The Record Newspaper 17 August 2011

At a packed ceremony, archbishop urges ordinands to adapt to changing society

Priests face new realities

By RoBeR t Hiini

Priests need to reach out to young people growing up in dysfunction and at risk of violence, Archbishop Barry Hickey told Perth’s three newest priests at their ordination on 12 August.

the world had changed dramatically since he was ordained 52 years ago and priests needed to adapt their age-old mission of being Christ in the world to new realities, he said.

it seems to me [times then] were simpler, i don’t know, but the world of today is so full of suffering: dysfunctional families; children growing up not knowing if they are loved of not,” he said.

“Children are being shaken free when they should be given love and find that they get caught up in fights, in violence; in the sins of other people.

“so have a care for the young people as they are growing up and be attentive to their sufferings.”

st Mary’s Cathedral was near full as the family and friends of Mark Payton, Chris Webb and thomas Zureich, as well as many priests and well-wishers, witnessed their ordination.

the rector of st Charles seminary, Monsignor Kevin Long vouched for their worthiness before the three pledged to preach the Gospel, to minister the sacraments, and to be obedient. they lay prostrate as the congregation invoked the prayers of the angels and the saints.

As the candidates knelt before him, the archbishop extended his arms, laying hands on their heads in conferral of the sacrament of Holy Orders. Clergy prayed over them before they were vested with stole and chasuble by their families. the archbishop anointed each man’s palms with the Oil of Chrism, the same oil used at Baptism and Confirmation.

the archbishop knelt at the conclusion of mass, to receive a blessing from each newly ordained priest.

the dean of st Mary’s Cathedral, Mgr Michael Keating, said it was great that about 60 priests had turned out to welcome the three men into the fold: “it was marvellous. i think they’re coming to a very good diocese. We wish them well and we wish God’s blessing on them.”

Journey to Madrid runs through the Sacred Heart

By BR idget SpinkS

Michael Burke of the parish of rockingham, rebecca thomas of Glendalough and robin rosario of Mirrabooka were among a group of 30 Australians to visit Paray-leMonial, in France, as part of their pre-World Youth Day pilgrimage.

Christ famously appeared to st Margaret Mary Alacoque in this small picturesque city more than 300 years ago, revealing to her his sacred Heart: a “heart full of love for all mankind”. Devotion to the sacred Heart has become one of the most well-known and popular of all Catholic pious practices.

the Paray-le-Monial gathering, from 12-15 August, was organised by one of the newest movements in the Catholic Church, the emmanuel Community.

the chaplain for the emmanuel Community’s Australian contingent, Fr Peter-Damien McKinley, celebrated private masses for the pilgrims on 9 and 10 August – the feast days of the martyrs st edith stein and st Lawrence respectively. He encouraged them to be attentive to God’s call in their lives.

A mini-pilgrimage was made to to the Paray-le-Monial cemetery where Pierre Goursat, who founded the emmanuel Community in 1972, was buried in 1991.

Fr Peter-Damien, who has been a member of the community since 1989, gave a personal testimony and introduction to the founder.

Goursat had a great devotion to Our Lady and to Christ through Adoration of the Blessed sacrament and to the mass, Fr Peter-Damien said, emphasising there was never a plan for him to found the community on his own strength; instead, it grew out of a Parisian charismatic prayer group.

From a small advertisement in a local newspaper, Goursat, then a film critic, met a young medical student, Martine Laffitte and began a school of prayer. their prayer group of less than 10 people became the catalyst for the emmanuel Community, quickly swelling to about 500 members. s oon offshoot prayer groups were meeting regularly in Vezelay, a site linked to the veneration of st Mary Magdalene, who washed the feet of Jesus.

Continued on Page 5

Indulgences for World Youth Day – if you pray

tO enCOur AGe prayers for a spiritually fruitful World Youth Day, Pope Benedict XVi has authorised a special indulgence for anyone who “with a contrite spirit” raises a “prayer to God, the Holy spirit, so that young people are drawn to charity and given the strength to proclaim the Gospel with their life,”. the Vatican announced that the decree included the offer of a plenary, or full, indulgence to all the young people who will gather with the pope in Madrid. World Youth Day runs from 16-21 August in the spanish capital; the pope arrives

Contrite spirit key to pilgrims evangelising with their lives, says Pope Benedict XVI.

on 18 August. An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment a person is due for sins that have been forgiven.

the conditions necessary for receiving a plenary indulgence include having recently gone to

confession, receiving the eucharist and offering prayers for the intentions of the pope.

Pope Benedict decreed that World Youth Day participants could receive a plenary indulgence if they participated with prayerful devotion in any sacred event or “pious exercise” as well as attend the closing Mass, receive the sacraments of reconciliation and the eucharist and offer prayers for the pope’s intentions.

the decree, signed by Cardinal Fortunato Baldelli, head of the Vatican office that deals with indul-

gences, said a partial indulgence was also available to all Catholics who were contrite for their sins and offered their prayers with the pope for young Catholics.

t he cardinal asked priests around the world to make themselves available to hear the confessions of those wanting indulgence and to encourage public prayers for the success of World Youth Day. in central Madrid’s Buen retiro Park, 200 portable confessionals will be set up for confessions. the pope is due to hear confessions at the park on 20 August. C n S

Archbishop Barry Hickey kneels in St Mary’s Cathedral to receive a blessing from newly ordained priest Mark Payton, one of three priests ordained for the Perth archdiocese. More photos - Pages 10-11

PH oto: P eter ro S engren

Benedict XVI greets pilgrims at Castel gandolfo, Italy. PH oto: C n S/PAul H

It’s 70 for Bob and Mary...

BoB Wright, 92, and Mary, 89, met at a dance held at the Perth Town Hall a little over 70 years ago.

It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship; the couple will celebrate their seventieth wedding anniversary on Sunday 21 August with their six children, 18 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren –not to mention extended family members and numerous friends.

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

The r ecord Contacts

Editor Peter Rosengren office@therecord.com.au

Journalists

Mark Reidy mreidy@therecord.com.au

Advertising/Production

Mat De Sousa production@therecord.com.au

Accounts

June Cowley accounts@therecord.com.au

Classifieds/Panoramas/Subscriptions

Catherine

Gallo Martinez office@therecord.com.au

Record Bookshop

Bibiana

Proofreaders

Chris

The

bookshop@therecord.com.au

Bob had been born and raised in Collie and Mary had grown up in the Perth suburbs of Bayswater and Applecross. They married in wartime on 20 August 1941 at St Columba’s Church in Bayswater in an evening ceremony.

They had a light supper, served by the women of the parish, as a reception. After the wedding Bob was to go overseas in the armed services, as part of Australia’s commitment to World War II. After the war Bob and Mary lived in

Collie and Bob worked in the mines. During this time three of their six children were born. When their eldest child, Margaret, was six the family returned to Perth and settled in the suburb of Bayswater, building the family home in Traylen Road, and their three younger children were born.

As times were hard Mary grew vegetables in the backyard to help support and feed the six children: Margaret, John, Judith, Peter, Pauline and Gerard and the many visitors to their home including all their friends at the Bayswater Swimming Club. Bob and Mary lived in Bayswater until

they shifted to Greenwood in 1972. During this time they became very involved in All Saints Church in Greenwood where Bob became and Acolyte, assisting the-then Parish Priest Fr Barry Whitely. In 2002 they moved to the Mt Laverna Retirement Village in Gwelup.

...60 for Linus and Betty

WHILe 29 April 2011 was a day the whole world watched a royal couple pledge their wedding vows, for one couple in Perth it was even more special. Linus and Betty Rego, parishioners of Mater Christi parish in Yangebup, were cel-

ebrating the 60th anniversary of their wedding which took place in Mumbai in 1951. The couple have nine children now spread across three continents. They were able to celebrate their milestone on 30 July 2011, also making it

a celebration of Linus’s 90th birthday which will take place in September. A special joy for the Regos was that their nine children and their spouses, together with 32 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild gathered for the thanksgiving eucharist celebrated by parish priest Fr Bryan Rosling. While four of the children live in Perth, the rest of the family gathered from Melbourne, Brunei, Mumbai,

Dubai, Houston, New York, Vancouver and Montreal. A further joy was the presence of Betty’s sister and brother-in-law from Canada and her sister, who entered religious life, from India. Part of the anniversary celebrations saw the combined children and grandchildren sing for the couple.

At a reception afterwards, all grandchildren welcomed the glittering diamond couple with a guard of honour.

Position Vacant

o ffice Manager

The Archbishop of Perth has established an evangelisation centre to promote the Catholic Faith to non-believers, as well as lapsed and practising Catholics. Called The Faith Centre, it is located at 450 Hay Street, Perth. An experienced full-time Office Manager is required to set up, operate and maintain an efficient office for The Faith Centre, working collaboratively with, and accountable to the Director.

Essential requirements:

A strong personal commitment to the teachings and practice of the Catholic Faith

Confident and friendly

Team worker

Proficiency in use of the Internet and all components of the Microsoft Office Suite

Experience in the coordination and supervision of volunteers

Duties will include:

Print media creation and distribution

Management of resource materials, office equipment and supplies

Management of petty cash and accounts

Coordination of building & electrical maintenance

Volunteer rostering

Ad hoc tasks

Salary will reflect working hours and experience.

Application, including a curriculum vitae to: the Archbishop’s Executive Assistant

The r ecord Contacts

fr Robert Cross

Po Box Y3311

Perth Adelaide terrace wA 6832

Email: robert.cross@perthcatholic.org.au

Closing date: 26 August 2011

Now and then: Mary and Bob Wright, celebrating 70 years of marriage and when they married in 1941.

Linus and Betty Rego celebrated their 60th anniversary in April.

House of Hope seeks Winter support

LInDA’S House of Hope, a not for profit organisation helping women and families escaping prostitution is once again struggling to keep doors open. House founder Linda Watson said support has dropped off as people

experience budgetary pressure. “We get no government funding, only the generosity of those that care. Winter time is our busy time when we have a high volume of people that need support, warm clothes, a home cooked meal

and accommodation,” she said. Donations over $2.00 can be forwarded to:

Linda’s House of Hope, PO Box Z5640, St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6831. Linda can be contacted on (08) 9358 2544

Parish gets MacKillop statue gift

By RoBeR t Hiini

In a church that was built in 1971 for a largely Irish congregation, a new statue of a “saint for everyone” stands in its special alcove, ready to greet all Cloverdale Mass-goers.

Parish priest Fr nelson Po says the number of migrants at notre Dame Parish is gradually increasing and that a new statue of Australia’s first saint, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, will aid the faith of everyone.

“It will be very helpful for the entire parish to venerate and see St Mary MacKillop as a saint for our Church and will help us to be more attuned to the life, faith and teaching of Mary MacKillop,” Fr Po said. Fr nelson Po hails originally from the Philippines. He was ordained in Kalgoorlie in 2005 before stints at St Mary’s Church, Kalgoorlie, and at Royal Perth Hospital as a chaplain.

The Cloverdale parish is made up largely of Anglo-Celtic

Australians but also migrants from South Africa, India, Kenya, Italy and Singapore, among other places.

Measuring around 80cm high, the Sydney-made statue of Mary MacKillop was an unsolicited gift from a family in the parish.

In gifting the statue, the family wanted to remain anonymous; a request Fr Po has respected. They did, however, attend the unveiling and blessing of the fibreglass statue at the 10am Sunday Mass on 7 August, the day before Mary MacKillop’s first feast as an official saint in Australia.

Children from the parish’s children’s liturgy group participated in the celebration, holding up picture cards in honour of the saint.

Three religious sisters from the order Mary MacKillop founded –the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, or the Josephites – were in attendance: Srs Dora Maguire, Maureen Willans and Eileen Johnson RSJ.

Migration experience illustrates we’re all family

Comment

By RoBeR t Hiini

I REMEMbER thinking my parents the most self-centred people in the world when they told my two sisters and me we were moving to Australia. I was 15 when we left Auckland to live in the Wait-AWhile state, as we would affectionately come to know it.

And wait we did. My father had gone to Perth ahead of us on hearing that a state utility was looking for skilled workers. It was two months after we arrived before he was “given a start”; two months after he was told he had a job. I can

only imagine the crushing humiliation my parents felt, towards the end of those months, as they sold item after item at Cash Converters in desperation at that oft-delayed start; their slim savings having ebbed away to nothing.

Like so many emigrating new Zealanders, they were on the losing end of escalating house prices and a declining labour market back home. The best kind of life for their three kids, they thought, was somewhere else and a welcoming Australia provided the brightest prospects.

Much later, they learnt about government assistance they could have received to get them through those tough months. Such an idea

Missal guidance system

AS time rapidly approaches for the implementation of the new English translation of the Roman Missals, parishes around Western Australia are in the process of preparing their congregations for the changes.

The current Missal, published in 1973, has undergone a number of alterations to both the prayers said by the priest and the responses of the congregation.

A general timetable for the introduction of these changes throughout the country were determined by the Australian Catholic bishops Conference, but each diocese has been allowed

to determine the specific dates to allow the transition to be as smooth as possible.

Implementation in the Perth archdiocese is being overseen by Auxillary b ishop Donald Sproxton.

All changes will be in use by the first Sunday of Advent, on november 26-27.

The Record would like to know how your parish has been preparing for the forthcoming changes. Send your contributionds in 250 words or less so that we can share these ideas with others.

Send your information to parishes@therecord.com.au

would have been anathema to them, even if they had known about it.

Since 2001, new Zealanders have been ineligible for government benefits and fee-supported university places, and are only able to apply for citizenship after 10 years residence under their special category visa.

After decades of Kiwi “b ondi bludgers” such a change was understandable in weeding out non-contributers, even if the 10-year timeframe was and is a little harsh.

Queensland’s Courier Mail newspaper recently noted the increased incidence of new Zealanders seeking emergency financial assistance as well as the high number of new arrivals from earthquake-devastated Christchurch. Like so many

migrants, I am grateful to Australia and Australians for all the opportunities we have been afforded in our adopted country. As the son of migrants, I am grateful for the tenacity of my parents.

It is perhaps a little unfortunate that an official church statement on Migrant Sunday chooses to juxtapose the situations of some migrants with others.

“[Current practice] reveals inconsistencies in our migration policy; free movement between Australia and new Zealand, essentially open boarders for the highly skilled and tourists, but enforced mandatory detention on a number of asylum seekers who are left with no other option than a boat

in order to find a sustainable livelihood.” I much prefer the theme Pope b enedict chose for Migrant and Refugee Sunday; that of “One Human Family.”

The first moral category of persons, the pope says, is human.

It’s nice not to be the silent referent to other people’s description of migrants as “the marginalised” and “the oppressed.” I’m sure a lot of Australians – migrants and home grown alike – feel the same.

In our common humanity, Australians can share in the joys and travails of migrants, and migrants can share in theirs.

l Br Geoff Seaman on welcoming migrants and refugees - Page 16

Saintly gift: Fr Nelson Po of Belmont parish and Josephite sister Eileen Johnson with the statue of Mary MacKillop gifted to the parish. P hoto: ro B hii N i

Eternal quest

Bridget Spinks joins Australian pilgrims on their preparatory road to Madrid via a renowned French centre of spirituality.

“What are you seeking?” a consecrated lay sister, Isabelle Camborde, asked 1,900 young people from around the world in a packed tent in Paray-le-Monial, in the Burgundy region of France.

a young adult contingent of 30 pilgrims from australia were among those called to reflect on what they were seeking in life. they had come to Paray-leMonial, the birthplace of devotion to the Sacrd heart of Jesus. for a forum and pre-World Youth Day get-together organised by the emmanuel Community.

the australians joined contingents from Britain, Poland, Belgium, Slovenia, Croatia, russia, Latvia, hungary and teenagers from France for the forum from 11 to 14 august.

While some pilgrims were sleeping in tents, the australian contingent was lodged in school classrooms adjacent to the Chapel of la Colombiere.

each day, there was a 10-minute walk through the town, past the Chapel of Visitation and the Basilica of the Sacred heart, across a canal with pretty flower boxes to the Parc du Moulin Liron, where all the action took place for the pilgrims: mass, praise, teaching sessions and meals.

this particular park was created for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Paray-le-Monial in 1986.

the forum began with an evening mass on 11 august in a tent fit for 2000 people.

For breakfast each morning, volunteers served a typical French breakfast of coffee or hot chocolate in a bowl along with some slices of bread and jam. Waiting in the queue for food could take up to half an hour or more.

after breakfast, at about 9.15am, the pilgrims would gather for praise in French and english, led by a small group and band.

the pilgrims sang their heart out in praise for the Lord. this was followed by lessons given by various people in the community.

On 12 august, Sister Camborde, a consecrated sister in the emmanuel Community, set the tone for the retreat-like forum.

Speaking in French, she examined the themes of Christ as “Man of Desire” and “Christ answers our thirst” in two passages in the Gospel of John.

She drew out the main elements of the texts from John 1:35-51,

where some disciples followed Jesus after hearing John proclaim him as Lord, and John 4:6-26, where Jesus meets the anonymous Samaritan woman at the well.

Just as Jesus asked the disciples what they were seeking, so too the pilgrims were asked to think about what they were really looking for in life.

In relation to the passage in John 4, where Jesus meets the woman at the well, Sr Camborde discussed how her encounter with Jesus brought about a change in heart and readjustment of her life.

Just as Jesus helped this woman confront the truth about her life, so too he wanted to break the “idols” in our life, Sr Camborde said. those idols could be our job, sport, our mobile phone or the internet – whatever took first place in our life as an obsession.

“It could be during these days that the Lord will free us and help us to recognise our weaknesses and strengths and know who we are,” Sr Camborde said.

She called on those gathered to reflect on what they turned to when they desired to satisfy their thirst for love.

“Jesus says we don’t need inferior satisfaction. Man has been created for the infinite; to become saints and not be dependent on inferior things,” she said.

Just as Jesus’ first words in the Gospel of John were significant –“What are you seeking?” – so too were his last words: “I’m thirsty.”

this is the thirst of Jesus for our heart, our love, our life,” Sr Camborde said.

Adoration night and day

St Margaret-Mary Alacoque entered the Monastery of the Visitation Sisters in Paray-leMonial at age 24 in 1671. There Christ appeared to her several times between 1673 and 1675.

Claude La Colombiere, a young Jesuit priest, was St Margaret Mary’s spiritual director and confirmed the authenticity of her spiritual experiences.

Pope John Paul II proclaimed him a saint in 1992. He is the “apostle of trust”. His relics are visible in a tomb just off to the left of the altar of the Chapel of La Colombiere.

Night and day, chapels for

Eucharistic Adoration are open and to pilgrims, including the Chapel of the Visitation on Visitation Street (Rue de la Visitation), where Christ appeared to St Margaret Mary and where her relics can be found. The Chapel of St Jean behind the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is also open 24 hours a day for silent prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

The Australian pilgrims visited the Chapel of St Jean for a time of silent Adoration as a group during this last week and regularly made personal visits to the Chapel of the Visitation.

Australian pilgrims listen and pray at an international youth forum in Paray-Le-Monial above, and Fr PeterDamien celebrates Mass in the Chapel La Colombiere on the feast of St Lawrence.

Photos: Bridget sP inks

RoBIn Rosario from Perth came on this pilgrimage after being invited by a friend.

He said during his time he had enjoyed the Adoration and talks but mainly appreciated having the peaceful time to think.

“It’s a very peaceful place. I didn’t expect a religious place like this to be so peaceful, compared to other places like Lourdes or Medjugorje, which are very commercialised,” Mr Rosario said.

While not a member of the Emmanuel Community, he said he was grateful for the chance to learn more about the community as well as engage in conversation with pilgrims from other parts of Australia.

“It’s nice to meet people from Melbourne because Perth’s pretty isolated; we have such a small community in Perth,” he said.

Louisa Ashton from Melbourne has been part of the Emmanuel Community for five years. She made the first step of welcome and discernment initially for two years and has made the step of commitment to the community annually for the past three years with the primary goal of serving the church.

“It’s a public association of Christ’s faithful, where the community exists for the church, not specifically for the good of the members,” Ms Ashton said. In the community life, it’s about being on mission, whether that be in your workplace, family or friendships

or more concretely in missions run by the community for young people, married couples or parish missions.”

She commented on the joy she had experienced in the community and the joy that comes from Praise.

“Joy doesn’t mean happiness in the pure sense of being happy; it’s about being content and peaceful.

“Joy comes from praise, we don’t praise because we’re joyful. Joy is intrinsically linked to hope. If you have a real hope of heaven and of one day being part of the communion of saints, there’s a joy that fills you that’s sometimes difficult to explain to others,” she said.

When Ms Ashton returned to Australia after World Youth Day in 2000, she was “hungry for anything that would draw me to the Lord”.

She saw a flyer advertising a local “School of Mission” – a weekly class run by the Emmanuel Community. “It was appealing and I decided to participate in the school. I loved it, I learnt a lot. They had great teachers. It was another few years before I joined community.”

Being part of the community had made a difference in her life.

“When I joined the community, parish life was great, and the homilies were good but it wasn’t enough; I think I needed that very deep and intimate relationship with the Lord and I’ve found that through adoration and regular attention to my prayer life,” she said.

Pilgrimage to Madrid runs through the Sacred Heart

Continued from Page 1

“It was the work of the Holy Spirit; over time; it evolved,” said Fr Peter-Damian.

Goursat developed the conviction he needed to move spiritually from the feet of Jesus to the heart of Jesus, he said.

The meetings or “International Sessions” of the movement moved to Paray-le-Monial in 1975 where members would gather in the garden behind the Romanesque Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Fr Peter-Damien said that in Goursat’s later life the teachings he gave on adoration were very simple: “The Lord is there. He is looking at you. Just look at him in the holy host, the sacred host. He is looking at you, look back and enter into a dialogue. He is looking at you. Just look back. All he wants to say to you in this moment you

are there before him is I love you.”

Celebrating the memory of Goursat, the pilgrim group gathered to sing around his grave and thank God for his life of service to the church.

The trip to the cemetery was a special moment for those Australians who have studied at the Emmanuel School of Mission in Rome in previous years.

Several pilgrims also visited the grave of Clement Giraud who, having died unexpectedly of natural causes while studying at ESM in February 2009, was buried with the permission of his family in the Paray-le-Monial cemetery.

In 1985 the sanctuary of Paray-le-Monial was entrusted to the Emmanuel Community. The Vatican recognised the community’s statutes in 1992 and the community as a Public Association of Christ’s Faithful in June 2009.

Rebecca Thomas and Robin Rosario.

Photos: Bridget sP inks

Sudanese head for WYD with eyes on the future

Five Sudanese youth leaders, who came to Australia as refugees from Sudan, will be participating in World Youth Day Madrid thanks to the generosity of the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need.

A grant of $21,000 was made available to the Sudanese Australian Catholic Community by the Australian branch of ACN, an international Catholic charity which helps the poor and persecuted Church worldwide. The grant was passed onto the SACC by Bishop Anthony Fisher of the Parramatta Diocese, where the group is based.

Assistance was given after John Cinya, the Sudanese youth liaison officer for the Parramatta Diocese wrote to the charity asking for assistance. in his appeal letter he wrote: “We are trying to support up to 5 young leaders from the community that came to Sydney as refu-

gees and don’t have the resources to attend WYD 2011.  The reason why we can’t support the cost of registration is due to the fact that most of our people are from low income families, who also have a responsibility to cover living costs here, as well as supporting displaced family members still in Sudan”.

he went onto write: “The main benefit of our community members being part of World Youth Day 2011 is to share with the young people of the world, testimony from our experience, of coming from the Sudan. We believe we will also see a spiritual development amongst our young people. One young man has joined the seminary here in Sydney because of the WYD08. Our hope for the participants is that they not only further develop as leaders of the Sudanese Community but also as leaders in our Catholic dioceses.” Sudanese pilgrims gather around the World Youth Day Cross on its journey around the world.

American prelates launch appeal

US Bishops throw weight behind East Africa effort

The ongoing drought and famine afflicting Somalia and other east African nations is “a humanitarian crisis that cries out for help to Christians throughout the world,” said the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and the chairman of the board of Catholic Relief Services, the US bishops’ overseas aid and development agency, in a joint statement.

“CRS can use all the help we can offer in this current tragic situation,” wrote Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, USCCB president, and Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Arizona, CRS board chairman.

“Through CRS our generosity could literally feed thousands and provide them clean water, shelter and other life-saving goods.” CRS, , estimates that more than 12 million people are in urgent need of aid in Kenya, Somalia and ethiopia.

“The drought has resulted in failed crops, deaths of livestock

Caretakers Busselton Youth Camp

and critical shortages of food and water.

“There are parents whose little children have died, and children who have been orphaned. They are suffering from hunger, thirst, disease and drought,” the prelates said in a statement issued from Baltimore, home to CRS headquarters.

“We see millions of people being forced from their homes, leaving behind what meager possessions they had, and walking for days over rough terrain” to find sustenance. - cns

Bronia and Co.

to hit

the road for Congo

PeRTh Archdiocesan Respect Life officer Bronia Karniewicz will be participating in the City to Surf fun run on 28 August to raise funds for women and children of the Congo affected by sexual crime.

Any sponsorship she and her friends raise will be channelled through the church’s aid and development agency, Caritas.

The Karniewicz running machine is known as Team Caritas Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of Africa’s richest

Position Vacant

Media/Technical Officer

The Archbishop of Perth has established an evangelisation centre to promote the catholic Faith to non-believers, as well as lapsed and practising catholics. called The Faith centre, it is located at 450 Hay street, Perth. The facility includes a video recording studio capable of producing TV and website quality video.

A Media/Technical Officer is required to operate and oversee the studio. The successful candidate will need to work collaboratively with, and be accountable to the Director.

Essential requirements:

· A strong personal commitment to the teachings and practice of the catholic Faith

· Team worker

· Operation, management and resourcing a video recording studio

· Proficiency in using high-definition video cameras and videorecording studio equipment

countries in natural resources, yet remains one of the world’s most poverty-stricken nations. Despite the official end of war in 2003 the Congolese people face ongoing conflict and persistent human rights abuses.

Around the country, sexual violence continues on a massive scale and devastates the lives of tens of thousands of women and children each year, depriving them of their fundamental human rights and dignity.

Those who want to support Bronia and friends can do so via the Caritas website and donate to their team there, or contact her via the Respect Life office to make donations directly.

The Catholic Diocese of Bunbury is seeking an enthusiastic husband and wife team to look after day to day onsite management of the Busselton Youth Camp. The diocese comprises the southern portion of Western Australia and the campsite plays an important role in the physical, spiritual, educational, social and cultural development of youth, families, the underprivileged and disadvantaged in the spirit of the Catholic faith.

Specifically the caretakers will attend to guest bookings, administration and maintenance of the grounds and facilities.

Living on site, the successful couple will ideally have hands on experience in managing short stay accommodation facilities and a background in customer service and hospitality. Possessing good communication and interpersonal skills, with energy and motivation this role will suit those wishing to spend more time serving the community and others. The caretakers will receive an honorarium and free accommodation in the caretakers residence (3 x 1 house).

Applications including covering letter and background resume can be emailed to Mr John Ogilvie, Financial Administrator, at dio@bunburycatholic.org.au Applications close Wednesday 31st August 2011

Catholic Diocese of Bunbury, PO Box 2005 Bunbury WA 6231 www.bunburycatholic.org.au

· Proficiency in editing television and website quality video using Final cut Pro for Macintosh

Duties will include:

· Filming and editing of TV and website quality video, both in and out of the studio

· Placing website videos on the Archdiocesan and The Faith centre websites

· Liaising with the Archbishop’s Media Officer to have TV quality video distributed to TV stations

· Recruiting volunteers to assist in filming and production

· Manage and assist in the filming and production of videos for other church agencies

salary will reflect working hours and experience. send your application, including a curriculum vitae, to: The Archbishop’s Executive Assistant

Fr Robert cross PO Box Y3311

Perth Adelaide Terrace WA 6832

Email: robert.cross@perthcatholic.org.au

closing date: 26 August 2011

Caritas ensures that donations go directly to helping the people of the DRC while keeping administration costs to a bare minimum.

Among other objectives, the money raised will go towards; medical assistance, counselling and education.

it will also be directed to programs that can help Congolese support themselves.

Consequences of rape for women in the DRC often do not stop with the event; women are often rejected by their husbands and communities through the stigma of rape.

Ms Karneiwicz said aid funds will also work towards trying to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice for their crimes. This helps give women hope because they see that their dignity and self worth are worth fighting for.

Ms Karniewicz can be contacted at bronia@perthcatholic.org. au or on (08) 94445320.

Women, many of them victims of sexual violence, listen to a talk in eastern congo. Photo:cns/Reuters

Caritas urges climate policy response

By : T im Wallace

AuSTRAlIA must increase financial and technical assistance to developing countries to help them deal with the effects of climate change, according to a new report from Caritas Australia.

In the report, “A Just Climate: Our Responsibility To Act”, the Australian branch of the international Catholic aid and development agency argues the climatic effects of global warming have already caused significant social trauma in some of the world’s poorest communities.

It calls on “political parties of all persuasion to implement policies

that will better serve communities in Australia and overseas who are currently struggling with the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation”.

The report states: “At present, there are considerable environmental, economic and social barriers to the widespread implementation of adaptive schemes. In the countries where Caritas Australia works, the unavailability of resources for building adaptive capacity presents a particular challenge.“

Caritas Australia spokesperson Kristy Robertson said the agency did not wish to become embroiled in hotly contested political arguments about the causes of global

warming. Rather, she said, the agency wanted to reflect the perspective of the communities with which it worked and focus attention on responding to the effects.

The report, nonetheless, does not shy away from advocating “a mixed approach to climate change strategy that includes mitigation, adaptation, finance, and technological development and transfer”.

These four policy “building blocks” implicitly accept the mainstream scientific view that a warming world is being driven by the industrial emission of greenhouse gases combined with largescale changes in land use. In terms of mitigation, the report argues

developed countries “must accept that they have drawn on the earth’s resources since industrialisation at the expense of the world at large, and must therefore take the lead in mitigation efforts”. As one of the world’s highest per capita emitters of greenhouse gases, Australia “has a responsibility to exercise global leadership” by “implementing efficient means of reducing emissions through policy innovation”.

“We welcome current efforts in Australia to introduce a price on carbon emissions designed to address the costs of environmental degradation and discourage excessive pollution,” the report states, “but assert that this mecha-

St Kieran’s bikes fill a special need

By T im Wallace

The chance to ride a bike, something most children take for granted, is one of the things that makes Tuart hill’s St Kieran’s Catholic Primary School a special place for special needs children.

The school’s bike education program was initiated three years ago by teacher assistant Francesca Gizzarelli. Bike ed, as it is known, aims to improve motor skills and give each student the ability to participate in a fun activity with their families.

Of St Kieran’s 540 students, about 65 are special needs children (a number that has grown

from about 21 five years ago).

About 25 special needs children, who have a wide range of intellectual and physical abilities are involved in the program, which teaches them the basics of how to ride a bike, simple road safety knowledge and maintenance tasks such as how to fix a puncture.

But modifying a standard bike to suit the needs of the school’s special needs students does not come cheap. The cost could typically be about $900, said the school’s special needs co-coordinator, Russell Pratten, and in some cases could cost up to $4000.

The school received no external funding for running programs

such as Bike ed for its special needs, Mr Pratten said, and so was grateful for a $5000 community grant awarded to it as part of a community grants promotion by MOOV, the maker of head lice treatment products.

St Kieran’s was one of just three successful applications from 597 made by schools across the nation. The other winners were hughes Pre-School in Canberra and Forest hill State School in southeast Queensland.

MOOV’s brand manager, Melissa Giuliani, said St Kieran’s vision for students with disabilities merited reward and made the school a deserving winner. “These

Accolade for UNDA behaviourist

SOCIA l justice and critical psychology are the research interests of notre d ame academic d awn d arlaston-Jones, the recipient of the 2011 Australian l earning and Teaching Council’s (A lTC) undergraduate learning, Teaching and Assessment Resource Prize. The prize was developed by the A lTC in conjunction with the Australian Psychological Society and the Australian Psychology educators network.

“This is a significant acknowledgement of the teaching and learning approach in Behavioural

Science at The university of notre d ame Australia,” dr d arlastonJones said.

The degree draws heavily on critical community psychology which has at its foundation a strong commitment to social justice and human rights with the emphasis on social change. This award recognises that ‘real world’ relevance can be built into the teaching and learning context and that this can have significant benefits for the students.”

This is the second accolade for a member of The university of notre dame Australia’s Behavioural

Science staff on the Fremantle Campus. e arlier in the year Ms Sharon McCarthy was also recognised by the AlTC with a citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student learning. dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Fremantle, Associate Professor dylan Korczynskyj, said that he was very proud of his staff’s achievements. “I am delighted to acknowledge the magnificent achievements by both Sharon and d awn who have both been recognised for their commitment to undergraduate teaching,” he said.

nism must be measured closely in terms of outcomes delivered for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities.”

The report asks the Australian government to increase funding and the transfer of technology to developing countries to assist with climate change adaptation and mitigation, to fight poverty, and develop in sustainability.

It also calls on Australians to “achieve ecological conversion in solidarity with the world’s poor by assessing the overall sustainability of their own lifestyles and finding ways to actively reduce their own carbon emissions and broader ecological footprint”.

Student gathers a stash for homeless

hundRedS of toiletries, blankets and sleeping bags are heading to some of Western Australia’s neediest residents following an overwhelming response to a collection at notre dame’s Fremantle Campus in support of national homeless Persons’ Week.

First-year Biomedical Science student Alexander das coordinated the appeal in conjunction with Perth radio station 98.5 Sonshine FM to raise awareness about the unpredictability of homelessness and to offer assistance to nearly 105,000 homeless people in Australia.

Mr d as’ cause was supported greatly by the notre dame community. Countless donations of soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, towels and sleeping bags were received during the appeal and donated to homeless Persons’ Week WA.

young children stand to benefit by having their learning experience and general social confidence enriched in a very hands-on, tangible way. It is also the sort of project that can be realistically achieved with $5,000.”

With the money, and the good will of those offering to help modify bikes as cheaply as possible, Mr Patten said the school would be able to add two or three new custom- modified bikes to its fleet of half a dozen, as well as acquire other safety equipment.

Anyone able to assist the school to modify bikes can contact St Kieran’s on (08) 9444 9744 or admin@stkieran.wa.edu.au

This year’s theme for national homeless Persons’ Week was My Address – d iversity in homelessness and sought to identify areas of the community where people who couldn’t find accommodation resided.

Its message was that homeless affected everybody – from young children to students and sole parents who had no place to call home.

While a student at Rossmoyne Senior high School, Mr das was a mentor for victims of bullying and assisted with the St Vincent de Paul emergency Food Relief Program through St Anthony’s Parish in Greenmount. The program aims to deliver nourishment to people who struggle financially and to those who are disabled or elderly.

he thanked the notre dame staff and students, especially Campus Chaplain Fr John Sebastian, for their support of the collection.

“I wasn’t surprised at the response from the notre dame community at all,” Mr das said.

“I felt the university’s ethos of creating a community where we assisted others really drove the cause and triggered a great response from staff and students,” Mr das said.

“We sometimes take these items for granted and tend not to appreciate the simple things we have in our lives.

“For someone who is homeless, they have lost a lot in their life and whatever support we can provide can help them and give them more hope for the future.”

Good to go: Year 1 student Massimo Patino with special needs teacher assistant Francesca Gizzarelli Photo: su PP lied by s t Kieran’ Catholi C Primary

Dawn Darlaston-Jones

Cornerstone of faith in South Sudan

Exactly one week after his adopted homeland marked its independence, Bishop Cesare Mazzolari of Rumbek in South Sudan died celebrating mass. In remembrance of his witness to the Gospel and love for the Sudanese people, we print an edited extract of a tribute by Lorenzo Fazzini to be published next month.

To point the way to Loreto School, six kilometres from the centre of Rumbek, a south Sudanese city whose “official” population of 60,000 has swollen to 300,000 due to the influx of displaced persons, a white stone has been placed as a road sign, a signpost for anyone following the great colonial road that leads to the city of Wau.

“The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.” The remark was made only half in jest by the diocese of Rumbek’s bishop, Cesare Mazzolari, a missionary for 30 years in the Sudan where the founder of his order, the Comboni Missionaries, arrived in 1858.

To visit this girls school, the only one of its kind in this emergent nation, means to touch with one’s own hands the “revolutionary” force of education.

The rejected stone here refers to the girls of the Dinka, the chief of the Nilotic tribes of these plains.

It is, after all, the women who have to shoulder the burden of the greater part of the labour, whether at home or outside it: education of the children, domestic chores, a job outside. For example, to get water requires walking many kilometres morning and evening.

At Loreto School, however, the girls receive something different: they go to school, are educated and prepare to become leaders in their society. They enjoy a small, well-maintained Eden.

“Ah, you can always see the hand of the sisters,” said Bishop Mazzolari, who was born in Brescia, Italy but Sudanese by adoption. “Look at the flowers and the plants: everything here is so beautiful!”

In fact, the interior of the building looked as though it had been architect-designed, considering its modernity and good taste.

The 54 girls at this secondary school were preparing for their end-of-year exams. All the teachers were from abroad, Uganda and Kenya, which reveals a lot about the situation of Sudan, the 150th

poorest country in the world, and were testing them in English, science, geography and history.

Loreto is a one-off in Sudan, previously the largest country in Africa but split by the historic referendum on 9 January this year which sanctioned the independence of the south after 23 years of bloody civil war.

In a country whose population is 85 per cent illiterate, the first challenge is education, not merely teaching people reading, writing, and arithmetic but building a personal identity of a people and a nation looking to the future.

Bishop Mazzolari said it clearly in relation to the subjection of women in a culture of polygamy: “One of the things that will put an end to polygamy is the education and emancipation of women, so that they will understand they are destined for something better than to be the 20th or 30th wife of the rich old man of the village.”

Even though modernity was making inroads into the impenetrable society of south Sudan, the young, confused by social customs, were “completely chained to their culture by a sort of system”.

“Polygamy, the obligation of vendetta, and other negative situations: people are victims of this vicious circle,” the bishop argued.

“They will need tremendously strong Christian convictions to escape from all that.”

In addition to the critique of polygamy, education, understood in a Christian sense, was bringing into the ancient Nigritia another very important human and social value: forgiveness.

“As a church, we have reconciled the Nuer and the Dinka through our diocesan association dedicated to Saint Monica. We have brought about meetings between tribes previously in conflict. This has happened over the last seven to eight years while the war was still raging.

“When individuals forget about vendetta, peace comes.

“Many women have forgiven the wicked deeds that the north committed against the south: in Khartoum, they were tired of

fighting. We in the south were prostrate with exhaustion.

“The peace agreement was an act of reconciliation, even if the north regards it simply as a truce.”

The church’s work of reconciliation has not taken place only in the rooms of political power.

Though it is true, as Mazzolari said, that “for the sake of peace, we did a tour of the embassies:

we went to South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya, where we finally managed to get a peace agreement.

“We bishops also came to Europe: to the Foreign Secretary in Rome, to Germany, France and to Great Britain.

“The US Bishops’ Conference has been to visit us as well as the bishops of South Africa.

One day they will say: ‘If it had not been for the church, we would still be abandoned and ignorant.’

“It has been a continuous drive to create a new situation, an era of freedom to revive the spirit of these people who have suffered from too many years of war”. What Bishop Mazzolari and others have tried to do is to heal the wounds suffered among the people through 20 years of battles

Photo: CNS/ t homa S m ukoya, Reute RS

Photo: CNS/ t homa S m ukoya, Reute RS

Photo: CNS/Paul Jeff R ey

Photo: CNS/Ch R i S o k eefe, Reute RS

Photo: CNS/Paul Jeff R ey

and confrontations so as to overcome the very term ‘enemy.’

For example: “In the area on the border between the north and the south, many young persons managed to escape from the tented camps where they had been collected as slaves of the baghar, the Arab slave traders.

“So we set up schools in Gordhim and in Marial Lou, two of our missions, where an education has been offered to these lads who were formerly slaves.

“They were traumatised youngsters, mentally disturbed to such a point that they could no longer speak their own dialect.

“I remember having seen in a camp near Malualkon some lads living under canopies of branches: they had only just escaped!

“Our schools have not just been schools but real refuges for these kids. They were places where kids who had come from the north, were (very reluctantly on their part) mixed in with the ones from the south: our centres have been

able to bring about a real reconciliation and integration.

“We have been in a position to offer a future to hundreds of kids who were formerly slaves. One day they will say: ‘If it had not been for the church, we would still be abandoned and ignorant.’

“I have sent some of the kids who were ex-slaves to university.

“One girl, Suzanne, even went to Oxford: now she is in charge of public relations for the government of South Sudan.”

among the Azande, I was personally responsible for preparation for baptism, he said. “Then, as bishop, on one single evening I baptised a good 1,200 youngsters in Niam Liel alone. The following morning, I confirmed 900.

“There are moments, when we become instruments of sanctification, when we are sanctified ourselves too.

Solution to East Africa drought runs deep

Ethiopians remember keenly the devastating losses of the drought in 1984 and the more recent one in 2000. Numerous pastoralist communities know that lack of access to water will kill their livestock and destroy the very fabric of their culture.

The East African drought of 2011 that is hitting Kenya and Somalia so hard is also proving to be one of the worst that Ethiopia has faced in 50 years. Currently, more than 4.5 million people in Ethiopia are facing severe hunger due to the La Niña-induced rainfall shortage. However, the work that Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been carrying out in Ethiopia for more than 50 years is currently paying off in this drought.

One particularly hard-hit area is eastern Ethiopia near the lowlands of the Somali region. A common sight is pastoralists travelling across the barren landscape in search of water for their livestock. As the sources dry up, desperation takes hold. Their animals, losing weight and producing less milk, are further weakened as the pastoralists are forced to move them up to six miles a

“These sites were built to serve up to 5,000 people in any given community, but we’re finding the need is so severe that up to 10,000 are now flocking to these water points.”

day to find drinking water.

In the worst cases, their herds die from thirst, starvation and exhaustion.

“When people hear the word drought, they automatically assume that there is no, or very little, water in an area.

Wells

have been making a difference to those suffering from drought in Ethiopia, writes Sara Fajardo, but more can happen.

will, has helped fight effects of recurrent drought in Ethiopia.

“We brought in rigs to drill wells 1,000 feet into the earth. A recent visit to the field revealed that 95 per cent of 28 wells we’ve constructed are still operational,” Abaire says. “These sites were built to serve up to 5,000 people in any given community but we’re finding that the need is so severe that up to 10,000 are now flocking to these water points.”

Pastoralists travel in search of water. Drought, though, often forces them to stay in one place, their livestock dies off or they move to cities to buy food. The strains of urban life are debilitating to them psychologically and culturally. Taking these factors into account, a CRS water and sanitation team studied the migratory path of pastoralist communities to create a system to meet their needs for water and help maintain their nomadic traditions.

“We’ve drilled wells along the route pastoralists often travel. The goal was to provide water without encouraging any given group to settle in one spot,” Abaire says. “It’s an approach that includes a drinking trough for livestock, water for human consumption, showers and washbasins for women to do their laundry.”

The difference between communities with water sources and those without is remarkable. The livestock are plumper and produce more milk which, in turn, means the people themselves are better nourished. These people rely less on food aid and more on their own means. Water is prized here. It is never squandered.

There are moments, when we are instruments of sanctification, when we are sanctified ... We must not forget how and how much God works in the hearts of people.

Education here serves as bread for the hungry and water for those who are thirsty.

Bishop Mazzolari did not hide his enthusiasm when speaking of his first Christians.

“In the first years of mission

“We must not forget how and how much God works in the hearts of people.

“And when you become his minister, well, it’s wonderful! A gigantic experience!”

The full version of this article will published by the Oasis International Centre for Study and Research. Zenit.org.

And while it is true that we’re dealing with the aftermath of poor rain seasons, the truth is that there is water in Ethiopia,” says Bekele Abaire, water and sanitation programme manager with CRS based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “There is a solution to this problem of recurrent drought that has left millions to face severe hunger The challenge is that the water runs below the surface in underground caverns as deep as 1,000 feet.

“This water is difficult but not impossible to access.”

During the past 8 years, CRS, with generous funding from the US Agency for International Development, UN Office for the Coordination of International Affairs, and donations from concerned Catholics and others of good-

“Most years our system works beautifully. Pastoralists migrate and access water easily,” Abaire says. “A concern of ours now, however, is that because of the current drought, many of them are settling near water points out of fear that they will not be able to access more which puts a strain on the existing resources.”

Much more work needs to be done. Water is there, but more wells need to be built and few rigs in Ethiopia have the capacity to drill deep enough. Abaire says the solution won’t come overnight but, if planned right and with adequate resources, it can happen.

Sara A Fajardo is CRS’ regional information officer for eastern and southern Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya. CNA/EWTN N

Clockwise from top left: A child attends mass at St Teresa Cathedral in Juba; women carry crosses for an Independence Day ceremony in Juba; teacher Regina John Thabo sings with her students at a Catholic school in Malakal; Irish nun Elizabeth Ryan, of the Faithful Companions of Jesus, supervises teacher Nyachingowk Laa at the Bander Boys School in Malakal; seminary buildings in the diocese of Rumbek; Sudanese women carry water home in Geles, Darfur; Vietnamese Sister Rosa Le Thi Bong, of Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, greets children in the Makpandu refugee camp; Bishop Cesare Mazzolari among his people in Rumbek, southern Sudan.

Three new Shepherds

Last Friday’s ordinations were a joy to everyone just the latest chapter in the continuing success vocations in the Archdiocese of Perth ...

Strengthened in prayer: the three deacons are presented publicly to Archbishop Hickey, left, then lie prostrate on the floor of the cathedral sanctuary as the Litany of the Saints is chanted by the congregation. The prayer invokes the intercession of the Saints of heaven, on this occasion on behalf of those to be ordained. Later, the joy was evident on the faces of the three new clergy as they processed out of the cathedral.

Moment of grace: Archbishop Hickey ordains Deacon Payton

Present: Deacons Thomas Zureich, left, Chris Webb and Mark Payton stand before the ceremony begins. St Mary’s Cathedral was filled to near capacity; numerous parishioners from parishes where the three men have worked also attended.

Shepherds

everyone involved - and success story of priestly

Photos: Peter Rosengren

Payton to the priesthood.

Joy: newly-ordained: Fr Payton is vested in priestly robes by his parents, left, while Fr Webb is vested by Fr John Jegorow and a relative. Watched by seminarian and acolyte Grant Gorddard, Archbishop Hickey anoints Fr Zureich’s hands, and presents Fr Payton with chalice and paten, symbols of priestly office.

Brotherhood: as Fathers Payton, Webb and Zureich kneel, priests of the archdiocese move wraith-like as they come forward to pray over their new brothers in the presbyterate. Approximately 60 clergy attended the ordination ceremony. Earlier, they applauded as Monsignor Kevin Long, Rector of St Charle’s Seminary, affirmed publicly to Archbishop Hickey that each had been examined by the Church and found worthy to be ordained.

US

Celibacy stands up under attack

While priestly celibacy is increasingly misunderstood and even under attack, the discipline continues to be a call to a whole-hearted response to God’s love, said Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

“The celibacy of priests, as well as of bishops, has been put into question today with growing virulence because of sexual abuse, including of minors, committed by clerics,” the cardinal told the bishops of Brazil. Publicity of the abuse cases has led to “generalized suspicion of the clergy,” he said.

“The living and important tradition of celibacy in the church has been belittled and even put into question,” he added.

Cardinal Ouellet was in Brazil in May to lead a retreat for the country’s bishops. Over the summer, the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, published the cardinal’s talks, which were focused on the word of God and the identity of bishops. The text of his reflection on celibacy was published Aug. 7.

“Even if the contemporary revolutions in the field of sexuality and the media have made the practice of chastity in celibacy more difficult,” he said, it cannot be denied that celibacy has given a strong and concrete witness to the fact that faith in Christ gave birth to new lifestyles and institutions.

“Part of the mission of the baptized called to consecrated life is giving witness that the covenant God wanted with his people is not only an ideal, but a reality,” the cardinal said.

Although different from a vocation to marriage, he said, the call to celibacy also should lead to “real happiness and unequaled joy,” because it is a loving and complete response to the love of God.

Celibacy is not primarily about “availability and service,” but is part of the “nuptial and sacramental context of the covenant between Christ and his church. With his celibacy, the bishop certifies that God is love and that he expects his creatures to respond with love to love,” Cardinal Ouellet said.

US Priest’s great sadness

Father Ernest Hyndman Jr., the 46-year-old pastor of St. Agatha Church in Bay Minette, was found dead Aug. 2 in the church rectory, the victim of an apparent suicide, according to the Archdiocese of Mobile.

“It was with deep sadness that I learned of Father Ernie Hyndman’s death,” said Mobile Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi in a statement. He noted that the investigation into the priest’s death was ongoing when The Catholic Week, archdiocesan newspaper, went to print.

“It appears that he took his own life,” the archbishop said. “Regardless of the outcome of this investigation, we entrust Father Hyndman to the mercy and love of God. Father Hyndman has been a dedicated priest who brought the love of God to many people.”

Archbishop Rodi was to celebrate a funeral Mass for the priest Aug. 9 at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Father Hyndman was to be buried in the priests’ section of the Catholic Cemetery in Mobile.

Although Father Hyndman was born in Michigan, his family moved to Mobile when he was young and he attended a local school. After graduating, he was hired by The Catholic Week as typographer and later served as editor. In 1990, he answered the call to priesthood and entered seminary.

Reconciliation and trust required

VATICAN CITY - In the final stage of the visitation of US women’s religious communities, the Vatican congregation overseeing the study is facing mountains of paper and must try to rebuild a relationship of trust with the women.

US-born Archbishop Joseph W Tobin, secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, said, “I believe a visitation has to have a dialogical aspect but the way this was structured at the beginning didn’t really favour that.”

In an interview with CNS, the archbishop said the congregation hoped its review of the visitation

and responses to the participating communities would be marked by dialogue and a step toward healing.

“I’m an optimist, but also trying to be realistic: The trust that should characterise the daughters and sons of God and disciples of Jesus isn’t recovered overnight. I think women religious have a right to say, ‘Well, let’s see,’” he said. Former prefect of the congregation, Cardinal Franc Rode, initiated the visitation in January 2009, saying its aim would be to study the community, prayer and apostolic life of orders to learn why numbers of religious women in the States had declined so sharply since the 1960s.

Almost a year into the study, Cardinal Rode told Vatican Radio that the investigation was a response to concerns, including by “an important representative of the US church” regarding “some irregularities or omissions in American religious life. Most of all ... it involves a certain secular mentality that has spread in these religious families and, perhaps, also a certain ‘feminist’ spirit.”

Archbishop Tobin said Mother Mary Clare Millea, superior general of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the apostolic visitor appointed by the Vatican, has submitted her “overall draft report,”

but the congregation is expecting another 400 from sisters who visited each community and from many of the communities themselves.

Archbishop Tobin said reconciliation is needed within and among communities, including those represented by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, which stereotypically are seen as very progressive and conservative.

“The visitors themselves were from the two different groups, and they found out from talking to each other that the caricatures weren’t accurate,” he said. CNS

Violence decried: pray for peace

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy - Pope Benedict XVI appealed for reconciliation and respect for human rights in Syria and Libya where governments have used force to try to end pro-democracy protests.

“With deep concern, I am following the dramatic and growing episodes of violence in Syria,” the pope said on 7 August.

A government crackdown on protesters in Hama on 5 August reportedly left 24 dead. The UN said, “around 2,000 people are reported to have been killed in clashes in Syria since protesters took to the streets mid-March demanding greater civil liberties. The violent crackdown by authorities has received widespread condemnation from the UN ... as well as world leaders.”

Pope Benedict called attention “to Libya where the power of weapons has not resolved the situation.”

He asked “Catholic faithful to pray that an effort for reconciliation would prevail over division and anger” in Syria and the international community, which has been supporting protesters in Libya with NATO air strikes, would make a new attempt to find “a peace plan

for the country through negotiation and constructive dialogue.”

Melkite Patriarch Gregoire III Laham of Damascus, Syria told Vatican Radio he thanked the pope for his call for prayers and love of the Middle East.

“We have invited all our Christians to pray in the churches each day for peace and reconciliation, including with our Muslim brothers and sisters, in order to face this situation,” he said.

“We do not fear Islam,” the patriarch said. “With God’s love for us, Christians and Muslims can overcome this crisis and this tragic situation in the Arab world and continue together, Christians, Muslims and Arabs, on the path to peace, progress, freedom and democracy.”

Archbishop Mario Zenari, nuncio in Syria, said on Vatican Radio that Syria has and continues to be “an exemplary country from the point of view of harmony among religious confessions and for mutual respect between the Muslim majority and Christian minority.”

“We hope this climate will continue and we pray that a way will be found, first of all, to stop the bloodshed,” the nuncio said. CNS

Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia sing at a mass celebrated by the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, at the congregation’s motherhouse in Nashville, Tennessee. The cardinal was in town for the 125th annual national convention of the Knights of Columbus. P HOTO CNS/R ICK Mu SACCHIO, T ENNESSEE R EGISTER

Salvadoran faith stronger for civil war

By Patricia ZaPor

WASHINGTON - The reality of life in postwar El Salvador is that nearly 20 years later violence continues to plague much of the country, Bishop Jose Elias Rauda Gutierrez of San Vicente said during a visit to Washington.

Bishop Rauda told Catholic News Service (CNS) that violence, poverty, unemployment, hunger and precarious living conditions continue to make life difficult nearly 20 years after the end of the 12-year civil war.

A Salvadoran government report released early August tallied 91 murders in the previous five weeks in the Massachusetts-size country that has a population of 5.7 million, about the same as the state of Maryland. In just one department, or state, Sonsonate, 32 murders occurred in the report period.

Bishop Rauda said that since he was named to the San Vicente diocese nearly two years ago, he has spent much of his time and efforts continuing recovery efforts begun after a 2001 earthquake killed more than 800 Salvadorans and left a legacy of damaged church structures.

The bishop’s efforts during his US visit included seeking funding to rebuild the damaged chancery and other church buildings.

While in Washington, Bishop Rauda celebrated two Sunday masses for Salvadorans and, as part of his message, said, “don’t forget your

children at home ... Don’t lose your faith, your Catholic identity and don’t forget your family.”

Back home, his people’s daily problems include poverty, unemployment and gang-related violence, ranging from extortion to murder, he said, noting that in some ways the violence is a vestige of the war because so many weapons remain and the country’s fragile economy leaves plenty of room for drug gangs to recruit both unemployed and undereducated youths.

A Salvadoran bishops’ conference statement released in early August gave the government credit for efforts to “combat this scourge” of violence but said the crime crackdown “is not enough to give people social peace and security.”

Rauda told CNS that other pressing issues include substandard housing such as that located in flood areas or adjacent to active volcanoes and environmental degradation, some related to recent muchcriticised gold mining operations.

More positiviely, the bishop said one side effect of the long civil war is the strong laity that developed in the church, particularly in his diocese. The diocese of San Vicente is home to two seminaries and three women’s religious congregations.

During the war, priests who spoke out against violence were threatened, arrested and sometimes killed. “It’s an unexpected phenomena since the war that our religious organisations are strong.” CNS

Final surrender follows indictment for Jesuit deaths

SAN SALVADOR - Nine former soldiers in El Salvador’s army have surrendered to authorities three months after their indictment in Spain for the 1989 killings of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter during the country’s 12-year civil war.

The ex-military members turned themselves in at a military base on 8 August and were subsequently transported to a Salvadoran court, the government said.

They were among 20 former sol-

diers indicted by a Spanish court for their role in the deaths on the campus of the University of Central America in the Salvadoran capital, where the priests taught and lived.

Five of the priests were Spanish. Spain’s courts have used the principle of international jurisdiction to prosecute the killings.

General Rene Emilio Ponce, the army leader accused of ordering the killings, died in May before the Spanish indictments were handed down. CNS

Croatia puts monastery deal in doubt

VATICAN - Disputed church property in Croatia has been returned to the government after a justice minister annulled past decisions giving the property to a diocese.

The action had caused “great astonishment”, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said.

The focus of the dispute is a monastery located in Dajla, Croatia, along the Adriatic coast.

The justice minister, Drazen Bosnjakovic, annulled a series of 1990s property rights decisions that gave the property to the Diocese of Porec and Pula, CroatianTimes. com has reported.

The minister said the property should never have been given to the diocese, because the Benedictines of Praglia had been the original owners, the Croatian news site said.

Father Lombardi said the latest government intervention was surprising because of “the extraordinary nature of the decision adopted, because the Croatian prime minister had shown his intention of facing, in a spirit of collaboration, a problem both Croatia and the Holy See hold dear and also because such a way of proceeding does not seem consistent with the fundamental principle of the certainty of law.”

The problem continued to be an internal church affair, he said, while expressing hopes the interested parties would go through the proper channels to seek an explanation for the latest developments. CNS

Shush now: a quiet word from the pope, then roars of approval

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy -

Getting off the grid and leaving the city is a great way to bring some much-needed silence to one’s life, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“Silence is the condition of one’s surroundings that best fosters contemplation, listening to God and meditation,” he said at his weekly general audience in the courtyard of the papal summer villa at Castel Gandolfo.

“Just the fact of being able to enjoy silence, to let oneself, as it were, be ‘filled’ by silence, predisposes us to prayer,” the pope said.

Many people spend a few days at a monastic community or spiritual centre which, as “places of the spirit, are a backbone of the

world”. Monastic communities have been built in beautiful places that are close to nature, he said.

He said such places bring together two important elements: the beauty of creation and the creator, and silence that comes from “being far from the city and major channels of communication.”

“God speaks in silence; however, it’s necessary to know how to listen to him.

“For this reason monasteries are oases in which God speaks to humanity,” he said.

The pope recalled the 11 August feast day of Saint Clare, founder of the Poor Clares, and the 9 August feast day of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

(Edith Stein) as saints who show people how to draw closer to God through quiet prayer and contemplation.

He asked that Mary help people learn to love silence and learn to pray.

After his catechesis, the pope greeted some 2,000 pilgrims in eight different languages, especially young people who were en route to World Youth Day in Madrid.

The pope’s words were met with roaring enthusiasm as young people cheered and waved their countries’ flags and homemade banners. One small banner read “With Benedict in Madrid.”

CNS

Latin America celebrates 500 years of Catholicism

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - Catholics gathered at the oldest cathedral in the Americas on 8 August to mark the 500th anniversary of the first Catholic dioceses in the western hemisphere.

Before a large crowd in Columbus Plaza, in Santo Domingo’s colonial zone, Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo, retired archbishop of Seville, Spain, celebrated mass, highlighting Catholicism’s unwavering presence in the region.

“The church does not exist to give up, or to be changed, but to enforce the will of God. We are the voice; Jesus Christ is the Word,” he said during the late-afternoon liturgy that followed a procession.

Cardinal Amigo attended the event as Pope Benedict XVI’s envoy. The celebration marked the anniversary of the establishment of the first three dioceses in the Americas in 1511 by Pope Julius II. The other

two dioceses are located in La Vega, Dominican Republic, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Five centuries later, Catholic faith in the region remains strong, said Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez of Santo Domingo. The holy year marking the anniversary saw some 200,000 Dominicans journey to the St Mary of the Incarnation Cathedral in the colonial zone, he said.

Catholicism was brought to the region by Christopher Columbus who landed on the northern shore of the island of Hispaniola in late 1492. Although he had also explored parts of the Bahamas and Cuba, he decided to establish the first Spanish settlement in Hispaniola after noticing local Taino native people wearing gold.

Initial settlements were destroyed and by 1496 Columbus’ brother, Bartholomew, founded Santo

Domingo, located on the island’s southern coast, near a gold deposit. Although the first dioceses were created in 1504, they did not become functional until 1511, John Frederick Schwaller wrote in his

book, The History of the Catholic Church in America: From Conquest to Revolution and Beyond Construction on the cathedral began in 1512 and finished in 1541, the cornerstone being laid in 1521.

Establishing a functioning church proved difficult at first. “In the early years following the conquest, there were no local bishops,” Schwaller wrote. Even after the dioceses became functional they “were only barely capable of supervising priests in the immediate area.”

That changed when Pope Adrian VI gave full papal authority to Franciscans who worked in frontier regions in the Americas in 1522.

Soon Catholicism spread to other parts of Latin America as conquistadors began conquering indigenous populations.

“While armed forces did accompany missionaries, or vice versa, most of the early conversions to Christianity did not occur at the tip of a sword or barrel of a gun,” Schwaller wrote.

Today, about half of the world’s 1.18 billion Catholics live in the Americas.

CNS

United colours of Catholicism ... World Youth Day pilgrims prepare for the international gathering in Madrid. Pope Benedict XVI will join the week-long celebration on 18 August. Photo: CNS/Cr IS t INA PASCUA l Fer NAND ez

UK pharmacists fear poisoned pill

MANCHESTER, EnglandCatholic pharmacists are concerned new guidelines will force them to dispense the morning-after pill against their consciences.

They also are troubled that guidelines issued in late July by the General Pharmaceutical Council could lead to Christians being dismissed from the profession and prevent them entering the field if they act on their beliefs by refusing to distribute the abortifacient drug.

A Catholic hospital pharmacist from Sunderland and member of the US-based Pharmacists for Life, Anna Sweeting-Hempsall, said: “Catholic pharmacists have the obligation to respect the fact that life is sacred from the moment of conception to natural death by not supplying, or participating in the

supply of, drugs for abortion or euthanasia.

“Until now, the conscience clause gave pharmacists the right not to compromise their beliefs and provided protection against employers who might have tried to force supply of these drugs,” she said.

The new “Guidance on the Provision of Pharmacy Services Affected by Religious and Moral Beliefs” reinterprets existing conscience protections in the industry, in force since 1967.

However, the pharmaceutical council said the guidance was not binding but advice for pharmacy professionals explaining how its standards might be met: “The requirements of our guidance are not mandatory.”

Nonetheless, the director of the

Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, John Smeaton, urged pharmacists to reject the guidance.

“It is a shocking direction and it has no validity whatsoever,” he said. “People with a conscientious objection must refuse to obey it.

“What they are stipulating runs directly contrary to the fundamental right of conscientious objection, of having absolutely nothing to do with drugs which may kill an early developing human embryo.”

The guidelines place new restrictions on conscience protections and require pharmacists who do not want to distribute the morningafter pill to refer customers to a named pharmacist who will do so. Pharmacists also must check ahead to ensure the product is in stock.

Other requirements compel

Glass runneth in Californian bid

pharmacists to dispense drugs for in vitro fertilisation, to which some object because of the high numbers of embryos created, then destroyed in the process. The British government disclosed last month that about 32 embryos are created for every live birth.

The document also informs pharmacists, for the first time, that their right to conscientious objection is secondary to the contractual demands of their employers.

The revised guidelines come as the government places pharmacists under pressure to make the morning-after pill easily available, to reduce Britain’s teenage pregnancy rate, among the highest in Europe.

They come a year after a majority of members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great

Britain voted to retain a conscience clause. The regulatory council responded in September 2010, drafting guidelines to explain how such a right must be interpreted.

Under British law, all pharmacists are accountable to the regulator and must be able to explain their actions in the context of the council’s guidelines, which affect both employers and employees.

Catholic lawyer Neil Addison, director of the Thomas More Legal Centre in Warrington, which specialises in religious discrimination law, called the guidelines flawed.

“What many people do not seem to grasp is the fact that if you are refusing to do something because it is morally objectionable you cannot be obliged to recommend someone else,” he said. CNS

Vietnam too wealthy for medical aid

DA NANG, Vietnam - A diocese in central Vietnam has pledged to continue giving material and spiritual support to people with AIDS despite the loss of funding from several foreign charities.

“We have to continue giving love and care to more than 1,000 people with HIV/AIDS in Da Nang after foreign sponsors halted their donations,” said Father Macello Doan Minh, head of Caritas Vietnam in the Da Nang Diocese.

Father Minh said AIDS organizations such as Norway’s Nordic Assistance to Vietnam and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief stopped sponsoring prevention projects involving Catholic and Buddhist groups in September. Both programs also plan to end distribution of free antiretroviral medicines to local patients in 2012.

Local AIDS workers said that foreign organisations began scaling down their projects when Vietnam achieved middle-income status in 2010 under World Bank guidelines. Despite the new classification, they said, the loss of foreign funding would make it more difficult for the local church to meet the growing need for AIDS treatment.

Father Minh said the local church started seeking donations from local benefactors to cover the shortfall and continue its activities.

Caritas Germany remained committed to providing funds for the projects, he added. CNS

Exhibit recalls Chile’s miracle rescue

WASHINGTON - The dramatic and uplifting story of survival and a rescue that captivated the world one year ago unfolds in “Against All Odds: Rescue at the Chilean Mine,” an exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

The exhibit opened on 5 August, exactly one year after the mine collapse in Chile, in which all 33 miners survived and were rescued 69 days later.

The technical skill of the rescuers can be seen in the drill bit that cut through nearly one-half mile of rock, and the Fenix rescue capsule built by the Chilean navy in consultation with NASA. That capsule was named for the phoenix, the legendary bird that is a symbol of rebirth.

But the human spirit and faith that helped the miners endure is also on display, in the form of a small Bible, about the size of a hand,

labeled Santa Biblia (“Holy Bible”), and the exhibit notes, “Miner Jose Henriquez, a committed Christian, read from this Bible when he led the men in daily prayer.”

Displayed next to the Bible is a scuffed blue miner’s helmet, with earphones on the side, and in the front of the helmet, scrawled with a black marker, are the words, “GRACIAS DIOS” (“Thank God.”)

That helmet belongs to miner Carlos Barrios, who also is seen in the exhibit in a large photo displayed behind the rescue capsule. As he emerges to the surface, smiling and waving, he has a simple white rosary around his neck.

Media reports at the time said the men had prayed together underground, and had requested religious items when they made contact with the surface, and built small shrines to Mary in the mine as they waited to be rescued.

Above ground, family members, friends and neighbors prayed together for the miners’ safety, their prayers joined by concerned people around the world, including Pope Benedict XVI.

At a press briefing, the miners helped introduce the Smithsonian exhibit about their survival and rescue, and answered reporters’ questions through interpreters. Barrios was asked about the words he had written on his helmet, and how the miners’ faith helped them survive.

“The miners, they never thought they were 33. They were 34, because God was with them,” he said.

Another reporter asked the miners how they had endured those first 17 days, when they were about 2,000 feet underground, with no contact yet with the outside world. Miner Jorge Gallegillos, a stocky man with a gray scraggly beard, said: “The most important thing

for us was faith, (to) believe in God, and make sure we were going to make it out of there.”

Jose Henriquez, an older, cleanshaven man with an air of quiet dignity, was the one who led the men in daily prayer with the little Bible.

“I do not consider myself a hero. If there was a hero, it was the 34th person. God brought us together,” he said, noting they began praying together those first days, and then when contact was made on the 17th day, they asked for a Bible, and that little one was lowered to them. “It was God who guided us through this whole journey.”

The exhibit notes that Chile is the world’s leader in copper production, but on a nearby wall are the words of Chilean President Sebastian Pinera: “The principal wealth of our country isn’t copper, it’s the miners. It isn’t natural resources, it’s the Chileans.” CNS

A man prays inside the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. The diocese of Orange has upped its bid to buy the cathedral complex, increasing its offer from $50 to $53.6 million. The 10-storey cathedral has a seating capacity of 2,900 and is made up of more than10,000 panes of glass. (CNS ph OTO /Tim Rue)

Desolate churches

Afundamental principal that architects have accepted for centuries is that the visible constructed environment deeply affects the human person and our outlook on our daily lives including the ways we act, how we relate and how we are. The church in its wisdom has long known this. A church is a structure of enormous meaning and significance, embodying and bearing the most profound symbolic responsibilities: it is meant to bear and express in visible form the significance of eternal truths. A church, so to speak, is terra sancta – holy ground. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasises the point, asserting that “visible churches are not simply gathering places but signify and make visible church in this place, the dwelling of God with men reconciled and united in Christ.”

Architects and builders must wonder how they are to achieve such lofty goals. Then again, they have at their disposal an unbroken tradition of fifteen hundred years of their art and artisanship. To this, they can turn to seek inspiration. Surveying the great, astonishing, architectural heritage of the church, they can discover that from the earliest Christian basilicas of Rome to the soaring Gothic revival of the 20th century, the same laws, albeit differently expressed in each era, have applied to the design of truly Christian churches, places of worship which serve both man and God, at one and the same time transcendental and concrete, lifting hearts and transmitting eternal verities for all generations.

Those churches whose design is an organic expression of two millennia of Christian identity not only identify themselves visibly with the church but, by their continuity with the tradition of Christian architecture, visibly express the permanence of the Catholic Christian faith.

In order to convey that permanence rooted in the continuity of history, the lingua franca of architecture (the essential components of churches, why and how they are put together) must - must - develop organically. Good examples of this are the way in which Renaissance churches morphed into the mentality of the Baroque, when Gothic form emerged from the language of the Romanesque. In every case, the growth and development of the language of Catholic architecture was organic, inextricably linked and built upon what had gone before.

Styles may have changed but there was never a disruptive, revolutionary break with tradition, no arrogant disregard for the past. Arches, rounded or otherwise, were as much a part of the Gothic language as they were of the Romanesque. Architects built on the past and refined this for the future.

“In Australia it appears no-one understands the historical tradition or principles of designing Catholic churches. In cultural, aesthetic terms, this situation is a near-tragedy”

The RecoRd

PO Box 3075

Adelaide Terrace

Per T h WA 6832

office@therecord.com.au

Tel: (08) 9220 5900

Fax: (08) 9325 4580

If they wish to be architects of churches, architects need to comprehend the historical language of church architecture in order to build truly sacred edifices for their today and future times. No real church architect can be ignorant of the church’s historical patrimony. Continuity demands that a successful church design cannot spring from fashion. A successful Catholic church is a work of art that acknowledges our history: it refers to the past rather than pretending that the past does not exist; it serves the present by speaking in form and structure to worshipper and non-believer alike; it informs the future.

In Australia, there is one qualification that should be added to this general outline: it appears that none of the above principles apply anywhere because almost nowhere do they appear to be understood. Often, it is argued, such principles are either out of date or have no concrete relevance to modern life. In architectural, aesthetic and cultural terms, this situation can only be described as a near tragedy. The current Holy Father, known for his deep personal interest in the organic relationship between truth, beauty and transcendence, understands these principles well. Speaking to French pilgrims at his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo in June, Benedict XVI invited his listeners to share in the ideal of those who built the beautiful cathedral, abbeys and churches of the past. Such buildings were, he said, “striking signs” of God’s presence on earth.

The time of northern hemisphere summer vacation, he said, could also be a moment for “cultural and spiritual enrichment”. “Through the innumerable places and monuments that you visit, you can discover the beauty of that universal patrimony that refers us to our roots,” he suggested. “Be attentive in allowing yourselves to be swept up by the beautiful ideal that inspired the builders of cathedrals and abbeys, when they built these striking signs of the presence of God on our earth. May that ideal become yours and may the Holy Spirit, who sees the depth of hearts, inspire you to pray in these places, rendering thanks and interceding for humanity of the third millennium!”

For Benedict, and for many others, there is an obvious and essential relationship between Christian faith and what church architecture should express, its service of the faithful and its eloquent witness to an overarching reality of transcendent, supernal truth.

When, in the desert of Australian culture, we impose church buildings that represent not organic unity with the past but a disruptive revolutionary break, one that constitutes a repudiation of our inheritance of faith, we do a double disservice: to the church - and to our wider society. When we build the Catholic equivalent of a photocopier and call it a church, we give every indication of not only having announced our irrelevance as a faith but of having voluntarily embraced an early senescence and of having lost our memory.

Official approval for Fatima’s army

THe National Committee of the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF) expresses its deep appreciation to you for printing the article by Rev J Flader about organisations promoting Fatima (The Record, 3 August). The article makes it very clear that the WAF has approval from the highest level of the church to promote Fatima.

The WAF is an international organisation which has been working in the archdiocese of Perth for more than 40 years and in the archdiocese of Sydney for more than 50 years. It has the responsibility of promoting faithfully Our Lady’s Fatima message in its purity and in its entirety. Blessed Pope John Paul II stated publicly that “the message of Fatima is more relevant today than in 1917”.

The message calls people to amend their lives, to stop offending God, and to offer prayers and sacrifices to God in reparation for sin and for the conversion of sinners. each year, for more than 25 years in

Opinion

Letters to the editor

Perth, the WAF has held six special holy hours from May to October, the six months in which Our Lady appeared during 1917. These holy hours respond to Our Lady’s request for people to make eucharistic reparation, and take place in a different parish each month. The WAF also encourages people to make the Five First Saturday’s Devotion requested by Our Lady, for the particular intention she requested of making reparation for the sins committed against her Immaculate Heart. There are five principle sins

committed against her Immaculate Heart. Hence Five First Saturdays of reparation.

The WAF also encourages people to become members of the Apostolate. Conditions of membership are as follows. (1) Pray five decades of the Rosary each day, (2) Wear the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as a sign of consecration to her Immaculate Heart, (3) Do penance by offering the sacrifices demanded by one’s daily duty.

Again, the National Committee expresses its gratitude to you for printing Fr Flader’s article.

Frank Calneggia Nedla N ds

Migrants should be strangers in our land no more

The forthcoming World Day of Migrants and Refugees on 28 August is a chance to celebrate - but also a challenge, writes Br

“We LCOMING refugees and giving them hospitality,” says Pope Benedict, “is for everyone an imperative gesture of human solidarity, so they may not feel isolated because of intolerance and disinterest.”

The Pope’s message for the 97th World Day of Migrants and Refugees (28 August) comes at a time when the number of refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people is in excess of 40 million and growing by thousands every day.

People are fleeing lifethreatening situations in Somalia, the Middle east and North Africa in numbers that make the few thousand boat people seeking sanctuary in Australia almost insignificant by contrast.

The fact their distressing situation is giving rise to vile expressions of hardhearted intolerance on the part of some is very sad indeed. Such expressions seem the antithesis of Jesus’ counsel to “Welcome the Stranger”.

In this context, the words of Bishop Hanna, the Australian Bishops delegate for Migrants and Refugees, are apt:

“To be part of one human family will sometimes require us to walk beside those who suffer and to share our land and our wealth. As children of God, we are called to ease the suffering of our brothers and sisters.”

On Sunday, 28 August we not only focus on the plight of today’s refugees but we give thanks for and celebrate the most valuable contribution that, over the years, migrants and refugees have made to the good life we enjoy in our lucky country.

In this respect, we Catholics have much for which to be grateful. We need to look no further than the fine leadership and service we receive in our parishes from priests who’ve come from overseas.

Some, like the newly consecrated auxiliary bishop of Melbourne, were themselves boat people asylum seekers. The endeavour of our church in Australia, over many

decades, to respond adequately to the needs of migrants and refugees continues strongly though many challenges remain. The late revered Bishop Joseph Grech, in cooperation with the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office in Canberra, took strong initiatives to ensure that the many needs of new arrivals were addressed.

Here in Perth, with the encouragement of Archbishop Hickey, a Pastoral Care Committee led by Fr Blasco Fonseca, vicar for migrants, works to implement recommendations for better service to refugees and migrants.

While longer established ethnic communities such as the Italian, Croatian and Vietnamese have the benefit of their own chaplains, many of the more recently arrived do not have that support and must largely rely on parishes to offer the help they need.

Some key needs as identified by the committee are: to receive a warm, friendly welcome from their local parish; to enjoy ongoing interest and support as they endeavour to settle here; to have opportunities to receive sacraments they have missed out on;

Geoff Seaman

...

to be able, sometimes at least, to participate in liturgy in ways with which they are more familiar; to be able to enrol their children in Catholic schools.

Fortunately, Catholic schools, as far as they can, cater very well for the needs of new arrivals.

Aranmore Catholic College and Majella Primary School in Balga are two outstanding examples of special consideration for migrants and refugees.

Many Catholic schools help provide a much appreciated gesture of welcome in the form of a Christmas hamper. Chisholm Catholic College, for example, has been doing this with admirable generosity over many years. Some parishes, too, and the St Vincent de Paul Society have been conspicuous in their endeavours to be welcoming and helpful to new arrivals.

In Girrawheen, for example, “Welcome to Australia” picnics are held twice a year – a cooperative effort of the parish, the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Christian Brothers and Sacred Heart College, Sorrento. A similar event is held annually and very successfully at the North Perth Monastery.

Unfortunately, in spite of these endeavours, many migrants, including overseas students, and refugees, through no fault of their own, still miss out on connecting with our church as they would like to.

The celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees can act as a reminder of our being one human family so that we reach out a helping hand to our brothers and sisters who have suffered so much and need our support.

The World Day of Migrants and Refugees is an occasion for celebration of, and gratitude for, all the benefits migration has brought to Australia but also of challenge to be fair and compassionate towards those still suffering the pain of being forced to leave their homeland.

Br Geoff Seaman is a Christian brother who has worked with migrants and refugees for two decades

Good Samaritan legislation is one sign of a growing selfishness in our society, says Mark Reidy

Mandating our compassion Fanning the flames of hope

Several years ago “lizzie” could see no escape from the darkness overwhelming her. Her marriage had broken down, she was estranged from her family, there were financial difficulties and she was responsible for her son Declan, then 15, who had been diagnosed with a learning disability.

In a state of clinical depression, l izzie believed the only way to escape the pain was to take her own life. She attempted to overdose, only to find herself regaining consciousness 24 hours later.

What happened in that 24-hour period triggered a passion in lizzie that today drives her to seek changes in Wa law. lizzie says she learned later that her ex-husband had discovered her in a comatose condition but after phone discussions with her mother and brother, the three decided not to seek medical assistance. Declan said his father had told him that because lizzie wanted to die no one was going to call an ambulance. He left Declan alone with his mother.

lizzie’s desire to see laws passed that will prevent situations such as hers from being repeated, should be embraced by all who desire to defend and value the sanctity of life. Her concerns have been reinforced by recent cases such as that of Kalgoorlie man Grant Jesser, robbed and filmed by teenagers who discovered his beaten body.

They did not render assistance and Jesser eventually died. But because there are no laws in Wa that legally oblige bystanders to even contact emergency services, these boys, although charged with theft, were not held accountable for their neglect.

lizzie believes that in order to protect the most vulnerable in our society it is essential we enshrine in Wa “duty to rescue” laws adopted in ten US jurisdictions and over 20 european nations. These legally oblige bystanders to offer help to someone needing assistance, the minimum requirement being to contact appropriate emergency services. lizzie’s crusade is slowly

gathering momentum, especially in light of recent cases of rape and bashings in which bystanders have chosen not to get involved and allowed the crime to continue unreported. It is a sad reflection on our society that we must now consider whether to legislate what was once morally expected.

The seeds for such legislation in Wa were planted in 2002 with the Civil liability act, which included

not to assist others in need legally accountable for their decision. We are now living in a society increasingly distancing itself from the Christian principles on which our law was founded. Consequently, this will lead to the dismantling of a legal system designed to protect society’s most defenceless and replace it with one that will enhance the most powerful.

That is why it is essential we

“They will understand each and every life is of immeasurable value - and no law can alter that.”

a Good Samaritan clause protecting any person providing assistance in an emergency. It was a formal recognition of the attitude of selfpreservation pervading our society, triggered by litigation mania that was flooding the US legal system. Basically, it was government permission for us to put others before ourselves because potential rescuers were being deterred by the fear they could later be sued.

But as lizzie pointed out in her recent submission to Wa attorneyGeneral Christian Porter, while the Good Samaritan clause encouraged people to become involved, it is now time to go one step further to incorporate “duty to rescue” legislation that will hold those who choose

now enshrine laws within our system before society becomes too estranged from Christian values and human decency. People such as lizzie, who at one time in her life was not capable of looking after herself, can be protected by the community around her. We must ensure that legal safeguards are adopted to replace the moral and ethical ones once taken for granted.

For many of society’s most vulnerable, these protective barriers have already disappeared. Thousands are now routinely destroyed through abortion. The momentum is increasing to erode protections for the aged and frail.

But legal statutes, in and of themselves, will never guarantee the

practical application of their intent.

It is not difficult to equate our society today with the world St Paul addresses in his letter to the romans. Much of his attention is focused on the law, but Paul is adamant that the law, in itself, cannot deliver justice and mercy – these can only be fulfilled when they are enshrined into the hearts of the citizens.

laws are one thing but a greater imperative for Christians must be the desire to implant into the hearts of the next generation the Scriptural truths taught by Jesus.

These must become the guiding light shining before them as they enter their adult years so that when the law of the land fails these truths they will be led by a spiritual wisdom that innately seeks justice for all. If ever faced with situations such as lizzie’s, or any other dilemmas confronting them with the choice of whether or not to protect someone vulnerable, they will not have to rely on a government sanctioned statute - which can too easily be manipulated by self-desire - but will know in their hearts what they need to do.

They will understand that each and every life is of equal and immeasurable value in the eyes of God - and that no human law can ever alter that reality.

On assignment in Taiwan and learning about the history of Catholicism in China proved illuminating for Taaremon Matauea

Three years ago, when I was a seminarian in Chicago, the Columban Missionary Society asked me to go to Taiwan for two years. The purpose of this assignment was for me to live and work side by side with experienced Columban missionaries, learn one of the local languages (Mandarin), get to know the Taiwanese people, and learn about their life and faith.

I was privileged to be able to visit the place where the founder of the Columbans, Bishop Galvin, and several of his missionary companions lived when they first arrived in China more than 90 years ago. However, I also learned that when the communists came to power 30 years later (1951) all Christian missionaries - including Columban priests - were expelled and the local Christians persecuted.

During my visit I spent time with Columban Fr Dan Troy and began to realise how difficult it is to live in another country and befriend, almost in secret, its people. Despite being a priest, he has no church, no Sunday congregation, no catechism classes and no Bible study groups.

He believes, however, that all the people he encounters are children of God and that the only way that they might ever know the Bible will be through the Christian life he shows them. The gentle yet firm conviction of his faith as he lives his daily life among the Chinese people made me ask myself: How faithful am I in proclaiming the Good News of Christ’s love? How effective am I as a messenger of God not just on Sundays, but in my everyday humdrum life?

Taaremon Matauea is a Columban seminarian from Fiji

The unexpected possibilities in gay unions debate

In the debate on same-sex unions it is the church that may, somewhat paradoxically, offer a way forward for everyone

IN the same-sex marriage debate it is difficult to strike a balance between sense and sensibility-sensitivity. a s

Blaise Pascal sighed: “The heart has a logic which the head does not know.”

If two people do deeply love each other, why should they not have the lifelong security marriage gives, irrespective of sex? While that is a difficult proposition to refute respectfully, it may be more rationally refined. The struggle here is defending one position without offending the other. While sensitive to the human needs and civil rights of same-sex oriented people, is it fair for that section of society to make a claim on the ground belonging to another group, married couples?

However, as I write that sentence, the ugly spectre of the white supremacist arises in my mind: oppressing and denying those presently not so privileged or advantaged. Yet that analogy does not exactly hold.

Marriage, as understood in the Jewish-Christian traditions, and as it has been lived out in most socie-

ties, has been conceived of primarily for the begetting of children. l ove between husband and wife was a secondary bonus. This has been redressed in Catholic thought only in this generation, with the love of spouses and the begetting of children recognised as equal primary ends of marriage.

Civil and religious legislation has defined and enshrined marriage primarily in terms of child begetting. Most marriage laws and customs have had to do with procreation rather than love.

For example, there are those prohibited degrees of relationships within which one may not marry. These developed from generations of human experience of birth defects, long before there was a scientific understanding of genetics.

There is also a precise determination of what physiologically constitutes a consummated marriage act: the penetration and ejaculation of the sperm into the vagina. If this has not or cannot occur, then that marriage is void and can then be subject to annulment rather than divorce in civil and religious law.

So, reasonably, it could be pro-

posed that to speak of gay marriage is a serious conceptual confusion. Our use of words matters: they are the means we have to name and to grasp reality. We may not rename or redefine to accommodate a sectional opinion, especially when this would extend beyond recognition, and possibly eventually define out of its very exist -

on their own will form the main domestic grouping. So we clerical celibates will no longer be such social oddities.

However, God’s first words in human ears were sensitive and sensible: it is not good for one to be alone. There are and always have been other forms of human and lifelong commitment besides mar-

“God’s first words in human ears were sensitive and sensible: it is not good for one to be alone.”

ence an established institution, in this case marriage. My motivation here is neither social conservatism nor philological pedantry. r ather, given the general consensus that we are in the midst of a revolution in human self-understanding, in such a context it is sensible to defend the distinctiveness of the institution of marriage, as one of the few bedrocks of human reality. In isolation, that line of thinking may sound arid and sterile. It does not respond sensitively to other clearly emerging human needs.

It is predicted statistically that within a decade, people living

riage. Paradoxically, some church precedents may provide helpful analogies.

For many centuries within the Christian tradition certain lifelong and intimately personal commitments have borrowed analogously from the language of marriage. This marital intimacy imagery has its basis in scripture: Christ the bridegroom and the church as Christ’s bride. a bishop is married to a diocese (and wears a ring, but on the right hand), religious women (sisters, nuns) are the brides of Christ who also wear commitment rings

and even used to dress as brides on entering the convent community. This custom has been quietly dropped in recent decades, much to most people’s relieved embarrassment.

These analogies to the married state have been helpful and personally reassuring for those making a serious commitment to a Christian life: that one is not alone. Yet these usages have only been by way of analogy, as parallels drawn with spousal married life and love. They have never claimed the exact identity or an equal status with the married state.

Might not some similar lines of thinking offer a way forward, providing conceptual clarification while also giving personal reassurance and security to those for whom marriage, as traditionally accepted, is not an option?

It may be strangely ironic that such church customs may offer a way through this dilemma, while still preserving the distinctiveness of the institution of marriage.

James Foley has been the Catholic bishop of Cairns since 1992.

SUNDAY, 21 AUGUST

Caritas East Africa Drought Appeal

2.30-5.30pm at Innaloo Sportsmen’s Club, cnr Birdwood St and Langley Cr, Innaloo. Jackadder’s Music Club and Innaloo Sportsmen’s Club will present an afternoon of fine entertainment. All profits will fight drought in Somalia, the worst in 60 years. Performing will be The UpBeats trio, Carmel Charlton and Sonja D’Anne. Cost: $8 - Tickets at the door. Enq: Carmel 9446 1558.

TUESDAY. 23 AUGUST

Spirituality and The Sunday Gospels

7-8pm at St Benedict’s School Hall, Alness St, Applecross. Matthew: 16:13-20. Who is Jesus for us? Accredited CEO Faith Formation for ongoing renewal, Norma Woodcock. Everyone is welcome. There will be a collection. Enq: 9487 1772 or www.normawoodcock.com.

FRIDAY, 26 AUGUST

MEDJUGORJE EVENING OF PRAYER

7-9pm at St Gerard Majella Parish, cnr Ravenswood Dr and Majella Rd, Westminster. An evening of Prayer with Our Lady Queen of Peace, evening consists of Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary, and Benediction, concluding with Mass. Free DVD on conversion of Don Calloway from life of drugs, crime, imprisonment to priesthood also a DVD on Ivan’s visit to St Mary’s Cathedral Perth (Ivan alleged visionary from Medjugorje) available. Enq: Eileen 9402 2480, or 0407 47 1 256.

SATURDAY, 27 AUGUST

Healing retreat for couples

9.30am-5pm at Holy Family Parish, Lot 375 Alcock St, Maddington. Inner healing prayers for couples: a day for couples to understand themselves in the light of God’s Word by Vincentian Fathers. BYO lunch. Enq and registration: Melanie 0410 605 743 or m.fonseca@curtin.edu.au.

SUNDAY, 28 AUGUST

First Malaysian Norbertine Canon in 900 year history

9.30am at St Joseph’s Priory Parish, 135 Treasure Rd, Queens Park WA 6107. The Norbertine Canons: celebrating the Feast of Our Holy Father, Augustine in a Solemn Mass in which Bro Christopher J Lim, will profess Solemn Vows of the Order. Enq and RSVP: Tina 9458 2729 or 9451 5586.

Refugee Sunday Celebration

10.30am at Redemptorist Monastery, 190 Vincent Street, North Perth. All are invited to join the Redemptorist Community on Refugee Sunday, by celebrating Mass with the Sudanese Choir followed by a sausage sizzle in support of refugees who have made Australia their new home. Enq: Jeanette 9370 4690 or Fran 9328 8325.

TUESDAY, 30 AUGUST

Day of Reflection (MMP)

10.30am at St Paul’s, 106 Rookwood Street, Mt Lawley. Rosary, Holy Mass, celebrant and speaker Fr Tim Deeter, concluding at 2pm. Bring lunch to share. Tea and coffee provided. Enq: 9341 8082.

TUESDAY, 30 AUGUST TO THURSDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER

27th Novena to Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni

7pm at Holy Trinity Church, 8 Burnett St, Embleton. Mass, Novena and procession. 31 Aug, 7pm, Novena and blessing of the children. 1 Sept, 7pm Novena and blessing of the sick and elderly. 2 Sept, 7pm Novena. 3 Sept, 6pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, 7pm Mass. 4 Sept, 6pm Vigil Mass and Novena. Food Fete. 5-7 Sept, 7pm, Novena. 8 Sept, 7pm, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Concelebrated Mass and candle light procession. Enq: Office 9271 5528 or Gordon 9377 4472.

THURSDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER

Prayer in the Style of Taize

7.30-8.30pm at Our Lady of Grace Parish, Church, 3 Kitchener St, North Beach. Prayer, song and silence in candlelight; the symbol of Christ the light of the world. Enq: 9448 4457 or 9448 4888. www.taize.fr.

FRIDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER

World Youth Day Experience Sharing 7pm at Star of The Sea Parish Hall, 2 McNeil St, Cottesloe. Fr Rodrigo, together with two young people of the parish, would like to share their experience of the World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain. For this, Fr Freddy and Fr Rodrigo invite all young adults to join them for that evening. Light refreshments will be provided.Enq: Fr Freddy/Fr Rodrigo 9384 2421.

Panorama Editorial Policy

The Record reserves the right to decline any items submitted for publication in Panorama. The Record reserves the right to edit any items submitted for publication in Panorama. The deadline for submission on Panorama items is: 11am every Monday.

Peter Rosengren Editor

Catholic Faith Renewal Evening

7.30pm at St John and Paul’s Parish, Pinetree Gully Road, Willetton –Songs of Praise, sharing by Fr Sean Fernandez on “Creation and Evolution” followed by Thanksgiving Mass and light refreshments. You are all welcome to attend and we encourage you to bring your family and friends. Enq: Kathy 9295 0913, Ann 0412 166 164.

SATURDAY, 3 SEPTEMBER

Day with Mary

9am-5pm at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, cnr Camberwell and Berwick Sts, East Victoria Park. Day of prayer and instruction based on the Fatima message. 9am Video; 10.10am Holy Mass; Reconciliation, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons on Eucharist and Our Lady by His Grace, Archbishop Barry Hickey, Rosaries and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq – Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.

SUNDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER

Vespers and Benediction

4pm at St Mary’s Cathedral. The Anglican Dean of Perth, Dr John Shepherd will preach vespers, followed by Benediction and Mass at 5pm. St Charles Seminarians and the Cathedral choir will participate. All invited to this important ecumenical Service.

Divine Mercy

1.30pm at St Francis Xavier Church, 25 Windsor Street, Perth. The Main Celebrant, will be Fr Joseph Asnaban. The homily will be ‘The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady’. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy prayers, followed by Veneration of First Class Relic of St Faustina Kowalska. Refreshments later. Enq: John 9457 7771.

WEDNESDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER

Women on the Fringe– Male and female actors and crew required

7pm at St Simon Peter’s Parish Centre, cnr Prendiville Ave and Constellation Dr, Ocean Reef. The first reading of this play was written by Gerald Searle of St Anthony’s, Wanneroo. No experience needed. The play will be staged 2012 September: marginalised women because of gender, race and nationality, religion and moral standing – and transformed when encountered Jesus. Enq: Gerald 9404 7292.

SATURDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER

Anglican Ordinariate Group

11am at Holy Cross Tide in the courtyards of Notre Dame University, Fremantle. All welcome to pray the Stations of the Cross. Enq: Fr Ted Wilson 0349 5798 or Br Harry on 0417 180 145.

“Mary, Blessed Among All Women” - Catholic Women’s Day Retreat

9am-3pm at St Brigid’s Parish, 69b Morrison Rd, Midland. Day of reflection, prayer and spiritual enlightenment with the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Immaculate. Spiritual director: Fr Joseph. Lunch provided. Registration by 1 September. Enq: Lydia 0413 993 987 or catholicwomen.perth@gmail.com.

Divine Mercy Healing Mass

2.30pm at St Francis Xavier Church, 25 Windsor Street, East Perth. Main Celebrant will be Fr Marcellinus Meilak OFM. Reconciliation in English and Italian will be offered.

Divine Mercy prayers followed by Veneration of First Class Relic of St Faustina Kowalska. Refreshments afterwards. Enq: John 9457 7771.

FRIDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER

Healing Mass and Eucharistic Adoration

7-10pm at Holy Family Parish, 375 Alcock St, Maddington. Led by Fr Augustine Vallooran VC, Director of Divine Retreat Centre, Potta, India.

SATURDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER

Love Ministry Healing

6pm at Our Lady of Mercy, corner Girrawheen Ave and

Patrick Ct, Girrawheen. Love Ministry Healing team including Fr Nishan and other clergy. All welcome, come and be prayed over, healed from the past or present issues or stand in for a loved one who may be ill or facing problems at this time. Enq: Fr Hugh Thomas or Gilbert on 0431 570 322.

One-Day Healing Retreat

9am-5pm at Holy Family Parish, 375 Alcock St, Maddington. Led by Fr Augustine Vallooran VC, Director of Divine Retreat Centre, Potta, India BYO lunch.

SUNDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER

Healing Service

7-9.30pm at Our Lady of the Mission Parish, Whitfords, 270 Camberwarra Drive, Craige. Led by Fr Augustine Vallooran VC, Director of Divine Retreat Centre, Potta, India.

75th Anniversary Celebrations

9.30am at St Francis Xavier Church, 25 Windsor St, Perth. Mass. Past parishioners, ex-pupils of SFX School are cordially invited. Enq: Barbara 0401 178 782 or Roseanne 0434 899 406.

F RIDAY, 11 TO T UESDAY, 22 N OVEMBER

Pilgrim Tour To The Holy Land

Jordan, Israel and Egypt. Spiritual Director: Fr Sebastian Kalapurackal VC from St Aloysius Church, Shenton Park. Enq: Francis – Coordinator, 9459 3873 or 0404 893 877 or Skype ID: perthfamily.

MONDAY, 9 JANUARY TO MONDAY, 16 JANUARY 2012

Summer School

The Royal School of Church Music in Australia (RSCM) will be hosting a Summer School for all denominations next year. The programme will include workshops for church musicians and singers to help them inspire their congregations towards a more enjoyable and meaningful participation in church liturgy. Enrolments are now open and interested parties can find out more by going to www.rscmaustralia.org.au.

SATURDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 2012

A reunion for Holy Cross Primary School, Kensington

Any ex-students or family members please contact Julie Bowles (nee O’Hara) on 9397 0638 or email jules7@iinet. net.au.

E VERY S UNDAY

Gate of Heaven Catholic Radio

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

Pilgrim Mass - Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation

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

EVERY FIRST SUNDAY

Divine Mercy Chaplet and Healing Prayer

3pm at Santa Clara Church, 72 Palmerston St, Bentley. Includes Adoration and individual prayer for healing. Spiritual leader: Fr Francisco. All welcome. Enq: Fr Francisco 9458 2944.

Divine Mercy

1.30pm at St Francis Xavier Parish, 25 Windsor St, East Perth. Main celebrant: Fr Alphonsus. Includes Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Reconciliation, Holy Rosary,

Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Divine Mercy prayers. Followed by Benediction and Veneration of First Class Relics of St Faustina Kowalska. Refreshments afterwards. Enq: John 9457 7771.

EVERY SECOND SUNDAY

Healing Hour for the Sick

6pm at St Lawrence Parish, 392 Albert St, Balcatta. Begins with Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and prayers. Enq: Fr Irek 9344 7066 or ww.stlawrence. org.au.

EVERY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

Prayer in style of Taize during August and September

7-8pm at Sisters of St Joseph’s Chapel, 16 York St, South Perth. Chapel doors open at 6.30pm. Everyone welcome to come along for prayer, using songs from Taize in the stillness of a candle lit chapel. Remembering Mary MacKillop Feast day. Mary MacKillop merchandise and books for sale in the Mary MacKillop Centre. Enq: Sr Maree Riddler 0414 683 926.

Oblates of St Benedict Meet

2pm at St Joseph’s Convent, York St, South Perth. For all interested in studying the rule of St Benedict and its relevance to the everyday life of today for laypeople. Afternoon tea provided. Enq: Secretary 9457 5758.

E VERY F OURTH S UNDAY OF THE M ONTH

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life

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

St Mary’s Cathedral Youth group – fellowship with supper

5pm at Mary’s Cathedral, 17 Victoria Sq, Perth. Begins with Youth Mass followed by fellowship downstairs in parish centre. Bring a plate to share. Enq: Bradley youthfromsmc@gmail.com.

EVERY MONDAY

Evening Adoration and Mass

7pm at St Thomas Parish, Claremont, cnr Melville St and College Rd. Begins with Adoration, Reconciliation, Evening Prayer and Benediction, followed by Mass and Night Prayer at 8pm. Enq: Kim 9384 0598, claremont@ perthcatholic.org.au.

E VERY T UESDAY

Bible Teaching with a difference

7.30pm at St Joachim’s parish hall, Shepparton Rd, Victoria Park. Exciting revelations with meaningful applications that will change your life. Novena to God the Father, followed by refreshments. Bring Bible, a notebook and a friend. Enq: Jan 9284 1662.

Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

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

E VERY W EDNESDAY

Holy Spirit of Freedom Community

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

Holy Hour at Catholic Youth Ministry

6pm at 40A Mary St, Highgate, Catholic Pastoral Centre. 5.30pm Mass followed by $5 fellowship supper. Enq: Stefania 9422 7912 or www.cym.com.au.

Bible Study at Cathedral

6.15pm at Mary’s Cathedral, 17 Victoria Sq, Perth. Deepen your Faith through reading and reflecting on Holy Scripture by Fr Jean-Noel. Meeting room beneath Cathedral. Enq: Marie 9223 1372.

EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY

Holy Hour prayer for Priests

7.30-8.30pm at Holy Spirit Parish, 2 Keaney Pl, City Beach. All welcome. Enq: Linda 9341 3079.

SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

Chaplets of the Divine Mercy

7.30pm at St Thomas More Catholic Parish, Dean Rd, Bateman. A beautiful, prayerful, sung devotion accompa-

ACROSS

2 Regina

6 Notre

8 French Christmas

9 ___ Regina

10 Our Lady of 11 Jesus performed these

13 St Jean de LaSalle

15 Another name for the area of the Promised Land

17 Characteristic of God

19 Kyrie

22 Joseph interpreted these

24 What Jesus did on a certain

Thursday

27 Ark of the

29 ___ of the Sacred Heart

31 Laying on of

32 Golden Rule word

33 St ____du Beaupre

34 The four of the Church

DOWN

1 Sacred Roman (tribunal)

2 Place for nuns

3 The Road to

4 Brother of Isaac

5 Pertaining to those who have received Orders

6 A member of the clergy

7 “…begotten not ____…”

10 Tell a lie

12 Evil deed

14 The table

Walk With Him

21 S 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Gr Isa 22:19-23 A throne of glory

Ps 137:1-3, 6, 8 God’s love eternal

Rom 11:33-36 Glory to God

Mt 16:13-20 You are Peter

22 M The Queenship of Mary (M)

Wh 1 Th 1:1-5, 8-10 Faith in action

Ps 149;1-6, 9 Shout for joy

Mt 23:13-22 Blind leaders

23 tu St Rose of Lima, virgin (O)

Gr 1 Th 2;1-8 Rough treatment

Ps 138:1-3, 4-6 Knowledge too high

Mt 23:23-26 Justice and mercy

16 “It is not good for man to be ___.” (Gn 2:18)

18 Refrains from meat

20 Saint of Loyola

21 First sacrament received

22 Christmas month (abbr)

23 Catholic actor of Cocoon fame, Don

25 Roman

26 Catholic activist, Dorothy 28 ____ wide the doors to Christ 30 Tools of trade for Peter and Andrew

Last week’s so L ution

24 W ST BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE (Feast)

Red Rev 21:9-14 The holy city

Ps 144:10-13, 17-18 Mighty deeds

Jn 1:45-51 Heaven laid open

25 Th St Louis (O), St Joseph Calasanz, Gr 1 Th 3:7-13 Love one another

Ps 89:3-4, 12-14, 17 Life’s shortness

Mt 24:42-51 Stand ready

26 F 1 Th 4:1-8 Make more progress

Gr Ps 96:1-2, 5-6, 10-12 Joy for the upright

Mt 25:1-13 Lamps going out

27 S St Monica (M)

Wh 1 Th 4:9-11 Greater progress

Ps 97:1, 7-9 The Lord comes to rule

Mt 25:14-30 Faithful in small things

Continued on from Page 18

nied by Exposition and followed by Benediction. Enq: George 9310 9493 or 9325 2010 (w).

Ev ERY T HURSDAY

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

St Mary’s Cathedral Praise Meeting

7.45pm every Thursday at the Legion of Mary’s Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. Includes Praise song and healing ministry. Enq: Kay 9382 3668 or fmi@flameministries.org.

F IRST T HURSDAY OF THE M ONTH

Prayer in style of Taize

7.30-8.30pm at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 3 Kitchener St, North Beach. Includes prayer, song and silence in candlelight –symbol of Christ the light of the world. Taize info: www.taize.fr Enq: Secretary 9448 488 or 9448 4457.

FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

Holy Hour for vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life

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

Education counsElling SELF AWARENESS and RELATIONSHIPS COURSE

For singles, couples, marriage prep 12 Mondays, first on 25 JULY, 5-7pm At the RCPD, Fremantle, cost $288 or $240 conc http://members.dodo.com. au/~evalenz/ Call Eva on: 0409 405 585.

REligious PRoducts

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

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

KINLAR VESTMENTS

Quality handmade and decorated vestments: Albs, Stoles, Chasubles, Altar linen, banners, etc. 12 Favenc Way, Padbury. By appointment only. Ph Vickii on 9402 1318, 0409 114 093 or kinlar.vestments@gmail.com.

Deadline: 11am Monday

FuRnituRE REmoval

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

sEttlEmEnts

ARE YOU bUYINg OR SELLINg real estate or a business?

Why not ask Excel Settlements for a quote for your settlement. We offer reasonable fees, excellent service and no hidden costs. Ring Excel on 9481 4499 for a quote. Check our web site on www.excelsettlements.com.au.

tRadE sERvicEs

bREN d AN H AN d YMAN

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

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

Your handyperson. No job too small. SOR. Jim 0413 309 821.

bRICK RE-POINTINg Ph Nigel 9242 2952.

PERROTT PAINTINg Pty Ltd

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

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

lawn mowing

WRR LAWN MOWINg & WEEd

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

Book Binding

NEW bOOK bINdINg, General Book Repairs; Rebinding; New Ribbons; Old Leather Bindings Restored.Tydewi Bindery 0422 968 572.

achEs, Pain, stREss

REFLEX RELAX MASSAgE

Mature Indian Masseur

Jai: 0438 520 993.

accommodation

HOLIdAY ACCOMMOdATION

ESPERANCE 3 bedroom house f/furnished Ph 08 9076 5083.

oPPoRtunitiEs

bUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

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

21