The Record Newspaper 17 February 2005

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Western Australia’s Award-winning Catholic newspaper

Lent: Book offers readers chance to pray with the Pope Page 16

Bunbury: Bishop responds to West Australian article Page 5

Last of the children Our Lady appeared to goes home to all her friends

Sister Lucia, last Fatima visionary, dies in Portugal at age 97

Carmelite

Sister Lucia dos Santos, the last of three Fatima visionaries, died on February 13 in her cloistered convent in Coimbra at the age of 97.

Sr Lucia

The Portuguese government declared February 15, the date of her funeral, as a national day of mourning.

On May 13, 1917, when she was just 10 years old, Sister Lucia and her two younger cousins saw the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima, near their home. The apparitions continued once a month until October 13, 1917.

Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, a Vatican spokesman, said that Pope John Paul II, who began his Lenten retreat on February 13, offered special prayers for the nun, whom he met three times at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima.

The Pope also asked Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone of Genoa, Italy, to preside at the nun’s February 15 funeral in the Coimbra cathedral. The Cardinal, former secretary of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, met with Sister Lucia and discussed the apparitions with her several times in preparation for the 2000 publication of the so-called “third secret of Fatima.” While her cous-

Nuns pay their respects to Sister Lucia dos Santos as she lies in state during mourning ceremonies at St Teresa Carmelite monastery in Coimbra, Portugal, on February 14. Sister Lucia, who died at age 97, was the eldest of three Portuguese shepherd children who in 1917 received apparitions of the Virgin Mary. The apparations were approved by the Catholic Church, and in the late 1930’s, Sister Lucia made public the first two parts of the messages from Mary, which the children had kept secret. The final message was revealed by the Vatican in June 2000. Photo: CNS

ins Francisco and Jacinta Marto died at a young age - as Our Lady of Fatima told them they would - it was left to Sister Lucia to transcribe the messages of Fatima, including the third section.

Sister Lucia wrote down the third part of the message, sealed it

in an envelope and gave it to her local bishop.

The message was sent to the Vatican in 1957, where successive popes read it, but decided not to reveal its contents.

Sister Lucia’s last meeting with Pope John Paul was in May 2000,

when he traveled to Fatima to beatify her cousins and to announce that he was revealing the final piece of the Fatima message.

Bishop Serafim de Sousa Ferreira Silva of Leiria-Fatima told Radio Renascenca, Portugal’s main

Continued on page 2

WA newspaper enters Vatican power play?

After much rumour and gossip in Perth media circles, The West Australian has made its long-awaited bid to enter Vatican politics and influence the next papal election.

The paper launched a phone poll on February 3, asking its readers to register votes on whether Pope John Paul II should resign from his position.

Quite why the paper had done this was unclear at first. As the phone poll progressed it was even less clear.

It is too early to predict how this bold move by editor Paul Notsostrong will affect the paper’s share price. It might. Then again it might not. Farmers need rain. But they could wait a while.

Neither Fairfax nor News Ltd share prices have been noticeably affected, but both media giants and the seven dwarfs (small shareholders) are watching developments intently.

The phone poll asking whether Pope John Paul II should step down from his role as the Vicar of Christ was launched on February 3 and by February 8 the paper was able to announce that the ‘Yes’ vote had overwhelmed the ‘No’ vote by 90 votes to 84.

This is believed by some, but not many, to be the biggest ever response to a media poll

What is the Christian Democratic Party?

The Christian Democratic Party (CDP) is made up of ordinary people from many Christian churches (including the Catholic Church) who are deeply concerned about the erosion of Christian values in our society.

CDP believes that the best way to protect and restore Christian values in our society is to elect Christian politicians who will stand firm for Christian values.

CDP stands for putting families first, protecting children, caring for elderly and frail people, and restoring spiritual values in society through Christian-based policies in health, education, economics, etc.

Do you also support these goals?

CDP is opposed to abortion which harms mothers and kills unborn children, to experimentation on human embryos that results in their destruction, lowering the age of consent for homosexual acts, moves to legalise the killing of the sick and elderly, legalising prostitution, stopping prayers in Parliament, removing God from the oath, and other matters.

Are you also opposed to these things?

For the sake of your future, support the CDP Candidate in your electorate. Vote CDP 1

CDP’s wide-ranging policies can be viewed at www.cdpwa.org.au

Enquiries on 1300 305 237

Authorised by Gerard Goiran, 7 Matthew Way, Thornlie

NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Archbishop Barry Hickey reports on the vibrant Church scene and inspiring faith of a Church built on the sacrifices of martyrs as he found it during his recent visit to Vietnam Pages 8 & 9

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

In TV Land the women are not real. They don’t live like normal women in the suburbs. Instead, they only want to conform to male scriptwriters’ fantasies.

GRAY:

Page 10

THE PARISH. THE NATION. THE WORLD.

Fatima visionary dies

Last of Fatima’s visionaries dies

Continued from page 1

Catholic radio station, that Sister Lucia was exemplary for her “witness, vivacity, fidelity and courage.”

The bishop said that to the very end of her life she was concerned about “the problems of humanity” and dedicated her life to praying for “reconciliation, conversion and peace.”

Born March 22, 1907, in Aljustrel near Fatima, she and her cousins, Francisco, 9, and Jacinta, 7, were caring for their family’s sheep on May 13, 1917. After reciting the rosary at midday, the children saw a “woman brighter than the sun” holding a rosary in her hand.

The woman told them they must pray much and they must return to that spot at the same hour on the 13th of each month.

With some 70,000 gathered around the children on October

13, 1917 - what was to be the final apparition - the woman told the three youngsters that she was Our

11 day Pilgrimage 2005 to the

SHRINE of MARY MACKILLOP

North Sydney

Departing Perth

July 30, 2005

Returning August 9, 2005

Contact: 9527 1704

PO Box 147, Rockingham WA 6968

Lady of the Rosary and asked that a chapel be built in her honour.

The three children had not been to school and could not read and write at the time of the apparitions. Lucia first went to school in 1921.

In 1928, she took first vows as a Religious of St Dorothy and made her perpetual vows in 1934. She transferred to the Coimbra Carmel in 1948.

In the late 1930s, Sister Lucia made public the first two parts of the messages from Mary, which the children had kept secret.

The first two parts included a vision of hell shown to the children, along with prophecies concerning the outbreak of World War II, the rise of communism and the ultimate triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, including a triumph over Russia if the country were consecrated to her Immaculate Heart. According to the Vatican’s

■ By Jamie O’Brien

St Mary’s Merredin parish priest Fr Stan Bendkowski, said his parishioners were overcome with grief and concern at the recent racist vandalism and graffiti of the Church building which occurred in the early hours of Saturday 5 February.

Vandals entered the building by smashing a window.

The damage consisted of lectionaries being torn and thrown over the sanctuary, smashed windows, damage to the microphones, vandalism to the tabernacle as well as graffiti inside and outside the building.

There was no apparent reason for the vandalism.

According to Fr Bendkowski, parishioners who saw the damage said an event like this had never before occurred in the Merredin parish.

interpretation, the third part of the secret predicted the 1981 attempt to assassinate Pope John Paul.

The Pope, in thanksgiving that his life was spared, had one of the bullets that wounded him embedded in the crown of the statue of Our Lady that stands at the shrine in Fatima.

Releasing the third part of the Fatima message in June 2000, Vatican officials said it described the violence and persecution that afflicted the church and individual Christians under Nazism, Communism and other totalitarian systems.

At the time of the message’s release, then-Archbishop Bertone revealed that he had met with Sister Lucia and that she “repeated her conviction that the vision of Fatima concerns, above all, the struggle of atheistic communism against the Church and against

Professional cleaning services were called in to help with the cleanup. Fr Bendkowski said he hopes to upgrade security to prevent incidents like this occurring in the future.

Senior Seargent Roy Bracknell

Christians and describes the terrible sufferings of the victims of the faith in the 20th century.”

Archbishop Bertone said he felt he had to ask Sister Lucia why she had given instructions that the secret should be revealed only after 1960, an instruction many people claimed was an order that it be published then.

Archbishop Bertone asked Sister Lucia if Mary had fixed the date.

“Sister Lucia replied: ‘It was not Our Lady. I fixed the date because I had the intuition that before 1960 it would not be understood,’” the archbishop wrote.

Sister Lucia continued having visions of the Virgin Mary and hearing messages from her as late as the 1980s and perhaps beyond, the archbishop said in 2000. - CNS

FATIMA: A message for the Twentieth Century - Pages 8 & 9

The damage to the Merredin parish Church was extensive. Merredin Police said they are not impressed.

from the Merredin Police Station told The Record the matter appeared to be drug and alcohol related. He said this sort of incident is not a regular occurrence in the town.

“We are not impressed by the behaviour, which was uncalled for,” he said. Inquiries are still being conducted.

The lastest edition of discovery, which is produced six times a year by The Record, was quick to get a good response in schools last week.

Mr Ambrose Clarke, who had been interviewed by Record journalist Mark Reidy for Mr Reidy’s special report on new parenting groups with a counter-cultural flavour, rang The Record on Friday afternoon last week to advise the paper that he had already received one invitation from a metropolitan secondary school to speak.

The paper had begun circulating to school communities earlier that week.

Ursula Frayne Catholic College in Victoria Park had invited Mr Clarke, an Ellenbrook parishioner whose group bases its meetings and discussions on the parenting model created by US Catholic layman and academic Paul Stenson, to speak to Year 11

and 12 students on parenting.

Meanwhile leading Perth girls’ school Mercedes College contacted The Record to increase their order from 700 to 800 copies to ensure adequate distribution of the magazine to the school’s community.

Discovery circulates to approximately 68,000 families, with the bulk of each edition being distributed to families with children enrolled in WA Catholic schools.

Sister Lucia dos Santos pictured at the age of 13. Photo: CNS

Researchers excited by cell result

Adult stem-cell breakthrough seen weakening case for embryonic cells

■ By Donis Tracy

Researchers at Caritas St Elizabeth’s Medical Centre in Boston have identified adult stem cells that may have the capacity to repair and regenerate all tissue types in the body, which experts say weakens the case for embryonic stem-cell research.

“This discovery represents a major breakthrough in stem-cell therapy,” said Dr Douglas Losordo, chief of cardiovascular research at St Elizabeth’s. “Based on our findings we believe these newly discovered stemcells may have the capacity to generate into most tissue types in the human body. This is a unique property that until this time has only been found in embryonic stem cells.”

Losordo, together with Dr Youngsup Yoon, led the team of researchers whose findings demonstrating the unique properties of these cells

in Philadelphia, characterised the researchers’ findings as “very exciting.” “It shows that there is a higher degree of flexibility in adult stem cells than many have thought in the past,” he said.

According to Father Pacholczyk, supporters of research using embryonic stem cells have long argued that adult stem cells were not as flexible as embryonic stem cells, thus making them less useful in repairing or healing damaged tissues and cells in the body.

“What appears novel about this report is that they have carefully derived a single cell type from the bone marrow, which can be expanded and used to flexibly generate a number of tissues,” explained Father Pacholczyk.

types of stem-cell research taking place - embryonic and adult stem cells. Adult stem cells can be found within tissues and organs, including bone marrow, the brain, blood vessels, peripheral blood, skin, and the liver. Embryonic stem cells can be found only in embryos, and to harvest these cells, a human embryo must be destroyed.

“Adult stem cells have already been successfully used in human therapies for many years,” Father Pacholczyk told The Pilot. “To date, no therapies in humans have ever been successfully carried out using embryonic stem cells.”

A microscopic view shows a colony of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells. Researchers in the US have identified adult stem cells that may have the capacity to repair and regenerate all tissue types in the body, therefore weakening the case for using embryonic stem cells such as these. Photo: CNS were published in the February 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Caritas St Elizabeth’s Medical Centre is the flagship hospital of Boston’s Caritas Christi Health Care System and a teaching hos-

Royal Perth Hospital

Clinical Pastoral Education

Specilaised training in pastroal care, Pastoral formation and pastoral supervision

We are now accepting applicaitons for 2005

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■ Winter CPE Quarter June 7 - August 12

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Details from: Director of Clinical Pastoral Education, Centre for Pastoral Care and CPE PO BoxY3137

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pital of the Tufts University School of Medicine.

Reviewing the study for The Pilot, Boston’s archdiocesan newspaper, Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, director of education at the National Catholic Bioethics Centre

“Adult stem cells are extremely powerful,” he added.

Stem cells have a number of unique properties not found in other types of cells. They can divide and renew themselves over a long period of time and, while they are unspecialised in their structure, have the ability to generate into specialised cells for specific tissues.

Currently there are two different

“The findings reported in Dr Losordo’s study are but another affirmation that we don’t have to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars on something that is purely speculative, not to mention morally questionable,” he added.

Losordo and Yoon led the preclinical study in which researchers extracted stem cells from human bone marrow and transplanted them into the damaged hearts of rats. The stem cells induced cardiac regeneration, including the

Continued on page 11

The Year of the Eucharist

(10th October 04 - 29th October 05)

“The Church and the world have great need of Eucharistic Worship. Jesus waits for us in the sacrament of love. Let us be generous with him in going to meet him in adoration and in contemplation that is full of faith and ready to make reparation for the great faults and crimes of the world.”

(John Paul II: Dominicae Cenae 3)

“This book ... contains a wealth of prayers, thoughts and meditations, all centred around the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament ....It is a privilege for us to be able to spend time before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. During those precious moments we sense Jesus' tremendous love for us. We bring to Him our joys and our sorrows, we talk to Him about the needs of those around us, and we ask for that deep conversion of the heart and mind that will make us one with Him ... I commend this book to all, especially to those who have rediscovered the beauty and joy of Eucharistic adoration..."

Most Rev. B. J. Hickey - Archbishop of Perth

A beautiful set of Vatican Rosary beads will be sent to all those who give an additional charity donation of $10.00 or more to help the projects of Aid to the Church in Need for the persecuted Church in Sudan*. Please tick the box below if you would like to receive the Papal Rosary beads.

First class kicks off

Notre Dame University opened doors for its first intake of medical students last week

There are 81 foundation students in the Notre Dame post-graduate entry program in the second Medical School to be established in Western Australia.

They are a diverse group of students, including a pharmacist from Kangaroo Island and a mother of 3, whose 18 year-old daughter is also doing a medical degree. Also

among the students is ex-policeman

Phil Argy from South Australia.

While working as a Police Officer in the remote north-west of South Australia Mr Argy saw firsthand the poor health of Aboriginal people. He developed a strong relationship with the Aboriginal community and took up a position with the Department of Family and Community Services as a Senior Youth Worker after 16 years as a policeman.

He later worked as Community Development Worker for the Aboriginal Health Division which involved the establishment of rural

GP mobile services to Aboriginal people. Mr Argy completed an Associate Diploma in Justice Administration during his time in the Police Force and later completed a Bachelor of Behavioural Science at Monash University, Victoria. Mr Argy said that from a young age he’d always been interested in medicine.

“I contemplated medicine at the age of 12 but never pursued the dream until now. I finished school and decided to join the Police Force because there wasn’t an opportunity to go back to study at the time and a few friends were doing the same.”

“Later I completed some scientific training and worked as a Crime Scene Investigator in a Forensic Investigation Unit with the South Australian Police, which allowed my interest in science to be rejuvenated,” he said.

“I was attracted to Notre Dame’s medical program because of the commitment to rural health and the focus on servicing areas of unmet need. I am interested in working in rural and remote regions to practice when I have finished.”

“I’m also interested in visiting the Kimberley while I’m in WA to learn more about their Flying Doctor Service in conjunction with the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, such as the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service, which was my inspiration for assisting in the establishment of the Aboriginal Health GP Services

Emptiness fuelled Jessica's search for God

■ By Mark Reidy

The journey that brought 19 year old Jessica Li Canti to her Baptism at the Cathedral on January 29 has been a remarkable one.

The young woman who smiled joyously throughout the ceremony was a world away from the four years she had spent in a life of drugs and homelessness.

Jessica’s enthusiasm was shared by Fr Albert Samanedi and about 20 family and friends who welcomed her into the Catholic family.

Jessica attributed a part of her transformation to her mother, Deborah, who had never given up on her despite the pain she had caused. Deborah had raised five children on her own after her husband left her when Jessica was five years old.

At 15 she attempted to return to school but that venture also failed. Her self-destructive lifestyle continued until just prior to her 18th birthday when, while living with her 28year old partner, she almost died of an overdose.

Jessica shared that she had always been an A-grade student but when she reached her early teens she became involved with drugs. She left home at 14 and hitched a truck ride to Sydney. Living on the streets she was sexually assaulted and as a result headed to Melbourne. Again she fell into difficult times and ended up in hospital for a month. Once released she returned to Perth, only to fall deeper into a life of drugs and often homelessness.

“I was running wild,” she said, and eventually I was shooting up amphetamines and morphine”. Throughout the next four years she attempted to live with her mother on “many” occasions but these reconciliations did not last long and she returned to the streets each time.

At 15 she attempted to return to school but that venture also failed. Her self-destructive lifestyle continued until just prior to her 18th birthday when, while living with

her 28-year old partner, she almost died of an overdose.

The episode was the catalyst that caused her to review her choices and realize that she wanted more in her life. Once again she found herself on her mother’s doorstep but this time she stayed. As she was withdrawing from heavy drugs and did not trust herself, so she locked herself in her room for the next six months. She acknowledges it was a difficult time and that she had not been an easy person to endure, but her mother had stayed faithfully by her side.

However Jessica still lacked any direction in her life and soon found herself drawn back to the city and the company of others who seemed to be drowning in the same sense of hopelessness.

Then one day as she was sitting in Forrest Chase with her best friend she suddenly announced that she wanted to become a nun. To this day she is still unsure of why she had uttered these words, as she never had any form of religious teaching in her life. That evening she met Chris Webb, a lay Catholic from Children of the Cross ministry, who serves the poor on the streets, who told her that he could help her investigate this option.

She met with Chris regularly and he began to teach her about Jesus and the role of the Catholic Church. He introduced her to the Missionaries of Charity Sisters who began to instruct her in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) in March 2004.

Jessica, however, found the process difficult and once again she began to drift away. Chris, a trained Catechist, persisted and, with permission from Archbishop Hickey, wrote a program for those who struggled with the RCIA course.

Despite several hiccups along the way, Jessica and Chris persevered, culminating in her Baptism.

Jessica had planned to complete a bridging course this year to prepare her for studies in Criminology but will have to postpone this until later in order to care for her mother. At present she is proud to be a Catholic and, being in the infancy of her journey, wants to learn as much as she can. As for her ambition to become a nun… she’ll just wait and see if God has anything to say about that!

Jessica Li Canti, centre, with some of the friends who helped her find the Church, and meaning in life. Jessica was baptised on January 29.

Notre Dame Australia Environmental Science students recently sailed on a 12day voyage on the STS Leeuwin II as part of their studies. Pictured are, left to right, volunteer crew members with NDA students Chelsea Rundell and Kim McGrath

Bishop Holohan: what The West knew

The following response to a report in The West Australian of 16 February about allegations made against a former priest of the Diocese of Bunbury was provided to The Record and to all parishes in the Bunbury Diocese by Bishop Gerard Holohan.

On Wednesday, 16 February, an article was published in the West Australian relating to a 1997 allegation of sex abuse in the early seventies by Mr Alan Rowe against a retired priest of the Bunbury Diocese, Fr Kevin Johnston. Mr Rowe, who made the complaint, chose to have the allegation dealt with under the Professional Standards procedures of the Catholic Church in 1997. Under these procedures, the Church gives the commitment to all parties involved that all information received will be treated in absolute confidence. Mr Alan Rowe is not bound by confidentiality. Also, under these procedures, complainants are informed of their option to go to the Police for thorough investigation of any claim.

On Tuesday, 15th February 2005, the author of the article, Eloise Dortch, summarised for me what

InBrief

she was going to write about this case. I pointed out to her that I could not discuss any of the material given by the various parties involved in the enquiry as I was bound by confidentiality, and that she did not seem to know all the relevant facts. By the end of the conversation, Ms Dortch made it clear that my choice was to reveal confidential information or to suffer the publication of a negative article.

Faithfulness to confidentiality is a fundamental principle in the Church. I told Ms Dortch that there are no circumstances in which I

Women’s groups lead to peacemaking activities

HYDERABAD, India (CNS) - Hindu, Muslim and Sikh women - many wearing black burqas that covered all but their hands and eyes - have stood their ground between a mob of rockthrowing youths and heavily armed police in the courtyard of an Hyderabad mosque. Both sides tried breaking through the human chain, but the women stood their ground. Yousufunnisa, a 48-year old Muslim woman who participated in the human chain said “We women want unity, calmness and peace. If we adults start fighting based on religion, our children are going to do the same thing. And someday either they are going to kill us or we’re going to kill them. Nothing good will come of it. So we want communal harmony,” she said. Since the initial 2002 chain, the women have formed their human chain two more times at the mosque. - CNS

would violate this principle. The article in the West Australian is the result.

Ms Dortch forwarded to me a number of documents on Friday, February 11 and Tuesday 15 February. What follows comes from these documents, the information in which, unlike information the Church has under the Professional Standards procedures, I am not bound to treat confidentially.

What Ms Dortch knows

Had the article in the West Australian reflected all the information Ms Dortch sent me, it

would have included the following points. First, a complaint against Fr Johnston about an alleged incident in the seventies was investigated and dealt with under the Church’s Professional Standards procedures in 1997-1998. From the information available to her through the West Australian’s earlier research and article about Professional Standards procedures, Ms Dortch would know that, under these procedures, Mr Rowe’s option of going to the Police for an investigation would have been explained.

Second, Fr Johnston denied the allegation at the enquiry. This situation is one person’s word against another. By virtue thereof, and contrary to what was claimed in the West, the Diocese is in no position to confirm or to deny the allegation – nor has it ever done so.

Third, Ms Dortch would know that the second, more serious allegation against Fr Johnston reported in the third paragraph of the West’s article was not made in 1997. To my knowledge, it has never been suggested before.

Fourth, Fr Johnston wrote a letter to Mr Rowe that can be interpreted in different ways. Interpretation of the letter should be in the context of Fr Johnston’s denial at the previous meeting. Ms Dortch would know that Fr Johnston’s letter certainly did not relate to the new and additional allegation reported in the West Australian. It is entirely misleading of her to discuss the letter in a way that implies that it does. In 1997 Fr Johnston retired from parish ministry. He most certainly

was not ‘forced’ to retire. Nor was he forced to leave the country as alleged by the West.

Fifth, Mr Rowe approached the diocese through a lawyer seeking compensation for the allegation Fr Johnston denied. The diocese did not accept the claim – nor has it ever offered any money to Mr Rowe for compensation purposes. The diocese has denied that it has a liability to Mr Rowe, and persists in such denial. Sixth, as I learned about Mr Rowe last year, I was deeply moved by his troubled life. The documentation Ms Dortch has, unambiguously states that an amount was offered to Mr Rowe out of genuine compassion, and not as compensation. The documentation was legally prepared to ensure no confusion. My hope had been that the money offered might help Mr Rowe to get on his feet.

This is not the first time the Church has tried to help someone, nor will it be the last. The money was offered in good faith and for the purposes stated in the offer.

These are the facts Ms Dortch has in the material before her. They are not all the relevant facts, nor the full story. However, people must always be able to rely upon the Church’s confidentiality when they seek its help. Situations are never even when one side is bound by confidentiality and the other is not.

In conclusion, I feel deeply for Mr Rowe. My sincere hope remains that he will accept my genuine effort to help him get on his feet.

Bishop Gerard J Holohan

1.

Bishop Holohan speaks during his episcopal ordination in Bunbury in 2001.

Photo: Peter Rosengren

He is here

WA leads the way as the State in Australia for perpetual adoration. Perpetual adoration exists when the people in a parish are willing to spend one hour a week with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament so that all of the hours are covered; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The plan for the Archdiocese of Perth is to have 20 parishes with perpetual adoration; thus ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to pray in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, anytime day or night.

As there are about 100 parishes in the Archdiocese of Perth, there will be one perpetual adoration chapel servicing every five parishes. This means that every Sunday Catholic in the archdiocese may be needed to spend an hour a week in adoration.

When a church is open, outside of Mass it may receive about 20 visitors a week. When a church has perpetual adoration, outside of Mass it will receive over 300 visitors a week.

We don’t spend one hour a week in a church of perpetual adoration, only for our own benefit, but we also do it because over 300 people each week will then benefit.

Fr. Doug Harris Glendalough Promoter of Perpetual Adoration

The real test

Iam appalled by the way our politicians are treating us, to me they are acting like spoilt children shouting “he did this and he did that”. Surely they are grown up enough, and earn enough, to treat us like adults. The following is from the last speech of Hubert Humphrey:-

“The moral test of any government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those who are in the shadow of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.” This is how I will evaluate my candidate.

Terence P O’Neill Maida Vale

How I will vote

The results of the State election to be held on 26 February are of fundamental importance to Catholics in Western Australia. They should cast their vote where it will do the most good for families.

My advice - and it is what I will do – is to vote for the candidates standing for the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) and follow their how-to-vote card.

The issues of health, education, transport and other issues like the supply of water and power, while important, are of little concern.

The vast natural wealth of Western Australia guarantees that which ever party is elected to govern we will enjoy prosperity superior to anywhere in the world.

What is of greatest importance to families is that there are libertarians in government and in the Greens Party seeking to change

perspectives

- or have changed - the law in relation to questions containing large moral dimensions, like marriage, abortion, homosexuality, pornography, drugs and prostitution. Their objective is primarily to change the community’s view on normality and morality.

Brian Peachey Woodlands

Voting priorities

I n the weeks following the 2004 Federal election, our secular media wrote much about the growing value of the Christian vote in Australia and the US. For those who have worked tirelessly to encourage Christians to understand the value of their vote, this was great news. In Divisions where pro-life candidates stood, the outcomes were encouraging.

However if we evaluate the election results it becomes obvious that Catholics and Christians in general are often indifferent.

In the Federal Division of Moore, as an example, four of the candidates were openly pro-choice, yet they accumulated over 95 per cent of the formal vote. The only prolife candidate standing received 2.1 per cent of the vote. In Western Australia, approximately 26 per cent of the population claim to be Catholic, and 76 per cent Christian. Therefore, in the Division of Moore, there are approximately 17,700 Catholics, and nearly 52,000 Christians. Yet, only 1,445 put life as their highest priority when standing in the polling booth.

It is time that we elected a greater proportion of strong Christian men and women into our State parliament. If we represent 26 per cent of the population, should we not have at least that proportion of representation in the Parliament?

When we stand in the polling

Pope moved by Lucia

Pope John Paul II said he was deeply moved when he heard that Carmelite Sister Lucia dos Santos, the last surviving Fatima visionary, “was called by the heavenly Father to his eternal dwelling place.” Sister Lucia died in the Carmelite cloister in Coimbra, Portugal, on February 13 at the age of 97. “I remember with emotion the various meetings I had with her and the bonds of spiritual friendship that intensified with the passing of time,” Pope John Paul said. “I always felt supported by the daily gift of her prayers, especially in difficult moments of trial and suf-

Who's zooming whom?

Whenever a learned judge prematurely releases a pedophile from prison on some technicality in law, thereby proving beyond any shadow of doubt, that with intellectuals “learning” and “wisdom” are not one and the same, there is often much tub thumping in the elite media, as if they have the interests of children at heart.

The feel-good tub thumpers are somewhat selective, because much of this same media do more to undermine our children’s upbringing and moral well-being than any other force in the community.

booth, perhaps we, in a sense, are the abortionists if we do not put the lives of the innocent unborn as our first priority. What would Jesus wish us do? On 26 February let there be a victory for Life.

Pat Shea Mullaloo

Vote 1 discovery

Iapplaud the discovery February issue for it’s absolute commitment to family values and social justice.

In particular, “Our World, A tsunami a week” brought to our attention the ongoing poverty in the world which does not benefit from media attention in startling reality.

The Record has been almost solely supportive of my fundraising efforts to help 14 million starving Ethiopians since I viewed with horror the ABC 4 Corners report of 15th March 2004. So many letters to newspapers and television etc were ignored. Several of your readers did respond with generosity, some anonymously, and I thank them now.

I am now begging for further support, not in monetary terms, but in time and effort.

An Oxfam street appeal has been organised for Friday 18 March and I would be eternally grateful for any support to “shake-a-can” in the city on that day.

Since the Indonesian tsunami has swamped us all with sympathy, Oxfam has approved the collection to be be split 50/50 between the tsunami appeal and my original intention of collecting solely for Ethiopia.

Archbishop Hickey has given me permission to approach parishes, while Perth’s Caritas is supportive of this fundraising project.

I beg the charity and the assistance of all persons over 16 years

NEWS BRIEFS

fering,” the Pope wrote in a message to Bishop Albino Mamede Cleto of Coimbra. “May the Lord repay her abundantly for the great and hidden service she gave the Church,” the Pope wrote in the message, released on February 15 at the Vatican. The Portuguese girl was only 10 years old when she and her two younger cousins saw the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima in 1917.

US suit to go ahead

A Chicago couple can go forward with a lawsuit for wrongful death against a fertility clinic that mistakenly discarded a frozen

A percentage of parents are too tired to care and think that television is a convenient baby sitter, but how many parents would be familiar with the sicker than sick “lyrics”, if you could call them that, poisoning young minds in rap music?

Having a G rating for a movie means absolutely nothing, other than to prove that the person who labeled it such is just as big a boofhead as the producer of the movie.

As I’m careful what my grandchildren view in my home, I watched a popular so-called children’s show involving horses. Harmless you might think? Not on your life. The show continually ran a theme of an obnoxious group of children being nasty to and ganging up on another group. It showed the mother as some sort of dill, lacking the wisdom of her pre-teen and teenage children.

This has no effect some might argue? Anyone who believes that will believe anything, particularly if it is codswallop.

Frank Bellet Petrie Qld

of age, every student, Antioch and youth group, as well as all caring adults who have any time to give (even an hour) on 18 March to contact me on (08) 9309 5071 or Oxfam on (08) 9262 8200.

Suitable identification such as a driver’s license or student ID will be needed or come along to the Wesley Centre, 93 William St between 8 am and 2 pm on 18 March.

Please swamp me with offers to help.

Sheila Shannon Woodvale

Ready to marry?

Bishop Sproxton rightly says, “Just living together is not enough to guarantee that a couple is truly ready for marriage.” (The Record February 3, 2005).

In fact, aren’t unmarried couples living together, by definition, unready for marriage?

Premarital cohabiters have over twice the risk of divorce compared with non-cohabiters. Researchers comment that living in a non-marital union “undermines the legitimacy of formal marriage” and so “reduces commitment”.

Shouldn’t the Church insist that cohabiting couples seeking mar-

embryo, Judge Jeffrey Lawrence ruled on February 4. The opinion set off a volley of responses from people on all sides of the life issue. Fertility doctors said that it could mean the end of the in vitro fertilisation industry, while pro-life activists hailed the judge’s comment that the Illinois Legislature intended embryos, from the time of conception, to be considered human beings.

“It’s a very interesting decision and a very welcome one,” said Mary-Louise Kurey, Respect Life director for the Archdiocese of Chicago. “An embryo has its own unique DNA. It is its own unique person.”

riage be required to undertake to separate and live celibate for a signigicant time - many months at least - before entering into the sacrament of Holy Matrimony?

(* D Hall and J Zhoa, Journal of Marriage and the Family 57 (1995): 421-427.)

Arnold Jago Mildura

The Brothers

As one who always attended Christian Brothers’ Colleges, may I put in a plug for them as teachers and religious. Of course, the latter should be first!

The Brothers taught us our lessons, our prayers and prepared us for our lives in the world through the noble profession of teaching. They were also our brothers in Christ, and we looked up to them as such. We never got close to them; for like us, who were learning - and they, teaching - we were both searching for God, seeking to live out His call as his disciples. They remained detached in their religious houses; and yet managed to spend their lives among us boys, forming our minds through studies, and our bodies through sport (add drama, debating & other disciplines); but they remained men apart; men dedicated to God, and we respected them, and looked up to them. Being human, they sometimes erred (in little things), and like ourselves, they, too, struggled through life, relying on, and hoping in, the goodness and love of God whom they served, and would continue to do in whatever they do in the future. We wish them sufficient grace.

George Russo Iluka

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

The Eucharist as seen by the saints

The Blessed Sacrament is here - that is all I need.

- St Peter Julian Eymard

F a t i m a Fatima

a most spectacular miracle a most miracle

■ By Hugh Ryan

While most historians and commentators ignore it, Fatima is at the heart of the human history of the 20th Century.

Our Lady of the Rosary, appeared to three Portuguese children, Lucia Santos (aged 10) and her cousins Francisco Marto (9) and Jacinta Marto (7) (pictured above), six times from May 13, 1917 to October 13, 1917.

It is also the scene of the most public, most clearly predicted, most visually spectacular, and most widely reported miracle in human history.

The Blessed Virgin Mary, using the title

At the time, the world was bogged down in a seemingly endless and suicidal war being fought simultaneously in France, Russia, North Africa and the Middle East as well as on the high seas. The last apparition occurred three days before Lenin entered Petrograd to launch the Communist revolution in Russia. Portugal was in the throes of

an anti-Catholic persecution. The king had been assassinated in 1908 and by 1910 the new Republican government had disbanded the Jesuits and most other religious orders, imprisoned or exiled leading clergy (including Lisbon’s Cardinal Belo), confiscated Church property, told the remaining priests what they could and could not preach, and dissolved the theology faculty at the famous 13th Century Coimbra university. From 1910 to 1926, Portugal went through 16 revolutions and eight changes of president as republican factions fought each other murderously.

In this environment, the story of the first apparition on May 13 was not welcomed by the troubled families. The Lady had appeared to the children after they said their midday rosary while minding the sheep, and had asked them to return to the same spot in the Cova da Iria on the 13th of each month.

June 13 was the fiesta of St Anthony of Padua, a time of fun, games and feasting for adults and children alike, but these three children turned their backs on the feast and kept their appointment with the lady. About 50 adults turned up (none from the

A spectacular miracle

children’s families or village).

Greatly impressed by the children’s demeanour, they told all and sundry about “Our Lady’s apparition”.

On July 13, more than 2000 people surrounded the children. Our Lady’s messages relayed by the children, were chiefly about prayer, especially the need to say

the rosary, but when Lucia complained about her family, parish priest and many others treating here as a liar, Our Lady promised a miracle on October 13 “so that all would believe”.

This public prophecy of a miracle, detailing the day and the hour, delighted the believers and they

spread the word far and wide. On August 13, the Administrator of the district, Artur Santos, kidnapped the children and took them to his home in Ourem, 12 kms away. He subjected them to all sorts of threats, including taking them away one by one to be “boiled in oil”. The children believed him and said tearful farewells to one another, but they did not waver.

Eventually, he put them in a large jail cell with petty criminals, and when the children invited them to kneel and say the rosary with them, they did.

On August 15, he dumped the children at the presbytery at Fatima. The experience increased Lucia’s mother’s opposition to her daughter’s ‘fabrications’.

On August 19, Our Lady appeared to the children while they were minding the sheep in another spot and reassured them that the miracle would occur in October.

About 30,000 people were present on September 13 when the

next apparition occurred and most were greatly impressed, including two priests who had been sent from Lisbon to interview the children and to observe events.

October 12 was cold and wet, but the crowd began to assemble overnight even though their blankets and umbrellas could not keep out the wind and rain. After daybreak on October 13, the rain began to fall in torrents and the saucer-shaped depression where the events took place became a quagmire, but none left. The drone of the recitation of the rosary was continuous.

Some estimated the crowd at 70,000, but Professor Almeida Garrette, of Coimbra University, who stood on rising ground about 100 metres from the crowd, thought there must have been 100,000. The crowd included many skeptical journalists, including Avelino de Almeida, manager/editor of the country’s biggest daily newspaper, the rationalist leaning ‘O Seculo’ which that morning ran a condem-

nation of the “psychosis, epilepsy and collective suggestion” at the root of the “medieval reactionism”.

The article predicted that the miracle would not happen, and admitted approvingly that most

priests had given no encouragement to the Fatima frenzy.

At midday (solar time) the apparition began and Lucia called out “Put down your umbrellas!”. Most did. After some time, she called out “Look at the sun!”

As all looked up, the rain ceased, the heavy clouds parted and the sun shone brilliantly, but people could look at it without strain. For the next 10 to 12 minutes the sun went through an extraordinary series of gyrations. When it was all over, everyone in the crowd was bone dry and so was the ground around them.

In his article in ‘O Seculo’ on Monday Ocxtober 15, the reluctant but truthful editor de Almeida, said “The sun began to dance” and described how it whirled around like a Catherine wheel, then zigzagged erratically across the sky. Rays of light the colours of the spectrum began to fly out from the sun, bathing people and landscape in alternating colours. He said the events were “outside all cosmic laws” - and was bitterly attacked by other “freethinkers” for writing the article.

The experiences of hundreds upon hundreds of witnesses were recorded at the time and in the years that followed and published in numerous first class books about Fatima.

While the miracle of the sun is

a spectacular demonstration of the reality of Jesus and Mary and the whole spiritual realm, the real purpose of the apparitions was Mary’s call to prayer and her explicit instruction to the children that the world’s sinfulness was the cause of wars and other problems.

She told them the First World War would end ‘soon’, that unless people prayed a great deal another and worse war would follow (WWII), that there would be great suffering for the Church, that Russia would spread her errors around the world, but communism would be defeated by her Immaculate Heart, and Russia would eventually be converted. She showed them a vision of hell and warned them that huge numbers would be plunged into hell by sins of impurity. All of these things would have been beyond the imagining of the three uneducated children.

The Bishop of Leiria (the diocese where Fatima is located) ordered a long and careful investigation of all things to do with Fatima, including the many subsequent miracles, and in 1930 he declared the apparitions were worthy of belief and officially authorized devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. The devotion was already strong (despite government resistance) but since then, and especially since WWII, it has spread around the world.

The rosary became the centre of family life for millions of Catholics, and Fatima draws about 5,000,000 pilgrims a year.

“Freethinkers” continue to ignore Fatima, just as they keep their minds firmly closed to the evidence of the on-going miracles at Lourdes, but each of us has a choice and Mary has shown us over and over that

her son Jesus is the only choice worth making.

This report is drawn largely from the chapter of the Fatima story contained in Fr Paul Glynn’s book about Lourdes, “Healing Fire from Frozen Earth”.

Pope John Paul II is helped by aides after being shot in St Peter’s Square on May 13, 1981. Following the beatification of two of the Fatima visionaries, a Vatican official revealed the so-called third secret of Fatima. Cardinal Angelo Sodano said the Pope believes it refers to the attempt on his life and the Church’s struggle against Communism.

Vietnam - Archbishop at work in the Universal Church

The people of the Perth Archdiocese will be well aware of the contribution the Catholic Vietnamese Community has made over the last 25 years since they arrived here in small boats, fleeing persecution and possible death in Vietnam.

Numbering well over 3,000 and growing rapidly with the birth of new Australians of Vietnamese parents, the community has been an example of tenacious faith and vigorous energy in achieving a permanent place in their new country.

It is with great joy that welcome the twelve priests that the Vietnamese families have given to the Archdiocese. The first was Deacon Francis Ly who came here as a boat refugee in April 1982.

After some time of inculturation he finished his studies and was ordained by the late Archbishop William Foley in December 1984.

Since then have had the honour to ordain eleven more from the Vietnamese community, the latest being Fr Thai Vu who received the Order of Priesthood on 26 November 2004. They are our twelve Vietnamese Apostles.

People who attend the parishes where our Vietnamese priests are stationed will know how dedicated and committed they are to pastoral work and to the high ideals of the priesthood. They are in both city and country parishes. One has recently been transferred to

Perth returns to his village to visit family and friends. Fr Ly was able to celebrate Mass in the village for the first time since he fled 23 years ago as a Deacon. Fr Ly became the first Vietnamese to be ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Perth.

Renewing old links and experiencing the universality of the Church: with Fr Ly and Archbishop Hickey are Fr Valentine, who attended Propaganda Fide College in Rome, but not with the Archbishop, and Fr Albert Nhan, who was a classmate of Archbishop Hickey's at Propaganda.

Kalgoorlie. All of these last 11 have studied at St Charles Seminary and some at St Francis Xavier Seminary in Adelaide. have just returned from an eight day trip to Vietnam. had three reasons for going. One was to accompany Fr Francis Ly to his little village in the Mekong Delta and be present at his first Mass in Vietnam since he left 23 years ago. It was an emotional occasion in the presence of a very joyful local community who knew Fr Francis before the great upheaval that saw the peremptory departure of so many. was also able to inspect the new Church in his village that had been constructed with the help of some Australian money. While in Vietnam had occasion

to meet many of the local people and the Bishops from a number of dioceses and to thank them for the spiritual riches their people had brought to Australia. met the Cardinal of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), His Eminence Cardinal Minh Man, the Bishops of Huè, Phat Diem and Hanoi. The northern diocese of Hanoi is expecting the announcement of their new Archbishop after years of waiting. The retired Cardinal of Hanoi is 96 and his Auxiliary is 97. Permission from the Vietnamese Government is required for all Episcopal positions and this one has been a long time coming. Permission is also required for the number of priests that can be ordained in any

one year. Students for the priesthood, and there are over one thousand, must wait for years before being given the all-clear by the Government.

Although controls are still in place, they are becoming more flexible as relationships improve between Church and State. This is a matter of great delicacy. must tell you about Fr Joseph Huong.

smallish parish in Ho chi Minh City and in charge of the Diocesan welfare programs. He mentioned in passing that he was helping young mothers who otherwise might have had an abortion.

In the house there were about ten young mothers with infants and twenty small boys and girls staying there till other arrangements could be made. It was an amazingly happy place.

of admiration for Fr Joseph who began this work entirely on his own initiative, without funding. God provided and continues to do so. A cheque from our Fund for Life will soon be on its way.

An indication of how the faith of the Vietnamese Catholics was watered by the blood of martyrs is the attendance at Sunday Mass. It is unthinkable for any Catholic family to miss Mass on Sunday, given the suffering they have endured to retain their faith.

them and have an enjoyable meal with them, but some were too sick and too far away to travel. Most of them had a very hard time during and after what is known here as the “American War”. They were considered to be supporters of the old regime and placed under house arrest. Some still cannot obtain a Visa from the Government to travel overseas.

ing. They celebrate the feast of the Vietnamese Martyrs in November each year, remembering those who were put to death in the 17th century for their faith by the ruling kings of Vietnam.

Fr Joseph is a Parish Priest of a

I wanted to hear more. He took me to one of the two houses he has where young mothers and their children are looked after by two Missionary Sisters of Charity (Mother Theresa Sisters).

Fr Joseph said that in the past two years his houses had saved hundreds of babies. While was there a new mother-to-be arrived, distressed and frightened. She was warmly received. am full

My second reason for going to Vietnam was to meet up with friends who were with me as students for the priesthood in the College of Propaganda Fide in Rome. was able to find a few of

My third reason for going was to understand better the culture and the faith practice of the people from whom our own Vietnamese community has come.

It is impossible to sum up in a few words what observed, but the Catholic faith, planted by European missionaries, principally by the French, is vigorous and life sustain-

When the history of the 20th Century Church in Vietnam is written, many more martyrs will be added to the list. The Church was persecuted mercilessly after the overthrow of the former regime and many priests and Religious were killed or died in prison.

A priest who accompanied me during my stay in Vietnam was imprisoned and “re-educated” for ten years because he was an Army Chaplain to the Vietnamese forces - the wrong army, it seems. All Chaplains were imprisoned after

the fall of Saigon. An indication of how the faith of the Vietnamese Catholics was watered by the blood of martyrs is the attendance at Sunday Mass. It is unthinkable for any Catholic family to miss Mass on Sunday, given the suffering they have endured to retain their faith.

Comparisons could be made with the freedom we have in Australia to practise our faith, but now is not the place to make them. Let me simply acknowledge the strong heritage of constancy under persecution that has formed the faith of our Australian Vietnamese Catholic Community and the fruit that it has already borne in vocations to the priesthood.

Most Rev B J Hickey Archbishop of Perth

One of the few surviving photographs of the actual reaction by people on the spot to the miracle of the sun at Fatima on October 13, 1917. Many skeptics left the scene shaken by what they had seen and experienced for themselves.

Photo: CNS

Thousands of pilgrims are seen in a bell-tower view from the basilica at Fatima, Portugal, May 13 in 2001. The shrine was hosting celebrations marking the 84th anniversary of the first of the visions of three shepherd children in 1917. Photo: CNS

Archbishop Hickey and Fr Ly with mothers and children at one of the homes for women who would otherwise be driven to abortion. The homes are run by Fr Joseph Din Huy Huong, at back, assisted by Sisters of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, but the sisters are not permitted by the Government to wear the blue-striped sari of their Order.

Father Francis Ly of

TV land at it again

■ With Paul Gray

Arecent media report noted that the 2004-5 Christmas season saw a surge in the number of teenage girls and young women hospitalised after binge drinking.

Women’s liberation, anyone?

Should we believe that this society oppresses women, systematically and in a way that is fundamentally different from the oppression of men?

Look at another media report. “Boys flashing bare chests and branded underwear were in heaven as babes donned belts masquerading as dresses,” wrote relationships author Sue Ostler, describing a recent rock festival event in Sydney, the Big Day Out.

The author quoted an 18-yearold female at the festival who was asked did she mind if some of the guys at the festival had had one too many drinks. “That was even better, according to the 18-yearold, who grinned when she said it made it easier to take advantage of them.”

Young girls getting boozed more often. Young girls seducing men, more often. This, we should believe, represents an improvement in the status of women.

And then there’s Desperate

moving in exactly the opposite direction.

More than ever, suburban women in Australia seem to be in charge of their own lives. On the whole, they’re not desperate at all. Doctrinaire feminists and prominent “opinion leaders” seem to miss this point entirely.

We are continually told that women are being forced to miss out on the top corporate pickings because boardrooms are still predominantly male. And we’re constantly being sold a caricature of what life in the suburbs is really like for women: isolated, frustrating, mind-numbing, conventional, powerless.

What rubbish. Here’s just one real-life tale from the suburbs: a mother of three with two kids at primary school works at home, part-time.

She’s a highly skilled computer programmer. This Mum does the school drop-offs and pick-ups, and in-between often visits businesses to help with their computer problems.

One day recently she rushed from school to the CBD to attend a big company’s corporate crisis meeting. She was the only woman in the room – and probably the only non-full time employee.

This woman is highly successful and in-demand. And she chooses to be a suburban “housewife.”

British academic Catherine Hakim has destroyed the myth that most women are frustrated by not achieving high corporate roles, with her 60-20-20 analysis of what women really want.

Sixty per cent want a mix of work and family life, 20 per cent want to dedicate themselves to a corporate

Housewives. Hype is a big part of the entertainment business, of course, and the TV show Desperate Housewives has been strongly hyped.

But when you watch an episode of the show, as I did, the theme is absurd. The “housewife” characters all suffer from varying degrees of depression, irritation and frustration with their affluent suburban lot in life.

Like the Mum who gave up a good career for babies, or the trophy wife whose husband cynically uses her to impress his business acquaintances.

Is this a true picture of life for suburban women? Reality, at least in Australia, seems to me to be

diversity matters

(contemporary human mobility and the stand of the Church)

Migrants - recipients of charity or a resource for the Church?

■

With Tony Paganoni, CS

During the twentieth century, the Church’s view of that significant outcome of modernity, migration, has shifted from wariness to a far more positive stance. This is reflected in countless statements and exhortations, addressing a wide range of situations, as well as a good number of concrete responses to these. In the past such statements and guidelines were worded in such a way as to warn against the dangers posed by migrants to the existing religious and cultural heritage. Nowadays the emphasis falls upon the contributions that migrant communities can offer to local Churches.

Still, I believe, Catholic communities are being sold short. There still prevails a deficit notion of the migrant, supported by quick quotations from the Bible: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me”. Reference to the book of Deuteronomy is frequently made, where migrants are relegated to the same level as the widow and the orphan, while the New Testament includes migrants in the works of mercy (Mt. 25, 3146). Significantly, Genesis 18 is not so often quoted: hosting three pilgrims from afar is presented as a situation where God reveals Himself! And of course the Three Wise Men from the East don’t get much of a mention.

It is only in recent Church documents that this vision of the migrant as a resource person is put forward. This is a far cry from the view still held by many in the Church that the migrant is a person in need of mercy

and assistance. So the migrant becomes the recipient of charity, or worse still of hand-outs by the new community. In this context it is very difficult for anyone to establish an ethnic ministry which, if it is to be true to itself, must be based on a system of values, and not of ‘eternal needs” to be filled somehow.

In this latter view, the migrant person, the migrant family, the migrant associations are seen as merely temporary – offered special consideration to offset the trauma of entering an unfamiliar environment. It is an exercise in tolerance, designed to lead in time to the disappearance of the religious and cultural values kept alive within their ethnic contexts - clubs, associations, worshipping congregations etc. Nevertheless, the concept of

the migrant as a resource person is today gaining ground in official documents coming out from Rome and also in pronouncements by local churches. Let me cite one:

“Diversity is a divine attribute and richness and an indispensable condition for attaining the full communion of churches.” (Secretariat for the Unity of Christians, Joint declaration between the Catholic and Armenian Churches, no. 2, Feb. 16, 2004).

Providentially, this positive image is undergirded by the life and witness of personalities who captured and enriched local churches with their sanctity, their writings and their ministry, such as St Frances Cabrini, Blessed John-Baptist Scalabrini, St John Neumann, and Blessed FranzXaver Seelos.

Grandmothers spot vocations

priestly vocations

■ By Fr Richard Smith

Wcareer and 20 per cent want family life only.

This is obvious to anyone with eyes. Most women are choosing life in the suburbs over the dedicated city suit-and-boardroom lifestyle, and why shouldn’t they?

That doesn’t mean life is perfect for Australian women today, of course. But it’s hardly a picture of undiluted evil imposed by society.

Evils, for women and young girls today, are very real.

But they lie in the area of indulgence, in a general era of excess, rather than in the limitations imposed by an unfair society, in an era of injustice.

This is the desperate reality we have not yet understood.

parents were horrified; after all there was no money to be made from the Church.

hen it comes to Baptisms, Confirmations it is frequently Grandmothers who enable this process and help children to learn about their faith, the Church and the church community to which they belong. A significant number of parish enquiries for Initiation Rites (Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation) come from Grandparents, particularly grandmothers.

Anecdotal evidence also suggests that it is grandparents or other significant older adults who open up the possibility of a career in the Church to children, adolescents and young adults.

It was an auntie of mine who mentioned that I would become “A Minister” to my parents, in my hearing as an eight-year-old. My

I have heard from other priests that their grandmothers were significant people in the development of their vocations.

Conversation in the church today in Perth often centres on bemoaning the lack of vocations for the priesthood and the religious life.

We are urged to hold novenas, say special Rosaries and to generally pray for vocations.

I laud and encourage our individual and communal earnest prayerfulness.

However, I also urge you to name and claim the possibility that a member of your family could be called by God to serve Holy Mother Church as a religious, a deacon or a priest.

Vocations need to be talked about in positive ways in our family settings just as we talk about other career paths.

It is not that we should force our children or grandchildren into Church career paths but that we

should encourage the possibility and give them the information that they need to follow up this vocational possibility.

Vocations to the religious life and priesthood should not be spoken of in negative ways or in ways that say it is a silly option for a member of our family, even though it may be alright for a member of another family.

Maybe it is not your vocation to be a religious or a priest but it could well be your vocation to encourage another member of your family or even a friend to name and to reflect on their God given vocation within the life of the Church.

Vocations begin with each one of us listening to God and to each other, and then supporting and upholding the vocational possibilities that are given to us.

May the Holy Spirit grant wisdom and insight into the paths that we are given to tread in life’s journey.

The Church's view of migration has shifted throughout the course of the twentieth Century.

The cast from Desperate Housewives. On TV now for your pleasure?

105 to enter Church at Easter

Bishop Don Sproxton welcomed 105 Catechumens and Candidates and authorised them to receive the Sacraments of the Church at the next Easter Vigil during the annual Rite of Election in the Cathedral on Tuesday night.

There were 55 catechumens (those not yet baptised) from 18 parishes and groups, and 50 candidates (those baptised in other churches) from 16 parishes. A total of 21 parishes and groups were involved. Godparents were asked whether the catechumens had faithfully listened to God’s Word proclaimed by the Church; had responded to that Word and begun to walk in God’s presence; and had shared the company of their Christian brothers and sisters and joined with them in prayer.

On their assurance that it was so, Bishop Sproxton declared that the Church in the name of Christ accepted their judgment and called them to the Easter sacraments.

When they affirmed that they wished to enter fully into the life of the Church through the sacra-

ments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist, the Bishop declared: ‘Then let your names be offered for enrolment.’

Scrolls bearing the names of the people from each parish were presented to the Bishop and then each godparent came forward to introduce the catechumens to the Bishop personally, after which they assembled around the altar in the sanctuary.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Bishop Sproxton declared them “members of the elect, to be initiated into the sacred mysteries at the next Easter Vigil”.

A similar ceremony was held for the candidates, with each of them being introduced to the Bishop by their sponsor, and at the conclusion they were authorized to receive Confirmation and the Eucharist at Easter. Bishop Sproxton said that the occasion was a great night for the Church in Perth. “God has called each and every one of you to help Him build His Church, and your journey of on-going conversion of heart is the journey of the

the Church

of your own lives,” he said. The Rite of Election has consistently been

held on the first Sunday of Lent, but was transferred to Tuesday evening partly to escape the sum-

Parish celebrates Marriages

■ By Veronica D’Souza

Over 100 couples renewed their wedding vows at Masses at St Jude’s Parish at Langford in early February after the parish gave an enthusiastic welcome to guest speakers form the Marriage Encounter team in late January.

The visit seems timely, given an article in The Record dated 03 February 2005 titled Marriage Made By God, encompassing the Holy Father’s speech to the Roman Rota, that marriage cannot be dissolved in the Catholic church.

Although the speech was directed toward the moral obligation of marriage tribunal staffs to uphold Church teaching, it also serves as a gentle reminder for individuals of their responsibilities in a marriage.

Similarly, through their presentations and testimonials, the visiting couples introduced Marriage Encounter as a means of enriching and fostering one’s marital life and consequently preventing any communication gap for the breakdown of a relationship – thereby fulfilling individual responsibilities in a marriage.

In keeping with the theme, St Jude’s

parish celebrated World Marriage Day at the weekend Masses of February 5 and 6. Taking his cue from Pope John Paul II’s message, parish priest Fr Terry Raj stressed the sanctity and sacredness of the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Couples, he said, need to foster love; oneness and unity in their lives together and can do so by making God present in their relationship daily. He also stated that the elements of faith, hope and love are the salt and light of marriage.

God reminds that married life cannot be lived in isolation and that the Church is where each married couple brings their light to share with every other married couple. It is this living out of the Sacrament of Matrimony by all married couples that gives such brilliant witness to society.

There were over one hundred couples who renewed their vows. Special blessings were bestowed on the couples present and prayers were said for all married couples. The attendance reflected the world indeed – as members of this congregation represent over 50 ethnic communities.

The participation in such large numbers is a heartening indication of the strength of faith in this parish community.

mer heat in the afternoon. Tuesday had a maximum of 42C and it had barely cooled by evening.

Scientists hail stem cell development

Continued from page 3 growth of new muscle and blood vessels in the heart.

In addition, the researchers demonstrated that this specific subpopulation of stem cells has the capacity to develop into all types of cells, including those that make up the glands, digestive tract, hair, skin, nails, brain, nervous system and muscle.

While previous research has been conducted with stem cells derived from rat or mouse bone marrow, this is the first study to show how human bone marrow stem cells can be used in the generation of various tissue types.

Losordo and his team at Caritas St Elizabeth’s are planning to conduct further preclinical research with this subpopulation of stem cells. If the findings confirm their hypothesis, they will seek to begin Phase I clinical trials with human patients.

“In the future, we may be able to extract stem cells from a patient’s bone marrow to repair a wide variety of damaged tissue in his or her body. Furthermore, by growing tissue from a patient’s own stem cells, we could overcome issues related to cell therapy, such as tissue rejection,” said Losordo.

WA newspaper offers its expertise to guide Vatican and Pope ( PHONE POLL

Continued from page 1 anywhere in the universe. It represents 0.08 per cent of the paper’s circulation and a massive 0.0087 per cent of the State’s population.

West Australian sources and Vatican observers are equally impressed. Sources and observers are everywhere.

The Record was unable to ascertain from Mr Headlong whether he would communicate the results to the Vatican, or what means he might use to do so. Sources believe his options are to use the Australian Ambassador to the Vatican, the Vatican Ambassador to Australia, or do the job himself.

Whether he would do it from work or his parents’ home or a backyard cubby was unclear.

Influential Church observers (journalists who describe other journalists that way) point to clear evidence from other people they know that the Pope is now being secretly controlled by lay nuns. Different sources

quoted other sources as saying that some sources indicated that other sources on the outer rim of Vatican circles fear that because of this the Pope might not get to hear the results of The West’s poll.

However one key recommendation The West could give to the Vatican is the choice of the next popemobile; with Mr Headstrong driving the West it is now believed the next popemobile will be a red Monaro.

The next Pope might also find himself being whisked along freeways to the inspiring sounds not of the Sistine Chapel Choir but of sophisticated Michael Jackson music. This innovation on the part of Mr Armfrong is one that not even the most hardened observers have suspected.

Sources far removed from Mr Oblong say he believes that while in the last 25 years the Pope has played an influential role in international politics, and particularly in the liberation without bloodshed of Eastern Europe and most of South America, he has

been unable to solve world poverty because of his stubborn belief that chastity and fidelity are better ways to prevent the spread of AIDS than is widespread promiscuity.

Notforlong is believed to have told friends of friends that the Pope does not realise that if people got their own lives in order they would lose interest in the rubbish peddled by the conglomerates that run television, radio, newspapers and magazines around the world.

This would have disastrous effects on profits, share prices, jobs and the entire world economy.

It would also interfere with the determined efforts of the western world to corrupt the rest of the world.

Armed with his overwhelming support from the people of WA, Mr Armkong expects to persuade the Pope to resign immediately so that his favoured candidate can take over the job and save the world.

(on a completely different subject)

Should Paul Armstrong stand down as editor of The West Australian?

YES NO

Phone: Phone:

Your Aunty Your Uncle

Results to be published next week. This community service is provided free of charge by The Record.

With catechumens and godparents gathered about the sanctuary, Bishop Sproxton enrols them in the Book of the Elect and authorises their reception of the Sacraments at the Easter Vigil.

Photo: Jamie O'Brien fulfillment of

and

Fr Terry Raj of St Jude's Parish blesses couples during the Parish's celebration of World Marriage Day. Photo: Herman Nantil

THE WORLD

Suffering Pope still leads the way

Less is more: For many, Pope is still leading, but in a

different way

■ By John Thavis

Pope John Paul II’s 10-day hospitalisation for breathing problems has raised new questions about the ability of a Pope to govern from a sick bed.

At the same time, it has highlighted Pope John Paul’s own recent focus on the special forms of Christian witness offered by the sick and the elderly.

For the 84-year-old pontiff, who suffers from a debilitating neurological disease and arthritis, the hospital stay may have marked another stage in his passage from an activist Pope to one who leads primarily through prayer and presence.

The Pope raised the issue in an Angelus talk on February 6, which an aide had to read for him. The Pope said he was spending his time praying continually for the intentions of the Church and the world.

“In this way, even here in the hospital, among the other sick people to whom my affectionate thoughts go out, I continue to serve the Church and all of humanity,” the Pope’s text said.

Some commentators misinterpreted the remark to mean the Pope was asserting that he could still run the Church. Rather, he was suggesting that sometimes prayer, not managerial abilities, must take precedence - even in the papacy.

“The Pope doesn’t have to be like Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, and give the impression of a superman who governs the Church,” said French

Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, who retired in mid-February as Archbishop of Paris.

Cardinal Lustiger said most people see in the Pope “a weak, suffering, sick man who continues to be the sign of a compassionate Christ who carries all the suffering in the world.”

“If it were like that for 30 years, it might be a little excessive. But the Church’s government, when it shows it has a man at the head who carries his suffering like we should carry it, with courage and for the good of humanity, it is a great example,”

No discrimination for gays

The English and Welsh bishops have decreed that gays must not be denied employment in Catholic organizations simply because of their orientation.

New “Diversity and Equality Guidelines” state that “subject to limited and narrow exceptions, Catholic organizations must ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of race, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age.”

“People of all sexual orientations have a right to take a full and active part in the life of the Catholic community,” the bishops said.

The guidelines recognize the distinction between sexual orientation and sexual activity, and they ask that members of Catholic organizations “respect” church teaching on chastity and fidelity.

The guidelines were published by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales in early February to bring working practices in the church’s educational, social work and charitable institutions into line with the demands of

English, Welsh bishops say gays must not be denied employment

recent European and British legislation on discrimination in the workplace.

Publication was paid for partly by the British government’s Department for Trade and Industry.

The document acknowledges the reality of a society “in which relationships are increasingly fractured and complicated.”

It says that it is “only to be expected that this may at times be reflected in the lifestyles of those who serve the church,” and it encourages leaders of Catholic organizations to seek advice from the church if tension arises between “discrimination law and the right of a Catholic institution to safeguard its ethos.”

It said such instances could include those in which Catholic schoolchildren may be scandalized or led away from their faith by a teacher’s behaviour, but the guidelines warn school officials to be “extremely careful not

Cardinal Lustiger said. To some, all this sounds like excessive adulation and a failure of the Church to confront hard facts.

“Most ends of pontificates have been marked by a type of idolatry .. and with John Paul II the limit has been reached,” the French newspaper Le Monde said in a commentary.

Even inside the Vatican, some have questioned how long the Pope will be able to keep up his teaching role - through documents, speeches and weekly spiritual talks. That doesn’t bother Jean Vanier, founder of

to make hasty judgments about conduct which is seemingly at odds with church teaching.”

Richard Zipfel, policy adviser to Archbishop Peter Smith of Cardiff, Wales, chairman of the English and Welsh bishops’ Department for Christian Responsibility and Citizenship, said the guidelines were “above all a positive statement of the church’s belief in the fundamental dignity and equality of all human beings.”

“The bishops have spelled out, in some detail, the extent to which they see the principles of Catholic teaching and the secular tradition of equality and human rights as congruent,” he said in a statement to Catholic News Service on February 8.

“They foresee that there are a few areas where there may be tension between the two, and the bishops are clear that our first obligation is to the values of the Gospel and the teachings of the church,” he said.

the L’Arche communities for the disabled, who spoke to Vatican Radio.

“Today the Pope, more than any encyclical or other document, is by his very presence a sign of holiness,” Vanier said.

“The Pope is a man who suffers. He suffers physically, but I think he also suffers terribly in his heart. And yet there is something in him extraordinarily luminous and clear,” he said.

For Vanier, the Pope’s suffering has become an inspirational sign for Christians living in a world of poverty and injustice. In this sense, he said, the Pope exemplifies St Paul’s statement, “Strength is made perfect in weakness.” That all this is on the Pope’s mind is clear from the content of his teachings in recent months and years.

The pontiff returned from the hospital just in time for the World Day of the Sick on February 11. In his message for the event, the Pope said that precisely in times of sickness, people ask hard questions about ultimate realities, including the meaning of pain, suffering and death.

For the Christian, he said, it is a time to understand that “health” goes beyond physical well-being and includes “total harmony with God, with self and with humanity.” That understanding is reached through the mystery of Christ’s own passion, death and resurrection, he said.

The Pope’s Lenten message this year also explored a theme with personal overtones. The Pope wrote about times when illness, age and physical weakness reduce the person’s ability to be self-reliant. But far from being a wasted time of life, growing old, if accepted in the light of faith, can be an opportunity to understand the “mystery of the cross,” he said. -CNS

Anti-logging nun murdered

An American nun who spent decades fighting efforts by loggers and large landowners to expropriate lands and clear large areas of the Amazon rainforest was shot to death on Saturday in northern Brazil.

Sr Dorothy Stang, 74, was shot in the face three times near the town of Anapu, about 1800 km north of Sao Paulo in the Amazon region, federal police officer Fernando Raiol said. The early morning attack came less than a week after Stang met Human Rights Secretary Nilmario Miranda to report that four local farmers had received death threats from loggers and landowners.

Last year, loggers accused Sr Stang of inciting violence in the region and supplying weapons and ammunition to local people, a claim her family denies.

“This is extremely serious,” Miranda told reporters. “We cannot allow this murder to go unpunished.” The Brazilian government compared the murder with the 1988 killing of Chico Mendes, the renowned rubber tapper who drew international attention to Amazon rainforest destruction.

“It’s the type of crime that shows a profound disrespect for a democratic society, like the crime against Chico Mendes,” Justice Minister Marcio Thomaz Bastos said. The Church’s Land Pastoral in Brazil, an organisa-

tion that helps landless farmers, condemned the incident as an “assassination.”

Stang, a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame of Namur, is native of Dayton, Ohio. She had lived in Brazil since the early 1960s and worked in the region for more than 20 years. She was headed to a meeting with local peasants when her group was attacked, police said. No one else was hurt.

Two suspects have been taken into custody, police said. Stang’s niece Angela Mason, who lives in Dayton said her aunt had told her family there was a price on her head.

“She was basically protected by her status as being an old lady and being a nun. She also recently became a Brazilian citizen, and she thought that would help but it obviously didn’t,” Mason said. -Zenit

Pope John Pope John Paul II arrives at the Vatican after leaving Gemelli hospital in Rome on February 10. - Photo: CNS

Sister Dorothy Stang

Patience needed for lasting peace

Church leaders urge Israelis, Palestinians to be patient after summit

Church leaders in the Holy Land urged Israelis and Palestinians to be patient and called a cease-fire from a summit in Egypt a step in the right direction.

“The Israelis must be patient, even if there are still some episodes of violence.” Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem told Vatican Radio on February 8. “The Palestinians must have even more patience, because it will be necessary to continue for some time to live how they have been living, a life of oppression.”

The patriarch said neither the violence nor the oppression “can be eliminated in one day.” He urged leaders of both sides to “act as quickly as possible to not allow more time to pass and reawaken new violence, new incidents.”

Patriarch Sabbah said there was a “new openness on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides, as well as on the part of the international community and the United States.”

“We hope that something positive and definitive comes out of

this meeting. We still are dealing with half-measures, and this is a problem, a danger,” he added. He said Jews, Christians and Muslims are “living in a time of hope” but still have “many doubts” given past experiences. The hope, he said, comes for a new Palestinian openness that “does not leave room for excuses

not to make peace” “This is a very new element on the Palestinian side. There is a clarity about the situation, a strong determination to move forward,” he said. At the summit at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik on February 8, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

vowed to put an end to violence in the area; they were photographed shaking hands and smiling. The summit was hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and supported by Jordanian King Abdullah II with, for the first time, no visible American or other third-party presence.

The papal representative to Israel and the Palestinian territories, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, called the summit a “good step in the right direction.”

“To abandon violence and to believe in dialogue as the correct means to reach peace - of course it is a beginning of a long and difficult road before arriving to the substantial problems to be solved,” said Archbishop Sambi. “But you always start with one step, and this step was in the right direction.” Israeli and Palestinian leaders will need the support and help of the international community to continue along this path, he noted.

“(It) is not easy for any of them,” said Archbishop Sambi, but, he added, “If each side will be faithful to the decisions taken, it will be possible to reach (a discussion) about the substantial problems.” -CNS

Catholic camp helping heal wounds of all

More than 1,000 tsunami refugees remain camped at a Catholic-run school in Port Blair, and although the majority are not Catholic, they said they are being treated like family.

“These fathers and sisters are looking after us like their children. They are really helping us to forget our sorrows,” said Saira Banu, a Muslim tsunami victim who lost her three children and 10 other family members.

Banu was among hundreds of tsunami victims airlifted by the Indian air force from the devastated Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the relief camp at the Catholic Nirmala Senior Secondary School in Port Blair, administrative capital of the archipelago of 550 islands.

During her more than fourweek stay at the Catholic camp,

around the world

Claims are false

Tsunami refugees at Catholic-run camp say they’re treated like family

Banu said the “love and care” shown by church workers has helped her overcome the shock of losing not only her three children but her mother, brother, sister and others.

“We came here without anything, but we don’t lack anything here. More than that, whenever they find any one of us in tears, they comfort us,” said Banu.

At any given time, dozens of church volunteers are working with camp inmates in jobs such as providing medical attention to managing the community kitchen that cooks three meals a day. “This is not a Catholic camp. They

A Slovak archbishop said accusations that he once had ties to the communist secret police force were part of an effort to discredit the Church in his country. In a statement, Archbishop Jan Sokol of Bratislava-Trnava, Slovakia, called the claims a “media campaign” that caused “serious moral damage” to him and the Church.

An official from the Slovakian government’s Institute of the National Memory said that in the spring of 1989 Archbishop Sokol, then an auxiliary bishop, was registered as an agent by Czechoslovakia’s secret service. Prior to that, the official said, the secret

are attending to us like members of a family,” said Moses Ruben, a Protestant from Perka village on Car Nicobar island, which suffered the worst casualties in the December 26 tsunami.

Nearly half of the inmates at the Nirmala school camp belong to the Protestant Church of North India. The camp also has hundreds of Hindus and Muslims along with Catholic evacuees, some of whom have been airlifted from submerged islands in the far south of the archipelago.

“This (camp) is like a family for us now. We know each of them,” said Sister Francisca, a member of

security forces had listed Bishop Sokol as a “candidate for cooperation,” according to media reports.

In his written response to the allegations, Archbishop Sokol said the claims were “an attempt to damage the trust in the Church, which during the years of communist totalitarianism was able to stand on the side of truth despite great sacrifices.” The archbishop’s secretary, Tibor Hajdu, told Catholic News Service that no one has seen the file allegedly showing the archbishop on the secret service’s list.

Thousands unidentified

Thousands of unidentified tsunami victims and missing persons in Thailand are undocumented workers from Myanmar, a Thai cardinal said. Cardinal Michael Michai

the Sisters of Charity of St Anne, who has been providing medical attention to the tsunami victims at the camp since December 28, when the first batch of evacuees arrived.

“Most of them came with cuts and bruises all over them requiring daily dressing. Worse still, they were in tears most of the time,” Sister Francisca said while treating a young girl suffering from nausea. The nun pointed out that as their physical wounds healed, camp residents were “also getting emotionally stronger.”

“I am really struck by the way these people have adjusted to this life (in the camp),” said Father Jesuino Almeida, Port Blair Diocese’s vicar general, who spends every evening at the camp.

Kitbunchu of Bangkok said sources in southern Thailand told him that many of the unidentified were from Myanmar, formerly Burma.

He also said that there were likely many undocumented missing Burmese not recorded in official totals. Between 800,000 and 1 million Burmese live in Thailand; most of them are undocumented, the cardinal said. He said the exact number of Burmese killed in the December 26 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis will never be known, but added he guaranteed “that the number will be in the thousands.”

Cardinal Kitbunchu said on February 8 that the Church has reached out to Burmese in the six southern Thai provinces affected by the tsunamis. He said the Church has paid about $25 to Burmese they’ve identified who either have lost a family member

Indian Church elevated

Pope elevates India’s Syro-Malankara church to major archbishopric

■ By

Cindy Wooden

Pope John Paul II has elevated India’s Syro-Malankara Catholic Church to a major archbishopric, a move that gives the 450,000member Church greater status and autonomy.

Raising the Eastern-rite Church’s status, the Pope also promoted Archbishop Cyril Malancharuvil of Trivandrum to the rank of major archbishop.

The Pope’s move, announced on February 10 at the Vatican, makes the Syro-Malankara Church the third major archbishopric in the Catholic Church.

The Ukrainian Catholic Church gained the status in 1963, and India’s Syro-Malabar Church was granted the status in 1992.

A major archbishop has authority similar to that of the Eastern Catholic patriarchs and the key decisions of their churches, including the election of bishops in their home territories, is made by their synods of bishops.

The main difference between an Eastern-rite Church led by a patriarch and one led by a major archbishop is that the election of a new major archbishop must be confirmed by the Pope.

When a new patriarch is elected, he requests communion with the Pope.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church has five dioceses, all of which are in India, although there is an apostolic visitor and at least 15 missions in North America.

According to Vatican statistics, the Church’s 450,000 members are served by 632 priests.

The Church’s five seminaries have a combined enrolment of 643 men. In addition, there are 17 orders of religious women with a total of 2,030 members. -CNS

or job because of the tsunami. “The church will try to do its best to support and assist them,” he said of the Burmese.

He said that the Church also has lobbied the Thai government to ensure that the Burmese are treated humanely and that their rights will be protected.

The cardinal said church workers circulated fliers in southern Thailand informing Burmese workers that the Church would assist them in their recovery from the tsunami disaster.

He said most undocumented workers will not seek help out of fear of being deported or arrested.

“These are not the type of people who will live in the camps. It is our duty to find them and help them. At the moment we are helping them,” he said.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon shake hands during their meeting in Sharm el-Sheik. Photo: CNS

Jumping in at the deepend

Eleven

students

learnt how to take off their western shoes and walk with the people of East Timor

■ By Jamie O’Brien

Eleven West Australians have recently returned from a fourweek journey to East Timor where they spent time teaching English in rural villages and volunteering at the Bakhita Medical Centre.

Course co-ordinator Damien Norris said the Edmund Rice Centre immersion program is a model of active citizenship that allows participants to learn through experience what it means to be part of a global community.

“It is a unique way of discovering people and cultures that focuses on the justice issues of our world while managing the cultural impact of foreigners,” Mr Norris said.

Participants in the program were located in the Ermera region; two hours drive south of the capital Dili.

Rachel Teasedale and Felicity Heath, both 19, and Chris Heyes and Robyn Pickrel were part of a team of four nursing students who assisted at a medical centre while Annabel Ley, 20, Belinda McPhee, 19, Sophie Crolla, 21, Tom French, 23 Joe Carmen 20, Alison Whitelaw 23 and Paddy Fagan 21, were involved in teaching.

The immersion program formed part of a social justice study unit co-ordinated through the Edmund Rice Centre.

The program focuses on the his-

tory of East Timor, education and community development, particularly in the area of youth.

Edmund Rice Centres are under the direction of the Christian Brothers and see the immersion programs as an important part of life formation by walking with the marginalized, the oppressed and the poor and experiencing East Timorese life directly.

While in East Timor, the participants of the program spent time at the Bakhita Youth Centre, a nongovernment organisation that is responsible for developing projects for the people of East Timor in the way of clean water, sanitation, education, and health promotions.

Upon leaving East Timor, Joe Carman felt there was, (and still is) so much more he could have done. The Law and Arts student, believes the East Timorese are a people that have little but will try to offer everything.

Mr Carman says he has been interested and appalled by the fact that the western world is 20% of the world’s population that controls 80% of the worlds resources; a reality he witnessed while in East Timor.

“To go to East Timor was an opportunity to see that 80% of the world’s population live with only 20% of the world’s resources,” Mr Carman said.

Mr Carman said the experience has caused him to scrutinize and

question Australia’s role in international relations and would like to make more people aware of the East Timorese situation.

“It has forced me not to worry about the insignificant things of life and focus more on what it takes to interact on a humanistic level.”

”The only real frustration was the fact that the experience was so short,” Mr Carman said.

One of the common problems the students faced was the lack of teachers, large number of students and lack of resources.

With a 60 – 70% unemployment rate in East Timor, many of the students are in their early twen-

country. The Law student had a similar experience to this in 2001, when he spent three months in Costa Rica where he was involved in community based work.

Mr French says the philosophy of two priests from the Ermera region that suggested the participants “take off your western shoes and walk with the people” helped him to have a deeper experience of what it is like to live like the people of East Timor.

Much was expected of Robyn Pickrel, Rachael Teasedale and Felicity Heath.

In the first two days of their experience, the girls were sending

"They are each re-discovering their own capacity to contribute to a better society,"

- Co-ordinator Damien Norris

ties and still completing secondary school because they have not been able to finish at a younger age.

Much of this is because of the East Timorese people’s 25-year resistance to Indonesian occupation which ended in 2000.

The immersion program was also a first for Law and commerce student Belinda McPhee.

Nursing student Annabel Ley, said she is looking to organize a benefit concert to raise funds for the Bakhita centre where she intends to return later this year, when she is qualified as a registered nurse.

“It drilled in more what I really want to do – to work in a third world country.”

The only teaching student of the group, Sophie Crolla, said the experience was completely different to anything she has experienced in Perth.

Having previously taken on studies in social justice, Miss Crolla said she wanted to use the immersion experience unit to put what she had learnt so far into practice.

“It has given me a greater insight into what resources they have over there and compare them to what we have over here,” she said.

Prior to going to East Timor, Tom French knew very little about the

sick people to the local hospital, where they were diagnosed with malaria.

“Most of the locals were expecting us to be prescribing and diagnosing but we concentrated on checkups, first aid and giving basic health education,” Miss Teasedale said.

The immersion program which led Miss Teasdale to East Timor was not part of her tertiary study.

“Working in a developing country is something that has interested me.”

With little road access and very basic equipment, the health promotions group would go out to remote villages.

Miss Heath said one of the common medical problems they faced was malnutrition.

“We were teaching the people about the different food groups and the importance of eating fruit and vegetables,” Miss Heath said.”

She said the volunteers at the clinics were very receptive to the information.

The students were also accompanied by a registered nurse, Robyn Pickrell who became involved in the East Timor immersion program after having previously traveled to India on a similar experience.

Mr Norris said upon their return,

the participants have been reflecting on the contrast between life in the ‘west’ and East Timor.

“Each student has discussed how low levels of material wealth in East Timor are accompanied by a strong sense of community and love of life that is absent in the hyper-consumerism here in Australia.”

Mr Norris added that the participants were able to see the injustice of the East Timorese situation and seem prepared to do something about it.

“They are each rediscovering their own capacity to contribute to a better society.”

Mr Norris originally attended the course in 2000 while studying a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy.

After having traveled extensively, Damien met a couple who had returned from the first trip to East Timor in 2000 and decided this would be a chance to gain a different outlook.

“I discovered a lot about myself and returned home knowing that I had to reassess my life direction,” he said.

While Mr Norris didn’t go to East Timor on this occasion, his role with the immersion program includes in-country support, facilitating the preparation course and post immersion debriefs and overseeing development programs in the East Timor region.

All components of the ERC Immersion Program, from preparation to debrief, are crucial aspects of any immersion experience he said.

“It wouldn’t be doing justice to the participants’ experience otherwise,” he said.

Applications are now open to general citizens, students and professionals for the next trip to East Timor scheduled for June/July 2005.

The Edmund Rice Centre is also accepting applications for an India immersion scheduled for November 2005.

Applications close March 1.

For more information contact Damien Norris on 9335 7520.

Nursing student Annabel Ley, 20 with two children in the Ermera region of East Timor during a recent Edmund Rice Centre Immersion program. She was interested by the fact that 80% of the world population live with only 20% of the world's resources.

Eight of the participants from the Edmund Rice Centre East Timor Immersion program with course co-ordinator Damien Norris, left.

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■ RETAILER OF CATHOLIC PRODUCTS

Specialising in gifts, cards and apparel for baptism, communion and confirmation. Ph: 9456 1777. Shop 12A, 64-66 Bannister Road, Canning Vale. Open Mon-Sat

DEATH NOTICE

■ HERBOHN (NEE BUTLER) JEAN

TERESA

Died peacefully in Cairns on 1st February 2005. Dearly loved wife of Henry, Loving mother of John and Cathy, Catherine and Steven. Loved eldest daughter of Joseph and Johanna Butler (both dec’d), dear sister of Rolfe Ron (dec’d) Mary, Jim, Frank, Neil, Anne, Helen and Margaret and extended families. So dearly loved and sadly missed, may perpetual light shine upon her. Her funeral took place in Cairns on 5th Feb 2005 at Our Lady of Good Counsel parish Cairns Q’ld.

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Beach 250m, 3bdrm cottage, sleeps 7, very reasonable. Ph - Sheila: 0408 866 593

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RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

■ RICH HARVEST BIBLES, Books, CD’s, Cards, gifts, Statues, Baptism & Communion Apparel, Albs, Vestments and much more. RICH HARVEST, 39 Hulme Court, Myaree, 9329 9889 after 10.30am.

Classifieds Ph: Kylie - 9227 7080 or A/h: 9227 7778

OFFICIAL DIARY

FEBRUARY

18 Presentation of Yr 12s Youth Book at Servite College - Archbishop Hickey

Family Mass for Mercedes College, St Mary’s Cathedral - Archbishop Hickey

Presentation of Yr 12s Youth Book at La Salle College - Bishop Sproxton

19 Cocktail Ceremony for Enasco Australia Inc - Archbishop Hickey

20 Opening Mass for School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia - Archbishop Hickey

Chinese New Year Mass, Como - Archbishop Hickey

23 Opening Mass and Presentation of Yr 12s Youth Books for Ursula Frayne College - Bishop Sproxton

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

■ APARACIDA'S CAFE EMPORIUM

Delicious meals, unique giftware for all occasions. Regular workshops and seminars, catering for office and other groups, giftware for schools, parishes, individuals. Ph: 9470 1423, 0414 624 580, email: aparacidas@myaccess. com.au. See ad page 3

KIDS JOKES

What is a ghosts favourite ride?

A rollerghoster.

How do you put Pikachu into a Bus ?

Pokemon.

What is black and white and red all over?

A newspaper.

What did one traffic light say to the other?

Don’t look I’m changing.

Why didn’t the skeleton cross the road?

Because he had no guts.

25 Dinner for 12th Circle (Joondalup) of Catenian Assn - Mgr Tim Corcoran

26 Memorial Mass for Fr James Dowling, Palmyra - Archbishop Hickey

27 Blessing and opening of St Brigid’s Chapel, Mercy College, Koondoola - Bishop Sproxton

MARCH

1 Mass and Presentation of Yr 12s Youth Book at CBC Fremantle - Archbishop Hickey Reception in the presence of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales - Archbishop Hickey

3 Mass and Presentation of Yr 12s Youth Book at Mazenod College - Archbishop Hickey Mass for St Joseph’s School (Boulder) School Camp at Munster - Archbishop Hickey

Saturday February 19

SCHOENSTATT PILGRIMAGE NOVENA

Every third Saturday 2.55 - 5pm at the Schoenstatt Shrine. February till October Divine Mercy prayer and adoration followed by talk and discussion on the spirituality of St Therese as seen in Schoenstatt’s way of life.

Sunday February 20

CHINESE NEW YEAR MASS

The Perth Chinese Catholic Community invite you to join in the Lunar New Year Mass. Main celebrant Archbishop Hickey. The Holy Family Church, cnr Thelma St & Canning Highway Como at 4pm. Enq: Mrs Tsang 9383 7442 or Augustine 9310 4532.

Sunday February 20

ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK

1 - 2 pm on Access 31: Five non-negotiable issues in an election. US Presidential Election 2004 with Fr Benedict Groeschel [Sunday Night Live Series]. Please send donations to keep the program on air, comments and requests for video tapes, to The Rosary Christian Tutorial Association, PO Box 1270, Booragoon 6954. Enq: 9330 1170. Web site: http://www.cathworld.org/worlds/org/media/

Sunday February 20

40TH ANNIVERSARY

Holy Spirit school will celebrate with Mass at 9.30am in the Holy Spirit Church. Mass will be followed with a BYO picnic on the school oval. All past students; families are encouraged to attend. Organisers wish to build a register of past students during the course of the year and are keen to hear from any of the 33 inaugural students or families. Email admin@holyspirit.wa.edu.au or register at www.schoolfriends.com.au

Sunday February 20

TAIZE MEDITATIVE PRAYER

Third Sunday of the month 7-8pm. Sisters of St Joseph Chapel 16 York St, South Perth. Enq: Sister Maree 9334 0933.

Monday February 21

LEEDERVILLE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

GROUP

All welcome who are interested in supporting and having a coffee or drink with people who’ve

suffered depression or mental illness. We meet every 2nd Monday at Parish Centre, 40 Franklin St Leederville, from 10am -12 noon. Enq: 9444 4626

Monday February 21

COUNTRY DAY OF REFLECTION

St Patrick’s Church, York commencing 10am. Rosary cenacle, Holy Mass and talks, concluding 2pm. Speaker: Fr Michael Gaughran SSC. BYOL Tea/coffee supplied. Lunch supplied for Priests. Enq: 9641 2012.

Monday February 21 - 25

ST MARY’S CHURCH & HALL BUNBURY

A focus on prayer/meditation and its part in building faith and community. The Mission and Retreat Director will be Fr Justin Belitz OFM. Daily at 9.45am and 7pm, duration1 hour: Contact: Dick 9721 4651.

Tuesday February 22

SPIRITUALITY IN THE PUB

7.30pm at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow Pub, Lake St Northbridge. The theme for 2005 is: Relationships in the Contemporary World. Our speakers are Caritas workers John Ashworth and Janeen Murphy. Join us for dinner from 6.30pm. Enq: Deborah 041 993 9864.

Wednesday February 23

THE EUCHARIST

Fr Vincent Glynn will be visiting St Jude’s Parish, 20 Prendiville Way, Langford to speak on The Year of The Eucharist. 7.30 – 9pm all welcome. Enq: 9458 1946

Wednesday February 23

INNER PEACE

Spirituality Talk 1 Presenter: Murray Graham (Inigo Centre Director) 7.30-9-30pm (Donation for Inigo Centre) Multi-Purpose Room. John XXIII College.

Thursday February 24

BEGINNING THEOLOGY

An introductory session outlining this Open Learning Course. 1.30pm-2.30pm at Catholic Education Centre. Phone 9212 9220 email: maranatha@ceo. wa.edu.au

Friday February 25

ANNUAL BOOK SALE

Catherine McAuley Family Centre 18 Barrett St, Wembley Friday February 25: 5- 9pm, Saturday February 26: 9am -5pm. Sunday February 27: 9am - 5pm. Thousands of books at bargain prices. Sausage sizzle Friday evening.

Friday February 25

BUSINESS PERSONS MASS

Will be celebrated at All Saints Chapel, Allendale Square Perth at 7am followed by a Breakfast Meeting at the WA Club, 101 St Georges Tce, Perth. The Guest speaker will be Dr Gabriel Moen from Notre Dame University. Enq: 9384 0809.

Saturday February 26

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF VAILANKANNI

Holy Trinity Church, Embleton, 5pm followed by Vigil Mass at 6pm. Last Saturday of every month. Enq: George 9272 1379, Santina 9272 4180.

Saturday February 26

CHARISMATIC RENEWAL

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal invites all to our next Renewal Day, at the Como Parish Centre cnr

Thelma St/Canning Hwy, Como. Guest speakers are Bishop Don Sproxton and Fr Russell Hardiman. Tea & coffee will be served from 9:40am, and the day concludes after the last session at 4pm. Please bring a plate for a shared lunch. Enq: Pam 9381 2516, or Dan 9360 7400.

Sunday February 27

AGM – PAULIAN ASSOCIATION.

People divorced, widowed or separated please come to the Paulian Assoc at 4pm in the Gold Room at the North Perth Monastery for Holy Mass, then A.G. M. then onto Hyde Park Hotel for a meal. Enq: 9444 7383.

Sunday February 27

BULLSBROOK SHRINE PILGRIMAGE

The next monthly pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin of the Revelation, will be held at the Shrine of Virgin of the Revelation, 36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook on the last Sunday of the month at 2pm. The pilgrimage includes the Rosary, Mass at 2.30pm, procession to the Shrine, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and the blessing of the

sick. Reconciliation is from 1.30pm prior to the Pilgrimage Mass celebrated at the Shrine every Sunday. Bus transport for the Pilgrimage departs Barrack St at 12.30 for Bullsbrook via Highgate, Guildford and Midland. Bookings: Mrs Haddon 9277 5378. Enq: SACRI 9447 3292.

Friday March 4

PRO – LIFE PROCESSION

The First Friday Mass, procession and Rosary vigil will commence 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. Enq: Helen 9402 0349.

Friday March 4 ANNUAL STREET APPEAL

Cross Roads Community will be having its annual Street Appeal. If interested in shaking a tin on this day, please contact us on 9319 8344.

Saturday March 5

DAY WITH MARY

Our Lady Mercy Church, cnr Girrawheen Ave & Patrick Court, 9am – 5pm. A video on Fatima will be shown at 9am. Includes Sacrament of Penance, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons, Rosaries, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross. BYO. Enq: Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate 9384 3311.

Saturday March 5

WITNESS FOR LIFE PROCESSION

The next First Saturday Mass, procession and Rosary vigil will commence with Mass at 8.30am at St Anne’s Church, Hehir St Belmont. We proceed prayerfully to the Rivervale Abortion Centre and conclude with Rosary led by Fr Paul Carey SSC. Please join us to pray peacefully for the conversion of hearts. Enq: Helen 9402 0349.

March 6-10

INFANT JESUS PARISH MORLEY

Will be hosting a Meditation Retreat. Father Justin Belitz OFM will be speaking at all Masses weekend 5-6 March and will be conducting Teaching and Meditation Sessions at 9.30am and 7.30pm 7-10 March. Phone 9276 8500 to register.

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reading for your SOUL available from The Record

Daily Lenten Meditations

Prayerful reflections from John Paul II

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The present volume is a small respresentation of John Paul II’s teaching presented as a help to those who wish to live the Christian Church’s season of Lent more meaningfully. It can also meet the interest of inquirers who wish to know something of the Pope’s message to Christians and of his hopes for a world in which the respect for truth and the knowledge of God’s love bring joy and peace to the hearts of many.

Open Embrace

A Protestant couple re-thinks contraception.

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Available from The Record $20 inc postage

Great reading about the BIG subject so many Catholics and nonCatholics assume – without thinking too much – the Catholic Church is wrong about. In this beautiful and sensitively-written book a young Protestant couple find that it’s really everyone else that needs to reassess their assumptions – not the Church. Excellent gift for young couples preparing for marriage.