wrought, one of the most dramatic, yet least remarked-upon, has been the death of the handwritten letter. Killed stone dead like Dickens’ Jacob Marley in Christmas Carol, ‘Dead as a door nail, there is no doubt about that’.

The particular pleasure of discovering handwritten letters in the post has gone forever.

Only window envelopes, invariably containing official notices and unwelcome bills, are delivered by the postman, and most letterboxes now defend themselves by displaying notices banning junk mail.

The once ubiquitous human activity of handwriting letters (and, later, typing letters) has been tossed into the waste paper basket of history.

Not only has a whole way of life with its attendant disciplines disappeared almost overnight, but an accurate window into character, attitudes, beliefs and preoccupations of both the famous and the private person has been lost.

A handwritten letter conveys far more than is expressed by the words on the page.

The character of the writing, the speed with which it is written, the age of the hand, the colours of both ink and paper, and the manner of addressing the envelope, the mistakes and the corrections, and the unmistakable presence of the writer at those moments when the letter is being read, are all conveyed when the letter is opened in anticipation.

Reading handwritten letters written in the past is like journeying in a time machine, enabling us to understand a little of the world as it was at the time the letter was written.

In contrast, email is designed necessarily to be kept short and pithy, and employs a contrived shorthand devoid of character, with the result that it will not convey the heart and soul of the writer to future researchers who bother to delve into old computer files.

So what will there be for future biographers to remember us by?

Regrettably, nothing as revealing as a bundle of handwritten letters. I write this obsequy for the handwritten letter not to dismiss computers and email which I make use of freely, but as a life-long reader and a writer of biographies.

In my own work, I rely largely on the handwritten letters of my subjects, and I can think of no biography I have read in recent years that has not been enriched by the inclu-

sion of numerous personal letters. And again, how deprived will our literature be when collections of letters of the famous will no longer be available to be published.

Business emails and tweetings will hardly amount to literature worth reading - as for instance are the hundreds of letters of AW Pugin (Vol 3 just published), of Queen Victoria, of CS Lewis and dozens of others – and my current New Year reading, George Orwell, whose hundreds of fascinating letters reveal a deeply sincere, generous man with remarkable political insight.

‘Of course I intended [Animal Farm] primarily as a satire on the Russian Revolution. But I did mean it to have a wider application inasmuch as that kind of revolution can only lead to a change of masters.’

And another example, this from the letters of Hilaire Belloc, an unguarded moment which could only come from a private letter and would prove a pot of gold for a biographer: ‘To me, the chief irritant is the stupidity of the hierarchy. They throw away chances with both hands and they so often quite misunderstand problems they have to deal with. Their failure to wreck the Church is a proof of her divinity.’

Letters are the building blocks of good biographies. For the biographer, there is no thrill to equal the handling and studying of letters handwritten by the subject one is writing about.

If you happen to be famous (or infamous enough) to warrant a biography 150 years hence, you had better start writing letters if you have not already done so.

Yours will be a very dull biography indeed if your biographer relies on your emails and text messages.

You may plead, as most people do, that modern life simply does not provide enough time for handwritten letters, invariably a labourintensive exercise.

It also requires the writer to think ahead of his writing because alterations and additions cannot be made as easily by hand as they can on a computer.

But lack of time is a feeble excuse unless it can be proved that there is less time available to us now than there was a hundred years ago, or that the clock moves faster now than it did in times past – a theory that gains much sympathy as one grows older.

How otherwise can we explain why great historical figures who packed their lives with activity, creativity and travel, found time each day to write not only letters in great numbers, but diaries as well?

The letters of William Gladstone,

Why Ratzinger’s biographer became Catholic

arguably Britain’s greatest and certainly longest-serving Prime Minister fill ten published volumes, quite apart from the 14 volumes of his diaries, also originally handwritten.

Churchill, as well as making time to direct World War II, wrote thousands of letters by hand. Thomas Jefferson replied by hand to every letter, numbered in their thousands, which were addressed to him as President of the United States, irrespective of whether the writers were important or humble critics of his administration.

Dickens, who wrote all his novels by hand, amounting to millions of words, wrote handwritten letters which fill an equal number of volumes in their published form.

Vincent Van Gogh managed to write some of the most profoundly moving letters of any artist; they now fill two published volumes.

We know much more accurately the characters and activities of Beethoven and Mozart from their letters, in each instance filling three published volumes. Such examples from history are numberless and are not necessarily limited to the famous.

This, in part, is why biographies of these and other historical characters are so often riveting to read and get close to revealing the real person.

Lack of time is really not a sufficient explanation for the death of the handwritten letter. Suspicion also falls on the impoverishment of modern education and the imagined urgency about everything else that we do. We have no time because we think we have no time.

But if we mourn the passing of the handwritten letter, it is yet possible to fight a rear-guard action as the body is delivered to the mortuary.

Resuscitation is possible by putting pen to paper at least occasionally.

Experience the pleasure of exchanging handwritten letters between friends and relatives. Ignore the taunt of friends that you are eccentric, or the ignoble accusation that you have nothing better to do with your time.

Not only is a handwritten letter a treasure, a gift, an act of giving part of oneself to another but a privilege to write, and a privilege to receive.

Furthermore, if you have an eye to your posthumous reputation, a bundle of your handwritten letters accompanying your Last Will and Testament might make the difference between having a dull, onesided account of your life, or the inspiring, flattering story that you – naturally - believe you deserve.

Why I Became Catholic

with Debbie Warrier

Although I was baptised an Anglican, I was sent to a convent school and found myself in the position of being top of my class for catechism but unable to make my First Communion.

This was at a time when religious education was as academically rigorous as learning grammar and maths.

To resolve this problem, I was accepted into full Communion with the Catholic Church one Friday morning in the presence of my classmates, and then two days later we all made our First Communion on the Feast of Christ the King.

At the time I was too young to understand all the fights which had led to the Anglican schism, although I was aware of some of them.

I had certainly heard about Henry VIII’s six wives and I had also heard of the IRA.

Each side had its share of embarrassing characters, but what impressed me most were the nuns who taught me and the kind of culture they generated in my school.

Being an Anglican at a convent school was like going on an adventure in a foreign country.

There was solemn Mass and Benediction, hymns in Latin and the Angelus bell at noon.

There were also feast days and fast days with the associated variations in food on offer at the tuckshop.

We learned about saints and we collected ‘holy cards’ – bookmarks bearing the image of a saint.

We were often given them as

a reward for getting high marks and we would swap them among ourselves. I had a St Tarcisius which was extremely rare.

The first hymn I learned was Ubi Caritas et Amor.

I often think it is tragic when I hear teachers say that they have to water down the presentation of the faith in Catholic schools because so many of the children are not from Catholic families.

If I had entered a culture which was just like everything else on offer at every other school around town, I would never have learned anything special and I would never have converted.

One of the key characteristics of secularism is that it is boring.

I have never regretted my decision to convert, though when I attend an Evensong service I feel a slight twinge of homesickness.

While the Anglican communion has many problems, it is, at least, liturgically rich.

As far as I know, the AngloCatholics never fell for Kum-byyah or Marty Haugen.

I hope that many thousands of Anglicans join the Ordinariate which has been offered to them by Pope Benedict and that they bring their liturgical treasures with them.

They have been in the tragic position of being, in a sense, culturally Catholic, but out of communion with the See of Peter and all the rest of us in it. I look forward to many new Catholic parishes dedicated to Our Lady of Walsingham.

Tracey Rowland is the Dean and Permanent Fellow in Political Philosophy and Continental Theology at the John Paul II Institute in Melbourne and an Adjunct Professor of the Centre for Faith, Ethics and Society of the University of Notre Dame. She is the author of several works including two books on the theology of Pope Benedict XVI. These are her comments as told to Deb Warrier.

THURSDAY, 10 FEBRUARY TO SATURDAY, 12

FEBRUARY

Brother Stanley’s Perth Visit

Come and share Br Stanley’s powerful testimony on the Divine Mercy and also the story of being pronounced clinically dead and his amazing spiritual encounters with Jesus. For venues and dates, check church noticeboards or 0413 707 707.

THURSDAY, 10 FEBRUARY

Healing Mass in honour of St Peregrine Patron of cancer sufferers

7pm at St John and Paul Church, Willetton. Includes veneration of the relic of St Peregrine and anointment of the sick. Enq: Jim 94571539.

Information Sessions on Catholic Mental Health

7-8.30pm at the Emmanuel Centre, 25 Windsor St, Perth. Enq: Barbara 9328 8113, emmanuelcentre@westnet. com.au. RSVP by Tuesday, 8 February.

FRIDAY, 11 FEBRUARY

Annual Procession in Honour of Our Lady of Lourdes

7pm at Lake Monger. All are asked to assemble at the Dodd St carpark. For those unable to walk, there is an area where you can sit with others and pray together. Enq: Judy 9446 6837.

SATURDAY, 12 FEBRUARY

Marian Retreat

9am-5pm at Holy Family Church, Maddington. A day of healing with Mary our Mother led by the Vincentian Fathers. BYO lunch. All welcome. Enq: 9493 1703.

Divine Mercy Healing

2.30pm at St Francis Xavier Church, Windsor St, East Perth. The main celebrant for the afternoon will be Fr Marcellinus Meilak OFM. Reconciliation in English and Italian will be offered. Divine Mercy prayers followed by veneration of First class Relic of St Faustina Kowalska. Refreshments afterwards. Enq: John 9457 7771.

St Padre Pio Day of Prayer

8.30am at St Lawrence, 392 Albert St, Balcatta. St Padre Pio DVD followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Divine Mercy, Silent Adoration and Benediction. 11am – Holy Mass, St Padre Pio Liturgy, Confessions available. Bring a plate for a shared lunch. Tea and coffee supplied. Enq: Des 6278 1540.

SUNDAY, 13 FEBRUARY

Taize Prayer Meeting

5.30–6.30pm prayer meeting recommencing at St Joseph’s Convent Chapel. All welcome. Enq: lmayne@ perthcatholic.org.au.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

12 noon at St Catherine’s Catholic Church, Gingin. BYO lunch followed at 1pm by Holy Rosary, Exposition, Hymns, Benediction and Blessing of the Sick, Marian Procession. 2.30pm Holy Mass at the Grotto. Tea provided later. Enq: Lawrie 0448 833 472 or Sheila 9575 4023.

THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY

Information Sessions on Catholic Mental Health

10.30am-12pm at the Emmanuel Centre, 25 Windsor St, Perth. Enq: Barbara 9328 8113, emmanuelcentre@ westnet.com.au. RSVP by Tuesday, 8 February.

TUESDAY, 22 FEBRUARY

Solemn Profession of Perpetual Vows - 4pm at St Brigid Parish, 69 Morrison Rd, Midland. Three Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate will make their solemn profession of perpetual vows. Holy Mass celebrated by Bishop Sproxton with Rev Fr Pellettieri, FI. All welcome. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.

SATURDAY, 26  SUNDAY, 27 FEBRUARY

Live in Retreat

8.30am Saturday until 5pm Sunday at the Redemptorist Monastery, retreat centre, North Perth. Fr Hugh Thomas will talk on The Power of the Word of God. Enq: Monastery 9328 6600, Rita 0422 917 054 or Keith 0411 108 525.

TUESDAY 1 MARCH

Catholic Charismatic Renewal

1–6pm at the Holy Family Church, Thelma St, Como. Healing Prayer and Ministry, conducted by international guests Diana Mascarenhas (India) and Fr Elias

Vella (Malta). For emotional and psychological healing. Includes Mass. Admission free but a collection will be taken up. Enq: Dan 9398 4973.

FRIDAY, 4 MARCH

The Alliance, Triumph and Reign of the United Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary 9pm at St Bernadette’s Church Glendalough. Commences with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; reflections, Rosaries and hymns; alternating with healing sessions. Vigil concludes with midnight Mass in anticipation/preparation for the Lord’s second coming and His Reign on earth. Enq: Fr Harris 9444 6131 or Dorothy 9342 5845.

SATURDAY, 5 MARCH

Day With Mary

9am-5pm at Queen of Martyrs Church, 77 Seventh Ave, Maylands. 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 Our Lady, Rosaries and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.

Women’s Day of Recollection

8.40am at St Paul’s Parish Centre, 104 Rookwood St, Mt Lawley. Rosary 8.40am followed at 9am by first Saturday Mass, optional, 9.30am tea. 10am talk on Women of the Bible presented by Fr Tim Deeter, followed by discussions, lunch, Holy Hour and Benediction. RSVP essential to catholicwomen.perth@gmail.com or Lydia 0413 993 987 by 23 February.

SUNDAY, 6 MARCH

Divine Mercy

1.30pm at St Francis Xavier Church, 25 Windsor St, Perth. Homily on St John of the Cross by Fr Doug Harris. Enq: John 9457 7771.

FRIDAY, 11 MARCH

Alan Ames Healing Service

7pm at St Bernadette’s Catholic Church, Jugan St, Glendalough. Mass followed by talk and Healing Service. Enq: Katherine carver1@iinet.net.au.

SUNDAY, 13 MARCH

Triennial WA Regional Elections of the Secular Franciscan Order

10am at Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. Includes Mass at 2.30pm. Please bring a plate for shared lunch. Enq: Michael 9275 5658.

SUNDAY, 1 MAY

Centenary of Kellerberrin Parish

11am at St Joseph’s parish, Kellerberrin. All present and past parishioners are invited to the parish Centenary celebrations. Mass celebrated by His Grace, Archbishop Barry James Hickey, followed by a catered luncheon at the Kellerberrin Shire Hall. RSVP by Saturday, 2 April for catering purposes to Christine Laird 9045 4235 or fax 9045 4602, or Audrey Tiller 9045 4021, or stmary@ westnet.com.au.

EVERY SUNDAY

Gate of Heaven Catholic Radio

Join the Franciscans of the Immaculate every Sunday from 7.30-9pm on Radio Fremantle 107.9FM for Catholic radio broadcast of EWTN and our own live shows. Enq: radio@ausmaria.com.

Pilgrim Mass - Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation

2pm at Shrine, 36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook. Commencing with Rosary followed by Benediction. Reconciliation is available before every celebration. Anointing of the Sick administered during Mass every second Sunday of the month. Pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin of the Revelation, last Sunday of the month. Side entrance to the church and shrine open daily between 9am-5pm. Enq Sacri 9447 3292.

THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

Oblates of St Benedict 2pm at St Joseph’s Convent, York St, South Perth. Oblates are affiliated with the Benedictine Abbey of New Norcia. All welcome to study the rule of St Benedict and its

relevance to the everyday life of today for lay people. Vespers and tea later. Enq: Secretary 9457 5758.

EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life

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

LAST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH

Christian Spirituality Presentation

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

EVERY TUESDAY

Novena and Benediction to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

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

Spirituality and The Sunday Gospels

7-8pm at St Benedict’s school hall, Alness St, Applecross. The power of the Gospel message; How can we live meaningful and hope filled lives? Presented by Norma Woodcock. Donation for The Centre for Catholic Spiritual Development & Prayer. Enq: 9487 1772 or www.normawoodcock.com.

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Holy Spirit of Freedom Community

7.30pm at The Church of Christ, 111 Stirling St, Perth. We are delighted to welcome everyone to attend our Holy Spirit of Freedom Praise Meeting. Enq: 0423 907 869 or hsofperth@gmail.com.

SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

Chaplets of the Divine Mercy

7.30pm at St Thomas More Catholic Church, 100 Dean Rd, Bateman recommences. Includes sung devotion accompanied by Exposition and followed by Benediction. All are welcome. Enq: to George Lopez on 9310 9493 home or 9325 2010 work.

EVERY THURSDAY

Divine Mercy

11am at Sts John and Paul Church, Pine Tree Gully Rd, Willetton. Pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and for the consecrated life especially here in John Paul parish, conclude with veneration of the First Class Relic of St Faustina. Please do come and join us in prayer. Enq: John 9457 7771.

Father Corapi’s Catechism of the Catholic Church

7.30pm at St Joseph Church, 20 Hamilton St, Bassendean - Parish Library, Enq: Catherine 9329 2691.

St Mary’s Cathedral Praise Meeting

7.45pm at St Joseph’s Church, Upper Room, 3 Salvado Rd, Subiaco. ‘Stepping Out in Radical Holiness’ – Flame Ministries International. Come along to continue to discover how to become equipped and empowered to live God’s word in these troubled times. Enq: Eddie 9382 3668.

EVERY FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

Taize Prayer and Meditation

7.30-8.30pm at Our Lady of Grace Church, 3 Kitchener St, North Beach. Prayer and meditation using songs from the Taize phenomenon. In peace and candlelight we make our pilgrimage. All are invited. Enq: Joan 9448 4457 or Office 9448 4888.

FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life

7pm at Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins St, Glendalough. Mass, followed by Adoration with Fr Doug Harris. All welcome. Refreshments provided.

Catholic Faith Renewal Evening

7.30pm at Sts John and Paul’s parish, Pinetree Gully Rd,

Willetton. Songs of Praise, sharing by a priest followed by Thanksgiving Mass and light refreshments after Mass. All welcome to attend and bring your family and friends. Enq: Kathy 9295 0913, Ann: 0412 166 164 or catholicfaithrenewal@gmail.com.

Communion of Reparation All Night Vigils

7pm-1.30am at Corpus Christi Church, Lochee St, Mosman Park. Enq: Vicky 0400 282 357 and at St Gerard Majella Church, Ravenswood Dr and Majella Rd, Mirrabooka, Enq: Fr Giosue 9349 2315, John or Joy 9344 2609. The Vigils consist of two Masses, Adoration, Benediction, Prayers and Confession in reparation for the outrages committed against the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary. All welcome.

Healing Mass

7pm at St Peter’s parish, Wood St, Inglewood. Reconciliation, praise and worship, Exposition of Blessed Sacrament, Benediction, Anointing of the Sick, and special blessing. Celebrants Fr Sam and other clergy. All welcome. Enq: Priscilla 0433 457 352, Catherine 0433 923 083 or Mary-Ann 0409 672 304.

Healing and Anointing Mass

8.45am at Pater Noster, Myaree. Reconciliation, followed by Mass including Anointing of the Sick, Praise and Worship to St Peregrine and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All welcome. Enq: Joy 9337 7189.

AA ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

Is alcohol costing you more than just money? Enq: AA 9325 3566.

OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE

Emmanuel Self-Help Centre for People with Disabilities is looking for volunteers to transport newspapers and other recyclable paper from its Perth office to a Canning Vale paper mill about every six weeks. Manual car driver’s licence required. Physical fitness is advantageous as heavy lifting is involved; Centre staff will assist. Enq: Fr Paul 9328 8113 or emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.au.

AL ANON FAMILY GROUPS

If your home is unhappy because somebody drinks too much, we can help with understanding and supporting families and friends of problem drinkers. Enq: 9325 7528.

PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND

St Peter’s parish in Inglewood is organising a visit to Jordan, Israel and Egypt from 13-26 March 2011. The pilgrimage will cost A$3,990, everything included. Fr Sam will be the Spiritual Director. Eng Jim 0411 61 5239, zawnaing@optusnet.com.au.

PILGRIMAGE TO PRAGUE, POLAND AND AUSTRIA

St Jude’s parish, Langford is organising a 13-day pilgrimage departing 1 October. Pilgrimage will include visits to the Shrines of Divine Mercy, Infant Jesus, the Black Madonna, St Faustina, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II and the Museum at Auschwitz. Total cost per person $5,800. The Spiritual Director, Fr Terry Raj. Enq: Co-ordinator John Murphy 9457 7771, Matt 6460 6877 mattpicc1@gmail.com.

SPANISH LESSONS OFFERED AT WHITFORDS PARISH FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY, MADRID 2011

Beginner classes commence 9 February on Wednesday evenings 6.45-7.30pm and Saturday mornings 10.1511am. Cost - $5 per class or $40 for 10 classes if paid in full at the beginning of the term. All classes will take place in venues at Our Lady of the Mission Catholic Church, Camberwarra Dr, Craigie. Enq: Noeme 9307 4038 or Shirley-Ann 9407 8156.

CRUISE ON THE RIVER NILE

Sightseeing Tour of Jordan and Egypt

A 14-day package departs Perth, Sunday, 10 July 2011. Accompanying priest, Fr Joe Carroll from the Redemptorist Monastery, Perth. Enq: Fadua 9459 3873 or 0404 893 877.

ACROSS

7

3 Catholic French painter, Edgar

9 “Ave ___”

10 The Diocese of Mobile is located in this state

11 ___ Friday

12 Patron saint of servants

13 Catholic fitness guru Charles ___

15 One of the prophets

16 He went to heaven in a whirlwind

17 50s Catholic televangelist

20 Top monk

22 Catholic creator of Sherlock Holmes

23 ___ be with you

25 Symbol of hope

26 Wednesday markers

29 On the pale horse, his name was Death

31

35

36

37

21

34

ACCOMMODATION

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION

ESPERANCE 3 bedroom house f/furnished Ph 09 9076 5083.

TRADE SERVICES

BRENDON HANDYMAN

SERVICES Home, building maintenance, repairs and renovations. NOR. Ph 0427 539 588.

BRICK RE-POINTING

Ph Nigel 9242 2952.

PERROTT PAINTING Pty Ltd

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

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

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 and no hidden costs. Ring Excel on 9481 4499 for a quote. Check our web site on www.excelsettlements.com.

LAWN MOWING

WRR LAWN MOWING & WEED

SPRAYING Garden clean ups and rubbish removal. Get rid of bindii, jojo and other unsightly weeds. Based in Tuart Hill. Enq 9443 9243 or 0402 326 637.

OPPORTUNITIES

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Work from Home - P/T or F/T, 02 8230 0290 or visit www.dreamlife1.com.

Deadline: 11am Monday

FOR SALE

FOR SALE CHEAP & Various Catholic/Protestant Books New/ secondhand - 9440 4358.

BOOK BINDING

NEW BOOK BINDING, General Book Repairs; Rebinding; New Ribbons; Old Leather Bindings Restored.

Tydewi Bindery 0422 968 572.

FURNITURE REMOVAL

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

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/Communion apparel, religious vestments, etc? Visit us at 39 Hulme Ct (off McCoy St), Myaree, Ph 9329 9889 (after 10.30am Mon to Sat). We are here to serve.

KINLAR VESTMENTS

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

OTTIMO Convenient location for Bibles, books, cards CD/DVDs, candles, medals, statues and gifts at Shop 41, Station St Market, Subiaco. Fri-Sun 9-5pm.

OPPORTUNITIES

COOK WANTED

Nursing home in North Perth is seeking a mature person to provide home-style cooking two mornings per week. Experience cooking for the elderly is desirable. For further information please ring 0431 08 2364.

CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL – Psycho-Spiritual Workshop & Healing Mass Workshop 9am – 5pm, Conducted by international guests Diana Mascarenhas (India) & Fr Elias Vella (Malta), Participants learn to minister to our emotionally, spiritually & psychologically wounded brethren. Cost is $20. Bring your own lunch. Healing Mass at 7.30pm. Holy Family Church, Thelma St, Como. Queries to Dan 9398 4973

PILGRIMAGES/TOURS

1 Nanga Bay Resort (Western Australia) 3-days/2 nights Fri, 4 - Sun, 6 March 2011 long weekend) dinner/bed/ breakfast (inclusive of transport) $380 per person twin-share

2 Pilgrimage to Rome for the Beatification of Pope John Paul II Thu, 28 April - Thu, 5 May 2011.

3 Visit to Vietnam and Cambodia May 2011

4 Pilgrimage to Jordan/Holy Land/Egypt - Tue, 7 - Sat, 18 June 2011

5 Pilgrimage to Prague/ Poland/Vienna - Sat, 1 - Thu, 13 October 2011

6 Pilgrimage to Jordan/Holy Land/Egypt Fri, 11 - Tue, 22 November 2011 (special for senior cardholders). For itinerary and enq: Francis Williams (Coordinator) T: 9459 3873 (after 4pm) Mob: 0404 893 877

13S 6th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

WALK WITH HIM

Gr Sir 15:15-20 God’s vast Wisdom

Ps 118:1-2, 4-5,17-18,33-34 Obey God’s word 1Cor 2:6 -10 Wisdom for the mature

Mt 5:17-37 Profound virtue

14M Ss Cyril, monk, and Methodius, Bishop (M)

Wh Gen 4:1-15,25 Cain kills Abel

Ps 49:1, 8,16-17,20-21 You despise my law

Mk 8:11-13 Why demand a sign?

15 Tu Gen 6: 5 -8; 7:1-5, 10 God regrets

Gr Ps 28: 1-4, 9-10 The voice of the Lord

Mk 8:14-21 On having perception

16W Gen 8:6-13, 2-22 Noah builds an altar

Gr Ps 115:12-15,18-19 How repay the Lord Mk 8:22-26 Can you see anything?

17Th Seven Founders of the Order of Servites (O)

Gr Gen 9:1-13 No flood again

Ps 101:16-21, 29, 22-23 Pay homage to God

Mk 8:27-33Who do you say I am?

18F Gen 11:1-9 A town and a tower

Gr Ps 32:10-15 God’s people happy Mk 8:34 - 9:1 Exchange for life?

19S Heb 11:1-7 Ancestor’s faith valued

Gr Ps 144:2-5,10-11 great beyond measure

Mk 9:2-13 Listen to my Son