The Record Newspaper 21 May 2008

Saint for the week

Pope John I

died 526 feast – May 18

Father Jim marks 60 great years

When he was elected pope in 523, this Tuscan was a senior deacon in Rome. He quickly became embroiled in an Arian-heresy conflict between Emperor Justin I, who had seized Arian churches in Constantinople and forced Arians to become Catholics, and King Theodoric of Italy, an Arian. Theodoric ordered the pope to Constantinople to stop Justin, but Justin agreed to only half the demands. On his return to Italy the pope was imprisoned by a vengeful Theodoric. Weary and ill from the voyage, the pope died; he was immediately honored as a martyr.

Walking with Him Daily Mass Readings

25S THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, Solemnity

Wh Deut 8:2-3.14-16 The Lord fed you

Ps 147:12-15.19-20 Finest wheat

1 Cor 10:16-17 One loaf, one body Jn 6:51-58 The Living bread

26M St Phillip Neri, priest (M)

Wh 1 Pet 1:3-9 Cause of great joy

Ps 110:1-2.5-6.9-10 Covenant recalled

Mk 10:17-27 God alone is good

27T St Augustine of Canterbury, bishop (O)

Gr 1 Pet 1:10-16 Habit of Obedience

Ps 97:1-4 Ring out your joy

Mk 10:28-31 What about us?

28W

Gr 1 Pet 1:18-25 You now have faith

Ps 147:12-15.19.20 Praise the Lord

Mk 10:32-45 Road to Jerusalem

29T

Gr 1 Pet 2:2-5.9-12 The Lord’s goodness

Ps 99:2-5 We are God’s people

Mk 10:46-52 Have pity on me

30F THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS, Solemnity

Wh Deut 7:6-11 A chosen people

Ps 102:1-4.6-8.10 Bless God’s name

1 Jn 4:7-16 Love one another

Mt 11:25-30 My yoke is easy

31S THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, Feast

Wh Zeph 3:14-18 Have no fear

[Alt. Rom 12:9-16 Untiring effort}

Ps/Is 12:2-6 I shall not fear

Lk 1:39-56 Mary set out

The singing priest reaches his Diamond Jubilee

■ By Matthew Biddle

ALMOST 200 well-wishers from across Perth gathered to celebrate Father Jim Petry’s 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood on Sunday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in Wilson.

The church was filled with many of Fr Jim’s friends and several members of his family, who travelled from interstate to be at the Diamond Jubilee Mass.

Fellow priests Fr Jim Corcoran and Fr Richard Doyle, as well as Archbishop Barry Hickey were also in attendance.

Archbishop Hickey thanked Fr Jim for his many years of service to the Archdiocese on behalf of all priests and Catholics in Perth. “He has a distinct way of getting people to sing, a way of getting people to participate in the Mass, and he also has a great love of little children,” the Archbishop said.

“He’s had heavy burdens to bear over these 60 years of priesthood, but he bore them always with a great joy, and with great forbearance.

“His cheerfulness, his enthusiasm, his optimism and obviously his joy in being a priest of God has been a tremendous asset, not only to him and the diocese, but to all Catholics.”

At the end of Mass, Fr Jim was presented with his Papal blessing sent by Pope Benedict XVI and a ticket for a trip to the eastern states, paid for by the parish council.

Chairman of the parish council and longtime Wilson parishioner, Tim McManus, described the day as one of “celebration and recognition of the dedication Fr Jim has shown to his faith and church”.

Mr McManus said he was delighted to see his parish priest reach such a remarkable milestone.

“He’s a very spiritual man and quite a humble man too,” he said.

Fr Jim was born in England, and grew up in a strong Catholic family which produced three priests.

“There were seven children in the family – I was the third one – four boys and three girls,” he explained. “But I’m the only Petry left; I’m the only one representing the family, all my siblings have passed away.”

Fr Jim entered the seminary at the age of 17, immediately after finishing his schooling, and was ordained at Wonersh, Surrey, on May 22, 1948.

In 1950 he was appointed by the local Bishop as chaplain of the British Army, a decision which made little sense at the time but changed Fr Jim’s life.

“He said to me ‘We think you’re ideal material for the army’, but I couldn’t see any sign of it, I really don’t know why he chose me,” Fr Jim said.

“It really changed my life because I had been brought up in a Catholic atmosphere … and here I was mixing with men and women of all faiths and none, and realising there is good in all people.”

During his time in the army, Fr Jim was posted to Austria, Germany, Korea and Malaysia. He was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his outstanding work in Korea.

In 1957 Fr Jim arrived in Western Australia, where he served in the Bunbury diocese for several years, before moving to Perth in 1966.

CNS 26 Park - Archbishop Hickey Opening and blessing of Gilbert Currie House, Castledare - Fr Brian O’Loughlin VG 26/27 WYD Cross & Icon, Rockingham, and handover to Bunbury Diocese - Bishop Sproxton 26-29 Clergy Seminar - Archbishop Hickey 28 Presentation of Archbishop’s 2007 Spirit Award for LifeLink Day, Iona CollegeBishop Sproxton 30 Mass and Opening of school buildings, Sacred Heart, Thornlie - Bishop Sproxton Italian National Day CocktailsFr Brian O’Loughlin VG 30-1 June Parish Visitation, KwinanaArchbishop Hickey

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Golden handshake: Fr Jim Petry offers the sign of peace to Archbishop Barry Hickey during the Mass celebrating Fr Jim’s Diamond Jubilee.

exercise and stay active as much as possible. “Physically, I’m in reasonable shape, I walk every day for 40 minutes, I cycle as often as I can, I do physical exercise on the balcony, and I’ve joined a little health program,” he said.

The 84-year-old said he still enjoys watching soccer, particularly his beloved Tottenham Hotspur, but his real passion is music.

Mr McManus said parishioners throughout Perth recognise Fr Jim’s love of singing. “Fr Jim’s respected for his ability with music and singing, and he’s commonly known as ‘The singing priest’,” he said.

It’s a nickname Fr Jim certainly doesn’t

mind. “As a boy I was in the church choir for many, many years … I love music, and I love teaching people new songs,” he said. Fr Jim, parish priest at Wilson since early 2004, said his years of priesthood had not been without their challenges, but, overall, had been enjoyable.

“It’s a great life really but you’ve got to be used to being on your own, that’s the difficulty, not everybody can withstand that,” he said.

“But it’s ok, it’s part of the life, you accept that. The biggest challenge is to set an example yourself, that’s the big problem, you can’t talk about things you can’t do yourself, that’s always a challenge.”

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He served as parish priest at several locations, including Lynwood-Langford, Bedford, Cottesloe, and more recently, Leederville. Despite enduring a hip replacement recently, Fr Jim continues to

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School unveils Loreto foundress statue

■ By Anthony Barich

THE students of Loreto Nedlands received a striking reminder of the power that comes from faith in God last week when a statue of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary foundress Mary Ward was unveiled on Monday.

Before a life-size, 120kg bronze statue of her was unveiled by school principal Jennifer Healey and IVBM State Congregation Leader Sister Margaret O’Sullivan, the principal expressed the hope that it be a reminder that Mary Ward’s faith and trust in God enabled her to follow God’s call and make a difference in the world.

“May we seek to follow her example and act freely, justly, courageously, with integrity, sincerity and joy to make a difference here and now,” she said, adding that following God’s will is not restrictive but is lived in the freedom to love,” the principal said.

“Mary chose to live in freedom doing God’s will out of love, not because she felt she had to but because she wanted to. She chose to be a person of integrity in all circumstances, not just when it suited her, and she chose to work for justice, to bring about change for those whose voices are not heard.”

Mary Ward lived during the turbulent times of the Reformation,

when “reformers” burned down churches and persecuted the visible witnesses of God’s love, priests and Religious.

In 1609 she founded the Religious Order, the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, modeled on the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), which was founded by St Ignatius.

Born in 1585, she grew up in Yorkshire during the Reformation. In her early twenties, she travelled to France and for a time lived in a convent before establishing The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary and her followers opened schools for young girls throughout Europe and later in England.

The new order was controversial because of Mary’s commitment to working within the community rather than adhering to a cloistered Religious life and her activities had many detractors.

She was labelled a heretic and imprisoned by Pope Urban VIII, but reportedly always carried with her a small cross and Rosary beads.

The life size statue incorporates these important elements as well as her satchel, hat and shoes which served her on pilgrimages from St Omar in France to Rome. By the time she died in 1645 her order had been suppressed and her houses and schools effectively disbanded in England and Europe.

However, The IBVM survived through the persever-

ance of her followers and flourished again during the 1800s.

The statue’s creator, Adelaide-based Meliesa Judge, describes the Mary Ward statue as a ‘moving creation’, both in the sense that the figure is striding out in big steps, and represents her actively living out her faith in God.

“Mary Ward is striding forward in the world. When I spoke to the schools they all brought to me a sense of action and spirituality,” said Meliesa, who created it with her husband Will Kuiper. “I like it. I’ve worked on it for a long time. Often you get to a point where can see the flaws but I can’t see any in it.”

The schools have had input to the statue by selecting a quotation from Mary Ward’s writings which feature at the base.

Five Loreto principals from different States attended the unveiling. Next year marks the 400th anniversary of the first Loreto school in Europe.

Active: Sister Margaret O’Sullivan, State Congregation leader of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, unveils the lifesize statue of Loreto foundress Mary Ward with Loreto Nedlands school principal Jennifer Healey.

Glendalough to keep historic name despite shift

■ By Anthony Barich

GLENDALOUGH parishioners will retain their parish-suburb name despite the Town of Vincent changing the boundaries so that the Church now sits in Mt Hawthorn (see graphic bottom right).

The Town of Vincent has shifted the boundaries, renaming as Mt Hawthorn a portion of Glendalough east of the Mitchell Freeway.

St Bernadette’s Church on Jugan Street is in the triangular area to be renamed, but Perth Vicar General Fr Brian O’Loughlin says there is no need at this point to change the parish name to Mt Hawthorn.

This is especially the case, Fr O’Loughlin said, given the historical significance - Glendalough was named thus by Bishop Matthew Gibney - the founder of The Record

The Vicar General said Glendalough is named after an ancient monastery that gave free education during the medieval period in Kildare, Ireland.

Glendalough parish priest Fr Doug Harris expects real estate prices to rise with it – a view shared by the Real Estate Institute of WA.

A REIWA spokesman told The Record that “suburb names do have quite an impact on house prices.

“There’s a good chance that Glendalough, which has not had as strong a reputation as Mt Hawthorn, will benefit, as that triangular section that will be absorbed into Mt Hawthorn.

Mt Hawthorn was always a quality area but has become quite prestigious in the past decade.

Glendalough was in the same spot, but a simple name change can definitely have an impact on poten-

tial buyers.” A statement released by the Town of Vincent said that over 72 per cent of respondents to a community survey indicated support for the name change.

Town of Vincent Mayor Nick Catania, a local practising Catholic, said: “I hope that the existing Mount Hawthorn community will join with the Town in embracing the new residents.”

Whilst the Town’s municipality boundary runs along Scarborough Beach Road, the renaming does not apply to those properties/lots which are in Osborne Park – these properties remain in that suburb, it is only the properties/lots that were formerly named Glendalough that have changed (see map).

The Town of Vincent statement said that residents and business proprietors in the re-named Glendalough area will need to

update their details with those with whom they correspond and amend letterheads, etc to reflect the change.

Mail delivery will continue, but the change when possible should be made to assist Australia Post with the rationalisation of their postal procedures.

The Town will “not be compensating any person or business for expended monies associated with any changes they make to reflect the change in suburb name”.

Fr Harris says the changes will mean more than changing the parish letterhead and diocesan directory details. He says that while there are plenty of single-income families with a couple of kids, these will become the exception rather than the norm “now that we’re Mt Hawthorn”, and that prices are already around $600,000.

He said that as these prices keep going up, people must ensure that, with the double income often needed to support the higher mortgages, their children are not neglected. “We need to ensure that kids are brought up in the faith and are not neglected, and that they still experience that family love,” he said.

Fr Harris said the upside is that as people already have an established income, the people moving into the suburb in might be more mature and potentially more serious about their faith. But chances are they’ll have less children.

“In time, you may not see too many young families here,” he said. “There are a few who have kids but if they do it will only be a couple, as they are paying off a big mortgage.

“They are less likely to have kids because their profession is more important than having children.”

PHOTO: ANTHONY BARICH

The lay-out: The chunk of Glendalough that is now Mt Hawthorn, with St Bernadette’s Church in Jugan Street running straight down the middle of the shaded area, crossing the Mitchell Freeway. IMAGE: COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF

the Parish

Pro-Cathedral’s size the main factor in Latin Mass move to Belmont

■ By Matthew Biddle

THE size of St John’s ProCathedral in Perth city was one of the main reasons why the Latin Mass community needed to move to larger facilities, according to Perth Latin Mass chaplain Fr Michael Rowe.

The Latin Mass community has been based at the Pro-Cathedral for over 12 years, but is now preparing to move to St Anne’s Church in Belmont, as revealed in The Record last week.

Fr Rowe said it’s been hard work managing a parish at the ProCathedral due to its size and lack of facilities.

“The Pro-Cathedral doesn’t have toilets or a hall that’s readily available, a meeting room or offices or anything,” Fr Rowe said.

“It’s difficult to have all the elements of a parish life at the ProCathedral due to the lack of facilities and the size of the church.”

While there has been much recent activity and discussion around finding a new base for the community, he said the quest for larger premises has been going on for more than 10 years.

“At the Pro-Cathedral there are no toilets, we have to trek all the way up to the hospital to go to the toilet,” said Rosemary Lorrimar, a parishioner of the Pro-Cathedral for over eight years.

“There are quite a few activi-

ties that we have going on outside the church, and we have to book the hall and take our chances that nobody else is using it, and that also gets a bit difficult.”

There are almost 200 parishioners who attend the Pro-Cathedral; however its capacity is about 70, resulting in an increased workload for the Latin Mass chaplain, according to Mrs Lorrimar.

“Fr Rowe had to start saying a third Mass because we couldn’t fit everybody in for the first two Masses,” she said.

“I absolutely love the ProCathedral, it’s got a lot of atmosphere, and prayers and history that seem to resonate with me, but … it has been too small for a long time.”

Fr Rowe said Archbishop Barry Hickey had suggested Belmont as a suitable location for the community.

“His idea was to go to Belmont because it was under-utilised and disappearing as a place of worship,”

Fr Rowe explained.

St Anne’s Church in Belmont is slightly larger, with a maximum capacity of about 130, and it provides the much needed facilities which the Latin Mass community has been without during its time at the Pro-Cathedral.

“It gives us a base to work from, a place to call home for the Latin Mass … and the facilities are there for other activities to take place,” Fr Rowe said.

St Anne’s previously had only

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one Sunday Mass, at 10am each week, and its parish priest, Fr Phillip Fleay, is also responsible for the nearby Cloverdale and Rivervale parishes.

The heritage-listed Pro-Cathedral was the first Roman Catholic Church to be built in WA when it was completed in 1845, and many of its parishioners will be sad to leave.

“People are sad to leave the ProCathedral, they’ve been there for a long time, but for the Mass to grow and to be more accessible, we had to face the idea of moving,” Fr Rowe said.

“But we are moving onwards and upwards hopefully.

“The Pro-Cathedral will revert back to a chapel for use by the Cathedral parish, that’s what I understand.”

St Anne’s Church was closed on May 11 while renovations take place inside, and consequently Perpetual Adoration could not continue.

With much noise and dust as well as several workmen moving through the church, it was out of respect and reverence for the Blessed Sacrament that adoration ceased, he said.

The closure of the church also meant the Blessed Sacrament was removed, therefore adoration was not possible.

Fr Rowe told The Record that a suitable place is required for reservation of the Blessed Sacrament, and an office, presbytery room or demountable were not deemed to be suitable places, though the idea was floated in discussions between Glendalough parish priest Fr Doug Harris, founder of the Apostles of Perpetual Adoration, and Archbishop Hickey.

An altar and tabernacle are required for adoration, not just a monstrance being placed on a stand.

Fr Rowe said he was unsure how long the church would be closed for.

“It will take at least a month or two, it might even take longer,” he said.

“The main thing is work on the sanctuary and different parts of the church to make it fitting for the traditional Latin Mass.”

The Latin Mass chaplain said he would assess the possibilities for adoration once the church is reopened.

“We’ll be in a position to consider adoration then,” he said.

Catholic students chosen

■ By

Anthony Barich

STUDENTS from Catholic schools are shaping up as leaders of the future if this year’s prestigious Sir Charles Court Young Leaders Program appointees are anything to go by.

Richard Ferguson (Lumen Christi), Nen Okamoto (Chisolm College), Baris Gilaver (John Paul College, Kalgoorlie), Tristan Wheeler (Kearnan College, Manjimup), Tom Garvey (Newman College), Nadia Tedja (Santa Maria), Brittany Hunter (St Joseph’s, Northam), and Tauri Chrisp (St Luke’s Karratha) were among 30 chosen from around WA to participate in a five-day residential program at Curtin University during the July holidays. The Year 10 students were chosen from 120 nominations from 70 schools.

Queenslanders teach Sandgropers to bring people back to Church

■ By

Matthew Biddle

A BRISBANE-based program aimed at helping lapsed Catholics return to the Church has been introduced to the Archdiocese of Perth.

The Catholics Returning Home program was explained to about 35 representatives from 10 Perth parishes on April 19 to allow them to teach the program at their parishes.

Several priests also attended the training session at East Victoria Park, including Mgr Peter McCrann, parish priest of Holy Trinity Church in Embleton.

The other parishes represented included Morley, Attadale, Manning, Bateman, Bassendean and Lesmurdie.

Kathryn Robbie, from the Brisbane parish of Petrie, made the journey to Perth with husband Shane to lead the training session. Mrs Robbie said the program attempts to reach out to inactive Catholics to help them to start actively practising their faith again. “It’s designed to bring them up-to-date with the changes in the Church since they’ve been away,” she said.

“The idea of the program is to listen to the stories of the returnees and to gently encourage them to participate in their faith community. “It covers the changes in the Church since Vatican II and how we celebrate Mass, the changes in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and we also talk about the Creed – what does it

in brief Pope says charism of consecrated virgins can help all people

VATICAN CITY (CNS)

- While the rest of the world may think chastity is something “unintelligible and useless,” the order of consecrated virgins is a charism that can be fruitful and beneficial to all people, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“With your righteous life, you can be the stars that guide the journey of the world,” he said in a May 15 private audience with about 500 consecrated virgins from across the globe.

He said he wished to encourage them in their vocations and hoped they would grow daily in their awareness that this charism is “as bright and fertile in the eyes of faith as it is unintelligible and useless (in the eyes) of the world.”

The women were in Rome as part of a May 14-17 international congress of consecrated virgins discussing how to foster the order and how it is lived in the world.

Consecrated by her local bishop, a consecrated virgin makes a promise of perpetual virginity, prayer and service to the Church while living independently in

mean and what is the faith we profess.”

Mrs Robbie added that the essence of the program is that it offers compassion and healing to returning Catholics. “The program provides an open door through which returnees can experience welcome, hospitality, compassion and healing,” she said.

The six-week program simply requires a team of between three and five Catholics who are wellformed in the faith to organise and present the sessions.

Mr and Mrs Robbie also met with Archbishop Barry Hickey before the training session and received his full support.

The program was originally written and developed by Sally Mews, a returning Catholic herself from the United States. It was introduced in Brisbane in 2003 with encouraging results and has since been implemented in most Australian states and even in New Zealand.

For Him:

society. The order of virgins is one of the oldest forms of consecration in the Church, which Perth Catholic Maureen Togher dedicated herself to on March 25. at Morley Church.

Pope Benedict said the desire to live as a consecrated virgin is linked to the desire to mirror Mary and her “loving, free choice” to do the will of God.

The Pope asked that the soul of Mary be in each one of them. Quoting St Ambrose, he said Mary “is the one mother of Christ according to the flesh, yet according to faith, Christ is the fruit of all.”

“Every soul receives the Word of God, provided that, immaculate and immune to vice, it guards its chastity with inviolate modesty,” he said, quoting the saint.

Agnus Dei: Fr Michael Rowe presents the Lamb of God to the people during the 3pm Good Friday service at the Cathedral parish centre. PHOTO: MATTHEW BIDDLE

Bishop Paul Metuchen places a ring on the finger of a woman becoming a consecrated virgin.

PHOTO: CNS

The Icecream evangelisers

■ By Anthony Barich

ICE CREAM is bringing City Beach Primary School students’ families back to the Church.

It’s a slow process, but Holy Spirit Parish priest Fr Don Kettle holds an ‘Ice cream Sunday’ and the kids of the school are dragging their parents along to chat with him and make that human connection, it’s a good start.

Fr Kettle first experienced the evangelical potential of icecream when he did his three-month pastoral placement at St Michael’s parish in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the United States while he was a student seminarian in Australia. He started the idea when he was assistant priest at Rockingham parish in 2002 and at Dianella as parish administrator in 2005.

Dianella parish still holds Ice cream Sundays, proving that it works. Holy Spirit parish held its

first Ice cream Sunday on May 4, with children enjoying ice cream, face painting and balloons handed out by a clown outside after the Sunday morning Mass while Fr Kettle got to know the parents better, some of whom were not churched themselves.

In the US, Ice cream Sunday in a parish can be a full-day event, with children and teenagers also offered catechesis and faith formation as a way of re-introducing people to their faith.

This is something Fr Kettle wants to incorporate into his event soon, as the focus is on bridging the gap between the school and the adjoining parish, as “many parents who drop their kids at school aren’t connected to the parish”.

On the day, the whole Sunday morning Mass is “geared up”, including the singing and the homily, “conscious of the fact you have people there who aren’t regulars at Mass,” he said.

Evangelisation is one of the portfolios of our parish council, and Catechesis is on there.

“Catechetics is important so people have a good understanding of their faith”.

“It’s one way of reaching them, even if it’s once every three months. The next one will be held in August and it will certainly be one day that the children do not need to be encouraged to go to Mass.”

Fr Kettle reported that one child even said to her mother, “Mum, that’s great, can we go next weekend?”

“During Children’s Liturgy the children were asked if they knew what special day it was.

“Instead of the hoped for reply of ‘Feast of the Ascension’, one youngster immediately replied “Ice Cream Sunday!

“As long as they’re coming to Church, they’re giving the Holy Spirit an opportunity to do His thing.”

People struggling with addiction to get booster from musicians

■ By Anthony Barich

FREMANTLEBASED Perth Archdiocesan drug rehabilitation centre Cross Roads will receive a timely boost when the highly successful annual Gospel Concert targets the organisation for its 2008 event next month.

The event raised $4000 for an orphanage in Kampala, Uganda when it was held last year at the Redemptorist Monastery in North Perth, and promises to do the same for Cross Roads, established in 2000 to support addicts of drugs, alcohol and gambling and their immediate families through support groups, spiritual programs and individual direction.

The John XXIII College Choir will headline the event that will also include Western Australia’s finest gospel performers giving a traditional and ecumenical concert on Sunday, June 22 from 1.30pm to 4.15pm at St Patrick’s Basilica, Adelaide Street, Fremantle.

Touching the heart with their sweet sounds and harmony that only a youth group can achieve will be John XXIII Gospel Choir under the direction of Rosalie Hampton.

The group Two Trains, led by Lindsay Evans, will mix things up with up-beat bluegrass Gospel, and Ecumenical choir A Cappella Praise, led by Barry Goddard, will

perform having toured nationally and overseas. Their four-part harmonies will include uplifting spirituals and foot tapping gospel numbers from Africa.

Popular duo Craig Sinclair and Lara Norman will perform music that stirs the soul. Sonja D’anne and Popera will raise the rafters with their vocals.

“Gospel Concerts of the past three years have been a great success and we look forward to another afternoon of inspiration and audi-

Carnival aims to help build culture of peace

OVER 400 high school students broke new ground on March 30 when they battled it out on the sporting fields of Presbyterian Ladies’ College in Peppermint Grove in the name of world peace.

Students from Christian Brothers College Fremantle, Sacred Heart College and John XXIII College played soccer, volleyball and badminton against other faith-based schools including an Australian Islamic College as part of the “Interfaith Sports for Peace” Carnival, and it was so successful that John XXIII College expressed interest in hosting the event next year, as it will be an annual event.

The Muslim Social and Sports Association (MSSA), Buddha’s Light International Association of WA (BLIAWA), the Interreligious Peace Sports Festival (IPSF), Presbyterian Ladies’ College (PLC) and the Youth Federation for World Peace (YFWP) joined forces to promote peace and multi-cultural harmony.

Students from years eight to 12 put into practice the “fair go” with people from diverse faiths in the hope that, through the event, young people will become more aware of the existing cultures and faiths in the community.

Organisers hoped that this would enable students to develop

an understanding of the similarities and appreciate the differences between faiths and cultures.

SFP organisers said that organised events can positively shape understanding and cooperation among children and provide a vital ingredient to securing an environment that will support peace and reconciliation.

“It is our hope that in future, sports will be promoted as a medium for interfaith cooperation and as the methodology for achieving social cohesion on a community level, linking WA youths to the idea of building bridges and creating a spirit of peace,” organisers said in a statement.

The carnival was held to celebrate the International Decade for the Culture of Peace and NonViolence for the Children of the World – 2001-2010, under the banner of the UNESCO statement:

“When children participate actively in sports, dance, theatre and artistic activities, they learn the rules of fair play and the values of sharing – and these are some of the attitudes and behaviours that constitute a culture of peace”.

For the record, there were no official winners, but the Catholic schools gave it fair crack nonetheless.

ence participation”, said concert organiser Carmel Charlton–Hancock.

Tickets at $15 for adults and $3 for children are only available by advance purchase. Email: erichancock@swiftdsl. com.au or phone Carmel on 94461558.

Reaching out: Students participate in the Interfaith Sports Carnival.

Fun spiritual community: Nikki Olver, Felicity Keet and Kate Oliver with Fr Don Kettle and the clown for the day at Ice Cream Sunday. PHOTOS: HOLY SPIRIT PARISH

Cute: A young parishioner enjoys the icecream, with Felicity Keet behind.

Ready: John XXIII College choir. Top row: Celia Rosario, Kai Sinclair, Jack Keady, Ben Horgan, Lauren James, Nikole Rabeling, Bottom row: Billy Bargmann, Ruby van der Borgh, Jaimee Horgan, Michael Collins, Sarah Naughtons.

Carmel CharltonHancock

the Nation

Student politicians try to run pro-lifers off campus

Student union President targets Catholic student group for offering different perspective on abortion

■ By Paul Gray

THE University of Queensland’s Newman Society – the university’s Catholic student club – has been threatened with disaffiliation because it promotes a pro-life message.

The President of University’s Union, which acts as the peak student body in charge of the university’s many and varied clubs and societies, has also warned the Catholic group that it will be “dealt severely” (with) if it continues advertising pro-life material.

The argument put by the university’s Union in subsequent communications with the Newman Society is that the Union has a policy of supporting women’s rights to abortion.

Because the promotional material from the Catholic group does not refer women on for abortions, the material is therefore deemed to be in denial of this right.

The University of Queensland is the state’s biggest university. Founded in 1909, it has been the training ground of many community leaders including Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan and Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty.

The Newman Society is one of the longest established student groups at the university.

Last week a Society member, Stephen Purcell, told The Record that the group had also been denied a security clearance to set up a stall

‘Sad’ figures no surprise

■ By Paul Gray

The Respect Life Officer for the Archdiocese of Perth says new abortion figures are saddening, but not really a surprise.

Figures reported during the past week show that abortions performed on young teenagers have increased dramatically, and that the abortion drug RU486 is being used once every three days at the state’s leading maternity hospital.

Respect Life Officer Bronia Karniewicz told The Record that the published statistics on use of the abortion drug RU 486 at King Edward Memorial Hospital naturally raises questions about the underlying causes. She said she was a little sur-

in the university’s free space: a space directly controlled by the university administration rather than by the student Union.

Mr Purcell said the free space is used regularly by diverse groups including socialists, groups urging an end to uranium mining and the Liberal Party. However the Newman Society had so far been refused permission to set up there.

At the centre of the dispute with the university’s student Union is the right of the Catholic group to promote pro-life material.

Material the group has recently displayed includes brochures advertising an Australian Catholic Bishops Conference initiative, Walking With Love.

Walking with Love, which has

prised by the figures since legally, the abortion drug was only supposed to be used in extreme cases.

“What is it that lies behind it being used so regularly?” Ms Karniewicz asked.

The West Australian reported this week that the hospital used the RU 486 drug to terminate 35 pregnancies between January 1 and March 31 this year.

Ms Karniewicz also said she had not been previously aware of the number of abortions among girls under the age of 14. The Sunday Times last weekend said that 36 West Australian girls under 14 had abortions in 2006, compared with 20 in 2003.

Stastically, the main age group having abortions in Australia is 20-25 years, she said.

been reported in earlier editions of The Record, is a new outreach by the Church to women who have had abortions and to women who may feel under pressure because of an untimely pregnancy.

It attempts to move the Church away from a confrontational approach to the abortion debate, by promoting a message of love and support for women who are pregnant, rather than a reminder of the horrors and dangers of abortion itself.

Ironically, it is the promotion of another ‘moderate’ pro-life initiative which has now produced one of the most extreme attempts in Australia so far to curb any and all pro-life messages coming from the Church.

The dispute arose last month when the Newman Society – named

in honour of Catholic intellectual giant Cardinal John Henry Newman – organised a series of once-a-week stalls, with permission from the Union, during lunchtimes at the University’s Brisbane campus.

The stalls included promotional material for Rachel’s Vineyard, a series of spiritual retreats for women who feel anguish after having had an abortion, and for the Walking With Love program.

One stall also featured a photograph of a living human foetus in the womb.

Trouble struck when Union President Joshua Young approached the stall and informed the Catholic students that the Rachel’s Vineyard flyers contravened the Union’s “prochoice” policy.

The President of the Australian Catholic Students Association, Camillus O’Kane, told The Record last week that the foetus image was “not at all” offensive, and was not designed to create a shock effect on passers-by.

“It was simply a photograph of an eight-week-old foetus,” Mr O’Kane said. He said the university’s Union has now put the Newman Society on probation because they displayed the poster.

“I believe it was disgraceful to not allow the Newman Society to hold the stall,” Mr O’Kane said. He added it was extraordinary that such action could be taken in view of the fact that the same society has run similar stalls in previous years at the campus.

By not referring for abortion, the Catholic group is being deceitful, said the Union’s President, Joshua Young.

“It is my opinion that the Newman Society is not seeking to provide balanced advice on abortion and (is) clearly deceptive in its conduct,” he wrote in an email to Newman Society member Allison Atkins. The Union President added:

“I will not entertain the notion that the Newman Society seeks to inform women in a way that is not bias against abortion.”

Mr Young said further incidents of “disregard for Union policy” –i.e. the pro-abortion policy – may be dealt with severely through the Clubs and Societies Committee of the Union.

The wording of the Union’s abortion policy states: “That the University of Queensland Union supports free, safe, abortion on demand so all women have a genuine choice when faced with unwanted pregnancy.”

The Newman Society says other groups which advocate abortion, such as Marie Stopes International, have a visible presence at the University.

Camillus O’Kane from ACSA says the suppression of free speech for pro-life movements is becoming “a massive issue” that goes beyond the borders of one university campus.

He says he is encouraging the Newman Society at the University of Queensland to take up the option of fighting the issue at a referendum of the student body.

This idea was first put forward by the University Union, which was asked by the Newman Society what would need to change for the Catholic group to be allowed to promote pro-life material.

The Union replied that 300 student signatures and a successful vote of the student population would be needed to change the proabortion policy.

Newman Society member Stephen Purcell, who was one of the students manning the stall when trouble from the Union struck, said disaffiliation would be a “serious threat” to the group’s operations.

“It would mean we have no funds, and no meeting space allowed to us on Union controlled property.”

Editor welcomes papal reminder

■

By Paul Gray

A NEW message from Pope Benedict, re-endorsing the idea of “subsidiarity” as a key principle of Catholic teaching, has been welcomed by Australian author James Franklin.

The Pope said in an address to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in Rome earlier this month that a society that honours subsidiarity “liberates people from a sense of despondency and hopelessness.”

The Pope also emphasized the importance of “solidarity” as a key component of Catholic social teaching.

Franklin, Editor of Life to the Full: Rights and Social Justice in Australia, a collection of Catholic social justice essays, said Pope Benedict’s address reiterated a message that has been put many times before by previous Popes.

“The basic idea of subsidiarity is that everything should be done by the smallest, most local, most

‘on the ground’ group as is feasible, though the state may have an oversight role such as auditing charities’ accounts,” Franklin said.

According to Church teaching, governments should encourage a movement towards doing things at the most local level, instead of regarding everyone as “atomistic consumers,” Franklin said.

At the same time, governments should also avoid the temptation towards socialism, which regards it as the state’s job to “do as much as possible.”

A more familiar term in the Pope’s

address to the Pontifical Academy is the word “solidarity.”

Solidarity, said Franklin, means the fact that everyone who is in trouble has a claim on the attention of the rest of us.

“Those who are subject to violence in remote communities or being starved by their government in Burma, or someone who falls sick next to me on the bus, have a claim on my help,” he said.

“We owe it to them to do what we can to help, just because we’re humans and need help, and they’re part of the human community.”

the Nation

Bishop seeks better protections for vulnerable migrant workers

■ By Paul Gray

AUSTRALIA’S low birthrate will lead to an increased reliance on temporary foreign workers to give us many of our basic needs, according to Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome.

While the nation has traditionally relied on migrant workers, this figure is set to “expand dramatically” in coming decades, says the bishop in a pastoral letter published by the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council.

Bishop Saunders said in light of this major trend, Australia must do everything it can to protect vulnerable migrant workers from exploitation, by improving monitoring and compliance with visa conditions.

He said the Australian Government should ensure decent wages for migrant workers, many of whom send their earnings to their families living in poverty in their home countries.

Bishop Saunders, who heads the Council on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, says research evidence makes it clear that as the workforce ages, Australia will lack the labour to meet growing demands for services, build infrastructure or staff expanding industries.

“It is estimated that over the next 20 years, the overall annual immigration intake will need to increase by at least 30 per cent, from around 160,000 to around 230,000 people.”

The bishop says there are already 57,000 people working in Australia under a system known as Visa 457 - the Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa.

Bishop Saunders says there are significant concerns about the treatment of some workers on the present visa system, particularly in lower skilled jobs.

Last year a parliamentary inquiry recorded cases of exploitation and abuse of migrant workers.

The abuses involved under-payment, unpaid overtime, poor communication in unsafe working conditions, workplace injuries and deaths, racial abuse and threats, and unfair termination leading to deportation.

“Because Australia is likely to have more such workers in future years, it is important to be vigilant in regard to their working conditions and human rights,” Bishop Saunders writes.

There are also moves towards having more low-paid migrant workers here, with industry bodies and some trade unions urging a new visa system to allow workers from our region to come to Australia to work in lower paid, lower skilled seasonal jobs like fruit-picking.

The bishop says only a small number of the 10,000 Australian businesses using the 457 visa system have been accused of abuses, and there is no doubt most busi-

nesses are providing worthwhile work and doing the right thing by migrant workers.

However he cited newspaper reports from the past two years.

In one case involving two migrant workers who were dismissed, the employer subsequently used their ATM cards to empty their bank accounts of the $30,000 each had earned.

In another case, a migrant worker was sacked after he had paid off a $10,000 “debt” to his employer.

He was then replaced immediately by another worker from China.

Bishop Saunders said the modern church was increasingly calling on Governments to protect the rights of migrant workers, in light of the fact that immigration into developed countries by people looking for a better life is on the increase worldwide.

Allowing migrant workers into the country can act as a “vital support” to nations in our region which are enduring the effects of poverty and civil unrest, the bishop argued.

Meanwhile the bishops’ delegate on immigration issues, Bishop Joseph Grech, has welcomed the Australian Government’s decision to discontinue the Temporary Protection Visas system for asylumseekers.

The decision has restored equality of treatment to all who seek a protection visa in Australia, regardless of their method of arrival here, Bishop Grech said.

“The Catholic Church has argued consistently that all genuine refugees are deserving of Australia’s complete and ongoing protection.

“There should be no distinction of visa entitlement based on their method of arrival in this country.”

The bishop said the decision means that Australia can now “meet its obligations under international law.”

It should restore Australia’s reputation as a nation which truly cares for all those people who come to our shores in need of protection.

WYD preparations ‘flush’ with success

■ By Paul Gray

WORLD Youth Day organisers have detailed progress on the construction of facilities at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, ahead of the arrival of an expected half-million visitors for the vigil and Mass with Pope Benedict on July 19 and 20.

Central to the updated information released by the WYC organizing office this week was the state of the toilets.

No fewer than 1300 of a planned 4000 toilets have already been built, said the WYD Director of Event Planning and Operations Ian Steigrad.

“The materials used – including the toilets themselves – will be reused after World Youth Day,” Mr Steigrad said.

“They’re being built in blocks of 16 in the positions they’ll occupy during the events.”

Mr Steigrad said all construction work at Randwick, one of Australia’s most famous race courses, is being carried out in accordance with the Church’s agreement with the racing industry to keep off the tracks until mid-June.

Accordingly, all current work is being carried out off the main tracks. The work will step up in pace when organisers have exclusive access to the course, five weeks before the arrival of the Pope.

The revelations follow a news

report in one daily newspaper attacking the planning of World Youth Day as a “shambles.”

In an article long on rumblings but short on explosive fact, reporter Alan Gold of The Australian said the huge number of people expected at World Youth Day could pose perils to public health.

Unnamed experts, he said, could not conceive how such a huge infrastructure involving such a multitude of people could be put together

in a safe working condition in a few weeks.

And “with just weeks to go, there is no sign of a toilet city,” he wrote.

Mr Gold’s concerns may have been soothed this week with TV news footage broadcast around Australia of the hundreds of toilets already erected at Randwick.

World Youth Day chief operating officer Danny Casey said organisers are delighted with the building progress.

The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will be assisting up to 100 youth from Sudan, Myanmar (formerly Burma) and other poor and oppressed countries, attend World Youth Day (WYD) in Sydney, 15 – 20 July 2008. Without financial assistance, youth from these poor and oppressed countries, would not be able to respond to the Pope’s invitation for all youth of the world to attend WYD.

ACN sponsored the youth delegation, pictured left, to WYD in Cologne 2005. These young people from Sudan returned home and spread the good news of their meeting.

James Shawish will never forget the words of the Holy Father. “He encouraged us to feel united with God, our country and the world at large. He urged us to go and proclaim what we had heard to our friends, to their families and to share what we had experienced when we were together as brothers and sisters from all over the world.”

Join us in Prayer with the Pope and for the success of World Youth Day

Anyone able to help this cause will be sent a complimentary Papal Rosary of Pope Benedict XVI, and a Holy card with a prayer for World Youth Day. We ask you to join the Holy Father and the Catholic community in prayer for the success of this unique and faith filled event.

To send your donation please fill out the coupon below and tick the box* if you would like to receive the complimentary Papal Rosary and prayer card.

I/We enclose a donation of

0Yes please send me the Papal rosary and Holy card*

to help Youth from Poor and Oppressed countries attend World Youth Day 2008

I enclose a cheque/money order payable to Aid to the Church in Need OR please debit my Visa or Mastercard:

Bishop Saunders: research makes it clear that as Australia ages we will lack the labour to meet growing demand for services.

Be prepared: Preparing for WYD means preparing not just for the exciting, but also the sheer practical, no matter how unglamorous, as in this case where organisers must ensure adequate facilities are on hand for pilgrims.

PUBLIC BOOK LAUNCH

New author has produced modern classic

Mary, the Mother of God, has inspired countless generations to grow in relationship with God, and live in accordance with their great dignity. From dramatic apparitions to gentle personal encounters, she seems to find people when they need her most. Often she appears in times of war and devastation, bringing a message of peace and reconciliation, as she did in Belgium just as Hitler was rising to power, or in the wake of the 2004 tsunami.

Many of those Mary has touched had no previous connection with her, but upon experiencing her presence their lives were changed forever. This wonderful collection of accounts of her miracles includes the story of the weeping statue of Mary in Japan; the apparitions of Mary in Rwanda, Portugal and France; and the unexplained reappearance of an ancient icon of Mary in war-torn Russia. Mary has also appeared to millions in Egypt, uniting everyday people of different faiths, and was an inspiration to a young Polish boy who became the late Pope John Paul II.

The Miracles of Mary tells how Mary has brought together many cultures and creeds. Told simply and honestly by people who have encountered Mary, these remarkable stories allow readers to experience the beauty and grace of these events for themselves.

Available from The Record Bookshop for $22.95+postage

Writer and filmmaker BRIDGET CURRAN has a triple major in History, Italian and Anthropology (Hons), and a graduate diploma in Film and Television Production. She is currently researching and writing documentaries for film and television.

Archbishop Barry James Hickey

will launch Bridget Curran’s The Miracles of Mary at The Record

587 Newcastle St, West Perth on Thursday 29th May, 2008 at 4pm

Come and hear author Bridget Curran speak. Bridget will also be available to sign copies for purchasers

Vista

“be My witnesses”

With only 60 days to go before the biggest event to hit our shores - World Youth Day 2008ambassadors have been chosen who have either been public witnesses to their faith, or who see WYD as a chance to tell the world that they are Christian and proud of it.

Australian Test cricketer Matthew Hayden, well-known for making the sign of the Cross whenever he makes 100; practising Catholic, AFL Sydney Swan Jared Crouch; Socceroo World Cup and Palermo Serie A star Mak Bresciano, opera singer Amelia Farrugia, former Ambassador to the Holy See Dr John Herron, fashion designer Carla Zampatti, Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore, musician Jimmy Little and the Delezio family are the chosen ones.

This week we start a series of reflections from them, starting with the Delizio family.

Eight-year-old schoolgirl

Sophie Delezio is known to the Australian public as “little Sophie”. She gained national attention in 2003 through tragic circumstances when a car crashed into a preschool where 20 students were sleeping.

Seven children were injured when they were trapped under the burning car, with Sophie sustaining the most significant injuries with third degree burns to over 85 per cent of her body.

As she was hospitalised for several weeks and lost both of her legs, images of her were plastered all over the national media in newspapers, television and the Internet, prompting a massive public show of sympathy and charity.

The family lived at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead for over six months, and some of the rescuers received bravery awards as a result of the accident.

In 2004, Sophie’s parents founded the charity “The Day of Difference Foundation” dedicated to raising funds to save the lives of children who have suffered serious burns or other life threatening illness, trauma or injury.

In 2006, Sophie again made headlines when she was badly injured in a road accident. Her caretaker was pushing Sophie’s wheelchair at a pedestrian crossing when a car hit her, throwing her 50 metres. She suffered a heart attack, broken jaw and shoulder bone, bruising to her head, numerous rib fractures and a tear to her left lung. She returned home in late 2006.

That same year, Ron Delezio was named the Australian Father of the Year. He was also nominated as Australian of the Year. The family have been named Ambassadors for WYD08.

“We have felt a strong connection with the Church especially at the

time of Sophie’s first accident. As the children were both baptised at Mary MacKillop Chapel at North Sydney, prayers to Mary MacKillop were extremely important to Sophie’s survival,” the parents told WYD organisers.

“Sophie always went into the surgery theatre with a Prayer Card and a relic from Mary MacKillop. There were only so many ways we could help Sophie during the days when she was so close to death.

“We had to rely on the strength and precision of the doctors and nurses to do their best, knowing that they really did not have the answers. I remember our surgeon coming out of theatre with his hands in the air saying “It’s a miracle, it’s a miracle!”

“No one has ever survived third degree burns to over 85 per cent of their body. They tried everything they have heard of and more. I believe Mary MacKillop helped the medical teams do what they had to do.

“When the medical side is out of your hands, the only other way we could help Sophie was in prayer and knowing that there was a possibility of Sophie going to God if it did not work out. Our prayers and the prayers of millions of people from over 18 different countries kept Sophie alive.

“No one can endure the difficulties of dealing with their child’s critical injuries without having faith.

“It would have been too hard without believing in God and Mary MacKillop. We hope that the Blessed Mary MacKillop will someday be canonised a Saint because of what she has done for our Sophie.”

They said being an Ambassador for World Youth Day is time to “give back to the Church for what it has given us”.

“It is our extreme honour to be connected with World Youth Day. We are here to tell the people the importance of not giving up and

believing that whatever happens, God is there for us,” they said.

“World Youth Day will show Australians that the Pope seriously cares about the people in Australia, and wants to be with his family here. I hear people from all religions praising the work of our Pope. Pope Benedict is crossing all boundaries in his messages to the world.

“Our children are taught religion at school and at home. There are a number of children in Mitchell’s class that say we came from monkeys and not from God.

“I say to our children that if we came from monkeys, where did the monkeys come from? It makes a lot of sense to our children that

God is real and that we need to live according to the 10 commandments and God’s teachings.”

They also found great inspiration and faith renewal when the WYD Cross and Icon visited their area.

“I witnessed God’s love when we saw the World Youth Day Cross and Icon upon its arrival to Australia. Seeing Sophie and Mitchell touching the Cross made me feel that God’s energy was passed on to the children and our whole family. It was a very spiritual feeling,” the parents said.

“Volunteering as Ambassadors is a real honour for our family. The people of Australia are very aware of our faith and have often been

told how important the Church and Mary MacKillop have been in our lives. We are happy to be seen registering for Wold Youth Day and promoting the Delezio family connection with this event. I also feel that many Australians will be very happy to see this connection and our public show of faith.”

Their message to young Catholics around Australia was to persist with their faith and stand up for it, as God outlasts everything.

“To all those young people who are feeling the pressure of a secular society on their faith, I would tell them to believe what’s in your heart. We must have faith otherwise there is nothing left to believe in.”

The Delezio Family: Ron, Carolyn, Sophie and Mitchell have been chosen collectively as World Youth Day 2008 abmassadors. They have shown that despite the most trying adversity, faith truly can redeem humanity.

PHOTO: WYD08

Uniting for the Faith: Opera singer Amelia Farrugia, Mitchell and Sophie Delezio and Sydney Swans AFL star Jared Crouch are among the several ambassadors for World Youth Day 2008.

PHOTO: WYD08

Prelude to World Youth Day ‘08

In May and June

the World Youth Day Cross and Icon will visit Catholic schools and parishes in a 20-day whirlwind tour of Western Australia. Schools and parishes have planned a blitz of activities in which everyone can participate and, organisers hope, the visit of these international travelling symbols will help focus attention on World Youth Day in Sydney from July 15-20. Here is the program for the visit. Is one of these events near you?

BUNBURY DIOCESE

Tuesday May 27

8am arrive Mandurah handover at Mandurah Catholic College, 11.30am depart to Pingarra, celebration at 12.30pm; 1pm depart for Harvey; 3pm Harvey celebration; 5pm depart for Bunbury; 6pm Bunbury celebration, overnight stay in Bunbury.

Wednesday May 28

8am Bunbury Mass, procession to old Cathedral site; 12pm depart for Bridgetown; 2pm Bridgetown; 4pm depart for Pemberton; 6pm Pemberton celebration, overnight in Pemberton.

Thursday May 29

Travel to Margaret River 12pm; Margaret River celebration 2.30pm; depart Margaret River to Busselton 4.30pm; Busselton celebration 6pm, overnight in Busselton.

Friday May 30

Travel to Collie 11am; in Collie 1.30pm; depart Collie to Narrogin 3pm; Narrogin celebration 6.30pm, overnight in Narrogin.

Saturday May 31

Travel to Katanning 2pm; Katanning celebration 5pm, overnight in Katanning.

Sunday June 1

1pm travel to Albany, celebration in Albany 5pm, overnight in Albany.

Monday June 2

Travel to Lake Grace 11.30am, celebration in Lake Grace 6pm. Overnight in Lake Grace.

Tuesday June 3

Travel to Esperance 11.30am, Celebration in Esperance 6pm, overnight in Esperance.

Wednesday June 4

Depart Esperance 7am for Kalgoorlie for handover 11am.

GERALDTON DIOCESE

Tuesday June 10

Handover to Geraldton diocese, Mass 7pm St Francis Xavier Cathedral; prayer vigil/veneration

Wednesday June 11

St Francis Xavier Primary School; Procession taking in Sydney Memorial, to Marine Tce, city centre, back to Cathedral Nazareth house for sick and aged

Northampton – Overnight

Thursday June 12

St Mary’s Church Northampton 9am Mass, depart to Carnarvon Parishioners to meet Cross and Icon at Overlander roadhouse, escort Cross to St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church 7pm Mass, veneration

Friday June 13

St Mary’s School 9am-1pm liturgy. 6.30pm Mass, procession to school for Stations of the Cross, talk on importance of Cross in Christian Church

Saturday June 14

St Paul’s School Karratha for 30th Anniversary Mass, Bishop Justin Bianchini – Overnight.

Sunday June 15

9am Mass at St Paul’s.

Monday June 16

At St Luke’s College, students to escort Cross and Icon to Roebourne for 10am procession; hand over to Port Headland 1.30pm.

3pm Port Headland Racecourse, Sutherland St, 5pm multi-denominational liturgy; procession to St Cecilia’s Church, Mass 8pm, 1-hr vigil.

BROOME DIOCESE

Tuesday June 17

Handover to Broome Diocese: Port Hedland –travel to La-Grange/BidyadangaOvernight

Wednesday June 18

Depart La-Grange/Bidyadanga to Beagle Bay then to Lombadina/Djarindjin - Overnight

Thursday June 19

Depart Lombadina/Djarindjin arrive Broome approx 3.30pm – Overnight.

Friday June 20

AM at St Mary’s College, PM in Broome Parish –Overnight

Saturday June 21

Travel to Derby – Overnight

Sunday June 22

Depart following Mass and travel to Halls Creek – Overnight

Monday June 23

AM at St Mary’s Church then to Balgo – Overnight

Tuesday June 24

Depart Balgo travel via Mulan to Billiluna –Overnight

Wednesday June 25

Travel to Warmun – Overnight

Thursday June 26

Travel to Wyndham/Kununurra – Overnight

Friday June 27

End of Broome Diocese viist

For more details on rural dioceses’ celebrations contact your local parish priest or the Broome Diocese on 08 9192 1060; Geraldton Diocese on 08 9921 3221; Bunbury Diocese on 08 9721 0500.

PERTH DIOCESE

Wednesday 21 May

Mazenod College and Lesmurdie Parish 8am to noon at Mazenod College, Gladys Road, Lesmurdie. Enq: Katie Thompson 9291 6500 or: Thompson.Katie@mazenod.wa.edu.au

Wednesday 21 May

CBC Fremantle 1pm to 3-30pm at CBC Fremantle, 51 Ellen St, Fremantle. Enq: Peter Baldry 9336 2700 or: peterb@cbcfremantle.wa.edu.au

Wednesday 21 May University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle 3.30pm to 7pm at Notre Dame University, 19 Mouat St, Fremantle. Tom Gannon 9433 0629 or tgannon@nd.edu.au

Wednesday 21 May

St Patrick’s Basilica, Fremantle 8pm to 6.30am at St Patrick’s Basilica, 47 Adelaide St, Fremantle. Enq: Fr John Sherman OMI 9335 2268 or: jsherman@oblates.com.au

Thursday 22 May

Lumen Christi College, Martin 8am to noon at Lumen Christi College, Station St, Martin. Enq: Cathy Marie Tommasi 9394 9300 or tommasic@lumen.wa.edu.au

Thursday 22 May

Chisholm College, Bedford 1pm to 4pm at Chisholm College, 1104 Beaufort Street, Bedford. Enq: Mary Casotti 9271 9000 or casotti_m@yahoo.com.au

Thursday 22 May

John XXIII College, Mt Claremont 6pm to 9pm at John XXIII College, Mooro Dve, Mt

Raring to go: Bunbury Catholic College students who will be heading to Sydney fo Cross and Icon when they arrive in Bunbury. Front row: Amy Fitton, Brianna Hynes, Ha Rowe, Catherine Stevens, Owen Hingston, Adam Rowlandson, Jesse MacDonald.

Don’t miss out! Symbols touring Western Australia, May, June d...the Cross

Claremont. Enq: Caroline Watson 9383 0419 or watson.caroline@johnxxiii.edu.au

Friday 23 May

Mercy College, Koondoola

8am to noon at Mercy College, Beach Rd, Koondoola. Enq: Jennie Jago 9247 9211 or jago.jennie@mercy. wa.edu.au

Friday 23 May

Ballajura Parish

Noon to 7.30pm at Blessed Mary MacKillop Church, cnr Pelican Parade & Cassowary Drive, Ballajura. Enq: Fr John Jegorow 9249 1247 or mackillopballajura@ bigpond.com

Friday 23 May

Neocatechumenal communities, Morley 8pm to 6am at Redemptoris Mater Seminary, 26 Camboon Rd, Morley. Enq: Andrew Georgiades 9349 2890 or andrew.georgiades@horizonpower.com.au

Saturday 24 May

St John of God Hospital, Subiaco

8am to 10.30am at St John of God Hospital, 12 Salvado Road, Subiaco. Enq: Jennifer Gardner 9382 6192 or Jennifer.gardner@sjog.org.au

Saturday 24 May

Claremont Parish 11am to 1.45pm at St Thomas the Apostle Church, 2 College Rd, Claremont. Activities will continue into the afternoon/night, concluding with a youth night at 7:15pm. Enq: John Kinder 9384 4925 or john. kinder@uwa.edu.au

Saturday 24 May

Woodvale Parish

2.30pm to 5:15pm at St Luke’s Church, Duffy Tce, Woodvale. Enq: Suzi Martins 9409 2823 or stefsule@iinet.net.au

Saturday 24 May

Whitfords Parish 5.15pm to 7am at Our Lady of the Mission Church, 270 Camberwarra Drive, Craigie. Enq: Jonathon Egan 9401 8815 or jonoegan@iinet.net.au

Sunday 25 May

Josephite Sisters South Perth

Noon - 3.30pm South Perth foreshore, St Columba’s school and Mary MacKillop center

Sunday 25 May

Balcatta Parish 4.30pm to 8pm at St Lawrence Church, 392 Albert St, Balcatta. Enq: Linda Franchina 9445 2869 or linzf84@hotmail.com

Monday 26 May

Social justice groups, Kings Park 9am to noon at Synergy Parklands, Kings Park (off May Dve). Come and experience the power of these two symbols of World Youth Day that have touched the lives of millions of youth from around the world! Enq: Katie Mellick 6380 5293 or mellick. kate@cathednet.wa.edu.au

Monday 26 May

Rockingham Parish and Kolbe Catholic College 5pm to 8.30am at Kolbe Catholic College, Dowling Street, Rockingham. Enq: Leanne Joyce 9591 4206 or joyce.leanne@cathednet.wa.edu.au

Wednesday 4 June

Kalgoorlie

11am + all day event at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Cnr. Brookman and Porter Streets, Kalgoorlie. Enq: Matthew Hodgson WYD Office, (08) 9422 7944 or wyd.projectworker@highgate-perthcatholic.org. au

Thursday 5 June

11am - noon Southern Cross

Thursday 5 June

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Merredin 1.30pm – 3pm at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, South Avenue, Merredin . Enq: Parish Council, (08) 9041 1118 or stmary@westnet.com

Thursday 5 June

Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, Toodyay 6pm + evening at Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, 36 Stirling Terrace, Toodyay.

Enq: Friar Gabriel Cortes, (08) 9574 5204 or avemaria@perthcatholic.org.au

Friday 6 June St Joseph’s School, Northam 9am - 11am at St Joseph’s School,Wellington Street, Northam.

Enq: Fiona Tabone, (08) 9622 1105 or tabone. fiona@cathednet.wa.edu.au

For everyone: Surfers welcome the World Youth Day cross and icon on Bell’s Beach near Melbourne, Australia, May 8. The cross and icon have been carried thousands of miles through Australia in advance of World Youth Day in July. CNS PHOTO/DAYS IN THE DIOCESES/FIONA BASILE, REUTERS

CNS

Friday 6 June St Thomas More College, Crawley 1pm - 3pm at St Thomas More College, Mounts Bay Road, Crawley. Enq: Pauline Ibbs, (08) 9386 0112 or stmcssec@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

Friday 6 June

YCS/YCW, Perth city 4pm – 8pm at Forrest Chase – Perth City, Corner Wellington Road & Hay St Mall, Perth. Enq: Katherine Radosevich, (08) 9422 7910 or perth@ycw.org.au

Friday 6 June 8.30pm Queen of Peace Youth group, Northbridge.

Saturday 7 June Schoenstatt Shrine 1am – 7am at Schoenstatt Centre, 9 Talus Drive, Armadale. Enq: Sr M Georgina Heger, (08) 9399 2349 or g.heger@bigpond.com

Saturday 7 June

Thornlie Parish 8am - Noon at Thornlie Parish, Cnr Ovens Rd and Discovery Drive, Thornlie. Enq: Michael Elder, (08) 9459 2113 or fastmik@iprimus.com.au

Saturday 7 June

Spearwood Parish 1pm – 4pm at St Jerome’s Catholic Parish, Cnr Troode Street & Rockingham Road, Munster. Enq: Christopher John De Sousa, (08) 9418 4821 or christo.desousa@gmail.com

Saturday 7 June

Applecross Parish 4.30pm – 8pm at St Benedict’s Church, 115 Ardross St, Ardross. Enq: Paul Ciccarelli, (08) 9315 1325 or ciccarelli@ozemail.com.au

Sunday 8 June

Stations of the Cross pilgrimage walk, Swan River foreshore 7am – Noon at Swan River Foreshore

Stations of the Cross Pilgrimage Walk. Enq: Tammy Nguyen, Perth WYD Office, (08) 9422 7944 or wyd. formation@highgate-perthcatholic.org.au

Sunday 8 June

Bateman Parish 5pm – midnight. St Thomas More, Bateman, 100 Dean Road, Bateman. Enq: Laura Kendrick, (08) 9364 8947 or laurakendrick88@hotmail.com

Monday 9 June

Prendiville College, Ocean Reef 8am - Noon. Prendiville Catholic College, Prendiville Avenue, Ocean Reef. Enq: Gemma Wooltorton, (08) 9301 6284 or gwooltorton@prendiville.wa.edu.au

Monday 9 June

Lockridge Parish 1pm – 9am at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 215 Morley Drive East, Kiara. Enq: Fr. Vinh Dong, (08) 9279 8119 or vinhdong@perthcatholic.org.au

Moving: Young Catholics carry the World Youth Day cross and icon from Bell’s Beach near Melbourne, Australia on May 8, to continue the journey through Victoria and northern NSW.

PHOTO/DAYS IN THE DIOCESES/FIONA BASILE, REUTERS

or World Youth Day gather at a WYD Mass at the college. They will also be welcoming the i Le, Emily Lloyd, Brigette Macfarlane, Michelle Noonan, Ashleigh Plaskett. Backrow: Jessica PHOTO: BUNBURY CATHOLIC COLLEGE

WYD a pivotal moment in my life

Idedicate time every day to prayer. I want every task I do to be a prayer. I spend half an hour with God in continual prayer daily and have an interior dialogue with Him. I spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament whenever I can, even if only for a few moments. When in Adoration I slow down and enjoy His presence. It refreshes and replenishes me.

How I Pray Now

My father has had a big influence on my faith ever since I was a little boy. Before I went to sleep, my father would always kneel at the side of my bed and pray with me. My grandparents also influenced my faith. My grandmother would say things like, “Trust this to God” or “God knows what’s best” or “God works in mysterious ways.”

with Debbie Warrier

Those short affirmations had a big impact on me.

My faith means everything to me.

It helps me see the bigger picture. Faith helps me to make decisions in life and set priorities. When I am concerned about what is happening in the world, it gives me hope. It gives meaning to suffering. At the heart of it is our relationship with Christ. Through Jesus we come to know God as a God of love.

The turning point in my faith came when I was working in marketing for a financial services company in Perth.

The old St Mary’s Cathedral was near my office and drew me in. I started going to daily Mass and dropping in to pray after work. I experienced the joy and beauty of faith. I began to know God in a more intimate way.

Then in 2002 I went to WYD in Toronto. There were thousands of youth there.

It was a pivotal moment in my life.

I had a sense of belonging to the Church and that I was not alone. When I returned home I got involved with more things in the Catholic community, like True Love Waits and the Respect Life Office’s annual Embrace the Grace youth conference.

In 2003 I went to Rome with Clare Pike.

Clare was hoping we could meet Pope John Paul II. It seemed impossible to me.

We wrote letters to the Vatican and said Novenas.

At the last moment we got a call from the Vatican to tell as that we had two tickets to a General Audience with the Pope!

We were at the front and got to meet him for a few seconds. I was too terrified to say anything! But it was a beautiful moment. He was very inspiring.

When I returned home I felt there was something more God wanted me to do. I needed to get out of my comfortable, well paid job and find something more fulfilling.

I moved to Melbourne in 2006. I am studying at the John Paul II Institute and working three days a week at the Respect Life Office there.

I hope to come back to Perth in two years.

Through my studies I am discovering the great treasures of wisdom that the Church has to offer to every person.

The writings of John Paul II especially help us to understand the different experiences of our lives. They encourage all Catholics to reflect, grow deeper in faith and inspire them to be future saints.

debwarrier@hotmail.com

Perspectives

Flesh is the hinge of salvation:

Body Language

By Christopher West

Commentary on the intersection of Faith, sex and culture: Un-fleshed v En-fleshed Religion

True or false: Man is a spiritual being. True or false: Man has a spiritual nature. “Religious” people typically answer “true” to both questions. But — at least from the authentically Christian perspective — such “religious” people are mistaken.

Contrary to widespread belief, man is not a spiritual being with a spiritual nature. Angels are spiritual beings with a spiritual nature. Man is a human being with a human nature, and human nature is at one and the same time spiritual and physical.

Human nature presents an anomaly in all of creation. Angel nature is spiritual and animal nature is physical, but human nature is both at the same time.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “spirit and matter, in man, are not two natures united, but their union forms a single nature” (No. 365). In a way, we’re part angel and part animal. I like to call us “angimals.”

The temptation of religious folk to “spiritualise” human nature is constant and fierce.

Christians must resist this temptation just as fiercely, for it poses an insidious threat to the very foundations of our faith. Christianity is the religion of the Word (the Logos) made flesh in

the womb of Mary. En-fleshed religion and un-fleshed religion are antithetical. Un-fleshed religion is, in fact, a diabolic attack on Jesus Christ. As St John tell us, we recognise the anti-christ as the one

Dirty nappies is kingdom building

Family is the Future

with Karen & Derek Boylen

Recently, we welcomed into the world the newest member of our family, Zechariah Emmanuel Boylen; boy number four.

One of the things we have noticed is that even though this is our fifth child we never fail to be amazed at the birth and development of a baby.

Did God have the same sense of wonder after breathing the spirit of life into Adam and Eve; watching them come alive and begin to explore the amazing world He has made?

As any parent knows child birth is an amazing experience, a marvellous act of creation.

We tend to focus on the new person but a new baby also creates a new father and mother. One thing we’ve also noticed is that every new child creates a new family.

With the birth of Zechariah we became a new family. Our whole sense of identity has been changed.

And if our family has become new then the world that we live in becomes new because we interact with the world and the community in new way.

It’s an amazing thing; a new child makes the world new.

Every child conceived changes the course of history irrevocably. It’s an awesome, daunting idea but such a hope filled one.

Every parent is participating in a

profound way in the creation of the kingdom of God.

It may look like sleepless nights, dirty nappies, sibling arguments, untidy rooms, incomplete homework and poor school reports but it is actually kingdom building.

Unsurprisingly, I think it is something that the Church has known for a long time.

Reflect back to the day you stood at the altar and gave your wedding vows to your spouse. On that day the priest asked you three questions.

The third was: “Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?”

Why is that question so important? Because the Church understands that child rearing is one of the most profound, intimate ways that couples can participate in God’s plan of life and love.

In fact, this very notion of marriage and children being fundamental to the building of the Kingdom of God also happens to be one of Pope Benedict XVI’s most passionate topics.

This year on January 1, for the occasion of the World Day of Peace he had this to say: “This point merits special reflection: everything that serves to weaken the family based on the marriage of a man and a woman, everything that directly or indirectly stands in the way of its openness to the responsible acceptance of a new life, everything that obstructs its right to be primarily responsible for the education of its children, constitutes an objective obstacle on the road to peace.”

Child rearing is an awesome undertaking disguised in the grittiness of life. But that seems to be the way God likes to do things.

-derek.cmes@perthcatholic.org.au

Anthony Coyte

Perspectives

God’s logic for us

who denies Christ came in the flesh (see 1 Jn 4:2-3). In other words, we recognise the anti-christ as the one behind un-fleshed religion.

Why does the enemy want to un-flesh our religion? Because, as the Catechism says (quoting the early Christian writer Tertullian): “The flesh is the hinge of salvation” (1015).

Our very lives, our very existence, our very selves, our very salvation depend on the unity of body and soul.

What do we call the separation of body and soul in man anyway? That’d be death. Hmmm.

That would mean that those who seek to live a “spiritual” life apart from their bodies are, in fact, “dead”. And this brand of “death” is widespread.

During a recent lecture to a large group of priests, I asked them to guess what percentage of their parishioners considered their bodies to be a kind of “shell” in which their true “spiritual selves” lived.

The lowest guess was 60 per cent. The highest was 98 per cent.

Most of the priests guessed about 80 per cent.

No wonder pornography is everywhere. Here, one of man’s deepest needs — to be in touch with his own flesh — is making its presence felt in a terribly disturbing way.

When religion is un-fleshed, porn’s job is easy. When religion is un-fleshed, God’s love becomes an abstraction and the satisfaction of our need for en-fleshed “love” is only a mouse-click away, so the

purveyors of porn would have us believe. Some argue that the Scripture itself demands that we un-flesh ourselves. St Paul often admonishes us about the dangers of “the flesh” and contrasts this with the life of “the Spirit”.

But St Paul cannot possibly be teaching heresy, and the idea that the flesh is the “bad” part of us and the spirit is the “good” part of us is just that - heresy.

Contrary to appearances, Paul is actually calling us, as he himself says, to experience “the redemption of our bodies” (Rom 8:23).

To live “by the Spirit” does not mean we un-flesh ourselves.

It means we en-flesh the Spirit.

It means we allow the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead to dwell in us, in our human nature — which, let us recall, is both spiritual and physical.

“If the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also” (Rom 8:11).

This is the logic of Christianity. God’s logic — theo-logic — is revealed through the flesh: Logos made flesh, God’s logic incarnate, theology of the body

As I once heard a priest explain, if the language of Israel is Hebrew, and the language of Islam is Arabic, the language of Christianity is the body

This is the language we must speak if we are effectively to counter the terrible distortion of the flesh taking place in our world today.

Do not be afraid to trust

Jean-Noel Antoine Marie, fifth Year student, St Charles Seminary

Iwas born on Christmas Eve in 1959 into a poor family on the island of Mauritius, the ‘land of the dodo’. At the age of 20 while I was discerning a call to the priesthood I won a scholarship to study in the United Kingdom. Although I took a different path, the priesthood was always on my mind and in my heart. I became involved with the Catholic chaplaincy of the University of London which helped keep the flame of my vocation burning within me until one day, out of the blue, one of the Marist Sisters who got to know me well asked me whether I had ever considered the

What’s all the embryo fuss about?

with Bronia Karniewicz

In a historic moment this month our West Australian government went against the grain of every state, bar South Australia, and said no to the Human Reproductive Technology Bill, which controversially would have allowed the cloning and destruction of human embryos for stem cell research.

During the aftermath of this decision, Attorney General Jim McGinty called the Western Australia parliament a “conservative backwater” and claimed we are now the “laughing stock” of the country.

We were also confronted with stories of people suffering terrible illness, and how the ability to find cures for these people had now been hampered.

When constantly confronted with this influential support in favour of embryo research it is easy to believe that this is where the answer lies.

We can forget that, while embryonic human beings do not look or act like you or me, they do look and act as a very young human being should. They share our human nature and deserve respect.

The standard coverage of embryo research frequently drowns out the successful and ethical methods of obtaining stem cells.

Information about adult stem cells being used to help many medical conditions such as diabetes and

spinal cord damage, and stories like that of a most significant scientific finding of 2007 often go under the radar.

Late last year two teams of scientists, one in Japan the other in America, both reported finding a process to re-program human skin cells to have the much sought-after characteristics of embryonic stem cells.

The new cells are called induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cells, and like embryonic stems cells have the capability to develop into any tissue in the body, allowing them be used in the same way to find cures.

This finding is not just an insignificant discovery, but world class research that has renowned embryonic and cloning scientists excited.

The two men at the helm of this research, Shinya Yamanaka, head of the Japanese team and James Thomson from America have been named in Time Magazines 2008 top 100 “Most Influential People.”

Prominent supporters of embryonic stem cell research have recognised the positive ramifications

priesthood. I quickly changed the subject because I thought that that avenue was definitely closed.

I thought I could drown that voice by focusing on my studies but wherever I turned it was there. I soon discovered that God’s gentle voice is also irrepressible.

I graduated at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1984 and migrated to Australia to be reunited with my family in 1985. In 1986 I joined the Department of Social Security as a public servant. While there I assumed various roles and worked with people from all walks of life - people with disabilities, sole parents, the elderly, nursing home residents and farmers. I also dealt with issues that affect people’s livelihood. Under the auspices of Centrelink I conducted free financial seminars for the general public and also got to work very closely with the finance industry.

The recurring theme for my financial seminars was: Securing Your Financial Future. One day I suddenly realised that the future that we are being called to secure transcends our financial needs and the fleeting pleasures and comfort of this transient world.

Looking back on this chapter of my life I can now see that God was grooming me for something that will endure long after the pyramids are dust. Working at Centrelink has been for me like graduating from the academy of life itself, a training ground for what lies ahead. In 2002 I decided

Good Night & God Bless Volume

Jean-Noel Antoine Marie, centre

to take seriously my vocation to the priesthood. After two years of discernment and soul searching I entered St Charles Seminary in August 2004. In spite of my age (I am currently the oldest at the seminary) and my many weaknesses I know that the Lord has not abandoned me. He has given me a second chance. To those who are being called into the priesthood I would like to echo the encouraging words of Pope John Paul II: “Do not be afraid”. Personally I have learnt that it is never too late to respond to God’s call.

As I forge ahead with great expectation I thank my parents, my God-parents, my parish priest at my little village of Souillac in Mauritius, my teachers for nurturing the faith that I treasure and for instilling in me a great love for the Church. I am also blessed to be sharing this extraordinary journey with my brother seminarians who are for me a great source of inspiration. As I listen to their testimonies of trust and commitment, my own faith and trust in God’s will is vindicated.

The Rise of Benedict XVI: The inside story of how the Pope was elected and what it means for the world

By John L. Allen

Pope Benedict XVI will soon be in Australia. His Papal visit to America caused a stir. What will happen in Australia? In this book, Vatican correspondent John L. Allen gives readers exclusive access into the conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI, and the reasons why they chose him to be the Vicar of Christ, leading the Church today.

of this technique, and heralded it as more interesting and acceptable than embryo research.

These findings eliminate the need for human embryos to be used and destroyed in stem cell research, and leave no need for legislation to allow for human cloning. IPS technology is a practical and ethical alternative. Together with adult stem cell research it has demonstrated that science does not have to kill in order to cure. In a time when some politicians have been less then honourable we should say a sincere “thank you” to those who voted against the introduction of cloning. Let us not lose hope in our parliament! We have seen intelligence, prudence, discernment and a dedication to ethical legislation.

Maybe we in Perth aren’t the “conservative backwater” but instead, rather revolutionary?

It is encouraging to know that our isolated city has made a move towards finding cures we can all live with.

Bronia Karniewicz is executive officer of the Archdiocesan Respect Life Office.

1: A Guide to Convent and Monastery Accommodation in Austria, Czech Republic and Italy

By Trish Clark

Convents, Monasteries and Abbeys have always been places that generously welcomed weary travellers. This tradition continues today and Good Night & God Bless takes you on a tour of religious hideaways offering tourist and pilgrimage accommodation throughout Europe.

Good Night & God Bless reveals these unique, atmospheric and affordable places which accommodate tourists or those pursuing a pilgrimage or spiritual retreat.

This user-friendly travel book provides safe, affordable and comfortable accommodation information, local tourist information, places of pilgrimage, travel tid-bits and anecdotes against a fascinating backdrop of history and religion. An amazing reference guide for all those planning to travel to Europe!

$29.95+postage

Allen also analyses the battle Pope Benedict XVI has begun against ‘the Dictatorship of Relativism’, his aim to renew the culture of the Church and the surprises and challenges his Pontificate will bring.

An engaging book for those who want an inside scoop to Pope Benedict XVI before his Australian visit.

$14.95+postage

Available from the Record Bookshop 9227 7080 or email bookshop@therecord.com.au

the World

Catechists consider new ways to include disabled

■ By Nancy Frazier O’Brien

WASHINGTON (CNS) - One child might benefit from a tactile and descriptive tour of his religious education classroom. Another might be better able to learn with a strict routine, outlined on a picture schedule. A third might need a note-taker or captioned instructional films or videos.

Those strategies and many more were discussed during a recent “Webinar” on catechesis for children and youths with disabilities, hosted by the Washington-based National Catholic Partnership on Disability and several other Catholic organisations.

At least 500 participants at 325 sites around the country joined in the May 6 Web-based seminar, which focused on ways to bring children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities or visual or hearing impairments into full participation in religious education classes at the parish or diocesan level.

Sister Kathleen Schipani, a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who is administrator of the Department for Pastoral Care for Persons With Disabilities in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said catechists should follow the example of Jesus, who asked the blind man Bartimaeus: “What do you want me to do for you?”

Anne Masters, director of pastoral ministry with people with disabilities in the Archdiocese of Newark, agreed that the key is to “begin by welcoming the child before you” and to find out what he or she needs.

“Child by child we have learned how to respond to the needs” of children and teens with autism, she said, adding that parents and teachers can be “great sources of insight and guidance.”

Masters recommended that those teaching children or teens with autism use short phrases and reinforce their words with visuals; avoid speaking in the negative and wait before repeating themselves; and provide “advance warning systems” such as a verbal countdown or a picture schedule to help their students transition from one activity to another.

Children with intellectual or physical developmental disabilities might benefit from having a “religious education buddy,” Masters said. “The goal is always connection to the larger community,” she added.

Masters said an estimated one in 166 children nationwide has autism spectrum disorders, with boys more likely to be affected than girls. The disorder particularly affects the child’s social skills, language expression and understanding and can be manifested by the child flapping his or her hands, rocking or carrying out other repetitive behaviours, she said.

But she cautioned against generalisations about those with autism, recalling a saying that goes, “If you know one person with autism, you know one person with autism.”

“You need the relationship,” Masters said. “You need someone

who can recognise when something isn’t right.”

Sister Kathleen offered advice on how to improve the religious education experience for children or youths who are hard of hearing or visually impaired.

These youngsters “vary in their intellectual abilities” but all can benefit if the student, his or her parents and the catechist meet before classes begin “to discuss the setting and method of learning,” as well as other factors that can affect the learning environment, Sister Kathleen said.

Strategies to improve learning can be as simple as the use of black Sharpie markers on curriculum

materials or the teacher making sure she does not cover her mouth or turn away from students who might be reading her lips, she said.

In a question-and-answer session, both women offered ideas for how to involve the whole parish in helping make religious education as inclusive as possible.

For example, a deaf or hard-ofhearing student could benefit from having course materials e-mailed to his or her home each week, Sister Kathleen said. “You might know a computer geek who might not want to be a weekly teacher but can scan and input those materials each week,” she said.

A retired person who is “a great typist” might be willing to prepare the teaching materials for use in a closed-captioning system, she added. Or someone with a good speaking voice could record the materials for use by the blind or visually impaired.

Other jobs require little in terms of specific skills. A resource distributed by Masters’ office in the Archdiocese of Newark says caring adults and teens can be “extra eyes, hands, legs and hearts” in the classroom.

“The talents are out there,” Masters said. “You just have to reach out to the wisdom and talents in your parish.”

Participants in the Webinar were able to download materials outlining tips and resources for a variety of teaching challenges. Those materials remain available on the Web site of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability at www. ncpd.org.

Other groups involved in the Webinar were the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, National Catholic Educational Association, National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry and National Catholic Office for the Deaf.

In Genoa, Pope fights battle for soul of Italy, and all of Europe

Vatican Letter

By John Thavis

At first glance, Pope Benedict XVI’s two-day visit to the northern Italian city of Genoa seemed designed to highlight the ascendancy of the region’s prelates in his pontificate.

The Pope chose Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the former archbishop of Genoa, as his secretary of state. He named the new head of the archdiocese, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian bishops’ conference. And the archdiocese’s liturgist, Mgr Guido Marini, is now the master of papal liturgical ceremonies at the Vatican.

But for all the local pride it evoked, the Pope’s May 17-18 visit had broader implications and a deeper purpose. Despite its strong Catholic traditions, Genoa has become a new front in the church’s battle to maintain its social and political influence.

It’s a struggle being played out not only in Italy, but throughout the European continent, where secular culture has drifted away from Christian foundations. Indeed, church leaders sometimes describe

this as a battle for Europe’s soul. In Genoa, these tensions have found an unlikely focus in the figure of Cardinal Bagnasco, a soft-spoken man who has defended church teaching on a number of controversial social issues, including gay marriage and cohabitation.

That prompted criticism and even death threats, and the cardinal now travels under armed escort provided by the state.

Pope Benedict’s trip to Genoa and the nearby city of Savona was, therefore, an important opportunity to defend the Church’s voice in the moral and ethical affairs of society.

The Pope did so not with theoretical arguments about churchstate relations, but by highlighting the Church’s real efforts to help real people.

One of his most moving encounters was his visit on May 18 to the Giannina Gaslini Institute in Genoa, the biggest children’s hospital in northern Italy. He blessed children in wheelchairs, listened to a 10-year-old cancer patient’s eloquent greeting and smiled in appreciation of their gift - a large portrait of the pontiff.

The Church does not own or manage the hospital, but it helps fund it and has a permanent voice in its administration. That kind of cooperative arrangement, the pope said, reflects Genoa’s historic reputation as a “city of Christian char-

Bishops obliged to guide, not suffocate new lay movements: Pontiff

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - While bishops have an obligation to guide new lay movements and associations, they must take care not to suffocate them, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Bishops are called to discern and guide the movements, not to “dominate their gifts, but rather to be on guard against the danger of suffocating them,” the Pope told a seminar for bishops sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

Meeting the bishops at the end of their May 15-17 meeting, the Pope said the new lay groups that flourished immediately after the Second Vatican Council are important gifts to the church inspired by the Holy Spirit.

They were born in a period “full of enthusiastic promises, but also marked by difficult trials” for the Church, Pope Benedict said.

“Prejudices, resistance and tensions” often accompanied the formation of the groups, most of which were not born as a parish or diocesan initiative, but from the prayers and dreams of their founders, he said.

While hesitation to accept the movements mostly has disappeared, the Pope said many of them still need assistance and guidance to reach the maturity that would allow them to preserve their own identity while fitting better into the structure and pastoral outreach of the wider Church.

The movements, he said, “are not a problem or another risk that is added to our already serious duties. No, they are a gift of the Lord, a precious resource for enriching the whole Christian community with their charisms.”

ity.” The Pope’s next event was a meeting with thousands of enthusiastic young people, who stood under pouring rain to cheer him in central Genoa.

The Pope said being young was beautiful, but he warned about a culture that tries to hold on to

youth at any cost. “Today everyone wants to be young and remain young, and they mask themselves as young even if the time of youth is past - visibly past,” he said. One reason, he said, is that a culture moving away from faith leaves a great emptiness in the hearts of

men and women, and many of them want to “stop time” because they fear a meaningless future.

The Pope emphasised that a key demand of the Christian faith is to move the focus from oneself to others and make time for the poor and needy.

The Pope’s talk was thoughtprovoking, but the impact of the encounter went beyond words: For one morning, Genoa’s young Catholic activists ruled the city’s historic square, and the future of the Church was clearly visible in their faces.

A few minutes later, the pontiff was immersed in a far older crowd of men and women religious in the city’s cathedral, where he underlined their historic service in education and in helping the poor, the sick, families and children.

The Pope said they should not be overly discouraged by the declining numbers of religious. He made a similar point in Savona the day before, saying, “Priestly ministry cannot be measured in numbers and statistics - the results we will know only in heaven.”

The Pope’s heartening words were appreciated in a region where priests were once a common presence in factories and other places of social life, but where vocations have dwindled and anti-clerical pressures have grown.

New ways: Christine Panaro and her daughter Victoria attend a Mass marking World Day of the Sick at St Agnes Cathedral in New York. Participants from around the US joined in a Web-based seminar, which focused on ways to bring children with disabilities into full participation in religious education classes at the parish or diocesan level. PHOTO: CNS/GREGORY SHEMITZ,

Polish woman who saved 2500 children from Nazi death camps dies, aged 98

Pope defends church’s teaching on artificial birth control

■ By Jonathon Luxmoore

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) - Polish church leaders paid tribute to Irena Sendler, a Catholic social worker who saved approximately 2,500 Jewish children from being killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

“Everyone who survived the war is very much aware that her kind of heroism could be born only in someone with a very great heart,” said Bishop Tadeusz Pieronek, former secretary-general of the Polish bishops’ conference.

“Irena Sendler was one of those people able to resist the greatest evil that rampaged through the world in the past century. It’s a pity her greatness was not noticed by the international institutions even after her actions were brought to light.”

Sendler, who died at 98 in Warsaw on May 12, was buried May on 15 in Warsaw.

She was awarded the Righteous Among the Nations honour by Israel’s Yad Vashem in 1965 and Poland’s highest honour, the White Eagle, in 2003 for smuggling children from Warsaw’s Jewish ghetto to safe homes, orphanages and Catholic convents in Poland.

Archbishop Jozef Zycinski of Lublin said it was appropriate Sendler received Polish and Jewish honours “at a time when many claim the only reality is nihilism and emptiness.”

“Her life is eloquent testimony to the many quiet, unnoticed heroes who live among us, giving witness to the same respect for man,” the

Continued from Page 10

Even as the Pope was arriving in the area, about 1,000 “Lay Pride” demonstrators marched in Genoa to protest what they said was unwarranted clerical and Vatican influence in Italian political life. A few “No pope” slogans were painted on walls throughout the city.

A more respectful and carefully worded challenge came from Genoa’s leftist mayor, Marta Vincenzi, who said the Church, like other institutions, should have a “strong and authoritative voice” in political affairs. But she cautioned against a confusion of roles and said it was important not to “transform ethics into an area of political battle.”

The mayor quoted two points made by the 20th-century German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer: that ethics are not something that can be predetermined by principles, and that the proper mission of the lay faithful is to help shape society while respecting the competence and responsibility of others.

Much of the controversy over the Church’s role in Italy has focused on questions like abortion, euthanasia and gay marriage, issues that the Pope did not address directly during his visit. Instead, at a closing Mass in central Genoa, he talked

archbishop told the Polish press agency, PAP, after her death. “It shows respect for moral authorities who do not create a noisy atmosphere around themselves, but take

about the concept of God that lies at the foundation of human society. The human being “does not realize himself in an absolute autonomy” but in relation to God, he said, and this relationship gives meaning to the various human institutions.

He said it is this vision of God that inspires the Church’s social doctrine and its concrete acts of charity. This is how the Church serves society, he said - through teaching, but above all through the witness of its faith.

The Pope’s words echoed his comments at his opening liturgy the day before in Savona, a seaport on the Ligurian coast, where he cited the Christian duty to perform works of charity.

The Pope appealed on behalf of prisoners in the region, and he also spoke about one famous detainee of the past: Pope Pius VII, who was imprisoned in Savona for three years by Napoleon.

This “obscure page of European history” holds lessons for today, the Pope said.

“It teaches us courage in facing the challenges of the world: materialism, relativism, secularism, without ever giving in to compromise, prepared to pay personally to remain faithful to the Lord and his church,” he said.  CNS

Do aliens need redemption?

■ By John Thavis

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - If aliens exist, they may be a different life form that does not need Christ’s redemption, the Vatican’s chief astronomer said.

Jesuit Father Jose Funes, director of the Vatican Observatory, said Christians should consider alien life as an “extraterrestrial brother” and a part of God’s creation.

we also speak of an ‘extraterrestrial brother?’” he said.

Asked about implications that the discovery of alien life might pose for Christian redemption, Father Funes cited the Gospel parable of the shepherd who left his flock of 99 sheep in order to search for the one that was lost.

“We who belong to the human race could really be that lost sheep, the sinners who need a pastor,” he said.

“God became man in Jesus in order to save us. So if there are also other intelligent beings, it’s not a given that they need redemption. They might have remained in full friendship with their creator,” he said.

Father Funes went on to say that Christ’s incarnation and sacrifice was a unique and unrepeatable event. But he said he was sure that, if needed, God’s mercy would be offered to aliens, as it was to humans.

On another topic, the priest said he saw no real contradiction between evolutionary science and the Christian faith, as long as evolution does not become an absolute ideology.

responsibility for those values for which they might once have paid the price of life.” Poland’s US-born Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich said Sendler had demonstrated “the need to be moral and ready to help others.”

He said Sendler had denied being a hero and had insisted she “simply stayed normal when the whole world had gone mad.”

Sendler, who headed the children’s unit of an underground organisation called the Council for Aid to Jews, or Zegota, was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo and sentenced to death in 1943.

She escaped when Zegota bribed her German guards, and she continued rescuing Jewish children.

Her work was forgotten largely after World War II, when Poland’s communist regime suppressed records of the underground’s wartime role, but became known internationally when Norman Conard, an American teacher in Kansas, produced a play about her in 1999.

Father Funes, an Argentine named to his position by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006, made the remarks in an interview published on May 13 by the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.

Father Funes said it was difficult to exclude the possibility that other intelligent life exists in the universe, and he noted that one field of astronomy is now actively seeking “biomarkers” in spectrum analysis of other stars and planets.

These potential forms of life could include those that have no need of oxygen or hydrogen, he said. Just as God created multiple forms of life on earth, he said, there may be diverse forms throughout the universe.

“This is not in contrast with the faith, because we cannot place limits on the creative freedom of God,” he said.

“To use St. Francis’ words, if we consider earthly creatures as ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters,’ why can’t

“As an astronomer, I can say that from the observation of stars and galaxies there emerges a clear evolutionary process,” he said. He said that in his opinion the big-bang theory remains the best explanation of the origin of the universe from a scientific point of view. Above all, it’s a reasonable explanation, he said.

As for the biblical account of creation, Father Funes said it was wrong to expect a scientific explanation from the Bible.

“The Bible is not fundamentally a work of science,” he said. “It is a letter of love that God has written to his people, in a language that was used 2,000-3,000 years ago. Obviously, at that time a concept like the big bang was totally extraneous.”

He said he was convinced that astronomy was a science that can open people’s minds and hearts and bring them closer to God. The idea that astronomy leads to an atheistic view of the universe is a myth, he said.

Benedict urges new resolve to tackle the underlying causes of trafficking

Ending trafficking of women, children, depends on tackling poverty and media: Pope

■ By Carol Glatz

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - If the trafficking of women and children and prostitution are to be stopped, poverty and the “trivialisation of sexuality” must be tackled, Pope Benedict XVI said.

The media and entertainment industries’ trivialization of human sexuality “fuels a decline in moral values and leads to the degradation of women, the weakening of fidelity in marriage and even the abuse of children,” he said.

The Pope made his remarks on May 16 during a private audience with Catholic bishops from Thailand at the end of their “ad limina” visits, in which they reported on the status of their dioceses.

The Pope praised the bishops for their efforts in trying to address the problem of poverty through the Church’s development programs.

But the way human sexuality is depicted also must be “acknowledged and collectively addressed if this abhorrent human exploitation is to be effectively confronted,” he said.

The Pope encouraged the bishops to work together with Buddhist leaders to “uphold the spiritual and moral soul of your people.”

On one hand, globalisation has enhanced “a sense of global solidarity and shared responsibility for the well-being of humanity,” he said.

However, he said globalisation also has brought with it “disturbing signs of fragmentation and a certain individualism” as secularism takes hold and pushes “the transcendent and the sense of the sacred to the margins” and eclipses “the very source of harmony and unity within the universe.”

Therefore, interreligious cooperation is important so religious

leaders can work together and help make sure traditions are handed down to future generations, ethical values are made understandable to people, and prayer, contemplation and the transcendent continue to be respected and revered, he said.

Pope Benedict urged men and women religious running schools and other educational institutes in Thailand to make sure the primary role they play is not one “of administration but of mission.”

They should be witnesses of Christ, dedicated to dialogue, and serve human dignity and peace, he said.

Catholics schools should offer catechetical instruction to Catholics and interested students as well as “moral formation and care for the spiritual needs of all in the school community.”

He urged religious orders to make their schools more accessible to the poor “who so often long for the faithful embrace of Christ” and make sure school fees are “fair and transparent.”

Welcome: Irena Sendler, who saved an estimated 2,500 Jewish children from the Nazis, at her home in Warsaw in this 2007, file photo. PHOTO: CNS/KATARINA STOLTZ

Vatican Obervatory Director, Fr Jose Funes SJ. PHOTO: CNS

Irene Sendler

Women can be “the answer”

In the year that marks the 20th anniversary of John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem regarding the dignity of the vocation of women, the 25th anniversary of the United States’ landmark abortion decision Roe v Wade and 40th of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae regarding human life and contraception, Karen Doyle brings you The Genius of Womanhood.

■ By Anthony Barich

AUSTRALIAN Catholic author and co-founder of Choicez Media Karen Doyle is tackling the “crisis of femininity” in our culture headon with her new book released last month entitled The Genius of Womanhood.

Based on John Paul II’s work on ‘the feminine genius’ and launched recently to coincide with International Women’s Day, the publication represents an attractive and moving synopsis of both John Paul’s thought and Doyle’s own desire to see women empowered and encouraged to embrace their identity.

Mrs Doyle, also a prominent Catholic educator, says the book is a collection of thoughts and reflections on “what it means to be a woman” and on qualities that mark the “feminine genius”, and in doing

so hopes to help transform culture so that it supports life.

In promoting the book on YouTube, which can be accessed by typing in “The genius of womanhood” into the website’s search engine, the late John Paul II is quoted: “In transforming culture so that it supports life… women occupy a place in thought and action that is unique and decisive.”

“In our culture today we are suffering from a crisis in femininity,” she says.

“There is so much confusion over the role and purpose of womanhood. This confusion not only affects women; but when women do not understand the meaning and purpose of their existence, it goes right to the very heart of society, and affects both men and children in a profound way.

“In our culture today we have what John Paul II described as the ‘culture of death’ – a culture in which human life is not valued. As guardians of the heart and protectors of life, women hold a particular key in transforming this culture of death into a culture of life and love.

“But in order to do this, women need to know what they have to offer.”

On the YouTube clip, Mrs Doyle encouraged “every single” woman to “engage on a deeper level with the meaning and purpose of your existence as women and become the answer that we so desperately need”.

Based on the four key concepts of receptivity, generosity, sensitivity and maternity, the book encourages women to accept, explore and develop these capacities in service of others and the world.

Mrs Doyle states, “For so long, some of the things that are particular to the feminine, such as the

capacity to be emotionally available and attuned to others have been seen as weak or problematic.

“You can hear it every time someone talks about women being too emotional. What I found in my post-graduate study of John Paul’s philosophical anthropology was that he saw that these capacities were powerfully linked to the receptive and nurturing nature of the whole female person. Rather than being a problem, he saw them as an answer to so many of the problems that face the world.”

Mrs Doyle’s hope is that the book will help many women realise the reality of the feminine genius and that each woman’s relationships and indeed the Church, local community and the world will benefit from it. Later this year she will release another, larger book exploring the core concepts in greater detail.

The book retails for $16.95 and can be ordered via The Record Bookshop 9227 7080 or bookshop@therecord.com.au

Website analyses Christianity in film

A one-stop shop to help parents discern what’s decent and what’s not in cinema

■ By Mark Reidy

Ever left a cinema feeling slightly confused about what you’ve just seen? Wondering how the film fitted in with your Christian beliefs and understanding?

In 2007, London-based Mark Banks combined his rediscovered Catholic faith with his avid interest in films to launch the “Soulfoodcinema” website to assist people with such a dilemma.

By knitting together his two passions Banks has been able to establish a site that provides commentary on family films that he believes have a genuine appeal to adults.

He states that the website differs from other faith and film websites in that its aim is to provide insight into these films – in the form of short essaysfor those who are curious after having watched them, rather than providing detailed ratings and reviews for those who have yet to see them. Banks wants to assist both believers and non-believers in identifying a collection of films representative of the principles

of Catholic/Christian teaching, as well as providing guidance and encouragement in how to live in accordance with these principles.

He bases his aims on two passages from the writings of St Paul:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom 12:2), and “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthythink about such things. “ (Phil 4:8) Banks encourages contributions from those accessing the site and also provides links to other Catholic and Christian film related sites.

To view the website go to: www. soulfoodcinema.com

Caspian, Prince of Narnia, claims what is his

FILM REVIEW

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Rated M)

■

By

Mark Reidy

THE second film instalment of CS Lewis’ Narnia series has more of a Hollywood blockbuster feel to it than The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe (TLWW), but interwoven amongst the spectacular scenery, action and special effects are numerous themes that add moral depth to this visual smorgasbord.

Having said that, however, it should be pointed out that the audience, particularly children, may be distracted from recognising Lewis’ intended Christian messages by the fascinating array of characters, both real and CGI-created, and the abundance of battle scenes.

Given that the producers received some criticism for the more overtly faith-driven TLWW, this focus on visual entertainment, with twice as many special effects, was probably intended so it would appeal to a wider secular audience.

However, with Prince Caspian lacking the emotional punch and sense of wonderment generated by the Pevensie children’s initial discovery of Narnia in the first film, and with less focus on the development of new characters such as Prince Caspian, King Miraz and his

henchmen, it would be surprising to see the sequel top the $745 million grossed by the original.

Despite being only a year older, Lucy, Susan, Edmund and Peter return to Narnia 1300 years after their last visit to discover a darker and more savage world that is controlled by the human Telemarines.

With its mythical creatures on the verge of extinction, the siblings find themselves uniting with the entertaining Trumpkin the Red Dwarf and Reepicheep the swashbuckling mouse, as well as Prince Caspian, to lead this peculiar and outnumbered army against the Telemarines merciless leader, King Miraz.

Although the film does not resort to graphic detail throughout the many battle sequences, younger children may find some of the scenes disturbingly real and may be also frightened by the imagery depicted when the evil and grotesque wolf characters use black sorcery to conjure up the White Witch.

However with adult guidance, older children will be able to recognise and explore issues from a Christian perspective, such as selfsacrifice, honour, pride, the responsibility of leadership, faithfulness, righteousness, fighting oppression and believing in what they cannot see. As it is several years since the launching of TLWW, all viewers, but especially those who missed the first film, would benefit from

familiarising themselves with it so that they won’t spend the first few scenes trying to decipher the chronology of events in Narnia. Prince Caspian is definitely a film worth

seeing. Filmed in New Zealand, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia and London, the visual aspects alone make it worth the ticket price, but when you also add the state-

of-the-art technology you will find yourself escaping, for its two-hour 20 minute duration, on a magical and epic adventure.

Prince Caspian hits Australian cinemas on June 6.

Good vs evil: Ben Barnes and Warwick Davis star in a scene from the movie “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.” The movie is the second in a series of film adaptations of the Narnia novels by the author and thinker many regard as the 20th century’s greatest Christian apologist, CS Lewis.

kids pics

H A P PY B I R T H DAY ! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Marc 6 years

Kids bitz jokes

MY GRANDSON was visiting one day when he asked, “Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?”

I mentally polished my halo while I asked, “No, how are we alike?”

“You’re both old,” he replied.

A LITTLE boy opened the big and old family Bible with fascination, looking at the old pages as he turned them.

Then something fell out, and he picked it up and looked at it closely. It was an old leaf from a tree that had been pressed in between the pages.

“Momma, look what I found,” the boy called out.

“What have you got there, dear?” his mother asked.

With astonishment in the his voice, he answered, “It’s Adam’s Suit!”

9227 7080 or email

kids art/words

puzzle

BIBLE MATCH #1

Match each Bible character to the correct story

The first man God created. God entrusted all the creatures of the earth to him. He and his wife, Eve, lived in the Garden of Eden where they were happy, innocent and not ashamed. Then he and his wife were tempted by the serpent and did what the Lord told them not to do. Then they were no longer innocent and were ashamed.

KIDS COOKING CHOCCORNFLAKE SURPRISES

Ingredients:

3 Mars Bars 6-7 handfuls of cornflakes/rice bubbles

Method:

Noah

David Abraham

When people were behaving more and more evil God sent a huge flood. But God intended to save him and his family because he was a good man. So, before the flood, the Lord told him to build an ark for his family and two of every kind of animal, so they would survive the flood.

God promised him if he left his homeland and placed his trust in God his descendants would be ‘as many as the stars’, even though he and his wife were very old. He listened to God and God fulfilled the promise to him.

When the Philistines sent the giant Goliath to make slaves of the Israelites, he went to the King and convinced the King to send him to fight Goliath. He told the giant that the God of Israel would give him power to defeat the giant. He took out his slingshot and a stone and killed the giant.

Last week’s JUMBLED solution:

PENTECOST, cent, cone, cop, con, contest, cope, cost, cot, nest, net, nose, not, note, one, open, pen, pent, pest, pesto, pet, post, pot, potent, scone, see, sent, set, steep, step, stone, stop, spent, tee, teen, ten, tense, tent, test, toe, toes, tone, top, tote

~ DEAR KIDS!~

If you would like your poems, drawings or photos published please send them to: Justine Stevens, The Record, PO Box 75 Leederville WA 6902 or email production@therecord.com.au

A SUNDAY School teacher asked her little children, as they were on the way to church service, “And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?”

One bright little girl replied, “Because people are sleeping.”

Chisolm College Year 8 RE Class: Prayer reflection

God is like Coke...

He is sweet

He has mysterious ingredients

He is bubbly

He is enjoyable

He keeps you going

If you shake him he explodes

He soothes us

He gives us energy

He keeps us content

He fills us with happiness

He helps you digest

He quenches your thirst

He is refreshing

He is the greatest

He is a crowd pleaser

He is better than Pepsi

He gives us a fizzy feeling

He gives us sweetness

He bubbles inside us He is a party starter

He is addictive

God is the real thing!

A choc-caramel alternative to the well known honey crackles. Melt the Mars Bars in a bowl over boiling water, continuously stirring until melted. Add the cornflakes and mix together - quickly before it sets! Add more cornflakes if needed. Spoon mixture into patty pans and leave in the refrigerator until they are hard.

Serving: 12+

GREEN EGGS AND HAMWICHES

If parents hard-cook the eggs and cut open the avocado, even the youngest chef can make these silly (but tasty) cookie-cutter sandwiches, inspired by Dr. Seuss. An egg slicer, prevents little hands from needing a knife.

* Prep time: 5 minutes

* Yield: 2 sandwiches

Do this first:

* Hard-cook 2 eggs.

* Cut 1 ripe avocado in half and cut out or scrape out the flesh.

Ingredients and steps:

* 2 hard-cooked eggs

* 1/2 ripe avocado

* 2 teaspoons mayonnaise

* Salt and pepper to taste

* 2 thin slices ham

* 4 slices bread, preferably whole wheat or multi-grain

1. Peel the eggs.

2. Place one egg in the egg slicer and lower the top, slicing through it. (Or, break up the eggs into small pieces with a knife or pastry blender.)

3. Raise the top and turn the egg on its side. Lower the top, slicing the egg into finer pieces.

4. Dump the sliced egg into a small mixing bowl.

5. Repeat Steps 2 through 4 with the other egg.

6. Add the avocado and mayonnaise to the bowl.

7. Using a fork, mash the ingredients together into a chunky paste. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired.

8. Spread the bread and ham slices out on the cutting board. Cut the centers out with your favorite cookie cutter.

9. Make the sandwiches by placing a ham cut-out on a bread cut-out, then spread on some egg salad. Top with a bread cut-out.

Tip: If the bread is soft enough and the cookie cutter sharp enough, you can assemble the sandwich first and then cut it with the cookie-cutter—some multi-grain breads can be too dense for this.

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 constitute a classified event, and will be charged accordingly. The Record reserves the right to decline or modify any advertisment.

Saturday May 24

CLAREMONT PARISH JOURNEY OF CROSS & ICON DAY

Welcome the Cross and Icon at Rowe Park (Cnr of Melville St & Gugeri St) Claremont at 11am with a procession to the Church for a day of reflection, spiritual and fun activities. The day will finish with concelebrated Mass for the Feast of Corpus Christi. Followed by dinner and an evening of youth activities (bands, games, drama, dance and more). More Info: claremont@perthcatholic.org.au or 9386 1551or mobile 0404 389 679.

Saturday May 24

JOURNEY OF THE WYD CROSS & ICON  ST JOHN OF GOD HOSPITAL SUBIACO

8.30am -10.30am. 12 Salvado Road, Subiaco. Please join us for Mass as we celebrate the WYD Cross & Icon; these two symbols have touched the lives of millions from around the world. Enq: Jennifer Gardner 9382 6192, or by emailing her at jennifer.gardner@sjog.org.au.

Saturday May 24 RETREAT DAY

9.30am to 3pm, St Catherine’s House of Hospitality, 113 Tyler Street, Tuart Hill. Open to all Parish workers. Spiritual Director: Sr Marie Therese Ryder. Join us for a relaxing day of prayer and reflection. A time to revive our spirits and share with others. Cost $20. Lunch and morning tea provided. Bookings by Tuesday May 20. Enq: Margaret 9390 8365 or Maranatha 6380 5160.

Sunday May 25

ST PADRE PIO PILGRIMAGE AND PROCESSION TOODYAY

Holy Mass 10.30am followed by procession 12.30pm. Celebrate St Padre Pio’s birthday by joining the Corpus Christi Holy Mass and procession in Toodyay. Please bring a plate (tea and coffee provided). Buses leaving at 8am from Victoria Park, Mirrabooka and Girrawheen, enq: Nita 9367 1366. From Leederville, Morley and Midland, enq: Des 6278 1540. From Hamilton Hill, Spearwood, enq: Chia 9337 3831.

Sunday May 25

THE FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI

Will be celebrated at the Holy Trinity Church, Embleton with a forty-hour Eucharistic Adoration starting on Friday May 23 at 6pm, right through Saturday and ending with the 9am Holy Mass on Sunday May 25. Followed by a Eurcharistic Procession and Benediction. All are welcome. Enq: Monsignor P McCrann 9271 5528 or George Jacob 9272 1379.

Sunday May 25

FOOD SAFARI

Starting at 10am and will be held at the Holy Trinity Church hall, Embleton, to raise funds for the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the Novena of Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni which occurs August 30 2008. Enq: Monsignor P McCrann 9271 5528 or George Jacob 9272 1379.

Sunday May 25

JOURNEY OF THE CROSS AND ICON

Pilgrimage Event 12 midday to 3.30pm. Start 12 noon from Mends St Jetty through Mitchel Park to Mary MacKillop Centre for a beautiful Ritual and Veneration of the Cross in the Sisters of St Joseph chapel, 16 York St, South Perth. Everyone welcome, all ages. After the event join the Youth for a sausage sizzle at St Columba’s School next to the centre. Enq: Sister Maree Riddler 0414 683 926.

Sunday 25 May

JOURNEY OF THE WYD CROSS AND ICON BALCATTA

4.30pm to 8pm at St Lawrence Church, 392 Albert Street, Balcatta. Come and experience the power of these two symbols of World Youth Day that have touched the lives of millions of youth

from around the world! Enq: Linda 9445 2869 or linzf84@hotmail.com

Tuesday May 27

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF PRAYER BEFORE THE BLESSED EUCHARIST

7.30pm to 8.30pm at St Benedict’s new Church, 115 Ardross St, Ardross. Fr Maurice Toop, Parish Priest of Maylands will give a talk and discuss his personal experience of prayer before The Blessed Eucharist. This will be an encouragement to bring Christ more deeply into our life. Coffee and tea will be available after this discussion. Enq: 9364 4658.

Friday May 30

MEDJUGORJE  EVENING OF PRAYER

Commencing 7pm. An Evening of Prayer with Our Lady Queen of Peace at St Joseph’s Parish Church. Salvado Road, Subiaco. Program: Adoration, Meditation and Rosary, followed by Holy Mass. Concluding 9pm. Enq: 9402 2480.

Friday May 30 - Saturday May 31

THE TRIUMPH AND REIGN OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS AND THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Eucharistic Prayer Vigil at St Bernadette’s Church, Glendalough. Commencing with Parish Mass at 5.45pm, with hourly Rosaries, hymns and reflections; concluding with a special Holy Mass at midnight to celebrate the Feasts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Enq: Fr Doug Harris 9444 6131 or Dorothy 9342 5845.

Friday May 30

SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

6.50pm with Holy Rosary and Litanies, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Keaney Place, City Beach. 7.30pm Holy Mass and consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary followed by Benediction. Principle celebrant: His Grace Archbishop BJ Hickey. (Novena to the Sacred and Immaculate Heart from Thursday May 22 to Friday May 30 at 6.20am before weekday 6.45am Holy Mass; after Saturday 6.30pm Holy Mass; and after Sunday 5.30pm Holy Mass).

Saturday May 31

A MORNING RETREAT

Starting 9am to 12noon

Inner Freedom and Healing (Part 1) Presenter: Murray Graham (Inigo Centre Director) The MacKillop Room (Multi-Purpose Room), John XXIII College. Cost: Donation.

Saturday May 31

FEAST OF THE VISITATION OF MARY

Starting 9am Holy Spirit Church, 2 Kearney Place, City Beach. Marian Procession followed by Holy Mass and Consecration of the Parish to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Morning tea will be served. Enq: Margaret Bowen 9341 8082.

Sunday June 1

DIVINE MERCY

Starting at 1.30pm. An afternoon with Jesus and Mary will be held at St Joachim’s Church, on the corner of Shepperton Road and Harper Street, Victoria Park. Program: Holy Rosary and Reconciliation, Sermon: with Fr Johnson Malayik CRS (Keep your eyes on Jesus) followed by Divine Mercy prayers and Benediction. Afterwards refreshments in the parish hall, followed by a video/DVD to be selected. Enq: John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608.

Monday June 2

DIVINE MERCY PILGRIMAGE TO GINGINCHITTERING

All Divine Mercy Prayer Groups are welcome! Programe: 11.30am BYO lunch at St Catherine’s, Gingin. Followed by 12.30pm Holy Rosary, Exposition and Benediction. 1.00pm Way of the Cross (carrying the Pilgrim Cross). 1.30pm Holy Mass. 2.15pm depart to Shrine of Divine Mercy

at Maryville for 3pm prayer and Divine Mercy Devotions. 3.30pm Afternoon Tea. 4.30pm return to Perth. For bookings: Francis Williams 9459-3873 or 0404 893 877. Transport cost $15.00 per person (Return). BYO Lunch. Enq: Sheila 9575 4023 or Fr Paul 9571 1839.

Tuesday June 3

MMP CENACLE

Commencing 10.30am at St Augustine Church, 38 Gladstone Street, Rivervale. Cenacle/Mass with Rosary followed by Holy Mass. Celebrant Rev Fr Paul Carey. Lunch to share. Enq: 9310 3970.

Wednesday June 4 REUNION

Mercedes College, Our Lady’s College, Victoria Square, Perth. All former students of years 1950 - 1954 are invited. Contact Frances Taylor nee Kingston on 9330 6620 or email puloft@iinet. net.au or Wendy Ryan nee Rieusset on 9385 9800 or email wenryan2@optus.net.com.au by 23 May 2008.

Friday June 6

CATHOLIC FAITH RENEWAL PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Starting 7.30pm at St John and Paul’s Church, Pinetree Gully Road, Willetton. There will be Praise and Worship followed by a talk on “Its more than 40 years since Vatican II” by Fr Paschal Kearney. This will then be followed by Thanksgiving Mass and light refreshments after Mass. All welcome. Enq: Rita 9272 1765 or Rose 04 0330 0720.

Friday June 6 to Sunday June 8

FLAME MINISTRIES BIBLE RETREAT, THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE WEEKEND

7.30pm Friday. 10am to 9.30pm Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm Sunday. Edel Quinn Centre, East Perth. Discover success in daily living through God’s vision for your life. Discover the Four Loves, The Fruit of the Spirit, and St Paul’s Tripartite Man. Bring shared meals and a Bible. All welcome. Suggested donation $60. Enq: fmi@flameministries.org. Ph: 9382 3668 after noon.

Thursday June 7

ST PEREGRINE HEALING MASS

7pm at SS John & Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Road, (off South Street), Willetton. A Healing Mass in honour of St Peregrine, patron of Cancer sufferers and helper of all in need. The celebration will include Veneration of the Relic, and Anointing of the Sick. Enq: Noreen Monaghan 9498 7727.

Saturday June 7

DAY WITH MARY

9am to 5pm at St James Church, 2 Lagoon Drive, Yanchep. A video on Fatima will be shown. A day of prayer and instruction based upon the message of Fatima. Includes Sacrament of Penance, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons, Rosaries, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross. Please BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286. Bus available, contact Nita 9367 1366.

Sunday June 8

HOLY HOUR OF REPARATION

Starting 3pm in St Jerome’s Church, Troode Street, Munster. The World Apostolate of Fatima Aust Inc invites you to attend a Holy Hour. All welcome. Enq: 9339 2614.

Sunday June 22

GOSPEL CONCERT

1.30pm to 4.15pm at St Patrick’s Basilica, Fremantle. Some of WA’s finest gospel performers will come together for a traditional and ecu-

menical concert at St Patrick’s. Profits will support the work of Cross Roads Community providing drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Tickets $15 adults and $3 children are ONLY available advance purchase. Enq: erichancock@swiftdsl. com.au or phone 9446 1558.

BOOK DONATIONS WANTED

Can you help? We urgently need donations of Altar Vessels, Catholic books, Bibles, Divine Office, Missals, Lectionaries, Sacramentaries etc. Telephone: 9293 3092.

Every Saturday VIDEO / DVD NIGHT

Straight after 6.30pm Vigil Mass: St. Joseph’s Church, 20 Hamilton St Bassendean. A variety of Videos/Dvd’s will be shown ie: The Saints, Conversion Stories, Catholic Teaching etc. Each video is approx. 30mins. Bring the family, no charge. Saturday 24th May ‘St. Margaret Mary Alacoque & The Sacred Heart’. Saturday 31st May ‘St Catherine of Siena’.

Every Saturday

HOLY SPIRIT OF FREEDOM CHARISMATIC PRAYER MEETING

10.30am to 12.30pm at St Peter the Apostle Parish Hall, 91 Wood Street, Inglewood. All welcome. Enq: 9475 0155.

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. To learn more: www.jss.org.au. Enq: Kevin Wringe 9316 3469 or email kwringe@iinet.net.au.

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 Tuesday

THE GOSPEL OF ST MATTHEW  COURSE

Every Tuesday 7.30pm St Joachim’s Parish Hall, Shepparton Road, Victoria Park. Exciting revelations into the Gospel of St Matthew are being offered free of charge. Conducted by Fr Douglas Rowe SFP Participants will be introduced into an insightful exploration of this fascinating Gospel. Light refreshments will follow. Please bring your bible and a friend.

VOLUNTEER DRIVER

Emmanuel Centre is a self-help centre for people with disabilities and their families and does not receive Government grants. For the past 15 years Emmanuel Centre has survived largely on recycling newspapers. The firm that has collected these newspapers will no longer take them. Another outlet has been found but the papers need to be delivered to Canning Vale. Emmanuel Centre is looking for a volunteer who has a truck and who will take newspapers for recycling from East Perth to Canning Vale. Every couple of months we have five-tonne of bundled newspapers for recycling. Please call Fr Paul 9328 8113 or ring pager 9480 5960.

First Friday and First Saturday

COMMUNION OF REPARATION ALL NIGHT VIGIL

Corpus Christi Church Mosman Park 47 Lochee Road. Starting with mass at 7pm on Friday with Father Bogoni and concluding with mass at 12 midnight. Confessions, Rosaries, Prayers and silent Adoration every hour. Please join us for reparation to The Two Hearts according to the message of Our Lady of Fatima. Enq: Vicky 0400 282 357.

Benedict XVI to thank WYD volunteers

HIS Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will hold a special audience with the 8,000 people who volunteer for World Youth Day (WYD08) to thank them for their hard work and dedication.

WYD08 organisers today confirmed that instead of holding a tickertape parade, all WYD08 volunteers will be invited to an exclusive event with Pope Benedict before he boards his return flight to Rome.

“This will be a wonderful way to thank the 8,000 people who will have devoted their time to become the face of World Youth Day,” said WYD08 Chief Operating Officer, Danny Casey.

The Pope’s enthusiasm for the volunteer spirit is shared by Sandy Hollway, the man who led the ‘best Olympics Games ever’.

The former SOCOG CEO is calling on Australians to once again unleash their volunteer spirit and welcome the world to this happy and peaceful celebration.

“We are still remembered for the generosity and altruism that around 47,000 volunteers displayed during the Sydney 2000 Olympics,” Mr Hollway said.

“I’m keen to ensure that Sydney once again showcases Australia’s renowned hospitality at the largest event we have hosted since the Olympic Games.

Record Top 10 lists

Top 10 complaints made to The Record

10. “Stop printing all those World Youth Day articles, and print some looting tips for when we get to Sydney.”

9. “Your journalists are evidence of life on other planets.”

8. “The newsprint ink makes me dizzy. Use more newsprint ink.”

7. “Record doesn’t rhyme with anything that I know.”

“With World Youth Day just 10 weeks away, Sydney has another great chance to shine.”

WYD08 only has around 8,000 volunteer roles on offer and organisers have already received applications from 5000 people.

Roles are available in:

· operations and crowd management

· customer service

· language and translations

· staffing

· hospitality and catering

· accommodation

· production

· communications

· liturgy and evangelisation

“Volunteers will take away more than just unforgettable experiences and fond memories of their participation, but also the knowledge that they were part of something huge - a significant page in Australia’s history,” said WYD08 Chief Operating Officer Danny Casey. Volunteers must be over the age of 18 and be able to work during the event week 15 – 20 July, and will receive a uniform, backpack and assistance with public transport costs and meals.

WYD08 is taking applications now. For more information and to apply, visit www.wyd2008.org/volunteer or call 02 9390 5997.

6. “You don’t use enough song-title puns.”

5. “Too much negative coverage of Catholicbashing.”

4. “You people are going to hell for reminding us of the 70s all the time.

3. “Not enough World Wrestling Federation coverage.”

2. “The newsprint you use is nice, but difficult to light.”

1. “I’m sick and tired of those stupid Top Ten Lists.”

0418 650 661

ACCOMMODATION

■ ST ANNE’S CHURCH, BINDOON accom for retreat/family/group or single $25 per night or $100 for family or group. BYO food. Tea/coffee provided. Tel 9576 0975.

■ WANTED

Refined elderly lady desperately needs accommodation but cannot afford commercial rentals. Has beautiful furniture, small car and likes gardening. Can you help? Higly reccommended and financially guaranteed by this advertiser. Contact Dan Carney 9293 2513.

BUILDING TRADES

■ BRICK REPOINTING

Phone Nigel 9242 2952.

■ PERROTT PAINTING PTY LTD

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

■ BRICKLAYING

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

■ PICASSO PAINTING

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

CHRISTIAN SINGLES

Meet other Christian singles over small group dinners or on individual dates. FigTrees is Perth’s ONLY genuine Christian dating agency. So, call 9472 8218 to make an appointment or check out our web site figtrees.com.au. 9-328 Albany Highway, Victoria Park. Open Tues-Fri 10am - 6pm.

HEALTH

■ DEMENTIA REMISSION

Do you, or your loved one, suffer Dementia. Get into Dementia Remission like me! http://www. wgrey.com.au/dm/index.htm or (02) 9971 8093.

FURNITURE REMOVAL

■ ALL AREAS

Mike Murphy 0416 226 434.

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

Shop 108 Trinity Arcade (Terrace Level). Hay Street, Perth Ph 93224520. Convenient city location for a good selection of cards, candles, statues, medals, apparel and gifts for baptism, reconciliation, communion, confirmation and weddings. We also stock a range of Monastique skin care product made by the Carmelite Sisters, fashion accessories, jewellery, handbags and Australian made gifts. Opening hours. 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday. 8.30am to 7pm Fridays.

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.

Name:

Address:

Suburb:

The Last Word

Cross and Icon make grand entry

■ By Anthony Barich

THE World Youth Day Cross and Icon made their grand entry into Perth on Tuesday night at Perth domestic airport, with Archbishop Barry Hickey calling on youth to take the opportunity to be inspired to “change the world”.

After members of the Aboriginal Kulbardi Boorndoon (meaning ‘tall, straight spears’) dance group helped students from the Redemptoris Mater Seminary unload the Cross and Icon from a truck at the airport and did a traditional dance to ward off evil spirits, Archbishop Hickey called on the youth of Western Australia to use the opportunity of greeting the Cross, entrusted to the world’s

youth in 1984 by Pope Jon Paul II, that reminds them of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made.

He said that as a symbol of suffering and love, it also calls us to reach out in love to those who are suffering in our own society, and in doing so follow the call of Christ.

“The Cross reminds us of the call of Christ to follow Him,” the Archbishop said.

“If they follow Christ, then they will be able to change our society into one of peace and justice.”

He said that just as Mary was at the foot of the Cross, so too is the Icon of Mary, entrusted to the youth of the world in 2003, placed at the foot of the WYD Cross.

He added that the Icon of Mary holding the baby Jesus reminds us to pray for her special intercession to help the young people

throughout WA embrace Christ and follow Him, so they may transform society.

The Archbishop received the Message Stick, a symbol of the indigenous Australians, that travels with the WYD Cross and Icon, from Nyungar elder Marie Taylor.

Perth WYD Cross and Icon project officer Matt Hodson told the welcoming party - that included Oblate of Mary Immaculate provincial Fr Harry Dyer from Camberwell, Victoria and a handful of Little Sisters of the Poor - that WA promises to be the most “adventurous” leg of the Cross and Icon.

It will be on the road for five weeks and will clock up 8151 kilometres as they “blaze a path throughout this vast State of ours”.

The Cross was officially handed over by Anita Garnham, a representative of Tasmania, where the Cross last visited and where Masses

across the whole island were cancelled on May 11, Mothers’ Day, so that thousands could flock to the Silver Dome in Launceston.

Ms Garnham, now based in Perth as a teacher at Aranmore Catholic Primary School, said the WYD Cross and Icon caused a massive wave of support, including in the secular press, as the state’s Catholics flocked to embrace it.

The Cross’s journey started on Wednesday, May 21, with several events planned for Fremantle, with a heavy involvement with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, which run St Patrick’s Basilica and the chaplaincy of the University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle campus.

May 21 is also the feast day and anniversary of the death of the Oblates’ founder, St Eugene de Mazenod.