The Record Newspaper 24 September 2008

the R ecoRd

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The X-Files. Medium. The Ghost Whisperer. We’re awash with pop culture’s obsession with the afterlife and the good and nasty spirits lying therein. But guess what? Thanks to the teachings of the Catholic Church, we have...

The Communion of SainTS

And the best part? We’re part of it. When you think about it, it blows the mind.

Western Australia’s award-winning Catholic newspaper since 1874 - Wednesday September 24 2008 Perth, Western Australia $2

the Parish. the Nation. the World.

“Be indefatigable in your purpose and with undaunted spirit resist iniquity and try to conquer evil with good, having before your eyes the reward of those who combat for Christ.”

Bishop Matthew Gibney 1874

In 1535, under Pope Paul III, Michelangelo started work on this fresco on the wall of the Sistine Chapel, which Pope John Paul II proclaimed “the sanctuary of the theology of the human body”. It depicts what many may think of when the words “Communion of Saints” come up. But it’s much, much more. It’s us. It’s us - the faithful here, in heaven and those who await purification. We are all part of one body - Christ’s body (the guy in the centre). We are fellow heirs with Christ, and “the least of our acts done in charity redounds (results) to the profit of all” (Catechism of the Catholic Church).

See Robert Hiini’s examination, Peter Kreeft’s analysis, and some examples of what it takes to be a saint (you’ll be surprised) on Vista 1-3.

Saint for the week

Lawrence Ruiz and Companions died 1633-1637

feast – September 28

Santamaria book to inspire a whole new generation of leaders

Lawrence, the rst Filipino saint, and 15 others were martyred in Japan. e 10 Asians and six Europeans included nine Dominican priests. After various tortures, 14 of them died by being suspended by the feet in a pit of manure, one was burned at the stake and one died in prison. Lawrence, a Dominican tertiary, was living in Binondo, Philippines, with his wife and three children, when he ed an unjust murder charge by joining a missionary expedition to Japan. He was arrested there for being a Christian, which was then illegal. He died in the pit in 1637. © 2005 Saints for Today © 2008 CNS

Stewardship

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The second son in today’s Gospel said he would do his father’s will but did not. The first son balked at first, but then repented and did as he was asked. how do you respond to God’s will in your life? To what service is God calling you? Which son are you more like?

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

Walking with Him Daily Mass Readings

28 S 26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Gr Ezek 18:25-28 Renounce sin

Ps 24:4-9 Walk in God’s truth

Phil 2:1-11 Be Christ-minded

Mt 21:28-32 Change of heart

29 M SS MICHAEL, GABRIEL, RAPHAEL, Archangels, Feast

Wh Dan 7:9-10.13-14 One of the great age

[Alt. Rev. 12:7-12 Michael and the angels]

Ps 137:1-5 Sing God’s praises

Jn 1:47-51 T he Angels of God

30 T St Jerome, priest, doctor of the Church (M)

Wh Job 3:1-3.11-17.20-23 Job’s lament

Ps 87:2-8 I call for help

Lk 9:51-56 Jesus rebuffed

1 W St Teresa of the Child Jesus, virgin (M)

Wh Job 9:1-12.14-16 God’s justice

Ps 87:10-15 Prayer before God

Lk 9:57-62 I will follow

2 T The Guardian Angels (M)

Wh Job 19:21-27 My redeemer lives

Ps 26:7-9.13-14 Lord, hear my voice

Lk 10:1-12 Labourers are few

3 F

Gr Job 38:1.12-21.40:3-5 The Lord’s answer

Ps 138:1-3.7-10.13-14 The Lord discerns Lk 10:13-16 The Lord’s judgement

4 S St Francis of Assisi (M)

Wh Job 42:1-3.5-6.12-17 Job’s new fortune

Ps 118:66.71.75.91.125.130 A just affliction Lk 10:17-24 All entrusted to me

n By Anthony Barich

ARChBIShOP Barry hickey hopes that a new collection of the late political activist Bob Santamaria’s writings will inspire young leaders to reform the social order.

Launching BA Santamaria: Running the Show in the Alexander Library Theatrettes at the Perth Cultural Centre on September 10, the Archbishop said that Santamaria’s aim to form leaders behind whom a large following would gather was a concise summary of Catholic Social Teaching:

“It is my honest belief that unless Catholic Action genuinely aims at the creation of a Christian social order by means of large scale action into social, political and cultural spheres, we are wasting our time,” Santamaria said (p48), as quoted by Archbishop hickey.

The book details Santamaria’s voluminous correspondence, papers, speeches and other writngs.

The Archbishop said that Santamaria was dismissive of the view that the good and charitable actions of individuals could change society or alter the social order to any degree.

The focus of Santamaria’s work was the organisations he headed and worked for: Catholic Action, the National Catholic Rural Movement, the Catholic Social Movement, the Movement itself and the National Civic Council.

“his vocation, if you like, was to respond to the issues of his day in the light of his faith and the dictates of his conscience enlightened by his faith,” Archbishop hickey said.

“Santamaria’s early life coincided with the development of the Catholic Church’s social teaching, outlined in a string of profound and influential Papal encyclicals which called on lay people particularly to be active in society to influence policy and social institutions.”

While “the world has changed” and “time throws up ever new challenges with even greater complexity requiring different methods and deeper understanding”, the Archbishop said that the basic vision remains – that well-formed leaders generate the momentum for social change.

“Perhaps this book will inspire young leaders formed in Christian principles to

follow Bob Santamaria’s example in analysing the present situation, inspire others to join with him and, with a sufficient number of bishops to back them, go to work,” Archbishop hickey said.

“Is the task of reforming the social order too difficult? Bob would be the first to say no.”

Archbishop hickey added that the drama in the collection of Santamaria’s writings is “irresistible”.

“We are dealing not just with a remarkable man but with the world of Church, politics and ideologies in which he lived and which called on all his energy and vision,” the Archbishop said.

Goldfields boosted by five acolytes

Confirmations and new acolytes from the Goldfields are blessed on a very special occassion

n By Harry Argus

The Goldfields parish of KalgoorlieBoulder received a significant boost last month when 74 school children were confirmed and five new acolytes were instituted by Perth Vicar General Fr Brian O’Loughlin.

Fr O’Loughlin arrived on August 22 and visited St Mary’s and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary Schools in Kalgoorlie and Boulder, to meet and talk to the children who were to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The next day at the 6.30pm parish Mass in St Mary’s Church in Kalgoorlie, 41 Year 7 students from St Mary’s Primary School in Kalgoorlie received the Sacrament of Confirmation, with some of the students singing in the choir.

On August 24 at the 8am parish Mass at All hallows Church in Boulder, 33 children also received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Fr O’Loughlin.

Of the 33 children, 18 Year 7 students were from St Joseph’s Primary School in Boulder, while 15 came from the “After Schools’ hour Program”, which included 13 students from the Kalgoorlie and Boulder State Schools and two students from the Kambalda State School.

The very successful “After Schools’

hour Program” was organised and run by the Missionary Sisters of Charity, with teachers from the two Catholic schools preparing their students for the Sacrament.

On the same morning at the 10am parish Mass in St Mary’s Church in Kalgoorlie, Fr O’Loughlin instituted Anthony Porter, Geoff Jones, Ivan Loncar, Martin haugg and Ronald escalante as acolytes into the parish of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. During each

of the ceremonies, Frs Joseph Rathnaraj (parish priest) and Andrew Albis joined in the celebrations and concelebrated each of the Masses with Fr O’Loughlin. At the end of each of the Masses, family, friends and parishioners gathered together at their parish halls to celebrate this special day in their Christian lives , with the children and acolytes. Another local man, John evans, will be made an acolyte in a few weeks.

Inside St Mary’s Church: Back Row from left to right: Acolytes Harry Argus and Frank Andinach; Father Joseph Rathnaraj (PP); Fr Brian O’Loughlin (VG); Father Andrew Albis; acolyte John Joyce and server, Sam Brook. Front Row from Left to Right: Server, Alex Wallace; Acolytes, Murray Joyce, Ivan Loncar, Anthony Porter, Martin Haugg, Geoff Jones and Ronald Escalante. P HO tO PROVI d E d

Big raps: Archbishop Barry Hickey, pictured in an earlier photo, launched BA Santamaria: Running the Show in Perth. P HO tO Ant HO ny BARI c H

Burmese off to Goldfields as deacon starts up

Fr VinCEnT Conroy will resign from the parish of greenwood, at the end of September to take a sabbatical and long leave. He will be away for a year, his first stop being a parish in ireland. Archbishop Barry Hickey said he hopes Fr Conroy’s time away will be very productive and restful as well.

Expressions of interest are now called for the parish of All Saints,

Fr Joseph Kum Htoi

greenwood. Fr Joseph Kum Htoi, recently arrived from Burma, and assisting at St Thomas More College Chapel, is appointed assistant priest in Kalgoorlie/Boulder from Monday 29 September.

recently ordained deacon, rev Andrew Lotton, has been appointed to the parish of good Shepherd, Kelmscott.

Polish priest returns to God

Fr Boleslaw Smok OFM, assistant priest at Our Lady Queen of Poland and well known in the Polish community in Perth, passed away aged 91 on September 22 at royal Perth Hospital of lung cancer. A Vigil Mass will be held for the Polish Franciscan at 6.30pm on September 29 with rosary afterwards at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Poland at 35 Eighth Avenue, Maylands. A requiem Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Barry Hickey on Tuesday September 30 at 10.30am in the same church.Fr Smok has been in Australia for 35 years and in Perth had been ministering to the Polish community.

Fr Smok had been a priest for 65 years and was described by Fr Tomasz Bujakowski OFM, the chaplain to the Polish community in Perth, as a “very lovely man, full of humour” who didn’t speak English too well but tried to speak to priests in Latin. He was well loved by the Polish community and was active until the end. Fr Tomasz said that Fr Smok was celebrating Mass up until his 90th birthday, and after that he still celebrated Mass privately in the presbytery chapel at Maylands. Fr Tomasz, who has been in Perth for 10 years, considered Fr Smok a close friend though they were seperated by 50 years in age. The requiem Mass will be in English with Polish prayers and Polish songs. The rector of the Polish pastoral migrant chaplaincy of Australia and newZealand from Melbourne, Fr Slowik, will concelebrate the Vigil Mass and the requiem Mass.

Murdoch/Subiaco Hospitals

Clinical Pastoral Education for Pastoral Practitioners/Chaplains

Applicants are now invited to apply for the following Fulltime & Part-time Clinical Pastoral Education Programs.

Full–time Program

Tuesday 2nd December 2008 to Friday 13th February 2009.

Part-time Program

Tuesday 20th January 2009 to Wednesday 3rd June 2009. Applications for both programs close on Monday 13 October 2008.

Further details and application form can be obtained from: Clinical Pastoral Education Centre St John of God Hospital, Subiaco Telephone : 9382 6200

Sleeping on floors, sharing a shower with 70 others... still, rural WA teacher has a blast

World Youth Day 2008 continues to have an effect on WA pilgrims. A teacher from Boulder writes exclusively for The Record on his lifechanging experience.

During the Term Two school holidays i was fortunate enough to attend World Youth Day, 2008 in Sydney.

A group of 11 people, including Father nelson Po, represented the goldfields Catholic community in the biggest gathering of Catholic youth that Sydney, let alone Australia had ever seen.

There were young people from as far as the united States of America and from smaller countries such as East Timor at this gathering of song, worship and prayer. Pope John Paul ii, in order to attract youth back to the Catholic Church, started world Youth Day in 1984. it is held every three years outside of rome and this year Sydney, Australia was the lucky city to be the host.

For me, personally, it was one of the best weeks that i have had. During the week we had to sleep on the floor of a parish hall, and

i had to share a portable shower with approximately 70 other people. While the floor was very hard and very uncomfortable it enabled me to see first hand what it was like to be on a pilgrimage.

During the week i was lucky to hear speeches by bishops from the ivory Coast, America and Australia. They told stories about their own journeys and their views on issues throughout the world. The highlight of the week for me was on Friday when the Stations of the Cross took place.

This was not only a spectacular performance that took place throughout Sydney, but it was one of the most significant religious events of the week.

The Stations of the Cross was done with such perfection and reverence that during the event it was like i was actually part of it.

On Saturday i walked over the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the pilgrimage walk to r andwick racecourse where i slept out with over 100,000 other pilgrims in the freezing cold.

The atmosphere throughout the night was electric with people singing and dancing into the early hours of the morning. Pope Benedict XVi drove around the racecourse in his Popemobile and i was at the railing only a few metres away. Throughout the

week i got to talk to many people from different countries and i was also able to exchange little gifts with these people.

i would give them a little keyring or badge that represented Kalgoorlie and Australia and in return they would give me a memento from their country.

Meeting pilgrims from countries all over the world was a massive highlight for me as i was able to make new friendships that will last for a life time.

i can’t wait until 2011 when World Youth Day will be held in Madrid, Spain. Hopefully i will be able to attend this event.

MERCEDES COLLEGE

Victoria Square, PERTH WA 6000

MERCEDES COLLEGE, a Catholic secondary school for girls, founded in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy, is having an OPEN DAY on 19th October from 11.00am –1.30pm. Throughout this time there will be conducted tours, displays, drama and music performances and an art exhibition. Last tour commences at 1.00pm. All are welcome.

For further information please contact Alison Sim on 9323 1323 or asim@mercedes.wa.edu.au

Celebrating more than 160 Years of Education at Victoria Square

JOHN HUGHES

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Christopher Chidlow Year Four Teacher St Joseph’s Primary School Boulder WA

Deacon Andrew Lotton

the Nation

Barnett warned on euthanasia Bill

n By Anthony Barich

lJ Goody Bioethics Centre director rev Dr Joseph Parkinson has called on the Barnett Government to amend the living wills law that passed in June following the Victorian upper House’s decision to defeat a euthanasia Bill on september 10.

Catholic Church bioethics officials across Australia have welcomed the Victorian upper House’s decision to defeat the Physician Assisted Dying Bill 25 votes to 13.

rev Dr Parkinson said the Victorian result was “very gratifying” and reflected that euthanasia is still considered unacceptable “even in the fairly liberal parts of Australia”.

rev Dr Parkinson said that while former WA Attorney General Jim McGinty had claimed that WA’s Consent to Medical treatment Bill was not a Bill about euthanasia, “there are many of us who aren’t convinced of that”. “it certainly introduces enough uncertainty about the possibility of euthanasia that we should all be concerned about it,” rev Dr Parkinson said. He said Australia is still not convinced about the

merits of euthanasia, and called on WA’s new government to amend the Consent to Medical treatment Bill, which passed in June, and “make it clear that euthanasia is not acceptable”. “specifically, the amendment needs to go through that advanced health directives cannot be binding,” he said. “We made this point several times to the minister (McGinty) but he refused to take it on board.”

the Consent to Medical treatment Bill allows West Australians to create a biding advanced health directive – a living will, and enables them for the first time to appoint someone with an enduring power of guardianship so they can make medical decisions in the event the person becomes unconscious, disorientated, etc.

“We need guarantees that there will be no moves to euthanasia in this state. it’s proven to be uncontrollable wherever it’s been legislated,” rev Dr Parkinson said.

Fr Kevin McGovern, director of the Caroline Chisholm Centre for Health Ethics in East Melbourne, said the Victorian decision was “significant”, and said people were swayed during the debate by the ‘slippery

slope’ argument and the fact that it would put unfair pressure on vulnerable people.

the Australian bishops, he said, summed it up in their 1995 pastoral letter on euthanasia: “ there are big steps and there are little steps. the biggest step is a leap from saying “no one may kill” to saying ‘some may kill’. the little step is from saying ‘someone may kill this person’ to saying ‘someone may also kill that person.

He said the consequentialist argument that euthanasia would put unfair pressure on vulnerable people was also persuasive.

“At a time when we need to be saying to them ‘we will be with you when you’re dying’ and support them, it’s not helping them to die well if we tell them to think about getting a pill to end it all,” he said.

Fr McGovern also warned the fight was far from over.

On september 12, Victoria’s lower House passed by 48 votes to 28 the Abortion law reform Bill, which seeks to decriminalise abortion up to 24 weeks’ gestation, and Premier John Brumby expects passage through the upper House by Christmas. Greens senator Bob Brown got a cold recep-

Fr Kevin McGovern

tion from MPs on september 17 when he introduced a Bill that will give the Northern territory and the ACt the power to legislate on euthanasia.

Greens MP Mark Parnell announced on August 28 that he would introduce a Private Member’s Bill into south Australia’s upper House to legalise voluntary euthanasia, though there have been four failed attempts to do so since 1995.

100,000 homeless ‘unacceptable’: bishops

n By Anthony Barich

Austr A liA’s bishops have challenged Catholics to consider how they can be the “Good News to the poor”, and have outlined ideas for action.

using the opportunity of the country’s slowing economic growth to highlight the growing gap between the rich and the poor, the bishops spelled out the causes of poverty and the obligation of Catholics to do something about it in a 20-page document released on september 17 for social Justice sunday on september 28.

in the statement called “A rich young nation: the challenge of affluence and poverty in Australia”, the bishops said that the most vulnerable in this new climate of wealth are indigenous families, sole-parent families, low-paid workers, refugees and the homeless.

Noting that the average Aboriginal life expectancy is still 17 years lower than the general population, the bishops said it is “to our great shame” that we have not met the needs of these mem-

BOTH SCHOOLS WILL PLACE AN EMPHASIS ON ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

bers of Australian society. though applauding Prime Minister Kevin rudd’s apology to the “stolen Generation”, the bishops said the causes of poverty in these communities must be addressed in true partnership with Aborigines.

the bishops also responded to the Commonwealth intervention - initiated by the previous Federal Government - in communities in the Northern territory and Western Australia to prevent child abuse.

the bishops said: “We now need to move beyond the law-and-order focus to provide a full range of culturally appropriate support services that can foster strong families and communities in crisis.”

they said that 100,000 homeless is simply “unacceptable”, and warned that people suffering chronic mental illness are particularly at risk with other disadvantages. they said the 1980s focus on deinstitutionalisation and community integration have not been matched with funds adequate to provide the necessary accommodation and care.

A competitive rental market and long list for public housing is also

making it hard for people to develop and maintain social connections that might help such people build confidence and ultimately find employment.

the bishops also said reconnecting with family and finding accommodation is tough for former prisoners who suffer from inadequate support networks.

they noted that more than a third return to prison within two years, which is exacerbated by mandatory sentencing arrangements in many jurisdictions which have led to overcrowding of prisons and remand centres.

referring to the Australian bishops’ 1992 statement on the distribution of wealth as Australia was heading towards the end of a world recession, they again renewed their call this year for political and community leaders to ensure that the common wealth of Australia be dedicated to the common good.

suggesting ideas for action for communities and individuals, the bishops listed:

l Give of your time. look for information about the work of your parish on the notice board at your church and ask your priest

Is your child currently in Year 4 or 5? IN 2011, TWO NEW SINGLE-GENDER CATHOLIC COLLEGES WILL OPEN IN JOONDALUP

Are you searching for a school in the Catholic tradition that will challenge the mind and fire the imagination of your child?

Stormanston Catholic College for girls and St Ambrose College for boys will initially cater for Years 7 and 8 in 2011, expanding to Years 7-12 by 2015.

Are you interested in learning more and becoming involved in the development of these schools?

You are invited to a Public Meeting at 7.00pm on Tuesday 28 October at the Captain’s Club Function Room, Arena Joondalup, Kennedya Drive (enter east side of building).

The Director of Catholic Education in WA, members of the advisory committee and the school architects will be available on the night to answer your queries. Registration forms will be available.

or pastoral associate what support you can give.

l Consider how you can live more simply, free of the demands of consumerism. Programs like the ‘livesimply project’ show that, in reflecting on our lifestyles and choosing to live simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the poor, we can help create a world in which human dignity is respected and everyone can reach their full potential. For more information, visit www.livesimply.org.uk

l Make a donation. identify the amount you are able to contribute to an organisation that will maximise the good outcomes of the gift you offer. Catholic charities and social services can ensure your contribution is put to best effect.

l think of opportunities to contribute in your diocese and the broader community.

Visit the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference website and follow the links to see the works of organisations in your diocese: www.acbc.catholic.org.au/dio/ index.asp.

l Become more informed about the issues relating to poverty in Australia.

they also urged people to visit the websites of:

l Catholic social services Australia: www.catholicsocialservices.org.au,

l Australian Catholic social Justice Council: www.acsjc.org.au

l Australian Catholic Migrant and refugee Office: www.acmro. catholic.org.au,

l Catholic Earthcare Australia: www.catholicearthcare.org.au,

l National Aboriginal and torres strait islander Catholic Council: www.natsicc.org.au.

Superintendent/Clerk of Works

Rebuilding the Catholic Cathedral Precinct (Contract

Position-2 years)

The Catholic Diocese of Bunbury is seeking an enthusiastic staff member to be the Superintendent/Clerk of Works for the rebuilding of the Cathedral Precinct. The precinct rebuilding is one of the largest and most important projects undertaken by the Diocese.

Reporting to the Financial Administrator, the position will be responsible for supervising the quality of materials and workmanship for the construction of the new Cathedral Precinct in accordance with architectural and consultants drawings and specifications.

The successful applicant will have experience in building construction supervision and project management. You will have excellent, communication, supervision and interpersonal skills. You will be self motivated and possess a demonstrated working knowledge of building codes, constructions techniques and the ability to monitor the quality of construction.

Applications including covering letter, curriculum vitae and references will be treated in strictest confidence and can be emailed to Emma Vagliviello at emmav@ bunburycatholic.org.au . Applications close Friday 3rd October 2008.

Catholic Diocese of Bunbury, PO Box 2005 Bunbury WA 6231 Ph (08) 9721 0500

www.bunburycatholic.org.au

A true mother cherished Moon Cake Festival provides fitting farewell for Father Dominic

n By Robert Hiini

It was fitting that Chinese Catholics in Perth farewelled their inaugural chaplain in the same month that the ‘Mid Autumn’ or ‘Moon Cake’ Festival is celebrated; a festival that celebrates abundance and togetherness.

On August 31 the Perth Chinese Catholic Community (PCCC) celebrated a Mass and dinner banquet in honour of Salvatorian Father Dominic Su.

Fr Su has been the PCCC’s chaplain for the last three years and stepped down from the role having been given a new assignment in his homeland of taiwan.

Indicating his impact, the Mass took place at a packed Holy Family Church, Como, and was attended by Fr Su’s brother Salvatorian priests and their Superior, Fr Boguslaw Loska. Sisters from the Ursuline Convent in Fremantle and friends of Fr Su from St Anthony’s in Greenmount were also in attendance.

After the Mass, members of the PCCC and some 290 guests adjourned to the Dragon Palace Chinese Restaurant, Northbridge for a ten-course dinner where Lee Kin-Wai, the Secretary of the PCCC, expressed a mixture of thanksgiving and sadness at Fr Su’s departure.

In his speech, Mr Lee also thanked Fr John Chuang SDS for his willingness to celebrate their Sunday Mass until the arrival of a new chaplain from the Archdiocese of Jilin in China.

the previous Chairman of the PCCC, Mr. Augustine Lai, presented Fr Su with a plaque while children from the PCCC’s Children’s Liturgy presented him with two letters of thanks as well as performing two songs in his honour.

Fr Su participated in one last act of serv-

ice by allowing his voice to be auctioned off to raise funds for the PCCC. Father sang a mandarin song for a total of $3193 with his audience clapping along enthusiastically. A total of $4253 was raised over the entire evening.

Attendees were also treated to Chinese operatic and instrumental performances.

Organisers said the night would not have been complete without a speech and song from Fr Blasco Fonseca, the Vicar for Migrants, who underlined the need of maintaining ethnic cultures in a multicultural country such as Australia.

Summing up the feeling of the occasion, Fr Fonseca concluding his speech by asking the audience to join him in a song: “For he’s a jolly good fellow, for he’s a jolly good fellow…”

n By Robert Hiini

AFteR 44 years of caring for Brothers and priests, Dora tyburg, the woman known as the “Mother” of the North Perth Redemptorists, is retiring for a wellearned rest at the sprightly age of 91.

Mrs tyburg has spent four decades donating her time, Monday to Friday, 9am–12pm, lovingly ironing, making habits and mending clothes. evident of their affection, the Brothers and priests of the monastery said that her impact goes far beyond the practical.

“every day she is always in wonderful spirits, always happy, always positive about people, never speaking negatively about a single person,” Fr Hugh thomas CSsR said.

“It’s very sad for us to lose her because she’s like part of the architecture here. the place will not be the same without her.”

the Redemptorists held a thank you lunch at the monastery in her honour on September 16 with her twin daughters, granddaughter and great granddaughter present (pictured) to celebrate her

years of dedication. Mrs tyburg arrived in Fremantle in 1953 having migrated from the Netherlands with her son and twin daughters, her first husband having died at the hands of the Nazi’s during World War II. Symbolic of her jovial personality, she laughed as she related a war-time story of how she stole a cow for her family’s survival, hiding it in a shed and sharing it with their neighbours.

Fr thomas says that Mrs tyburg has such an affinity with the Redemptorists because her son Kees was a Redemptorist priest. Sadly, Kees passed away at the age of 44. Four of the Redemptorists are the same age he would have been now and are very thankful for the maternal care she has shown them over the years.

Mrs tyburg is also the memory of the North Perth Monastery. She has been at the monastery at least 18 years longer than any resident priest or Brother. “I love it here. this is really my second home,” Mrs tyburg said.

there are doubtless many Redemptorists, here and in heaven, who give thanks to God that Dora chose to make their home her own.

When

Sweet: Four generations of the family of Dora Tyburg, far right, enjoy a moment. pho To: rober T hiini

Treasured moment: Fr Dominic Su addresses the Chinese Catholic Community at his farewell function.

the World

Importance of life issues ‘murky at best’

Campaign ‘08: Candidates’ stands on life cover more than abortion

n By Nancy Frazier O’Brien

WASHINGTON (CNS) - On few topics do presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain diverge as sharply as on abortion. But on other life issues - embryonic stem-cell research, assisted suicide and the death penalty - the differences are not always easy to ferret out.

On abortion, McCain’s campaign website said the Republican candidate “believes Roe v Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned” as “one step in the long path toward ending abortion.”

Obama’s website says the Democratic nominee “will make safeguarding women’s rights under Roe v Wade a priority” and that he “opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn that decision”.

In their 2007 document, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility,” the US Catholic bishops stress the importance of the life issues.

“The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many,” the document says.

“It must always be opposed.”

Martin Shaffer, a political science professor and dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, said the impact of the life issues “may be murky at best given that neither candidate has been known nationally as a leader in either direction on those issues.”

“Although John McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin for his ticket is in part an attempt to make connections to voters on the life issues, neither presidential candidate is crystal clear and consistent on these issues,” Shaffer said.

On stem cells, neither McCain nor Obama fully embraces the bishops’ unequivocal opposition to any stem-cell research that involves the destruction of human embryos.

McCain “opposes the intentional creation of human embryos for research purposes” and “will strongly support funding for promising research programs, including amniotic fluid and adult stem-cell research and other types of scientific study that do not involve the use of human embryos,” according to his website.

Obama believes “we owe it to the American public to explore the potential of stem cells to treat the millions of people suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases,” his campaign site says.

But both candidates voted for - and Obama co-sponsored - the Stem-Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, which President

George W Bush vetoed and the US bishops had strongly opposed.

The legislation would have permitted the destruction of so-called “spare embryos,” unused after fertility treatments, for use in embryonic stem-cell experiments.

Phyllis Zagano, senior research associate in the religion department at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, and a columnist on Catholic issues, said she believes the life issues “will play a very big role in the election, not only for Catholics but for all people of religious faith.”

But because both candidates would permit embryonic stemcell research and McCain has said he would allow abortions in cases of rape, incest and danger to the

mother’s life, “for people for whom life issues are primary, I honestly don’t know how it will fall,” she said.

Zagano said, however, that the combination of Palin’s “appeal to the middle of America” and McCain’s stronger position on abortion will likely mean that religiously motivated voters “will fall more on the McCain side.”

The topic of assisted suicide does not come up on either candidate’s campaign website, and neither has taken a public stand on Washington state’s Initiative 1000, which would legalise physicianassisted suicide.

In “Faithful Citizenship,” the bishops say, “The purposeful taking of human life by assisted sui-

Wall Street woes hit Catholic institutions

Catholic institutions feel sting of financial upheavals

WASHINGTON (CNS) - The upheavals in US credit markets this year, which intensified in September, have left those responsible for some of the nation’s largest Catholic institutional investments a bit leery.

“I must admit, I do check the corner of the CNN screen that shows the latest stock market ups and downs,” said Sister Carol Keehan, a Daughter of Charity who heads the Catholic Health Association and who formerly ran Providence Hospital in Washington.

Sister Carol said she had not seen such market upheavals since “the late ‘80s, early ‘90s when the investments really tanked then.”

“Black Monday” in October 1987 featured the second-largest single-day decline in US

stock market history. The early 1990s was the time of the US savings and loan crisis, which resulted in federal bailouts totaling AUS$151.6 billion - already eclipsed by this year’s AUS$240.7 billion buyout of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, AUS$220 billion in loans to banks, AUS$102 billion in loans to insurance giant American International Group, and AUS$72 billion in loans to investment banks, plus AUS$34.8 billion in financing to JP Morgan Chase to buy Bear Stearns. That earlier downturn “impacted dramatically the solvency or the adequacy of (Catholic hospitals’) retirement funds in particular, and reserves in those funds, and their responsibility to make sure those funds are always adequate,” Sister Carol said.

In tough times, she added, “you need to put significantly more in to make up for those investment losses. Catholic health care identified that, (then) they weathered

the storm, and they stayed responsible to their employees. They’ll do it again, but it certainly makes it very challenging.”

“We’ve avoided the biggest risk sectors of the market,” said Frank Haines, chief investment officer of Christian Brothers Investment Services, which manages AUS$4.8 billion in funds for the Christian Brothers and other Catholic religious orders.

“We’ve ceased our securities lending in our portfolio late last year” based on observations of the market, he added. “You’d think this would be great for us. But we’ve seen high-quality assets sorely impacted by what’s going on.”

This kind of market action distresses Haines’ clients.

“They have a hard time raising money,” he said.

“They don’t like losses. Whether the fundamentals are strong or not, all of our financials have been hard hit,” Haines said.

cide and euthanasia is not an act of mercy, but an unjustifiable assault on human life.”

The bishops also criticise “our nation’s continued reliance on the death penalty” and said they support “efforts to end” its use and moves to limit it “through broader use of DNA evidence, access to effective counsel and efforts to address unfairness and injustice related to application of the death penalty.”

Asked by US Catholic magazine about their positions on capital punishment, neither candidate embraced that view.

“I support the death penalty for heinous crimes in which the circumstances warrant capital punishment,” said McCain.

Obama’s stand was a bit more nuanced. “Throughout my career I have worked strenuously to ensure that the death penalty is only administered fairly and justly,” he told US Catholic. “But I do believe that there are some crimes that are so heinous that they deserve the death penalty.”

Frank McNeirney, co-founder and national coordinator of Catholics Against Capital Punishment, says he does not expect the death penalty to be much of an issue for Catholic voters in the 2008 elections.

Even in 2004, when the Democratic candidate for president, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, opposed the death penalty, “it was not a big factor in any of the debates,” he said.

New study shows parental involvement laws reduce abortions among minors

WASHINGTON DC (CNA) - The Family Research Council (FRC) on September 18 released a study on the effectiveness of different parental involvement laws in reducing abortions among minors.

According to the study’s findings, when a state enacts a parental involvement law the abortion rate for minors falls by an average of about 13.6 per cent.

FRC called the study the “first comprehensive analysis” of minor abortion data from nearly all 50 states between 1985 and 1990.

The study, titled The Effect of Parental Involvement Laws on the Incidence of Abortion Among Minors, was authored by Dr Michael New, PhD, an FRC Fellow and assistant professor of political science at the University of Alabama.

The FRC study surveys research findings on laws that require that parents be involved in the decision to abort a child, either through notification laws or by requiring their consent.

It also considers other possible factors in the decline of the abortion rate among minors, such as a stronger economy and increased teen abstinence.

“Laws that require parental consent instead of parental notification reduce the minor abortion rate by about 19 per cent,” New reported. “Furthermore, laws that mandate the involvement of two parents, instead of just one parent, reduce the in-state abortion rate by approximately 31 per cent.” The overall abortion rate among minors in the US fell by nearly half between 1985 and 1999, and New said the study shows that parental involvement laws are an “important causal factor” in the decline. According to New, Minnesota and Mississippi laws are among the most effective in reducing abortion rates among minors.

John McCain

Barack Obama

Mixed reviews: Implementation of Tridentine ruling frustrates some

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - A year after Pope Benedict XVI opened the way to wider use of the Tridentine Mass, implementation of the papal directive is drawing mixed reviews from its target audience.

Catholic traditionalists remain grateful for the Pope’s document and say it has given them a certain legitimacy in local church communities, as well as greater practical access to the old rite.

But some - backed by a Vatican officialhave complained that bishops and pastors continue to place obstacles in the way of groups seeking the Tridentine liturgy.

On a long-term issue, traditionalists are pleased at new efforts to instruct priests in celebrating Mass in the older rite. Meanwhile, those who envisioned Tridentine Masses popping up in every parish are somewhat frustrated.

“We’re only looking at one calendar year, and we know that in the church these things take time. But the problem - dare anyone say this? - the problem is the bishops. Because you have bishops who aren’t on board,” said John Paul Sonnen, a Cathoic American who lives in Rome.

Sonnen and about 150 others attended a small but significant conference in Rome in mid-September on the theme: “Summorum Pontificum: One Year After.”

Summorum Pontificum was the title of the Pope’s 2007 apostolic letter that said Mass celebrated according to the 1962 Roman

Missal, commonly known as the Tridentine rite, should be made available in every parish where groups of the faithful desire it. In his letter, the pope said the Mass from the Roman Missal in use since 1970 remains the ordinary form of the Mass, while celebration of the Tridentine Mass is the extraordinary form.

Response to the papal letter varied around the world. In the US, many bishops - even those not enthusiastic about the new policy - took steps to explain it to their faithful and put it into practice.

But in Europe and Latin America, conference participants said, there’s been less favorable reaction. “In Italy, with just a few admirable exceptions, the bishops have put obstacles in the way of applying (Summorum Pontificum),” Mgr Camille Perl told the Rome conference.

“I would have to say the same thing about the major superiors of Religious orders who forbid their priests from celebrating Mass in the old rite,” Mgr Perl said.

Mgr Perl is vice president of the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei,” which oversees implementation of the papal document, so his words carried weight. Italian newspapers reported his comments under the headline “The bishops are boycotting the Pope.”

Two Brazilian priests attending the conference complained that they’re facing a similar situation in their country.

“I think there’s a great desire on the part of young priests to learn the older rite. But we don’t study it in seminaries, and the bishops don’t cooperate on that,” said Fr Giuseppe Olivera of Sao Paolo.

Pius XII worked bravely, secretly to help Jews

Pope Benedict XVI affirms wartime pontiff’s saving work

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Pius XII worked courageously, secretly and silently to help save Jews targeted by the Nazis’ “criminal plan... to eliminate them from the face of the earth,” said Pope Benedict XVI.

“Wherever possible, (Pope Pius) spared no effort in intervening in their favor” and providing organised assistance to the Jews either directly or through others, including Catholic religious institutes, Pope Benedict told participants in an international symposium dedicated to examining the papacy of Pope Pius.

The Pope held a September 18 private audience at his summer residence south of Rome with some 80 attendees of the September 15-17 symposium organised by the US-based Pave the Way Foundation. Participants included members of the foundation and representatives of the Jewish community, including rabbis and scholars from around the world. The Vatican published a text of the remarks.

Thanking the foundation for its efforts in seeking the truth, Pope Benedict said that “not all of the genuine facets” of Pope Pius’ pontificate have been examined “in just light” in the 50 years since his death.

Critics have said they believe Pope Pius did not speak out clearly enough in defense of the Jews during World War II or was indifferent toward the victims of Nazism.

Pope Benedict said many of Pope Pius’ efforts to support the Jews

were “made secretly and silently” because “in that difficult historical moment, only in this way was it possible to avoid the worst and save the greatest number of Jews.”

Gary Krupp, Jewish founder and president of the Pave the Way Foundation, told the Pope in his speech that “the Catholic Church under the pontificate of Pius XII was instrumental in saving the lives of as many as 860,000 Jews from certain death at Nazi hands.”

Krupp told CNS after the audience that Pope Benedict “was very appreciative” of the organisation’s extensive research, which had revealed clearly that the current negative perception of Pope Pius “is completely wrong.”

He presented the Pope with nine video testimonies of Holocaust survivors and other eyewitnesses for Vatican humanitarian efforts, as well as the 200-page book of documentation compiled by the foundation and unveiled at the Rome symposium.

Dozens of Jewish representatives who believed Pope Pius had done nothing to help the Jews during the Holocaust had been invited to the symposium.

Many accepted the invitation, but some publicly critical of Pope Pius and representatives from three major Jewish museums did not attend even though the foundation had offered to pay for a live video feed if they were unable to travel to Rome.

George Blumenthal, an American Jewish philanthropist and entrepreneur, told CNS the documents and testimonies unveiled at the symposium “will be the beginning of revolutionary knowledge” about the late Pope.

Mgr Perl said letters received by his commission indicate considerable interest in setting up local Tridentine Masses in France, Great Britain, Canada, the US and Australia. He said there have been fewer requests for the older Mass in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, who heads the “Ecclesia Dei” commission, said recently that Pope Benedict would eventually like to see the Tridentine rite offered in every parish. But for now, in the Pope’s own Diocese of Rome, a single church, Santissima Trinita dei Pellegrini, has been designated as a “personal parish” for traditionalists.

That’s a solution that appeals to some dioceses, especially those that include large cities, but it tends to separate traditionalists from other local parishes. It also seems to put bishops in charge of the decision of where and when a Tridentine Mass is offered, instead of the local pastor, as indicated by Summorum Pontificum

Fr Joseph Kramer, pastor at Rome’s Santissima Trinita church, said that in general, it’s important for traditionalist Catholics to make it clear that they accept the changes of the Second Vatican Council, in order not to frighten off “normal” Catholics who might be attracted to the older rite.

US Fr John Zuhlsdorf, who runs a blog What Does the Prayer Really Say? that’s become a sounding board for reaction to Summorum Pontificum among traditionalist Catholics, said that the papal directive has deeply affected priests, especially younger priests, and their perception of “who they are at the altar.”

Authorities release bishop held since Beijing Olympics

HONG KONG (CNS) - Security officers escorted Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding to his residence on September 18, one day after the Paralympic Games ended in Beijing.

A local Church source told the Asian church news agency UCA News that the 73-year-old prelate celebrated Mass after being sent back to Christ the King Cathedral in Wuqiu. The village is near Shijiazhuang, the Hebei provincial capital, about

140 miles southwest of Beijing. Bishop Jia is not registered with the government-sanctioned Catholic Church administrative structures.

The US-based Cardinal Kung Foundation said Bishop Jia remains under 24-hour police surveillance, is isolated from his priests and faithful, and is not allowed to receive any visitors. It said that while he was under arrest officers moved the bishop around several counties outside Shijiazhuang.

Sources told UCA News the officers tried to ban news of his release and that word had not reached many of his priests.

Sincere: Cardinal George Pell of Sydney celebrates a Mass in honor of Mary according to the 1962 Roman Missal in Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral in November, 2007. The Mass was celebrated in thanksgiving for Pope Benedict XVI’s Motu Proprio authorising expanded use of the Tridentine Mass.

Photo: CNS

Reviews

Catholic imagery, but Hellboy’s no saint

NEW YORK (CNS) - Hellboy II: The Golden Army (Universal/Relativity) chronicles the further adventures of the hulking vermillion demon, again embodied by Ron Perlman, who’s really just a blue-collar guy who likes candy bars, TV and singer Al Green.

Summoned to earth in 1944 by Nazis seeking infernal aid for the Axis cause, the infant Hellboy - ostensibly the offspring of the devil - was raised by Professor Trevor Broom (John Hurt), an academic adviser to the Allied mission that foiled the operation. The Catholic Broom believed in Hellboy’s goodness, a faith vindicated by that film’s climax.

In Hellboy II, Red, as the adult Hellboy is called, continues to work for the same agency that employed his late father, as does his live-in girlfriend, Liz (Selma Blair), who possesses the unnerving ability to transform herself into a human blowtorch. Other returning characters are Red’s FBI liaison, Agent Tom Manning (Jeffrey Tambor), and Abe Sapien (Doug Jones), the gentlemanly so-called aquatic empath. (He can discern the past and future of objects.)

Newly hired to supervise Red is gruff Dr Johann Krauss (John Alexander/James Dodd, voice of Seth MacFarlane), a protoplasmic German mystic whose wispy vapors are given human form by a mask and containment suit. The bureau’s latest target is power-hungry, wraithlike Prince Nuada (Luke Goss). His apocalyptic goal is to revive a long dormant Golden Army of mechanical soldiers that could spell humanity’s end. Allying herself with Red and his comrades, Nuada’s virtuous twin sister, Nuala (Anna Walton), tries to prevent her brother from gaining control over them.

But any attack on Nuada also harms Nuala. This anomaly places Abe, who has fallen for her regal charms, in such a dilemma that his infatuation may jeopardize the mission.

Director and co-writer (with Dark Horse comic book creator Mike Mignola) Guillermo del Toro’s bigger-budget followup to his own 2004 film features the same bantering humor, with unflappable Perlman efficiently doing what dirty deeds he must one moment, then getting all sentimental the next, even joining Abe for a lachrymose Barry Manilow singalong.

A scene in which Red improbably rescues a young mother’s baby while fighting a Godzilla-size forest god called an “Elemental” recalls his gallantry with a box of kittens while fending off another fearsome creature in the earlier film. Here, as Red protectively cradles the child in one arm, standing precipitously on the “H” of a giant electrical “Hotel” sign, Nuada tempts him with the prospect of becoming a king should he switch sides, an offer that somewhat parallels the temptation of Jesus described in Chapter 4, Verses 8-9, of the Gospel of Matthew and Chapter 4, Verses 5-7, of the Gospel of Luke.

Again, this film climaxes with our heroes making an overseas journey, this time to fight the villains at Northern Ireland’s Giants Causeway. But the effects are more spectacular here, especially when the Elemental bursts upward through the asphalt of a crowded city street and later when a cluster of boulders startlingly take the form of a giant man. Additionally, the plot - sans the World War II exposition - is more efficient.

Here again, there’s a good deal of Catholic imagery throughout, generally superficial, and a perceptible religious subtext. Thus Red’s exercise of free will still trumps both his originally hellish nature and a prophecy that he will cause the destruction of the human race. In that crucial scene of Nuada tempting Red, moreover, a white neon cross glows behind. That confrontation ended, the city saved from destruction, and the baby returned to its frantic mother, Red - like Christ - finds himself rejected and mocked by the very people he has come to serve. Along with its medieval bestiary and its Gothic atmosphere, this sequel touches on Tolkienesque themes of power and destiny, making del Toro - employing the visual style of his Pan’s Labyrinth

Still, for all the Catholic flourishes, this is hardly the film King of Kings, nor is Hellboy consistently saintly in all his worldly habits. Rather, it’s fundamentally an action adventure with intense, noisy, though mostly bloodless violence and issues of language and off-screen sexual behaviour that make it best for older viewers.

The film contains premarital cohabitation and pregnancy, moderate fantasy violence, a suicide, some crass language, a few mild oaths and an instance of sexual humour.

Mamma Mia! Frivolous treatment of marriage

NEW YORK (CNS) - Following the successful movie versions of Chicago and Dreamgirls, the Broadway musical has again provided effective screen fodder.

The latest, Mamma Mia! (Universal), proves a lively and colourful adaptation of that wildly popular worldwide hit. The property is probably the most successful of the so-called “jukebox musicals” that take pre-existing pop songs - here, those of Swedish supergroup Abba - and shoehorn them into a narrative structure.

For anyone who hasn’t seen the show in one of its touring or international incarnations, the story concerns young bride-to-be Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), whose mother, Donna (Meryl Streep), runs a guest villa on a Greek isle. Sophie’s purloined her mom’s old diary and read about the three men with whom Donna had affairs two decades earlier. Sophie impulsively invites them to her wedding, in her mother’s name, hoping to learn which of the three is her birth father.

Neither Donna nor Sophie’s fiance, Sky (Dominic Cooper), knows of Sophie’s scheme, as the

girl is sure they would vehemently disapprove. The three remarkably obliging fellows who dutifully answer Sophie’s letter are businessman Sam (Pierce Brosnan), banker Harry (Colin Firth) and adventurer Bill (Stellan Skarsgard).

Donna’s man-hungry girlfriends from the 1970s - divorcee Tanya (Christine Baranski) and cookbook writer Rosie (Julie Walters) - are also on hand to support her for the impending ceremony and to provide comic relief. Along the way, Tanya has a questionable “flirtation” with one of Sky’s twentysomething buddies, and elsewhere, Rosie chides Donna for her “Catholic guilt ... like a nun” when they were younger.

A strong caution must be raised about the underlying and pervasive “anything-goes-for-love” message and the other problematic elements that follow below.

The film contains an overall freewheeling morality, light sexual references and innuendo, casual treatment of marriage, divorce and nonmarital relations, some vulgar gestures, brief rear-nudity sight gag, an anti-Catholic remark and a few crass words.

Good guy?: A promotional poster of Hellboy II, a movie based on a comic strip that contains much Catholic imagery, though in the movie he has moved in with his girlfriend. He finds himself rejected and mocked by the very people he has come to serve - like Christ - but, as per director Guillermo del Toro’s distinct style, it’s basically a stylised fantasy world full of strange beasts.

ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL, PEMBERTON

St Joseph’s is a small rural Catholic primary school located in the beautiful forest region of Pemberton, approximately 335 kilometres south of Perth. The school was founded in 1952 by the sisters of St Joseph and currently caters for 85 children from Kindergarten to Year Seven.

St Joseph’s offers a broad and comprehensive curriculum based on the integration of faith and life that promotes the religious, cultural, social and physical development of each student. Strong emphasis is placed on the development of Literacy and Numeracy skills, with the school in its second year of the RAISe (Raising Achievement in Schools) program. Specialist areas include Library and The Arts.

The school is well resourced and has a strong commitment to integrating computer technology and Interactive White Boards into teaching and learning programs.

St Joseph’s has a close and collaborative relationship with the Parish and enjoys strong pastoral support from the Parish Priest. The School Board and Parents and Friends’ Association work closely together to enhance facilities, build on resources and foster a dynamic community spirit.

There is an opportunity for this position to be offered as a secondment; the successful applicant will take up the position on 1 January 2009.

QUEEN OF APOSTLES SCHOOL, RIVERTON

Queen of Apostles School is a co-educational double stream school with a current enrolment of 450 children from Kindergarten to Year Seven. The school was founded in 1956 by the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary and has always enjoyed strong links with the Queen of Apostles Parish. The school motto of Love, Unity, Peace is reflected in the school focus on caring for the individual.

Students are provided with a wide range of spiritual, academic, cultural and sporting experiences by an energetic and enthusiastic staff, including specialist teachers in Music, Dance, Physical Education, Library, Literacy and Pastoral Support. School focus currently includes RAISe (Raising Achievement in Schools) program, Gifted and Talented for Years 3-7 and Middle Schooling for Years 6-7.

A Capital Development Program to enhance school facilities is due to begin in Term Four.

The School Board and Parents and Friends’ Association work with common purpose for the benefit of all within the school and parish community.

The successful applicant is expected to commence on 1 January 2009.

Applicants need to be practising Catholics and experienced educators committed to the objectives and ethos of Catholic education. They will have the requisite theological, educational, pastoral and administrative competencies, together with an appropriate four-year minimum tertiary qualification, and will have completed Accreditation for Leadership of the Religious Education Area or its equivalent. A current WACOT registration number must also be included.

The official application form, referee assessment forms and

Vista Embracing the saints

If you believe Hollywood, then we require a ‘medium’, someone who has the ability to see the undead, like Jennifer Love Hewitt’s character - shown at the right - on TV show ‘The Ghost Whisperer’. But we, as Catholics, know better. Who needs a medium when you have blokes like PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI, at left, who, despite his wealth, devoted his life to God and to the poor. What’s more, he’s with us as part of the Body of Christ. Hollywood? Who needs it?

n By Robert Hiini

With top rating shows such as Medium , The Ghost Whisperer and Supernatural or locally produced reality show The One: The search for Australia’s most gifted psychic, pop culture is awash with the occult and fascination with the afterlife.

It is perhaps a little strange then that there is so little public discussion of a core Catholic belief: that our departed brothers and sisters in Christ - members of the Communion of Saints - are all around us.

On TV, it goes like this. A spirit, trapped between this world and the next appears to a seer, a person gifted with the ability to see and communicate with the dead.

The spirit, who looks like you or me, is aided by the seer and unshackled from whatever it is that keeps them from walking “into the light”. Although the stuff of primetime escapist fantasy, the alternate reality these programs portray is a poor substitute for a reality the Church has recognised since the very beginning - that there are people who have run the race and are barracking for us with God.

This is our ‘home crowd’, the Communion of Saints – the spiritual bond that holds together we the faithful on earth, those who are undergoing purification in purgatory and those of us who are already in heaven.

We are made members of the family by our baptism through which we become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1-4) and “fellow heirs with Christ” (Rom 8: 17).

This union is so intimate that, in the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “the least of our acts done in charity redounds to the profit of all (while) every sin harms this communion.” (CCC 954).

According to US theologian and apologist Eric Stoutz, there are four key truths that lead us to believe in this reality:

l All Christians are members of Christ’s body and one another (Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:27).

l Jesus has only one body (Eph. 4:4; Col. 3:15).

l Death cannot separate Christians from Christ or from one another (Rom. 8:35-39; cf. Lk. 20:37-38).

l Christians are bound in mutual love (Jn. 13:34-35; Rom. 12:10).

Not only does this communion include ourselves – saints in progress – but it also includes those who have been formally recognised by the Church as well as those whose saintly lives will remain unknown to the wider world.

The lives of we saints - dead and undead - are shared in our receipt and participation in common spiritual goods given to the Church by Christ. These spiritual goods are:

Communion in the faith: The faith that the apostles and disciples of Jesus have passed on to us through the Holy Spirit,

Communion of the sacraments: Grace is poured out upon us in the sacraments and we are united especially in our common baptism and coming together as the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, Communion of charisms: We are all given special graces to build up the Church,

Communion of goods: All goods we are given are to be considered common and are to be used for the benefit of all, particular those in most need,

Communion in love: “None of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself (CCC 953).” Every good or evil we do impacts upon all of the body’s members.

- adapted from CCC 949-953

These are our ‘family heirlooms’ and ‘shared activities’ which make up the life of our communion and bind us to those Christians in heaven and those yet to come.

We are able to seek the prayers or intercessions of the saints because, as mentioned earlier, the faithful are not separated from each other by death.

In other words, praying to the saints is different from asking other people to pray for you, because the saints in heaven have already ‘got there’.

As Vatican II’s 1964 Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Lumen Gentium (Light of the Nations), put it: “Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness... through Him, with Him and in Him, they do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men”.

The saints then do not represent an alternative path to God

Embracing the Communion of Saints

Continued from Vista 1

the Father, but instead unite their prayers with Christ. The practice of praying to saints has Scriptural foundations as well as a long practical history.

Like Abraham and Moses before him, St Paul exhorts his fellow believers to pray for him and the well being of others (Rom 15:30; Col 4:3; 1 Tim 2:1).

Historically, prayer to the saints for their intercession began within four generations of Christ, according to US Scripture scholar and apologist Scott Hahn, who points to the discovery of prayer inscriptions in first century catacombs.

If all this makes the saints sound too lofty and ethereal, perhaps we can track and explore the saints’ essential earthiness.

As US Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft puts it: “Saints are not freaks or exceptions. They are the standard operating model for human beings… all believers are saints.” But is this how saints are perceived in 21st century post-enlightenment society?

Saints are more likely to be construed as inhuman, impossibly perfect beings often contrasted with our own frailty and weakness: “I’m not a saint, I’m only human”.

Far from being inhuman caricatures, the saints show us what it means to be fully human and fully alive – to abandon oneself to the love of God.

In a recent homily given during his trip to Lourdes, Pope Benedict pointed out that, with regard to frailty and a tendency to err, the saints are no different to ourselves.

“They were sinners and they knew it, but they willingly ceased to gaze upon their own wounds and to gaze only upon the wounds of their Lord, so as to discover there the glory of the cross, to discover there the victory of life over death,” the pontiff said.

This is the very opposite of the Hollywood storyline we mentioned earlier when clarity and certainty are sought through a human medium – when we would rather abrogate our human freedom in being told who we are and what to do. The saints’ lives, works and writings have the ability to speak beyond their own time “so as to speak cogently to the questions and concerns of people of every era”, says Dominican theologian and priest Fr Peter John Cameron; the latter often being “masterpieces of psychological penetration”.

Perhaps our experience and understanding of the saints is marked by the distinct un-reality in which they are often related, in contrast to the English speaking, jeans-wearing ghosts appearing in primetime slots.

Whether it be gaudy, unnatural pictures on holy cards or some of the extreme and archaic political and personal circumstances of their lives, the saints would seem in need of a press officer.

In the late Pope John Paul II they found one. Under his reign the Congregation for the Causes of Saints beatified 996 men and women and canonised another 447 – a number comparable to the total of those beatified and canonised in the four previous centuries combined. John Paul II beatified and canonised more lay people than any other pope (215 and 245 respectively) as well as numerous saints from outside of Europe.

George Weigel, the late Pope’s biographer, says that this was part of promoting Vatican II’s “universal call to holiness”, particularly to the laity, in showing the diverse number of ways saintly lives might be lived. We are saints too and therefore called to build up the Kingdom of God. “What is the Church if not the assembly of all the saints?” The communion of saints is the Church” (CCC 946). Whether lay, priests or Religious, all of the faithful are called to minister in their own different ways but with equal dignity: “For in the Church there is diversity of ministry but unity of mission” with the laity having “their own assignment in the mission” (CCC 873).

St Therese of Lisieux showed us that our own pursuit of sainthood needn’t be epic or outlandish but instead must be lived out in our own reality.

As a cloistered Carmelite nun who died at the age of 25, she proved the impact that attentiveness to one’s own vocation could have in being made patron saint of missions – her holiness impacting upon many more lives than her own.

In this interconnectedness, the health and effectiveness of the Church is dependent not only upon the Holy Spirit but also upon the willingness or otherwise of Christians to be saints.

Respected US journalist and commentator John L Allen points to the need for saints in keeping the Church on task in our foundational mission of showing God’s love to the whole world:

“At the end of the day, bishops and saints need one another – bishops, to remind saints that no force in the Church ever exists for itself; and saints to remind bishops that ultimately the Church exists for the gospel, and not the other way around.”

Sainthood: what

What is a saint? US philosopher

Peter Kreeft delves into the traits of the saints and how we can aspire to be one, while partaking in the Communion of Saints as members of Christ’s body - in the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.

Saints are not freaks or exceptions. They are the standard operating model for human beings. In fact, in the biblical sense of the word, all believers are saints. “Sanctity” means holiness. All men, women and children, born or unborn, beautiful or ugly, straight or gay, are holy, for they bear the image of God.

Saints are not the opposite of sinners. There are no opposites of sinners in this world. There are only saved sinners and unsaved sinners.

Thus holy does not mean “sinless” but “set-apart:” called out of the world to the destiny of eternal ecstasy with God.

What is a saint? First of all, one who knows he is a sinner. A saint knows all the news, both the bad news of sin and the good news of salvation. A saint is a true scientist, a true philosopher: A saint knows the truth. A saint is a seer, one who sees what’s there. A saint is a realist.

A saint is also an idealist. A saint embraces heroic suffering out of heroic love. A saint also embraces heroic joy.

(This is one of the criteria for canonisation: Saints must have joy.)

A saint is a servant of Christ. A saint is also a conqueror greater than Alexander, who only conquered the world. A saint conquers himself. What does it profit a man if he conquers the

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

1901 - 1925

A handsome man from a well-off family who dedicated his life to serving the poor in secret. When he died aged 24 from illness, townsfolk were surprised at seeing hundreds of poor families turn out to mourn him.

Born in Turin, Frassati had many friends, a passionate interest in sport and a profound love of God that drove his love for others. When he graduated, his father gave him the choice between a car or money. He chose the money and used it for lodging for an elderly woman who had been evicted, cared for a man dying of consumption and food for three children who had lost their mother.

whole world but does not conquer himself?

A saint is so open that he can say, with Paul, “I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be selfsufficient.

“I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance” (Phil. 4:11-12). A saint marries God “for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death.” A saint is also so determined, so stubborn, that he will die before compromising the truth, and will write credo in the sand with his own blood as he dies. (One saint actually did this.)

A saint is a sworn enemy of the world, the flesh and the devil. He is locked in mortal combat with principalities and powers.

A saint is also a friend and lover of the world. He kisses this sin-cancered world with the tender lips of the God of John 3:16.

A saint declares God’s war on this world, sinking the cross into the enemy occupied earth like a sword, the hilt held by heaven. At the same time he stretches his arms out on that very cross as if to say, “See? This is how wide my love is for you!”

A saint is Christ’s bride, totally attached, faithful, dependent. A saint is also totally independent, detached from idols and from other husbands.

A saint works among these others money, power, pleasure — as a married woman works with other men, but will not marry them or even flirt with them.

A saint is higher than anyone else in the world. A saint is the real mountain climber. A saint is also lower than anyone else in the world. As with water, he flows to the lowest places — like Calcutta.

A saint’s heart is broken by every little sorrow and sin. A saint’s heart is also so strong that not even death can break it. It is indestructible because it’s

Blessed Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi

1880 – 1951

Blessed Maria Corsini 1884 – 1965

A married couple who knew how to love and respect each other and gave their all to their children. He was a lawyer and public servant. She was involved in the cultural life of Florence and an author and professor of education. Every evening they prayed the Rosary and dedicated their family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pregnant with their fourth child, they were told the baby would die and was a threat to Maria’s life. Refusing abortion, they prayed fervently and after a difficult pregnancy were blessed with a baby girl.

so breakable. A saint takes his hands off the steering wheel of his life and lets God steer. That’s scary, for God is invisible. A saint also has hands that move the world. He has feet that move through the world with a sure step.

A saint does not let others play God to him. A saint takes his orders from the General, not from the army. A saint also does not play God to others.

A saint is a little Christ. Not only do we see Christ through His saints, as we see a light through a stained glass window, but we also understand the saints only through Christ, as we understand eggs only through chickens.

The saints are our family. We are one Body. They are our legs and we are theirs.

That’s why their feast is our feast. As Pascal says, “Examples of noble deaths of Spartans and others hardly affect us... but the example of the deaths of martyrs affects us, for they are our members... we do not become rich through seeing a rich stranger, but through seeing a father or husband rich.”

We become saints not by thinking about it, and not (certainly) by writing about it, but simply by doing it.

There comes a time when the “how?” question stops and we just do it. If the one we love were at our door knocking to come in, would we wonder how the door lock works, and how we could move our muscles to open it?

Francis of Assisi once told his monks that if they were in the midst of the Beatific Vision and a tramp knocked at their door asking for a cup of cold water, turning away from the heavenly vision to help the tramp would be the real heaven, and turning away from the tramp to keep the blissful vision would be turning from God’s face.

A saint is one who sees who the tramp is: Jesus.

Blessed Laura Vicuna 1891 – 1904

Born in Santiago, Chile, her father died in the army. Destitute, her mother became a mistress of Manuel Mora, who paid for her schooling but withdraw his care and affection when Laura announced a desire to become a Salesian. She offered up her suffering and own life for the salvation of her mother’s soul given the relationship she had with Mora. In 1901 she was admitted to the Salesians but returned in late 1903 suffering from a severe illness. In a drunken rage, Manuel Mora beat her to unconsciousness. She died eight days later. Learning of her daughter’s sacrifice her mother left Mora and returned to the faith.

St Joseph Moscati 1880 – 1927

A highly prayerful, pious and intellegent man, Joseph Moscati graduated from medical school at the age of 23. Throughout his life he preferred healing the poor and homeless as well seeing to the health of priests and religious.

He helped many survive the eruption of Mt Vesuvias and a cholera epidemic as well as volunteering to be an army chaplain. His own faith was contagious with many returning to the faith because of his witness.

Having made a vow of chastity in 1913, he sought to join the Jesuits but they helped him discern that his true vocation lay in being a medical practioner.

Venerable Matthew Talbot 1856 – 1925

Born in Dublin, second of 12 to alcoholic worker, Matthew lowed in the of his alcoholic He became a assistant in his life. Struggling alcoholism, often sold his sessions to more. One day rock bottom his drinking avoided him their usual returned home diately and long-suffering er he’d take ety pledge and Confession and the next day. From 28, he grew in knowledge and as well as secretly ing others.

what an awesome experience

Matthew Dublin, the children alcoholic dockMatthew folfootsteps alcoholic father. brickie’s his adult Struggling with Talbot his posdrink day he hit bottom when friends outside pub. He home immetold his long-suffering motha sobriand went to and Mass From age spiritual and prayer secretly help-

Blessed Isidore Bakanja

1887 – 1909

A slave labourer for white colonists in Belgian Congo, modern-day Zaire. Converted at 18 by Trappist missionaries, shared his faith, prayer life with fellow workers. Seeing prayer as a threat to work, the colonists demanded he remove his scapular. Was twice flogged when he refused and was thrashed 100 times with an elephant whip when he refused again. Was chained up for 24 hours, was told to leave the plantation. Hid in a forest but the inspector saw him, and described seeing festering open wounds with flies. “Tell them I am dying because I am a Christian,” Bakanja said.

Blessed Bartholomew

Longo

1841 – 1926

Born into a wealthy family with a faithful religious upbringing and education, Longo fell away from belief while studying law at the University of Naples. Following a philosophy class from a former priest, he went from being indifferent toward the Church and Christianity to antagonistic. Participating in anti-Church protests and eventually becoming a practicing satanist he was eventually guided back to the Faith through a local professor and a Dominican friar. He devoted the rest of his life to God in preaching against the occult and establishing trade schools for the sons of imprisoned men.

Blessed Ceferino

Gimenez Malla

1861 – 1936

Born a Spanish gypsy, ‘El Pele’ as he was known became a Christian in 1912 along with his common law wife Teresa. Respected for his piety and his charity, Ceferino was a well known horsedealer and leader. Fellow gypsies trusted him to help settle disputes. When the Spanish Civil War broke out, he was arrested for defending a priest who was being dragged through the streets and for having Rosary beads in his pocket. He was jailed and offered freedom if he agreed to stop praying the Rosary. He refused and was martryed by shooting. He died with Rosary in hand shouting: “Long live Christ the King!”

Rodriguez Santiago

1918 – 1963

Suffered adversity when his family store and business burnt to the ground in Puerto Rico. At age 9 he saved his 1-year-old cousin from a rabid dog, suffering physical damage that would trouble him for his whole life. Became an office clerk and an English translator; spent his spare time hiking and playing the piano. Volunteered at Catholic University Centre in Puerto Rico, evangelising students and teachers as well as teaching catechism to highschool students. He also published liturgy guides and magazines and encouraged liturgical renewal amongst clergy and the laity.

“Saints are the standard operating model for human beings. Meanwhile, all men, women and children, born or unborn, beautiful or ugly, straight or gay, are holy, for they bear the image of God.”

- Peter Kreeft

St Genoveva Torres Morales

1870 – 1956

Born in Castille, Spain, both her parents and four of her siblings had died by the time she was 8, when she was taken into the care of one of her brothers. At age 10 she started to read spiritual books and had a love of God’s will. At 13 she had her left leg amputated due to gangrene, which was done at her house with insufficient anesthetic. Spending 9 years in a Carmelite Mercy Home from 1885, she developed a strong inner life, eventually desiring to become a nun. Was refused entry into the Carmelites due to her physical condition. Started her own religious community devoted to poor women.

Blessed Franz Jagerstatter

1907 – 1943

An Austrian husband and father of three, he was guillotined by the Nazis in Berlin. A parish sacristan, he cast the only vote against the Nazis in local elections. Was subjected to pressure from concerned locals but his wife stood by him. Refused conscription and offered himself for medical service. Was arrested and detained and while he had a crisis of faith, he stood his ground. Was executed for refusing to serve in the Third Reich armies. “I can say from my own experience how painful life often is when one lives as a halfway Christian” Jagerstatter said. “It is more like vegetating than living.”

Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio

union: Depictions of saints surround an image of the Virgin Mary in the rose window at the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome. The Catholic Church marks the feast on November 1. The feast is a holy day of obligation and commemorates all those in heaven, especially those with no special feast.

Photo: CNS/Nancy Wiechec

My faith defines me, helps me persevere

PHow I Pray

with Debbie Warrier

rayer is about giving time over to God. As soon as I jump out of bed I say a few personal prayers about things that may come up during the day. In the seminary we have the formal aspect of prayer. We get together every morning and evening to pray. We have Mass daily. We spend time in contemplation or meditation. I usually say a Rosary every day. Then there’s those five-second prayers like when you’re driving. Just before I go to bed I like to spend a few extra minutes in prayer to reflect on the day. My faith defines my life and who I am. I have been lucky. I have had a lot of people in my life that by their example showed they were very dedicated to prayer. People that were close to Pope John Paul II can always testify that about him. When you see Pope Benedict XVI in prayer you can tell that he is really connecting with God. Mother Teresa spoke about the necessity of prayer and how she couldn’t get through a day without it.

Even people I know on a personal level have influenced me. Just seeing the fruits of their prayer life inspires me to remain committed to prayer. At school there was a Brother that inspired us through our turbulent teenage years. He was very passionate about young men connecting with their spiritual side. He taught us that prayer was the gateway to that. That really affected us whether we were practising our faith or not.

There seems to be bigger separation between secular society and the Church. Society has a different set of values and outlook on life. Society can even be very hostile to Catholics. I think that is the biggest challenge we have to address at the moment.

Sydney was my third World Youth Day. I think there was something marvelous about each one. Just being with the young people and experiencing that collective energy is a buzz. I had quite a few wows! It was profound and emotional seeing Pope Benedict XVI arriving by boat on our shores.

I was the main WYD08 coordinator for the seminarians. There were a few things that came up which kept me on my toes. But it was good to find time to refocus where I’m going and why I’m in the seminary. Pope Benedict emphasised the need for daily prayer. It confirmed what I believed.

World Youth Day in Cologne 2005 was sort of my way of testing God out. I pretty much knew I wanted to be a priest but sought confirmation. God answered so much better than I thought He would. One day I went to Adoration. The Church was packed. There was an announcement that there were priests hearing confessions but they were overwhelmed by the number of penitents. The announcer added that if there were any priests in the congregation could they please come forward to assist. I felt like jumping up. It was like God saying, “I need you and now is the time to begin this journey.”

Without my faith I would have given up on so many things already. We all get tempted to throw in the towel very quickly. God helps us overcome any obstacles in life and it’s our faith that helps us persevere.

debwarrier@hotmail.com

Perspectives

Taking custody of our sexuality

Life...

with Bronia Karniewicz

Living the call of Humane Vitae with chastity

Chastity is the virtue that acknowledges our sexuality and assists us to integrate our desires so that we do not use another person for our own selfish pleasures. It helps us to live the call of Humane Vitae and has profound importance to every vocation, married, single or religious.

In today’s society pleasure is seen as an important factor in loving another, the means by which we measure the depth of love. By this definition pleasure becomes the key to love and happiness, making it difficult to see why anybody would choose to save sex for marriage, let alone choose to be celibate for life or not use contraception within marriage. This view makes it difficult to see how chastity is at all necessary to love. It allows chastity to be seen as entirely negative and viewed as opposing love, limiting freedom and pleasure and thereby repressing happiness. There is a tendency to view chastity as

a hindrance to love. Chastity is viewed as repressive, not allowing the freedom for passion or pleasure and thereby not allowing love to develop. This view is based on an incomplete understanding of love and the idea that passion and pleasure are limited to instant spontaneous gratification. Chastity in this negative view is seen as something that does not encompass our sexuality, but falsely believes it is ignored.

This could not be further from the truth. Chastity, when fully understood, is in fact all about our sexuality. Chastity is a virtue not a habit, chastity is creative, a habit is static using the same action each time it is confronted with different situations, chastity uses intelligence, reason and free will each time it is confronted with a desire. It searches for the best possible way to communicate love.

But what is love? Love - real lovewants what is best for another. To love is to be a gift of our self to another in a way that affirms and draws out true goodness in that person. Deep down in our hearts, we all desire to give and receive this kind of real love. It is what our hearts yearn for and it brings us true happiness. We all simply want to love and be loved.

Without real love, we tend to fall back into satisfying our own desires. Sex can become an act of using another to satisfy our own desires. It’s no longer an act of self-giving love, as it’s meant to be. It becomes just an act of self-gratification, at the expense of another.

That’s not the real meaning of sex.

To love is not easy. But it is a challenge filled with great potential, the potential for ultimate happiness.

Our selfish capacity hinders our ability to achieve real love and be a true gift of self. We have been created in the image and likeness of God and our sexual experiences should honour this revelation. Chastity gives us this opportunity,

Chastity is not a repression of our physical or emotional desires but the shaping of these sexual experiences; it allows a person to transform the energy into a creative drive. Chastity becomes a skill that integrates love. Attraction, affection and desire are shaped by reason, the knowledge of the truth of love.

When love is embraced for the fullness of its revelations chastity is no longer viewed as a repression of the sexual experience, rather it is seen as the skill with which to encounter the most beautiful love. A love in which the good of the other is upheld to the highest point, the sincere giving of self for the betterment of the other, a reflection of God’s love for humanity.

Chastity is necessary for it takes custody of their sexuality, all desires little by little are integrated, the other is seen as unrepeatable, not an object for our personal satisfaction but a person, a unique creation of God capable of revealing His love. Chastity helps us live the wisdom of Humanae Vitae and is the custodian of genuine, faithful love.

Hijacking denial for sinister ends

Can we save the word “denial” from being corrupted?

In

clear view

By Guy Crouchback

It came into present-day political polemic as “Holocaust denial” –that is, the behaviour of a small number of people who denied the Nazi holocaust ever occurred.

“Denial” is also used, apart from its ordinary meaning, as a quasi-psychological term to denote a state of mind where certain facts are simply not accepted because the mind does not have the mental strength to accept them. While people in such a state may not be dishonest – they may have simply closed their minds in the face of some horrible trauma – they are plainly not reliable witnesses to truth.

Holocaust denial is not, of course, an intellectually respectable or tenable position. The term has come to mean, when used in this sense, perversely, irrationally or dishonestly refusing to accept something which is obviously true and against which no real or rational case can be mounted.

That the Holocaust occurred is beyond rational dispute. Holocaust deniers are either wacko, invincibly ignorant or deliberate liars with some disreputable agenda of their own.

Holocaust denial has not enlisted the support of a single competent scholar (I once found a magazine to whose first issue I had contributed an article had also published a piece of holocaustdenialism and immediately terminated my association with it). However, it looks as if there is a risk of this fact – the deserved disreputability of holo-

caust denialism - coming to be used to blacken, by verbal gymnastics, any sort of dissent.

Robert Manne, a prominent Melbourne public intellectual, has, for example, used the term about disagreement over the extent of the Aboriginal “stolen generation” allegations, and, though an associate professor of politics, not a natural scientist, has recently in a magazine column used it about people with doubts over some versions of global warming, including, at least by inference, Cardinal George Pell.

Now global warming is not like the Nazi Holocaust. Absolutely no reputable political scientist or historian has any doubt whatsoever about the reality of the Holocaust, though they might legitimately disagree on marginal details. Thousands of scientists, on the other hand, hold views differing very much from one another about global warming – whether it is happening at all, whether it is a short-term blip on a graph, whether it is long-term, whether it has stopped, whether the real menace is not actually global cooling and an eventual Ice-Age, and, if global warm-

ing exists, whether human activity such as carbon emissions has anything to do with it, or whether it is caused by solar activity or variations in the distance between Earth and Sun.

Holocaust denial is not an intellectual process and is not related to rationality or to any kind of science (if there are one or two Holocaust deniers with university degrees they are almost always in esoteric and irrelevant subjects). People with various kinds of doubts about global warming, however, include large numbers of highly-credentialed scientists in relevant fields.

Not all of them are going to turn out to be correct, and some may have dishonest agendas, but I think that most of them can be credited with being genuine seekers for truth, and their motives treated with ordinary respect.

If we are not careful, we may find the word “denialist” used to simply silence argument and intimidate opponents in any argument by linking their mental processes with those who deny the Nazi holocaust or with those who cannot face reality. That would not be a good thing.

Brennan Sia

Perspectives

Women self-destructing

with Jane Sawicki

Like many teenage girls in today’s society, I went on the oral contraceptive Pill at 16 years of age. It was ‘normal’ to be on it, and despite going to a Catholic school, most of my girlfriends were taking it, and I could easily get it without my parents having to know.

I remained on it for 5 years. In that time I thought I was liberated and free. I could control my menstrual cycle and I learnt that I could get whatever I wanted, when I wanted, and I used my sexuality to do that.

I also started to diet and I lost weight. I got so many compliments and acknowledgement from men, and began to believe that being slim makes you more loveable. But what I didn’t know at the time was that I was becoming disconnected from my body.

I was shutting off my natural fertility with the synthetic hormones from the pill, and I became so caught up in how I looked on the outside that my dieting became an obsession, and I developed an eating disorder.

I got so caught up in being acknowledged for my appearance, that I forgot God loved me unconditionally and I drifted from my inner spirit. Deep down I became more and more unhappy and dissatisfied with myself.

At 21 years, I decided to give my body a break from the Pill. My period never came. One year went by and still no period.

I was studying naturopathy at the time, and as I started to learn more and more about hormones and health, I began to worry that maybe something was wrong with me.

Still another year went by and no period. Finally after three years of no menstrual cycle, I started taking herbs and I will never forget the day that my period finally came.

Finally, I was a real woman again!

But the excitement was short lived, and although my periods came back, they were every 50-60 days. After further investigation, I was diag-

nosed with polycystic ovaries. By this time I was a practicing naturopath specialising in women’s health.

And despite helping many other women balance their hormones and achieve pregnancies, I was still struggling with my own fertility and hormones. I was taking herbs, yet deep down I knew that I had to heal myself at a much deeper level.

I sensed that I needed to reconnect with God and renew my spirit.

I started to become aware of how I felt about myself.

I noticed that there were many things I didn’t like about myself, and despite being in a loving relationship and having loving family and friends around me, I was plagued with feelings of shame about my eating disorder.

I believed that if people knew what was going on inside, then they wouldn’t love me.

I also started to discover something interesting whilst working as a naturopath with more and more women.

I noticed that women who were very career orientated, or working in masculine environments (law firms, police force etc.) were experiencing heavy painful periods and endometriosis.

I noticed that women who were struggling to fall pregnant sometimes did not feel emotionally or financially safe in their relationships.

I also noticed that women who were struggling to lose weight, were craving nurturing and emotional nourishment. I knew deep down that I had cysts on my ovaries, because I was constantly dissatisfied and was rejecting the body that God had given me.

So I prayed and prayed – it was all I had left. I asked God why so many women beat themselves up. Why did I find it so hard to love myself? As months went by I began to see myself through God’s eyes.

I knew that every time I spoke negatively to myself, I was hurting something beautiful that God created. I knew that my own healing and my client’s healing was to come from the inside out.

It was time to get rid of the shame and the guilt – no more secrets and no more eating disorder.

So I braved up and told my friends, my family, my partner, his family and my work colleagues.

I told them everything I was hid-

ing, about my self–esteem and my eating disorder. And I discovered something amazing – they still loved me. For the first time in my life I could feel that I really was loved unconditionally. The love had always been there, I just didn’t love myself enough to receive it.

Love truly is an amazing thing. Since I let go of the shame and the need to look a certain way, my next period that came was a 30 day-cycle. From that day a space was created for me to love myself on the inside.

I now have regular 30-35 day cycles, I am free of my eating disorder, and there are no longer any cysts on my ovaries.

So years of personal frustration, and a deep passion for women’s health, has now fuelled my desire to create an event that acknowledges women – for how wonderful we are.

We are in a society where eating disorders are on the rise, where infertility affects one in six couples; where prostitution, drug abuse and sexual assault are increasingly prevalent. Women of all ages can’t escape the media pressure to look like supermodels, to dress promiscuously, to buy into the latest material fads and fashion.

But for one night, on October 10, 5.45pm–10pm, I am inviting all women to join me in being free.

Inside Out is an evening event, where we will celebrate with organic wine, nourish our bodies nutritionally with organic food, and be inspired by the brilliant rhythms of African drumming and dance.

We have high profile guest speakers including Jon Gabriel, author of The Gabriel Method, who has lost over 100kg himself, and will share his story and tips about how to break free from battling with food.

Chris Fernandez from Natural Fertility Services is going to talk about the gift of our fertility and menstrual cycles, and finally Linda Watson, Woman’s Weekly’s Most Inspirational Woman of the Year 2003, will share about her past as a madam and her House of Hope that helps women break free from the sex industry.

Tickets are $75 each or you can purchase three tickets for the price of two by emailing charityinsideout@gmail.com or call Jenelle on 0433 182 399.

All funds raised on the night will go to Linda’s House of Hope.

this is the mass

Special Souvenir Edition World Youth Day 08

Foreword by

George Cardinal Pell

This Is The Mass is a new book which explains with lucid text and beautiful photographic images the Eucharist. It takes the reader step by step through the sacred liturgy from the introductory rites to the dismissal and recessional.

The 160 page book is published by The Catholic Weekly and has been more than 12 months in preparation and production. It features the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell, as the celebrant, with photography and design by the award winning Bob Armstrong.

$39.95 + postage available from the Record Bookshop Ph: 9227 7080 or email bookshop@therecord.com.au

Angels are tested just like us

Q&A

By Fr John Flader

Angels and Archangels

Can you tell me the difference between angels and archangels? Also, is there any reference in Scripture to archangels?

Let us begin with the angels. The name angel, from the Greek aggelos, means messenger. Thus it refers to the role of angels rather than to their nature.

Angels as messengers of God appear numerous times in the Scriptures. For example, an angel appears to Jacob, telling him to return to the land of his birth (cf. Gen 31:11-13); an angel appears to Manoah’s wife announcing the birth of Samson (cf. Judg 13:3); an angel appears to Joseph in a dream to tell him that the child Mary is carrying is of the Holy Spirit (cf. Mt 1:20) and on two other occasions (cf. Mt 2:13, 2:19); and the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist (cf. Lk 1:11) and to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus (cf. Lk 1:26-31).

While only some of the angels act as messengers to communicate the will of God on earth or to accompany human beings as guardians, as in the case of the angel Raphael with the young Tobias (cf. Tob 3:17 ff), all the angels constantly behold the face of God in heaven (cf. Mt 18:10), where they adore God in the heavenly court.

As regards their nature, angels are pure spirits, with intelligence and free will, created by God in the beginning.

They are described by the Catechism of the Catholic Church as “personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the splendour of their glory bears witness.”

(CCC 330)

“The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls ‘angels’ is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.” (CCC 328)

From their creation the angels were given sanctifying grace and were submitted to a period of testing, to prove their worthiness to enter heaven.

Some of them rejected God and became fallen angels or devils.

In this regard, St Peter writes: “For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of deepest darkness to be kept

until the judgment…” (2 Pet 2:4).

The Book of Revelation describes a battle between the angel Michael and the fallen angels: “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.

“And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world – he was thrown down with him” (Rev 12:7-9).

Some of the angels are called archangels, a name meaning “first” or “chief” angel. They are mentioned twice in the Bible. The letter of Jude refers to the Archangel Michael (cf. Jude 1:9) and the first letter to the Thessalonians simply refers to an archangel whose call will announce the second coming of Christ (cf. 1 Thess 4:16).

In the Scriptures, there are various names given to angels, suggesting a certain hierarchy among them.

For example, St Paul speaks of “thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities” (Col 1:16); “rule and authority and power and dominion” (Eph 1:21) and “principalities and powers in the heavenly places” (Eph 3:10.

In addition, the book of Genesis mentions cherubim (cf. Gen 3:24) and Isaiah mentions seraphim (cf. Is 6:2).

From these various names, different writers down the ages developed the idea of a hierarchy of angels with nine ranks or choirs. Among them were St Ambrose, St Cyril of Jerusalem and St John Chrysostom in the fourth century, Pseudo-Dionysius in his The Celestial Hierarchy in the fifth century, and St Thomas Aquinas in the Summa theologiae in the 13th century.

One of the most commonly accepted lists of the hierarchy of angels, mentioned by Pseudo-Dionysius and St Thomas, has three groups of three choirs each.

In descending order they are: seraphim, cherubim and thrones; dominions, virtues and powers; principalities, archangels and angels. It should be understood that this is not an official teaching of the Church.

Archangels and angels are listed at the bottom of the hierarchy, since they are the most involved in the affairs of human beings.

While Michael is expressly referred to as an archangel in the letter of St Jude (cf. Jude 1:9) it is Tradition that has also called Raphael and Gabriel archangels. The name Michael means “Who is like God”, Raphael “Healing of God” and Gabriel “Power of God”. The feast of the three archangels is celebrated on September 29.

director@caec.com.au

Benedict XVI in Lourdes

No talk of miracles but of Mary’s love

Thousands of sick flock to Lourdes to see Pope, pray to Mary.

n By John Thavis

LOURDES, France (CNS) - From an altar ringed with wheelchairs and stretchers, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged thousands of sick people at Lourdes to seek solace in Mary’s smile and maternal love.

Their devotion to Mary at a time of need is not “pious infantilism” but a sign of the highest spiritual maturity, the Pope said on September 15.

It was the pontiff’s last day in France and he dedicated it to the ill and infirm, who packed Rosary Square at the Marian sanctuaries in the Pyrenees town of Lourdes.

The Pope administered the sacrament of the anointing of the sick to 10 people during the liturgy. Addressing each by name, he gently anointed their foreheads and hands with oil and invoked the mercy of the Lord.

The group receiving the sacrament included men and women, young and old, who met for the first time before the liturgy. As the youngest among them, a German girl, sat waiting for the Mass to begin, an elderly French nun in a wheelchair next to her reached out and held her hand.

Behind them stretched hundreds of the distinctive covered blue wheelchairs used to transport many of the sick at Lourdes. Most were there for the Pope, but all had come to pray to Mary.

“I get a great feeling of well-being here. I’m in touch with God through Mary, right here in Lourdes,” said Frank Nelson, a 72-yearold Irishman, who has been coming to the sanctuary since 1948.

Seated in a wheelchair next to others in his pilgrim group, he added that he also has come for “some healing,” after undergoing two hip operations, stomach surgery and treatment for prostate cancer.

In his sermon, the Pope said devotion to Mary can help break the isolation of suffering. Far from being an act of “outmoded sentimentality,” he said, turning to Mary

demonstrates that people “know precisely how to acknowledge their weakness and their poverty before God.”

He recalled that St Bernadette Soubirous, who experienced visions of Mary 150 years ago in Lourdes, first noticed Mary’s smile.

This smile remains a source of hope for many who endure illness and distress, he said.

“Unfortunately, we know only too well: The endurance of suffering can upset life’s most stable equilibrium, it can shake the firmest foundations of confidence,” he said.

Sometimes it can even lead people to despair of the value of life, he said.

“There are struggles that we cannot sustain alone, without the help of divine grace. When speech can no longer find the right words, we need a loving presence,” he said.

Mary’s smile offers strength to fight against sickness, but also the grace to accept “without fear or bitterness” the hour of one’s death, he said.

The Pope, who visited Lourdes as a cardinal in 1981, also spoke of the attraction of Lourdes’ spring water, which many pilgrims bathe in or drink in search of a miraculous cure. The Church has recognised as miracles 67 cures attributed to Mary’s intercession at Lourdes, but pilgrims believe many more undocumented miracles also have occurred.

The Pope did not talk about miracles, but said the spring water at Lourdes is a sign of a spiritual reality that has helped many pilgrims.

“By immersing themselves in the baths at Lourdes, how many people have discovered and experienced the gentle maternal love of the Virgin Mary, becoming attached to her in order to bind themselves more closely to the Lord,” he said.

The Pope made a point of thanking the many people who accompany the sick to Lourdes and help care for them during their stay. These volunteers “are the arms of the servant church,” and so are the many Catholics around the world who regularly visit the sick, he said.

Before the Mass, the Pope continued his “jubilee pilgrimage” in Lourdes, stopping to pray at a hospital chapel where St Bernadette made her first Communion.

Pontiff urges new efforts for ‘spiritual liberation’ of France

Pope lays down law on divorce, religious education, priestly ministry.

LOURDES, France (CNS) - In a wideranging talk to the bishops of France, Pope Benedict XVI called for a new church effort to educate French Catholics and to bring “genuine spiritual liberation” to society.

That will entail a fresh emphasis on religious instruction, a push for vocations, outreach to youths and a firm defense of the traditional family, the Pope said.

He spoke to more than 150 French bishops on September 14 in the French pilgrimage town of Lourdes, where he had come to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Marian apparitions there.

The encounter was considered an important one by French Church leaders, who are struggling to resolve chronic problems of declining religious practice, an erosion of traditional values and a steep drop in vocations. The Pope did not dwell on specific difficulties, but he said the issues facing the Church are manifold and require some new strategies.

He laid out general guidelines, beginning with the fundamental task of catechesis. Religious education is primarily a matter of content, not method, he said, and the bishops should make use of two “precious jewels” at their disposal: the universal catechism and the French national catechism.

The goal should be an “organic presentation” of Christian revelation in a way that can inspire people to follow Christ, he said. That will require diligent preparation of religious instructors, he added.

The Pope then emphasised a point he made during a Mass in Paris, that priests

are indispensable to the pastoral life of the Church. Their ministry is one of service to the laity, he said, and “where their specific missions are concerned, priests cannot delegate their functions to the faithful.”

The Pope urged the bishops to appeal for priestly and Religious vocations and to increase awareness of the need for vocations among their faithful.

The Pope focused on the situation of the family as an overriding area of concern, for the church and for all of society.

“The stable union of a man and a woman, ordered to building earthly happiness through the birth of children given by God, is no longer, in the minds of certain people, the reference point for conjugal commitment,” he said.

He said that in addition to providing assistance to families, the church must witness to traditional marriage and its indissolubility.

That also applies to the Church’s own sacramental practices, particularly regarding Catholics who are divorced and remarried, he said. The Church must show the greatest affection for such couples, but he told the bishops that the blessing of irregular unions “cannot be admitted.”

The pope said that when it comes to the role of the faith in society, the bishops should help the nation “find a new path” that builds on France’s Christian roots. He emphasized that the church does not want to substitute for the state, but has a responsibility to help build a moral social fabric.

He encouraged the bishops to take a bigger view of their evangelising mission, going beyond political arrangements.

“Now, and above all, it is time to work toward a genuine spiritual liberation,” he

said. “Man must constantly learn or relearn that God is not his enemy, but his infinitely good creator.”

The Pope said the French church should make a special effort to engage the young. In a world that “flatters their base instincts,” he said, the Church should appeal to their sense of responsibility.

He recalled that his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, had once prompted thunderous applause when he told French young people that “moral permissiveness does not make people happy.” “The good sense which inspired the healthy reaction of his listeners is still alive,” the Pope said.

The Pope addressed a sensitive pastoral issue in France when he spoke of his 2007 document that relaxed restrictions on use of the Tridentine rite, the Mass rite used before the Second Vatican Council. Some French bishops feared that as the old rite was more widely introduced for traditionalist groups, it could provoke liturgical conflicts. The pope urged the bishops to make sure that “the necessary pacification of spirits” continues in their dioceses and that solutions satisfactory to all are found, “lest the seamless tunic of Christ be further torn.”

He appeared to appeal for a more flexible attitude toward traditionalists when he asked the bishops to be “servants of unity” and told them: “Everyone has a place in the Church. Every person, without exception, should be able to feel at home and never rejected.”

The Pope also had some advice about dialogue with Muslims, who constitute a growing percentage of France’s population. He said such dialogue aimed at mutual understanding between faiths is important.

But he said that good will is not enough in dialogue. Effective dialogue requires good

formation and, on the part of Christians, an awareness that “Christ himself is the truth,” he said.

For the Christian, the pope said, dialogue is always an aspect of the faith and its universal mission.

“The global, multicultural and multireligious society in which we live is a God-given opportunity to proclaim truth and practice love so as to reach out to every human being without distinction, even beyond the limits of the visible Church,” he said.

Intimate: A young woman holds a candle while participating in a procession attended by Pope Benedict XVI in Rosary Square at the Marian sanctuaries of Lourdes, France, on September 13. The Pope travelled to Lourdes to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mary’s appearances to St. Bernadette Soubirous.

Photo: CNS/P Razzo, Catholic Press

Joyful prayer: Pope Benedict XVI speaks at the conclusion of a Marian procession in Rosary Square in Lourdes, France, on September 13.

Photo: CNS

Benedict XVI in France

Europe needs long-term solutions: Pope

Pope addresses secular France, says society needs inspiration of Gospel

PARIS (CNS) - Arriving in France for a four-day visit, Pope Benedict XVI called for a new chapter of church-state cooperation, saying modern society greatly needs the inspiration of the Gospel.

The Pope appealed in particular on behalf of struggling youths, the suffering poor and the polluted planet.

In all three areas, the Pope said on September 12, the Church can bring hope and help create an “ethical consensus” in a society that sometimes lacks values and direction. “This hope is all the more necessary in today’s world, which offers few spiritual aspirations and few material certainties,” the Pope said at an official welcoming ceremony at Elysee Palace.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy warmly welcomed the Pope and applauded his words. In the president’s own speech, he said religion did not represent a danger for any democracy and that Christian values constituted a “living patrimony” for the whole society. Earlier, Sarkozy broke protocol to greet the Pope personally at Orly Airport, accompanied by his wife, Carla Bruni.

It was Pope Benedict’s first visit to France as Pope, and the trip represented a test for one of the primary goals of his pontificate: to reinvigorate the Christian roots of Europe.

Speaking to reporters aboard his chartered plane en route to Paris,

the Pope made it clear that he came as a friend of France and an admirer of its contributions in art, architecture, philosophy and theology - a rich culture, he noted, that was largely formed by Christians.

He picked up on the same theme at the ornate Elysee Palace, where he spoke to Sarkozy and several hundred other dignitaries in a hall filled with chandeliers.

Describing himself as a “sower of charity and hope,” the Pope quickly zeroed in on a perennial and crucial issue in France: the proper role of the church in a secular society. On one hand, he said, it was right to “insist on the distinction between the political realm and that of religion in order to preserve both the religious freedom of citizens and the responsibility of the state toward them.”

At the same time, he said, society must become more aware of “the irreplaceable role of religion” in forming consciences and instilling values.

The Pope then turned to several specific issues where the Church’s influence is needed today. His greatest concern, he said, is for young people. “Some of them are struggling to find the right direction or are suffering from a loss of connection to family life,” he said.

Other young people are left on the margins, spiritually seeking but vulnerable, and they need sound educational direction, he said. The Church has a specific role in this regard, he said.

The Pope said he was also worried about the widening gap between rich and poor, especially in the Western world. Beyond immediate assistance, he said, long-term solutions are necessary

defence of “the inalienable rights of the human person from conception to natural death.”

He urged French leaders to help build peace within European borders, warning that the continent faced the danger of a “resurgence of old suspicions, tensions and conflicts among nations.”

While the Pope was not specific, he appeared to be referring to the recent conflict between Georgia and Russia and the resulting damage to US-Russian relations.

in order to “protect the weak and promote their dignity.”

On a broader issue, the Pope said he was concerned about “the state of our planet.”

“With great generosity, God has entrusted to us the world that he created. We must learn to respect and protect it more. It seems to me that the time has come for more constructive proposals so as to guarantee the good of future generations,” he said.

The Pope noted that France currently holds the presidency of the European Union, and he called on the country to promote the

True love does not exist without suffering; no gift of life without pain

God’s love poured out on humanity through the cross of Jesus offers healing and salvation to all people: Pope.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - At his September 17 weekly general audience, the Pope reflected on his September 12-15 trip to France, which he said had brought him many blessings.

“By a happy coincidence,” he said on September 14 when he visited the Marian sanctuaries at Lourdes was the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, “the sign of hope par excellence because it is the testimony of maximum love.”

“In Lourdes, at the school of Mary, the first and perfect disciple of the crucified one, pilgrims learn to consider the crosses of their lives in the light of the glorious cross of Christ,” he said.

Pope Benedict told a packed Vatican audience hall: “The cross reminds us that true love does not exist without suffering; there is no gift of life without pain. Many learn that truth in Lourdes, which is a school of faith and hope because it also is a school of charity and of service to one’s brothers and sisters.” He said that at his September 15 Mass with the anointing of the sick at Lourdes, “I wanted to meditate on the tears of Mary at the foot of the cross and

on her smile, which illuminates Easter morning.”

By appearing to St Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, he said, Mary “opened in the world a privileged place for encountering divine love, which heals and saves.”

“In reality, we are all pilgrims” on earth, he said. “We need a mother to guide us. And at Lourdes, her smile invites us to move forward with great trust because God is good, God is love.”

Pope Benedict said that by starting his trip in Paris, meeting government officials, cultural leaders, young people and religious, he had an opportunity to pay homage to the contributions of French Catholicism to European culture.

“It is interesting that it was precisely in that context that there matured the need for a healthy distinction between the political sphere and that of religion according to the famous saying of Jesus, ‘Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is God’s,’” he said. While Roman coins were stamped with the face of the Emperor Caesar, requiring a monetary tribute to him, the Pope said, “in the heart of man there is the imprint of the creator, the one Lord of our life. Authentic secularism is not doing without the spiritual dimension, but knowing that it is the radical guarantee of our freedom”.

Although there have been serious pastoral problems in France, including a drastic drop in sacramental practice among Catholics, the Pope’s first major address in the country was almost entirely positive. He cited the long list of contributions made by French Catholic communities and said the French people should know that their country is “often at the heart of the Pope’s prayers.” In Church-State relations, he said, past suspicions have been transformed into “a serene and positive dialogue.” In making the point that “the roots of France - like those of Europe - are Christian,” he cited Sarkozy’s own statement to that effect last year.

Sarkozy, who was born and raised a Catholic, is twice divorced and describes his religious practice today as “sporadic.” However, he has strongly affirmed the Catholic Church’s cultural imprint in France and defended the right of the church to a voice in public affairs.

After meeting with the Pope late in 2007, Sarkozy said in a speech at Rome’s Basilica of St. John Lateran that France’s roots were “essentially Christian” and that to ignore that would represent a “crime

against (French) culture.” In the eyes of Vatican officials, that made him somewhat of a philosophical ally of the German pontiff, who has repeatedly pressed European leaders to acknowledge that Christianity has largely shaped the continent’s civilisation and values. Sarkozy has taken a decidedly lessrigid view of France’s traditional “laicite,” or secularism, which was codified in a 1905 law that relegated religion to the private sphere. The French president has spoken of a “positive secularism” and has even encouraged leading Catholics to be courageous in their public interventions.

While leading Catholics have been intrigued and impressed with Sarkozy’s verbal willingness to move beyond ancient churchstate antagonisms in France, one Vatican official recently offered some mild criticism.

French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, who coordinates interreligious dialogue at the Vatican, told the Italian newspaper Avvenire that Sarkozy’s words “have not been followed by concrete action” such as legal recognition of degrees issued by Church universities and faculties.

In his speech, the Pope gently echoed that point, telling Sarkozy that despite improved relations between Church and State, some areas remain unsettled and will have to be resolved “step by step with determination and patience.”

The Pope was on the first leg of a four-day visit designed primarily to mark the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Mary to a peasant girl, St Bernadette Soubirous, in the southern French town of Lourdes.

Canterbury Archbishop in historic Lourdes visit

Archbishop of Canterbury to join Anglican pilgrimage to Lourdes

LONDON (CNS) - Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, England, has made a historic pilgrimage to the Marian sanctuaries in Lourdes, France.

Archbishop Williams’

September 22-24 visit was the first to Lourdes by an archbishop of Canterbury.The pilgrimage included 11 bishops from the Church of England, some 60 Anglican priests and about 400 lay Anglicans.

Archbishop Williams will take part in Catholic celebrations, such as a eucharistic procession, and preached at a September 23 international Mass celebrated by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Archbishop Williams also prayed at the grotto where Mary appeared to St Bernadette Soubirous in 1858.

Anglican Father Graeme Rowlands, an organiser of the pilgrimage, said Archbishop Williams was making the visit at the invitation of Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes.

“It was his (Archbishop

Williams’) decision to go on pilgrimage to Lourdes and nobody else’s,” said Fr Rowlands, who is based in London.

“But it was his devotion to Our Lady in the end really that persuaded him to go,” he said. “He has a very genuine devotion to Our Lady.”

Most of the other pilgrims celebrated the September 24 feast of Our Lady of Walsingham in Lourdes before returning home on September 26. The shrine in Walsingham, England, was one of the most important medieval pilgrimage destinations before it was destroyed during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.

Inspiration: French President Nicolas Sarkozy escorts Pope Benedict XVI in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace in Paris on September 12. The Pope was in Paris prior to his visit to the Marian shrine in Lourdes. Photo: CNS

Archbishop Rowan Williams

Reverent: Pope Benedict XVI prays at the Grotto of the Apparitions at the Marian sanctuaries of Lourdes, France, on September 13.

Photo: CNS/Philippe Noisette, Catholic Press

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$29.95+postage t CAt HERINE LAB o URE’ AN d T he MI r AC ulO u S M edA l By Alma Power-Waters

kids bitz

St Augustine of Hippo

Augustine was born in the city of Tagaste, the present day Souk

Ahras, Algeria, to a Catholic mother, Monica of Hippo. He was educated in North Africa and resisted his mother’s pleas to become Christian. Living as a pagan intellectual, he took a concubine and became a Manichean. Later he converted to the Catholic Church, became a bishop, and opposed heresies, such as the belief that people can have the ability to choose to be good to such a degree as to merit salvation without divine aid (Pelagianism). His works—including The Confessions, which is often called the first Western autobiography—are still read around the world.

c hiles en n ogada (stuffed peppers)

Ingredients:

3 tomatoes

100g whole blanched almonds

2 peaches, peeled chopped

2 pears, peeled chopped

100g raisins

2 Tbspn olive oil

250g pork ground

250g beef ground

4 Tbsp onion chopped

1 tspn garlic minced

1/4 tsp saffron

salt and pepper to taste

7- 8 peppers

Method:

Peel and chop necesasry ingredients. Soak raisins in hot water. Heat oil in large frying pan and brown the meat. Add tomatoes, onion and garlic. Cook covered for a few minutes then add almonds raisins saffron and fruits. Season with salt and pepper and cook until filling is thick.

Place peppers in boiling water for a few minutes until slightly softened. Remove the top and seeds. Stuff peppers and bake until golden Serves 6-8 persons

Schuegraf A feast of spiritual and culinary delights! Over 170 recipes from 21 countries. Richly illustrated with colour photos of saints and dishes including inspiring short biographies of 73 saints. Available by order from The Record Bookshop (08) 9227 7080

colouring activities

kids pics

available from the re Cord b ookshop $7.95

jokes

In keeping with our theme of the afterlife...

What do birds say on Halloween?

“Trick-or-tweet!”

Girl 1: “Can I invite a few friends to your Halloween party?”

Girl 2: “Sure. The more, the scarier!”

Why didn’t the little monster go trick-ortreating?

He didn’t have a costume.

Ashley Brodie Brooke Natalie

What would you get if you crossed Halloween with Independence Day?

The Fourth of Ghoul-ly!

Why were the trick-or-treaters wearing grass skirts?

Because it was Hulaween!

Where’s the most dangerous place to go trick-or-treating?

On the psycho path!

Did you hear about the obnoxious pumpkin?

He was a real jerk-o’-lantern!

What’s the difference between a monsters tummy and a trick-or-treat bag?

You can fill up the bag!

Why is stupid monster like a jack-o’-lantern?

They both have empty heads.

What would you get if you crossed Halloween with Christmas?

A ghoul Yule!

Knock, knock! Who’s there?

Ivan.

Ivan who?

Ivan to bite your neck!

Where would you take a ghost for lunch?

Pizza Haunt!

Where do werewolves stay when they’re on vacation?

At the Howliday Inn!

Where does the Wolfman live?

In a werehouse!

How do zombies celebrate Halloween?

They paint the town dead!

What oinks and drinks blood?

A hampire!

Why are haunted houses so noisy in April?

That’s when the ghosts do their spring screaming!

What’s orange on the inside and clear on the outside?

A pumpkin in a plastic bag!

Student l: “Did you know that ghosts are protected by the Constitution?”

Student 2: “They are?”

Student 1: “Sure. It’s in the Bill of Frights!”

Why did the pumpkin wear a football helmet?

Because it was a jock-o’-lantern! What do you call a ghost at midnight?

A sheet in the dark!

What did the man say when he saw the long-lost maniac?

“You’re a psycho for sore eyes!”

Did you hear about the ghost mortician? He lived in a haunted hearse!

What do you get if you cross a prehistoric creature with a witch?

A dino-sorceress!

o rana Primary s chool Pre-primary students drawings of “What do you think Jesus looks like?”

The mos T unique c AT holic cook B ook eve R !

Panorama

A roundup of events in the Archdiocese

Panorama entries must be in by 12pm Monday.

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

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

Monday September 29

DIVINE MERCY PILGRIMAGE TO GINGINCHITTERING FEAST OF THE ARCHANGELS

11.30am lunch BYO at Gingin; 12.30pm Holy Rosary and Way of the Cross - with Pilgrim Cross. 1.30pm depart to the Divine Mercy Shrine for 2pm Holy Mass, followed by Divine Mercy Devotions and Benediction. 3.30pm Tea. 4.30pm return. Divine Mercy Prayer Groups welcome. Transport: Francis 9459 3873 or 0404 893 877. Enq: Sheila 9575 4023 or Fr Paul 9571 1839.

Tuesday September 30

MMP DAY OF REFLECTION- EVERY FIFTH T u ESDAY

10.30am Rosary Cenacle at Chapel of Villa Terenzio, Cabrini Road, Marangaroo, followed by Holy Mass and talks. Concluding 2pm. Celebrant and speaker Fr Sharbell, Franciscans of the Immaculate. BYO lunch to share, tea and coffee provided. Enq: 9341 8082.

Tuesday September 30 to Thursday October 2

POST WYD TEENAGE CONFERENCE

10am-10pm at St Norbert College, Queens Park; all the fun you can pack into 3 days. Be entertained, inspired, motivated and moved with huge games, live bands, daily workshops, dynamic youth speakers and heaps more. Visit www.activ8.org.au, http://www.activ8.org.au or 08 9445 3700.

Wednesday October 1

THE OLD AQ u INIANS ASSOCIATION

Members are invited to the Annual General Meeting to be held at Aquinas College, Mary Elliot Rice Room at 6.30pm. Enq: Bob 9284 1660.

Friday October 3

THE ALLIANCE, TRI u MPH AND REIGN OF THE u NITED SACRED HEART OF JES u S AND I MMAC u LATE HEART OF MARY

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

Friday October 3

HOLY HO u R FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIO u S LIFE

7pm at the Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins Street, Glendalough, Holy Mass, celebrant Fr Saminedi, 7.30pm Holy Hour Adoration with Fr Don Kettle. All welcome. Refreshments provided. Enq: Des 6278 1540.

Friday October 3

TRANSIT u S CELEBRATION OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

6.30pm at the Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor Street, East Perth come and join the Secular Franciscan Order in WA and the Franciscan Friars in celebrating the Transitus (the passing) of St Francis with Mass and readings followed by supper. Enq: Anne-Marie 9447 4252 after hours.

Friday October 3

PRO-LIFE WITNESS

9.30am at St Brigid’s, Midland, Mass, followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at abortion clinic, led by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. Enq. Helene 9402 0349.

Saturday October 4

WITNESS FOR LIFE

8.30am at St Augustine’s, Gladstone Road, Rivervale, Mass, followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at abortion clinic, led by Fr Paul Carey SSC. Enq Helene 9402 0349.

Saturday October 4

VIDEO/DVD NIGHT

6.30pm Vigil Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, 20 Hamilton St. Bassendean followed by a 30 mini DVD on St. Catherine

of Siena come and learn more about the Catholic faith? Each week following a 30 min DVD will be shown about The Saints, Conversion Stories, Catholic Teaching etc. Enq: 9379 2691.

Saturday October 4

DAY WITH MARY

9am to 5pm at Sacred Heart Church, Corner Ovens Road and Discovery Drive, Thornlie. 9am a Video on Fatima. Day of prayer and instruction based upon the Fatima message. Reconciliation, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons on Eucharist and Our Lady, Rosaries, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.

Sunday October 5

DIVINE MERCY

1.30pm at St Joachim’s Church, Shepparton Road and Harper Street, Victoria Park, an afternoon with Jesus and Mary, Holy Rosary and Reconciliation. Sermon on Saint Faustina, by Fr Nicholas Pereira, followed by Divine Mercy prayers and Benediction. Refreshments, followed by video/DVD, on The Power of the Holy Rosary, Part 4 by Fr John Corapi. Enq: John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608.

Tuesday October 7

SEVENTH ANN u AL NOVENA TO O u R LADY OF THE MIRACLES

5.30pm at St Luke’s Parish, 2 Parkside Ramble, Woodvale, Novena continues for nine consecutive Tuesdays. Private petitions welcome. Novena booklets provided. Enq: 9409 2908.

Wednesday October 8

Lu NCHTIME M u RDOCH u NIVERSITY CATHOLIC LECT u RES

12.30-1.20pm at Kim Beazeley Lecture Theatre, lecture on The Beauty of a Christian Approach to Sexuality, presented by Paul Kelly, M.R.Ed., Fellow British Opticians. Car park 3 – Free. Enq: Fr Joe Cardoso 0403 303 667.

Thursday October 9

ST PEREGRINE HEALING MASS

7pm at SS John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Road, Willetton; in honour of St. Peregrine, Patron of Cancer sufferers and helper of all in need. The celebration will include Veneration of the Relic, and Anointing of the Sick. Enq: paddyjoe@iinet.net.au.

Friday October 10 to Sunday October 12

POST WYD YO u NG AD u LT CONFERENCE

7pm at Chisholm Catholic College, Bedford; the time has come to activ8! Learn more about how to activ8 youth ministry in your local community. Dynamic speakers covering topics such as, searching for answers, social justice, leadership development, youth resources, prayer experiences and more. Visit www.activ8.org.au, http:// www.activ8.org.au or 9422 7944.

Saturday October 11

ST PADRE PIO PRAYER GRO u P (ITALIAN)

8.45am at St Brigid’s Church, Morrison Road, Midland, St Padre Pio DVD in the Parish Centre, 10am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Divine Mercy, silent adoration and Benediction. 11am Holy Mass using St Padre Pio Liturgy. Confession available. 12noon lunch BYO. All welcome. Enq: Des 6278 1540 or Pina 0423 744 229.

Sunday October 12

THE WORLD APOSTOLATE OF FATIMA Au ST INC HOLY HO u R OF REPARATION

3pm in the Immaculate Conception Church, Canning Highway, East Fremantle. All welcome. Enq: 93339 2614.

Sunday October 12

M A JELLAN 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND FAREWELL MASS

2pm at Redemptorist Monastery, North Perth. Followed by afternoon tea, Retreat House. One plate per car. All Majellans are welcome. Enq: Kath 9446 6514 or Leeola 9307 5990.

Sunday October 12

ALLEGRI CHAMBER ORCHESTRA ALL ITALIAN M u SIC PROGRAM

3pm at St Thomas Church, Claremont, Soloist will be noted organist Mario Duella, to give the premiere performance in WA of Respighi’s Suite for Organ and Strings, also Albinoni’s Adagio for Organ and Strings. Corelli, Rossini and Puccini works make up rest of program. Tickets available through BOCS or at the door. Enq: 9383 3747 or gail.owen15@bigpond.com

Wednesday October 15

TO u CH OF HEAVEN - ALAN AMES HEALING MASS

7pm at St Gerard Majella, Mirrabooka. Enq; Loreta 9444 4409.

Thursday October 16

CO u NCIL OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS WA INC – HAS IT ALL BEEN SAID

7:30pm at Temple David Social Hall, 34 Clifton Crescent, Mt Lawley, by Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein, Member, ICCJ Executive Board. Jewish-Christian Dialogue. $5 Members, $10 non-members. Light refreshments served. Visit: http://www.ccjwa.org, or ccjwa@aol.com.

Saturday October 25

AWAKENINGS - A RETREAT ALONE WITH GOD

Commencing 9am to 4pm at The Bioethics Centre, 39 Jugan Street Mt Hawthorn, formerly Glendalough. An internationally acclaimed one day retreat held in Singapore, Canada, USA, Philippines, India and now in Australia! BYO lunch. Tea and coffee provided. Cost $10, payable on arrival. Must Book. Bruno 9451 4113 or Lee 9310 6232.

Saturday October 25

CORP u S CHRISTI COLLEGE RE u NION CELEBRATION

The Corpus Christi College class of 1988 invites students in the second stream of 1984 to 1988 to the 20th Anniversary Reunion Celebration at Tradewinds Hotel, Fremantle, commencing 6pm. Enq: Justine Rosevear -Tavani 9314 1454 or Vickie Loveridge by email: alan4vickie@bigpond.com

Sunday November 2

F u NDRAISING CONCERT FOR THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR

2pm at Little Sisters Community Hall, Rawlins Street, Glendalough, in the presence of Bishop Don Sproxton, come and enjoy your favourite sounds of music, afternoon tea and door prizes. Tickets are $10. All proceeds to the Little Sisters. Door sales, bookings welcome. Enq: Mary 9443 3963 or Angela 9275 2066.

Sunday November 16

Au CTION FOR THE POOREST OF THE POOR IN INDIA

12noon at Our Lady of the Mission Parish Hall, 70 Camberwarra Drive, Craigie, please spring clean your cupboards and garage and donate items in good condition, gifts and gadgets etc excess to your needs and help $1 turn into 2 kilos rice in India for the Ragpickers children etc. Enq: Sheila 9309 5071 or shannons3s@ optusnet.com.au.

April 13 - 27, 2009

THE ORDER OF ST PETER AND PAu L AND ST PIO PRAYER GRO u P PILGRIMAGE TO MALTA AND ITALY

Honour the year of St Paul and resumation of St Pio. Itinerary is Perth, Malta, Messina, Palermo, Siracusa, Agrigento, San Giovanni, Rotondo, Lanciano, Assisi, Loreto, Padova, Milano and Perth. Spiritual Director- Fr Joseph Tran, Co-ordinator Nick De Luca. Enq: famdeluca@ optusnet.com.au or 9378 2684.

Every Wednesday

THE GREAT ADVENT u RE - A JO u RNEY THRO u GH

THE BIBLE

9.30am to 11.30am, starting 15 October at St Jude’s Catholic Church, 20 Prendiville Way, Langford. Want

to read the Bible but don’t know how? Here’s an easyto-follow program you won’t want to miss. Discover a deeper insight into God’s salvation plan, how the Bible timeline unlocks the many questions of biblical events. Free course. Enq: Fr Terry Raj 94581946, or Dominic Ng 04 4705 3347.

Every 1st Thursday of the Month

PRAYER AND MEDITATION SERVICE u SING SONGS FROM TAIZE

Beginning on 2nd October at 7.30pm at Our Lady of Grace, 3 Kitchener Street, North Beach, Come for prayerful meditation in which beautiful, easy to learn chants from Taize are sung. Spend time in prayerful, meditative silence, bathed in candlelight reflecting upon themed readings. Enq: Beth 9447 0061 or 9448 4888.

CALL FOR VOLu NTEERS

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

JOSEPHITE-MARY MACKILLOP CALENDARS 2009

Special Edition Centenary year of Blessed Mary MacKillop’s death. The calendars will be available in October and if you would like to purchase a copy please ring Sr Maree 9334 0933.

Every Sunday

LATIN MASS KELMSCOTT

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

Every Sunday until November 30

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY - u NDERSTAND YO u R SEX u ALITY, REALI S E YO u R DIGNITY AND DISCOVER YO u RSELF

4pm at 67 Howe Street Osborne Park, commencing September 28. Free seminar. Presenters Disciples of Jesus Catholic Covenant Community and Youth Ministry leaders. Find out what it means to be man or woman. Why we are called to live a life of purity and chastity. A must for 16-25 years group. Enq: Shannon 9444 1467 or 0429 421 149.

Every 4th Sunday of the Month

HOLY HO u R PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIO u S LIFE

2-3pm at Infant Jesus Church, Wellington Road, Morley, commencing 28 September, the hour includes exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Let us implore God to rain an abundance of new life into our Church, open our hearts and those of the young people of the world to hear His Word for us now, today. Prayer works! All welcome! Enq: 9276 8500.

Every Sunday

PILGRIM MASS

2pm at Shrine of Virgin of the Revelation, 36 Chittering Road, Bullsbrook; with Rosary and Benediction. Reconciliation is available in Italian and English. Anointing of the sick; second Sunday during Mass. Pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin; last Sunday of month. Side entrance and shrine open daily between 9am and 5pm. Enq: 9447 3292.

Third Sunday of the Month

MEDITATIVE PRAYER IN THE SPIRIT OF TAIZEINTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

7pm-8pm at Sisters of St Joseph Chapel, 16 York Street, South Perth; come and join in praying together for peace throughout the world. You will be invited to light a candle as a symbol of peace. Bring your friends and a small torch. Everyone welcome. Enq: Sister Maree Riddler 0414 683 926.

P AN o RAMAS co NT .

Every Thursday until October 2

B E Ba PT iz ED B y Fi RE: Th E hO ly S P i R i T an D h i S a n O in T ing

7.45pm, 450 Hay Street, Perth. Cathedral Praise Meeting. A Free Seminar on the Power of the Holy Spirit. Oil. Water. Light. Cloud. Seal. Hand. Finger. Dove. Fire, and a mighty rushing Ruah! Presented by Flame Ministries International - Ph: 9382 36689.

Every Tuesday

n OVE na TO g OD T h E FaT h ER

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

Every Sunday

MUS i C ian S an D S ing ERS

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

Every 1st Sunday of Month

D i V in E MERC y

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

Every Monday

a DOR aT i O n, RECO n C iliaT i O n an D M a SS

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

Every Thursday

J OUR n E y Th ROU gh T h E Bi B l E

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

- Bishop Sproxton

28 Catenian Mass, St Joseph’s Subiaco - Archbishop Hickey

50th Anniversary Mass for Benedictine Oblates of New Norcia - Archbishop Hickey Feast of St Michael Mass and Procession, Highgate - Bishop Sproxton

OCTOBER

2 Activ8 Teenage Conference Closing Mass - Bishop Sproxton

3-5 Parish Visitation, Manning - Archbishop Hickey

5 Mass at Wilson Parish - Fr Brian O’Loughlin VG

7 Mass of Thanksgiving, Sisters of Charity - Archbishop Hickey

8 Clergy Seminar on Pastoral Care for the Sick - Archbishop Hickey

9 Council of Priests Meeting, Glendalough - Archbishop Hickey, Bishop Don

mISSIoN mATTERS

Reflections on this Sunday’s Gospel; matthew 21:28-32

On Social Justice Sunday this week-end, the Bishops of Australia remind us of the affluence that we enjoy and our Christian responsibility to share it. Like the first son in today’s Gospel, we may be a little reluctant at first, but our genuine love of God will see us through to doing His will. Sometimes we need to experience and discover for ourselves the poverty and brokenness of our world before we can accept whole-heartedly our Christian responsibility to build a just world so that ALL can live life to the full.

Call the Mission Office on 9422 7933 should you want to explore this idea further.

BUILDING TRADES

n BRICK RE-poINTING

Phone Nigel 9242 2952.

n pERRoTT pAINTING pT y LTD

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

n BRICKLAyING

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

n pICASSo pAINTING

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

RELIGIoUS pRoDUCTS

n GIFTS oF LoVE

Individually made to order, candles of your choice for baptisms, weddings, and other special occasions. Custom made rosary beads or choose from our exclusive range. Hand made leather bible and missal covers, religious statues, icons and other exclusive gifts of love. “The greatest of them is love” 1 Corinthians 13:13 Please e-mail giftsoflove@amnet.net.au Call Rose 0437 400 247 after 4pm

n CAThoLICS CoRNER

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

n RICh hARVEST – yoUR

ChRISTIAN Shop

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

n ALL SAINTS hANDCRAFTED

RoSARIES AND ChApLETS

View our current range of original Rosaries, chaplets and bracelets for all occasions. Custom orders in the beads and colour of your choice are welcome. Contact Elisa on 0421 020 462 or email allsaintscreations@iinet.net.au

n KINLAR VESTmENTS

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

n oTTImo

Shop 108 TRINITY ARCADE (Terrace Level) Hay St, Perth Ph 9322 4520. Convenient city location for a good selection of Christian products/ gifts. We also have handbags, fashion accessories. Opening hours Monday-Friday 9am-6pm.

BooK REpAIRS

n LITURGICAL BooK REpAIRS

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

FURNITURE REmoVAL

n ALL AREAS

Mike Murphy 0416 226 434.

hoLIDAy ACComoDATIoN

n DUNSBoRoUGh

Cosy F/F 3 bedroom cottage, WC, shwr,laundry, auto w/mach,TV, DVD, Stereo. Ideal family, sleeps up to 7. Only 2/3 mins walk to Quindalup beach. Towels and sheets not supplied. Avail weekly summer $700 /$800 school holidays, plus $100 bond/cleaning. Great price for Dunsborough! Sheila 9309 5071 Mob 0408866593 email: shannons3s@optusnet.com.au

n mANDURAh

Fully furnished, air conditioned two bedroom flat. 100m to Doddis Beach ring 08 9385 9732 or 0403 194 601.

n mANDURAh

Townhouse in Resort Complex. Fully furnished. Sleeps 6. Phone 0419 959 193 or email valma7@bigpond.com

EmpLoymENT

n CARETAKER/hANDymAN

For Catholic Church, Bindoon. Free Accom provided. Suit pensioner. For details telephone 9571 1839 or 9576 0006.

SETTLEmENTS

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

hEALTh

n DEmENTIA REmISSIoN

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

RETREATS

n CRoSS RoADS

Retreat “Dealing with Change” with Fr Paul Baczynski at Perth’s Premier Retreat Centre Shoalwater. Rooms with own ensuite. Excellent facilities and food 100m from the beach from October 31 until November 2. $175 pp. Please call Karen 9319 8344.

pRAyER

O Jesus, Who hast said, ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you, through the intercession of Mary, thy Most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted (Make request). O Jesus, Who hast said, all that you ask of the Father in My Name, He will grant you, through the intercession of Mary, thy Most Holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask Thy Father in Thy Name that my prayer be granted. O, Jesus, Who hast said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away but My word shall not pass,” through the intercession of Mary, Thy Most Holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted. Thank Jesus for favours granted.

the R

saints companions for each day

By a Jm mausolfe and JK mausolfe revised by Ladislaus L d”souza

A collection of brief life sketches of around 400 saints, who are some of the Catholic Churchs outstanding hero and heroines. Who, by their holy lives, untiring labours and sacrifices have, through the centuries, helped to sustain that indestructible marvel.

$15.95+postage

a saint for your name Saints for boys

By albert J nevins revised

by

ann Ball

Not sure what name to choose? Heres the perfect choice! With more than two hundred entries it is easy to search for just the right name. Perfect for baby showers, first Holy Communion and Confirmation. It gives you the origin and meaning of each saints name, the story of their heroic life and the roots of the seemingly countless variations of today’s most popular names.

$16.95+postage

praying the rosary for inner hea L ing

By fr dwight Longenecker

Discover the parallels between your life and the mysteries of the rosary while experiencing the healing graces of Our Lady. Where our lives are characterised by trauma, stress, pain or sadness, this acient contemplative prayer can bring acceptance understanding and joy.

Through a series of stories, reflections and prayerful meditations, Fr Dwight longenecker reveals a powerful and very personal approach to using the Rosary as a process of transformation and healing from the inside out.

$22.95+postage

m ary mac K i LLop

Touching our lives

By Judith m steer

we remmber Blessed Mary Mackillop not only beacause of what she achieved more than one hundred years ago but because her life continues to speak to us today. As we face various challenges - new eginnings, endings, creative moments - we can learn from Mary’s responses to such situations in her life.

$14.95+postage

once upon a time saints

By ethel pochocki with illustrations by tom matt who are these once upon a time saints? They were everyday folks leading everyday lives - but then something happened. God spoke to them, and they stopped and listened. They took their ordinary lives and turned them into extraordinary adventures.

$16.95+postage

a saint for your name Saints for girls

By albert J nevins revised by ann Ball

Not sure what name to choose? Heres the perfect choice! With more than two hundred entries it is easy to search for just the right name. Perfect for baby showers, first Holy Communion and Confirmation. It gives you the origin and meaning of each saints name, the story of their heroic life and the roots of the seemingly countless variations of today’s most popular names.

$16.95+postage

the BL ac K dress

Mary MacKillop’s early years

By pamela freeman

Won the NSW History Prize for Young People in 2006

The Black Dress tells the story of the life of Mary MacKillop. The book is written in the first person, narrated by Mary MacKillop from her death bed. She reflects back on her life as a child and the driving urge she had to become a nun and do something meaningful to help others.

Fascinating from the very beginning $18.00 +postage

g ospe L c hampions

A Catholic action adventure PC video game

Features:

14 new bible story adventures more fantastic 3D worlds both old and New testaments

New tasks, puzzles and tools

Catholic prayers and teachings

Family leader board

Includes these great Gospel adventures: The creation Noahs Ark Josephs colourful coat Daniel and the lions den $34.95+postage