The Record Newspaper 11 May 2006

An

Thursday

ЮЭЩ ΞΟ ΠΡΣ ΤΥΦΧΨΩ ΫὯД ЖЙЮЭЩ ΞΟΠ ΡΣΤΥ ΦΧ ΨΩΫὯ ДЖЙЮ ЭЩ ΞΟΠΡΣ ΤΥΦΧ ΨΩ ΫὯДЖЙ ЮЭЩ

A DAY TO REMEMBER - and give thanks

This Sunday 14 May, 2006 is exactly 400 years to the day since Portuguese explorer Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros claimed Australia for the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday 1606, thereby giving Australia its name. ‘Austrialia del Espiritu Santu’ translates as ‘Southern land of the Holy Ghost.’ The spelling ‘Austrialia’ in the original is correct. May Captain Quiros’s vision come true. This year Pentecost will be on June 4.

New Chinese Bishop

One consecration approved by Pope, but not two others

■ By Catholic News Service

SHENYANG, China (CNS)Catholics in northeastern China’s Liaoning Diocese gathered for the ordination of a young bishop approved by the Pope as well as the Chinese government.

Father Paul Pei Junmin, 37, was ordained coadjutor bishop on May 7 by Bishop Pius Jin Peixian of Liaoning at Sacred Heart Cathedral in downtown Shenyang, capital of the Liaoning province.

ALSO: PART II of The Record’s SPECIAL REPORT on Casa Ricci and Fr Ruiz – Pages 6-11

Bishop Pei obtained master’s degrees in theology and biblical studies at St Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Priests, nuns and lay representatives of Liaoning elected Bishop Pei coadjutor bishop on January 12, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. He is the fourth bishop to be ordained in the government-approved or open church this year and the second ordained with papal approval. UCA News reported that joyous celebrations with various Catholic groups, including ethnic Korean-Chinese, began inside the cathedral compound on the afternoon of May 6 and continued into the evening of the next day, after the ordination. Some overseas Chinese visitors who spoke to UCA News on May 6 said Bishop Jin told them that at age 83 he needed a successor. He added that he hoped to be able to guide the new bishop for a year before retiring.According to the visitors, Bishop Jin said his coadjutor “has been managing the Shenyang Seminary well and has good interpersonal

Continued on Page 12

Bishops elect Wilson as ACBC president

Australia’s Catholic Bishops have elected Archbishop Philip Wilson, pictured, as the new president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

Archbishop Wilson, 55, is the Archbishop of Adelaide.

He was previously the Bishop of Wollongong and was ordained a priest of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese.

He succeeds Archbishop Francis Carroll, 75, whose term as ACBC President has expired.

The vote was taken among the 42 bishops present at the Plenary Meeting of the Bishops Conference, being held in Sydney.

Archbishop Barry Hickey of Perth was elected as Vice-President, succeeding Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane, whose term had also ended.

Continued on Page 2

Faith a constant theme in saga that gripped a nation

Faith came to the fore at the Beaconsfield mine disaster

■ By Paul Gray

Most Sundays, says local Catholic priest Fr Brian Lester, there wouldn’t be more than about 40 regulars attending Mass in St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Church, in the small Tasmanian mining of town of Beaconsfield.

St Maria Goretti Parish and School came together recently to mark their Golden Jubilees

Most of them would be older people, Fr Lester reckons. But the small numbers don’t mean that people in Beaconsfield lack faith, the gently spoken Franciscan priest adds. World-gripping events at Beaconsfield over the past few weeks prove his point.

The Sunday after an Anzac Day earthquake had caused a deep rockfall, one kilometre below groundlevel at the Beaconsfield gold mine, parishioners attended Mass at St Francis Xavier’s with Fr Lester as usual.

The rock-fall had killed miner and father of four Larry Knight. Knight’s two colleagues, Todd Russell and Brant Webb - both, fathers of three children - were missing, presumed dead.

“We prayed for the miners, but there was not a lot of hope,” Fr Lester told The Record this week.

Later on that Sunday night, news came through that Russell and Webb had been located through imaging technology. They were alive and well, but trapped inside a protective miner’s cage.

“When the news came through that the two of them had been found alive, people in the town were running around crying: ‘It’s a miracle!’” Fr Lester recalled.

“Now, that’s a statement of faith,” he said.

On Tuesday this week, after a further nine days trapped, the missing miners finally walked free, clocked off and then started handing out business cards to friends and relatives.

On the cards were printed: “The

Continued on Page 12

Cardinal George Pell of Sydney received plenty of media attention last week as he revealed he had been reading the Koran and noted its many exhortations to violence.

West Australians in Rome: West Aussies gathered in Rome recently to celebrate Archbishop Barry Hickey’s birthday and to be renewed in enthusiasm for the spreading of the Gospel. They are: Fr Sean Fernandez, left, Fr Giosue Marini, Sr Maria Mori, OMSC, Fr Charles Waddell, Archbishop Hickey, Fr Leo Spicer, OSM, Debra Vermeer, Tony Vermeer, Andrew Hamilton, Marita Winters, Michelle Jones, Bernie Winters and Sr Lynn Chua, OMSC. After returning from Rome to Australia Archbishop Hickey was elected vice-President of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide (see story at right) was elected President.

Michelle Jones reports on a West Aussie Rome get-together - Page 2

Archbishop Wilson

UNDA students return from Rome handover

Bigger than Ben Hur: 500,000 Aussie youth alone expected for WYD 2008 Sydney, plus another 130,000 visitors from overseas

Three Notre Dame students have returned from a trip to Rome which involved receiving the World Youth Day Cross from the Pope. World Youth Day (WYD) is celebrated in local churches and in Rome every year on Palm Sunday, and every three years at an international venue.

Sydney was chosen as the host city for 2008 and the students were part of an official delegation of Australian Catholic youth, with one representative from every diocese in Australia, responsible for bringing the Cross to Australia.

Caroline Watson and Vicky Burrows were chosen to be part of the group for their work with the Catholic Youth Ministry and a Christian student group.

They participated in the Vatican’s Palm Sunday Mass, receiving Communion from the Pope, as well as the official handing over of the Cross and a pilgrimage to the many religious sites in Rome.

Vicky said she wanted to be part of World Youth Day because she feels it is important that society and the Church do not underestimate the faith and action of young people in Australia and around the world.

“I want all young people to discover their dignity and mission in their everyday lives. Young people are the future, therefore it is important that we put time and energy into their formation and development.” World Youth Day

was started by Pope John Paul II in 1986 after noticing an overwhelming response from youth to two events - the International Jubilee of Youth and the UN’s International Youth Year.

The Pope saw a need for the young to be reminded of their responsibility for the world and the Church.

According to Caroline there are various aims of World Youth Day.

“There is the aim that young people will experience the universality of our Church; that young people will encounter Jesus through the WYD program and through their interactions with each other; that the youth of the Church will take responsibility for the future of the Church, and share with other young people the encounters that have led them back to and into the faith.”

As for the WYD Cross, it will travel around Australia in 2007 visiting every diocese in the country.

“It is hoped that as many young Australians as possible will encounter the cross on its journey.

“I hope that this will include all Notre Dame students. WYD 2008 will be one of the most significant Catholic events to ever to be held in Australia.

“With an estimated 500,000 Australian pilgrims and 130,000 international pilgrims set to hit Sydney I can’t wait to be part of that crowd,” said Caroline.

Australian bishops elect new President

Continued from page 1

Archbishop Wilson said he was humbled to have been elected President. “I am very humbled and honoured to have been elected President of the Bishops’ Conference by my brother Bishops and I hope to serve them, the Church and the people of Australia to the very best of my ability. I am particularly honoured to follow in the footsteps of Archbishop Francis Carroll who has led the Conference with such dignity, faith and wisdom for the last six years.” Archbishop

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Carroll congratulated Archbishop Wilson and wished him well in his new role. “Archbishop Wilson has given great service to the Church in Australia throughout his priestly and Episcopal life,” he said. “In this time he has shown himself a true servant and a true leader and he has won the respect and admiration of all the bishops. I wish him well in his role as ACBC President and assure him of my prayers.” The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is the body through which the bishops act on matters of national concern.

The Conference meets in Plenary Session twice each year and its works are carried out by a number of committees, commissions and organisations. The President and the Vice-President are elected for two-year terms and can serve for a maximum three terms. Also elected today were the members of the Permanent Committee. They are Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop John Bathersby, Archbishop Denis Hart, Archbishop Adrian Doyle, Bishop Michael Putney and Bishop David Walker.

West Australians gather

■ By Michelle Jones

“The harvest is ready, bring it in. Go back full of enthusiasm – this is what the Lord is asking of you.”

Such was Archbishop Hickey’s exhortation during a Mass in Rome on Anzac Day to priests, religious, a seminarian and a lay-woman of the Archdiocese of Perth who are currently living and studying in the eternal city.

Among those present were Fathers Sean Fernandez and Charles Waddell, and Sr Maria Mori, all of whom are currently completing their Roman studies and planning to return to Perth later this year.

The Mass was followed by a truly Roman-style lunch, during which the Archbishop’s recent 70th birthday was heartily celebrated.

In addition to his pastoral visit to the members of his Roman flock, Archbishop Hickey attended a conference on Social Communications in the Church during his week-long stay.

Archbishop Hickey is not only

the chairman of the Committee for the Media of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, but also a rising star in Australian television.

Held at Santa Croce University, the conference covered themes such as “The Church and the Internet” and “Presenting the Magisterium in a Mass Media World.”

Others who joined Archbishop Hickey at the conference included Debra Vermeer, the Communications Officer of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Marita Winters, Director of Catholic Communications in Sydney.

Archbishop Hickey emphasised the need for Church personnel to be well-equipped to evangelise through the media.

“If we really believe we have something worthwhile to say,” he commented, “we must use modern means of communication to impart our message not only to other Catholics, but also – and especially – to all the people in the wider society.”

The travelling life: Lucas Hurley, formerly of Catholic Youth Ministry in Perth, and Caroline Watson take a break during their recent foray to the handing-over of the WYD Cross in Rome. Photo: courtesy University of Notre Dame Australia

Birthday get-together: Archbishop Hickey, Fr Charles Waddell and Ursuline Sister Lynn Chua celebrate the Archbishop’s 70th over a Roman-style lunch.

Pell ignites Koran controversy

■ By Paul Gray

Cardinal George Pell has ignited nationwide controversy by highlighting the presence of violent texts within Islam, and urging Catholics to read the Koran.

Responding to the controversy, the Cardinal said this week that “basic issues” must be addressed in the dialogue between Christianity and Islam.

“Islamic terrorists are not a figment of anyone’s imagination and the history of relations with Islam is full of conflict,” he said.

The Cardinal’s comments were made as further examples of Islamic terrorism around the world were reported, including the savage murder of respected female journalist Atwar Bahjat in Iraq.

Bahjat was stripped and then filmed as she was tortured and had her throat slowly cut by men dressed in army fatigues yelling “allahu akbar” (“God is greatest”) Cardinal

Pell said that dialogue with Muslims must be based on “truth, history and the current situation.”

Cardinal Pell

Cardinal Pell said that the holiest book of Islam, the Koran, is replete with statements urging violence in the name of God.

“In my own reading of the Koran, I began to note down invocations to violence. There are so many of them, however, that I abandoned this exercise after 50 or 60 or 70 pages.”

Cardinal Pell’s comments appear to open up a new chapter in the Muslim-Christian relations in Australia.

Since September 11, 2001, many interfaith efforts have been made

Continued on Page 4

Perth Alpha launch looms

■ By

Jamie O’Brien

he Alpha introductory course to Christianity which runs in churches of all denominations is commencing in Perth on May 16.

Perth, Catholic churches like Holy Family Parish Como, Holy Rosary Nedlands, Our Lady of Grace North Beach, St Luke’s Woodvale and St Bernadette’s in Glendalough all have Alpha programs commencing this month.

Archdiocesan Catholic Representative, Carol Wright said many Australians today are looking for purpose and direction in life, and this could be supplemented by an Alpha course.

“It is especially helpful for those wanting to investigate Christianity, or people who have recently come

to the Church,” Mrs Wright said. The invitation to attend a course is offered to all aged 16 years and above.

Alpha courses have been conducted in Australia for more than ten years.

Mrs Wright, who is from Our Lady of Grace Parish in North Beach, said she has personally seen how Alpha fosters the desire to evangelise and assist others in their personal relationship with Jesus,

“I believe that Alpha creates the opportunity in a very relaxed environment.”

The course is for one night a week over ten weeks, addressing key issues relating to the Christian faith.

For more information, including parish representatives, contact The Record, or visit: www.perth.alphainvitation.com

Seminar for spouses

Places in a weekend seminar designed to lead husbands and wives into a greater intimacy and deeper understanding of self-giving are filling steadily, according to Perth organiser Mary Prentice.

The non–residential program, known as “Celebrate Love”, draws on the insights of Pope John Paul II as well as other professionals and seeks to rekindle the passion

of being “in love” and to recognise marriage as an endless gift to one another. Mrs Prentice said that there were a limited number of places available and it was important that bookings be made as early as possible.

The course does not involve group discussion or counselling and all sharing is carried out privately between husband and wife. Couples of all faiths and ages are

welcome. Since its inception in Sydney in 1994, over 800 couples have attended the weekend Australia wide.

The next course is being held at Mercy College in Koondoola on May 20th –21st and is the third to be held in Perth.

For bookings and information contact Brad and Mary Prentice on (08) 9401 0596 or online at celebratelove.com.au

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Still strong after 50 years

Fifty years after Catholic education and a permanent place of worship were established in Redcliffe, the St Maria Goretti’s Catholic School and Parish communities have come together in celebration of their Golden Jubilee.

With the weather threatening to put a dampener on the celebration, the large crowd gathered in the outdoor courtyard area of the school for a Mass led by Vicar General, Fr Brian O’Loughlin.

A procession of items of significance got the celebration underway and included a statue of St Maria Goretti, Oil of Chrism, the school banner, Rosary Beads and a photograph of the 2006 school and parish communities. The procession also featured the presence of Sr Leonie O’Brien representing the founding Sisters of Mercy and current Parish Priest, Fr Eugene McGrath.

Of additional significance was the first reading that was read by

Paul Douglas, the first baby baptised in the Church of St Maria Goretti.

In his homily, Fr O’Loughlin said St Maria Goretti was “an ideal patron” for both the school and parish.

Paying tribute to the Sisters of Mercy who founded the school in 1956, Fr O’Loughlin said their pioneering work of educating young people in the Catholic tradition continued to be fostered by the current lay staff.

“As well as tonight being a celebration in thanksgiving for all that has happened in the past, we also look to the future and what God is asking of us as a school and parish community,” he said.

The end of the Mass brought with it reflections on the Parish from Fr Eugene and reflections on the development of the school from Principal Drew Jago.

Pell urges reality-check in the ongoing dialogue with Islam

Continued from page 2

by moderate and tolerant forces both within the Muslim community and the churches to promote better mutual understanding and networking.

Prominent members of the Australian Jewish community have also joined in this project.

One outcome has been the Abraham Interfaith Dialogue, where dozens of representatives of the three “Abrahamic” faithsIslam, Christianity and Judaism - have joined together for formal

discussions and workshops and, in Victoria, two annual live-in conference weekends.

The focus of these initiatives, so far, has been on exploring religious and philosophical principles which are held in common between the faiths, in the interests of advancing mutual co-operation.

Cardinal Pell’s remarks appear to take this process a step further, by openly focusing attention not just on the commonalities, but on the differences between Christianity and Islam.

Critics of the Cardinal are saying

that this is merely promoting ignorant attitudes towards Islam.

However, the Cardinal has countered this argument by stating that people should read the Koran.

Another new aspect in the Cardinal’s argument is the need to promote Christian support for moderate forces within the Islamic communities, at the expense of Muslim radicals and those sympathetic to terrorism.

“I continue to be completely committed to dialogue with Muslims, to supporting moderate forces on all sides,” he said this week.

In this respect, Cardinal Pell is in line with the views of many secular political thinkers throughout the West, who argue that collaboration with politically moderate forces within Islam is essential to combating terrorism. Despite clear evidence that this kind of reasoning lies behind the Cardinal’s recent statements, he is likely to continue to be opposed by some critics who decry all mention of the religious underpinning of violence within Islamic culture.

Also in Sydney this week, Parramatta Bishop Kevin Manning

was given an Arabic Heritage League Award. Receiving the award, Bishop Manning told the Arabic Heritage League: “Your organisation is one which models the fact that Christians and Muslims work together for a common purpose.

“It is in this context that the Arab Heritage League has a role to play in building harmonious relationships between our two communities,” the bishop said.

Bishop Manning also spoke of the need for interfaith dialogues, particularly Christian-Muslim dialogue.

25 years of dedicated service

Concluding the Mass, Monsignor

- By Phil Bayne Some of the large congregation that gathered to celebrate the anniversary Mass Photo: courtesy of Phil Bayne

■ By Sylvia Defendi

The Cathedral was filled in celebration of Fr Timothy Deeter’s silver jubilee, which began with sung Holy Mass, on May 7.

McDonald presented Fr Deeter with a chalice, saying that “three quarters of the chalice is silver, to remind Fr Deeter of this special occasion. The other quarter is gold, to encourage him to strive for gold.” Over 150 people joined Fr Deeter after Mass in the Mercedes school hall, for an honorary buffet dinner.

Celebrating 25 years of prieshood: Fr Tim Deeter, director of liturgy and music at the Cathedral, cuts his cake surrounded by Cathedral choir boys. Photo: Sylvia Defendi

Catholic doctors assist Mother Teresa nuns

■ By Mark Reidy

Money raised by the Catholic Doctor’s Association (CDA) was recently presented to Mother Teresa’s Perthbased Missionaries of Charity (MC) Sisters to assist them in their work with the poor, lonely and disadvantaged.

The CDA raised the money from sales of annual entertainment books throughout the year, with proceeds also distributed to Brother Ollie Pickett’s Wheelchairs for Kids program (The Record 13/04/06, p15).

Drs Leonard Chan and John

Carey presented the cheque on the behalf of the CDA to Sister Eliezer, at the MC house in East Cannington.

The three sisters who currently operate in Perth are involved in several Outreach projects. On Wednesday evenings, accompanied by lay volunteers (including two St Charles seminarians) they take hot food and drinks into the city of Perth to feed and befriend the homeless and those in need. They converse with those who are lonely and depressed and pray with those who are open.

The Sisters are also involved in the visitation of poor, mainly indig-

enous and families who live in or near the East Cannington area. As well as distributing loaves of bread

Some sayings of Mother Teresa:

and attending to their material needs, the Sisters take some members of these families to Church

“How can we love God whom we do not see, if we do not love our neighbour whom we see, whom we touch, with whom we live?”

“The world today is hungry, not only for bread, but hungry for love, hungry to be wanted, to be loved,”

“The poor are very great people. They can teach us many beautiful things.”

“Works of love are always works of peace.”

“It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into what we do.”

Social group aims to fill void for over-25’s

Being a Catholic Man in the 21st Century will be the topic of discussion at a Men’s Breakfast on Saturday May 27 at Tuart Hill.

The event, organised by Catholic social group, Club Amici, has invited guest speaker Luke Van Beek to explore the advantages and challenges that face men who choose to live out their faith in today’s society.

The event is one of many social gatherings organised by Club Amici, which is a network of Catholic people whose primary aim is to build community for singles, couples and families over the ages of 25.

The Men’s Breakfast, to be held at Saint Catherine’s House of Hospitality, is a first for the Club said Chairperson Therese Bonasera.

“We will be organising a Women’s Breakfast in July in which Catholic women can also meet in a safe and friendly environment,” she said.

The breakfasts are a part of a wide variety of events that Club Amici has organised since its inception in 2004. Activities in the past have included dinners, pizza and games nights, bike rides, jazz cruises, a Baby Shower for Jesus, picnics, concerts and the popular Coffee Club which regularly meets on a Saturday afternoon.

Therese, a co-founder along with her husband Renato and a group of four other friends, said that the idea for the club had grown from a conversation she had four years ago regarding the limited social opportunities within the Catholic Church.

Bible Day will help announce the Gospel

■ By Mark Reidy

The idea to celebrate a World Bible Day on July 1 every year was born at a joint meeting of Christian groups in India earlier this year.

When members of Salem Voice Ministries, John Paul II Ecumenical Prayer Circle, At Anycost Jesus Mission and the Baseelia Foundation met together in the city of Kottayam a committee was established to promote the concept to all “churches, denominations, bible societies, missionary organizations, theological seminaries, prayer fellowships and all Christian institutions” around the world.

Committee Chairman, Reverend Paul Cineraj announced in a media release that the July 1 date was chosen as it followed the celebration days of Sts Peter and Paul on June 29 and 30 in “the Holy Catholic Church and the ancient churches.”

It also fell in the middle of the year and this represented the Scriptures and their message of salvation as being cental to human life.

The World Bible Day Committee put forward eight suggestions that could be undertaken on July 1, beginning this year. They are hopeful that many

Christian groups will embrace these proposals. They are:

1. Conduct special services or prayer fellowships with a message of the World Bible Day and to greet each other with a holy kiss.

2. Conduct Bible Seminars, Bible quiz competitions and Biblical Cultural Programs among children and youth.

3. Conduct public meetings followed by a Bible procession in each town with the participation of all churches and congregations.

4. Encourage every Christian to donate at least one Bible on that day to a friend, especially a non-Christian one.

5. Encourage all the staff and students of Christian Institutions to wear a badge mentioning “July 1st, World Bible Day”, with a verse of Scripture.

6. Encourage all Christian families to have lunch together followed by a family prayer and reading from the Bible. NonChristian friends could be invited and presented with their own Bible.

7. Encourage all Christians to distribute Scripture verses.

8. Encourage people to send greeting cards for Bible Day. To

She soon realised that her concerns about this void for over-25s was a frustration shared by many others.

Since then the organisation has grown into a flourishing network that gathers for events twice monthly and has 200 people on their mailing list.

The majority of those who attend are in their 30s and 40s but have also included people in their 20s, 50s, 60s and even 70s.

“We regularly have between 20 and 40 people attending our events,” Therese said, “and the feedback has always been positive. In the past tennis clubs, dances and other social activities were a regular part of Church life, but they are not as popular today.

“Our aim is to create a posi-

and instruct them in preparation for Baptism. Since October 2002 the Sisters have prepared nearly 50 candidates.

The Sisters also open their house for prayer and Adoration every Monday, Friday and Sunday from 6pm to 7pm as well as for Mass every first Thursday and every first Saturday of the month at 8am. All are welcome.

They are also available for talks to secondary schools on Blessed Mother Theresa and the Missionaries of Charity and their work.

For more information contact Sister Eliezer on 9451 6122.

tive and enjoyable social environ-

ment for Catholics to meet and share experiences.” Tickets for the Men’s Breakfast are $20. For

WANTED OFFICE ASSISTANTS (2)

“The Record” Catholic Newspaper in West Perth is seeking two office assistants each working three days per week.

Special skills needed:

● Competency in the use of Microsoft applications - Word, Excel and Outlook

● Experience in MYOB

● Excellent interpersonal, oral and written skills

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● Daily banking, invoicing and accounts payable

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The Editor

The Record Newspaper PO Box 75

Leederville WA 6902

email: cathrec@iinet.net.au

Closing date 15 May 06

bookings or enquiries about future Club Amici events contact Therese Bonasera on 0413 02 1972 or email clubamiciwa@yahoo.com.au.

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A full-time position for a mature person will soon be available in a Catholic Office located near central Perth.

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The person will be required to work in a shared environment, dedicated to assisting in a pastoral care aspect of the Church’s ministry.

Any applicant must be fully supportive of the objectives and ethos of the Catholic Church.

Please forward your application in writing and include Resume, qualifications and references/referees to :

The Judicial Vicar PO Box 6444

East Perth WA 6892

Closing date is 19 May 2006

Founders saw a void: Therese and Renato Bonasera, pictured with 11-month old son Joshua, realised there was a need for a social scene for Catholics.

Leprosariums that are community

Show me your hands: Fr Ruiz observes the hands of a leper patient at Tai Kam leprosarium. In the last 20 years, Fr Ruiz’s care has extended to more than 100 leprosariums across China. This accounts for nearly 5000 lepers for whom he regularly provides financial assistance and resources.

■ By Derek Boylen

I

magine a place where society’s outcasts are sent: people who have been disfigured, people with open wounds that fester and become gangrenous, people without resources or food to care for themselves properly, people feared for the leprosy they once had or have. A place where rats eat the flesh from infected wounds in broad daylight.This is a fairly accurate description of any one of a hundred leprosariums that Fr Ruiz has been to in China. In the first half of last century the protestant churches did a lot of work with the lepers in China. This all came to an abrupt end in the early 1950’s when communism took the reins and evicted all Christian missionaries. Religious expression was banned and foreign missionaries of every denomination had to leave the country. The lepers were left to fend for themselves. In some cases the leaving missionaries, fearing for the future of the lepers left gold and money but it could only last so long.

By the 1980’s most of the leprosariums had gone to ruin. Many lepers, unable to care for themselves left these places to seek help from farms and villages, terrifying locals with their disfigurement and in some cases passing the disease on to new victims.

It was in 1984 that Fr Ruiz was first invited to China by a local priest, Fr Lino to help the lepers of the island of Tai Kam. In the last twenty years Fr Ruiz’s care has extended to over 100 leprosariums across China. This accounts for over 5000 lepers for whom he regularly provides financial assistance and resources.

Ideally though Fr Ruiz’s aim is to help restore the leprosariums and to bring sisters who will provide daily care for them. In the last two decades he has managed to bring sisters to twenty leprosariums.

Daily life at the leprosariums where Fr Ruiz has brought the sisters is far removed from those places where Fr Ruiz’s care is yet to extend. The island of Tai Kam, where he began his work, now has a generator that provides power for several hours each day. Fr Ruiz finances their lunch and evening meals.

He has paid for the renovation of the buildings so that the lepers now have places for eating, sleeping and recreation. Most importantly though he was able to bring the Sisters of Charity of St Anne.

The sisters spend each day with the lepers, caring for their physical, social and emotional wellbeing. Every morning one of the sisters changes the dressings on wounds in the dispensary. Another does rounds going to those who, because of age or illness, are unable to make the short journey to the dispensary. The wounds of a leper often take many years to heal.

Daily life is always active. Sr Elizabeth says “lepers are not idle people. They are always doing something.” Looking around the leprosarium you can immediately see it is true. Each leper is responsible for the care of the garden in front of their rooms. These gardens are green with thriving, well tended plants. In the small central garden some of the women have begun a rose garden. Summer is on the way and the roses are beginning to bud. Outside the leprosarium lepers can be found working in the vegie patch, growing a variety

To

of vegetables. In the courtyards small groups of lepers can be found socialising and playing games like mah-jong.

The sisters don’t dictate the way that the leprosarium operates. A leprosarium is a community of people who accept responsibility for making daily decisions about their wellbeing. Leprosy doesn’t affect the brain. The most recent arrival, in 2002, who was an electronic engineer before getting leprosy. Fr Ruiz and the Sisters don’t tell the lepers how to live. Rather, they provide the resources so that they can live with dignity.

A leprosarium is a community of people who form friendships, have arguments, create small social groups and elect leaders and decision makers. On Tai Kam, several lepers saved some of the money Fr Ruiz provides and purchased basic music equipment and uniforms. When visitors come to the island they put on a special concert including a traditional Chinese dragon dance.

The work of Fr Ruiz and the sisters in the various leprosariums they serve has changed daily life from one of extreme poverty to one of dignity and hope.

those who missed out,

Photo: Derek Boylen

Leprosy a sign of serious evil: poverty

■ By Jamie O’Brien

Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is a chronic bacterial and infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an acid-fast, rod-shaped bacillus.

In 2000, the World Health Organisation reported 738,284 cases of leprosy in 91 countries.

India, Myanmar and Nepal hold 70 per cent of this number.

The global incidence of new cases has been declining, with 407,791 being diagnosed in 2004.

The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and also the eyes.

The first outward sign of leprosy is a patch on the skin, usually associated with loss of feeling.

The bacteria are thought to enter the body through the nose and possibly through broken skin.

However it is very difficult to catch and cannot be caught by a handshake.

The website of Leprosy Mission International report that more than 95% of people are immune and after only a couple of days on treatment, sufferers are no longer infectious.

It usually takes about four years for tuberculoid leprosy symptoms to appear and about eight years for lepromatous symptoms to appear.

The disease is curable with multidrug therapy (MDT), a powerful combination of two to three drugs: clofazimine, rifampicin and dapsone.

Mild, non-infectious cases of leprosy need treatment with two drugs for 6 months.

More severe infectious cases need all three drugs for up to 24 months.

However there is no effective preventive vaccine - which is why early detection and treatment with MDT are so vital.

Leprosy has afflicted humanity since time immemorial. It once affected every continent and it has left behind a terrifying image in history and human memory - of mutilation, rejection and exclusion from society.

Leprosy has struck fear into human beings for thousands of years, and was well recognised in the oldest civilizations of China, Egypt and India.

Since ancient times, leprosy has been regarded as a contagious, mutilating and incurable disease.

It is estimated that there are between one and two million people visibly and irreversibly disabled by leprosy who require care by the community in which they live.

Full control of leprosy has eluded parts of Angola, Brazil, Congo, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, and the United Republic of Tanzania.

However, these countries are studying various ways to intensify their leprosy control activities.

Information campaigns about leprosy in high-risk areas are crucial so that patients and their families, who were historically ostracized from their communities, are encouraged to come forward and receive treatment.

Today, diagnosis and treatment of leprosy is easy. Essential work is being carried out to integrate leprosy services into existing, general health services.

This is especially important for communities at risk for leprosy, which are often the poorest of the poor and under-served.

Earlier this year, Pope Benedict XVI marked World Leprosy Day on January 28 with a message of encouragement for missionaries and Church health care workers who assist the many people afflicted with the disease.

“Leprosy is a symptom of a more serious and more vast evil, which is poverty,” the Pope said.

“For this reason, like my predecessors, I renew my appeal to the leaders of nations to unify their efforts to overcome the serious imbalances that still penalise a large part of humanity.”

This man, depsite his physical ailments, sang in Chinese for Record journalists Jamie O’Brien and Derek Boylen at Tai Kam, China. Earlier this year, Pope Benedict appealed to the leaders of nations to unify their efforts to overcome the serious imbalances that penalise communities like Tai Kam. Photo: Derek Boylen

The Church hard at work in China

Chinese need new mentality of Church

■ By Jamie O’Brien

The future of the Church in China is in the hands of the Chinese people who have to find a way to develop the work of the Church there, said Spanish Jesuit, Fr Fermin Rodriguez.

Fr Rodriguez, who is based in Macau, assists the work Fr Luiz Ruiz, founder of Casa Ricci Social Services.

The Catholic agency looks after the elderly and disabled in Macau and those living with HIV/AIDS or leprosy in China.

Fr Rodriguez believes the Church in China needs to create a new mentality of Church and society that incorporates the Catholic faith in the identity of the Chinese people.

“They want to be Catholic and involved in society,” he said.

“If they want to build a dynamic Church they have to be involved in the problems of China.”

“They are a people who are strong in their faith but have suffered a lot since communism took over,” Fr Rodriguez continued. He first came to China to work as a fisherman when he was not yet a priest and upon returning to Spain, he entered the local diocesan seminary and was sent to Taiwan where he studied Chinese and Theology for six years.

At the age of 33, Fr Rodriguez decided to enter the Jesuit order.

After being ordained in 1996 at the age of 40, he was immediately sent to Macau to assist Fr Luiz Ruiz with the preparation for the

handover of Hong Kong to China.

At the time, Fr Ruiz was still in charge of Caritas in Macau, but was preparing to hand over its authority to the local Bishop.

From here, Fr Rodriguez returned to Taiwan for one year, where he began working in the spiritual retreat house for Jesuit missionaries.

This was followed by the start of his second novitiate in Spain, which took about a year.

From there he was sent back to Macau, where he began mentoring priests and religious, and learning about the social problems in China, such as HIV/AIDS and leprosy, so that he would be able to work with the people of Casa Ricci.

At present, he works with Fr Ruiz, providing spiritual direction for religious people in Macau and China, providing for priests and sisters theologically, pastorally, liturgically and socially.

However, said Fr Rodriguez, the official Church in China does not have the same structure as the universal Church because they have to obey the Government.

“Chinese people are concerned with belonging to the Universal Church,” he said.

“How they will connect the current structure to the Universal Church is a big challenge but they are ready and already working hard.”

In China, foreigners can do nothing for the Church officially.

Religious like Fr Ruiz and Fr Rodriguez, have not been invited to work as missionaries but as specialists in the care of lepers and HIV/AIDS victims.

“With our experience we try to help them,” Fr Rodriguez said.

“The moment the Government realises our experience is good, they want the Chinese to

learn from us.” Fr Rodriguez used the situation of Chinese lepers to explain how the relationship of the Church and the government works.

“The Government put lepers on the island, but this didn’t work. Foreigners built the leprosarium, and the situation improved.”

“The government realised this was good, and then put Chinese people in charge.”

Fr Rodriguez explained that before the arrival of the Communist Government, Bishops could freely ordain priests. Now Bishops must seek permission from the Government and the Vatican before priests are ordained. With the arrival of Communism in 1949, all foreigners were sent out of China and the Government put all Chinese Catholics, religious or lay in prison, if they didn’t renounce Rome.

According to Fr Rodriguez, there are many Chinese Catholics who have no knowledge of Vatican II, simply because of their lack of connection with the outside world.

After the Chinese Government began allowing visitors into China in the early 80’s, many Catholics continued to practise underground.

“Some continue to be underground simply because they are still afraid.”

However, Fr Rodriguez said that one seminary has opened that combines seminarians of the patriotic and underground Churches.

“The problem for the Pope now is to bring the patriotic and underground Church to unity.” Fr Rodriguez says that nearly 88 per cent of the Patriotic Church clergy is approved by Rome.

“However, some don’t want to unite, they want to emphasise the problem,” Fr Rodriguez said.

This encyclical is profound: priest

Beijing (Fides Service) - “If John Paul II led the Church into the third millennium, Benedict XVI is leading her in the modern world with a steady hand and profundity of thought, as we see from the Encyclical “Deus Caritas Est” - a landmark on the theological journey of the Church,” said a Catholic priest in Beijing, full of admiration for the work which he has read several times.

“I was so moved from the very beginning, from the first paragraph.

“Deus Caritas Est” is an important step in the history of the Church, a work which needs to be meditated on and studied in depth. For me “Deus Caritas Est” is a milestone. It supplies the answers to many questions posed by non-Christians,” said the priest who has read the Pope’s encyclical in the English version.

“I have read it several times and each time I thought, this must be in Chinese to help Chinese Catholics know the fundamental thought and teaching of this Holy Father.

Certainly it is no easy task to translate a work of this importance and profundity. It calls for theological, philosophical, historical, cultural, linguistic expertise and an excellent command of the Chinese language. But above all it needs prayer: I believe to translate this work the translator will have to get down on his knees.”

HOW TO

Donations to Casa Ricci can be forwarded to:

Fr Stephen Curtin SJ

Australian Jesuit Missions PO Box 193 North Sydney NSW 2059 (02) 9955 8585

Donors should indicate they want their donations to be forwarded to Fr Ruiz in Macau.

Want to hear more?

Record reporters Derek Boylen and Jamie O’Brien are happy to visit parishes and schools and speak to congregations or classes about what they saw in China when they covered the Fr Ruiz story.

Both were deeply impressed by what they found: a little-known and profound love for the poorest and most helpless being lived out day by day, by a remarkable group of individuals under the leadership of Fr Ruiz.

They would be happy to give a short presentation and to show photographs (most of which were not printed) of what they saw in China.

If you are interested in having them visit, contact The Record on (08) 9227 7080.

Respectful Fr Ruiz:

We miss you always. We are longing for your coming to see our happy lives that we can eat and sleep well. We are enjoying 3 meals with meat and fish per day. We have new accommodation with beautiful allow windows. On the 26th November Fr Du ordered 100 steel beds for us. All these offers are attributed and introduced from Fr Ruiz.

During the past 2 to 3 years, Brother Robert stayed in our leprosarium and made the orthopedic shoes for us. He also designed the shoes for those who are just capable to walk with their knees. Fr Du and the Sisters, besides carrying out the medical care of the patients, also assist to make the orthopedic shoes. They even make the shoes for Yaixi leprosarium. The Sisters, including Sr Marina, take care of us at least 12 hours per day. Since you – Fr Ruiz helped us to establish this hospital, a lot of outside patients, including those who need amputation, also come here and ask for medical care and operation.

There were 26 patients who asked for the above care in September and 15 of them have received Baptism since they believe in God.

Fr Leung comes here for sacraments at least once per month. He also performs Baptism for the patients.

Now, there are 110 patients and 80 are Catholics.

We ask Sr Marina to hand you a letter since she will come to Macau. We send our compliments to you – Fr Ruiz. We wish that you will be blessed from our Lord.

The patients of Dajin leprosarium.

December 2000

Fr Ruiz:

As Spring Festival is coming, we wish Fr Ruiz best wishes, thanking him for his concern and loving care. And we pray to God, to Jesus Christ the Almighty and Merciful God for Fr Luis Ruiz.

Because of you given money to build houses, so we have places to stay. Given us clothings to keep us warm day and night. Thanking you Father for the abundant graces which are much higher than the mountains, your love is so deep just like the sea, save our lives.

Thanks also for sending 4 sisters to Pin-Yau, Man-Shan, Yunnan province to take care of us. We are grateful to them as they left their parents, their country, came from far away to work here with sincere love.

In this Spring Festival, two Sisters went home, and two Sisters remained with us. To dear Father, wishing you good health, happiness and longevity forever.

From: Man-Shan Region, Yunnan Province Rehabilitated Centre January 2004

To Dear Uncle and Auntie of Casa Ricci Social Services:

I am Chiu Bik Yim comes from a farm village. Many thanks for your loving concern.

I was born in farm-village, living in unfortunate condition. I remember when I was 7 years old, my father died, he left us and brought away all my fortune and happiness.

At that same year, I could not pay my school fees and I had to leave school.

At last, my mother did some work, selling eggs and chickens, and I was able to go back to school. From this time on, I know that it is not easy for me to go to school, so I try my best to learn more.

Now I am in junior two, secondary school, I have to face many problems in school. My route is not so easy to go, but I am not afraid. I try my best to work hard, step by step, in every step I walk with difficulty, at last I got good results from school. But I am not proud of myself, as I know today’s success is not a sight of my future bright, I will keep on to study harder and harder.

In my study, I discovered life is so beautiful, but I understand that today’s success is from your help, without you, I cannot be so successful. Please accept my gratitude to you all. Wishing you all healthy, peaceful and happiness.

From: Chiu Bik Yim October 31 2005

The meaning of compassion: Fr Luis Ruiz, right, greets a disabled man at one of the homes run by Casa Ricci Social Services, Macau, of which he is director. The 92-year-old Spanish Jesuit has found ways of caring for the poor and disadvantaged throughout China and Macau, that have not been accomplished by anyone else.

Photo: Derek Boylen

Fr Fermin Rodriguez, SJ talks to a patient at the leprosarium in Tai Kam about what she hopes for the Church in China. Fr Rodriguez believes many Chinese Catholics have no knowledge of Vatican II, simply because of their lack of connection with the outside world.

Photo: Jamie O’Brien

Record journalist Jamie O’Brien disttributes traditional red packets containing a “gold” coin representing a wish for prosperity and good fortune to patients at Tai Kam. Photo taken by Fr Fermin Rodriguez SJ

Quiet parishioner’s efforts led to report

Our Lady of Lourdes parishioner Colin Pike was the beginning to The Record’s decision to cover Fr Ruiz’s story.

It was therefore a tragedy that the Padbury man never lived to see the results of his efforts, even though we have good reasons to hope that he sees them now from heaven.

Mr Pike died in a shocking Australia Day car crash on the Old Mandurah Road which was reported in local media at the time.

Mr Pike approached The Record first in in late 2005, after returning from a visit to Fr Ruiz and his friends in Macau. He told The Record at the time that the visit

was “a profound personal experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

For decades he and several other Perth individuals had been quietly supporting the work of Fr Ruiz’s Casa Ricci Social Services.

Mr Pike had first been recruited into supporting Fr Ruiz’s work by Perth woman Theresa Naisbett decades earlier.

“If it had not been for Colin’s initial enthusiastic approach to The Record and the impressive way in which he revealed to us the full extent of Fr Ruiz’s work then chances are we would never have heard about him and never have gone,” said Record editor Peter Rosengren. “He was the reason

we sent Jamie O’Brien and Derek Boylen to Macau, with financial support from car dealer John Hughes.

“I know his death came as a shock to Fr Ruiz, his assistant Fr Tyl and others up there in Macau who had encountered Colin from his visits and knew of his quiet, unseen contribution to what can only be described as an heroic effort.”

“Despite the tragedy of his death, we are really hoping that people in Perth get behind our effort to provide some financial assistance to the work being done by the Jesuits and their helpers up there.”

“It would be a great show of

support for Fr Ruiz and his helpers, and for Colin Pike.”

After being informed of Colin’s death Fr Tyl emailed The Record to say Mass had been celebrated for him and his family and for the other two young victims and their families as well.

Mass was celebrated for the victims and their families again at a leprosarium run by nuns assisting Casa Ricci in Yunan Province in China’s north a week later.

Anyone wanting to follow in the footsteps of Colin Pike, Theresa Naisbett and others who have been quietly giving to Casa Ricci over the years can send their donations to the address on page 9.

Colin Pike

With the Spirit of Christ:

Clockwise from top left:

Fr Ruiz speaks to a children at a school for the children of lepers in the Yunnan province.

Fr Ruiz stands with several others outside the new AIDS centre and orphanage he had built in Hunan province.

One of the Chinese sisters plays with little Chu-she. He is two years old and believed to have HIV/AIDS.

Fr Ruiz consoles an AIDS patients.

Family offers itself in service to a new culture

■ By Jamie O’Brien

The Christian faith once deeply rooted in the Macanese culture is now confonted by modern materialism and its associated lifestyle, says Antonio Carillo, of a family living in mission in Macau.

The Church in Macau, he continues, is called to adopt the conviction that God in his goodness will show the way to counteract the secular forces that go against the values of the Gospel of Christ.

The Carillo family - Antonio, Ana and Jesus - belong to the Neocatechumenal Way and arrived in Macau in 1995 as lay missionaries.

There are now nearly 500 such missionary families who are part of the Way in different parts of the world, with many having been commissioned to go on mission by John Paul II. The Way, founded in the slums of Madrid in 1964, is described as an itinerary of faith formation for the baptised and unbaptised.

Mr and Mrs Carillo both came into contact with the Way in the province of Murcia, Spain, before getting married.

Before marriage, Mr Carillo also served as a catechist with the Way for several years in Spain and Central Africa.

“We had a normal family life with our home, work, a car, friends, relatives,” Mr Carillo said.

“The Neocatechumenal Way led us to find God in our every-day lives and with His help we learn to love each other, with the same manner as Christ.”

Mr Carillo said he and his wife had wanted to become a mission family because they had learnt through the Church that to live in God’s will is the best, and that this is His will for them.

In 1991, the couple decided to volunteer their services to become a mission family and were invited by the founders of the Way, Kiko Arguello and Carmen Hernandez, to attend a meeting in Rome together with 200 other families who had also volunteered their services.

“At the time we were sent to Taiwan, together with three other families - two from Italy and one from Spain - and lived in the city of Kaohsiung,” Mr Carillo said.

“I was working as a driver for the “Stella Maris” mission, taking the sailors from the harbour to the city,” Mr Carillo said.

“We were also studying Mandarin, participating in the catechesis of the parish and partaking in the life of the

community, while our son was studying in a Primary School, in Mandarin.”

In 1994, the family was asked to transfer to Macau.

During the first few months after their arrival, the family contacted Bishop Domingos Lam and asked permission to visit the different parishes (there are six) to meet the Parish Priests.

Together with a priest from Rome, and seminarian from Singapore, Antonio and Ana gave catecheses four nights a week – two in Hong Kong and two in Macau.

“We started at the parish of St Lazarus where after two months of preaching, a community of 12 women was born,” Mr Carillo said.

“We travelled back and forth with our son, Jesus, who was six years old at the time.”

For Mr and Mrs Carillo, each day starts with Morning Prayer, as a way, said Mrs Carillo, “of putting God at the beginning of our daily journey.”

“And afterwards we organise our daily activities.”

Mr Carillo goes to work while Mrs Carillo prepares to teach her Spanish classes, as well as doing the housework.

“Every Thursday we have a liturgy with the Community and every Saturday we celebrate the Eucharist.”

Mr Carillo also takes Religious Studies classes in the local Inter-University Institute.

On Sunday morning, said Mrs Carillo, the family prays Morning Prayer.

“We share the experiences we have had during the week and help each other to discover Christ as a family.”

Mr Carillo said he feels it is important to serve the Church in Macau because this is the place where God has sent him – and his family – through the Church.

“We think it is very important to have a Christian presence, particularly with the fact that the younger generation are increasingly influenced by this materialistic society.”

“Youth leave school and are drawn to finding employment from an early age at the casinos.

“This is often the beginning of the destruction of family life.

“We are living in an age of transition and the people of Macau, especially the younger generation, are greatly influenced by secular society and its worldly values.”

He has great hope for the Church in Macau.

“I hope for a lived Christianity,” he says, “that the people of Macau, those in the Church and those far-away, may see that Christ is the one who can bring them to eternal fulfillment.”

Procession

attracts all

■ By Jamie O’Brien

M

ore than 2000 people – Catholic and non-Catholic - took part in the annual procession of “Senhor dos Passos” in Macau on March 4.

The procession of Senhor dos Passos, meaning Our Lord of the Steps, has come to be known as the most marvellous procession of Macau’s Christian processions and is usually held on the first Sunday of Lent.

It features the statue of Christ carrying the Cross, which usually stands at the altar of St Augustine’s Church in Macau.

The procession began at 8pm on the Saturday from St Augustine’s Church and moved to the Cathedral.

The next morning the statue was carried through the streets accompanied by a police band and all the local clergy in full regalia.

Record journalists Jamie O’Brien and Derek Boylen were present in Macau for the occasion.

The origins of the procession, said O Clarim, the local Macau Catholic Portuguese newspaper, ‘gets lost in the passing of time.’

O Clarim stated that as time has passed, the procession has grown stronger in popularity, thus gaining solid roots in the history of Macau. It is so strong, said O Clarim that the people of Macau of all nonCatholic creeds continue to be present for this devotion to the Lord of the Steps.

The procession is not only to see the Lord of the Steps, but also to listen and to welcome Christ deep in their being and in their own heart O Clarim said.

In service to Christ: Record journalist Jamie O’Brien, second left, with Fr Guiseppe Guili, left, with Antonio and Myria Mello, their children Bruno, Clara, and Maria, along with Ana and Antonio Carillo and their son Jesus. The two familes toegther with Fr Guili have devoted their life to evangelisation in Macau.

Photo: Derek Boylen

Lost in the passing of time: Hundreds came to adore the statue of Senhor dos Passos, or Our Lord of the Steps at the Cathedral in Macau on March 4.

Photo: Derek Boylen

Policies make it harder still for unborn

■ By Paul Gray

In Australia and overseas, a clear gap has emerged between the Catholic Church and secular, pro-human rights groups, in relation to abortion.

Victoria’s ruling Labor Party last weekend officially adopted a policy of decriminalisation of abortion, despite loud opposition from Catholic Labor parliamentarians.

The Catholic voice within the Victorian state Labor Party was over-ruled by pro-abortion feminists campaigning on a “reproductive rights” platform which favours legalising late-term abortions.

The fight in Victoria coincided with an international controversy over moves by human rights group Amnesty International to adopt a worldwide pro-abortion policy. A British bishop, Michael Evans, has threatened to resign from Amnesty over the issue. Other Catholics who have previously collaborated with Amnesty have also been loud in their condemnation of the organisation’s drift on the issue.

Victorian Labor parliamentarian Christine Campbell, a Catholic who was Minister for Community

Services in the first Labor Government formed by Premier Steve Bracks in 1999, argued for a softening of her party’s hardline pro-abortion policy.

The policy calls for changes to Victoria’s laws to make abortion legal at any stage of a pregnancy. The policy will be brought in if the Bracks Government is re-elected at next state election, due next year.

According to present legislation, abortion is theoretically illegal in Victoria, but in practice is widely and freely allowed, under a judicial interpretation known as the Menhennitt ruling.

Mrs Campbell urged her party colleagues to amend Labor’s policy to give greater recognition to the effects of late-term abortions.

Supported by several other members, the Campbell amendment urged the party to recognise that advances in medical technology have resulted in babies surviving “months before a full-term delivery.”

“These premature babies are sentient,” the amendment read. “They feel pain and suffering and react to stimuli.”

The amendment also noted that Labor’s policy will allow abortion

Faith emerges as theme in national rescue drama

Continued from page 1 Great Escape.” It was an apt joke. This miners’ tale had gripped Australia more completely than any Hollywood drama has ever done.

For the large media contingent covering the event, images of faith have been prominent in the story.

When the first news of the men’s survival came through, TV camera crews eagerly filmed Pentecostal Christians praying joyfully with their arms raised at another local church.

Meanwhile a Uniting Church bell, which had not been rung since the end of World War II, was repaired in anticipation of a new round of tolling, when the miners were eventually released.

It was rung three times on Tuesday.

Prime Minister John Howard captured the mood on the morning of the rescue with a press conference at Parliament House, Canberra, in which he praised the community spirit at Beaconsfield.

“I want to pay tribute to all the elements of the community, the mayor, the churches, the Australian Workers’ Union and all the other people in the community who worked so hard,” Mr Howard said. “It was a great cooperative effort.”

“The churches of the community gave tremendous comfort and spiritual leadership and a lot of material sustenance,” the Prime Minister added.

Speaking from an Australian Catholic Bishops’ meeting in Sydney, Archbishop Adrian Doyle of Hobart said the successful rescue of the last two miners proved that “the prayers of millions of Australians over the past fortnight have been answered.”

from conception to the time of full-term delivery. It will also allow “partial-birth abortion.”

In a clear sign of fundamental division over a “values” issue, the Campbell amendment was defeated after opposition from prominent Labor leaders, including the state’s Health Minister, Bronwyn Pike, and Women’s Affairs Minister, Mary Delahunty.

The defeat of the Bracks Labor Government at next year’s Victorian state election is considered unlikely by most political observers.

Labor’s decision means that Australia’s second most populous state is likely to become the next jurisdiction to decriminalise abortion, following in the footsteps of Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.

Meanwhile in Britain, the Bishop of East Anglia, Michael Evans, has threatened to leave human rights group Amnesty International if it approves plans to campaign for decriminalisation of abortion around the world.

With the launch of a new “Sexual and Reproductive Rights Consultation Kit,” Amnesty has signalled a new commitment to the campaign.

“Amnesty International has been given considerable support from the Roman Catholic Church, both here in the United Kingdom and by the Holy See in Rome,” Bishop Evans said in a letter to Amnesty’s UK director.

“You will find a significant number of Roman Catholics among Amnesty’s members,” he

said. “Catholics will give full support to a campaign to stop violence against women but this cannot be at the expense of moving away from Amnesty’s more fundamental campaign to ‘Protect the human’.”

According to Britain’s Catholic Herald, Bishop Evans has been a member of Amnesty for 30 years. He has been active in forging collaborative links between Amnesty International and local, parishbased justice and peace groups. Bishop Evans also composed a prayer for Amnesty’s latest recruitment drive in Britain.

Amnesty was founded in 1961 by a Catholic, Peter Benenson, who died last year. The organisation’s original purpose was to campaign for the release of prisoners of conscience.

Archbishop Doyle also paid tribute to the local community and to the support offered by other Australians during the long and difficult effort to rescue the men.

He expressed gratitude to the Catholic community of the area, including Fr Lester, and particularly praised the work of Beaconsfield pastoral associate Sister Frances McShane.

Sister McShane is a Sister of Service from Hobart who has lived and worked in Beaconsfield for more than two years.

Archbishop Doyle praised her work of ministry to the family of the miner who died.

“I know that Sr Frances, in particular, has been a special comfort to the Knight family during a most difficult time for them and for the friends and colleagues of Larry Knight,” Archbishop Doyle said.

Fr Lester said that Sister McShane, living up to the name of her order, had virtually worn herself out looking after others during the long wait for the miners’ rescue.

“She’s not really been looking after herself,” he said.

Based at the parish of West Tamar, Fr Lester visits Beaconsfield for Sunday Mass about every second Sunday. He has been doing this for about six months.

“They are tremendous people,” Fr Lester says of the local parishioners. “They’re mostly retired people, but there are a few younger farmers.”

He says that the gold mine which has been the centre of attention for the past few weeks is a great source of economic support for the town. There is concern, however, that the mine may now have to close.

“If you take that out, it will leave quite a hole,” Fr Lester says.

Chinese consecration welcomed by Rome

Continued from page 1 relationships, which should facilitate the smooth development of the diocese in the future.”

At the opening of the ordination Mass, Bishop Jin referred to the “double significance” of choosing the ordination date to coincide with Good Shepherd Sunday and Vocations Sunday.

“We thank God not only for granting us a new bishop, but also for vocations of young priests and nuns in our diocese,” he told the congregation.

The prelate also thanked the government officials for relaxed policies that have benefited the flourishing development of the local church.

The diocese invited officials from the central and local governments, as well as guests from the neighboring Heilongjiang and Jilin dioceses and from other dioceses to attend the ceremony. Some church workers told UCA News the officials were interested in attending since most of them had never seen an episcopal ordination. The last epis-

copal ordination in Liaoning was Bishop Jin’s, in 1989.

About 100 priests, including a dozen from overseas, concelebrated the Ordination Mass. Some priests and nuns came from South Korea. Bishop Jin maintained a friendship with the church there and visited the country twice. Liaoning borders North Korea and is home to ethnic Korean-Chinese.

More than 1,000 Catholics were able to sit inside the cathedral with government officials and other guests, while thousands more watched the proceedings on a TV screen set up in the cathedral compound. Afterward, hundreds of doves and colourful balloons were released as the bishops walked out of the cathedral to greet the crowds.

Some local Catholics expressed their happiness at having a new bishop. One catechist in the cathedral parish told UCA News she thought Bishop Pei would make an ideal successor to Bishop Jin because the

young bishop “is good in English and is approved by the Holy See.”

A seminarian in his third year of theology studies described Bishop Pei, who teaches biblical studies at the seminary, as “an easygoing person.”

Bishop Pei was born to a Catholic family in Liaoning in 1969. He entered the Shenyang Seminary at the age of 16 and was ordained a priest in 1992, serving first as assistant pastor of the cathedral parish.

In 1993, when he was sent to the US, he became one of the first Liaoning diocesan priests to go abroad for further studies. After returning to China in 1996, he served as the vice rector and dean of studies at Shenyang Seminary.

He has participated in several international biblical conferences and has dedicated himself to promoting the local church’s biblical ministry, which is reflected in his bishop’s coat of arms and motto.

ALSO: Part II

Bishop Michael Evans Christine Campbell Mary Delahunty

Gulf between Church and the rest over abortion widens as Victorian ALP, Amnesty, policies embrace choice position

China’s new bishop: Coadjutor Bishop Paul Pei Junmin, left, without mitre, of Liaoning, China, and other bishops are seen during Bishop Pei’s ordination Mass on May 7 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Shenyang, China.

Photo: CNS

Shopfront answers the prayers of many

■ By Julie Williams

Christmas is long past but I still reflect on the generosity of so many people during that time.

The Shopfront received an abundance of gifts and food from a wide range of generous sources, to hand out to those in need. The Sacred Heart Parish and Sacred Heart Primary School in Highgate, Catechists connected with the Parish, Rotary, Fr Brian Morrison’s ‘Crisis Care’, as well as many oth-

ers, opened their hearts to those who were struggling. And the donations kept pouring in throughout December.

We were able to pass these gifts and food parcels onto the many needy people we knew.

We had about 200 people to our Christmas party and gave out presents to each one and food parcels to those who needed them. Then three days prior to Christmas, Fr Peter Bianchini, the parish priest of Sacred Heart Church, Highgate, informed me that he had more food and presents for me to give away. I

What is the Shopfront?

The Shopfront is an initiative of Archbishop Hickey and has been established for four and half years. It is located in Whatley Crescent in Maylands and reaches out to lonely and disadvantaged people in the area.

The Shopfront is set up in a homely environment and is a place where people come and find acceptance and a sense of belonging. It also assists people to obtain help when they have a specific need and networks with other care agencies to provide this care.

It is now funded by the generosity of donations to LifeLink and continues to be a truly blessed and joy-filled place. Up until her retirement in January this year, Sr Claude McNamarra was the

Field Officer for the Shopfront. She was a wonderful example of love to everyone who came seeking kindness, a gentle and listening ear or simply a nice cup of tea or coffee and sandwich. We are at present looking for more volunteers to assist at the Shopfront. It is open Monday to Friday from 1pm to 5pm and also Tuesday and Wednesday evening from 5.30 pm to 9pm.

If you would like to give one afternoon or evening a week to lend a listening ear and a kind word to people in need, then please know that you would be most welcome at The Shopfront. If you would like to know more, please contact the Shopfront after 1pm (Mon-Fri) on 9371 9109 and speak to Liz.

was overwhelmed by people’s desire to help those less fortunate, but I was also anxious about how I could find homes for these presents so close to Christmas.

I then looked at one of presents and noticed a label attached. It read, “I am 8 years old, I picked this present for a boy my age. I hope you like it.” My heart was touched by the kindness and thoughtfulness of this child. How could I not try to find a recipient for this boy’s gift? On Friday morning, with Christmas only two days away, I was determined to share the generosity in which these gifts were given and I went in search of those in need.

I had planned to seek out women’s refuges or even to go onto the streets on Christmas Eve and give these presents to needy families. However, sometimes God works in much greater and simpler ways than we can ever conceive.

Not only did God hear my prayer but He answered it in such a beautiful and Spirit filled way that I was left in no doubt that He had always been in control of this whole situation.

On that Friday morning I found myself rushing into the city to attend to the Shopfront telephone account that I had suddenly discovered needed to be paid.

As I drove in I continued to pray that I would find the right recipients for the remaining Christmas presents.

As I scurried back from the post office, hurrying along Hay Street,

Jesus the source of all salvation

New Pope maintains outreach to Islam

■ By Waleed Aly

Confounding the pessimists, the Vatican’s links with Islam have not cooled down since the election of Joseph Ratzinger as Pope, says a Muslim observer.

Benedict XVI is to visit Turkey in November. A year ago, white smoke wafted from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, signalling the appointment of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as successor to Pope John Paul II. But amid much Catholic celebration, commentators internationally indulged in an inordinate amount of speculation on the damage Ratzinger’s appointment might do to Catholic-Muslim relations.

On one level, it is absurd that such a significant concern surrounding the appointment of a new Catholic head would be his attitudes towards another faith. But on another, the importance is clear. These are the two largest religious communities on the planet, together constituting about 40 per cent of the world’s population. They co-inhabit vast regions, particularly in Europe, Africa and Asia.

As long as religion remains a powerful tool in shaping attitudes and motivating action, it will possess both great constructive and destructive power. The world therefore has an interest in ensuring minimal friction in the CatholicMuslim interface. Indeed, that had been a central theme in John Paul’s

pontificate. No other Pope in history has done so much to build harmonious bridges to the Muslim world. This was a man who apologised officially for the sins commited during the Crusades and the transgressions of colonialism.

In 1986 he visited Morocco, becoming the first Pope to visit a Muslim country, and making conciliatory statements that echoed the Koranic message that Muslims and Christians believe in the same God. In a highly symbolic moment in 2001, he became the first Pope to enter and pray in a mosque.

The scene was equally symbolic: Damascus’ famous Umayyad mosque, which for centuries had functioned as a mosque on Fridays and church on Sundays. Politically, he won many admirers throughout the Muslim world through his opposition to the Iraq war.

Such gestures resonated powerfully with Muslims, which explains the genuine, heartfelt sentiments of sadness and gratitude expressed by Muslim organisations across the world upon John Paul II’s passing.

But Joseph Ratzinger, as Pope Benedict XVI, was widely fancied to bring much of this work undone. Partly this was because, as a Cardinal, he had not demonstrated the same passion for outreach to Muslims as other mooted candidates such as Venice’s Angelo Scola, Milan’s Dionigi Tettamanzi or Nigeria’s Francis Arinze. Partly, too, it stemmed from Ratzinger’s opposition to Turkey’s inclusion in what he called the “Christianrooted EU”.

Principally, however, this popular forecast of interfaith doom

I past the Centrecare Offices and I noticed a lady carrying a box of Christmas type food. Impulsively I stopped her and asked if she worked for Centrecare. She said, “Yes, for Jarraminda”. I then asked her if she needed any Christmas presents. I rejoiced to hear her say that she did. She told me that Jarraminda was an organisation under Centrecare that reached out to families and children.

I gave her my name and telephone number and told her to get down to the Shopfront as soon as

possible as I had lots of presents to give her.

Fifteen minutes later two delightful ladies arrived at the Shopfront and I was able to load up their car with gifts and food for the children and adults that they cared for. As they drove away I was so overjoyed. I could not have asked for a better Christmas gift than to be able to give these presents away to people in need. The Holy Spirit had moved and answered my prayer in such a simple and beautiful way. My Christmas joy was overflowing and complete.

was based on Ratzinger’s reputation as “God’s rottweiler”, a dogmatic defender of orthodoxy and the supremacy of Catholicism. Here we were regularly reminded that Ratzinger had been the driving force behind a document entitled Dominus Iesus, published in 2000, which asserted unequivocally Jesus is the source of all salvation.

Precisely why anyone thought this should pose a fatal problem is unclear. It is emphatically unremarkable that a cardinal would make an exclusive claim to truth on behalf of Christianity, which by definition implies deficiencies in other theologies. Indeed, as much is claimed by proponents of most great religious traditions.

Yet for the predominantly secular international commentariat, this made conflict inevitable. Such conventional pessimism simply served to demonstrate a comprehensive misunderstanding of the basis for interfaith dialogue. It assumes that fruitful and harmonious interfaith relationships can exist only in a world of post-modern relativism. This presents a false dichotomy: that people either agree or live in hostility.

But even John Paul II was never a relativist. His acknowledgment of theological similarities never led him to deny differences or surrender his conviction of the exclusive truth of Christianity. If anything, this only made his interfaith engagement more meaningful.

If any of this needed demonstration, Benedict’s first year has provided it. The very day after his installation Mass, in one of his first official acts as Pope, he made histo-

ry by inviting Muslim leaders to the Vatican, pledging to build “bridges of friendship” between Catholics and Muslims. He even condemned the publication of now infamous cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in European newspapers.

Those searching for signs of antagonism will find little more from Benedict than his comments in response to a large Saudi-funded mosque being built in Rome, noting the absence of reciprocity in con-

structing churches in Saudi Arabia. Really, more an even-handed observation than vitriolic belligerence. Few would expect Pope Benedict to match his predecessor’s phenomenal efforts in interfaith relations. Even so, with no sign of relativism on the horizon, he has made an impressive start. Perhaps now we can feel comfortable with the fact that the Pope is Catholic.

Waleed Aly, a Melbourne lawyer, is an executive member of the Islamic Council of Victoria

Reaching out: The Shopfront is set up in a homely environment where people can find acceptance and a sense of belonging. Photo courtesy Julie Williams

The sixth-century Church of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul became a museum in 1934. It had been used as a mosque after the city’s capture by Ottoman Turks in 1453. A group of Swiss scholars has petitioned the European Parliament to ensure that the church is restored for Christian worship before Turkey joins the European Union.

life, the universe and everything

Opinion

There are real values in community life

■ With Anna Krohn

By the time the readers of The Record see this column, the town of Beaconsfield in Tasmania will be facing the sober facts of its economic future. The Australian Workers Union may be fighting against, rather than with Mine Management for a different type of survival for the working miners.

By that time, the two super-survivors of the Beaconsfield mining disaster will be facing some of the deeper effects of their unimaginable

say, i say

ordeal underground. They will be standing a long way from the dark tunnels of mining in the whirring fast lane of media bids and story scoops. They will know what it is like to be fought over by the major networks and will taste fame and lack of privacy.

No wonder! They really are remarkable men and their story truly the stuff of Australian legend.

But this post-rescue media glare will dissolve an important portrait. This portrait is not a happy snap of two super stars nor is it a story of individualism.

What we will forget was the fleeting glimpse of real community we saw and what makes that tick.

So much that characterised this closely knit rescue collaboration is at odds with the nostrums of metro-success and beyond the gaze of the camera.

For one thing, not one person, in the tunnels, at the canteen or in the cage had any interest in “looking after number one”. Imagine if they had.

All the abstractions of utilitarianism, of cost analysis based on “key performance indicators” seemed to mean nothing to the men at the mouth of the mine - either worker or manager. A real culture of “life” drove rescue workers beyond themselves and beyond even the most calculated risk.

Professional urbanites, much of the time, are barely able to contain their pin-striped sneers at the dangerous, manual, dirty, rough and tumble life of a mining community.

For a short time, their sneers must have been wiped away by respect and even envy.

In a country where we have a “skills shortage” and young people are attracted by the riches of MBAs and careers in corporatism, we saw just what sort of skills and expertise mining really involves. Instead of competitive corporatism we got a taste of what real “fraternity” looked like.

It was also impressive that the miners and townspeople protected the dignity of their mates from the

peering so-called “reality” of “big brother” journalism.

Though this story beats all the “survivor” series hands down for drama and true grit, they closed ranks to allow the miners, who after all had to lie on top of each other for 14 nights (!), to shower and have time to “freshen up” before they faced the public. No hidden cameras in there!

We live in the miracle of creation

■ Guy Crouchback

The most obvious miracle that fills every moment of our lives is the Creation. This has nothing to do with the so-called “Creation spirituality” cult, about which the less said the better. It has to do with a massive fact, an utterly astounding one. It appears we can even date the moment of Creation - the Big Bang - to something like

13.2 billion years ago. What preceded Creation? Some texts have it that this is a meaningless question - that before the Big Bang there was no time and no space. Personally I find this quite impossible to imagine and I suspect it is a meaningless statement. It is reminiscent of the pronouncement of Bill Barnacle in The Magic Pudding: “Let words be sufficient, without explanation.”

My attempts to imagine the state before the Big Bang is a picture of the monobloc - all the matter in the Universe - as an unimaginably small point in a void. Something happened which made it expand into gas-clouds, suns and galaxiesthe Hubble Space Telescope had, by 1999, found there may be 125 billion

galaxies (with new ones still being discovered. A super-computer simulation in 2002 came up with a possible 500 billion) - plus, apparently, an even greater amount of “dark matter.” Our own galaxy, of a fairly typical size, though slightly smaller than neighbour Andromeda, is estimated to contain 100 billion to 400 billion stars.

This mental picture may be entirely wrong but it is the best I can do. But even if, beyond understanding, there was no time and no space, the question of what caused time and space - and matter - to be created remains. Everything tells us that events must have causes, but when we ask what caused the Universe to be created, science has no answer.

This is not a modern problem: over thousands of years some of the best human minds have considered it, and have hardly moved beyond: “In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth.”

Some astrometaphysicists say the Universe resembles a gigantic thought, not a physical thing.

The rival to the Big Bang has been the Steady State theory, now generally discounted. It holds that the Universe has always existed. But once again, I find this impossible to imagine. Again we ask: what was the cause? Again, science has no answer. Whatever theory of creation we adopt, and whatever science may discover in the future, we are confronted with this mystery

Perhaps what will be most quickly forgotten by us cool secularists is the unabashed and no nonsense way the people of Beaconsfield prayed and asked for prayers.

Along with all their sturdy human resilience they also put faith and hope in divine intervention to the fore.

They even had the gall to pray for a miracle!

of the First Cause. Not forgetting that there is a sarcastic definition of “atheist” along the lines of: “One who rejects the impossible superstition that God created the universe out of nothing in favour of the obvious and reasonable fact that the universe created itself out of nothing.”

So, when we stop and think about it, we are living in a miracle: the laws of science, nature and causality which we know, all seem to derive from an inconceivably vast exception to themselves. The fact that many astronauts, who have had at least a better view of the Universe than many of us, are, or have become, religiously devout, does not seem surprising.

Tuesday May 2- July 7

CROSS ROADS COMMUNITY TERM 2

Tuesday 2nd May 2006 until Friday 7th July for:

Family & Friends Support Groups of Substance

Abusers are on Wednesdays 7–9pm, Substance

Abusers Support Groups are on Tuesdays 5.30 to 7.30pm & Fridays All day Group for Substance

Abusers is from 9.30am to 2pm including Healing Mass on Fridays @ 12.30pm during term. Rosary is from Tuesday to Thursday at 12.30 to 1pm.

Sunday May 14

MAKE POVERTY HISTORY

An evening to hear about and discuss issues of justice, equality, distribution of wealth and resources. An evening to reflect, discern and respond. Presented by Richard Mavo. At Floreat Parish Centre, 47 Peebles Rd, Floreat, from 5 to 8pm. Meal provided. Contact Br Bernard White on 0439 948 981, or bernard.white@westcourt.wa.edu.au

Sunday May 14

FATIMA HOLY HOUR

“COULD YOU NOT WATCH ONE HOUR WITH ME”

The World Apostolate of Fatima will hold a holy hour in St Mary’s Church, Franklin St, Leederville on Sunday at 3pm. Please join us in making Eucharistic

Reparation to Our Divine Lord. All are very welcome. Enq: 9339 2614.

Wednesday May 18

HILLS AND EASTERN SUBURBS

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP

The next meeting will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall, Cnr Glyde St and Lesmurdie Rd, Lesmurdie on Wednesday May 18 at 7.30pm. The group provides support and understanding for those living with or caring for someone with a mental illness. Further information from Marge 9291 6397 or Barbara 9328 8113.

May 19-21

MMP RETREAT

Annual Marian Retreat for Associates to be held at Sacred Heart College, Sorrento. Bookings essential. Ph 9341 8082 for details.

Saturday May 20

MAKE POVERTY HISTORY WALKERS

Walking across Perth Outdoors every second

Saturday. Next walks May 20, June 3. Membership free, you only need to wear the white band. Contact tgrundy@westnet.com.au 94584084

Sunday May 21 TAIZE PRAYER

We will be remembering Sister Irene McCormack (15th Anniversary of her death in Peru) in our Taize Prayer this month. We remember her life and her giftedness especially to the people of Peru. You are all invited to come with your friends and pray in a candlelit chapel in an atmosphere of peace and stillness. 7–8pm. Please bring along a torch. For more information contact Sister Maree Riddler 0414 683 926; email: mriddler@sosjwa.org.au

Monday May 22 CATECHESIS FOR ADULTS

It will be a chance for everybody to grow together in faith. It is not so much a question of learning, as of meeting Jesus Christ as our Saviour. Jesus says: Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Many of us, both inside and outside the Church are confused, hurt, or just not happy. Many of us feel there must be more to life than this. Many are burdened by guilt and self-hatred. The Lord is coming in answer to the cry of your heart. The Church has a word of life, encouragement and joy for you. Mondays and Fridays from May 22 and each week following at St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Centre, 450 Hay Street Perth. For

more enquiries contact Francesco Ceccarelli on 9384 0276.

May 23 - 27

MARANATHA SCRIPTURE COURSE

THE GOSPEL OF ST MARK

St Lawrence Mary Immaculate Parish - Balcatta, Tuesday evenings from 23 May - 27 June, 7.30pm in the Alverna Parish Centre. Cost $30, enrolment essential. Enquiries Ricki di Biasi 9349 7361 or Luciana Bailey in Parish Office 9344 7066.

Tuesday May 30

MONICA & AUGUSTINE GROUP

The next meeting and prayer of the Monica & Augustine group will take place at St Thomas’ Parish hall, 2 College Rd, Claremont on Tuesday, May 30 at 7.30pm. Those attending are asked to bring a pen and writing paper or note book. Copies of the Prayer to St. Anne, Prayer for Wayward Children and A Prayer for Our Children, will be available. There will also be on sale copies of the beautifully illustrated book printed by Margaret Wilcox on some extracts of Augustine’s writings. There will be time for prayer and also supper, so please bring cake or biscuits to share. If you have not attended the earlier meetings, RSVP to Fr Brian O’Loughlin ph. 9384 0598 or email: claremont@perthcatholic.org.au

PANORAMA a roundup of events in the archdiocese

True joy: Brant Webb waves after being rescued from the gold mine. Photo: CNS

BUILDING TRADES

■ BRICK REPOINTING

Phone Nigel 9242 2952.

■ PERROTT PAINTING PTY LTD

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

■ PICASSO PAINTING

Top service. Phone 0419 915 836, fax 9345 0505.

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 Road, Canning Vale. Open Mon-Sat.

CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER

■ WORK FROM HOME

Around your children & family commitments. My business is expanding and I need people to open new areas all over Australia. Training given. Highly lucrative. www.cyber-success-4u.org

EMPLOYMENT

■ PARTTIME RECEPTIONIST AND COURSE COORDINATOR

Catholic Marriage Education Services is looking for a vibrant, mature person to work 1 day per week during school hours with the opportunity to work the occasional Sat or Sun. Job description and application form available at:- www.marriageed-perthcatholic.org.au

FURNITURE REMOVAL

■ ALL AREAS Mike Murphy 0416 226 434.

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION

■ BED AND BREAKFAST

B & B low rates, lovely riverside walks close to Perth. Ph: 9272 8263 or 0438 946 621.

■ DENMARK Holiday House 3bdr x 2bath, sleeps up to 8. BOOK NOW. Ph: Maria 0412 083 377.

■ SHOALWATER

Holiday units, self-contained, sleep up to 6, walk to the beach, near Penguin Island, very affordable rates. Bookings Ph: 0414 204 638 or bluewaterholidayunits@dodo.com.au.

THANK YOU

■ ST JUDE AND ST THERESE

Thank you for favours granted. Madora bay.

■ HOLY MOTHER MARY

Thank You O most beautiful flower of Mt Carmel fruitful in splendour and heaven-blessed mother of the son of God. Immaculate virgin assist me in my necessity. O star of the Sea help me and show me herein you are my mother. O Holy Mary, mother of God Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in this necessity (Make request). There are none that can withstand your power. O show me my mother, O show me herein you are my mother. O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee (Sweet Mother I place this course in your hands) (3x) Publication to be promised in thanks for the favour granted. Mario

■ HOLY SPIRIT

You make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal. You give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and throughout all instances of my life. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank you for everything and confirm once more that I never want to be separated from you, no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory. Amen. Promise to publish this as soon as your favour has been granted.

OFFICIAL DIARY

MAY

12 Ordination to Priesthood, St Mary’s Cathedral - Archbishop Hickey, Bishop Sproxton

14 Candidacy for future deacons, St Mary’s Cathedral - Archbishop Hickey

14-19 Clergy Seminar - Archbishop Hickey

19 Meeting for Diocesan Clergy - Archbishop Hickey, Bishop Sproxton

Saturday June 24 -26

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF LAY PASTORAL MINISTERS.

Following the theme River of Life, Creating, empowering, renewing. A vibrant people of God. Registration forms can be downloaded from the Pastoral Ministers of Brisbane Website on www. catholic.net.au/layministry/pma. Interested persons can contact Margaret Walker 9390 8365 or Lesley McMinn on 9337 6295.

Friday May 26

PEACE AT ANY COST

1 day seminar 9am – 3.30pm presented by Norma Woodcock at the Mary Mackillop Centre, South Perth. We all want peace. Jesus said “my peace I give you.” This presentation will explore reasons why many do not experience this peace and strategies for gaining and maintaining it. Enq + bookings: 9487 1772.

Sunday May 28

CELEBRATION AND PRAYER FOR THE 2006

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

“Where two or more and gathered in my name…” (Matthew 18:15-22). A formal address will be given by Lutheran Pastor Rev Geoff Burger at St John’s Lutheran Church 16 Aberdeen St. Perth, 6000. 3pm to 4.30pm, followed by afternoon tea. For further information, please contact the Council of Churches WA 9385 5477 or Mario at the Focolare Movement on 6278 3425 or 9349 4052.

Sunday May 28

VARIETY CONCERT

A variety concert featuring the Julian Singers and artists from the Local Seniors Concert Parties will be held at the Little Sisters of the Poor Hall, Rawlins St, Glendalough at 2pm. Tickets: $10. Ph Mary 9443 3963 or Brian 9344 1236. Proceeds to Pregnancy Assistance Inc.

Friday June 2

PRO LIFE PROCESSION  MIDLAND

The first Friday Mass, procession and rosary vigil will be held on June 2 commencing at 9:30am with Mass celebrated at St Brigid’s Church, Midland. The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate will lead us. All are invited to witness for the sanctity of life and pray for the conversion of hearts. Enquiries, Helen 9402 0349.

Friday June 2-5

RETREAT  “COME BACK TO ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.”

A retreat by Fr Vincent Lee. Fr Vincent Lee from Singapore, currently on mission in Africa, is well known for his evangelical mission in and outside

Singapore. He has conducted many spiritual and healing retreats and Life in the Spirit Seminars in Singapore, Sabah (Malaysia), Korea, China, Kenya and India. His zeal and Love for spreading the good news have touched the hearts of many who have come to listen to him. Eng Rita 9272 1765, Rose 0403 300 720, Maureen 9381 4498, or Gertrude 9455 6576.

Saturday June 3

A DAY WITH MARY

St James’s Church, 2 Lagoon Drive, Yanchep. 9am – 5pm. A video on Fatima will be shown at 9am. A day of prayer and instruction based upon the messages of Fatima. Includes sacrament of penance, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, sermons, rosaries, procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross. Please BYO lunch. Enquiries – Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate: 9250 8286. Bus service – contact Nita on 9367 1366.

Saturday June 3 WITNESS FOR LIFE PROCESSION

The next first Saturday Mass, procession and rosary vigil will be held on June 3, commencing with Mass at 8.30 am at St Anne’s Church, Hehir St, Belmont. We proceed prayerfully to the Rivervale abortion centre and conclude with rosary, led by Fr Paul Carley SSC. Please join us to pray peacefully for the conversion of hearts. Enq. Helen 9402 0349.

Sunday June 4

DIVINE MERCY

An afternoon with Jesus and Mary at St Mary’s Cathedral, Victoria Square, Perth, on Sunday June 4, at 1.30pm. Program: holy rosary and reconciliation, sermon: with Fr Hugh Thomas CSSR on Our Lady of Perpetual Help, followed by divine mercy prayers and benediction. Enquiries: John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608.

June 16-22

FIVE DAY DIRECTED RETREAT

At the Redemptorist Monastery Retreat House 190

The

HOUSESITTER

■ HOUSESITTER REQUIRED 34 MONTHS

Dunsborough area. Close to Catholic Church. Need to love cat, walk dog, own transport and police clearance. June/July-end Sept. ph: 0427 553 434.

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

■ REPAIR YOUR LITURGICAL BOOKS

Tydewi Bindery offer handcrafted fine bindings, journals, leather recovering. Repairs fo all your books, liturgical, bibles, missals and statues. Ph. 9293 3092.

TO RENT

■ OSBORNE PARK

Unit to rent. $190 per week. 2 bedrooms. Fully re-furbished. Good outlook. On bus route. Contact: 0418 929 511.

19 Mass for Marian Retreat, Sacred Heart College - Archbishop Hickey

21 Mass and Procession, Feast of Maria SS Annunziata, Osborne Park - Archbishop Hickey

RCIA Mass of Thanksgiving, Applecross - Bishop Sproxton

21-25 Clergy Seminar - Bishop Sproxton

25 Sisters of Mercy, West Perth Congregation 110th Foundation Day Celebration - Archbishop Hickey

Vincent Street North Perth June 17 - 21. Director:

Fr. Joe Carroll CSSR. Arrive 6pm Friday June 16, Return after early morning Mass Thursday June 22.

Bookings: Mrs. Jan Broderick fax/phone 9328 9736.

Saturday June 24

ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER

CROSS ROADS COMMUNITY Will be having its annual fundraising dinner on Saturday the 24th of June at South Fremantle Football Club. Tickets cost $45.00 per person. Please ring CRC on 9319 8344 to inquire further.

Saturdays

PERPETUAL HELP NOVENA DEVOTIONS

Saturdays 4.30-5pm. Redemptorist Church, 190 Vincent Street, North Perth.

ART EXHIBITION

Art exhibition every Saturday and Sunday at the Parish Hall, Star of the Sea church, Cottesloe, cnr of Stirling Highway and McNeil Sts 11am – 4pm. All proceeds from the sale towards the extension of St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

Is alcohol costing you more than just money?

Alcoholics Anonymous can help. Ring 9325 3566.

BLESSED SACRAMENT ADORATION

Holy Family Church, Alcock Street, Maddington. Every Friday 8.30 am Holy Mass followed by Blessed Sacrament Adoration till 12 noon. Every first Friday of the month, anointing of the sick during Mass. Enq. 9398 6350.

PERPETUAL ADORATION AT ST BERNADETTE’S

Adoration: Chapel open all day and all night. All welcome, 49 Jugan St, Glendalough, just north of the city. Masses every night at 5.45pm Monday to Friday, 6.30pm, Saturday and the last Sunday Mass in Perth is at 7pm.

Please Note

Wednesdays SIGN LANGUAGE COURSE

Australian Sign Language (Auslan) Classes are offered free of charge at Emmanuel Centre on Wednesdays at 1pm. If this does not suit you, other arrangements can be made. Please contact Fr Paul or Barbara at Emmanuel Centre, 25 Windsor St Perth 9328 8113.

QUEEN OF APOSTLES SCHOOL

If anyone has information on Queen of Apostles School, Riverton, used to go there or knows anyone who did please do one of the following to tell the extension group – Call 9354 1360 and ask to speak to Veronique or email your information to veronequeregnard@gmail.com.au or janellekoh@yahoo.com.au or you can put your information into the box in the office at Queen of Apostles School. Thanking you in anticipation.

Sunday September 17

KOORDA CHURCH 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Our Lady of the Assumption Church at Koorda will celebrate its Golden Anniversary this year on September 17. Past Parish Priests and past parishioners are invited to come and join us for the celebrations. Anyone who has any photos they would like to include in a display is welcome to send them to Kath Gosper at PO Box 68, Koorda 6475. You could send copies or we will copy and return them to you. The day will commence with Mass at 10.30am to be followed by lunch at the Recreation hall.

LINDA’S HOUSE OF HOPE APPEAL

To enable us to continue to provide and offer support for girls wishing to leave the sex trade we need your help. We have achieved already with your assistance new offfices which are now complete at the rear of the shelter and are fully functional. Further donations are also required to enable us to complete the internal layout of the shelter itself. Please send donations to Linda’s House of Hope PO Box Z5640, Perth, St George’s Tce 6831. Ph: 0439 401 009. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Record reserves the right to decline or modify any advertisment it considers improper or not in unison with the general display of the paper.

The University of Notre Dame Australia

De Coding The Art Of Da Vinci

Thursday  May, pm

University of Notre Dame Drill Hall  Mouat St, Fremantle

lecture by acclaimed Rennaissance art expert Dr Kate Challis

W- only WA appearance

hen art historian Dr Kate Challis read the Da Vinci Code she said “author Dan Brown is extraordinarily skilled at blurring the lines between fact and fiction. In many ways, I think that the book is great, because it has aroused so much curiosity. On the other hand, I find it worrying that a lot of people simply chose to believe it lock, stock and barrel.”

Dr Challis spent more than 10 years conducting extensive research on Renaissance art and has lectured extensively in Australia, as well as the US and Europe. She will share her knowledge when she discusses The Da Vinci Code and its suppositions at a public lecture on Thursday 25 May 2006 at the University of Notre Dame Australia.

For her doctoral thesis she conducted research in some of the greatest libraries and art galleries throughout the world, including the Vatican. Her interest in art history was fostered at an early age by her grandfather, Professor Emeritus Bernard Smith, Australia’s pre-eminent art historian. Their shared passion for art and ideas still gives them lots to discuss and argue about, including The Da Vinci Code.

In a public presentation no art or literature lover could resist, Dr Challis answers many of the Da Vinci Code questions:

● Is it a woman in the Last Supper?

● Why didn’t Leonardo include a chalice?

● Who is the Mona Lisa and why is she smiling?

● What are some of the codes Dan Brown leaves for the reader to decode?

● Was Leonardo the grand master of the Priory of Sion?

● Was he involved with the cult of the sacred feminine? Kate has delivered this paper to packed audiences across Australia. It’s an experience that shouldn’t be missed.