The Record Newspaper 17 December 2008

Brisbane initiative adds to national crisis pregnancy resources

■ By Anthony Barich

THE first step towards a national Catholic pregnancy support network was taken on November 8 when Archbishop John Bathersby launched Pregnancy Crisis Incorporated in Brisbane.

PCI co-founders Alan and Patti Camp plan to establish national counselling, support and education services underpinned by a Catholic ethos and theology, which started in Queensland with the November 8 launch.

“We do not wish to duplicate existing Catholic ethos services anywhere,” Mrs Camp said. There already exist at least two such agencies - Pregnancy Assistance, founded by Catholics and launched by Archbishop Barry Hickey in 1996, and another launched in Frankston by Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart on October 7. “Future contact will be made with these Agencies to work together before PCI expands,” Mrs Camp said.

In early 2006, Brisbane-based industrial relations advocacy workers Mr and Mrs Camp researched Catholic services to women in crisis pregnancies and “found many opportunities” for the introduction of many services.

They approached the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Commission for Pastoral Life and produced a national list of counselling and crisis pregnancy accommodation services.

Prior to this they had started a Family Prayer Movement and completed a fulllength pro-life feature film.

Catholic faithful and staffed by volunteers, also assists clients who wish to have their child adopted.

Mrs Camp told The Record that their aim is to establish an “easy to remember” national pregnancy crisis hotline, referring clients to their nearest centre including Perth-based Abortion Grief Counselling and other Catholic Agencies, if that is their wish. She says services need to be provided where there are none in Australia.

The Parish - Pages 3-7

Bishops Messages -Pages 3-7

Cathedral - Vista 1 & 4

Kids Bitz - Page 13

Panorama - Page 14

Classifieds - Page 15

INDEX in brief...

They intend to establish Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as a foundation for the work of PCI, which has a lawyer assisting in charity association law and two gynecologists and obstetricians on its advisory committee. Its spiritual director is Marist Father Michael Rego SM who has composed a special “Life Prayer”.

PCI, a state-registered charity which is funded entirely by donations from the

The Camps are co-workers with the lay apostolate of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Blessed Mother Teresa. The Order has offered to help women with crisis pregnancies with short-term accommodation. Precise details are available from PCI.

“We are attempting to bring the charism of Blessed Mother Teresa to the pro-life movement in Australia,” Mrs Camp said. “Once PCI is established in Queensland

Pope backs ChurchState separation

... are you called to the Benedictine life of divine praise and Eucharistic prayer for the Church?

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Vatican City (CNA) - In his visit on December 13 to the Italian Embassy to the Holy See, Pope Benedict XVI noted that not only does the Church see the distinction between Church and State as important, but she considers it to be a “great progress for humanity.”

Meeting with representatives of the diplomatic corps to the Holy See, he said: “This brief visit allows me to reaffirm that the Church is very aware that the distinction between what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God, that is to say, the distinction between State and Church, is a part of the fundamental structure of Christianity,” he explained.

Not only does the Church acknowledge this separation, he said, but she considers it to be a “great progress for humanity and a fundamental condition for its freedom and for fulfilling its universal mission of salvation among the peoples.”

“At the same time, the Church feels the duty,” he went on, “of reawakening moral and spiritual forces in society, helping to make the will receptive to the demands of what is good.”

It is because of this that when the Church “recalls the value that fundamental ethical principles have” for private and public life, “she is in fact contributing to the guarantee and promotion of the dignity of the person and the well-being of society.”

In this sense, the Church “fulfills the true and proper co-operation that is sought between the State and Church,” he concluded.

we will expand our services throughout Australia. We believe that the issue of abortion should be raised to the highest level of consideration in our Catholic Church.” The Camps have approached over 65 Religious congregations around Australia and archdiocesan prayer groups in Queensland to mobilise prayer support for the initiative.

Queensland Bioethics Centre director Ray Campbell told Brisbane’s The Catholic Leader that “well organised support for vulnerable pregnant women who want to continue with their pregnancy has been lacking in Brisbane”.

The local St Vincent de Paul Society and PCI will provide baby packs for the first six months of the child’s life in cases where the mother or family is impoverished. PCI has already received donations of baby goods.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of PCI.

Next week The Record will run the full calendar of events run by youth movements around the Archdiocese of Perth, including Catholic Youth Ministry, 24-7, Young Christian Workers, Young Christian Students, True Love Waits and Impact.

Working together: PCI Spiritual director Marist Father Michael Rego, Sisters of Charity Australian Superior Sr Joseph Maria and Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane at the launch of Pregnancy Crisis Incorporated.

PHOTO: DAVID CARTIER

Couple wed in intimate ceremony

in brief...

Christmas is about Christ, not merchandise:

Guatemalan Cardinal

Guatemala City (CNA) - The Archbishop of Guatemala, Cardinal Rodolfo Quezada Toruno, called on the faithful in that country not to reduce Christmas to the mere “exchanging of gifts” and to keep in mind that “Christ must be the irreplaceable and only focus of our Christmas celebrations.” “It is not possible to reduce it to an occasion for extraordinary purchases, to the exchanging of gifts, to a children’s festivity or a simple excuse for profane celebrations.” He called on Christians to “see the time of Advent as a spiritual journey towards Christmas.”

Christmas and the meaning of

life

Archbishop Barry Hickey’s Christmas message

At a time when others want to focus our minds on fear of economic crisis or climate change, Christmas reminds Catholics that we always live in the joy of God’s love for us.

Whatever the circumstances that may come our way, we can always remind ourselves that the meaning of life is found in the goodness of God and his plans for us, and His plans for us are peace and not disaster.

Even if the material world around us begins to crumble, physically or financially, we know that we are loved and that God’s love will see us safely through to eternity.

Knowing that God loves us, we can rely on the spiritual values of love, generosity and forgiveness in our family life and in our relationships with others.

They are far happier states to live in than fear and anxiety about anything..

These spiritual values are not only the way to express ourselves internally, but also the best way to express ourselves outwardly towards others.

They enable us to treat people in difficulties as our brothers and sisters and stand by them through their trials. Reaching out to others contributes not only to our peace and joy, but also to the peace and joy of the community around us.

Christmas brings these truths to our minds in a deep and joyous celebration which reawakens our own experience of the truth and beauty of God’s relationship with us.

It is also brings to mind the wonder of our own families. When God sent his only Son to join and save the human race, He placed Him firmly in a family with a mother and a father who were prepared to devote their lives to Jesus.

The beauty that we all see in the Holy Family is also the beauty about our own families, where the love of parents leads to the full development of their children. Mothers and fathers who honour one another and their children will be supported by Jesus, Mary and Joseph in their struggles.

That makes a Happy Christmas, indeed.

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Happiness... is in a glance. When former Record journalist Sylvia Defendi wed long-time beau Michael Wardle at Sacred Heart Church in Mundaring on December 13 in front of an intimate congregation of friends and family. There were smiles all round, including on the face of celebrant Fr Anthony Paganoni CS, a close family friend of the Defendis and former episcopal vicar for migrants in the Archdiocese of Perth. Michael, an Adelaide boy studying architectural landscaping in Perth, met Sylvia when travelling with the Youth Mission Team. PHOTO: JUSTINE STEVENS

Christmas - time to change for the better

Bishop Christopher Saunders

If there was a common theme surrounding the recent US elections it was ‘change’ Each candidate who promised change spoke of it with great vigour and heralded it as a goal to be pursued without hesitation as though change is so terribly foreign to us.

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus said that nothing endures except change. Change is the only constant in life. However, you may note, often the most difficult thing to change is oneself and doubtless, it is precisely we ourselves who are in most need of change. Leo Tolstoy put it succinctly when he said: everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Part of the wonder of Christmas is that the entire event is about change for the world and at the same time about change for ourselves personally. Most remarkably it is the sort of change that is liberating and lasting, way beyond the vicissitudes of politics and the everyday pitfalls of the human condition.

The Infancy narratives inform us that the birth of the Saviourchild brought about change that

caused memorable signs in the skies and was foretold by those who read the ancient Scriptures with expectation and deep insight.

Palestine was ready for some monumental moment, some cataclysmic event that was to reorder society and change the destiny of people everywhere. What those who waited did not know was that this change-event would be played out in simplicity and in an atmosphere of dire poverty, in the barn of a remote inn in tiny Bethlehem, then lived out in relative obscurity in Galilee and finally brought to fruition in Jerusalem thirty-three years later at the Passover time.

Christmas is a delightful moment which every year beckons us to have a fresh look at ourselves and contemplate the possibility of change for the better. This happens because we engage with more than just a moment. Rather we connect through Scripture, prayer, devotion and liturgy with the person

of Jesus the Christ, who calls us out of darkness into his own wonderful light.

The discovery of this light of love in our lives hastens changes in us. And it is through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ that we connect also with each other.

The Jesus we find first at His birth is vulnerable and peacegiving, obviously prepared to be embraced by us. This clearly is a moment of serene beauty which we are invited to share. In prayerful humility we ask - do I reflect this beauty in the way I live? Will I strive to be a picture of peace and justice in our world? And am I prepared to be part of God’s masterpiece, contributing in a manner which ultimately makes a world of difference?

Each Christmas brings a gift of Grace to us all - communally, singularly. In faith let us welcome the measure of change that God, who never changes, has in mind for us. May His choicest blessings be with you and your family this Christmas.

Reject sin and

■ By Robert Hiini

SPEAKERS at the fifth annual Embrace the Grace (ETG) conference echoed the late John Paul II and Holy Scripture in exhorting youth to "be not afraid" in the wake of World Youth Day 2008.

Over 120 young people gathered at New Norcia between December 10-14 to listen to national and local personalities speak to this year's theme while enjoying outdoor games and the ETG music and drama teams’ efforts.

The conference took its theme from the late Pope's message on the World Day of Peace in 1985:

"Do not be afraid of your own youth, and of those deep desires you have for happiness, for truth, for beauty and for lasting love."

The conference's keynote speaker, Steven Lawrence, the Director of Evangelisation and Catechesis for WYD08, reminded the youth of the experience and significance of WYD, describing it as a "taste of heaven". "WYD was a flash of the glory of God. The sky was torn open for a moment and people had a vision of the eternal glory to which we are called," he said.

"So even though it has come and gone it helps to orientate us to something eternal, to the good and the beautiful."

He singled out the experience of the Church's universality and historicity, the joy of being with other pilgrims and an environment that was more welcoming and tolerant than everyday life.

Mr Lawrence spoke of the need, post-WYD, to reject sin and to instead seek the true, the good and the beautiful in everyday life. Conference goers also heard from four graduates of the John Paul II Institute in Melbourne - the recently professed Sr Bernadette MG, Natalie Thomas, Grant Gorddard and Anthony Coyte.

Mr Gorddard and Miss Thomas addressed the men and women respectively on the subjects of masculinity and femininity - a conference tradition.

"Women carry a lot of wounds. There is something in us that carries a lot of expectations about how we should be treated about how we should be affirmed and quite often, have been let down by men," Ms Thomas said. She spoke about what John Paul II coined the "genius of women", the specific giftedness of women - “the fact that she can open herself up to receiving. She shows the world what it means to be human."

ETG founder and inaugural director of the Respect Life Office, Sr Bernadette Pike MG, spoke about abandoning idols in our lives in order to truly live, expounding on the story of the young rich man who approaches Christ looking for the secret to eternal life.

The young people also heard from senior priest Fr John O'Reilly on the Sacrament of Reconciliation and from Peter Rosengren, editor of The Record, on the encyclical Humanae Vitae

The first ETG conference was in 2004.

embrace life: youth empowered

We’ve found our heart’s desire

Bishop Don Sproxton

The ancient Celts believed that life was like a wheel that turned and the measure of that turning was marked by the strengthening and waning of the sun. The summer solstice was the zenith of the sun’s intense strength and power and the winter solstice the time of the sun’s weakness and its possible death.

Of course, all of this drama was played out in the seasons of the Northern Hemisphere. In Australia, we experience this drama in its reverse. December and the summer solstice is our time to feel the full strength and power of the Sun. The image of the wheel of life turning, however, retains something of its meaning. The wheel of our lives continues to turn, returning us to a time of beginning and new things at Christmas and the New Year.

I have completed reading a wonderful little book in the last month about the journey of a young shepherd who went in search of his treasure. He became aware of the need to begin this journey because of a recurring dream. The journey took him to foreign lands where he met people of different traditions and faiths, who were instrumental in him finding the treasure. The book is by Paulo Coelho, titled The Alchemist and I’ll say no more about it so that you might enjoy it in your turn.

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Coelho is a Catholic, born in Brazil and is gaining a remarkable reputation for telling stories on themes of spirituality. The Alchemist is about finding your heart’s desire and the journey of the shepherd is a parable, I am sure, of Coelho’s own search for this treasure. The ever-changing character of the Alchemist I see as the Holy Spirit, the wise and guiding Counsellor who provides the one on the journey with the signs and discernment to reach the greatest of our heart’s desires.

The end of that journey only means the beginning of a new journey, but with a new compass and new vision. So there is a kind of wheel turning for the young shepherd.

The Magi who find the King of Kings in a manger at Bethlehem reached the end of a journey.

They found their heart’s desire, but soon realised that a new journey beckoned them. It was to return to their homes with the treasure of faith and to announce this to their own people. Tradition tells us that they did so and their people benefited by their apostolate.

Christmas is the promise of a new time fulfilled and its return for us is a consolation for we can begin again. We celebrate the new life of Jesus’ birth and the hope it offers. His birth was the fulfilment of the promises of God.

St Augustine wrote quite astonishingly: “God made Himself our debtor, not by accepting anything from us, but by promising us great blessings.”

These blessings are the treasure, the attaining of our heart’s desires. Augustine continued: “He promised humanity the divine nature; to mortals, immortality; to sinners, justification; to castaways, a state of Glory”. (St Augustine’s Discourse on Psalm 109 1:3).

It is with these thoughts that I pray that we come to a deep realisation of all that God has permitted so that we could receive our heart’s desires through the gift of Jesus Christ and our faith.

May the blessings of peace and joy this Christmas be accepted by us all and renew us on our journey of life.

Kickin it: West Ausralian youth enjoy the festivities of Embrace the Grace at New Norcia, which used games and a community environment to build solidarity among young Catholics and embolden them to embrace life as Christ intended, guided by the Truth.

PHOTOS: PAUL BUI

In economic crisis, Christ is coming An invitation to make a comeback this year

Bishop Justin Bianchini

O-ver the past months we have heard much said about the economic climate. We have ridden a roller coaster of ups and downs along the financial markets of the World. It has reminded us all how closely linked all the nations of the World are.

What happens in America can cause a tsunami across the economic seas to far off nations.

With the economic meltdown comes fear of a world wide recession. We are told to tighten our belts and prepare for the worse that is to come; the economic downturn will put an end to the good times; jobs will be lost. We have had it too good for too long and now we are going to reap what we have sown from economic mismanagement.

Through all this we begin to see, or are reminded, just how vulnerable our comfort zones are.

Looking at all this downturn, each one of us can gauge just how much of our economic comfort contributes to the foundation of our lives and who we are. We can ask ourselves how much of who I am as a person will change if I am suddenly forced to live a more frugal life. For some, sadly, it will mean they lose their very source of income.

Through our economic highs, we in the western culture have put God at the back of the picture. Caught up in our happiness we have forgotten our greatest benefactor. Maybe the unfathomable materialism that has hijacked the spirit of Christmas will now become more practical as we rethink the value of our gifts and return to basics. Maybe the downturn will give us greater opportunities to be present to one another, to serve one another and to love one another.

We can go even further. So much is being done through finances by countries and Governments to bring us out of recession. If we can do it for one purpose we can also do it for the poor of the world.

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, the leader of the Catholic Church in Honduras, recently visited the United Nations to speak. He is the President of Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican organisation for Catholic charities in 162 nations. While he was there he learnt of the $700 billion that was being used by United States to prop up companies. “Seven hundred billion,” he said. “Can you imagine that money? And all because people are not able to run their corpo-

rations in the right way. How come it is always the money of the poor that is lost? How come the money of the rich is always saved? I’m not blaming or accusing, just putting the facts on the table. When it comes to alleviating poverty, there are no resources. But when it comes to saving the rich, there are always resources.”

As we close off a liturgical year we hear much of the same themes of gloom; the end is nigh, the Lord’s return is immanent. “Stay awake! Prepare yourself! You may have to reap what you have sown or failed to sow!”

It all seems very fearful... just like the talk surrounding our economic doom.

In a more positive light, Christ is coming. We spend the four weeks of Advent preparing for this great event. One day he will come back as he said he would but for the time being we are recalling his coming - we are pondering the great mystery of God’s beautiful gift to us. We are examining the foundations of our lives and realigning those parts of our lives that have fallen out of step with Christ and his Teachings. We are looking at the reasons why Christ came in the first place, for love of us. True peace and justice can only come by walking His Way, living His Truth and sharing His Life.

After four weeks of Advent, and with our foundations strengthened by our prayerful preparation and meditations of Scripture, we can celebrate more deeply the birth of our Lord into the very centre of our lives on Christmas Day. Then no matter what tragedies befall us, whether across the globe or privately, we can tap into the peace that this world cannot give, the peace that only Christ can give and sail confidently amid the turmoil with our eyes fixed on him. In the readings of the Fourth Sunday of Advent we are encouraged by Paul to be happy at all times and to pray constantly.

His prayer for you is my prayer this Christmas: that the God of peace makes you perfect and holy; and may he keep you safe and blameless, spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has called you and he will not fail you.

■ By a hopeful churchgoer

I HATE going to Mass. I work for an archdiocese so I expect I'm supposed to love it. But at the risk of sounding "critical" or "negative" - the most deplorable of crimes no matter how honest, true or even necessary - I would readily admit that it is often the most depressing time of my week.

Whether the cold pseudo-community, the trite liturgical add-ons or the soppy, narcisistic hymns of self-soothing that we sing in the voice of God to ourselves ("Be not afraid, I go before you always"); I often sit in a sparsely populated pew wondering "why do I come here?"

Am I a part of the problem? You betcha.

I have long since given up going out of my way to talk to people I don't know (that's about 98 per cent of attendants), offering to help or doing battle with the local priest or pastoral councillors to try and help improve things.

So, if you're someone who goes to church once or twice a year, I can't say I blame you but despite my blithering above, I think we have got one, really big reason to stay in the game and I invite you to join me in making a come back to Catholicism this Christmas.

Why? Because no matter how bad things get, in the world or in the Church, Jesus Christ, the one who makes hope possible - who is hope - is truly present there and that shouldn't surprise you or me. He has been turning up in situations of disarray since, well, Christmas.

Forget for now the quaint traditional depiction of Christ asleep in a manager under pre-ordained

starlight in a hay-filled barnyard in the pristine countryside.

Christ was likely born in a first century stable: an animal-filled cave in the hillside. Born in what might have been a dank, excrement-laden hovel.

If the Lord of the Universe would so humble himself to meet me, to meet you, then I think I had better humble myself and suffer the relatively benign tedium of attending Mass on Sunday.

But let's not guilt ourselves in to going. Surely, we have better reasons than that. For me, it's that the time I have spent apart from Jesus this year has been my most self-destructive - hopeless, in the figurative and literal sense of the word.

I have become so self-invloved that loving others in my life "selflessly" has become an impossibility. Alone without God, I have conclusively demonstrated, that I am not up to the task.

Sure, I'm a "good person". I haven't killed anyone and occasionally shell out some change for whoever's asking but I simply cannot love those around me in the

way they ought to be loved and they are unable to do the same for me.

Without the grace of God in their heart, no human person can. Can you get enough of that grace to do just that in a bi-annual hit? Not likely. Not at all really. Conversion is an ongoing process.

It would be great if we could convert like the good thief, making the move just before we dropped off the perch, but it wouldn't add much to the life we had lived in between. The grace of Jesus Christ poured out in this world is not for the dead but for the living.

He gives us his very self in the Eucharist through the words and the command that he uttered: "Do this in memory of me."

And so, I will grit my teeth this Christmas and pray for better things to come in my ongoing attendance.

I will think of the loving God who chose to be born in amongst the filth and obscurity of a lonely hillside.

It’s the same God who rocks up to see the likes of me each week, at Mass.

19TH

John XXIII College, John XXLLL Avenue, Mt. Claremont.

Arise, o dormant Catholics

■ By Mark Reidy

CHRISTMAS provides our Church with one of its most bittersweet celebrations of the year - the resurrection of the dormant Catholic.

Along with Easter, this time of year sees congregations swell to overflowing as families and individuals who do not make it to their parishes throughout the year, join regular attendees to celebrate the joyous moment that God became man.

It is a beautiful reunion of followers who are united by their understanding that the birth and death of Jesus are the bookends of our faith, but with this comes the sadness of knowing that those who stay away throughout the year are not realising the fullness of what they have come to celebrate.

There are numerous reasons why many who have been baptised into the Church only choose to attend on these pivotal occasions - I am personally familiar with most of them. From my late teens through to my early thirties I was very ‘loyal’ to my submarine Catholicism, surfacing bi-annually to satisfy or fulfil some deep and often unconscious desire to still belong.

My immediate justifications varied between keeping my parents happy, guilt, habit and ‘fire insurance’ (just in case there was a Hell), and they were all valid at the time, but in hindsight there was a seed of truth, planted by God and watered by my parents’ faithfulness, that lay buried beneath my blasé sense of devotion.

It is a seed that lies within us all and it is a sign of great hope that so many continue to expose themselves to at least these major celebrations, because it keeps the truth that has been entrusted to the Church, alive within them.

However, the motivation behind this article is really an invitation to our not-oftenseen brothers and sisters to take the time to stop and search for the underlying inspiration of why you continue to keep your finger in the pie.

Why do you, especially in the busyness of Christmas Eve/Day, sacrifice your precious time to join others in celebrating the arrival of a child born 2000 years ago? It is not a question that you necessarily need to discuss with anyone else, although exploring the issue with someone you trust can be helpful, but it is an invitation to explore more deeply what motivates your actions.

In fact this is an exercise that even those of us who attend each week should regularly undertake. It is very easy, in our humanity, to slip into habitual attendance and lose sight of the sacred treasure that we have been given. Each of us, from those who attend daily to those who attend annually, would benefit from such self-analysis.

But for now, the only tip I have, as a lapsed dormant Catholic, is that as you find yourself drawn to the Church’s celebrations of Christmas and Easter, do not let your deep yearning for truth be hijacked by the rituals and practices that you may not understand at this time. Your sole (or soul) focus, should be on the person whose birthday you have come to celebrate. Allow yourself to be open to the love that entered the world that wondrous day and you may find that the seed of truth within you will begin to take root.

And for those who attend every week, let us go out of our way to make welcome those that we may only see at this time of year. Let them know that they are a vital part of the Body of Christ.

Let us see ourselves as the shepherd who steps out from the comfort of the flock and seeks out the lost sheep. We never know; the smile, handshake or conversation that we offer, may well be the bridge that draws them back home.

Is Christ’s peace on earth a fantasy?

Archbishop Gerard Holohan

This year is ending with so much turmoil on so many fronts. The finance crisis has left people insecure because of a drop in their superannuation benefits. There is the fear of businesses collapsing and people becoming unemployed. We may be tempted to wonder if Christ’s peace on earth is a fantasy.

Financial pressures can lead to tensions in marriages and family life. Anxiety can incline all of us to be rude and abrupt with others. Then there are the problems associated with wars and terrorism. Violence is growing in our cities, and one-punch deaths are on the rise. Where is the peace promised at that first Christmas?

Where are we looking for peace?

For many people, peace is something to be surrounded by - like the water surrounding a gold fish in a bowl. They see peace as the absence of war, violence, vandalism and tensions in relationships.

It is a sense of security and freedom from anxiety and worry. This is different from the peace Christ brings.

What kind of peace does Christ bring?

Christ’s peace begins deep within the person, and grows. As it grows, people become less troubled and anxious about external problems. The peace Christ offers remains, regardless of the world outside. It is not affected by illness or suffering, for it is deeper than these things.

Those who develop this peace grow as peace-filled people. And the peace growing within them influences lives of others their spouses, families and beyond. Jesus said “Blessed are the peace-makers; they

shall be recognised as children of God [Matthew 5]. He also said [John 14:27]:

Peace I leave you, my own peace I give you - a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.

Christmas reminds us of the promise of this peace. It encourages us to ask: Am I growing in peace within? Unfortunately, it can be all too obvious at Christmas when people lack peace within. Family arguments can break out, and memories of past hurts are dredged up. Christmas becomes a tension-filled time.

The personal relationship with Jesus

Only Jesus himself can empower us. He does this as we pray to him daily, sharing with him our joys and sorrows, our hurts and disappointments, our confusions and anxieties.

Most importantly, Jesus taught that anyone wanting to be close with him needs the Eucharist [John 6:16]:

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.

His idea of Christianity was different from those who say “I can be a good Christian without going to Mass.” Jesus gave us the Mass as the principal way of drawing close to him and growing in inner peace he alone can give. Who has ever prayed and paid close attention in the Mass and not left a little more peaceful?

Let us find Christmas peace.

At a time of financial instability, violence and wars, when our lives may be in turmoil, let us remember Christ’s wish to give us inner peace. Let us ask ourselves honestly whether we are opening ourselves to Christ’s peace by deepening in a personal relationship with him; whether we are praying, worshipping and trying daily to live as he taught.

VISITATIONS OF MARY

PILGRIMS ROAD TO MARY

Lisbon (2) Fatima Anniversary (3) Avila (2)

Old Testament

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Tobit Judith Esther 1 Maccabees 2 Maccabees Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Wisdom Sirach Isaiah

Reverence for the Word

Word and sacrament are inseparably united. Both command profound reverence. The custom of kissing the Book of Gospels, which remains with the Church today, arose in the early centuries of Christianity, as did the custom of “enthroning” the biblical books in the Church.

The Word is the Lord’s, but it is revealed to mankind. It must be written, but primarily so that it can be proclaimed “in the midst of the assembly” (Sir 15:5) in every generation.

BIBLE

BYSCOTTHAHN

Sometimes we find his Word thundering from above,sometimes whispering in a still, small voice — but always,it is the Word sent by the all-knowing,all-loving,all-powerful God.

The Bible is a whole library ofbooks written over the course ofmore than a thousand years,in many different styles,with many different points ofview,by dozens ofdifferent writers.

But it is also one book,with one Author, telling one story — the heart-pounding,thrilla-minute story ofour salvation.

How to read the Bible as a faithful Catholic

Scholars have written mighty tomes, and saints have spent long lives, teaching people what it means to read the Bible faithfully. Here we’ll offer just a brief word on interpretation — three short principles, actually, that the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) decreed in its Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum . These “criteria” were summarized in the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the following form:

“Be attentive ‘to the content and unity of the whole Scripture’” (No. 112).

The Church’s first criterion protects us from wrenching verses out of context, making them out to mean something other than their divine and human authors intended. The true context of every verse in the Bible is the words and paragraphs that surround it — the book in which it appears. The true context is the book of the Bible, but also the book that is the Bible.

“Read the Scripture within ‘the living Tradition of the whole Church’” (No. 113).

The second criterion places the Bible firmly within the context of a community that treasures a “living tradition.” That community is the Communion of Saints. We test our own interpretations, measuring them against the tradition of interpreters who have gone before us. The Catholic writer G.K. Chesterton called this principle the “democracy of the dead.” We believe that our ancestors have much to teach us. They should have a vote. It protects us from the everpresent arrogance that believes we have just now reached the pinnacle of human knowledge and insight.

“Be attentive to the analogy of faith” (No. 114).

“ ”

How the Bible unfolds in the Mass

All of the books of the New Testament were written in:

A.

Test your knowledge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Old

A. The Vulgate

B. The Douay-Rheims

C. The Septuagint

True or False: Baruch is one of the deuterocanonical books.

The story of David conquering Goliath appears in which book?

A. 1 Samuel

B. 1 Kings

C. 1 Chronicles

Lectionary

A. King James Version

B. New American Bible

C. Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

True or false: Galatians is the longest of St. Paul’s letters?

Answers below

The Mass is the one thing that Catholics experience on a weekly basis all their lives, and the Bible is the one book that they will hear at every Mass. Since Masses on Sundays and holy days usually include three readings from the two testaments, plus a psalm, the average faithful Catholic spends about 15 hours a year in focused Bible study. For the Catholic who goes to daily Mass, the totals rival even the hours spent by some scholars.

In addition to the readings, here is where you can find the Bible parts of the Mass:

Trinitarian blessing: Mt 28:19

Apostolic greeting: 2 Cor 13:13

“The Lord be with you”: 2 Thes 3:1

“I confess…”: After Psalm 51; Jas 5:16; and others

“Lord, have mercy”: Mt 17:15

Gloria: Lk 2:14

“Alleluia”: Rv 19:1-6

“Lift up your hearts”: Lam 3:41

“Holy, holy, holy”: Rv 4:8

The Great Amen: Rv 5:14

The Lord’s Prayer: Mt 6:9-13

“Lamb of God”: Jn 1:29

“Behold the Lamb”: Rv 19:9

Dismissal: Lk 7:50

“Thanks be to God”: 2 Cor 9:15

VISTA

When God invaded human history...

New Cathedral emerges

The new-and-improved St Mary’s Cathedral will accomodate more people, granting them better vision of the liturgy. The extent of the enlargement can be judged from this picture (right). It is repeated on the other side of the building. Underneath are new parish meeting rooms and other facilities.

Below left, a ground-level view shows the spacious new interior.

The completed cathedral was designed by architect Peter Quinn, who continues to supervise.

Top right shows a side view from the front, while bottom right shows how the new view will look above the gates where Victoria Ave joins Victoria Square.

A Homily on Christmas Morning

■ By St John Chrysostom

BEHOLD a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The Angels sing. The Archangels blend their voice in harmony. The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt His glory. All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven. He Who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below; and he that was lowly is by divine mercy raised.

Bethlehem this day resembles heaven; hearing from the stars the singing of angelic voices; and in place of the sun, enfolds within itself on every side, the Sun of justice. And ask not how: for where God wills, the order of nature yields. For He willed, He had the power, He descended, He redeemed; all things yielded in obedience to God. This day He Who is, is Born; and He Who is, becomes what He was not. For when He was God, He became man; yet not departing from the Godhead that is His. Nor yet by any loss of divinity became He man, nor through increase became He God from man; but being the Word He became flesh, His nature, because of impassability, remaining unchanged.

And so the kings have come, and they have seen the heavenly King that has come upon the earth, not bringing with Him Angels, nor Archangels, nor Thrones, nor Dominations, nor Powers, nor Principalities, but, treading a new and solitary path, He has come forth from a spotless womb.

Since this heavenly birth cannot be described, neither does His coming amongst us in these days permit of too curious scrutiny. Though I know that a Virgin this day gave birth, and I believe that God was begotten before all time, yet the manner of this generation I have learned to venerate in silence and I accept that this is not to be probed too curiously with wordy speech. For with God we look not for the order of nature, but rest our faith in the power of Him who works.

What shall I say to you; what shall I tell you? I behold a Mother who has brought forth; I see a Child come to this light by birth. The manner of His conception I cannot comprehend.

Nature here rested, while the Will of God laboured. O ineffable grace! The Only Begotten, Who is before all ages, Who cannot be touched or be perceived, Who is simple, without body, has now put on my body, that is visible and liable to corruption. For what reason? That coming amongst us he may teach us, and teaching, lead us by the hand to the things that men cannot see. For since men believe that the eyes are more trustworthy than the ears, they doubt of that which they do not see, and so He has deigned to show Himself in bodily presence, that He may remove all doubt.

Christ, finding the holy body and soul of the Virgin, builds for Himself a living temple, and as He had willed, formed there a man from the Virgin; and, putting Him on, this day came forth; unashamed of the lowliness of our nature’. For it was to Him no lowering to put on what He Himself had made. Let that handiwork be forever glorified, which became the cloak of its own Creator. For as in the first creation of flesh, man could not be made before the clay had come into His hand, so neither could this corruptible body be glorified, until it had first become the garment of its Maker.

“What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you?

For this wonder fills me with astonishment.”

What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you?

For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of days has become an infant. He Who sits upon the sublime and heavenly Throne, now lies in a manger. And He Who cannot be touched, Who is simple, without complexity, and incorporeal, now lies subject to the hands of men. He Who has broken the bonds of sinners, is now bound by an infants bands. But He has decreed that ignominy shall become honour, infamy be clothed with glory, and total humiliation the measure of His Goodness.

For this He assumed my body, that I may become capable of His Word; taking my flesh, He gives me His spirit; and so He bestowing and I receiving, He prepares for me the treasure of Life. He takes my flesh, to sanctify me; He gives me His Spirit, that He may save me. Come, then, let us observe the Feast. Truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the Nativity. For this day the ancient slavery is ended, the devil confounded, the demons take to flight, the power of death is broken, paradise is unlocked, the curse is taken away, sin is removed from us, error driven out, truth has been brought back, the speech of kindliness diffused, and spreads on every side, a heavenly way of life has been ‘in planted on the earth, angels communicate with men without fear, and men now hold speech with angels.

Why is this? Because God is now on earth, and man in heaven; on every side all things commingle. He became Flesh. He did not become God. He was God. Wherefore He became flesh, so that He Whom heaven did not contain, a manger would this day receive. He was placed in a manger, so that He, by whom all things are nourished, may receive an infant’s food from His Virgin Mother. So, the Father of all ages, as an infant at the breast, nestles in the virginal arms, that the Magi may more easily see Him. Since this day the Magi too have come, and made a beginning of withstanding tyranny; and the heavens give glory, as the Lord is revealed by a star. To Him, then, Who out of confusion has wrought a clear path, to Christ, to the Father, and to the Holy Ghost, we offer all praise, now and for ever. Amen.

St John Chrysostom is widely regarded as possibly the greatest preacher ever. His name ‘Chrysostom’ means ‘golden-tongued. This Patriarch of Constantinople died in 409.

On the twelth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Have you ever wondered what the famous 12 days of Christmas are?

Almost all of us know the opening line and tune to the song where somebody’s true love brings them a partridge in a pear tree. But after this opening line it can get a bit diffcult to remember everything else. Don’t worry, whether or not there are ten lords a-leaping through your house, the 12 days of Christmas are really the traditional way to celebrate the Christmas period which in countries like Australia we only celebrate with credit cards, increased stress and for one day, December 25.

The 12 days of Christmas begin on the evening of Christmas Day (NOT Christmas Eve!) and run until the evening of January 6, the Christian Feast of the Epiphany, which marks the visit of the Three Wise Men to behold and venerate the infant Jesus, the Saviour of the World. This period is meant to be a period of prayer, feasting and fun in the spirit of celebration of the birth of Jesus.

In the Middle Ages the Twelth Night was the traditional end of the Christmas season and was immortalised by Shakespeare in his play entitled… well, Twelth Night. This is the night when Christmas decorations are meant to be taken down.

Parts of the ancient celebrations of the 12 days

survive in different ways in different parts of the world. According to Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, “…The most popular remaining tradition in this century throughout the world is the cooking of the traditional foods to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. In some Latin countries, a Rosca de reyes is baked: This is a traditional cake from Spain similar to the King cake in other countries. The recipe varies from the American-style “king cake”, but the meaning is the same.

“Similarly, in France (and French-speaking countries) a “Galette des Rois” (the tart for the (three) Kings) is baked with a bean or small china figure of the Christ-child inside — the person who finds it becomes “King” and wears a paper crown for the day. In Italy the tradition of “La Befana”, whose name is taken from the word ‘Epiphany’, is very substantial and widespread. In Latin America the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany is the beginning of another religiousbased season which has meshed with secular and pagan celebrations over time: That being “Carnaval” (or “Carnival”) season, which concludes, in turn, on Mardi Gras Day.”

December 25, the Feast of the Nativity

What’s the origin of the Nativity scene?

■

By Fr William Saunders

St

Francis

and the Christmas creche

Thestory of the origin of the Christmas creche rests with the very holy man, St Francis of Assisi. In the year 1223, St Francis, a deacon, was visiting the town of Grecio to celebrate Christmas. Grecio was a small town built on a mountainside overlooking a beautiful valley. The people had cultivated the fertile area with vineyards. St Francis realized that the chapel of the Franciscan hermitage would be too small to hold the congregation for Midnight Mass. So he found a niche in the rock near the town square and set up the altar. However, this Midnight Mass would be very special, unlike any other Midnight Mass.

Celebrating His

The heavenly night in which God invaded human history

In the winter of 5 or 4 BC, God invaded history by taking on the form of a man. He was born in a small town just south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem, which means ‘the house of bread,’ indeed became worthy of its name one lonely winter night. For there, in that town, was born the Bread of Life . . . His mother placed the infant king in a manger - or feeding troughbecause the guest room where they were to stay was occupied. The birth of this king was celebrated that night only by his mother, her husband, and a handful of shepherds. The shepherds had been in the fields around Bethlehem, guarding the lambs which would die at the next Passover. An angel appeared to them and gave them the birth announcement: “today in the city of David there has been born for you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). In their simple faith, they rushed

to see their newborn king. Shortly after the birth of the Messiah, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem and inquired of king Herod where the real king of the Jews was to be born. The theologians of Herod’s court knew the Scriptures well - in ‘Bethlehem’ they recited. Ironically, though they knew the Scriptures, they did not believe them. They did not even bother to travel the five or six miles to Bethlehem to see their Messiah.

But Herod believed the Scriptures. That is why he sent a corps of butchers to Bethlehem to slaughter innocent children, in hopes of destroying this rival to his throne. But he was too late. The magi had come and gone and Jesus was by now safe in Egypt.

And the magi believed the Scriptures. They had travelled several hundred miles to worship this Babe. They were guided to Bethlehem by

a supernatural celestial phenomenon and by the Scriptures. Apparently, their ancestors had been instructed by Daniel the prophet about the coming Messiah. . . When they saw the child, they fell down and worshiped him. This was God in the flesh. They could do no other. And they gave him gifts - gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This was an unusual present - by any standards. The gold, of course, we all can understand - but the frankincense and myrrh were odd. Perhaps they had read Isaiah’s prophecy that “nations will come to your light, and kings to your rising . . . They will bring gold and frankincense, and will bear good news. . . “ (Isa. 60:3, 6). This explains the frankincense, but not the myrrh. Now myrrh, like frankincense, was a perfume. But unlike frankincense, myrrh smelled of death. In the ancient world, it was used to embalm a corpse. Jesus himself would be

embalmed with this very perfume (cf. John 19:39).

If the magi were thinking of Jesus’ death when they brought the myrrh, they no doubt knew of it from Daniel’s prophecy (9:24-27). In the ninth chapter of Daniel we read that the ‘Messiah will be cut off’ and this ‘will make atonement for iniquity’ and ultimately ‘bring in everlasting righteousness’ (9:26, 24). Even at the birth of our Saviour, the shadow of the cross is already falling over his face. . . The theologians of Herod’s court did not believe the Scriptures. They were fools. Herod believed, but disobeyed. He was a madman. The simple shepherds and the majestic magi believed in this infant Saviour - and it was reckoned to them as righteousness. May we follow in their train.

from The Birth of Jesus Christ by Daniel B. Wallace, Th.M., Ph.D.

Living

St Bonaventure (d. 1274) in his Life of St Francis of Assisi tells the story the best:

“It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Grecio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, [St Francis] determined to keep it with all possible solemnity; and lest he should be accused of lightness or novelty, he asked and obtained the permission of the sovereign Pontiff.

“Then he prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. The brethren were summoned, the people ran together, the forest resounded with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many and brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise.

“The man of God [St Francis] stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ. Then he preached to the people around the nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, He called Him the Babe of Bethlehem.

“A certain valiant and veracious soldier, Master John of Grecio, who, for the love of Christ, had left the warfare of this world, and become a dear friend of this holy man, affirmed that he beheld an Infant marvellously beautiful, sleeping in the manger, Whom the blessed Father Francis embraced with both his arms, as if he would awake Him from sleep. This vision of the devout soldier is credible, not only by reason of the sanctity of him that saw it, but by reason of the miracles which afterwards confirmed its truth.

“For example of Francis, if it be considered by the world, is doubtless sufficient to excite all hearts which are negligent in the faith of Christ; and the hay of that manger, being preserved by the people, miraculously cured all diseases of cattle, and many other pestilences; God thus in all things glorifying his servant, and witnessing to the great efficacy of his holy prayers by manifest prodigies and miracles.”

Although the story is long old, the message is clear for us. Our own Nativity scenes which rest under our Christmas trees are a visible reminder of that night when our Saviour was born. May we never forget to see in our hearts the little Babe of Bethlehem, who came to save us from sin. We must never forget that the wood of the manger that held Him so securely would one day give way to the wood of the cross. May we too embrace Him with all of our love as did St Francis.

- Arlington Catholic Herald.

Backstage...

Salvatorians renewed as recruits welcomed into the fold

Salvatorians celebrate

Salvatorian priests from the dioceses of Perth, Bunbury, Geraldton, Broome and Broken Bay, NSW gathered in St Simon Peter parish, Ocean Reef, on December 8 to celebrate their foundation day and to make their annual renewal of vows.

They were joined for the occasion by a Salvatorian nun, Sr Greta Freeman, of Clifton diocese in England who celebrated her 50th anniversary as a Salvatorian last August in Rome.

She is currently in Perth visiting her brother and two sisters, and hopes to continue on to Melbourne to visit another sister.

Sr Greta spent 22 years of her religious life in England and 28 years as a missionary in Taiwan.

She said there are about 1200 Salvatorian nuns worldwide, working in most of the places where the Salvatorian priests work, but not yet in Australia.

A highlight of the celebration was the first profession as a Salvatorian of Symon SmythKirk (20), of Gosford NSW, who entered the novitiate last year, and the second profession of Daniel Tolcxyk (21), of Kalamunda.

Both made their vows before Fr Boguslaw Loska, of Balcatta, the Superior of the Salvatorians in Australia, and both will continue their studies for the priesthood in Perth.

Symon’s parents, Carmel and Peter, and Daniel’s parents, Sue and Irek, were present.

On display in the church were four new stained glass windows representing the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Erected the previous week by Kim Fitzpatrick, of Tradition Stained Glass and Leadlights, Fremantle, from art work by parishioner Dale Dee, the windows represent the completion of a six-year program to tell in stained glass the story of the beginning of the Catholic Church.

The program began with two windows high above the altar level with the crucifix representing Mary and St John at the foot of the cross when Jesus made us his brothers and sisters by giving us his mother Mary to be our mother.

Then came four windows on each of the altar, those on the left showing scenes before Christ’s death and resurrection, depicting St Peter’s growth as the leader of the Apostles in faith.

Those on the right are postresurrection scenes showing Christ confirming Peter’s leadership and that leadership being put into practice after Pentecost, at the Council of Jerusalem, and finally in taking the Church away from Jerusalem to Rome enabling her to shed any ethnic or national identity and to become what Jesus intended, the truly universal Church for all mankind.

At the rear of the Ocean Reef church, looking over the congregation and the altar, is a window of the Holy Spirit, and now, at the rear on the western side are the four evangelists, whose Gospels present all of Scripture in the person of Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour.

All the windows were made by Mr Fitzpatrick and all tell their stories clearly so that parents can easily explain them to their children.

VISTA 4 Completion nigh for St Mary’s

Salvatorian Superior: Fr Loska and Sr Greta, a Salvatorian from England celebrating her 50th anniversary by visiting her family in Perth.

PHOTOS: FR STAN BENDKOWSKI, SDS, MERREDIN PARISH PRIEST

New windows at Ocean Reef: The four evangelists, St Luke and St John (above) and St Matthew and St Mark (below).

Stepping forward: Fr Loska with the young men who made their vows, Symon Smyth-Kirk (left) and Daniel Tolczyk.

Coming around: A wide-angle lens shows where the new section on the right will be attached to the old. The lens also creates the illusion of the building leaning.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MENCORPS/RON TAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Taking shape: It still looks like a jumble, but internally the cathedral is taking shape. Above, construction workers inspect the cathedral’s centrepiece where the altar will eventually be placed.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MENCORPS/RON TAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Nearly there: A glimpse of the new centre of the cathedral (left) and part of the spacious new area that will appear on both sides.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF MENCORPS/RON TAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Evangelise this Christmas

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REFLECTIONS ON PSALM 23

For people with cancer

By Ken Curtis

Ken Curtis was diagnosed with advanced cancer with little prospect for survival. In this series of meditations, filmed in Israel and founded on Psalm 23, he presents a candid personal experience as well as the spiritual strength and hope that he drew from this time-honoured Psalm.

DVD: Thirteen 8-minute episodes $33.95 + P/H

BIBLE FOR TODDLERS

Written by Juliet David & Illustrated by Helen Prole

With exciting, vibrant illustrations and clear, simple sentences, this presentation of stories from the Old and New Testaments will endear this delightful book to children and parents alike.

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PARADE OF LIGHTS AND 5 OTHER DRAMAS FOR TWEENS

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Titles include:

1. A Marriage Made in Heaven

2. Family Reunion

3. Big Mistake: Royal Edition

4. Blessed Family of God (Advent/Christmas)

5. Let’s Go Fishing

6. The Parade of Lights

AND THE TWO BECOME ONE Unity, The Eucharist and God’s Plan for Marital Love

By Christopher West

This single talk is considered to be one of Christopher West’s most succinct introductions to theology of the body. He shows how Christ reveals the nature of God’s love through the gift of his body in the Eucharist and how the communion of man and woman participates in Christ’s Eucharistic self-giving.

CD: Duration 74 minutes $16.95 + P/H

THE HUSBAND HANDBOOK

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JOTHAMS’ JOURNEY

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ADVENT REFLECTIONS

Come Lord Jesus!

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The Archbishop of Milwaukee leads readers through refreshing and insightful meditations to make the most of the Advent season. With a theme for each week, focusing on Jesus, John the Baptist, Joseph and Mary, the Archbishop uses contemporary stories to illustrate the valuable lessons we can learn from these holy lives. $12.95 + P/H

THE UNCHANGING HEART OF THE PRIESTHOOD A Faith Perspective on the Mystery and the Reality of Priesthood in the Church

By Fr Thomas Acklin, O.S.B

This candid and insightful description of the priesthood is essential reading for all priests seeking personal holiness and effectiveness in ministry, and for all others who are genuinely interested in understanding the great gift that the priesthood is to the Church. $26.95 + P/H

SAINTS AND ANGELS

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A compact and beautifully presented book that provides details about the lives and deaths of more than thirty popular and not so well known saints and angels. Magnificent photographs of centuriesold paintings accompany each page.

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BIBLE QUOTATIONS

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FAMILY IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS AND SUMMER

This collection of ideas and suggestions will help you respond to God’s involvement with your family and to express your Christian faith together.

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ANGELS

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Imprimatur: Auxiliary Bishop of St Louis, Paul Zipfel

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‘I always wanted to be a Priest’

As he approaches the celebration of half a century since being ordained to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church, Archbishop Barry Hickey looks back on a life of work in the vineyards of the Lord, including the highs, the lows and the rewards.

Archbishop Barry Hickey will celebrate 50 years of priesthood at a Holy Hour and meal with the clergy at St Thomas More College on Friday, December 19. He was ordained a priest on December 20, 1958 at Propaganda Fide College in Rome where he lived for three years while studying for his Licentiate of Sacred Theology at the Urbaniana University.

Although his Golden Jubilee celebrations this week will be relatively private, a major public celebration is being planned for next year to link his 50 years as a priest, his (by then) 25 years as a Bishop and Archbishop, and the re-opening of St Mary’s Cathedral.

Although he is widely travelled and well known in Church circles around the world, Archbishop Hickey is a West Australian born and bred and has devoted his priestly life to the service of the people of Western Australia.

He was born on April 16, 1936 in Leonora, and grew up there and at Cue, Wiluna and Kalgoorlie. He was educated at the Presentation Convent, Wiluna and CBC Kalgoorlie before going to St Charles Seminary in Guildford in 1950 and then to Urbaniana in 1955.

“I grew up in a very Catholic household,” he wrote recently. My father (Gregory Hickey) was of Irish stock, my mother (Freda Kruse), a convert, was of German origin .... Growing up in the Goldfields I was always part of the Catholic community. The priests were our friends and prayer was part of my growing up.

“From the age of seven I wanted to be a priest, a desire that never changed.”

Looking back over the journey Archbishop Hickey wrote: “The call to the priesthood is a mystery. It is sensed rather than heard, a peaceful acceptance of God’s will of a future in his service among people. The prospect of taking on a position with such an undefined job description should be daunting and a little frightening. For me it was not. There was a peace about it, a trust that Jesus would show the way and work through me, even, or perhaps especially, through my inadequacies. Every time I have tried to formulate my own job description as a priest, God has made short work of it and sent me off in a different direction without a sail or a paddle except trust. It works.

“The ten years I spent in the seminaries were years of steady and imperceptible formation for

the way ahead. I was maturing physically, mentally and psychologically at the time, absorbing daily the words of Jesus, the truths of the faith, and the conviction that what Christ was offering through

given me. There are so many dimensions to the work of a priest or Bishop that I was not trained to do – teaching, caring for the sick, counselling, spiritual direction, administra-tion, man

agement, finance, cooking or replacing the washer on a tap, or fitting the s-video to the TV. Some of these skills you pick up on the road, others require special training that I had to look for. Other abilities seem to emerge from practice or necessity. Somehow

dimension of the life of a priest:

“Although we have to live in two worlds, the practical and the spiritual, we get enough of the practical to manage in order to go deeper in what is the essence of this vocation, the His first appointment after his return to Perth in 1959 was as Assistant Priest at St Brigid’s, West Perth, where the Italian he had picked up Rome (and still In 1965 he moved next door, so to speak, as Administrator of Sacred Heart Church, Highgate under Bishop Myles McKeon, until 1968 when his life’s work took

Those who knew him in those days and since will probably recognise him in his tion of the

itual

“The spiritual is not just personal growth, or even interior life. It is about people, or, at least, the vocation of a diocesan priest seems to be about people. It involves listening with the heart, being drawn by compassion, feeling empathy, excitement, wonder, enthusiasm, pain and the desire to convey Christ’s love and peace to a troubled soul. Whatever about the list of gifts of St Paul, these, too, are gifts of the spirit.”

These gifts saw him sent off to the University of WA from 1968 to 1973 to gain a BA and a Master of Social Work, qualifications which led to his being Director of Centrecare from 1973 to 1983, Director of Catholic Immigration 1976-83, Chairman of the WA Catholic Social Welfare Commission 1978-82, State Chaplain to the St Vincent de Paul Society 1982-83, and Chairman of the Australian Social Welfare Commission 1983-85.

He was also Parish Priest at Highgate in 1983-84 until his appointment as Bishop of Geraldton in 1984 brought a new direction to his life. He encouraged an active Aboriginal ministry

Archbishop Barry James Hickey

Born: April 16, 1936, to Gregory and Freda Hickey, Leonora

Educated: Presentation Convent, Wiluna

CBC Kalgoorlie

Entered St Charles Seminary, Guildford, 1950

The Urbaniana University, Rome, 1955

Ordained: December 20, 1958, Propaganda Fide College, Rome

Appointments: Assistant Priest, St Brigid’s, West Perth, 1959

Administrator, Sacred Heart Church, Highgate

Director, Centrecare, 1973-83

Director, Catholic Immigration Office, 1976-83

Chairman, WA Catholic Social Welfare Commission, 1978-82

State Chaplain, St Vincent De Paul Society, 1982-83

Parish Priest, Sacred Heart Church, Highgate, 1983-84

Further studies: BA, Master of Social Work, University of WA 1968-73

Appointed Bishop of Geraldton: 1984, by Pope John Paul II

Appointed Archbishop of Perth, 1991, by Pope John Paul II

Reopened St Charles Seminary, Guildford, 1994

Opened Redemptoris Mater Neocatechumenal Missionary Seminary, Morley, 1994

Ordained: 87 priests (7 for religious orders, 80 for the diocesan priesthood) since 1991

Also: 14 permanent deacons, ordained in 2006

The path was always clear: For the young Barry Hickey the priesthood was always the goal. He recalls wanting to be a priest from the age of seven, inspired in part by the priests of the goldfields of Western Australia where he spent his childhood. “The priests were our friends and prayer was part of my growing up,” he says.

in Geraldton, worked extensively with Vietnamese families (the ‘boat people’ of the 80s), combined with civic organisations to provide facilities for youth, and travelled extensively through his scattered diocese to maintain contact with priests and people.

A spiritual highlight of his time in Geraldton was the establishment by Fr Brian Ahearn of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at Bluff Point, the first in WA. The Bishop put himself on the roster for an hour each Friday. He was enjoying the life of a bishop, but then in 1991 came “the shock” of his new appointment as Archbishop of Perth.

“It was like coming out of a quiet summer breeze into a cyclone, and it hasn’t stopped,” he said a few years ago on his twentieth anniversary as a bishop.

Within a short time of his arrival he discovered that the Archdiocese was seriously in debt and losing money at the rate of $4 million a year.

He reorganised the finances, reluctantly reduced the budgets of many worthy organisations and generated income by going into partnership to develop Church land in the Beaumaris Estate (now the Parish of Ocean Reef).

A major priority was to address the matter of vocations to the priesthood.

In 1994 He reopened the seminary at Guildford, and in the same year established the missionary seminary Redemptoris Mater at Morley.

Despite the predictions of many, the rate of vocations rose and Perth led the way for Australia. From 1969 to 1999 there were 92 ordinations in Perth, but from 2000 to 2007 there have been 58.

His concern for those in need has seen him establish LifeLink and the LifeLink Foundation to try to secure the annual funding for the Church’s welfare services. New services have been created to meet new needs, the two most recent being the Shopfront at Maylands, and the Daydawn Advocacy service. His admiration for the in-built love of the poor in the heart of Catholic people that he finds so often in the Archdiocese was a highlight in his review of his 20 years as a bishop.

“I could not imagine myself in any other occupation than this.”

He tries to give some personal witness of that in his care for the homeless around Victoria Square.

Enthusiasm for the new movements transforming the young was on top of that 20-year review and it still is.

“They touch the idealism of young people and nourish their faith, making them young apostles in the modern world,” he said.

“World Youth Day has added greatly to this revival, giving young people a personal experience of the truth that God loves them and the Holy Spirit truly gives them power.

“It is a great joy for many of our priests to see the young so happy in the Lord. For myself, looking back at nearly 50 years as a priest and 25 as a bishop, I can see the hand of God guiding me, even making crooked paths straight. It is sufficient consolation to me if God has used me or my ministry for his own purposes and forgiven my sins and excused my mistakes.

“I could not imagine myself in any other occupation than this. A vocation to the priesthood brings with it plenty of problems, worries, pain and mistakes, but no regret because Jesus truly fulfils his promise to call us friends, not servants, and make us one with him as he is one with his Father.

50 YEARS A PRIEST

Tu es sacerdos: A newly-ordained Ernensto Cerruti thanks Archbishop Hickey after the Archbishop ordained him to the diaconate at Morley’s Infant Jesus Church in 2006. Deacon Cerruti was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Hickey in 2007. Record photographer Jamie O’Brien caught the poignancy of the moment after the ceremony.

PHOTO: JAMIE O’BRIEN

Scenes from a life: Archbishop Hickey distributes Communion in St Mary’s Cathedral in recent years, above. The young Father Hickey, top left, at the time of his first appointment, to St Brigid’s in West Perth. A family photo taken at Kalgoorlie in 1948 ,at left, show Mr Gregory Hickey, sister Judith Hickey, a young Barry and other sister Patricia. The young priest, at left below, with friends in the Piazza San Marco, Venice, enjoys the fabled city’s sights in 1959. The Hickey family, below, in 1952 or 1953. BLACK AND WHITE FAMILY PHOTOS COURTESY: MRS PATRICIA STIDWELL; COLOUR PHOTO: COURTESY MENCORP/RON TAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Seminarian: Barry Hickey’s parents proudly pose for the camera with their son in Rome in 1958, the year of his ordination to the Priesthood.

PHOTO: COURTESY MRS PATRICIA STIDWELL

Turn to old favourites these holidays

■ By Hal and Alexandra Colebatch

Apart from those books advertised in The Record’s excellent new bookshop, we did not find too many good new books this year, at least not for light, holiday-time reading, so our list is heavily weighted towards old favourites.

Joanna Bogle’s A Book of Feasts and Seasons (Gracewing) is always a joyous and refreshing read, telling of the origins of the great Christian feasts. Indeed any work by this writer is highly recommended. The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens are always good to read at Christmas – or any other time of the year.

Then, perhaps a mystery in the grand old English tradition, relying on good writing. Agatha Christie, MR James or PD James are always good. Another is Alias Grace by Margaret Attwood.

Also for Christmas, work by the best of the great travel writers, such as Eric Newby or Bill Bryson. Another in Nicholas Garland’s Travels with my Sketchbook . PJ O’Rourke’s Holidays in Hell is reliably good for both laughs and insightful observations, like everything else he writes.

Leslie Thomas’s Midnight Clear is a very short paperback, a good Christmas story for anyone who would like to spend Christmas in peace and contemplation.

Then, for wandering into faery and myth, there are Mary Stewart’s stories of Merlin, The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills , and The Last Enchantment

Another stirring tale of Authurian days for adults is Rosemary Sutcliff’s Sword At Sunset, depicting King Arthur as he might really have been, not a figure of medieval fantasy and enchantment,

but a Roman-British war-leader trying to hold civilisation together in Britain after the Roman Legions withdrew.

Poul Anderson’s A Midsummer Tempest is a wonderful romp through an England in which Shakespeare’s plays were not fiction but history, and in which the English Civil War comes to a happier resolution with the intervention of the forces of faery at the final battle under Glastonbury Tor.

On holidays recently we also read the last of JRR Tolkien’s works to be published, The Children of Hurin. Tolkienists will devour it. It is a strong and compelling story but it is perhaps too dark and hopeless a work to be recommended as Christmassy.

Indeed it may shock many who only know him through his other, more happily resolved, tales and such happy and funny romps as The Father Christmas Letters (sent ostensibly from Father Christmas to Tolkien's children each December for many years).

Set long before the events in The Lord of the Rings, it tells of a long episode in the battle of elves and good men against the Diabolus Morgoth, in which all that the good side try to do turns against them and leads to final defeat, shame and suicide. Tolkien did not live to set down in detail – though he sketched out – how Morgoth was eventually overthrown and the Middle-Earth beloved by the countless millions of readers of the later books came to be shaped.

Another story perhaps too dark – and possibly too Paganfor Christmas is Denis Wheatley’s Black August, published in 1935 but with what look like some chillingly prophetic references to social conditions in Britain today. The story is set in a future which might be about now – Communism in Russia has collapsed, Islam has reconquered the Middle East and with the retreat of America into isolationism world trade has fallen apart. But at least in this story all’s well that ends well, for just as it seems Britain has gone down into complete collapse and barbarism, the Prince of Wales intervenes, takes back the ancient role of the Monarchy and saves the day.

No local adult novels came our way (this is not to say no good ones have been writ-

ten). But among local authors, there is Lucky Ross (Hesperian Press), by John Ross, an Australian Naval officer and gentleman whose career was marked by more than one narrow escape from death. The story of a hard and dangerous life is told gentle style. It is one of those books which make it hard to feel sorry for yourself after reading it. Illustrated by a collection of photographs the author made over a lifetime at sea, it is a real classic.

Another very inspiring story by a West Australian hero, also from Hesperian is All in My Stride, John Gilmour's Story: Changi to World Champion as told to Richard Harris (Hesperian). John Gilmour was captured by the Japanese at Singapore in World War II, as a slave-labourer in Japan managed to wreck a Japanese metal foundry and factory at incredible risk to himself by loading a heavy naval shell with a load of scrap-metal into a blast furnace (he was not suspected because the Japanese regarded him as a “good worker”), was repatriated to Australia at the end of the war virtually blind as a result of malnutrition, and has since achieved world fame as a record-shattering athlete into his ninth decade, though hardly able to see the track. Richard Harris is a distinguished WA journalist and here he has told a truly wonderful story of the very greatest heroism and achievement.

Another local book recommended last year but worth mentioning again is Unbroken Spirit by The Record contributor Brian Peachey (Hesperian), the story of a convict - and Peachey family ancestortransported to WA in the 19th Century who made good against all odds. Hesperian Press has done WA a great service by producing these and many other fine books in what is often an economically difficult market, and we are all in its debt.

the same things and nothing any different!”

Rumor Godden’s books never fail. Carrie’s War is a good one for older children. Joan Aiken’s The Wolves of Willoughby Chase is another perennial favourite. Horned Helmet, by Henry Treece is an exciting story of Viking days, with a touching final picture of a terrible Viking warrior settled down and telling a young man: “This farming is real man’s work, not like that fly-by-night rowing and that baresark foolery men set such store by …”

John Christopher’s

The Sword of the Spirits is another story set in the Dark Ages, but a different Dark Ages, as we gather when the young hero who seeks an ancient weapon of great might is told: “Many of our ancestors’ weapons were complex things, but this is not. They called in the Sten Gun …”

If you can get them, the New Zealand writer Amy Brooke (or Agnes-Mary Brook) has written a large number of excellent children’s books, beginning for younger children with The Third Star & other stories (Medlar Press). Others include Night of the Medlar (Medlar Press), From Whatever Shadows They Come (Medlar Press), The Owl, The Two & the Medlar (Hazard Press), and The Mora Stone (Medlar Press).

These books combine excellent writing and believable and involving characters with tender and exciting adventure tales. They are hard to come by in Australia but well worth the effort to obtain them. Medlar’s address is PO Box 139, Nelson, New Zealand, and Hazard Press is PO Box 2151, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Most people know of CS Lewis’s Narnia stories, especially since the recent successful films of the first two books The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Prince Caspian, but if not, the time to start children on them is now.

We haven’t seen too many good new children’s books this year, but there are always plenty of old favourites: Arthur Ransome’s 12 books in the Swallows and Amazons series are to be highly recommended – sunny stories of children sailing and camping, beautifully written and quirkily illustrated by the author, which, along with convincing characters and fine descriptive writing, manage to impart a great deal of practical knowledge and some wisdom too, creating a believeable world at once realistic and enchanted. How well we Ransonites understand the little girl who wrote to the author demanding more books with “Exactly the same people doing exactly

Another excellent series for children is by West Australian author Andrew Lansdown beginning with the first book, With My Knife, a series which has achieved very impressive sales overseas and deserves to be much better known and appreciated here. A perennial favourite for children with its songs, poems and adventures is The Magic Pudding.

For children’s non-fiction, including both easy and effective readers and books of instruction on all manner of subjects, all delightfully issustrated, haunt the secondhand bookshops and see if you can pick up any of the wonderful little Ladybird books.

Icon that inspired students the world over hits Oz

The pro-active Australian Catholic Students Association has personally travelled to the Holy See to pick up an icon they hope will inspire students around Oz as it has overseas.

■ By Anthony Barich

THE Australian Catholic Students Association (ACSA) will host the historic Marian icon Sedes Sapientiae on behalf of the university students of Australia after a delegation took part in a handover ceremony in Rome on December 8.

Hosted by the Archdiocese of Sydney chaplaincy, the icon will tour universities of Australia for nine months. An itinerary is yet to be released.

The icon was used when Pope John Paul II recited the Rosary with university students of Rome in 2001, when the pontiff

entrusted their missionary efforts to “Mary, Sedes Sapientiae (Seat of Wisdom)”.

ACSA has entrusted itself to Holy Mary, Mother of God under the title “Sedes Sapientiae” as assigned by Pope John Paul II as a gift to students in The Great Jubilee Year of 2000.

At that time, Pope John Paul II said: “I entrust your journey to Mary, Sedes Sapientiae, whose image I entrust to you today, so that she may be welcomed as a teacher and a pilgrim in the university campuses of the world. Mary supported the Apostles with her prayer at the dawn of evangelisation; may she also help you to invigorate the university world with a Christian spirit.”

The tour is an initiative of the Vatican Office for Universities, headed by Monsignor Lorenzo Leuzzi.

ACSA Vice President Xavier O’Kane, who was part of their delegation which also included representatives from the Archdiocese of Sydney Chaplaincies, said the icon has toured several countries in Europe and further afield, but this is the first time it will be in Australia.

“It will be a great opportunity for students in Australia to deepen their understanding of Christ’s place in the university,” Mr O’Kane said.

On its pilgrimage to Australia, it is envisaged that the icon will visit universities across the nation.

The icon’s tour of Australia will include an international university student prayer vigil in March, and the ACSA National Conference in Brisbane from July 10-12, when organisers hope to top their record attendance of over 300 in July last year.

Over 300 registered delegates attended in July last year when ACSA, who jointly hosted the event Australian Catholic Youth Adults, the biggest ever attendance.

ACSA president, Brisbane-based science-nutrition student Elise Nally, said that “like the powerful envangelisation which accompanied the journey of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon, we hope that this icon will promote greater devotion to Our Lady.”

“We hope it helps many students to form a stronger Catholic identity on university campuses.”

Kids bitz colouring/activities

MARY AND JOSEPH HAD TO SHARE THE STABLE WITH LOTS OF ANIMALS.

artist of the week

I N T E R E S T I N G B I B L E FAC T S INTERESTING BIBLE FACTS

4. Down to Jericho

Did the Good Samaritan really go down from Jerusalem to Jericho (Luke 10:29-37)? Actually, he went east and down. Jericho (1275 ft. below sea level) is 3,300 feet lower than Jerusalem (2500 ft. above sea level) - an amazing drop for a journey of only 15 miles (to the east).

5. Jerusalem: An Out-of-the-Way Place Jerusalem was difficult to get to. It was not located on either of the great trade routes (The Way of the Sea or The King’s Highway). So even though tiny Israel was squeezed between powerful empires - and armies frequently marched through it on their missions of conquest - Jerusalem remained fairly secure as Israel’s capital.

6. Hell on Earth

The Hinnon valley in Jerusalem was a place where residents burned their rubbish. As a result, it gained a reputation as a place of fiery abominations and it even became symbolic of hell. Its Hebrew name - ge’hinnom - formed the basis for the New Testament word gehenna, which means “hell.”

7. Egypt’s Highway

The River Nile has always been the great highway of Egypt. It flows through the desert, with a fertile margin of cultivatable land on either bank.

8. Water from Below

The Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem before King David were responsible for an ingenious tunnel system that brought fresh water into their city from a hidden spring in the valley below. They tunneled straight down through the hill above the spring and tapped into an underground stream. They would lower buckets and fill them from this stream and not have to venture outside the walls of the city.

FREE WEEKLY GIFT FROM RECORD B OOKSHOP

KIDS BITZ ARTIST OF THE WEEK will receive a free gift from the Record Bookshop. All you need to do is post or email in a drawing, poem or colouring picture. This week we are giving away a Faith Stone keyring.

please post or email :

PUZZLE

Cross out the one name in each list that does not belong with the other two. A hint has been provided for each list.

1. Visitors to Jesus: shepherds, Wise Men, carpenters

2. Old Testament prophets: Isaiah, Matthew, Ezekiel

3. Gospels: James, Luke, Mark

4. Disciples of Jesus: Peter, Moses, James

5. New Testament books: Romans, Philippians, Lamentations

6. The first man and woman: Adam, Elizabeth, Eve

7. Kings of Israel: Tut, Saul, David

Answers: 1. carpenters, 2. Matthew, 3. James, 4. Moses, 5. Lamentations, 6. Elizabeth, 7. Tut.8.

Justine Stevens, The Record, PO Box 75 Leederville WA 6902 or email production@therecord.com.au

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS

St Egwin

Egwin (d. 717) was committed to serving God from the time he was a young boy.

He became Bishop of Worcester, England, in 692, but because he spoke out against evil, he angered some people in his congregation.

He was called before the pope to answer charges that had been made against him and cleared his name.

When he returned home, he built the abbey of Evesham with financial and political support from Ethelred, the king of Mercia.

Egwin later made a second visit to Rome, but he had no charges to answer for. He was given the support of Pope Constantine and was able to make the abbey one of the most important religious sites in England.

We honor him on December 30.

Grace Monisse, 6 years from Eaton, is Our Artist of the Week. Congratulations Grace you will be receiving your Faith Stone Key ring in the mail.

PANORAMA

A roundup of events in the Archdiocese

Panorama entries must be in by 12pm Monday.

Contributions may be emailed to administration@therecord.com.au, faxed to 9227 7087, or mailed to PO Box 75, Leederville, WA 6902.

Submissions over 55 words will be edited. Inclusion is limited to 4 weeks. Events charging over $10 will be a put into classifieds and charged accordingly. The Record reserves the right to decline or modify any advertisment.

Sunday December 21

STATIONS OF CHRISTMAS

3pm at St Theresa’s Church, 678 North Beach Road, Gwelup. The Balcatta Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order invites you to prepare for Christmas with the Stations of Christmas. The celebration will conclude with afternoon tea at the Community Centre. Enq: Anne-Marie 9447 4252 after 6pm.

Saturday December 27

NOVENA DEVOTIONS TO OUR LADY OF GOOD HEALTH, VAILANKANNI

5pm at Holy Trinity Church, Embleton followed by Vigil Mass at 6pm. Enq: Parish Priest 9271 5528 or George 9272 1379.

Wednesday December 31

NEW YEAR’S EVE

10.45pm to 11.45pm at Holy Trinity Church, Embleton. Eucharistic Adoration, followed by Midnight Mass, and then fellowship at the parish hall. Please bring a plate. Enq: Parish Priest 9271 5528 or George 9272 1379.

Wednesday December 31

NEW YEAR’S EVE

11pm at Holy Spirit parish, 2 Kearney Place, City Beach; adoration followed by midnight Mass. Everyone is welcome to stay for Panettone and champagne after Mass in the Parish Centre.

Wednesday December 31

NEW YEAR’S EVE CATHOLIC FAMILY DANCE ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL FUNDRAISING

8pm til late at St Jude’s Catholic Parish Hall, 17 Barnston Way, Langford. Come and kick up your heels with a fantastic New Year’s Eve Family Dance! Cost adults $10, and children $5 (5-12 years). DJ Les Gabriel. Ticket sale enquiries Cathy 0403 314 285.

Thursday January 1

NEW YEAR’S DAY MASS WITH AFRICAN SONGS

9.30am at St Thomas the Apostle, 2 College Road, Claremont. come and savour the melody and rhythms from Africa. All welcome to come and join the small but enthusiastic group. Enq: Bibiana 9451 6602 after 6pm.

Friday January 2 MIDNIGHT MASS

11.55pm at Glendalough Parish Church, corner Leeder and Jugan Street, celebrated by Fr David Watt, preaching on Modern Means of Communication.

Friday January 2

THE ALLIANCE, TRIUMPH AND REIGN OF THE UNITED HEARTS OF JESUS AND MARY

5.15pm at St Bernadette’s Church, Glendalough. Confessions, Mass 5.45pm, followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, hourly Rosaries, hymns and reflections etc throughout the night. Vigil concludes with midnight Mass in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Enq: Fr Doug Harris 9444 6131 or Dorothy 9342 5845.

Saturday, January 3

DAY WITH MARY

9am to 5pm at St Columba Church, Almondbury and Roberts Street, Bayswater. 9am Video on Fatima. Day of prayer and instruction based on the Fatima message. Reconciliation, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons on Eucharist and Our Lady, Rosaries, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.

in brief...

Ageing Britain will feel effects of family breakdown; aged may be abandoned

Sunday January 4

DIVINE MERCY

1.30pm at St Joachim’s Church, Shepperton Road and Harper Street, Victoria Park. Holy Rosary and Reconciliation. Sermon with Fr Joseph Asnabun on Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament followed by Divine Mercy and Benediction. Refreshments, followed by DVD on Body and Blood of Jesus Part 3 with Fr John Corapi. Enq: John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608.

Saturday January 10

ST PADRE PIO DAY OF PRAYER

8.30am at St Joachim Church, 122 Shepperton Road, Victoria Park; St Padre Pio DVD, 10am Exposition Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Divine Mercy silent Adoration and Benediction. 11am Holy Mass, celebrant Fr Tiziano Bogoni, St Padre Pio Liturgy. Confessions available. 12noon lunch bring a plate. Tea and coffee provided. Enq: 6278 1540.

Friday January 23

MEDJUGORJE  EVENING OF PRAYER

7pm at St Joachim’s Parish, Shepperton Road, Victoria Park; an evening of prayer, commencing with Adoration, Holy Rosary, Benediction and concluding with Holy Mass. Free inspirational DVD of Fr Donald Calloway on night. All warmly welcome. Enq: Eileen 9402 2480.

Sunday January 25

PILGRIMAGE TO BOVE FARM SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY

Exposition, Rosary, Divine Mercy Prayers, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and Praises of Divine Mercy. Holy Mass, celebrant Fr Douglas Harris and Fr Marcellinus Meilak, other Priests invited to concelebrate. Conclude with Divine Mercy Way of the Cross, for those able to walk the bushland. Refreshments and barbecue provided. Enq: South Perth – John 9457 7771, North Perth - Charles 9342 0653.

Friday January 23

MEDJUGORJE  EVENING OF PRAYER

7pm at Our Lady Queen of Peace at St Joachim’s Parish, Shepperton Road, Victoria Park; commencing with Adoration, Holy Rosary, Benediction and concluding with Holy Mass. Free inspirational DVD of Fr Donald Calloway on night. All warmly welcome. Enq Eileen 9402 2480.

NATIONAL PILGRIMAGES 2009

BLESSED MARY MACKILLOP

18 -29 May 2009, and 14-24 October 2009. Theme: “In the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop” Enq; Mary MacKillop Centre: 9334 0940.

EVERY SUNDAY

DIVINE MERCY PRAYER AS NOVENA

3pm St Aloysius Church, 84 Keightley Road, West Shenton Park, commencing 14 December. An opportunity for all to gather once a week and say the powerful Divine Mercy, Eucharistic Adoration, healing prayers followed by Holy Mass at 4pm. Enq: 9381 5383.

ACCOMMODATION NEEDED

Female overseas student aged 23, with 3 months old baby, needs accommodation and support with a family, preferably north of the river for approximately 12 months. Phone: Lydia, Pregnancy Assistance, 9328 2929.

JOSEPHITEMARY MACKILLOP 2009 C ALENDARS

Special Edition Centenary Year, of Blessed Mary MacKillop’s death. Each month has an Inspirational Quote from Mary

Britain is fast approaching a time when city planners will need to route public transport past doctors’ surgeries and hospitals, rather than simply schools or workplaces, a report on the ageing of society claims.

Houses will have to be built with the needs of the elderly in mind, as more and more people live into old age. And a generation nearing retirement will be faced with the dilemma of how to look after their

MacKillop’s writings and a beautiful colourful scene. Too inspiring to miss out! To purchase a copy please ring the Secretary 9334 0999.

INTERPARISH SOCCER: A NOTICE TO ALL PARISHES

The young parishioners in Lockridge are interested in having soccer matches against other parishes. It is a great way for a bit of ‘friendly rivalry’; keep up fitness whilst having fun and all in a good atmosphere. Enq: 0433 646 208 or 0431 951 772.

Every 1st Thursday of the Month PRAYER AND MEDITATION SERVICE USING SONGS FROM TAIZE

7.30pm at Our Lady of Grace, 3 Kitchener Street, North Beach. The service is a prayerful meditation in which we sing beautiful chants from Taize together, spend time in prayerful, meditative silence, bathed in candlelight reflecting upon themed readings. Enq: Beth 9447 0061.

Every First Friday and Saturday of Month

COMMUNION OF REPARATION  ALL NIGHT VIGIL

7pm Friday at Corpus Christi Church, Mosman Park, 47 Lochee Road. Mass with Fr Bogoni and concluding with midnight Mass. Confessions, Rosaries, Prayers and silent hourly adoration. Please join us for reparation to Two Hearts according to the message of Our Lady of Fatima. Enq: Vicky 0400 282 357.

Every First Friday

CATHOLIC FAITH RENEWAL

7.30pm at Sts John and Paul Church, Willetton; praise and worship, teaching and Mass offered by Fr Saminedi, then supper and fellowship. All very welcome! Enq. Maureen 9381 4498.

Every First Friday

HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE

7pm at Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins Street, Glendalough. Mass celebrated by Fr Saminedi. 7.30pm, Adoration with Fr Don Kettle. All welcome. Refreshments provided.

Every Saturday

HOLY SPIRIT OF FREEDOM CHARISMATIC PRAYER MEETING

10.30am to 12.30pm at St Peter the Apostle Church Hall, 91 Wood Street, Inglewood. All are most welcome.

Every Sunday

LATIN MASS KELMSCOTT

The Latin Mass according to the 1962 missal will be offered every Sunday at 2pm at the Good Shepherd Parish, 40-42 Streich Avenue, Kelmscott, with Rosary preceding. All welcome.

Every 4th Sunday of the Month

HOLY HOUR PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE

2-3pm at Infant Jesus Church, Wellington Road, Morley. The hour includes exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Let us implore God to rain an abundance of new life into our Church, open our hearts and those of the young people of the world to hear His Word for us now, today. All welcome! Enq: 9276 8500.

Every Sunday

PILGRIM MASS

2pm at Shrine of Virgin of the Revelation, 36 Chittering

elderly relatives while still caring for their children and possibly grandchildren.

Retirement will be postponed as the age for receiving national pensions is increased to contain the costs of ageing and to pay for those who are retired.

Two trends worrying the numbercrunchers at the Office of National Statistics are the retirement of the baby boomers and the increasing longevity of people. Last

Road, Bullsbrook; with Rosary and Benediction. Reconciliation is available in Italian and English. Anointing of the sick, second Sunday during Mass. Pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin; last Sunday of month. Side entrance and shrine open daily between 9am and 5pm. Enq: 9447 3292.

Every Tuesday

NOVENA TO GOD THE FATHER

7.30pm St Joachim’s Parish Hall, Shepperton Road, Victoria Park; incorporating a Bible teaching, a Perpetual Novena to God the Father and Hymns. Light refreshments will follow. Bring a Bible and a friend. Enq: Jan 9323 8089.

Every Monday

ADORATION, RECONCILIATION AND MASS

7pm at St Thomas, corner Melville and College Roads, Claremont; Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Evening Prayer and Benediction, spend 40 minutes quietly before our Lord for the health, faith and safety of yourself and your loved ones; Reconciliation 7.30pm, Mass and Night Prayer 8pm.

Every Sunday MUSICIANS AND SINGERS

6pm at the Redemptorist Monastery Church, Vincent Street, North Perth; the Shalomites have been providing the music and singing for over thirty years. We are looking for new members. All interested singers and musicians welcome. Enq: Stephen or Sheelagh 9339 0619.

Every 1st Sunday of Month

DIVINE MERCY

Commencing with 3 o’clock Prayer at Santa Clara Parish, Bentley, followed by the Chaplet, reflection and Benediction. All friends and neighbouring parishes invited. Tea and coffee provided. Enq: Muriel 9458 2944.

Every 2nd Wednesday of Each Month

CHAPLETS OF THE DIVINE MERCY

7.30 pm at St Thomas More Catholic Church, Dean Road, Bateman. All welcome to a beautiful, prayerful, and sung devotion. Enq: George 9310 9493 home or 9325 2010 work.

Every Thursday

JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE

7.30pm, Acts 2 College of Mission and Evangelisation, Osborne Park. Using The Bible Timeline, The Great Adventure can be studied towards accredited course or for interest. Resources provided. See http://www. acts2come.wa.edu.au/ or Jane 0401 692 690.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Jesuit Volunteers Australia calls for part-time volunteers to respond to the needs of people in the community who live in marginalised circumstances. At the heart of this program is a reflective process, based on Gospel values, which underpins the work of the volunteers. Enq: Kevin 9316 3469 or kwringe@iinet.net.au, www.jss.org.au

BOOK DONATIONS WANTED

We urgently need donations of Altar Vessels, Catholic books, Bibles, Divine Office, Missals, Lectionaries, Sacramentaries etc. Telephone: (08) 9293 3092.

year there were 9.5 million Britons over 65; by 2032 that figure could rise to 16.1 million, or 23 per cent of the population. The demand for long-term care will increase, but families will provide less of it because of family breakdown.

The report says nothing about the other cause of the ageing of society: the sudden drop in birth rates following the introduction of the pill. ~Times Online

Stewardship

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

In the first reading, God promises King David that his house and his kingdom will endure forever. It is through Mary’s “Yes – “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.” – that the promise finds fulfilment.

See Luke 1:38

For further information on how stewardship can build your parish community, call Brian Stephens on 9422 7924.

Mission Matters this Christmas...

Walking with Him Daily Mass Readings

21 S 4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Vio 2 Sam 7:1-5.8-12.14.16 David’s House

Ps 88:2-5.27.29 The Lord’s goodness

Rom 16:25-27 Glory to God

Lk 1:26-38 Unending reign

22 M

Vio

1 Sam 1:24-28 I am the woman

Ps/1Sam 2:1.4-8 A provident God

Lk 1:46-56 Mary’s spirit exults

23 T St John of Kanty, priest (O)

Vio Mal 3:1-4.23-24 The refiner’s fire

Ps 24:4-5.8.10.14 The Lord’s friendship

Lk 1:57-66 His name is John

24 W Vio 2 Sam 7:1-5.8-12.14.16 Sovereignty secure

Ps 88:2-5.27.29 Sign of God’s love

Lk 1:67-79 Blessed be the Lord

25T THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD, Solemnity Vigil Mass

Wh Isa 62:1-5 A new name

Ps 88:4-5.16-17.27.29 A covenant

Acts 13:16-17.22-25 Jesus as Saviour

Mt 1:1-25 God-is-with-us

Midnight Mass

Isa 9:1-7 A song given to us

Ps 95:1-3.11-13 Bless God’s name

Titus 2:11-14 Salvation possible

Lk 2:1-14 A sign for you

Dawn Mass

Isa 62:11-12 Your Saviour comes

Ps 96:1.6.11-12 The Lord’s king

Titus 3:4-7 God’s compassion

Lk 2:15-20 They found the baby

Mass during the day

Isa 52:7-10

Your God is king

Ps 97:1-6 God’s salvation

Heb 1:1-6 The radiant light

Jn 1:1-18

He lived among us

26 F ST STEPHEN, First Martyr, Feast Red Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 Miracles and signs

Ps 30:3-4.6.8.16-17 A rock of refuge

Mt 10:17-22

The Spirit speaks in you

ACCOMMODATION NEEDED

Female overseas student, 23 yo, with 3 mth old baby, needs accomm and support with a family, preferably north of the river for approx. 12 mths. Ph Lydia at Pregnancy Assistance, 9328 2929.

BUILDING TRADES

■ THE PAINTERS REG NO 5846

"We take the pain out of painting” Residential & Commercial. Phone Jim: 0412 123 630

■ BRICK REPOINTING

Phone Nigel 9242 2952.

■ PERROTT PAINTING PTY LTD

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

■ BRICKLAYING

20 years exp. Quality work. Ph 9405 7333 or 0409 296 598.

■ PICASSO PAINTING

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

BOOK REPAIRS

■ REPAIR YOUR LITURGICAL BOOKS

General repairs to books, old bibles & missals. 2ndhand Catholic books avail. Tydewi Bindery 9293 3092.

COMPUTERS

Make the most out of your computer with oneon-one tutoring on basic IT applications like HTML, CSS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. PC maintenance also available. Call Collin on 0438 643 070.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Work from home - Call 02 8230 0290, or visit website www.dreamlife1.com

HOLIDAY ACCOMODATION

■ MANDURAH

Townhouse in Resort Complex. Fully furnished. Sleeps 6. Phone 9381 3495 or email valma7@bigpond.com

MUSIC

■ GUITAR LESSONS

Learn to play the guitar and bring out the musician in you. Learn what you want to learn and at your own pace. Call Collin on 0438 643 070.

■ ORGAN

Yamaha El 25 in excellent condition. $2000 ono. Contact St Luke’s Parish, Woodvale 08 9409 6291

FURNITURE REMOVAL

■ ALL AREAS

Mike Murphy 0416 226 434.

PERSONALS

■ CHRISTIAN SINGLES

Widowed, divorced or never married. All age groups. Meet-for-Drinks, Dinner Seminars and Individual Dates. Phone 9472 8218. Tues-Fri 10am - 6pm. www.figtrees.com.au

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

■ KINLAR VESTMENTS

‘Modern meets tradition.’ Quality hand-made & decorated. Vestments, altar cloths, banners. Vickii Smith Veness. 9402 8356 or 0409 114 093.

■ CATHOLICS CORNER

Retailer of Catholic products specialising in gifts, cards and apparel for baptism, communion and confirmation. Ph: 9456 1777. Shop 12, 64-66 Bannister Road, Canning Vale. Open Mon-Sat.

■ RICH HARVEST  YOUR CHRISTIAN SHOP

Looking for Bibles, CDs, books, cards, gifts, statues, baptism/communion apparel, religious vestments, etc? Visit us at 39 Hulme Court (off McCoy St), Myaree, 9329 9889 (after 10.30am Mon to Sat). We are here to serve.

■ OTTIMO

Francis Leong

Diocesan Director for Catholic Mission Archdiocese of Perth

in brief...

330,000 sign petition for rights of unborn

27 S ST JOHN, Apostle, Evangelist, Feast Wh I Jn 1:1-4

The Word our subject

Ps 96:1-2.5-6.11-12 The Lord of all Jn 20:2-8 He saw and believed

The petition calls for member states of the UN to interpret the Universal Declaration as protecting the unborn child from abortion and protecting the traditional family.

A petition of 330,000 names asking for the protection of the unborn child was presented at the United Nations on December 10 to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The petition was organised in response and in opposition to petition efforts by pro-abortion groups International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International calling for a right to abortion on the significant human rights anniversary. ~ C-FAM

■ DUNSBOROUGH

Beach cottage, 3 bedrooms, sleeps 7, 300m to Quindalup beach. Great price for Dunsborough! Tel: Sheila 9309 5071 / 0408 866 593 or email: shannons3s@optusnet.com.au

EDUCATION/COUNSELLING

Accredited experiential “Advanced Diploma of Educational Counselling” (Theology & Psychology) also relationship and faith building courses for parents and youths. Ph 9418 1439.

■ CATHOLIC COUNSELLING

Call Jole (M. Counselling, M. Theology, B Bus.) Catholic Counsellor (Aust Counselling Assoc. Member). Holistic (Mind-Body-Spirit) approach to issues of anxiety, relationship, faith, anger, addiction, grief, trauma etc. Individual, couples, family and children. Contact: 0418 345 356 jole. counselling@gmail.com

Shop 108 TRINITY ARCADE (Terrace Level) 671 Hay St, Perth. Ph 9322 4520. Convenient city location for a good selection of Nativity sets, cards, books, CDs, Christian gifts and fashion accessories. Opening hours 9am-6pm MondayFriday.

SETTLEMENTS

EFFECTIVE LEGAL, family owned law firm focusing on property settlements and wills. If you are buying, selling or investing in property, protect your family and your investment, contact us on (08) 9218 9177.

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Wishing you Peace and Happiness at Christmas and throughout the coming year

Catholic Development Fund Chairman, Committee Members, Management and Staff in our Perth and Geraldton Offices.

CDF provides loans and investment accounts to parishes, schools, religious orders, aged care and health care facilities etc. together with investment opportunities to the laity.

Catholic Development Fund

Perth Office:

61 Fitzgerald Street, Northbridge, WA 6003

Telephone: (08) 9427 0333

Geraldton Office:

7 Maitland Street, Geraldton, WA 6530

Telephone: (08) 9921 3221