The Record Newspaper 21 December 2011

the R ecoRd

Gloria in Excelsis Deo

Nem et vendeni mpossed ent, cullibus quati unt quiandu cidunture

INSIDE

Invitation to wonderment

What hardened rationalists could learn from fairytales.

Pages 10-11

Major milestone

A 10-part TV documentary on Catholicism is winning high praise across the US.

Pages 12-13

Season’s reason

WAs bishops reflect on the real meaning of this season of wonder and joy.

Pages 10-14

In a painting

Can Christian art draw us into an encounter with the divine?

Pages 14-15

Imperfect dad

Fathers should have hope Our failings can be a springboard.

Page 17

Local disease breakthrough

By Glynnis GrainGer

SANTA Clara Bentley acolyte and WA Citizen of the Year for 2011 in the professions, Professor Ralph Martins, is making world-first breakthroughs in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

He told The Record: “We undertook to put a young lady on testosterone treatment because she had a very aggressive form of Alzheimer’s which she got at 30. She is now 33. It is such a rare form most family members died within five years.

“Her form was like water gushing into her brain. Within two weeks she showed great improvement and motivation in her life.

“We chose testosterone because from our previous studies we were able to demonstrate it has a powerful effect on blocking the production of beta amyloids (found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients) as well as turning on enzymes that break down beta amyloids.

“None of the designer drugs to date are as potent as testosterone,” Prof Martins said. “Most other drugs given to people who show symptoms of the disease have shown very little effect, if at all.

“As a result of the work we have done with this young lady we have been approached by families of people who have the more common form of Alzheimer’s to undergo testosterone treatment.

“A number of these people treated with testosterone have shown similar effects to the young lady. Her quality of life improved.

“This clearly indicates that testosterone, besides lowering the amyloids, also plays an important role by reducing the symptoms.

“However, to conclusively demonstrate whether testosterone plays an important role in the treatment

of Alzheimer’s, as well as suppressive symptoms, a total blind clinical trial is essential. Such a trial is estimated at $1.4 million, and I have been successful in raising $900,000.

“Once the remaining $500,000 is obtained, we will be able to commence this much-needed trial that has potential to benefit people with Alzheimer’s throughout the world.”

Prof Martins gave the following examples: “One man lost the ability to speak clearly and in a focused manner for almost three years; within a couple of weeks on testosterone, his ability to speak clearly returned.

“A gentleman was up through the night, causing lack of sleep but once

Much-needed clinical trial has the potential to benefit those with Alzheimer’s throughout the world.

on testosterone, his normal sleeping patterns returned.

“A small study was done in the University of California and Los Angeles which indicated the quality of life in men improved. This is extending that work. That study suffered through a small number of participants and was conducted for too short a period of time to show a definite outcome.”

Prof Martins is looking at certain nutrients in protecting the brain against Alzheimer’s and is about to commence two trials with these nutrients. One study is known as the circumin trial – circumin is a major component of turmeric, used for hundreds of years in India for a number of health conditions

including healing of wounds and as an anti-cancer agent.

“In Alzheimer’s disease, it enters the brain and attracts beta amyloids,” Prof Martins said.

The trial will last for 12 months and compare both brain function and whether amyloid in the brain has been reduced as a result.

This is the first study of its kind in the world. We have a team of 40

scientists who are highly collaborative, Prof Martins said. Compared with teams in the US, our team is relatively small, but has been very successful due to its dedication across multiple disciplines, he said. Donations to support the clinical trial can be made to the McCusker Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Unit 22, 85 Monash Avenue, Nedlands WA 6009, phone 9347 4200 or visit www.alzheimers.com.au.

Choir leads people to God through music

This holiday season Blessed Elisabeth of the Trinity choir seeks nothing but to glorify God through music and beauty. Last Monday night the audience at Holy Spirit Primary School in City Beach was led through the Mystery of the Rosary with beautiful images being projected relating to the scriptures. The choir sought to contrast the joy of Christmas and the painful side of Mary and Joseph’s difficult journey with the medley of songs, commented choir leader Sean Tobin. Formed only a year ago, the choir is looking to grow from its number of 17, which includes 11 singers, five instrumentalists, one conductor and a partridge in a pear tree. They are an independent group, performing wherever invited and, although they are a youthful group, members’ ages range from 15 to 58. Alongside Sean Tobin they hope to keep performing at any opportunity and “through music, lead people to God,” he said.

Clergy meet Consul

The newly appointed Consul of Italy to Western Australia, Dr Adriano Tedde, visited Cathedral House to meet Archbishop Barry Hickey and Perth clergy on 14 December. Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton and Fr Robert Cross also came to meet and welcome Dr Tedde. Dr Tedde came to introduce himself to the Archbishop of Perth since his appointment on 14 November 2011 as the Consul of Italy to WA. Prior to his appointment to Western Australia, Dr Tedde was based in Canberra with the Embassy of Italy in Australia.

On 3 March 2008, Dr Tedde was appointed Second Secretary Commercial with the Embassy and, on 30 December 2008, he was appointed First Secretary Commercial with the Embassy.

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Involved in groundbreaking research on Alzheimer’s, Professor Ralph Martins has just been named WA Citizen of the Year.

PHOTO: G GRAINGER

“Landmark” bill won’t work, says Linda Watson

By RoBeRt Hiini

PROSTITUTION reform which the state government is touting as “landmark legislation” will make history for the wrong reasons, Linda’s House of Hope founder Linda Watson said this week.

The bill was introduced last month to regulate prostitution in select, non-residential areas as well as penalties for those operating outside the new framework.

Accolades for UNDA staff at Freo

THE Distinguished Service Medal, which recognises staff for exemplary service to The University of Notre Dame Australia (UNDA), is one of the highest accolades awarded by the Vice Chancellor.

At a ceremony held in early December, four senior staff received Distinguished Service Medals recognising outstanding and significant contributions.

Prof Mark McKenna, Provost Broome and Fremantle; Peter Glasson, Pro Vice Chancellor Strategy and Planning; Assoc Prof Maureen Mears, Assoc Dean (Religious Education) at the School of Education, Fremantle; and Prof Helen Parker, Dean of the College of Health Sciences, were all acknowledged during the ceremony held at the Fremantle campus.

Prof Parker said she was honoured to receive such a prestigious award.

“It has been a privilege to be a custodian of a new ‘enterprise’ (School of Health Sciences) and see it grow and prosper,” she said.

“I give special thanks to my team over the past decade whose collegial support, commitment and passion have ensured the success of the school so far and will undoubtedly do so into the future.”

Having worked at the University for 11 years, Mr Glasson described UNDA as a virtuous community which always supported its staff and students.

“The people of UNDA are renowned for putting the needs of others before themselves,” he said.

Ms Watson said in her experience, harm minisation “does not work and never will. For centuries, prostitution has done quite well without any (legalisation).

“We haven’t found a solution for murder or break-ins either but we haven’t made them legal yet.”

Last month, Attorney General Christian Porter said while the bill was “first and foremost” about removing prostitution from the suburbs, it also provided health and

privacy safeguards for prostitutes, including a fund to help them leave the industry.

“The government says it’s wonderful but faces on the other side don’t tell that story,” Ms Watson said.

“It’s going to send a message to our children and grandchildren that it’s okay to get involved with drugs and bikies.”

Mr Porter said prostitution was “a controversial issue for any gov-

ernment to address” and spruiked benefits to residential households.

“What this bill will mean is if an illegal brothel is running from a house in your street, or next to your child’s school, police will have the power to shut that brothel down,” Mr Porter said.

A vote against the bill, he said, was a vote for “backyard brothels”.

Linda’s House of Hope is constantly in danger of closing due to lack of funds, Ms Watson said. The

organisation has provided support to women and their families wanting to exit the industry for the past 13 years. Linda Watson was “praying that somebody will give us a farmhouse” in the new year, so her clients could experience healing and self-sufficient living in a communal setting.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Linda on 9358 1719 or 0439 401 009 or mail Linda’s House of Hope, PO Box 5640 St George’s Terrace, Perth, WA 6831.

Festivities at St Emilie’s preempt Christmas tradition

By RoBeRt Hiini

ELEVEN years ago they were 12 people attending Mass in a house but, on 18 December, hundreds of St Emilie’s Catholics packed out their parish hall to enjoy one another’s cultures and talents. Parishioners, young and older, took to the stage to sing Christmas songs and some wellknown standards in Italian, Tagalog (Filipino), Mandarin, Indonesian and Maori.

The audience was even treated to the “Bollywood” stylings of Irvin and Vinita who danced the moves seen in popular Indian cinema.

Santa Claus made a welcome appearance late in the night, delighting the hordes of children, with plenty of lollies to go around.

Parish priest Fr Robert Carillo told The Record the parish had thrown such a celebration on the Sunday before Christmas every year since its foundation in 2000.

Prior to the performance, parishioners tucked into each other’s culinary delights in a multicultural food fair, with the approval of all, if concerted eating is any measure.

The addition of varied musical performances was assistant priest Fr Emmanuel Dimobi’s idea.

Fr Emmanual has been at the parish for six months. His friend and compatriot, Fr Bonaventure Echeta, joined him on stage before singing a song together.

In a riotous spirit of fun, the two Nigerian priests invited the parish’s Sr Margaret Mary Gannon SJA and other religious sisters up to the front before inviting them to dance in an African style.

Many of the goodhumoured sisters followed the priests around and through the audience accompanied by African members of the congregation.

Undoubtedly, a good night was had by all.

Santa Claus delights the children at the annual get together of St Emile’s parish in Canning Vale just before Christmas.

PHOTO: ROBERT HIINI

Refugee boat tragedy triggers Migrant Office call

THE Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) expressed sorrow over the deaths of a possible 160 people, mostly thought to be asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Iran. This time last year, a similar tragedy occurred when a boat crashed off the rocks of Christmas Island.

ACMRO director Fr Maurizio Pettenà CS expressed his sadness that a repeat is being seen of such tragedies and urged people to

consider the reasons these events occur. “This is a time to reflect on what we can all do better together to protect people in need. There is a great need for Australia to increase its humanitarian intake. It is important to understand people who risk their lives at sea do so because more secure avenues are denied to them”, he said. After the boat sank off the coast of Indonesia there were varying estimates of how many people perished in the disaster, some as high

Injection of youth needed for Vinnies to stay strong

By Ben SackS

THE St Vincent de Paul Society in WA needs more youth involved to maintain its good work in the community, the author of a book on its history in WA has said.

Kevin Casey, author of With These Hands, told The Record that Vinnies, like all organisations, depends on young blood.

The book’s release has been timed to celebrate 100 years of continuous service by Vinnies in WA. Amidst celebrations, Mr Casey offered a few words of warning for the future of the society.

“A number of conferences contain mostly older people and the challenge is to get younger generations involved to the same extent.”

Mr Casey is well suited to telling the story of Vinnies’ history in WA. He has written a number of local

JOUrNEy TO EASTEr

With Fr. Artur Wojtowicz

A 14 day pilgrimage

Departing 31 March 2012

• Dead Sea • Sea of Galilee • Bethlehem

history books and has an interest in ‘positive stories’ about local organisations helping people in the community, something Vinnies encapsulates perfectly.

Mr Casey explained how Vinnies had developed and grown in WA. “The main role for those in conferences was originally to visit the sick, visit the poor and give alms,” he said. Those functions had remained more or less constant but been complemented by initiatives such as hostels and mental health support.

“As the concept of the needy has changed, Vinnies has created new services according to need.”

Mr Casey said he had been most moved by the society’s work with mentally ill homeless people.

With These Hands is on sale for $5. Order forms are available from the Society on 9475 5400 or info@ svdpwa.org.au.

as 200. Just a week from Christmas, Fr Pettenà said the most important focus should be on the humanity of people who flee persecution, rather than on politics.

“Various solutions are proposed and should be examined on their merits,” he said.

“The main thing is that our failure to find ways of sharing the numerous resources we have in Australia points to the failure of our own political and social systems to fully embrace the extent

of human suffering,” he said. At the Geneva meeting in July marking the 60th anniversary of the Refugee Convention and the 50th anniversary of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, the Holy See’s permanent observer to the UN, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi CS, encouraged reflection on the reality faced by asylum seekers throughout the world.

“The world’s 33 million plus refugees are the flashing red light of alarm pointing out deep social and

political failures and an urgent call to remedy their suffering”, he said.

Archbishop Tomasi highlighted that poorer countries host the majority of the world’s refugees and richer nations should at least accept refugees in similar proportion to poorer states.

In its statement issued this week ACMRO called upon Christians in Australia at this time to contemplate the mystery of the Holy Family in search of a place for Jesus to be born.

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Notre Dame staff with part of the university’s contribution to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal 2011.

PHOTO: COURTESY UNDA

The meaning of it all: youth ponder life, sex, beauty

By Mathew De SouSa

ON 7 December, hundreds flocked to New Norcia Benedictine Monastery for the annual Embrace the Grace (ETG) retreat run by Perth’s Respect Life office. Every year ETG engages youth through speakers, prayers, fun, music and drama. In doing so, it engages big questions of life such as how does God fit into a world that questions everything? Is it possible to live a fulfilling life?

The peace and spirituality of the monastery radiated the chosen theme Of Life and Of Beauty. True beauty is important to our faith and life. Pope Benedict XVI once described beauty in music, movies, art, nature and everyday things as something that speaks to us, touches the heart, communicates a message and uplifts the mind.

Throughout the conference many speakers gave their wisdom and understanding of different aspects of beauty.

Steven Lawrence, former Hawthorn player and Director of Evangelisation and Catechesis for World Youth Day Sydney 2008, gave three talks on his experience of the love and beauty of Catholic life.

Talks on masculinity and femininity were given by Derek Boylen (Director of Catholic Marriage and Fertility Services) and Natalie Thomas (a graduate of the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and

Hear me out: Seven priests made themselves available to hear the private qualms and confessions of young people at ETG 2011.

Family Studies) and gave theological understanding on the differences between men and woman.

One conference highlight was a talk based on Pope Benedict’s thought; that beauty can create a moment of wonder and lead us to an encounter with God. Given

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The next WYD will be held in Rio de Janeiro, 23-28 July 2013. All young Catholics (18+) interested in joining the pilgrimage of a lifetime, email admin@cym.com.au to find out more and be sure to start saving now!

i s h i n g y o

peace, love & joy this Christmas

by Paul Kelly, Head of Religious Education at Aquinas College, the talk reiterated why the Holy Father has placed so much importance on the beauty of the Church.

“ETG displayed the great beauty and life that can be found in being Catholic,” one participant said.

St Denis’ 60th milestone

By Lizzie Dunn

ST DENIS’ Parish has come a long way from the days of its corrugated steel structure built in 1952.

On 16 December Joondanna Catholics celebrated their 60th anniversary with Mass and dinner in the company of Fr Peter Porteous, parish priest since November 2010.

The parish was formed in 1951 in response to the need of the local people as the only parish nearby was St Kieran’s which encompassed Glendalough, Mt Lawley and

Osborne Park, parishioner Barbara Harris told The Record. In 1952, Fr Patrick of the Order of Servants of Mary (Servites), became the first parish priest, she said.

Due to a lack of building materials, the church was built as a Nissen hut, a half cylindrical structure made from corrugated steel.

The present church in Osborne Street was built in 1968.

Older parishioners who were children at the time of its formation were invited to celebrate the momentous occasion.

St Joseph’s welcomes visit

ST JOSEPH’S, Norseman is one of the Mass centres of St Mary’s Parish, Kalgoorlie.

Though a parish in its own right for many years, due to youth migration and a decrease in parish size, a priest could no longer be afforded.

A Kalgoorlie priest has been driving down to offer weekend Mass at the centre twice a month. With the aim of bringing parishion-

ers together, last weekend - beginning Friday till Sunday - Fr Anand Reddy and sisters of Charity stayed and paid calls on lots of people including children.

In the evenings, Masses were celebrated.

“It was refreshing to have Fr Anand and the sisters here and we are grateful for their visit,” one local said.

PHOTO: M CONNOLLY

St Joseph’s was very happy to welcome Fr Anand and sisters and look forward to a repeat visit. PHOTO: COURTESY D PECKHIM

Aged care homes work hard for a happy feast

By Ben SackS

FOR most people, the Christmas period is associated with fun, festivities and family. But for residents of aged care facilities and similar institutions, loneliness and separation from family can be a real problem.

Catholic aged care facilities in Perth are doing their best to promote this festive spirit among elderly residents by organising events

Refuge offers women place to be safe, and friends

By Lizzie Dunn

CHRISTMAS is inherently associated with presents, family and lots of food; however, for many people, like the Aboriginal women at Anawim, this can be a time of hardship, no different to any other.

Anawim is a community centre associated with Ruah Community Services, which was shaped by the Catholic women’s religious order, the Daughters of Charity.

The Anawim centre is for sole Aboriginal women who are escaping domestic violence, volatile relationships and homelessness.

The centre can hold eight women at any one time. Vacancies are rare and are usually filled within two hours with women calling and requesting accommodation everyday.

The centre’s location cannot be disclosed as women come to seek safety and security from domestic violence, and the private location provides them with that assurance.

Leading up to an Anawim Christmas, the centre is decorated and the women cook shortbreads and sweets.

In the lead-up to Christmas the women and staff prepare Christmas hampers which contain foodstuffs, toiletries and presents for children and grandchildren of the women.

Women who must be turned away due to limited availability of accommodation may receive a hamper of these items that they are unable to purchase themselves.

Anawim manager Trish Campbell highlights the difficulty in finding the “balance of celebrating Christmas and not undermining circumstances of being in a hard place.”

Christmas may bring in more women seeking refuge because of the associated increase in alcohol use at the time, which often leads to increased domestic violence.

Nonetheless, the centre is decorated and the women cook shortbreads and sweets in the lead-up to Christmas Day.

Even though many are escaping hard circumstances, they will choose to spend Christmas with family rather than at the centre.

Aside from the services provided at Christmas time, Anawim also maintains ongoing groups to help women overcome problems, such as the ‘Yarning group’.

Women can talk and revisit places associated with painful memories and find solidarity with one another.

Anawim can be contacted on (08) 9328 7562, and Ruah Community Services Head Office on (08) 9485 3939.

in the lead-up to Christmas and encouraging their families to join them in celebrating the holiday.

“We went for a bus trip to go see the Christmas lights on people’s houses,” said Lee Hare, Chief Executive Officer of Mt Laverna Retirement Village in Gwelup which houses 40 permanent residents.

“The residents think it’s wonderful”. The retirement village also puts

on a Christmas lunch, Carols by Candlelight and a visit from Santa Claus.

Similarly, a lunch in the week before Christmas and carols are also organised by St Brigid’s Convent of Mercy in Perth, which hosts 73 residents over three sites.

Residents are encouraged to get involved in Christmas preparations and services. The Executive Manager of St Brigid’s, Kerry

Richardson, said residents were enthusiastic participants in the seasonal festivities.

“They help decorate the facility and join in anything that’s on,” she said. Residents made table decorations for the Christmas dinner and looked forward to Mass and other Church services.

Both facilities also recognise that family is an integral part of Christmas.

Faith walks Bassendean streets

praying and singing hymns in honour of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception through the streets of Bassendean on Sunday, 4 December. Those unable to walk remained in the church and prayed the rosary led by Deacon Ivan Sands. In his homily, parish priest Fr Son Nguyen said that the procession was represented by the many cultures within the parish community sharing the same love for Mary with one voice and faith in Jesus Christ. Following benediction, many retired to the parish hall for refreshments after completing a wonderful demonstration of faith.

Sunny and friends enjoy kidding around

FR TADGH TIERNEY’S homily consisted of two sentences repeated three times at Personal Advocacy’s Christmas celebration on 11 December so everyone could hear and understand it. Approximately 200 or so people with intellectual disabilities, their “advocate” friends and family members from 18 groups throughout Perth, gathered at Infant Jesus Parish in Morley to participate in a liturgy adapted for the purpose.

Rehearsals began about 45 minutes before the start of Mass at 3pm. Small groups gathered around the church to practise entrance and offertory processions.

Another group ran through the gestures accompanying the response to the responsorial psalm while others practised interpreting the readings through movement to capture the emotion and meaning of the scripture. PAS musicians also practised studiously to bring added

Mr Hare said families were encouraged to join in the carols at Mt Laverna.

“We’ve invited families to come along, sit on the lawn and enjoy the carols and have a bit to eat and drink,” he said.

Through such measures, aged care facilities are hoping to make sure that Christmas is more than just another day in the year.

The festive spirit is alive and well.

Kimberley students’ UNDA visit a tertiary first

SPORTING activities, storytelling and a Welcome to Country by Nyoongar Elder Marie Taylor were some of the ways the Notre Dame community welcomed students from a remote school to its Fremantle campus recently.

The visit by students from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands School to the University of Notre Dame Australia was their first to any university in the country.

The school is based in the Ngaanyatjarra Region of central Australia which is situated approximately 800km from the closest major town, Alice Springs. It comprises students from nine different remote community schools in the region.

The region encompasses a vast area of land between the Western Australian, Northern Territory and South Australian borders. Some of the Aboriginal communities in the region include Warburton, Warakurna and Kiwirrkurra.

The school students used the visit to learn about possible career paths after leaving high school. In addition to dealing with the traffic on Perth’s roads, it was also a chance for the them to experience everything about city life, including shopping and swimming in the ocean.

The visit was organised after a meeting between Patrick Hampton, Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, and Shane Wilson, Ngaanyatjarra Lands School Student Services Programme Coordinator, at an Australian Council for Educational Research conference in Darwin.

The pair saw the potential for a partnership between the school and the Fremantle School of Education to promote university as a place for further education for students in remote communities.

It was also an opportunity for Notre Dame’s pre-service teachers who are considering a rural or remote school placement to gain invaluable experience working with staff and students from Ngaanyatjarra.

Ngaanyatjarra Lands School Community Liaison Officer Daisy Ward said the students were genuinely excited about visiting a university for the first time.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

colour to the celebration. Mass was followed by a happy celebration with the cutting of the Christmas cake and the sharing of food.

Sandwiches, sweets and drinks were in abundance and advocates and friends gladly helped themselves.

The afternoon ended on a musical note with Keith Carton and his live band leading an enthusiastic sing-along of Christmas carols.

ROBERT HIINI

“It was a great opportunity for high school students in the region to see how different city life is from the desert,” Ms Ward said.

“They got to visit a place of learning; a place where they can change and control their futures.”

Mr Hampton said the University looked forward to working with the school in the future.

“Notre Dame’s School of Education has strong links with schools across the state, from Esperance to the Kimberley, through teacher practicum placements and professional support networks,” Mr Hampton said.

OVER 200 adults and children took part in a rosary procession,

PHOTO: COURTESY BASSENDEAN PARISH

The joy of God’s creation was the theme for a recent Personal Advocacy Service meeting at Sts John and Paul Parish in Willetton. Sr Veronica introduced “Sunny”, a two-week-old goat to new friends who were able to hold, cuddle, hug and even bottle-feed Sunny. Elsewhere, PAS groups across Perth marked the special feast of Christmas (see story below).

WORLD

Pope’s message on youth’s potential

By Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY – When young people recognise the dignity and beauty of every human life, including their own, and are supported in their natural desire to make the world a better place, they become agents of justice and peace in the world, Pope Benedict XVI has said.

Peace and justice were built on “a profound respect for every human being and helping others to live a life consonant with this supreme dignity,” he said in his message for the World Day of Peace 2012, 1 January.

The theme the Pope chose for

Pontifical status to ACN charity

By Kristin GoBBerG

VATICAN CITY – The charitable organisation Aid to the Church has been given the status of a pontifical foundation.

As well as signing an official document in early December marking the transition, the Pope appointed Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, to be president of the foundation.

Founded in 1947, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has focused on helping Christians suffering from religious oppression and other forms of persecution. The organisation has 17 offices around the world. More than 600,000 ACN members support 5,000 aid projects in more than 130 different countries.

Although its international headquarters will remain in Konigstein, Germany, the official seat of the foundation is now at the Vatican.

John Pontifex, head of press and information for the ACN in Britain, said the Pope’s elevation of ACN to a pontifical foundation was “a sign of the significance” the Holy Father attaches to the work of the charity.”

“The ACN has always enjoyed a close relationship with the Holy See and this decision will strengthen and intensify this relationship,” he told CNS. CNS

the 2012 celebration was Educating Young People in Justice and Peace

He asked parents and teachers to be more attentive to the hopes and fears of young people and to their search for true values, and asked governments to put more resources into education and job creation.

And the Pope asked young people themselves to take schooling seriously and be open to the example and knowledge their elders have to share. He asked them “to be patient and persevering in seeking justice and peace, in cultivating the taste for what is just and true, even when it involves sacrifice and swimming against the tide.”

Adults have a serious responsibility to help the young fulfill their potential, not just by sharing information, but being examples of what it means to live lives marked by the joy of faith, charity and respect for others, he said.

“Today more than ever we need authentic witnesses, and not simply people who parcel out rules and facts: We need witnesses capable of seeing farther than others because their life is so much broader,” the Pope said.

Educating people in justice and peace begins in the family, where they learn to value the gift of life, solidarity, respect for rules, for-

giveness and hospitality, he said. Too many young people today are missing that basic human formation because “we are living in a world where families, and life itself, are constantly threatened and not infrequently fragmented,” he said.

Pope Benedict appealed to parents to give their children “the most precious of treasures,” which is the gift of their time. He also urged governments to make it possible for parents to choose the type of education they want their children to receive and enact immigration reforms aimed at “reuniting families separated by the need to earn a living.”

Presenting the message at a Vatican news conference, Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said the message highlights that he sees young people not only as hope for the future, but as “an active part, the most vital part of the human family” in a world that needs energy and new ideas now.

Bishop Mario Toso, secretary of the justice and peace council, said the young people who energised the Arab Spring movements toward democracy this year illustrate the fact that the young have a positive role to play in society today.

The message is at www.vatican.va.

An angel with good news for the whole world

Prayer twofold and requires abandonment to God’s love

By Carol Glatz

VATICAN CITY – Prayer should not centre just on asking God to fulfill one’s hopes and desires, but must include praise, thanks and trust in God’s plan which may not match one’s own, Pope Benedict XVI has said.

The way Jesus prayed to his Father “teaches us that in our own prayers, we must always trust in the Father’s will and strive to see all things in light of his mysterious plan of love,” he said during his weekly general audience on 14 December.

In his catechesis to nearly 6,000 people in the Vatican audience hall, Pope Benedict continued a series of talks on Christian prayer.

Everyone should seek to understand that when asking something of God in prayer, “we mustn’t expect the immediate fulfilment of what we are asking for, of our

will but, rather, trust in the will of the Father,” the Pope said.

Requests, praise and thanks must be included in every prayer, “even when it seems to us that God is not living up to our real expectations”.

Prayer was a dialogue with God and entails “abandoning oneself to God’s love,” he said.

The most important thing to discover was that the one who answers humanity’s prayers is more important than the actual prayers answered.

Jesus showed that before grace was received, one must “adhere to the giver” of that grace, that is, align oneself and comply with God. Having God in one’s life, his friendship, his presence, his love, were all more important than any concrete thing he could give in return, the Pope said.

Jesus “is the most precious treasure to ask for and always

safeguard,” he said. Because prayer guided people to see beyond their own needs and wants, it also helped open their heart to others and offer them compassion, hope and the light that comes from Christ, the Pope said.

At the end of his main audience talk, Pope Benedict greeted 49 newly ordained priests of the Legionaries of Christ.

Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, the papal delegate to the Legionaries, ordained the men on 12 December in the Basilica of St John Lateran.

Twenty of the new priests were from Mexico. At the end of the audience, the Pope prayed a few moments before a traditional Mexican Nativity scene decorating the Paul VI audience hall. The large painted ceramic figures were handcrafted by artisans and were a gift from the Mexican state of Puebla. CNS

A member of the evangelical church Psalm 100 holds a sign reading “Christmas with Jesus is happiness” in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Evangelical protestantant denominations are growing fast in the traditionally Catholic stronghold of Latin America.

PHOTO: CNS/JOSE LUIS GONZALEZ

Sacred space must be respected by all

By Cindy Wooden

ROME - The day after an ancient mosque in Jerusalem was vandalised and burned, allegedly by Jewish extremists, participants at a Rome conference on “sacred space” called for absolute respect for all places of worship.

Jewish, Christian and Muslim scholars met on 14 and 15 December at Rome’s Pontifical University of St Thomas to discuss the theological, legal and sociological implications of sacred space.

“In the course of our delibera-

tions, we were given a reminder of how necessary and timely our exchanges indeed are, as we received news of yet another incident of mosque burning, even if a deserted mosque no longer in use, this time in Jerusalem itself, a city holy to all three religions,” said a statement issued at the end of the meeting.

News reports said the 12th century Nebi Akasha Mosque has not been used for worship since Israel declared its statehood in 1948.

Reports said the attack is believed to be part of a series of acts of van-

Responsibility and solidarity needed: Pope

By Carol Glatz

VATICAN CITY – The interdependence of different cultures and peoples should not be seen as a threat but an advantage for bringing justice and solidarity to all, Pope Benedict XVI has said.

“We are all responsible for everyone and it’s important to have a positive notion of solidarity” and shared responsibility, he said to new ambassadors to the Vatican.

In a break from previous practice, the Pope did not give separate messages to each ambassador and Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the change would be permanent.

“For reasons of simplicity” and consistency with current diplomatic practice, the Pope will give only one speech to groups of new ambassadors who do not reside in Rome, Fr Lombardi said.

The customs that will remain are the personal encounter between the new diplomat and head of state, the Pope, and the ambassador’s presentation of his or her credentials, the spokesman said. The personal meeting also will allow for a brief

exchange of words, essential for learning more about the other, he added.

Resident ambassadors will continue to have an individual meeting with the Pope as usual, Fr Lombardi said. However, he said it was his understanding the Pope would no longer present the ambassador with a written address.

The Pope’s speeches to ambassadors had touched on specific issues or concerns the Church had in regard to a particular country.

For example, in a 2008 speech to Luxembourg’s new ambassador, Pope Benedict expressed his deep concern over the country’s push to legalise euthanasia and doctorassisted suicide. In a 2010 encounter with Zambia’s ambassador, he praised the country for its laws protecting life and called for more investment in disease prevention.

Fr Lombardi said the Pope still would have many other occasions in which to “show his closeness and concern for the different nations with specific messages,” such as those sent when a country celebrates its primary national holiday, marks important anniversaries

dalism by Jewish extremists protesting the scheduled demolition of Israeli settlements in the contested West Bank.

The scholars said protecting sacred space “is principled as well as practical.

“In principle, any house in which God is called in truth and sincerity is sanctified by the approach to God and must be respected by all.

“In practical terms, any act of destruction can return in short time to the perpetrator.”

This can then lead to the “generating of an endless cycle of retalia-

tion that is contrary to God’s glory.”

Sacred sites and houses of worship should not be harmed, even in times of conflict, the scholars said.

Respect for the sacred space of others “is not only a sign of respect to the one God we all recognise, but also a concrete way of learning to practise respect for one another,” they said.

“Keeping holy sites out of conflict is a small step to humanising a difficult situation and to remembering that God is our highest value and aspiration,” they said. CNS

or endures a tragedy. One reason for trimming back the welcoming ceremony is because the number of countries the Vatican has diplomatic relations with has doubled since the time of Pope Paul VI when the

practice of exchanging individual speeches began, the spokesman said. Currently, about 180 ambassadors are accredited to the Vatican, and around 80 of them have resident embassies in Rome. CNS

Abortion greatest blight since slavery

By Mark ziMMerMann

UNDER a full moon on a cold, dark evening, they walked and prayed, a crowd of 600, holding candles and praying the rosary as they marched from Mother Seton Church in Germantown, Maryland to a clinic where late term abortions are performed.

Helping to lead the procession was Cardinal Donald Wuerl just after he presided at a Mass for Life, marking one year since the arrival of Dr LeRoy Carhart in the neighbourhood in December 2010.

Carhart left Nebraska to come to Maryland to perform late term abortions after his state passed a law prohibiting abortion after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Maryland has some of the least restrictive abortion laws in the country.

More than 1,000 attended Mass where Cardinal Wuerl said, “Countless unborn infants are reaching out to hold on to us with all their strength, since we are the only voice they have in their struggle to find a place, a home, a life in this world.”

The procession wound for sev-

eral blocks, with flickering points of candlelight shining in the darkness. The candles were held by people of all ages, ranging from senior citizens to small children who marched four abreast.

Members of a Knights of Columbus honour guard also marched near the front of the procession. Two seminarians held

a large banner that read, “Pray to end abortion.” Marchers stood and prayed before the clinic.

Cardinal Wuerl said, “Let us ask God’s blessing on all of us, all who are gathered here, all who speak for life, who walk for life, who defend life.”

Moments later, the cardinal said he was inspired by the size of

ITALY

People say bad things about me too: Pope

Pope Benedict XVI told inmates at a Rome prison people say nasty things about him, too, but it’s important to remember there are others ready to offer love and support. During a visit to Rebibbia, he gave a short speech and responded to questions from inmates gathered in the prison’s Church of Our Father. Federico, an inmate, told the Pope people say “ferocious things” about inmates. “We have fallen and hurt people,” he said. “We have lost our freedom, but we ask you to help ensure we don’t lose our dignity.”

“In my family,” the papal household, there are four consecrated laywomen who have friends in the prisons, the Pope said, so the sufferings, needs and concerns of inmates are a frequent topic of prayer and conversation. As for those who are not so understanding, the Pope said, “we must put up with people who speak about us in a ferocious way. They speak ferociously about the Pope, too, and yet we keep going forward.” In his prepared talk to inmates, Pope Benedict said, “I’ve come simply to tell you that God loves you with an infinite love.”

Mexico

Amendment signals a Mexican change

Mexico’s lower house of Congress approved a constitutional amendment allowing religious groups to hold public services without first seeking government permission, marking a further departure from anti-clerical sentiments previously held by many in the country’s political establishment. Lawmakers approved changes to Article 24 of the constitution which forbids celebrating services outside houses of worship without first receiving government permission. The amendment also guarantees freedom of religion. The Senate and 16 of Mexico’s 31 state legislatures still must approve the amendment for it to become effective. “With this reform, the rights persons have to freely exercise the religion of their preference or not have any ... are amplified,” the Mexico bishops’ conference said in a statement.

UNITED STATES

Blessed Kateri to be canonised

the crowd witnessing to life at the Mass and procession. “It says that the future is with life. Our task is to keep holding up the Gospel of Life.”

“The power of the symbolism of the light (shining) in darkness was beautiful,” Christa Lopicollo, archdiocesan executive director of life issues, told the Catholic Standard, archdiocesan newspaper.

In his homily, Cardinal Wuerl encouraged people to continue to witness to the dignity of all human life through prayer and action. “Prayer does change hearts ... Prayer does work, and it must be our instrument of change,” he said.

Cardinal Wuerl noted that just as St John the Baptist was a voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord, so too has the Catholic Church in the past 20 centuries continued that mission, to be that voice and to follow Jesus’ call for his disciples to be his witnesses.

“What brings us here is the recognition we’re called to share our faith, to share what we believe. We’re called to proclaim the Gospel of life” proclaimed by Jesus.

The Cardinal called abortion “the single greatest blight on our nation since slavery”. CNS

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, “the Lily of the Mohawks,” is the young Indian maiden who came to know and love Christ. She was born in 1656 in a village on the Mohawk River. Her father was a chief and her mother a Christian Algonquin. She was born into a period of political and religious turmoil 10 years after three Jesuit martyrs were tortured and killed. Indians blamed “Black robes” for the sudden appearance of deadly white man’s diseases including smallpox. When she was 4, a smallpox epidemic claimed her parents and baby brother. Kateri survived but her face was disfigured and her eyesight impaired. According to legend, she was raised by relatives who began to plan her marriage. Meeting with Catholic priests, Kateri decided to be baptised and pursue religious life. When she was baptised at 20, her relatives were not pleased. She fled the next year to Canada, taking refuge at St Francis Xavier Mission in the Mohawk Nation and reportedly made her first Communion on Christmas in 1677. She astounded the Jesuits with her deep spirituality and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. She took a private vow of virginity and devoted herself to prayer and teaching prayers to the children and helping the sick and elderly of Caughnawaga.

Choir members from Ukraine sing during a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

PHOTO: CNS

Carmen Maita, 16, and her mother, Paula Maita, left, participate in a candlelight prayer procession to the Germantown abortion clinic. PHOTO: CNS

Climate change a faith issue as well

By Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY – Climate change is a faith issue because it deals with God’s creation and with poverty, said president of Caritas Internationalis, Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 165 national Catholic charities, provides emergency relief and development aid around the globe. But it also taught Catholics about

Market economy needs moral values

By Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY – The free market is the economic model that seems most consonant with biblical teaching, but the global economic crisis demonstrates that, without moral values, the market economy can implode, says Britain’s chief rabbi.

Sir Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, was at the Vatican on 12 December to speak with Pope Benedict XVI about united efforts to bring morality back to the marketplace and to deliver a major speech at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

He said he and the Pope focused “on principles we share about the need for moral markets and a people-centred approach to economics His Holiness set out two years ago in his document Caritas in Veritate (‘Charity in Truth’)” and that the Jewish community shares.

“My real concern is that a clear voice be heard” in the midst of the global economic crisis, “a strong religious and moral voice,” he said.

Rabbi Sacks said in his speech at the Gregorian that the JudeoChristian principles and values that gave birth to the free-market system, as well as the welfare provisions meant to balance its defects, are threatened today by “market fundamentalism” – a sense that the economy should be free from all ethical and legal constraints and obligations.

When it is working properly, he said, the market is the best economic expression found to reflect the Bible’s respect for human dignity, for personal property rights, for labour, for the creation of wealth and for alleviating poverty.

At the same time, he said, while the market is great at creating wealth, it is not so good at distributing it. CNS

the Church’s social doctrines, advocating and educating people about issues of justice and peace, the Cardinal said.

At a time when so many people in the world were starving, it was important to note that a cause of starvation “is climate change and, especially, irresponsible attitudes toward creation,” Cardinal Rodriguez said.

For the Catholic Church, climate change was not only a matter of “thermometers or scientific analysis, we are talking about human beings

and the sufferings of human beings.” Catholics needed to know that climate change is real and a problem that must be faced, he said. The way people treat the environment must change quickly, “not after all the consequences and tragedies that will come,” he said.

“It is a faith issue because, from the very beginning of the Bible, you see how creation was entrusted to human beings” for their administration, not for their exploitation, he said.

“Of course, the problems are big.

For us, one of the commitments will be to continue educating” Catholics and other people of goodwill about their responsibility toward creation and others living on the planet.

The Cardinal said if people saw globalisation only as a process of expanding markets and finance, it would not help the human community. “It is necessary to globalise solidarity,” he said.

The current global economic crisis “is not only a financial crisis, it’s an ethical crisis,” the Cardinal said.

Part of the response must be

Colours add to Mexican festivities

voluntary austerity, which was a Christian principle and a virtue.

“We can be free if we are more independent from consumerism,” he said. This in turn freed people to be more generous to neighbours.

CIDSE, a Belgium-based international alliance of Catholic development agencies, said a global agreement on emissions reduction would only help if it was legally binding, and only be fair if targets were set on the basis of each country’s historical contribution to current greenhouse gas levels,” it said.

Irish Archbishop calls on Catholics to be truthful

DUBLIN - Archbishop Diarmuid

Martin of Dublin has warned the Church in Ireland’s capital city is facing “the most challenging years the diocese has had to face since Catholic Emancipation.”

Responding to a report that showed a steep drop in Mass attendance in recent years, Archbishop Martin predicted “enormous” changes for Dublin’s Catholics. The report found that only 14 per cent

of Dublin’s Catholics attend Mass on a given Sunday. Contributions to the Church have also plummeted, and with the clergy population ageing rapidly, a shortage of priests looms in the near future.

The Archbishop said Irish Catholicism is “undergoing a farreaching transformation.” After decades of dominance in the nation’s culture, the faith has lost its hold on the public, and “the reality

of God is slowly being eclipsed and men and women live their lives as if God does not exist.” The Church now faces an “uncharted” future, Archbishop Martin said.

While calling for a renewed commitment among the faithful, he said those who have abandoned the faith should be honest enough to acknowledge that. Commenting on families that come to church only for special occasions such as wed-

dings and baptisms, he suggested they should be consistent enough to leave the Church. Archbishop Martin said: “It requires maturity on those people who want their children to become members of the Church community and maturity on those people who say ‘I don’t believe in God and I really shouldn’t be hanging on to the vestiges of faith when I don’t really believe in it.’”

CATHOLICCULTURE.ORG

Prelate regrets never meeting prominent atheist

By david Kerr

CARDINAL Gianfranco Ravasi,

president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, says he regrets never having met and chatted with atheist writer Christopher Hitchens, who died on 15 December at age 62.  “I would have liked the idea of dialoguing with him beyond the controversies and preconceived attitudes,” the Cardinal said on his blog.

Since earlier this year, the Pontifical Council for Culture has hosted a series of events around Europe in which atheist and agnostic intellectuals have engaged in dialogue with Catholic counterparts.

The initiative, inspired by Pope Benedict, is known as the Courtyard of the Gentiles and named after an area in the Temple of Jerusalem where Jews and Gentiles could meet and discuss.

“I had no way of inviting Hitchens to enter the courtyard,” wrote Cardinal Ravasi, who has invited several high-profile atheists to events in recent months, including the Pope’s World Day of Peace gathering in Assisi in October.

In his analysis of Hitchens’ world view, Cardinal Ravasi drew an analogy to a conversation once held between French Catholic philosopher Jean Guitton and the cancer-

stricken French president Francois Mitterrand. Guitton explained that his experience as a philosopher told him humanity had “the choice between two solutions: absurdity and mystery.”

When Mitterrand asked if the two concepts were not identical, Guitton replied: “No, absurdity is an impenetrable wall against which we splat in suicide,” but “mystery is a ladder you climb from step to step towards light and hope.”

“Christopher Hitchens,” wrote Cardinal Ravasi, “had chosen the first solution, denouncing religion as ‘the main source of hatred in this world.’”

As a “man of faith”, he said, he always hoped “to see the young rebel turn towards the light and go up step by step to the ocean of love in which all the hatred in the world is immersed”. His final hope for Hitchens was that “death was for him ‘a door that opens and breaks into the future,’” – recalling the aphorism of English writer Graham Greene who said that death for him “would be like entering a new infancy”.

English-born Christopher Hitchens’ most extensive treatise against religion came in his 2007 book God is Not Great One of his most significant oppo-

nents in the ensuing debate was his younger brother and fellow writer, Peter Hitchens, who penned the 2010 book The Rage Against God

“While I was making my gradual, hesitant way back to the altar-rail, my brother Christopher’s passion against God grew more virulent and confident,” Peter wrote earlier this year.

“As he has become more certain about the non-existence of God, I have become more convinced we cannot know such a thing in the way we know anything else, and so must choose whether to believe or not. I think it better by far to believe.”

CNA

Priests from Mexico in traditional outfits dance after Pope Benedict XVI’s celebration of Mass marking the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

PHOTO: CNS

Life truths in the

World of Fairytales

If Christmas is God’s invitation to wonderment, perhaps adults could learn a thing or two from the stuff of children, writes G K Chesterton.

MY FIRST and last philosophy, that which I believe in with unbroken certainty, I learnt in the nursery. I generally learnt it from a nurse; that is, from the solemn and star-appointed priestess at once of democracy and tradition.

The things I believed most then, the things I believe most now, are the things called fairy tales. They seem to me to be the entirely reasonable things. They are not fantasies: compared with them, other things are fantastic. Compared with them, religion and rationalism are both abnormal, though religion is abnormally right and rationalism abnormally wrong. Fairyland is nothing but the sunny country of common sense. It is not earth that judges heaven, but heaven that judges earth. I knew the magic beanstalk before I had tasted beans; I was sure of the Man in the Moon before I was certain of the moon. This was at one with all popular tradition.

Modern minor poets are naturalists, and talk about the bush or the brook; but the singers of the old epics and fables were supernaturalists, and talked about the gods of brook and bush. That is what the moderns mean when they say the ancients did not “appreciate Nature,” because they said that Nature was divine. Old nurses do not tell children about the grass, but about the fairies that dance on the grass; and the old Greeks could not see the trees for the dryads.

I deal here with what ethic and philosophy come from being fed on fairy tales. If I were describing them in detail, I could note many noble and healthy principles that arise from them. There is

the chivalrous lesson of “Jack the Giant Killer”; that giants should be killed because they are gigantic. It is a manly mutiny against pride as such. For the rebel is older than all the kingdoms, and the Jacobin has more tradition than the Jacobite.

There is the lesson of “Cinderella” which is the same as that of the Magnificat - Exaltavit Humiles. There is the great lesson of “Beauty and the Beast”; that a thing must be loved before it is lovable. There is the terrible allegory of the “Sleeping Beauty” which tells how the human creature was blessed with all birthday

I am concerned with a certain way of looking at life, created in me by fairy tales ... since meekly ratified by the mere facts.

gifts, yet cursed with death; and how death also may perhaps be softened to a sleep. But I am not concerned with any of the separate statutes of elfland, but with the whole spirit of its law, which I learnt before I could speak, and shall retain when I cannot write. I am concerned with a certain way of looking at life, which was created in me by the fairy tales, but has since been meekly ratified by the mere facts.

This fairy tale language about things is simply rational and agnostic. It is the only way I can express in words my clear and definite perception that one thing

When we remember the birth of Jesus at Christmas, let us focus on that joy he brought to the world and his good news. Every year, we celebrate and remember his birth not because he changed the world but because he is the Son of God who came down from heaven to show us the way to heaven, to happiness.

Extraordinary happiness awaits us in heaven if we can live in this world the way Jesus calls us to live. In our daily lives, we are called to be like Christ, to offer his good news to the world around us, wherever we are, beginning first in our

families and then bearing his light in our daily lives in the world.

Jesus came to establish his kingdom. By bearing witness to the light, like St John the Baptist did, we can help build up the kingdom of God on earth.

The world needs this good news. When we look around and see all the violence and hatred in the world, it doesn’t look like God’s kingdom at all.

There are challenges facing the Church today such as rampant secularism and a tendency to sideline God from the meaning of existence. This is not the way forward.

is quite distinct from another; that there is no logical connection between flying and laying eggs. It is the man who talks about “a law” that he has never seen who is the mystic. Nay, the ordinary

Human life is threatened at all stages, beginning in the womb.

We must offer the good news of Jesus which recognises life from the moment of conception.

Many children caught up in their parents’ marriage breakdown have to find their own way in the world. We must offer the good news of Jesus.

Many teenagers are caught up in a culture of drugs and sex well before they know the true meaning of their body and the responsibility that comes with love. We must offer the good news of Jesus.

Although we see the political threat to traditional marriage, we must hold firm to the teachings of Christ and those who are married must continue to live as he called them to.

Church teaching and its definition of marriage as a free, faithful, total and fruitful union between a man and a woman open to life will not change, simply because the

scientific man is strictly a sentimentalist. He is a sentimentalist in this essential sense, that he is soaked and swept away by mere associations. He has so often seen birds fly and lay eggs that he feels

winds of political change are blowing around us.

We know the message of Christ is good news for people. We know that trying faithfully to follow His way is the way to finding happiness despite all the difficulties that face us.

The world needs this good news. When we look around and see all the violence and hatred ... it doesn’t look like God’s kingdom at all.

Despite the negativity the Church has to face in the world, look to the future with confidence. We must continue to offer this good news to the world because

as if there must be some dreamy, tender connection between the two ideas, whereas there is none. A forlorn lover might be unable to dissociate the moon from lost love; so the materialist is unable

the world needs it. Each one of us should accept our call from Christ to be his witnesses at home and wherever we go.

Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem was a sign of great hope for the world and now that hope is entrusted to us to bring to our family and to the world today.

We each have to play our part wherever we are in bringing the good news to others.

I join the joy of all our parishes as they celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas.

We here in the Cathedral will join with all our parishes in trying to be a light of hope, offering Christ in the centre of our city.

We wish all the joy and graces of Christmas to everyone and hope that Catholics everywhere will make sure they are at Mass in their parishes at Christmas.

Let us hope they can also bring their friends along who aren’t Catholic to Mass this Christmas.

Archbishop Hickey

A Palestinian child wearing a Santa costume lights a candle in the Church of the Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of

to dissociate the moon from the tide. In both cases, there is no connection, except that one has seen them together.

Elementary wonder, however, is not a mere fancy derived from

New growth

With the approach of summer and the ending of another year, a real sense of slowing down and relaxation takes hold of us. We look forward to the time of holidays and of spending time with our families and friends.

Of course, the rhythm of the seasons of the year is now imprinted into human life. There are the times of growth and new, exciting experiences; the times of fulfilment and maturity; the times of critical reflection, cutting back the old and letting go of the past, and the cold, hard experiences of disappointment, failure and sadness.

the fairy tales; on the contrary, all the fire of the fairy tales is derived from it. Just as we all like love tales because there is an instinct of sex, we all like astonishing tales because they touch the nerve of the ancient instinct of astonishment. This is proved by the fact that when we are very young children we do not need fairy tales: we only need tales. Mere life is interesting enough.

A child of seven is excited by being told that Tommy opened a door and saw a dragon. But a child of three is excited by being told that Tommy opened a door. Boys like romantic tales; but babies like realistic tales because they find them romantic. In fact, a baby is about the only person, I should think, to whom a modern realistic novel could be read without boring him.

This proves that even nursery tales only echo an almost prenatal leap of interest and amazement. These tales say that apples were golden only to refresh the forgotten moment when we found

When we are very young we do not need fairytales, we only need tales... mere life is interesting enough.

that they were green. They make rivers run with wine only to make us remember, for one wild moment, that they run with water.

I have said that this is wholly reasonable and even agnostic. And, indeed, on this point I am all for the higher agnosticism; its better name is Ignorance. We have all read in scientific books, and, indeed, in all romances, the story of the man who has forgotten his name. This man walks about the streets and can see and appreciate everything; only he cannot remember who he is.

Well, every man is that man in the story. Every man has forgotten who he is. One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God; but thou shalt not know thyself. We are all under the same mental calamity; we have all forgotten our names. We have all forgotten what we really are.

All that we call common sense and rationality and practicality and positivism only means that for certain dead levels of our life we forget that we have forgotten. All that we call spirit and art and ecstasy only means that for one awful instant we remember that

This year that ends soon may have been marked by many of these kinds of experiences. It is with gratitude that we are able to celebrate the Birth of the Saviour at the close of each year.

The Birth of Jesus is Good News. When everything has been said and done this year, we are lifted up again with hope as we return to the Christmas event. The Christian rejoices at the end of a year by returning to the beginning, the Birth of the Saviour.

Christmas reminds us that Jesus Christ was born into our world so that the promise of Redemption would be fulfilled. From the begin-

we forget. For this reason (we may call it the fairy godmother philosophy) I never could join the young men of my time in feeling what they called the general sentiment of revolt. I should have resisted, let us hope, any rules that were evil but I did not feel disposed to resist any rule merely because it was mysterious.

Estates are sometimes held by foolish forms, the breaking of a stick or the payment of a peppercorn: I was willing to hold the huge estate of earth and heaven by any such feudal fantasy. It could not well be wilder than the fact that I was allowed to hold it at all.

At this stage I give only one ethical instance to show my meaning. I could never mix in the common murmur of that rising generation against monogamy, because no restriction on sex seemed so odd and unexpected as sex itself. To be allowed, like Endymion, to make love to the moon and then to complain that Jupiter kept his own moons in a harem seemed to me (bred on fairy tales like Endymion’s) a vulgar anti-climax.

Keeping to one woman is a small price for so much as seeing one woman. To complain that I could only be married once was like complaining that I had only been born once.

It was incommensurate with the terrible excitement of which one was talking. It showed, not an exaggerated sensibility to sex, but a curious insensibility to it. A man is a fool who complains that he cannot enter Eden by five gates at once.

Polygamy is a lack of the realisation of sex; it is like a man plucking five pears in mere absence of mind. The aesthetes touched the last insane limits of language in their eulogy on lovely things. The thistledown made them weep; a burnished beetle brought them to their knees. Yet their emotion never impressed me for an instant, for this reason, that it never occurred to them to pay for their pleasure in any sort of symbolic sacrifice.

Men (I felt) might fast forty days for the sake of hearing a blackbird sing. Men might go through fire to find a cowslip. Yet these lovers of beauty could not even keep sober for the blackbird. They would not go through common Christian marriage by way of recompense to the cowslip. Surely one might pay for extraordinary joy in ordinary morals.

Oscar Wilde said that sunsets were not valued because we could not pay for sunsets. But Oscar Wilde was wrong; we can pay for sunsets. We can pay for them by not being Oscar Wilde.

Abridged from Orthodoxy

ning of human history, we have lived with the hope that God would restore us to true freedom, to the original capacity to love and care for one another. We live after the first coming of Christ so we know how God has redeemed us and how much he loves us.

By returning to the beginning, to the Birth of Jesus in our Christmas celebrations, we are starting afresh from Christ.

From Pentecost 2012, the Catholic Church throughout Australia will be given the chance to reflect on all the aspects of her mission. We are called to participate in the Year of Grace, which celebrates and reflects on the fiftieth Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, convoked by Blessed John XXIII in 1962.

The Year of Grace will be a time for us to stop and take stock, and to ask simply “Where is Christ in my life and in the things I do to build

Continued on Page 12

Grandeur is in Christ’s coming, not the shopping

Is Christmas really a time of joy for most people? Or are most of us stressed and wishing it was over? Here’s what we could be missing out on this Christmas.

Sitting in the shopping mall gave me a chance to watch people going about their shopping. Christmas carols drifted over the shoppers and spoke about a joyous holiday season.

For the most part, though, people were scurrying around lugging bags of purchases and most looked to be under stress. I reflected on the purpose and meaning of Christmas. Here was I in Western Australia thinking about an event that happened over 2000 years in a land not particularly famous for anything.

It struck me how the birth of child in Bethlehem has influenced the whole world. If we stop to think about it it is, astoundingly, that simple. The unassuming birth of a peasant boy born two thousand years ago in the Middle East has caused such commotion. What connection does the birth of Jesus have to this frenzy of presents, Christmas paper, trees, decorations, food and alcohol and jingle bells? The birth of Jesus was accompanied by choirs of angels. Christmas would bring “great joy… for all the people.” Really?

For many people, getting ready for Christmas is more of a hassle than a source of happiness. It is not a time of rest, it is a source of stress. When it comes to Christmas we feel pressure, not pleasure. It’s a duty, not a delight. We endure Christmas rather than enjoy it. Christmas is about birth. The birth of Jesus was God’s gift to us. God’s Christmas gift to us has three qualities that make it unique.

Firstly, the birth of Jesus is the most expensive gift we’ll ever receive. It’s unique and it’s priceless. Do we spend Christmas time trying to find the perfect most expensive gift for someone?

Jesus paid for it with his life.

So Christmas is also about death, (frankincense, gold and myrrh). It is very difficult to grasp that are all born to die.

Secondly, the gift of Jesus is the only gift we’ll ever receive that will last forever. God the Father’s role was defined by love in the gift given to us in Jesus. Ask anyone who has experienced love, love lasts forever.

Finally, it is an extremely practical gift – one we’ll use every day for the rest of our life. Jesus taught us everything we need for life - he is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

In the birth of Jesus, God and

Bee in my bonnet

A reflection on the struggles of those forgotten in society and Church

By Barbara Harris

humanity meet. That is true for every birth. It is no accident that we are here. God planned our birth, and before we were even born, he knew that moment would come.

Every birth is surrounded by angels. Yes, we cannot see them, but they are there. Every birth changes the world. The birth of a child with a disability has a purpose and a meaning. The birth of a child with disability can make a family re-evaluate what is seen as

If we stop to think about it, it is astoundingly simple ... and yet the birth of a peasant boy has caused such commotion.

important; challenge individuals and relationships.

Career advancement seems to give way to carer advancement.

At first thought, the birth seems to make things seem impossible.

But God makes the impossible possible.

When the angel came to Mary, she asked, “But how can this be done? How can I have a son?”

The overshadowing of the Holy Spirit is not just reserved for virgin births. The Holy Spirit is intimately involved in every birth including yours and mine.

Jesus’ birth has brought on a new age. Because He is like me, I don’t have to be alone, I don’t have to face the impossible by myself, I don’t have to get caught up in the frenzy of Christmas stress. I don’t have to worry about finding that “perfect” gift.

Because Jesus knows what it means to be weak and vulnerable, I can have the strength to overcome.

His spirit will show me the Way, teach what is True and give me Life even now. May indeed your Christmas be a celebration of life, Jesus’ life and yours.

Jesus, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem

PHOTO: CNS

Auxiliary Bishop Sproxton

FAITH Broadcasting the

A Chicago priest set out to evangelise using the media and ended up producing a 10-part series for TV broadcast across the US that also won widespread praise, writes Sarah Motherwell.

DUST kicks up into the air as the four wheel drive vehicle travels down a dirt road to Namugongo, a small township 16km from Uganda’s capital, Kampala. It is early June, the start of the dry season, and only slightly cooler than summer in Chicago, the hometown of occupant Fr Robert Barron.

It was only a short time ago that he was back in Chicago teaching a number of African students. Namugongo, they all told him, is the place to visit to show African Catholicism. It is the site where in 1879 Charles Lwanga and his companions became martyrs for their faith and where today, 3 June, over half a million people attend the feast of the martyrs.

A massive crowd assembles. Beyond the brightly coloured swarms of people Fr Barron can see the top of the basilica constructed on the site of Charles Lwanga’s execution. It brings a tear to his eye as he thinks back to the boys and men who were speared and burned to death on the orders of King Mwanga II.

Continued from Page 11 the Kingdom?” Blessed John Paul II was looking toward the beginning of the Third Millennium of the Church when he called the Church to rediscover Christ and work with Him. He invited us to “start afresh from Christ”.

The Year of Grace will be fruitful to each of us if we have a personal renewal of faith. From this renewal of faith will emerge parishes, Christian communities, with new vigour and mission. The time for a new spring in the Church’s mission has arrived.

I hope that by returning to the beginning with the celebration of Christ’s birth will give us a taste for a deeper renewal of our faith so that we will grasp the chance being offered in this Year of Grace to return to Christ and start afresh.

May Christmas convince us all that the Saviour has already come, and that to choose to walk with Him is to choose to share in com-

The boys and men were pages of the court of King Mwanga II who sent them on a death march to Namugongo after they refused to renounce their newly found Christian faith. Lwanga, who led the group made up of both Anglican and Catholic followers, suffered his torture in silence, only crying out “Oh God!” at the very end.

Despite the king’s attempt to crush Christianity in Uganda, there are now more than 400 million Christians in Africa.

The feast of the Ugandan martyrs brings choirs from many different parts of Africa to sing and dance during the Mass. Men wearing leopard skins and feathers dance with bells attached to their ankles, jangling with every step. A long line of bishops and priests, draped in red chasubles, sway to music behind them.

From the line Fr Barron hears someone shout to him. It’s one of his former students whom he thought he would never see again.

This chance reunion interrupts the filming but is one of the most memorable and cherished moments from his travels in his mission to

HEART AND MIND CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

make the definitive modern documentary series on global Catholic practices of faith. Fr Barron travelled to Uganda as part of his mission to show the Catholic faith and evangelise the culture in the new series hosted by him, Catholicism. The series aims to reinspire and encourage both

“Catholicism is a 10part series and follows Fr Barron’s travels to 16 different locations worldwide as he explores the Catholic faith.”

secular and non-secular viewers to embrace the Catholic faith during a dark period in American Catholic history at a time when the Church is struggling to attract new followers and faces a global backlash from the sex scandals revealed over the past 10 years.

“The Gift of Peace” Bishop Bianchini

After the Australian bishops’ ad limina visit to Rome, I went on another trip to what I call the “Middle East” which is Leonora, Laverton and Leinster in the eastern part of our diocese.

While there on pastoral visitation and celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation in the three towns, I visited the detention centre in Leonora. This centre has been operating over a year now and has had close to 200 refugees of mainly family groupings from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Iran.

At present, though, there are approximately 70 unaccompanied

minors (13-18 year olds) mainly from Afghanistan but also from Iran. Four of these came to church the Sunday I was there to celebrate Confirmation.

The centre is called APOD (Alternative Place of Detention) and is one of the few humane detention centres in Australia. One of the reasons for this is that management and staff treat the refugees with respect. I, and those who visit regularly, witness this.

As you would have read in the October edition of The Sower, Sr Annette Dever sgs regularly visits the centre and conducts a prayer service for the Catholics/Christians

“I was on a programme in Chicago a year ago and this anchor said to me, ‘with the possible exception of Islam, you are the religion with the worst public relations in the world right now.’

“One of the purposes of this series is to bring forth this wealth of Catholicism as we are passing through this dark time.”

“2,000 years of saints and arts and architecture and theology and spirituality and deep wisdom and the lives of holy people. I don’t want all of that to be reduced to the sex abuse scandal.”

Catholicism is a 10-part series and follows Fr Barron’s travels to 16 different locations worldwide as he explores the Catholic faith. The 30-minute episodes are themed and invite viewers to learn about everything from the teachings of Jesus to the lives of saints to the importance of prayer and spirituality.

“One of the biggest challenges? I’m an academic, a theologian. I teach courses on these matters that would take a whole semester,” he told The Record Fr Barron said his dream project was to do something like

and anyone else who wishes to attend. Mass has been celebrated there in the past but the people are now able to come to the church for the monthly Mass. The Sri Lankan detainees who were mainly Tamils and Catholics would come to Mass, but there were also other Christians from the (real) Middle East and some nonChristians who would attend as

Civilisation , a landmark 1970s series presented by English historian critic Kenneth Clark and developed by David Attenborough. The series, produced by the BBC, examined civilisations through arts and architecture much like Barron’s Catholicism

“I want to go all over the world, I want to show Catholicism. I want to talk about it but I want to show its beauty,” Fr Barron said.

“Cardinal George, the Archbishop of Chicago, took me aside in the seminary and said I’d like you to work on evangelising the culture, which as you know was a big theme of John Paul II.”

“I said, well, I could give talks all over the country to groups of hundreds of people or I could reach infinitely more by going to the media, especially if you’re interested in the next generation.”

It is obvious the series has been made in mind of younger viewers. It may be influenced by Civilisation but it is more like Kenneth Clark on a Contiki tour. Prior to making the series, Fr Barron had posted sermons and reviews on YouTube which have time constraints. His

Sr Annette told me that the various nationalities, together with the few locals, had gathered for Mass. Some of the staff from the centre came with them. This particular time the visiting psychologist was also present.

Later, the psychologist spoke with Sr Annette saying how he was quite moved at the Mass.

well. Having priests like Fr Joseph Ratnaraj and Fr John Martin CSsR, who speak Tamil, was a great help for Mass. During these Masses each nationality was able to read the Gospel in their own language. It was a story from one of these multi-cultural Masses that I wish to highlight.

People from the centre had taken up their seating in their own national groups. At the sign of peace, however, the children went around sharing peace with everyone – and the adults followed suit. Later, the psychologist spoke to Sr Annette saying how he was quite moved at the Mass – particularly at the sign of peace. He added it would have been wonderful if Mass could have been celebrated at the centre with everybody attending and

experience with modern platforms of media is reflected in the series that spends no more than a few minutes summarising aspects of the episode’s theme.

It is unfortunate the vast and beautiful places Fr Barron visited are never focused on long enough to take in their majesty. It would have been more beneficial to theme the series around locations rather than specific topics to give viewers more of a feel to how different places worship.

Fr Barron’s attempt at creating a first rate documentary series is admirable even though it falls short of the technical production qualities expected of a $3 million budget. Episodes contain a missmatched set of documentary genres that detract from the message of the series. Switching from piece to camera segments, where Barron is

speaking to audiences are randomly exchanged for off-camera interviews with a nameless speaker, jar the narrative and distract viewers from the message of the episode.

“I want to go all over the world, I want to show Catholicism. I want to talk about it but I want to show its beauty,” Fr Barron said.

If episodes are not jumping from shot to shot with a dizzying pace, the camera is shaking without a tripod to steady the shot. Catholicism lacks the slow and even shots that allowed viewers of Clark’s series to absorb the beauty of what was being filmed. Instead, no more than a few seconds in Catholicism are spent focusing on captivating art and architecture, defeating the attempt to show the beauty of the Catholic faith.

There are some hidden gems of knowledge in the series, however, and though it will never live up to the standards of an Attenborough documentary, Catholicism will broaden your mind to the global impact of the Catholic faith and the architecture and art it has inspired.

sharing the sign of peace across the vari-ous nationalities. In the camp these groupings generally keep to themselves – not only because of language but also at times because of some suspicion and friction.

I thought to myself, ‘Here is Jesus in our day and in our humble corrugated iron church of Leonora continuing to bring the gift of peace that he came to share with the world’. The peace of Christ permeates the Gospels beginning with the angel heralding ‘Glory to God in the highest and peace to people of goodwill’ and with our Saviour’s words of peace being a greeting in itself “Peace be with you” or again “Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace which the world cannot give, this is my gift to you”. In uttering the words of the Beatitudes, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven’, Christ elevates and rewards those who strive to work for it.

Christ knows full well the many

obstacles to peace we encounter in our own local surroundings and certainly in the world we live in but he does not want us to lose heart, to let fear or prejudices blind us to the greatest gift we can share with others – his peace.

It is a peace the world cannot give, but with him and in him we can do it. It was, I believe, something witnessed to in that corrugated iron church in Leonora.

This Christmas, as we ponder the great gift of Christ, let us find the time to ask ourselves, “How do I and how can I bring the gift of peace I have received from Christ to those around me?” At the same time this Christmas, let us develop an even deeper closeness to our Lord and Saviour Jesus, so that he and his power will work more through us and our human efforts. To have a small part of the unbiased and open attitude of those children at the Leonora church will certainly go a long way!

CHuman Life

hristmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as one like us so that he could be part of our lives. He came to help us with the challenges and difficulties of daily life.

Jesus immersed himself in the realities of human life. Like each of us, he loved and was loved, and knew joys, sorrow and fear. He experienced poverty, hunger and tiredness. Like so many today, he also knew friendship and betrayal, popularity and rejection. He experienced poverty, loneliness and tiredness. Many misunderstood him, some even thinking he was out of his mind.

Ultimately, Jesus experienced great suffering and death. After rising from the dead, he became present to all who seek him in many ways. Each is a way for those who

Bishop Holohan

follow him to experience him personally. Those who seek Jesus know he is risen because of personal experiences of his power helping them in their lives. Their belief is not based solely on history.

While there is much that is positive, ours is a troubled society. We see conflict within and between people. So many struggle to keep their marriages and family lives together.

And many are so deprived of loving relationships that they seek others almost solely through computer technology. Others express deep anger through violence, vandalism and other anti-social behaviour.

Jesus came to offer both the guidance of God to all, and the power of God to those seeking to follow his guidance. Obviously his way is different from trends in our society. He taught a selfless love that binds marriages for life, nurtures family life and deepens friendships. His focus was on the kind of inner peace that leads to peace with others. These ‘others’ include family members, friends, work colleagues and neighbours.

For many, the change Jesus calls for is too difficult so their lives do not change. They deprive themselves of his power because they do not pray and worship as he taught.

Christmas reminds us all that there is another way, the way of Christ. We don’t have to have so many troubles today. Christ’s is a different way. It is the way that leads to ‘peace on earth’.

I wish each of you a holy and happy Christmas filled with the hope the way of Christ offers.

Above left: Fr Barron sits overlooking the Vatican’s St Peter’s Basilica during filming in Italy. Above Centre: Fr Barron in various location filmed throughut the series including Uganda, India, France and Mexico. Above right: A promotion poster for the series which takes a journey with Fr Barron to more than 50 locations throughout 16 countries looking at spiritual and artistic treasures of the Catholic Church, learning what Catholics believe and why, while delving into the deeper meaning of the faith. Below: a map provided by the series that shows main production locations in order to bring global Catholicism to a TV audience.

PHOTOS: COURTESY WORDOFFIRE.COME

God’s love for us shown through Jesus’ humanity

Dear Father, I remember reading in a Catholic publication that Jesus was not born in the usual manner but miraculously passed through Mary’s body. Was that so?

The answer depends on what was meant by “miraculously passed through Mary’s body”. In one sense it is true and, in another, false.

I will begin with the false explanation. This would suppose Mary did not actually conceive Jesus in her womb and carry him for nine months, but suddenly found herself carrying a child. This was the belief of early Gnostics who taught Jesus descended from heaven and passed through Mary without receiving anything from her, “just as the water flows through a canal” (Epiphanius, Haer 31, 4).

This is clearly false. It calls into question the very humanity of Jesus. We say Jesus is “true God and true man” because he was conceived by Mary his mother, received his body from her and was carried for nine months until his delivery on Christmas day. He is truly man.

Two of the Gospels give the genealogy of Christ to show he was true man. Matthew traces Jesus’ family tree beginning with Abraham (cf Mt 1:1-16) and Luke begins with Jesus and traces his ancestry back to Adam (cf Lk 3:23-38).

The other explanation presupposes Jesus was conceived in his mother’s womb and grew there naturally but when he came to be born he passed out of Mary’s body in a miraculous way. This is true. I dealt with it in an earlier column on Mary’s perpetual virginity (cf J Flader, Question Time, Connor Court 2008, q34).

What was miraculous was that Mary, a virgin, gave birth to Jesus without rupturing her bodily integrity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains it like this, quoting the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium: “The deepening of faith in the virginal motherhood led the Church to confess Mary’s real and perpetual virginity even in the act of giving birth to the Son of God made man. In fact, Christ’s birth ‘did not diminish his mother’s virginal integrity but sanctified it’” (LG 57; CCC 499).

The Fathers of the Church compared this mystery to the rays of the sun passing through glass without breaking it, Christ emerging from the sealed tomb without removing the stone, etc.

The reality of Christ’s true humanity is of fundamental importance for our faith. The Catechism gives four reasons why the Word, the second

Q&A

By Fr John Flader

person of the Blessed Trinity, became man.

The first is “in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who ‘loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins’” (1 Jn 4:10; CCC 457). The Fathers of the Church teach, in different ways, that only by assuming human nature into his divine person could Jesus redeem us, who are human.

St Paul says as much, emphasising Christ’s humanity: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Tim 2:5). In his letter to the Romans, he relates Adam’s sin to Christ’s redemptive obedience: “For as by one man’s

“Only by assuming human nature into his divine person could Jesus redeem us ...”

disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19).

The second reason why the word became flesh is “so that all might know God’s love: ‘In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him’” (1 Jn 4:9; CCC 458). Because Jesus was truly man, he could reveal in a tangible way how much God loves us. Through him the love of God was made visible.

The third reason is “to be our model of holiness” (CCC 459). Jesus is perfect man and so can teach us by example how we ought to live in order to be the saints God wants us to be. In Jesus, sanctity is not just a concept; it is a person. “Learn from me”, he can rightfully say (Mt 11:29).

And finally “The Word became flesh to make us ‘partakers of the divine nature’” (2 Pet 1:4). By assuming our humanity into his divine person, Jesus made us sharers in his own divinity.

For all these reasons we give thanks to Almighty God for the gift of his Son Jesus, true God and true man, on that first Christmas.

Drawing

Divine on the

It’s necessary, writes Fr Robert Cross, to observe that the whole of something is often greater than the sum of its parts, particularly when considering the human and divine.

In the recent Mandorla Art Retrospective held at The Faith Centre, the painting that caught my eye was the 1990 winner Ante Lucem by John Paul, a painting that “happens” before Christ became man. It is a painting of the Annunciation.

In presenting my musings on this painting, I would like to preface it with some remarks on the importance of Christian art as a tool for evangelisation.

In 2007-8, I studied a Masters course at the Gregorian University in Rome titled Storia e Beni Culturali della Chiesa or, in English, History and the Cultural Heritage of the Church. During the course I met up with Archbishop Hickey in Rome for a meal as one is wont to do in Rome. He asked how the course was going and I said it had revealed how little I knew about the Church’s cultural heritage, particularly the rich symbolism that pervades its art and liturgy. He said, “Yes, your generation has lost that knowledge”, to which I promptly and perhaps defensively responded, “Yes, that is because your generation didn’t teach us.”

One of the units I studied in the Masters course was titled The Symbolic Nature of Christian Art taught by renowned art historian and Jesuit, Fr Heinrich Pfeifer. Fr Pfeifer believed every theology

Hope for peace

Christmas is the most appropriate time for us to make a special effort to pray for peace, ourselves, our families, neighbours, community and our world in. Even corporate giants have an aura of goodwill; their publicly displayed greetings confirm it is not merely a time to be jolly but, more to the point, at this time of festivity, peace and goodwill to others have a better chance of rising above prevailing social, economic and political gloom.

The wonder of Christmas is shown in the way it fills us with joy and goodwill no matter the troubles that surround us, nor the worries which consume us. Nothing can separate us from the message of God’s generosity and love. Not war, economic downturns, hunger, greed, self-indulgence; not even the

unit should use Christian art as a didactic tool, as Christian art expresses the theological, more often than not, analogically.

In our scientific age, we are very good at observing what is before us, measuring and dissecting it. But the scientific method threatens to deprive us of our innate ability to be “gestaltic” or “symbolic”, to observe that the whole of something is often

“Christian art, or at least quality Christian art, has the ability to draw us into an encounter with the mystery of the human and the divine.”

greater than the sum of its parts, particularly when considering the human and divine.

Christian art, or at least quality Christian art, has the ability to draw us into an encounter with the mystery of the human and the divine. It does this through the usual methods of art such as form and composition but, above all, it does it through the use of symbol, the matrix of the visible and invisible, making present the greater

heartrending disasters we regularly hear and read about. This may well be the grace of God at work in us. We affirm the good news of Jesus among us gives rise to a hope that surpasses all sadness and tragedy. The child Jesus was born into the world for everyone, believers and non-believers alike, as a gift to be the instrument of God’s salvation. But his presence in the world was also to lift up our spirits and instil a new confidence in all. The message of hope he brought is announced for all in need of love and respite from the terrible disappointments of life. Peace in our hearts and on our lips. Peace to be

whole or reality. Let me now apply this analogical method to the painting Ante Lucem of John Paul, confessing beforehand that I am something of an amateur at this.

The thing that drew me to this rather small piece of art was its mediaeval feel although it might more properly be categorised as Flemish Renaissance in style, which continued the mediaeval tradition of religious symbolism and analogy. What also impressed me with this painting was an element of inculturation pertinent to our times and part of the world.

At the centre and foreground of the painting is the winged Archangel Gabriel, with his large wings dividing the painting into two sections. The Archangel has a sense of movement as illustrated by his legs in a walking motion. He is a heavenly and Godly messenger as shown by the mighty wings that carry him through the heavens. But this angel is inculturated to the antipodes. He is tattooed on the face like a Maori warrior. The tattoo speaks of being marked out, of self-identity, identity with a clan, identity with God’s thrones and dominions, a powerful, almost fearful figure who brings to us the presence of God. An encounter with such a being by Mary would have brought her fear but the Archangel says to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found

shared and proclaimed; this is the work of those who seek to do his will. Christians have an important part to play in this imperfect world. The love of Christ urges us on to be Christ to others, especially the poor and marginalised. Many of our neighbours yearn for the gift of peace and hope which Christmas proclaims; those who are in prison, asylum seekers who languish in detention centres, those who suffer tragedies of war and violence, those who mourn loved ones lost in the calamities of natural disasters. Indeed, Christmas remains, even in faith-challenged times, as a shining light of hope in the darkness of despair. Our positive thoughts, generous attitudes, heartfelt prayers and deliberate actions of goodwill for the benefit of others, lived out in Jesus’ name, will surely bring a lasting joy to our world.

May God’s choicest blessings be with you and your families this Christmas and in the year ahead.

Bishop Saunders

favour with God” (Lk1:30). In traditional mediaeval iconography, the Archangel Gabriel carries a lily or there is a lily nearby.

The lily symbolises the purity of Mary, her immaculate conception and her virginity. The lily has also come to symbolise the Archangel Gabriel. In Ante Lucem, we see an attempt to inculturate this symbolism through the use of Australian flora. We see the Virgin Mary holding a posy of Australian flowers including the Banksia, Blue Leschenaultia and Golden Wattle. In Australia, Golden Wattle announces the onset of Spring. Blue Leschenaultia is also a spring flower with a particular Perth region provenance. (That is why there is a Blue Leschenaultia on the crozier commissioned for the re-opening of St Mary’s

The irrepressible joy of Christmas

By DonalD Demarco

“All who would win joy,” Lord Byron once remarked, “must share it; happiness was born a twin.”

I am fond of this statement and have used it many times in class over the years to indicate the social dimension of the human person. Solitude is joyless.

Nevertheless, as the Christmas season approaches, I have two quibbles with Byron’s bon mot. First, I do not believe it is quite accurate to identify joy with happiness. The latter can burn with a low flame and can provide a comfortable background for our lives. But joy burns with a bright flame. It is piercing,

Cathedral in 2009.) The Banksia flower is full of nectar and draws to it many birds and insects to feed on its nectar, perhaps an allusion to the Archangel’s greeting, “Hail Mary, full of Grace” and “Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.” Just as the Blessed Virgin Mary is enwrapped by the Archangel Gabriel on one side, on the other she is enwrapped by the chair in which she reposes and beneath the chair there is a dog wrapping itself around the chair. There is a sense of movement with the suggestion that the carpet is a flying one. Here, we find more symbolism.

Being seated speaks of social honour. The Blessed Virgin Mary has a place of honour because within her, through the annunciation and the power of the Holy

rhapsodic, momentous and in the forefront of our consciousness. It is the word that Pascal used repeatedly when he described the effect that his mystical experience had on him.

The Joyful Mysteries are properly named. There are no “Happy Mysteries.” A person may be “happy-go-lucky”; no one is “joyful-golucky.” A virtuous life, as Aristotle averred, can bring us happiness; Christmas brings us joy.

Secondly, I am not sure that a person can “win” joy. We can become reasonably happy through our own prudent choices. But joy is not something we achieve by dint of our own efforts; it is a gift from above. Christmas brings the gift of joy, even to people who are already happy. It is, as GK Chesterton called it, “that mysterious revelation that brought joy upon the earth.” This is why we feel gratitude whenever we feel joy.

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” These words from Handel’s

Flemish style bonnet. The white trousers and golden locks of the Archangel speak of heaven, the dwelling place of God, a place of brilliant and pure light and that in the Archangel is found the presence of God, gold being the element in which God dwells, given its eternal value and ever present lustre.

The green jacket is symbolic of hope found in the new spring and life brought to the world in the annunciation of Christ. Green is symbolic of the triumph of spring over winter, of light over darkness, of life over death. Is the netted green undergarment prophetic of the great catch of humanity Christ would win for God?

On the pocket of the jacket is the symbol of a treble clef. This is symbolic of the joy of the annunciation echoed in the great hymn of Mary at the Annunciation, “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour . . .” (The Magnificat Lk 1:46-55).

The hat of the Archangel Gabriel and the bonnet of the Virgin Mary recall 1 Corinthians 11: 2-16 which relates to headship and the symbolism of wearing and not wearing head cover in Church and the presence of God. In these days of liberation, St Paul’s teachings in this regard are somewhat contentious.

Returning to the netted undergarment of the Archangel and the prophetic image of Christ’s future catch of men, we see on the side table a plated fish with a knife adjacent. Here, the fish is symbolic of Christ. The fish is one of the Church’s most ancient symbols of Christ and found in early Christian art in the catacombs.

on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased”?

This is no major archangel like Gabriel. No, he is a lesser angel, a minor angel. We know he is a minor angel in this painting because he is wearing a miner’s hat and safety glasses. Here, we have a play on the words “minor” and “miner”. The angel is carrying in his hand what appears to be a bow - perhaps shooting arrows of God’s love, Cupid-like?

In front of the “miner” angel is a sheath of wheat in a jar, clearly a Eucharistic image. The wheat and jar are symbolic of Christ, the inexhaustible Bread of Life. “And Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me’” (Lk 22:19).

The jar in which the wheat is situated recalls the scriptural story in 1 Kings 17, when Elijah in his hunger goes to the widow of Zarephath who, in the midst of a great drought, has only a handful of flour in a jar.

Elijah asks her to prepare some cakes for him made from the flour

This part of the painting gives me a certain joy, just as the annunciation brought joy to the world.

Spirit, is now enthroned Christ our King, whose first cathedra (seat) is the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The dog is symbolic of “faithfulness”. It speaks to us of Mary’s “fiat.”

The circular sense of movement speaks of the movement of the Holy Spirit by whose power the Word of God became incarnate in the Virgin Mary

We see also that the Blessed Virgin Mary is dressed in red, symbolic of flesh and of Divine Love, that is, the Holy Spirit.

Returning to the Archangel, we see he is dressed in white trousers and a green jacket. Under the jacket there seems to be a netted undergarment, again green in colour. On his golden locks there is a hat, just as on Mary there is a

Messiah imply that Christ comes into the world at Christmas as a bearer of joy. But his joy is offered to us, just as his peace is offered to “men of good will.” We experience the joy that is offered to us by accepting it in our hearts.

We witness, each December, a

The Joyful Mysteries are very properly named. There are no ‘Happy Mysteries’ of the Rosary.

concerted attempt by merchants as well as neighbours to distort the core meaning of Christmas. But these provisions do not bring joy, for, in comparison with the richness of joy, these bells, bows, boxes and baubles are, to coin an acronym, CHEAP: “Comfort, Happiness,

In Greek, the word for fish is ΙΧΘΥΣ, also an anagram for “Jesus Christ God’s Son Saviour”. The fish is coloured gold, symbolic of Christ’s divinity, while the knife adjacent to the fish symbolises that Christ would be sacrificed so that we may have life. The colour of the table on which the fish and knife are placed is blue, the colour of heaven, of heavenly truth and love. Blue is the colour of Christ’s mantle while on earth. He is God made man and in him reside heavenly truth and love.

Similarly, the colour of the mantle of the Blessed Virgin Mary is often blue, for she is the vessel that carried and brought forth this heavenly truth and love.

Looking now to the upper part of the picture, we find another character. This part of the painting gives me a certain joy, just as the annunciation brought joy to the world. Here, we see an angel in an Australian countryside setting. Is he one of the angels that announced on Christmas day, “Glory to God in the highest, and

Entertainment, Acquisitions, Pleasure. Christmas is a “holy” day, not merely another holiday.

The joy of Christmas is essentially spiritual. It is about man being reunited with God, as St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:19: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.” This generous act of God giving us his only begotten Son should inspire gratitude on our part. Chesterton expressed the matter most ingeniously: “If my children wake up on Christmas morning and have someone to thank for putting candy in their stocking, have I no one to thank for putting two feet in mine?” Generosity should breed gratitude, as well as more generosity. If there is a handy formula for JOY it is “to employ a counter-acronym to CHEAP” Jesus first, Others second, Yourself third.

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” These words from Handel’s Messiah imply that Christ comes into the world at Christmas as a

and says that in gifting this to him the jar will not be emptied and will sustain them as long as is required.

Finally, let us return to the image of the Archangel Gabriel and Mary. Together, with their hands joined and the Archangel’s embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary, they form a heart shape, a symbol of God’s love.

Both the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel have an unfocused gaze, looking beyond themselves. In mediaeval art, an unfocused gaze was common and symbolised a spiritual vision.

This painting invites us to assume an “unfocused gaze” into the spiritual truth of the Incarnation and what it means for us today here in Australia.

To mark the Faith Centre’s first cultural evangelisation event, exhibiting the best of the Mandorla Art Award, we have seven more copies of the Mandorla Art Awards 2012 calendar. Put your name and phone number on the back of an envelope and post it to “The Record Mandorla Calendar Giveaway,” 21 Victoria Square, Perth, 6000, by 23 December.

bearer of joy. It is a joy, as well as a relief, to put Christ at the center of things. The individual ego cannot possibly be a source of joy. The last stanza of Chesterton’s ode to Christmas is simple and straightforward enough for a child to understand:

The Christ Child stood on Mary’s knee.

His hair was like a crown.

And all the flowers looked up at him,

And all the stars looked down.

This stanza is not simply a description of how flowers, stars and the Christ Child are positioned in relation to each other. It is a way of indicating how the whole universe pays homage to Christ, who is at the very center of reality.

The Christ Child comes at Christmas to replace our gloomy ego with his radiant joy. We should make the best of it and allow his joy to flame brightly in our hearts. A joyful Christmas to one and all!

A many-layered and symbolic rendering of the annunciation, Ante Lucem, by John Paul, 1990 winner of the Mandorla art prize. PHOTO: COURTESY FAITH CENTRE

As this Child is born, human history begins

THERE ARE, presumably, a thousand editorials produced at about this time of year emphasising the importance of the true meaning of Christmas. These usually come replete with exhortations to not be drawn into the inevitable mass hysteria of Christmas advertising, seeking to connect our lives to the original events that are the origin and real meaning of Christmas. Such efforts are not only admirable, they need to continue. They are almost the only voices in our community reminding us that Christmas is the most important thing in the world.

This is one reason why we recommend that readers of The Record take special care to read the Christmas messages of Western Australia’s bishops in this edition of the paper. In these, one finds the true message of Christmas, something - or someone - that advertisers and our society find incomprehensible: Christ.

Clearly, this is no easy task. In a society such as Australia where the word ‘incarnation’ is a largely alien term, attempting to focus the thoughts of those around us on the meaning of the events in new and original ways is already made greatly difficult because we are a society which has rejected belief in God. In other words, Australia is a nation now predisposed to treat religious belief in its traditional forms of expression as something that is no longer relevant.

Here is where the first paradox of Christianity can be glimpsed. Until the incarnation, where God becomes enfleshed as a human being, human beings did not know God. As a result, they lived normally in fear. This is the reality of human history until the minute of Christ’s birth. The exception to this statement is, of course, Israel. Alone among all civilisations and cultures of the world, Israel knew God. Outside Israel, human beings usually lived in a world where a god or the gods treated human lives and aspirations as mere playthings. It is a fundamental truth of human beings that we are, by our very nature, pre-programmed to search for ultimate truth in the shape and form of a supreme being. The religious faiths of the world outside Israel and before Christ knew only fear and suffering or hedonism in relation to their various conceptions of who the gods were and their attitude to humanity.

To see human history as a timeline beginning somewhere in obscurity is to miss that Christ’s birth is the central event around which history revolves, as the planets revolve around the sun.

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To understand the extent of the fear, uncertainty and misconceptions that held the mind of humanity in their grasp before the birth of Jesus, it helps to know that things such as human sacrifice and fear of the malevolence or deception of the gods were normal results of humanity’s dim search for the truth about who we are and why we exist. At best, human beings were only able to codify rigid and dogmatic social and religious systems that often demanded extreme penalties for transgressors. Such a reality is still a problem in many parts of the world today. The evidence for this appears everywhere throughout the ancient world. But at the moment of the birth of God as a human baby, human history takes a sudden, decisive turn in a completely different direction to the one in which it had been travelling. Perhaps another, better, way to say this is to say that with the birth of a single child human history reorients itself back to the destiny that was planned for it from the beginning.

When Jesus is born in a manger at Bethlehem, the astonishing truth is that for the first time in history God personally reveals God’s very self to the human race. Furthermore, God reveals God’s self in complete love for us. The love is perfectly clear. God has taken on human form, become one of us, to show us precisely how much we matter to God. For the first time in history we human beings see what no-one else has seen before - God’s human face.

In this way it becomes apparent that to regard human history as a timeline beginning somewhere in obscurity and progressing up until the present moment may be one way of thinking about time but it runs the risk of missing the entire point that, of all events, it is the incarnation that is the central point of all human history, the moment around which all human progress and all human lives and events, before and after, revolve as planets revolve around the sun. This child lying in a manger is God. This is what Christianity believes and knows in its faith. This is the real foundation of the last two millennia of human existence. When we come forward to receive this child at Christmas Masses around the country this weekend, as we receive Communion we may pause for a moment and try to understand that the God who has created the galaxies and the universe who is present to us personally, intimately, in Communion is also this child. The coming of the Messiah was prophesied for centuries. Israel alone truly understood that this was to come. Therefore, it is even more true at Christmas to say that salvation comes from the Jews. Jesus Christ, this child, is the light of the nations, precisely because he is God, the glory of Israel.

A head of state’s powers

MARTIN Drum in his article, in The Record issue of 23 November, pointed out that CHOGM was held in Perth. The meeting sought resolutions to problems affecting the Commonwealth. However, Australia’s head of state dominated much of the coverage in Perth.

He was surprised that many people focused on whether they liked or disliked the British Royals. He preferred they focus on the broader issue; the kind of political system we have.

No mention was made of the Constitution or the division of power therein. The division of power in the political sense appears to have originated in Magna Carta.

Had it been mentioned, his readers could then, they chose, examine the dialogue between Pilate and Christ about power. Jesus did answer Pilate. However, he did not explain to Pilate that he had previously given a parallel answer to another question. The question was, whose head is imprinted on the coin? Jesus answered, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.

A question was asked by Dr Drum, although not posed as a question by him; do we currently have, for Australia, the best political system? He tells us he believes that, one day, we should have a republic. The reason is that we should have an Australian as head of state.

There appears to be something that has not been explained. Would our Australian head of state have the same power as Governor General Sir John Kerr? The alternative would be that our Australian head of state be reduced to ceremonial duties only and with no real political power.

Mention was also not made regarding the restriction which has been placed, in times past, by the High Court on the constitution.

What would have been useful was a question asking: have we reached the brink and has democracy now self-destructed?

John McKay COTTESLOE, WA

We need a cleaner, simpler, lifestyle

WHILE consensus about climate change is still a figment of the imagination of those who claim such a consensus exists and until the population becomes more serious about conserving the planet’s

Letters to the editor

resources, would The Record please desist from publishing articles that are based on sources which are of no interest and mainly inaccessible to readers. Instead of castigating each other on our own stances, I suggest we think about how we can use resources wisely.

A start could be made by eliminating so much that wastes our valuable resources such as, to name a few, car races, motorcycle races, air races, the ownership of suburban four-wheel drive vehicles, the building of huge houses for smaller and smaller families, a car for every person old enough to hold a driver’s licence, the “I have worn that garment already” mentality, the insatiable desire for more electronic gadgets and the waste of so much food in our homes.

Small things such as those points listed above would lead to a lifestyle that would cut emissions at a great savings to us all.

At present, the way we are treating the planet in order to pursue an affluent lifestyle can be equated to binge drinking to have fun.

Veronica Studham INGLEWOOD, WA

Missal’s printing cost no excuse

I WAS bitterly disappointed to see that St Paul’s Publications, which has the publishing and distribution rights in Australia for the new translation of the Missal, has had the printing done in China.

China is governed by an atheistic, totalitarian regime which has persecuted the Catholic Church.

There is a large volume of substantiated evidence, published in the media, of bishops, priests and laity who have been jailed and tortured.

China by law kills more of its unborn children than any nation in the world. Qualified estimates are that more than 13 million

abortions are executed each year. This exceeds the brutality of Mao Zedong in the ill-named ‘Great Leap Forward’ estimated to be as much as 43 million dead.

It is inexcusable for a Catholic organisation such as St Paul’s, which boasts that its members “place at the centre of their lives the mission of evangelisation ...” could give the printing contract for the Missal to a Chinese company just to make a higher profit.

Brian A Peachey Woodlands, WA

Tactic another blow to marriage

IN THE dead of the night of 22 November, the Labor/Green controlled Senate passed the ‘Shared Parenting rollback’ Bill 2011 (Family Law Amendment Bill 2011) after guillotining proper debate and out of the normal news cycle.

Never before in Australian parliament history have there been major changes to family law enacted without bipartisan agreement.

The Opposition rightly opposed this bill because:

- It removes the very wise parent–friendly provisions

- It redefines family violence to mean whatever anyone wants it to mean, and

- It removes any possible penalties for perjury and false accusation in the family court

These new measures are nothing more than the radical, feminist, ideologically–based anti-family legislation of Emily’s List which has many in the Labor Party under its influence.

It will ensure the destruction of more families, the suicide of more separated fathers and an increase in the broken hearts of more fatherless children.

Julia Gillard must take full responsibility for this legislation because she is a founding member and helped write the constitution of Emily’s List, the radical feminist driving-force in Labor/Green government, which promotes same-sex ‘marriage’ and is in outright war against fatherhood and real marriage.

Polls show 86 per cent of Australians believe children normally should be reared by their biological mother and father, and anything less would rob them of their birthright.

Brendan Keogh President of the AFA (Australian Family Association)

BENDIGO, VIC

Not a cardinal sin to query climate change orthodoxy

A Record writer erred in his criticisms, argues Joanne Nova.

CARDINAL Pell wrote a careful, insightful and well referenced essay. He asked for nothing more than prudence: can we discuss the cost benefits of climate change with evidence and commonsense?

The evidence is supposedly overwhelming, and the debate is settled, and yet Tim Wallace didn’t describe any key evidence in support of man-made climate change. Instead, he peppered us with irrelevant details, fallacious arguments and circular reasoning.

Mr Wallace referred to Cardinal Pell’s cautious views as “extremist”, “fringe” and “contrarian”. It’s part of the typical reframing but who is the fringe here, the person who thinks we can control the climate and tame the storms or the one who asks for

evidence? Others who ask include over 30,000 scientists, of which 9,000 are PhDs, four are NASA astronauts, and two are Nobel physics prize winners. Their high rank

Who is the fringe here, the one who thinks we can control storms or the one who asks for evidence?

or large numbers don’t mean they are right, but they are not “fringe.” Mr Wallace was trying to rebut Cardinal Pell but instead he proved the Cardinal’s points. Cardinal Pell admonished us against arguing

from authority (it’s weak reasoning) but Mr Wallace did exactly that: “the IPCC say so”, “Bjorn Lomborg agrees”. Quite. MrWallace seemingly aims to do what Cardinal Pell warned us against: to silence dissent. Why drag in things like an inconsequential slip of the tongue the Cardinal made in a different speech on another occasion? That’s no substitute for evidence that water vapour feedbacks are strongly positive. What matters is that everyone is welcome to express a point of view and to get reasonable, logical answers.

Cardinal Pell’s points remain unscathed, and I will reference and explain in full in two weeks’ time.

Joanne Nova is a science presenter, writer, speaker, former TV host and author of The Skeptic’s Handbook

Taking it to the Cross defeats our sin

Sin, our own or that of others, can lead us to despair. But we can find the answers in Christ’s Cross.

WE ALL know people who have let us down at one time or another. Sometimes it is only in small matters and other times it is in very great matters. In recent years, the media has been very vocal about priests and religious in the Church who have let us down.

How can it be that those whose lives are dedicated to God fail to live out what they have promised? Should we remain in a Church where even the leaders have failed to lead with honour?

Even when Jesus Christ walked the earth he was often the target of the criticism of the Pharisees. These devout men were sincere believers but they had trouble with those who did not live the law as well as they did.

When the Pharisees saw Christ eating with tax collectors and sinners they became angry, but Jesus reminded them, “those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Mark 2:17).

In the 13th century, renowned theologian Thomas Aquinas wrote a prayer for preparation for Mass which included the words: “I come sick to the doctor of life, unclean to the fountain of mercy, blind to the radiance of eternal light, and poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth”.

Too often we forget that we are

Foolish Wisdom

“a foolishness wiser than human wisdom” (1 Cor 1:25)

By Bernard Toutounji

actually the sick. We are the ones who need our defilement washed away, our blindness removed and our poverty enriched.

The Church exists for sinners as Christ exists for sinners, and if we are beyond sin then we are in the wrong place.

For 2,000 years Christians have failed to live up to their baptismal call to holiness. Some seem to fail in bigger matters but, nonetheless, we have all failed.

Without diminishing the difference between serious sin and minor failings, St Paul made it clear that “there is no distinction; since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22-23).

Because we are baptised into the one family of Christ, though, every time we sin through what we have done and what we have failed to do, we bring harm to the whole Body of Christ.

Thankfully, though, just as every sin weakens each of us, every prayer

and faithful action strengthens each of us, and it was Jesus Christ who performed the great faithful action.

The whole reason Christ came was to give us his power and grace through the Cross. If we set our lives towards the Cross and never take our eyes from its power we will receive all the grace we need; nothing is lacking in the sacrifice of Calvary. When we sin we need to repent but we must not despair.

When we despair we cease to believe that the Cross is enough to help us. Similarly, when someone else sins in a serious way we can

When we fall, we should ask Mary for the grace to continue to stand at the foot of the Cross and to be present for our brothers and sisters when they fall.

tend to despair, especially if the failure comes from someone we hold in high esteem. We can too quickly become disheartened and sometimes even cynical.

We should acknowledge the significant hurt that comes through human sin and act to support

and gain justice for any who are harmed. However, we must also remember that every person is a fallen human being and needs the restorative power of the Cross.

In each of our lives there are moments when, if seen by others, we know they would be scandalised. There are moments when we seem to be taken over by our fallen natures. Some struggle with pride, and some with lust, or gluttony, or greed. But let us not fool ourselves into thinking that we are not capable of falling as low, or lower, than other people. Our lowest moments are those times when we take our eyes from the Cross; when we forget the love that Christ holds out for us.

In the face of our private sin and the public sin of others, we always have two choices. The first is to harden our hearts and either despair or become like the Pharisees. The other choice – and I propose the only choice for those who are sinners – is to reject sin but to also cling ever more tightly to the cross of Christ. It is to ask the Mother of the Lord for the grace to continue to stand at the foot of the Cross, and to be present (at least spiritually) when our brothers and sisters fall. And this last choice involves saying every day with the Apostles – indeed many times a day – “Lord, increase our faith” (Luke 17:5).

Even imperfect dads can win

The powerful awareness that one has failed in some ways as a father can actually help fathers more.

I say I say

By Mark Reidy

RECENTLY, I experienced one of those rare and precious moments in life.

Inadvertently, I found myself exiting a maternity hospital in the company of a young couple, the man delicately nursing a tiny bundle in his arms. My inquiries confirmed that this was the baby’s first encounter with the world - and it was reflected in the anxious and excited condition of the parents.

As the main doors flung open a gush of wind greeted the tiny child, causing it to gasp and flinch. Instinctively, the father drew the helpless infant closer to protect it from the unpredictability of the world outside. The moment certainly had an impact on me.

As I walked across the carpark I wondered about that child’s future – would it ever become the adult that God intended it to be? It made me think of my own joyous but tentative steps as I carried my first child from the protected environment of the hospital to the harsher reality beyond. As with this new father, my first instinct had been one of physical protection - I must keep him warm, fed and dry. I would defend my defenceless bundle from the dangers that lurked. I would be his safety filter – any external influence would have to go through me first. It was a noble and honourable call, but one that I was to very quickly realise, had one major inherent flaw … me.

While my record over the past decade in the role of warmer and feeder of my three children has been close to perfect, my efforts with their character development

has been far from it. Don’t get me wrong. My children are beautiful. But the introspection triggered by my hospital experience led me to analyse where I could have improved in my responsibilities as a father.

This was not a midlife crisis type of scrutiny, but more of an ‘is it possible to raise the perfect child?’ question. Perhaps because Christmas was around the corner, in the back of my mind I was being

reminded of the arrival of the only perfect human to ever walk the earth. Perfection … Yes, Jesus certainly set the bar to its highest possible point. Sinless. Faultless. Unblemished. Flawless. I guess the closest my children ever got to those standards were in the days before I carried them from the hospital. But should I, or even God for that matter, have expected them to maintain that standard? Certainly

A mission to love mothers when they need it most

By Lara MaLin

WHEN Mary conceived

Jesus it is likely she met with judgement and sourness.

“But you are not married”, “this is terrible”, “how will you raise this child on your own?”, “This will be a huge problem for you.”

Thankfully, when Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, she was greeted with joy at the news of her pregnancy; a greeting that all expectant mothers should receive yet sadly, many do not.

not when they were provided with such an imperfect father. I only have to think of how far short I fall of the standards Jesus taught, to know that my own imperfections are, and will continue to be, reflected in my children. The apple, it is said, does not roll far from the tree.

If you have two cloaks, give one away; if someone asks you to walk a mile with them, walk two; if another borrows money, do not expect it back; bless those who curse you; pray for those who persecute you; love your enemy; turn the other cheek; do not judge; if you look at

Rather than fall into despair because I have not been the perfect father, I have decided that this Christmas I will rejoice.

someone lustfully you have committed adultery in your heart; forgive seventy times seven, and so on. What sort of example have I been when it came to his most challenging teachings? Let me just say that my record has been slightly less than perfect.

However, rather than fall into despair because I have tarnished the three perfect gifts God gave me, this Christmas I have decided I will rejoice in their imperfection.

I will rejoice because I know that God sacrificed his Son on a cross so that those imperfections could be made whole through his free gift of righteousness and forgiveness. I will rejoice in the knowledge that no matter how imperfect my children may become, God’s redemptive power and perfect love will always be available to them - never further than one choice away.

At Pregnancy Assistance, we want all women to be greeted with that same joy.

Pregnancy Assistance has a wonderful 15 year history of giving love, hope and support to those who find themselves pregnant and afraid.

Free, non-judgemental counselling gives women a chance to be heard and received with love.

It’s an opportunity to know that even though the circumstances they find themselves in may be less than ideal, they will be ok. They are precious and God has given them a beautiful gift that will not take away from their life but rather add more worth and happiness.

Sadly, we realise many people are not aware that Pregnancy Assistance exists and improving our visibility will be a key focus in 2012. We hope to reach the wider community through a revamp of our media presence - online, radio and print.

We hope our advertising will attract women from all backgrounds and all walks of life as well as fathers, family members and friends who want to protect mother and baby but often feel helpless.

We also plan to strengthen the support networks - emotional and physical - available to mothers and parents post-birth.

Mary’s situation was less than ideal in the eyes of the world but she trusted God’s plan for her life, saying, “Let it be done to me according to your will”, proclaiming “Yes, I will have this child!”

We hope that with your support Pregnancy Assistance can continue to bloom and grow stronger in 2012, reaching more people in urgent need of love.

We are always on the lookout for suitable volunteers to the ministry and are planning to hold a training day early in the new year.

To find out more about Pregnancy Assistance or to offer your support, call (08) 9328 2929 or email: info@ pregnancyassistance.org.au

Lara Malin will take up the post of Coordinator of Pregnancy Assistance on 9 January.

Lara Malin wants mothers facing crisis pregnancies to know they can receive love and help. PHOTO:

PANORAMA

SATURDAY

SATURDAY, 24 DECEMBER

Extraordinary Rite Latin MassChristmas Eve

8.30pm at the Good Shepherd Parish, Streich Ave, Kelmscott. Enq: John 9390 6646.

NEXT YEAR

SUNDAY, 1 JANUARYNEW YEAR’S MIDNIGHT MASS

Schoenstatt Midnight Mass – New Year’s 12am at Our Lady of Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Dr, Armadale. What better way to start the year than with Jesus and Mary. Great view of fireworks and fellowship afterwards. Enq: Sr Lisette 9399 2349.

FRIDAY, 6 JANUARY

Pro-life Witness

9.30am at St Brigid’s Parish, cnr Great Northern Hwy and Morrison Rd, Midland. Begins with Mass followed by rosary procession to nearby abortion clinic led by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. For end to abortion and the conversion of hearts. Enq: Helen 9402 0349.

SATURDAY, 7 JANUARY

Day with Mary 9am-5pm at Our Lady Queen of Poland Parish, 35 Eighth Ave, Maylands. Day of prayer and instruction based on the Fatima message. 9am video; 10.10am Mass; Reconciliation, procession of the Blessed Sacrament, Eucharistic adoration, sermons on Eucharist and on Our Lady, rosaries and stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.

Vigil for life

8.30am at St Augustine’s Parish, Gladstone St, Rivervale. Begins with holy Mass followed by rosary procession and vigil at nearby abortion clinic led by Fr Paul Carey SSC. Weekly prayer vigils: Monday, Thursday and Saturday 8.30-10.30am. Enq: Helen 9402 0349.

SUNDAY, 8 TO SUNDAY, 15 JANUARY

Summer School

59 Kelvin Rd, Wattle Grove. One week, one life changing experience. Enq: www.summerschool. org.au or Marty 041 7637 040.

MONDAY, 9 JANUARY TO MONDAY, 16 JANUARY

Summer School

The Royal School of Church Music in Australia (RSCM) will be hosting a summer school for all denominations next year. The programme will include workshops for church musicians and singers to help them inspire their congregations towards a more enjoyable and meaningful participation in Church liturgy. Enrolments are now open and interested parties can find out more by going to www. rscmaustralia.org.au. Enq: Deirdre on 9457 4010.

SATURDAY, 14 JANUARY

Divine Mercy Healing Mass

2.30pm at St Francis Xavier Parish, Windsor St, Perth. Main celebrant Fr Marcellinus. Reconciliation in English and Italian. Divine Mercy prayers followed by veneration of first class relic of St Faustina Kowalska. Refreshments afterwards. Enq: John 9457 7771.

SUNDAY, 15 JANUARY

75th Celebration St Theresa’s Parish

What’s on around the archdiocese of Perth, Where and When

11.30am at St Theresa’s Parish, 678 North Beach Rd, Gwelup. Begins with Mass followed by lunch at Croatian Club, Wishart St, Gwelup. Tickets $35 with drinks available at the bar. Tickets may be purchased from Margaret Pavicic, 9448 7708, Gloria Cicci, 9446 6215 or Paul and Judy Woodward, 9446 6837. RSVP 3 January.

SATURDAY, 25 FEBRUARY

A Reunion for Holy Cross Primary School, Kensington

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

REGULAR EVENTS

EVERY SUNDAY

Gate of Heaven Catholic Radio

Join the Franciscans of the Immaculate from 7.309pm on Radio Fremantle 107.9FM for Catholic radio broadcast of EWTN and our own live shows. Enq: radio@ausmaria.com.

Pilgrim Mass - Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation

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

EVERY FIRST SUNDAY

Divine Mercy Chaplet and Healing Prayer

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

St Mary’s Cathedral Youth Group –Fellowship with Pizza

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

FIRST AND THIRD SUNDAYS

Latin Mass

2pm at The Good Shepherd Parish, Streich Ave, Kelmscott. Enq: John 9390 6646.

EVERY THIRD SUNDAY

Oblates of St Benedict Meeting

2pm at St Joseph’s Convent, York St, South Perth. For all interested in studying the Rule of St Benedict and its relevance to everyday life. Vespers and afternoon tea follows. Enq: Secretary 9457 5758.

EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life

2-3pm at Infant Jesus Parish, Wellington St, Morley. The hour includes exposition of the Blessed Eucharist, silent prayer, scripture and prayers of intercession. Come and pray that those discerning vocations can hear clearly God’s call.

EVERY MONDAY

Evening Adoration and Mass

7pm at St Thomas Parish, Claremont, cnr Melville

St and College Rd. Eucharistic adoration, reconciliation, evening prayer and benediction, followed by Mass and night prayer at 8pm. Enq: Kim on 9384 0598 or email to claremont@perthcatholic.org.au.

The Life and Mission of St Mary MacKillop

9.30-11.30am at Infant Jesus Parish Centre, cnr Wellington Rd and Smith St, Morley. Cost: $15. Enq: Shelley 9276 8500.

LAST MONDAY OF THE MONTH

Be Still in His Presence –Ecumenical Christian Programme

7.30-8.45pm at St Swithun Anglican Church, 195 Lesmurdie St, Lesmurdie (hall behind church). Begins with songs of praise and worship, silent time, lectio divina, small group sharing and a cuppa at the end. Enq: Lynne 9293 3848 or 043 5252 941.

EVERY TUESDAY

Bible Teaching with a Difference

7.30pm at St Joachim’s parish hall, Victoria Park. Exciting revelations with meaningful applications that will change your life. Bring Bible, a notebook and a friend. Enq: Jan 9284 1662.

Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal 6pm at the Pater Noster Church, Marmion and Evershed Sts, Myaree. Mass at 5.30pm followed by benediction. Enq: John 040 8952 194.

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Holy Spirit of Freedom Community

7.30pm at The Church of Christ, 111 Stirling St, Perth. We are delighted to welcome everyone to attend our Holy Spirit of Freedom praise meeting. Enq: 042 3907 869 or hsofperth@gmail.com.

Bible Study at Cathedral

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

Holy Hour - Catholic Youth Ministry

5.30pm at Catholic Pastoral Centre, 40A Mary St, Highgate. Begins with Mass, 6.30pm holy hour of adoration, followed by $5 supper and fellowship. Enq: cym.com.au or 9422 7912.

EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY

Holy Hour Prayer for Priests

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

Novena to St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

7-7.45pm at Blessed Mary MacKillop Parish, cnr Cassowary Dr and Pelican Pde, Ballajura. Begins with Mass, novena prayers and benediction. Followed by healing prayers and anointing of the sick. Enq: Madi 9249 9093 or Gerry 041 7187 240.

EVERY SECOND WEDNESDAY

Chaplets of the Divine Mercy

7.30pm at St Thomas More Parish, Dean Rd, Bateman. A beautiful, prayerful, sung devotion. It will be accompanied by exposition and followed by benediction. Enq: George 9310 9493 (h) or 9325 2010.

EVERY THURSDAY

Divine Mercy

11am at Sts John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. Pray the rosary and chaplet of divine mercy and for the consecrated life, especially here in John Paul Parish. Concludes with veneration of the

BIBIANA KWARAMBA Bookshop Manager

first class relic of St Faustina. Please do come and join us in prayer. Enq: John 9457 7771.

St Mary’s Cathedral Praise Meeting

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

EVERY FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

Prayer in Style of Taize

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

Group Fifty – Charismatic Renewal Group

7.30pm at the Redemptorist Monastery, 150 Vincent St, North Perth. Includes prayer, praise and Mass. Enq: Elaine 9440 3661.

Priest Cenacle

Every first Thursday at Legion of Mary, Windsor St, East Perth. Enq: Fr Paul 0427 085 093.

EVERY FIRST FRIDAY

Communion of Reparation - All Night Vigil

7pm-1.30am at two different locations: Corpus Christi Parish, Lochee St, Mosman Park and St Gerard Majella Parish, cnr Ravenswood Dr and Majella Rd, Westminster (Mirrabooka). In reparation for outrages committed against the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Enq: (Mosman Park) Vicky 040 0282 357 and Fr Giosue 9349 2315 or John 9344 2609.

Healing Mass 7pm at St Peter’s Parish, Inglewood. Praise and worship, exposition and Eucharistic adoration, benediction and anointing of the sick, followed by holy Mass and fellowship. Celebrants Fr Dat and invited priests. 6.45pm reconciliation. Enq: Mary Ann 0409 672 304, Prescilla 043 3457 352 and Catherine 043 3923 083.

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life

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

Healing and Anointing Mass

8.45am Pater Noster Church, Evershed St, Myaree. Begins with reconciliation followed by 9am Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, anointing of the sick and prayers to St Peregrine. Enq: Joy 9337 7189.

EVERY FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH

Healing Mass 12.35pm at St Thomas Parish, cnr Melville St and College Rd, Claremont. Spiritual leader Fr Waddell. Enq: Kim 9384 0598, claremont@perthcatholic.org.

au.

EVERY FOURTH SATURDAY

Voice of the Voiceless Healing Mass 12pm at St Brigid Parish, 211 Aberdeen St, Northbridge. Bring a plate to share after Mass. Enq: Frank 9296 7591 or 040 8183 325.

EVERY LAST SATURDAY

Novena devotions – Our Lady Vailankanni of Good Health 5pm at Holy Trinity Parish, 8 Burnett St, Embleton. Followed by Mass at 6pm. Enq: George 9272 1379.

GENERAL

Free Divine Mercy Image for Parishes

High quality oil painting and glossy print – Divine Mercy Promotions. Images are of very high quality. For any parish willing to accept and place inside the church. Oil paintings - 160 x 90cm and glossy print - 100 x 60cm. Enq: Irene 9417 3267 (w).

Sacred Heart Pioneers

Is there anyone out there who would like to know more about the Sacred Heart pioneers? If so, please contact Spiritual Director Fr Doug Harris 9444 6131 or John 9457 7771.

St Philomena’s Chapel 3/24 Juna Drive, Malaga. Mass of the day: Monday 6.45am. Vigil Masses: Mon-Fri 4.45pm. Enq: Fr David 9376 1734.

Mary Mackillop 2012 Calendars and Merchandise

2012 Josephite Calendars with quotes from St Mary of the Cross and Mary MacKillop merchandise. Available for sale from the Mary MacKillop Centre. Enq: Sr Maree 041 4683 926 or 08 9334 0933.

Saints and Sacred Relics Apostolate – Latin Feast of all Holy Relics

SSRA Perth invites interested parties: parish priests, faithful association leaders etc to make contact to organise relic visitations to their own parishes, communities etc. We have available authenticated relics, mostly first-class, of over 200 Catholic Saints and Blesseds, including Sts Mary MacKillop, Padre Pio, Anthony of Padua, Therese of Lisieux, Maximilian Kolbe and Simon Stock. Free. Enq: Giovanny 047 8201 092 or ssra-perth@ catholic.org.

Financially Disadvantaged People Requiring Low Care Aged Care Placement

The Little Sisters of the Poor community - set in beautiful gardens in the suburb of Glendalough. “Making the elderly happy, that is everything!” St Jeanne Jugan (foundress). Registration and enq: Sr Marie 9443 3155.

Pilgrim Mass - Shrine of the Virgin of Revelation Programme scheduled for Sun, 25 Dec and Sun, 1 Jan 2012 will not be celebrated on these days. Normal programme recommences 8 Jan 2012. Enq: SACRI 9341 6139.

Resource Centre for Personal Development Courses 2012 - 450 Hay St, Perth

1) RCPD2 ‘Internalise Principles of Successful Relationships and Use Emotional Intelligence and Communication Skills’. Mondays 5-7pm. Beginning 20/02/2012. Enq: Paul 040 2222 578.

2) RCPD4 ‘Increase Personal and Spiritual Awareness and Improve Relationships’. Study of psychology in theology. Mondays 10am-12.30pm. Beginning 20/02. Enq: Eva 040 9405 585.

3) The Holistic Health Seminar ‘The Instinct to Heal’. 197 High St, Fremantle - Tuesdays 34.30pm. Beginning 21/02. Enq: Eva 040 9405 585. Bookings are essential.

SACRI New Year’s Eve Mass SACRI Catechetical Association will not hold the New Year’s Eve midnight Mass event: Mary, the Holy Mother of God at the Shrine on Saturday, 31 December. Enq: SACRI 9341 6139.

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

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

RICH HARVEST YOUR

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

KINLAR VESTMENTS

Quality handmade and decorated vestments: albs, stoles, chasubles, altar linen, banners, etc. 12 Favenc Way, Padbury. By appointment only. Ph Vickii on 9402 1318, 0409 114 093 or kinlar.vestments@gmail.com.

WANTED

ONE TO THREE STATUES.

1-2m high of Our Lady, Jesus and saints. Crucifix available (same height). Contact: Brother John - Carmelite - professed hermit (08) 9853 3112 or johnw9765@ optusnet.com.

HOUSE SITTERS

HOUSE SITTERS AVAILABLE

28 DEC TO 8 FEB metro area, mature couple to take care of your home, garden and pets while you are away. Ph 9091 3821.

FOR SALE

CATHOLIC AND OTHER CHRISTIAN BOOKS FOR SALE. All donated. Donations appreciated. Balcatta. Call Colourful Dave: 9440 4358.

MISSION ACTIVITIES

LEARN HOW TO MAKE ROSARY BEADS for the missions and special rosaries for family and friends. Phone: (02) 682 2 1474 or visit our website: OurLadysRosaryMakers.org.au.

TAX SERVICE

QUALITY TAX RETURNS PRE-

PARED by registered tax agent with over 35 years’ experience. Call Tony Marchei on 0412 055 184 for appointment. AXXO Accounting & Management, Unit 20/222 Walter Rd, Morley.

FURNITURE REMOVAL

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

BOOK BINDING

NEW BOOK BINDING, general book repairs; rebinding; new ribbons; old leather bindings restored. Tydewi Bindery 0422 968 572.

SERVICES

ACHES, PAIN, STRESS indian mature masseur Reflex Relax Massage - $30 hr jai 0438520993

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS 2011

DECEMBER 25

SETTLEMENTS

ARE YOU BUYING OR SELLING real estate or a business? Why not ask Excel Settlements for a quote for your settlement. We offer reasonable fees, excellent service and no hidden costs. Ring Excel on 9481 4499 for a quote. Check our web site on www.excelsettlements.com.au.

ACCOMMODATION

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION

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

TRADE SERVICES

BRENDAN HANDYMAN

SERVICES

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

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

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

BRICK RE-POINTING Ph Nigel 9242 2952.

PICASSO PAINTING Top service.

Ph 0419 915 836, fax 9345 0505. 9440 4358.

PERROTT PAINTING Pty Ltd

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

LAWNMOWING AND WEED

SPRAYING Garden clean ups and rubbish removal. Get rid

7 Passover meal

10 Place for sacred vessels

12 Pope during Vatican II

18 Gregorian ___

19 Group of religious

21 Patron saint of Scandinavia

23 Penitential prayer

24 Like Catholic Flannery O’Connor

25 OT historical book

26 The Diocese of Boise is here

31 Evil king of Israel

32 Gennesaret, for one (Lk 5:1)

34 OT prophetic book

St Mary’s Cathedral – Midnight Mass and 11.00am Solemn Sung Mass – Archbishop Hickey

READINGS OF THE WEEK

Sunday 25th - White (The Nativity of the Lord)

Vigil Mass

1st Reading: Isa 6:2 1-5

God will rejoice

Respon Psalm: Ps 88:4-5,16-17, 27, 29 Covernant Decreed

2nd Reading: Acts 13:16-17, 22-25

Jesus, our Saviour

Gospel Reading: Mt 1:1-25

How Jesus came to be born

Midnight Mass

1st Reading: Isa 9:1-7

Child born for us

Respon Psalm: Ps 95:1-3, 11-13

The Lord’s coming

2nd Reading: Titus 2:11-14

God’s grace revealed

Gospel Reading: Lk 2:1-14

Mary gives birth

Dawn Mass

1st Reading: Isa 62:11-12

Your Saviour comes

Respon Psalm: Ps 96:1, 6, 11-12

Joy for the upright

2nd Reading: Titus 3:4-7

God’s compassion

Gospel Reading: Lk 2:15-20

They saw the child

Mass During the Day

1st Reading: Isa 52:7-10

Herald of Peace

Respon Psalm: Ps 97:1-6

Acclaim the Lord!

2nd Reading: Heb 1:1-6

Light of God’s glory

Gospel Reading: Jn 1:1-18

We saw his glory

Monday 26th - Red (ST STEPHEN, FIRST MARTYR (FEAST))

1st Reading: Acts 6:8-10:7:54-59

Grace and power

Respon Psalm: Ps 30:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17

Rock of refuge

Gospel Reading: Mt 10:17-22

Not you who speak

Tuesday 27th - White (ST JOHN, APOSTLE, EVANGELIST (FEAST))

1st Reading: 1 Jn 1:1-4

Writing for joy

Respon Psalm: Ps 96:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

The Lord of all

Gospel Reading: Jn 20:2-8

He saw and believed

Wednesday 28th - Red ( THE HOLY INNOCENTS, MARTYRS (FEAST))

1st Reading: 1 Jn 1:5-2:2

Live in the light

Respon Psalm: Ps 123:2-5, 7-8

In the Lord’s Name

Gospel Reading: Mt 2:13-18

Escape into Egypt

Thursday 29th - White (ST THOMAS BECKET, BISHOP, MARTYR (O))

1st Reading: 1 Jn 2:3-11

Sure we are in God

Respon Psalm: Ps 95:1-3, 5-6

Sing a new song

Gospel Reading: Lk 2:22-35

Rites performed

Friday 30th - White ( THE HOLY FAMILY (FEAST))

1st Reading: Gen 15:1-6, 21:1-3

I go childless

Respon Psalm: Ps 104:1-6, 8-9

The oath he swore

Gospel Reading: Lk 2:22-40

Back to Galilee

Saturday 31st - White (ST Sylvester I pope (0))

1st Reading: 1 Jn 2:18-21

Rivals of Christ

Respon Psalm: Ps 95:1-2, 11-13

Bless God’s name

Gospel Reading: Jn 1:1-18

The Word was God

The Eucharistic Prayer

3 Apollonia is their patron saint

4 Where the Vatican is

5 The ___ of Confession

6 Latin for “to pray”

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION