The Record Newspaper 24 October 2007

THE R ECORD

The Parish. The Nation. The World.

WA steps back, again

Bulgaria the latest nation to reverse policy on legalised prostitution, following European trend

String of countries say ‘No’ to sex industry’s predation of women

and girls

■ By Anthony Barich

Western Australia is in danger of being left behind world trends after Bulgaria abruptly reversed its plan to legalise pros titution early this month.

The eastern European nation’s decision came as part of its attempt to clamp down on the trafficking of women and girls and, according to media reports, to stop the nation becoming a prime destination for sex tourism.

Bulgaria is the latest European country to reject the principle that the law should allow the sexual exploitation of women and girls; following the success of Sweden’s approach introduced in 1999, Finland banned buying sex from trafficked women last year.

Norway is currently considering an out right ban on purchasing sex similar to Sweden’s policy, Amsterdam’s city govern ment has proposed closing down over a quarter of its infamous storefront brothels in its red light district following a takeover by organised crime including the Russian mafia, while the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have rejected legali sation attempts.

The US has adopted a foreign poli cy position against legalised prostitution based on its link with trafficking – a link which has spurred the global anti-prostitution movement.

Serious: A young protestor outside Parliament House in Perth holds a sign urging politicians to reject Attorney General Jim

The cold and rainy weather did not deter approximately 300 people from attending the rally on Wednesday October 17.

However, WA Greens leader Giz Watson, who was part of the Prostitution Law Reform Working Group that drew up the framework for the local legislation, dismissed the Swedish model.

Through a spokeswoman, Ms Watson told anti-decriminalisation protesters outside WA’s Parliament House the day before Attorney General Jim McGinty’s Bill passed through the Lower House last week that Swedish researchers have claimed that

THE RED HATS

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed 23 new cardinals. Who are the men who will become key advisors to the Holy Father and leaders of the Church? Pages 11-12

Kelmscott parish launches safe passages program for parents

■ By Anthony Barich

Confidence, competence and commitment to guide children through their adolescent years is what ‘Safe Passage Program’ is offering parents as part of a series of interactive DVD-based sessions at Good Shepherd par-

plan

Teachers, CYM, call women, men

ish hall in Kelmscott. The project, aimed at parents, will be presented by Silvina Martinez and is sponsored by the Knights of the Southern Cross branch in Kelmscott.

The Safe Passage Program is designed to help children through what can be their most turbulent years. Sessions are at 7pm on October 22, November 5, 12 and 19 at the parish hall on Streich Avenue.

JUST PLAIN SPECIAL

Kwinana Parish had a special day for some special people, including some acolytes with special intellectual needs. It was a great parish occasion.

Page 3

Contact: Neville Voysey on (08) 9390 5666 or via nvo61963@bigpond.net.au

The Society of Catholic Teachers and Catholic Youth Ministry are inviting ‘women of witness,’ eager to learn more about witnessing to God in their daily lives, to a special day on November 10. They are also calling on men seeking formation on what it means Continued - Page 8

50 YEARS STRONG

St Pius X School in Manning celebrated half a century since its founding - it was a great day to remember, and a great day to celebrate.

Page 7

Editorial/Letters - Page 8

Opinion - VISTA 4

The World - Pages 9-13

Western Australia’s award-winning Catholic newspaper - Wednesday October 24, 2007

McGinty’s

to legalise brothels.

Photo: Sylvia Defendi

From Californication to banning talk of religion

Channel Ten’s hostility to Christianity continues

■ By Paul Gray

Churchgoing by several contestants on the music program Australian Idol has become a topic of national controversy.

A Channel Ten affiliated company, Fremantle Media, last week banned Australian Idol contestants from speaking about religion at a public event in Sydney. The ban followed criticism from some quarters that Christian contestants are receiving an unfair advantage over non-Christians on the show.

The popular TV show features young contestants performing older pop songs, with viewers voting for their preferred performances.

Now in its fifth year, Australian Idol has made stars out of Christian performers Guy Sebastian and Paulini Curuenevuli.

Criticism that the large NSW Pentecostal church Hillsong has exerted an undue influence over the program, by encouraging church-

goers to vote for Christian contestants, sparked a sensitive reaction from Ten management. Last week-

end major newspapers reported that the Channel Ten publicity team had threatened to cancel media

interviews with contestants if they broached the subject of religion.

Sydney’s Sun-Herald reported

that television chiefs were concerned about the effect of the religions stories on the street credibility of the show.

One of this season’s contestants, Tarisai Vushe, is a Zimbabweanborn Christian who has been open in thanking God during media interviews.

On the official Australian Idol website, she states: “If I win, I would thank God first. Without Him, I wouldn’t exist to be a contestant. Not forgetting the fans supporting me. They are a blessing.”

In a response to the media controversy over their alleged involvement, Hillsong Church posted a brief statement which read: “No Australian Idol contestant has received any mention at Hillsong Church this year, but we wish them all well.”

Christian belief is not the only concept which has received publicity through the medium of Australian Idol. A 2004 contestant, Anthony Callea, initially denied rumours of his homosexuality, but in March this year, confirmed them.

In a message to fans, Callea confirmed that he is “gay” and “proud.”

Children used as bait as care becomes an election issue

Institutional childcare will be further promoted under a federal Labor Government, after Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd promised to raise the childcare tax rebate.

According to expert estimates, more than

A LIFE OF PRAYER

half of the cost of childcare for Australian families is now provided by the federal government – a proportion that will increase if Labor is elected at the November 24 poll.

Family First Senator Steve Fielding has criticised Mr Rudd’s proposal, calling for more Government funds to be directed to parents using “in home” child care rather than sending their children to childcare centres.

“It’s all well and good to raise the childcare rebate, but why not give it to all parents rather than only to those that choose childcare centres?” Senator

TYBURN NUNS

Fielding said. The Family First Senator argues that all parents should receive childcare help, not only those that choose to put their children into commercial childcare centres.

The Family First party says if a family uses a childcare centre, they can claim a tax rebate of up to $4000 under the Liberal Party, and up to $7500 under Labor’s policy.

But if parents choose in-home care for their children – keeping them at home with a parent, or at a grandparent’s home, for example – they receive no rebate.

The party has called for the federal government to give all families with children under

five a $4000 childcare payment every year.

“Let’s give parents real choice, and if they choose to have their kids looked after by a grandparent or relative or friend, they should get the same childcare help.”

Meanwhile policy debate continues around the childcare issue, with a Centre for Independent Studies researcher claiming there is a lack of research evidence that good quality childcare is beneficial to all children. CIS research fellow Jennifer Buckingham says numerous reports on childcare have been produced in the past decade by governmentfunded agencies.

-PAUL GRAY

Christian and proud of it: Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian and Paulini produced the theme song for World Youth Day 2008. Sebastian has also spoken out against abortion. PHOTO COURTESY OF WY D08.

Servers provide crucial role in life of the Church

■ By Sylvia Defendi

Long standing and newly trained altar severs were uniquely recognised at St Vincent’s Church in Kwinana on September 22.

After 30 years of service as an

acolyte, parishioner Ralph Britto was presented with a certificate, while parish priest Fr Phong Nguyen welcomed 16 new altar servers.

Certificates of appreciation were also presented to three altar servers who have an intellectual disability.

Gerard de Haas, Seana McVeigh and Andrew McVeigh were congratulated “for their reliable and devout service as altar servers for many years,” Fr Nguyen said.

stration of recognition and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities, and of their gifts, by the Church,” she said.

ents expressed their concerns that barriers too often meant that their sons and daughters were not fully accepted by the Church.

Gerard’s mother, Vicki de Haas, said she was extremely proud of the trio and their achievements. “I was overwhelmed by this demon-

Tasmania wanders down embryo path

■ By Paul Gray

Tasmania has become the latest state to place embryonic cloning before its parliament.

The parliaments of NSW, Victoria and Queensland have passed laws to allow cloning, in line with federal legislation.

In all cases, the new laws allow for the creation of a cloned human embryo for experimental purposes, after which the embryo will be killed.

Western Australia’s cloning bill, the Human Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill 2007, has passed the lower house of parliament and is currently in the Legislative Council. It allows for the creation of embryos for destruction.

This week a second reading of the Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Amendment Bill was moved in the lower house of Tasmania’s parliament.

The Bill was introduced by the

Tasmanian Minister for Health and Human Services, Ms Lara Giddings in August. The chief of staff of the Australian Christian Lobby in Tasmania, Nick Overton, has urged Tasmanian parliamentarians to make a stand against human cloning.

“The science of how you undertake embryonic cloning may be technically complicated, but the ethical question behind it is quite straightforward,” Mr Overton said. “The question is whether it is right or wrong to create a cloned human embryo in order to experiment on it and then destroy it. That’s the question Tasmanian parliamentarians should have in their minds before they vote on this bill.

“Human life, regardless of its age, has value and should not be arbitrarily created and destroyed, no matter how noble the supposed goal might be.”

Mr Overton said the Bill raises the question of whether the goal of scientific research justifies the destruction of human life.

In August 1977, when Catholic Care for Intellectually Handicapped Persons, now Identity WA, held its first parent meeting, about 30 par-

“Many changes have taken place since that parent meeting” Mrs de Hass said, adding that there was now much to be very grateful for.

Moved by the desperate plight of Christians in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East, the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has been supporting the country’s beleaguered Christian population.

Sadly, due to ongoing violence and oppression, the proportion of Christians in the Holy Land has plummeted from 20 percent to as little as 1.4 percent in the last 40 years.

ACN is helping to keep faith and hope alive throughout the region by providing urgent aid to priests, religious and lay people, offering subsistence help to refugees and building and repairing churches and convents. Please help us strengthen and rebuild the Church in the land of Christ’s birth.

A beautiful, handcrafted crib, made of olive wood in Bethlehem, will be sent to all those who give a donation of $20.00 or more to help this campaign.

Please tick the box below if you would like to receive the little olive wood crib*.

No: (02) 9679-1929 E-mail: info@aidtochurch.org

I/We enclose $................ to help keep Christianity alive in the Holy Land and Middle East.

0Yes please send me the little olive wood crib*

AID TO THE

Made of olive wood from the Holy Land, this delightful little crib scene is powerfully evocative of Christ’s birthplace.

The cribs are lovingly, handcrafted by poverty stricken families in Bethlehem and your donation helps them survive.

(Size:10.5 cm x 10.5 cm x 5.5 cm)

I’m John Hughes, WA’s most trusted car dealer

Is it true that most of my sales are not from direct advertising, but from personal recommendation, repeat business and reputation?

Is it true I have my own finance company to assist good people with poor credit to buy cars from me?.

Is it true I sell over 1,300 vehicles every month in Victoria Park, and that is the biggest number from any one location in Australia?

Is it true that I refuse to sell any vehicle that has had previous major accident damage?

Is it true that when people come to do business with me, I guarantee they will be treated with courtesy, sincerity, professionalism and efficiency?

Is it true “I want your business and I’m prepared to pay for it” and “I stand behind every car I sell”?

Is it true that every year for the last 20 consecutive years I have been Australia’s top selling Hyundai dealer?

Standing proud: Kwinana parish priest Fr Phong Nguyen with altar servers Andrew and Seana McVeigh and Gerard de Haas.

(B UT HURRY, THERE ARE J UST EIGHT LEFT ).

You don’t have to leave the area to enjoy life in a safe and friendly over 55s village overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Foley Village is a brand new, luxury village in the elevated suburb of Hilton.

All of the row houses and villas have sold out but there are still eight imaginatively designed terrace villas available.

And yours will be ready for you to move into by Christmas this year.

The first-class village is part of a unique precinct including Silver Chain’s adjoining and now expanded, John Mercer Aged Care Facility.

It’s also very close to excellent shopping, transport, medical and community facilities and is not far from the vibrant shopping and entertainment heart of Fremantle.

For all the impressive details Freecall Alan Legge on 1800 777 796 or visit www.scrosswa.org.au

Nation’s catechists consider the challenges of the future

often unseen, but their quiet labours are one of the most important works in the Church in Australia

Catechists from around Australia gathered at the Redemptorist Monastery in Perth in early October.

‘A time to sow’ was the theme chosen for the National Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (NCCD) Conference that attracted participation from delegates representing 28 dioceses across the country.

Archbishop Barry Hickey, who opened the conference, paid tribute to the generosity of those who become catechists and said he prayed the Holy Spirit would be with them in their ministry.

“It is important that we share our knowledge with, and encourage each other; that we be enthusiastic, communicate our faith and ask God to help us cooperate in what we set out to achieve,” he said.

And it is essential to lead by example when disseminating the Good News about Jesus, he said.

“We are invited by Jesus to an intimacy with him. If we then invite others to experience and know Jesus on a personal level, it must be real and genuine in us as well,” he suggested.

Later, Bishop Gerard Holohan of Bunbury posed delegates the question: what are we trying to do?

He suggested evangelisation could be described as “bringing the Good News into all the strata of humanity”.

“Evangelisation,” he continued, “begins with a transformation into a ‘new creation’; a transformation in the way the Gospel is preached. As Catechists, you need to understand that the key is the power of the message. This understanding is fundamental to evangelisation.”

Quoting the General Directory for Catechesis, Bishop Holohan said catechesis needed to form the personality of the believer as the communication of faith was realised in the encounter between the Word and personal experience.

“The very purpose of catechesis, therefore, is to help people find the

encounter point in their lives; about touching the experience of God,” he added.

The word ‘catechesis’ is derived from the Greek word for ‘echo’, and the Catechist is required to, “throw out the Word until you find the echo point in the person. When you have the echo point, the faith response is what returns.”

• Diocesan reporting

• Issues in Religious Education

• Preparing intellectually disabled children for Eucharist and Confirmation

• Meeting the religious and spiritual needs of the next generation

• Religious Education as ministry

Quoting the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:15-19), Bishop Holohan suggested that, just like evangelisation, the Catechist was ‘planting seeds’ and helping to nurture.

The... “harvest of faith within your own hearts flows out and touches the lives of other people who (in turn) become infected with a love of Christ and the Church.”

- Bishop Sproxton

Referring to the work of the Apostles in evangelising, he introduced the delegates to key steps of the process of catechesis.

Bishop Holohan reaffirmed them in their important ministry and reminded them that, “if in doubt, look at the big picture and play your part.”

Delegates also considered issues related to their work including:

• The role of parents as ‘cultivators of the seed’

• How to gain, sustain and retain volunteers

The gathering concluded with a Eucharist celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton, who said those present represented “a tremendous movement of the Spirit throughout Australia”.

“The miracle of such a harvest of faith within your own hearts flows out and touches the lives of other people who (in turn) become infected with a love of Christ and the Church,” he said.

“If this gathering has brought the Word to you in a way that is living, then hopefully you can return to your dioceses with a vision of the Word that you can then offer to those people you are involved with through formation.

“May this conference have renewed your interest and love of the work that you do and we pray that the Lord will send his Spirit to allow you to develop a closer relationship with Him,” he added.

-

The fifteen expertly drawn scenes depicted in this book add wonder to the beloved story of the Nativity: the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary, the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, the birth of baby Jesus, the visit of the Three Wise Men and more....

The scenes are printed on special translucent paper that when coloured and hung in the window, will produce a similar effect to stained glass.

You can colour the pictures with crayon, felt-tip pens, or acrylic, watercolour, tempura or oil paint.

Phil Bayne, CEO MEdia

Beginning: Delegates plant seeds to symbolise new life during an opening ritual for the national conference of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, held at the North Perth Redemptorist Monastery from 9-11 October. PHOTOS: PHIL BAYNE, CEO

Encouragement: Perth Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton told Catechists they represent “a tremendous movement of the Spirit throughout Australia.”

Archbishop asks for vocations prayers

Archbishop Hickey uses funds drive to ask for special prayers

■ By Sylvia Defendi

The St Mary’s Cathedral Appeal received a massive boost on October 13 when parishioners at St Joseph’s Church in Bassendean welcomed a visit from Archbishop Barry Hickey by sharing in a parish dinner that raised over $2000.

But it was more than just an occasion to raise money.

Ever the active shepherd of his flock, Archbishop Hickey took the opportunity to stress the importance of vocations that could potentially spring out of the parish to help the spiritual awakening.

Following the Saturday evening vigil Mass, over 150 dinner guests attended the communal dinner that concluded the three-day canonical parish visitation.

Archbishop Hickey met with parishioners and spoke at all Masses during his visit.

Fr Jim Shelton said the parish was grateful to everyone who had in any way assisted in organising the parish dinner fundraiser.

Many were thanked including students from LaSalle College who assisted with parishioners in serving the dinner.

“Of special interest was the presentation of Swiss Guard, Paolo Senn who is living in the parish while studying English at St Mark’s College in Highgate,” Fr Shelton said.

Fr Shelton also presented Archbishop Hickey with a framed picture of the Swiss Guard night vigil of the late Holy Father Pope John Paul II lying in state.

Archbishop Hickey complimented the parishioners for their generosity and expressed appreciation for the efforts being made to contribute toward the completion of the Cathedral.

“The Archbishop spoke of cultivating and praying for vocations, particularly from the parish, and reaching out into the community,” Fr Shelton said.

Catholic traditions remain strong at St Pius X

St Pius X Catholic Primary School cherishes the past, marching into the future

■ By Anthony Barich

Years of hard yakka by priests and Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in establishing Pius X Catholic Primary School were acknowledged by over 500 past and present staff, students and parents as its 50th anniversary was celebrated last Sunday.

The book “The First Forty Years”, a history of St Pius X Catholic Parish in Manning, recalls that once the “convent school” of Pius X opened for business in early February 1957, Josephite Sisters Casimir and Angela caught the taxi from their South Perth convent to Manning from 1957 to 1963, which was paid for by parish priest Fr Patrick Carmody, who succeeed Fr Thomas Ahern.

Fr Ahern, first parish priest of St Pius X and also chaplain at the nearby Aquinas College at the time, oversaw the building of the school, under the instruction of the Archdiocese’s Catholic education guidelines thus:

“Every priest is strongly urged by his superiors to build a school first before building a presbytery or church.

“The object of this recommendation is to provide the children with a Catholic school, where the Sisters teach them, first of all their faith and secondly a better secular education than that imparted in the

State schools.”

Given the special charism of the school’s namesake, Pius X, the focus of the Eucharistic celebration last Sunday for the school’s 50th anniversary on the Gospel reading of the Last Supper was particularly appropriate.

Chief celebrant, Perth’s Vicar General Fr Brian O’Loughlin, reminded the congregation at the outdoor Mass that Pius X, who was overwhelmingly elected Pope by 55 of the 60 voting cardinals in 1903, had a special interest in purity of faith, and especially in forming the faith of young people.

Fr O’Loughlin reminded the school that Pius X became known as “the Pope of the Eucharist, as his acclaimed Decrees of Holy Communion issued between 19051910 allowed the reception of Holy Communion at an earlier age than had formerly been required and also encouraged frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist by all Catholics.

He championed sacred music and ordered Gregorian Chant to be used everywhere, and his encyclical ‘Acerbo nimis’ of 1905 detailed the necessity for catechismal instruction not only for children but for adults.

Pius X was also devoted to the formation of clergy in the seminary when he was Vicar General of Treviso and gave copies of St Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica to many of the poorer students, while cultivating Gregorian Chant in company with the seminarians.

Reminders of the genuine nature of child-like faith at the Catholic institution were everywhere at the Mass, from the banner that read, “Faith is loving God and believing in God” to paintings on the walls of a priest and a Josephite Sister – chief instruments over five decades of passing on the faith.

The faith continues to be passed on by laity, as Robert Romeo, the current principal of St Pius X Catholic Primary School, instituted the school prayer that is said at every assembly, which asks God for strength and guidance “to restore all things in Christ, so that Christ may be in all that we do”.

The celebration acknowledged the past with long-time parishioner Alex Wells placing a portrait of St Pope Pius X at the altar; fol-

lowed by current school staffer Sr Maureen Hodge with a portrait of Josephite founder Blessed Mary MacKillop, ex-student Bernadine Devereux representing past students with a report card from the ‘70s current Year 1 student Elliana Nolan carrying a workbook then the last Religious principal who served at St Pius X, Josephite Sister Maureen O’Connor with photos of all Religious Principals who served at the school.

Then the school’s first lay principal, Brendan Spillane, carried forward the school policies’ file.

The Mass was concelebrated with Frs Thomas Parambil, Michael Gatt and Jim Corcoran, all of whom had an association with the parish and school, whose motto is “Faith and friendship”.

Friendship, Fr O’Loughlin said, is more than just with students; it is friendship with Jesus, and with those who pass on knowledge of the Son of God along with general education to the children – the teachers.

“The first teacher is Jesus Himself, who came to make God known to us,” he said.

The Vicar General also reminded the school that faith, as encompassed in the school’s motto, is knowing that the bread and wine consecrated at Mass are “no ordinary things”.

“This really is Jesus,” he told the students, parents and teachers at the event.

Look here: Archbishop Barry Hickey makes a point at Bassendean parish.

Cute: Year 1 student Elliana Nolan carries a workbook, symbolising the education the school provides.

Grand: St Pius X Catholic Primary School students process through the Perth Zoological Gardens for a special occasion in 1966. PH OTO COURTESY OF THE SCHOOL.

Big class: St Pius X Catholic Primary School’s Year 1 class of 1966 with Sr Denise Casey at the back. PTHOTO COURTESY OF THE SCHOOL.

Ceremonial: Altar servers process to the altar with Perth’s Vicar General Fr Brian O’Loughlin at the outdoor Mass. PHOTOS: ANTHONY BARICH

Article of faith: A banner produced by students proudly shows the faith they are taught.

Perspectives

editorial letters to the editor

The cause of ‘dullsville’

The dullest thing in Perth right now is the campaign to convince us that Perth is dullsville and that it desperately needs to be transformed into something else. It has been going on for too long already and it becomes duller with each inane repetition. The latest example is the morning newspaper’s editorial direction to the new Mayor that her job is to get rid of the dullsville tag.

The problem with the tag is that nobody knows what it means in relation to the lives of the people who live in this beautiful city. The newspaper keeps repeating it, but readers have to guess what it means – and guess what would be necessary to remove it – and guess what effect the removal of it might have on their lives. Only last week, for example, the latest commentator trotted out by the paper told us Perth has to become ‘an internationally confident city’. It sounds impressive, but what does it mean?

Occasionally, we get insights into what some people mean by it, and those insights are frighteningly dull. At the recent opening of the new city train station Premier Carpenter and Transport Minister Alannah McTiernan were almost beside themselves as they told us that at last Perth was a modern city because we’ve got an underground railway station.

The great advantage of television is that people get the chance to see absurdities they would not otherwise believe. It is impossible to define what difference is made to the life of a city and its people by having an underground train station compared with an above ground station, but in its mayoral editorial the morning paper told us “The Government has shown that major change is possible in the city through its successful passenger rail project.” Dullsville, there you go!

In amongst the welter of Government advertising that has assailed us in recent months was a small series telling us that we will “notice a change of scene soon”.

PO Box 75

Leederville, WA 6902

cathrec@iinet.net.au

Tel: (08) 9227 7080

Fax: (08) 9227 7087

It was the State Government announcing that there would be more people drinking more alcohol at more times and in more places.

In our social whirl of alcohol, aggression and violence, this is exactly what we need. Alcohol appears to be the one constant in campaigns to change ‘dullsville’.

A generation ago, Northbridge was supposed to be the saviour of the city’s reputation, but with drugs, gangs, prostitution and crime added to the alcohol it is now such a seedy place that most people will not go into it – even by day when bright sunlight reveals the fact that no amount of streetscaping by the City can hide the miserable character of the place.

The answer from the anti-dullsville campaigners is to spread Northbridge into the city all the way down to the river.

Premier Alan Carpenter and Attorney General Jim McGinty are now about to add their latest contribution to the campaign by turning the Government into the biggest pimp in our history, licensing all manner of people to prostitute women, girls and even boys in the various branches of this pernicious trade in humanity. Perhaps they imagine that turning Perth into a centre for human trafficking and sex tourism will put an end to dullsville. Behind the utterly shallow attempts to change Perth into something it isn’t and does not want to be, lies the refusal to examine the meaning of human life and what sort of lifestyle most people actually want.

Perth has long had a reputation for being a wonderful place to live and one of the best places in the world in which to raise children. Behind those simple statements is the fact that most people find their happiness and fulfilment in the fidelity of their marriages and the fruitfulness and joy of their families from generation to generation.

There is far more of the meaning of human life in that choice of lifestyle than in the falsehoods of the lifestyle promoted by those who want to label the rest of us dull.

Perth already has significant entertainment facilities and will no doubt require – and obtain – more as time goes by. It can – and will – do more to enhance its beautiful environment. King’s Park, the river, the beaches and the multitude of other parks and open spaces should already be more than enough for Perth to be an “internationally confident city”.

The really important issue is, what sort of people and what sort of lifestyle are we trying to cater for and/or promote in the development of our city? Those who are doing their best to condemn our city as ‘dullsville’ are not doing much to persuade us that their alternative would be anything more than a disaster.

Contrasts of life

Television programs provide us with many examples of the contrasts of life experienced by people in various parts of the world. But the ABC’s Sunday program Compass is currently showing us the biggest contrast of all – the inner life of people who live in the world and the inner life of nuns who live in an enclosed Benedictine monastery in NSW. The first program has already screened, the second was deferred and will be screened this Sunday; the third program the following Sunday. The contrast between the nuns and the five women who courageously entered their world for a month has already become evident and should become clearer. The big challenge for viewers, however, is not merely to observe the five, but to observe the nature of the contrast within ourselves and to become aware of how we could adopt some of the attitudes and practices of the nuns in order to expand the peace in our own lives.

Around t he tabl e dnuorA

North and South

Ireceived the social justice pamphlet handed out on Sunday. Here are two quotes from a recent Saturday “West Australian” about our state, firstly from the south:

“A squat turret of dense chocolatey coffee parfait was formed on top of two chocolate shortbread discs, offset with fleshy soaked prunes. The parfait was studded with whole pecans and the plate was jewelled with tiny jubes of the floppiest wobbliest sherry jelly imaginable.”

And now from the north: “There was rotting uncovered meat lying in a pool of blood on the shelves. The only other items were three half-eaten loaves of bread, a jar of jam and some powdered milk. The freezer had a number of uncovered unidentifiable carcasses in it. …It was the only food his family of five

Did you miss out?

If you did not attend the concert performed by the St Thomas More College Chapel Choir on Wednesday 10th October 2007, you missed a spectacular show. What a super performance by 18 young talented choristers (all University students) conducted by Choir Masters Danielle Hewitt and Ericius Tan - 3 Bassists, 3 Tenors, 6 Altos and 6 Sopranos - and backed by the St Mary’s Cathedral Organist Jacinta Jacovcevic and a violin accompaniment by Siobhan Sinn.

Christopher Lee gave a superb rendition of Ave Maria, Ericius Tan of Panis Angelicus and Danielle Hewitt of When You Believe. In the finale, Jacinta gave an organ recital of the Angelus and Toccata

Unfortunately, this concert to raise funds to send youth to the World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney next year was not given better publicity it deserved to attract more support although there was a very good turnout.

Most of the about 180 audience who attended and tremendously enjoyed the performance, would welcome another such concert by this Choir, and perhaps at a larger venue.

Congratulations to all in the Choir for putting up such a splendid performance. Looking forward to the next one.

Richard Chia Duncraig

would have until he got the age pension on Wednesday.”

This must be the our local version of the north-south divide.

I have been reading Lifelink’s Tony Pietropiccolo’s comments on the housing crisis.

While the two major parties have not responded with specific proposals, the Family First Party has.

Their plan to make mortgage interest tax deductible and so give first home buyers the same tax breaks as those who invest in second and third homes for profit is equitable and offers real assistance with rising family costs.

Geoff Taylor Riverton

Let Mark entertain you, intimately

In a previous life, before he began studying to become a priest of the Archdiocese of Perth, Mark Baumgarten earned a crust playing the piano to entertain guests on a boat that cruised down the Swan River.

Had you been standing on the grassed area at the back of St Charles Seminary in Guildford, looking out to the Swan River, you’d have seen him - or that boat, at any rate.

On Sunday, November 11, Mark, now a firstyear student at St Charles’ Seminary, is putting on a show to help him and his fellow seminarians get to World Youth Day in July 2008 in Sydney.

Appropriately, he’s called it “An Intimate Afternoon with Mark Baumgarten”, and make no mistake, that’s exactly what it will be, nestled in the scenic Swan Valley listening to Mark put on a special performance of original and popular music. Our future priests making the trip to World Youth Day - an experience that has changed people’s hearts and brought them closer into an intimate relationship with Christ - can only benefit the lads. After all, they will be ministering the sacraments of the Church to us in a few years’s time. Tickets are $10 adults, $7 concession, $20 families, with afternoon tea provided. Call the seminary on 08 0279 1310 for tickets.

Wanted: women of witness, men of faith

Continued from Page 1 to be a Christian man to the same event. They describe the gathering as an all-day event packed full of discovery and solidarity.

Both men and women groups will meet on November 10 for the day’s workshop.

Organiser Therese Bonasera from the SCTA said that women should get ready for a ‘day of fun, fellowship, down to earth teaching and pampering.’ “The

day represents an opportunity for Catholic women of all ages to come together and be themselves.

Women of Witness is for women who are eager to learn more about witnessing to God in our world today; in our daily lives,” she said.

Meanwhile Men of the Passion will view John Eldridge’s bestselling Wild at Heart series and kick-back in conversation.

WA teachers invited to hear

Archbishop, Sydney CEO rep

Catholic educators in all sectors are invited to hear Archbishop Barry Hickey and Anthony Cleary from the Sydney Catholic Education Office speak on the New Evangelisation and Generation Y at the Catholic Pastoral Centre on Mary Street, in Highgate. Whether student teachers, catechists, home schoolers or apologists, all are invited to the seminar, which will run from 9am to 1pm.

To register your interest and for more information please contact Renato on (08) 94375349 or via email at admin@scta.org.au

The Wild at Heart series explores the inner life of men and encourages men to confront the social expectations and personal inhibitions affecting them.

Organiser Robert Hiini from CYM said that he looked forward to a day that will be both laid back and substantial.

“It’s a day for individual men to realise that a lot of their experiences are not unique to them; that they have brothers who understand,” he said, adding that quite apart from apologising for being men, the group will be looking to celebrate and rediscover what it means to be a man, as God intended.

Both groups will meet on November 10, with the women beginning at 10 am at the Edel Quin Centre, 36 Windsor St, Perth, and the men at 9:30 am at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, Harold St, Highgate.

For more information, contact Therese on: 94375349 or Robert at: cym@highgate-perthcatholic. org.au by November 2.

Vista

October 24 2007

■ By John Thavis

When Pope Benedict XVI was elected in 2005, one of his first decisions was to stop presiding over beatification ceremonies.

Many people took this as a signal that the pope wanted to slow the flow in the Vatican’s saintmaking pipeline. In fact, it looks like the opposite is happening.

Already in 2007, 10 people have been beatified in 10 different liturgies carried out by cardinals. That number is about to increase exponentially.

In late October, 498 Spanish martyrs of the 1930s civil war period will be beatified in a megaceremony in St Peter’s Square.

It’s the largest beatification in the Church’s history, and Pope Benedict is expected to appear for a final blessing.

Throughout the rest of the year, many others will be elevated

Patagonia in November to beatify Zefferino Namuncura, the son of an Indian chief and the first indigenous Argentine to be declared blessed by the Church. Most of the beatifications, however, have fallen to Portuguese Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the sainthood congregation.

Beatification, of course, is an intermediate step toward sainthood, not the finish line. When someone is declared blessed, he or she can be venerated locally, whereas canonization holds the person up as a universal model of holiness. When martyrs are involved, historical wounds can be reopened, as seen in the case of the 498 Spaniards to be beatified on October 28.

During the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War nearly 7000 priests and religious were killed, most of them by supporters of the Spanish revolutionary government founded in 1931.

The sainthood causes of the Spanish martyrs were suspended by Pope Paul VI, but Pope John Paul II allowed them to move

The SAINT MAKER

to the rank of blessed, including missionaries in Brazil, an Austrian who was decapitated for refusing to join Hitler’s army and an Italian theologian whose works were once condemned by the Vatican.

And already the beatification line-up is taking shape for 2008. It includes 188 Japanese martyrs of the 17th century - priests, religious and lay missionaries who were decapitated, burned at the stake or scalded to death in a volcanic hot spring. Beatifications may be off the Pope’s to-do list, but they are very much on the Vatican’s agenda these days.

“Beatifications are still quite important. What the Pope wanted to do was highlight their meaning for the local churches,” said Mgr. Michele Di Ruberto, undersecretary of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes.

“If we have a beatification in Rome for a Brazilian, for example, maybe 300 pilgrims will come from Brazil. But if it’s done there, thousands and thousands will attend,” he said.

With the Pope delegating beatifications, Vatican officials have been hopping all over the globe to preside over the liturgies.

The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who recently beatified a 17th-century priest in Poland, will fly to

forward again. Critics argued that the late pope was playing politics by stirring up old divisions at a time when the Socialists had come to power in Spain.

Similar criticism has been voiced about this year’s ceremony, even though the Vatican has underlined that the martyrs are being beatified on strictly religious grounds.

One thing is clear: The Vatican has not tried to down play the Spanish beatification, one of the few to take place in Rome under Pope Benedict to accommodate a larger crowd. While beatifications continue to increase, canonisations are rarer events. Even so, Pope Benedict has created 14 new saints in his first two and a half years. Although many assume Pope Benedict wants to cut back on the number of new saints, he once said that was a misreading of his remarks as a cardinal.

“I never said there were too many saints in the Church. That would be absurd, because the Church can never have too many saints,” he said in a 1989 interview. The point he wanted to make, he said, was that every canonisation represents a choice for the Church, and that “there are many more saints than those who can possibly be canonised.”

Busy: Portuguese Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, who heads the Vatican’s Congregation charged with the job of investigating and recommending official sainthood. Under Pope Benedict XVI his job has made him a frequent flyer. PHOTO: CNS/REUTERS

Long way to go as people power registers

Continued from Page 1 clients and workers have simply found less visible ways of making contact.

She also claimed that before Sweden changed its legislation in 1998, 80 per cent of Swedes who bought sexual services purchased them outside the country, and this has not changed since.

She claimed that up to 600 women are still trafficked into Sweden each year, mainly from Eastern European countries.

However, a detective inspector in the Swedish National Criminal Police told the New York Times earlier this month that police had heard traffickers and pimps complain that “Sweden is a bad market” when they eavesdropped on tapped phone calls.

Ms Watson admitted, through

the read statement, that WA police had raised concerns about trafficking of sex workers, but said they “could not provide any direct evidence of such activities in WA to the Working Group”.

She said that in 2004-05 the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs reported 290 ‘unlawful noncitizen sex workers’ in Australia, with five per cent (15) of them being in WA.

Independent WA MP Janet Woollard, who organised last week’s anti-legalisation protest, said that she knew of workers who have helped women trafficked into WA, proving their existence.

The Prostitution Amendment Bill that passed through WA’s Legislative Assembly proposes that brothels be decriminalised, leaving

houses with one or two prostitutes unregulated. Local councils who will decide where the brothels will be located will be powerless to turn down a brothel on the grounds that it is a brothel and to stop the licensing of a brothel which existed illegally before the legislation would have come into effect.

“Prohibitive laws have always failed to stop prostitution, attracted criminal involvement and have left prostitutes vulnerable to abuse and often violence,” Ms Watson said, advocating a model that “regulates the industry and provides a safe working environment for sex workers”.

However, Peter Abetz, who lived through Victoria’s period of legalizing prostitution, told the rally at Parliament House that organised crime became more involved in

brothels as police no longer had a reason to visit brothels, so they became “safe havens” for drug deal ing.

Under WA’s proposed Bill, police can enter brothels to check licens ing.

“The Victorian police admit that the illegal industry in Victoria is at least twice the size of the legal one. So cleaning up the sex industry led to a growth from 50 before it was legalised to over 1200 broth els and escort agencies - a 24-fold increase, and that does not include the single operator prostitutes ” said Mr Abetz, a minister of the Grace Christian Reform Church.

He reminded protesters that in 1999 Victoria’s Attorney General Jan Wade admitted that legalising prostitution had been a “miserable failure”.

All ages: Protesters of all ages gathered at the steps of parliament house in Perth to show their disapproval of the soon to be considered Prostitution Amendment Bill, which seeks to legalise brothels..

Standing strong: Janet Woollard addresses the protesters.

Experience: Peter Abets speaks in front of parliament house. Support: Pro-life Liberal MLC Barbara Scott was also present.

Protest: Rob Johnson slammed Labor in front of the gathered protesters.

Sally Pemberger reads out Giz Watson’s statement

Greens’ position.

Promoting sexual integrity: Many youth gathered to reject the legalisation of brothels in WA.

passion to MPs over prostitution’s reality

Greens leader the key, say MPs

■ By Anthony Barich

WA Greens leader Giz Watson looms as the key for Attorney General Jim McGinty’s prostitution decriminalisation Bill to progress through the Legislative Council next month.

Shadow Attorney General Sue Walker; principal lawyer for the Multicultural Law Centre Carol Penn; independent Lower House Member for Alfred Cove Dr Janet Woollard; Rev Peter Abetz of Grace Christian Reform Church and Wendy Herbert of Drug Free Australia all urged up to 300 participants at the protest rally on the steps of Parliament House on October 17 to focus their attention on Ms Watson.

The Bill passed through the Legislative Assembly last week, with Mrs Woollard and Ms Walker both lamenting the WA Government “gagging debate” in the Lower House on prostitution reform.

However, it is understood that members of the public who oppose the Bill have up to a month to contact Ms Watson with their concerns before it will be voted on in the Legislative Council.

Ms Walker, the Liberal Member for Nedlands, said the WA Greens leader holds the balance of power in the Upper House and therefore must be the one to petition if Mr McGinty’s Bill is to be defeated.

Ms Watson was part of the WA Government’s Prostitution Law Reform Working Group that drafted

the current Prostitution Amendment Bill 2007.

“There is one name you need to remember to focus all your energies on: calling on Giz Watson to take responsibility for the damage that this Bill will do for families,” Ms Walker told protesters.

She said that if all the Liberal Party MPs, Giz Watson and her Greens colleague Paul Llewellyn (Member for the South West) vote against this Bill, it would be defeated.

Mrs Woollard said that upon discussing the issue with Ms Watson, she believed that the WA Greens leader was not aware of the existence of human trafficking in WA.

“We have people working with women who have been trafficked into WA, so we know they exist,” Mrs Woolard said.

However, in an email obtained by The Record where Ms Watson was responding to a concerned voter who contacted her urging her not to legalise prostitution, she said: “The Greens will be supporting the passage of this Bill through the Parliament. You may also be aware that it is currently legal to work as a sex worker in WA.”

Ms Watson, absent from last weeek’s protest despite being invited to speak, conceded in a statement read by an assistant that the police did raise concerns about trafficking of sex workers.

However, she said “they did not provide any direct evidence of such activities in WA to the Working Group.” She said that in the 200405 the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Multicultural

Legalisation’s rollback

Affairs reported 290 ‘unlawful noncitizen sex workers’ in Australia, with five per cent of them being in WA.

Ms Watson also dismissed the ‘Swedish model’ again, repeating what the Prostitution Law Reform Working Group said – that it reduced the visibility of sex work but that “Swedish researchers have pointed out that clients and workers have found less visible ways of making contact”.

This was refuted by leading European prostitution and trafficking expert Gunila Ekberg when visiting Perth last month.

Ms Watson added that before the Swedish legislation was changed in 1998, 80 per cent of sexual services were provided outside Sweden, and this still remains the case.

She also said that 400-600 women are still trafficked into Sweden per year, mainly through Eastern European countries, and that this number has remained constant in the past several years.

However, Ms Ekberg told The Record last month that traffickers know as a rule to stay away from Sweden as the rules are so tight and policed so strongly.

WA Opposition spokesman Rob Johnson told the protest that it was a “sad day for West Australian families”, as the Bill was expected to go through the Lower House that day.

Mr Johnson got a savage response from WA Premier Alan Carpenter last month when he asked the former ABC journalist if he would want any of his daughters to become prostitutes.

Since 1999 a growing number of countries have decided to combat prostitution and its related trafficking in women and children. Following its success some have adopted the model pioneered by the Swedes, others have modified it or elements of it for their own situation.

Sweden: Banned purchase of sex in 1999, decriminalised prostitutes, criminalised clients who buy them, has become a model for reform throughout Europe.

Norway: considering ban on purchasing sex

UK: British Cabinet currently considering adoption of Swedish approach

Czechoslovakia: rejected legalisation

Finland: adopted Swedish approach

Estonia: rejected legalisation

Latvia: rejected legalisation

Lithuania: rejected legalisation

Bulgaria: rejects legalisation, first week of October 2007

Preparing: Protesters gathered a little before the allocated time to prepare placards and t-shirts showing their refusal to support the proposed legalisation of brothels in WA, while former WA Madam, Linda Watson (right) shares her disturbing experiences within the sex industry.

PHOTOS: SYLVIA DEFENDI.

From the other side: John Tapley highlights that the issue of prostitution is not only a women’s issue. PH OTO: SYLVIA DEFENDI.

Passionate: A protester openly questions whether ‘our children are safe with Attorney General Jim McGinty’s ‘pro-pimp bill.’

PHOTO: SYLVIA DEFENDI.

Opinion

Such grandeur of Spirit

■ By Hal G. P. Colebatch

In 1947 a lifeboat named Edward, Prince of Wales put out from the town of Mumbles in Wales, in a teriffic storm, to aid the stricken ship Samtampa.

Mumbles sounds like the name of a British village in a Stella Gibbons satire, but the business afoot that night was in earnest.

The Edward’s coxswain, William Gannon, had previously received gold and silver medals for saving life in storms. Among the unpaid volunteer crew were William Howell, a survivor of a wartime torpedoing. Friends and relatives begged him not to go out – the storm was too fierce.

They all knew that some years previously, six men had died when a boat from the same station had overturned in a similar storm. Howell replied: “I must go. They came after me when I was shipwrecked, and I cannot leave them out there.” Another of the crew, Richard Smith, had just been demobilised from the armed forces and was due to be married two days later.

Attempting to rescue the people aboard the Santampa the Edward overturned in the mountainous seas and its entire crew of eight perished.

The late historian Arthur Bryant wrote a few days later:

“It is by such grandeur of spirit that a nation lives. These men were united in fidelity to their duty towards their fellow-men … They were animated, not by hatred or self-seeking, but by love, one without exclusion or exception at the service of mankind. They did not ask whether those they died to save were politically or ideologically worthy of their sacrifice, whether they were richer than themselves or poorer, whether they were Britons or men of another race, whether they were brown or white, whether their shirts were black or red. It was enough that they were fellowcreatures in need of succour. In doing so they followed, consciously or unconsciously, in the steps of the Founder of the Christian Faith. They made the name of their country glorious throughout the world and left to those who come after an inspiration and a faith.”

Fast forward 60 years to 2007, and to an incident that throws a certain light on the burgeoning health-and-safety culture of modern Britain.

Then an eight-year-old girl, Bethany Ganderton, fell into a small lake near Manchester. Her ten-year-old step-brother, named Jordan Lyon, bravely jumped into the water to try and save her, and got into difficulties himself.

It was, apparently, a dull and dark day and hard to see what was happening.

Two fisherman, both over 60, rescued Bethany. Two fit and young

Spend a month with her

■ With Fr John Flader

Police Community Support Officers (CSOs) then arrived on the scenebut did nothing except radio for help, on the grounds that they were not “trained” to rescue drowning children. Jordon was still missing and possibly struggling in the dark water. One, perhaps acting on a flash of inspired initiative, eventually actually went to fetch help. By the time help arrived Jordan Lyon was dead.

The Assistant Chief Constable of Manchester Police, David “Dave” Thompson, evidently determined to miss an excellent opportunity to shut up, has said that the behaviour of the officers was fully justified.

First, according to Assistant Chief Constable Thompson, PCSOs are not trained to handle drowning incidents.

Second, there was no indication where Jordan was in the pond. Third, visibility was poor. Fourth, by the time they arrived, the boy was already “probably” dead. And, anyway, only one PCSO stood by on the bank contemplating the scenethe other one had, after all, cycled away to get help.

That there was no indication where the boy was is hard to believe, since his stepfather and a policeman were able to find his body within minutes of entering the water when they arrived.

As to poor visibility in the water, a former Labor Home Secretary, David Blunkett, who is blind (and who set up the Community Police Support scheme), said: “I would like to think that you or I, when we arrived on the bank as just normal human beings . . . would have a go.”

One commentator remarked: “Unfortunately for poor Jordan Lyon, PCSOs have been well trained to overcome the natural human instinct to save a drowning child … Trained not to attempt something for which they had not been trained …

“Officers from all emergency services are encouraged to behave in this shameful way by the training they receive. Their superiors know they can only be sued by ‘health and safety’ for what they do, not for what they do not do. So they are encouraged to do nothing.”

A former Tory Home Secretary, Ann Widdecomb, asked:

“What were those PCSO’s thinking as they stood there? Did they need training to know that you die if you breathe in water for long enough? Did they need to have permission to imagine how they would feel if it were their child? Did they have any pity, dammit, for the small drowning being?

However, author Frederick Forsyth offered a somewhat sardonic explanation that seems to cover everything: “They had not been trained to wade.”

There is now a suggestion little Jordan Lyon be awarded a posthumous George Cross for valour. I imagine Arthur Bryant would have supported it.

I have sometimes heard it said that October is the month of the Rosary. Is this something official of the Church or just a matter of popular piety? Also, can you tell me something of the origin of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7?

The designation of October as the month of the Rosary is official. It was proclaimed by Pope Leo XIII in his Encyclical “Supremi Apostolatus”, dated the September 1, 1883. In view of the many dangers afflicting the Church at the time, Pope Leo asked that five decades of the Rosary and the Litany of Loreto be recited each day of October that year in every parish church throughout the world.

The Pope granted special indulgences for all who participated in this devotion.

The following year, in another encyclical, “Superiore Anno”, dated August 30, he again asked that the Rosary be recited in all parishes of the world every day of October.

Pope Leo XIII was so convinced of the power of the Rosary and had so great a love for it that he wrote an encyclical letter on the Rosary every year for 16 years, beginning in 1883. In 1891, in his encyclical “Octobri mense”, dated

snapshot

September 22, he mentioned the fact that the month of October is dedicated and consecrated to the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary.

The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary owes its origin to the victory of the Christian navies over the Turks in the battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. The Turkish navy had been dominating the Mediterranean until an opposing force, put together by several European states under the command of the 25 year-old Don Juan of Austria, set out to engage it. The Christian fleet had only 208 galleys, as against 286 of the Turks.

To assist in the endeavour, Pope St Pius V gave Don Juan a copy of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which had been touched to the image imprinted miraculously on the cloak of Juan Diego, a Mexican Indian, 40 years before.

The image was placed in the chapel of the ship commanded by Admiral Giovanni Andrea Doria of Genoa.

The Christian navy put to sea on September 16 and Pope Pius V, who had standardised the Rosary in its present form in 1569, asked the Church to pray the Rosary in order to implore the help of Almighty God through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin.

Finally, at dawn on October 7 the two navies met in battle off the coast of Lepanto, in the Gulf of Corinth. Significantly, as the

Vatican Archives later revealed, at the very time the battle began the Pope, accompanied by many faithful, was praying the Rosary in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. The prayers continued throughout the day.

Although the wind initially favoured the Turks, it suddenly changed to favour the Christians.

When the battle was finally won around 4 pm, the Turks had lost some 200 galleys and 25,000 men, while the Christian casualties numbered only some 7,500.

In thanksgiving for the victory, Pope Pius V declared that a commemoration of the Rosary under the title Our Lady of Victories would be a part of the Vatican’s Mass every October 7 thereafter. In 1573 his successor, Pope Gregory XIII, changed the name of the feast to Our Lady of the Rosary, and ordered that it be celebrated in all churches with altars dedicated to the Rosary. In 1671 Pope Clement X extended observance of the feast to all of Spain. Finally, in 1716, following the victory of the Christian armies over the Turks at Peterwardein in Hungary, Pope Clement XI extended the feast of the Rosary to the universal Church.

Thus there is a great deal of history behind the feast we celebrate each year on the seventh of October. The Rosary is indeed a powerful prayer and it is much to be encouraged, especially for families.

La Conquistadora still going strong

Little did the Spanish conquistadors and Franciscans who came to what is now New Mexico in 1625 realise that the same wooden statue of Mary they brought with them to help instill the Catholic faith would still be a symbol of love and devotion today. Originally called the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the statue is little more than 3 feet high, made of wood and hollow in the middle so it might fit atop a staff when displayed on horseback but it continues to inspire the faithful as La Conquistadora.

Her history is interwoven with the Catholic faith in Santa Fe, particularly among the Spanish settlers’ descendants who have lived in the area for generations. Every year, pilgrims carry the statue in a procession from the Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, where it resides, to Rosario Chapel several blocks away for “Fiesta de Santa Fe.”

At the end of the festivities, which include Mass, it is returned in a procession to the cathedral.

The World FEATURE

I’ll Never Lie Down

The fields of Palestinian farmer Mohamad Sabatin have been in his family for centuries. Forty years after the 1967 Six Day War, he is still fighting for his land. His response?

“We’ll keep replanting every year if we have to.”

Caritas International’s media officer Nancy McNally last month visited Jerusalem and the West Bank to mark the 40th anniversary of Caritas Jerusalem’s creation in response to the 1967 SixDay War. What she found is a story of endless struggle, laced with dogged hope

Mohamad Sabatin, a Palestinian farmer whose lands have been in his family for hundreds of years, says he found the only way to defend what little he has left of his fields: through the Israeli courts. With a sense of foreboding, he drives right up to the gated entryway to the Israeli settlement of Bitar Illit, between Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

According to the Israeli Interior Ministry, the population of Bitar Illit grew by 8.1 per cent to more than 29,000 settlers from 2005 until 2006, despite agreements to halt settlement activity as part of the

1994 Oslo Accords and the “Road Map” peace negotiations before they stalled in 2003.

“These are some of the most ultra-Orthodox and aggressive settlers in the West Bank,” says Samer Jaber, who works with the YMCA of Beit Sahour and East Jerusalem on advocating for justice in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The settlement isn’t hemmed in by a white picket fence.

A white metal fence surrounds the area, and the identical townhouse units are set well inside from the structure at least six metres high.

The Israeli Army has now begun to move in, having confiscated lands from the village of Husan to build an installation here to protect the settlers.

The villages of Nahalin and Fukeen have also lost land to accommodate the sprawling settlement.

In 1989 the Israeli government confiscated 500 hectares of village lands to build Bitar Illit.

Three of Mr Sabatin’s hectares were swallowed up in the move, lands he couldn’t defend.

Mr Sabatin shows how from the wall that surrounds this part of his land, the Israeli construction vehicles just sliced straight through the earth to begin building the military

barracks with their foundations below.

One looks into a chasm to look over the simple stone field wall, with a drop-off 30 metres to the asphalt below.

“I was only able to save this land because I had documents from Ottoman times that showed these fields were my property,” Mr Sabatin says.

“A few generations ago, we made repairs to this wall, and we have title to this land.

“We’ve replanted the olive trees here three times in a row. Every year we have to do it again.”

-Mohamad Sabatin

“But they’ll be back, and I’ll have to keep struggling.

“I was one of the few lucky people. I had Ottoman instead of Jordanian documents. The Jordanian documents are outright rejected as invalid.”

Palestine was under Jordanian Rule until the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War of 1967, and before 1917 the

Ottoman Turks ruled the region for three centuries.

Nevertheless, getting to his fields now is a tricky and even risky business.

On three sides, his fields of almonds, olives, figs and grapevines are surrounded by the settlement.

“On this side, there’s the barracks,” he says, motioning to the building emerging from the chasm.

“Next to that, over there, is the actual settlement. And over there,” he says, motioning far off across the fields, “the Israelis have built a school.”

Mr Jaber points to the valley beyond, and adds, “Over there, at night there are military training exercises for settlers.”

The only way he can access his fields is by walking along the Israelionly bypass road, which closes the last gap in surrounding the fields.

Since Palestinian vehicles aren’t allowed on the road, it makes working the fields, especially at harvesttime, practically impossible.

Palestinians use donkeys for transport here not because they can’t afford cars, but because they aren’t allowed to drive their cars on the Israeli roads, and often, Palestinian roads are blocked by the Israelis with enormous rocks and boulders, both as security measures.

“We’re going to harvest the fields this year, in October and November,” Mr Jaber says.

“We have to do it with the support of international volunteers, who as outsiders can give us strength to do what we do.”

The internationals are the eyes and ears of the outside world, he explains, and they aren’t subject to the same restrictions of movement as Palestinians.

Under an old Ottoman law, if Mr Sabatin’s fields go uncultivated for three years in a row, they are determined to not be in use, and thus can be confiscated.

“Settlers will also uproot the Palestinians’ trees,” Mr Jaber says.

Later, in another field not far from Mr Sabatin’s groves, he points out sad little sticks that don’t even appear to be olive trees.

“We’ve replanted the olive trees here three times in a row. Every year we have to do it again,” Mr Sabatin says.

He points to the outpost of three trailers on the hilltop above, where he says just three Israeli settlers live at any one time, rotating in and out, protected by nine Israeli soldiers.

“But we’ll keep replanting, every year if we have to,” he said, indicating that he’s willing to tough this out as long as the government is.

This is my land: Palestinian farmer Mohamad Sabatin stands in his fields that are surrounded by settlements. The Israeli army iis moving in, but he’s not going anywhere.

PHOTO: CARITAS

The World

Pope’s second encyclical reflects on ‘Saved by Hope’

Pope Benedict XVI completes his second encyclical, a meditation on Christian hope

By John Thavis

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope

Benedict XVI has completed his second encyclical, a meditation on Christian hope, Vatican sources said.

The text, tentatively titled Salvi (“Saved by Hope”), is about 65 pages, sources said.

No release date has been set for the document.

The working title comes from St Paul’s letter to the Romans, in which he wrote: “For in hope we have been saved.”

The encyclical is said to explore the Christian understanding of hope, with reference to modern philosophy and the challenges of disbelief.

The Pope worked on the encyclical this summer, when he had time to write during his sojourns in northern Italy and at his villa outside Rome.

At the same time, he was working on a third encyclical that deals with social themes, Vatican officials said.

The Pope published his first encyclical in late 2006.

Titled Deus Caritas Est (“God Is Love”), it called for a deeper understanding of love as a gift from God to be shared in a self-sacrificial way. The Pope spoke about the

“Confronted by today’s changing and complex panorama, the virtue of hope is subject to harsh trials in the community of believers.

For this very reason, we must be apostles who are filled with hope and joyful trust in God’s promises,” the Pope told the bishops.

From a pastoral standpoint, he added, hope means reminding Christians that God never abandons his people and is alive and active in the world.

“In contemporary society, which shows such visible signs of secularism, we must not give in to despair or a lack of enthusiasm in pastoral projects,” he said.

In introducing a section on hope, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.”

Fighting slavery scourge

Women Religious combat new form of slavery

ROME (Zenit.org) - On the 200th anniversary of the UK’s abolition of the slave trade, which led to the end of transatlantic trafficking of human beings, women religious from 26 countries gathered to fight a new form of enslavement.

The US Embassy to the Holy See and the Italian Union of Major Superiors co-sponsored a fiveday seminar in Rome last week titled “Building a Network: The Prophetic Role of Women Religious in the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons.”

All continents were represented at the October 15-20 congress, which launched the International Network of Religious Against Trafficking in Persons (INRATIP), dedicated to strengthening the global fight against sexual, labour and organ trafficking.

Sr Susan Malone of Los Angeles said women religious are not naive about the task they are taking on, and are prepared for the long haul. The UN Population Fund estimates

Archbishop apologises for activist “mistake”

that between 700,000 and two million women are trafficked annually across international borders.

Pointing to history, Sister Malone said that women religious have always tackled large social problems, and human trafficking is the new call.

Sr Patricia Egbebulem of Nigeria said, “this work is not pretty, not rosy,” but women religious have an advantage in understanding the situation since they are approached by victims in dire need who see a religious sister as someone to trust.

US President George Bush sent a note to the gathering, in which he said that “human trafficking is one of the worst offences against human dignity; it is a modern-day form of slavery, treating women and children as commodities for sale to the highest bidder.”

“As members of the global community we are called by conscience and compassion to bring this cruel practice to an end,” Mr Bush said.

“Those gathered for this seminar are helping to fight this great evil by harnessing the energy and resources of individuals guided by faith and dedicated to the cause of justice.”

I didn’t

San Francisco Archbishop apologises for giving Communion to men in mock nuns’ garb

SAN FRANCISCO (CNS)

- When he gave Communion to “two strangely dressed persons” on October 7 at Most Holy Redeemer Parish in San Francisco, Archbishop George Niederauer said he did not realise they were members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a group that has “long made a practice of mocking the Catholic Church.”

The parish, in the predominantly gay Castro district of the city, has previously held “gay Masses” that have been broadcast on BBC, featuring prayers and readings tailored for the gay community.

The church has been described as an “inspiration” to gay and lesbian Christians around the world because of its ministry to homosexuals.

Father Donal Godfrey, the US Jesuit priest who celebrated the gay Masses, said he was delighted the BBC was “exploring how gay people fit into the perspective of the Christian narrative”.

“Being gay is not special,” he said. “It’s simply another gift from God who created us as rainbow people.”

Despite this, the San Francisco Archbishop said in a column for the October 19 issue of Catholic San Francisco, the Archdiocesan newspaper, that he had never met members of the group that describes itself as “a leading-edge order of queer nuns” and “did not recognise who these people were when they approached me.”

“I did not recognise either of them as wearing mock religious

garb,” he added. “After the event, I realised that they were members of this particular organisation and that giving them holy Communion had been a mistake,” said Archbishop Niederauer.

The Archbishop has headed the Archdiocese since February 2006.

“I apologise to the Catholics of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and to Catholics at large for doing so,” he added.

The Archbishop said there had been “no protest, no demonstration, no disruption” during the October 7 Mass at Most Holy Redeemer.

“The congregation was devout and the liturgy was celebrated with reverence.”

Nevertheless, “someone who dresses in a mock religious habit to attend Mass does so to make a point,” he said.

“If people dress in a manner clearly intended to mock what we hold sacred, they place themselves in an objective situation in which it is not appropriate for them to receive holy Communion, much less for a minister of the church to give the sacrament to them.

“Therefore I conclude that the presence of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at the Mass on October 7 was intended as a provocative gesture,” the San Francisco prelate said. “In that moment I failed to recognise it as such and for that, as I have said, I must apologise.”

Archbishop Niederauer said the dress and behaviour of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence “is deeply offensive to women religious and to the witness of holiness and Christian service that women religious have offered to the church and to the world for centuries.”

“The citizens of San Francisco have ample reason to be grateful to

women religious for their unfailing support of those most in need, and to be deeply offended when that service is belittled so outrageously and offensively,” he said.

Archbishop Niederauer also noted in his column that last year he had instructed the administrator of Most Holy Redeemer Parish to stop allowing the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to use the hall on the parish grounds.

Although the two men who received Communion from the archbishop had not come forward as of October 12, a letter to Archbishop Niederauer and the parish from a person identified as “Sister Mary Timothy Simplicity” named the two as “Sister Delta Goodhand” and “Sister maeJoy B. withU.”

In a “meet the sisters” section of the Web site of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, “Sister Delta” said he went to a Catholic high school and “(I) acknowledge and am hurt by the oppression, travesties and weaknesses of the leadership of the Catholic Church that have been perpetuated throughout history.”

“However, having grown up in the faith, received many sacraments, seen the true faith of devout Catholics and witnessed the absolute presence of the Holy Spirit, I am proud to be Catholic,” he added.

In his letter, “Sister Mary Timothy” said he too had been raised Catholic.

Thanking Archbishop Niederauer and the parish for “opening your hearts and minds to my sisters,” he added, “Knowing your actions of respect, joy and inclusiveness (has) melted a large portion of the pain, anger and sorrow I long ago grew up with.”

know these guys were gay activists: Members of the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence”. San Francisco Archbishop Niederauer said he did not realise men dressed like this were members of the group that has long made a practice of mocking the Catholic Church.

PHOTO:

Pope Benedict XVI

The World

US bishops support RU-486

Connecticut bishops’ stand on emergency contraception draws criticism

WASHINGTON (CNS) - The Connecticut bishops’ decision to permit emergency contraception for rape victims at Catholic hospitals in the state without requiring an ovulation test is prompting a firestorm of criticism.

The criticism focuses on what the emergency contraception marketed as Plan B, otherwise known as RU486, actually does and on whether church institutions should allow the state to mandate what services it provides. On both those issues, the Connecticut bishops and hospital leaders who announced the decision in a joint statement on September 27 could have used more help from church leaders at the national and international level, Fr John Gatzak, director of communications for the Hartford Archdiocese, said.

“The Church in Connecticut would have had a greater opportunity to resist” the state law that took effect on October 1 if there had been definitive statements on Plan B from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and/or the Vatican,

Fr Gatzak said. The Connecticut bishops still consider the law “seriously flawed” and believe it should be changed, he said. In a joint statement with leaders of Catholic hospitals in the state, the bishops said, “Since the teaching authority of the church has not definitively resolved this matter and since there is serious doubt about how Plan B pills work, ... Catholic hospitals in the state may follow protocols that do not require an ovulation test in the treatment of victims of rape. “If it becomes clear that Plan B pills would lead to an early chemical abortion in some instances, this matter would have to be reopened,” they added.

Plan B, containing a high dose of birth control pills, usually prevents pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. It is available over the counter to women over 18 in the United States and has long been available to victims of rape at Catholic hospitals nationwide, following a pregnancy test and an ovulation test. Use of the ovulation test is specifically banned in the Connecticut law. But Fr Thomas Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, and other critics of the decision believe the bishops

erred both in their understanding of Plan B and in agreeing to comply with an unjust state law.

“Acts of blatant coercion of Catholic consciences are already far advanced and will only continue unless the church is willing to stand up and rebuke the arrogance of these coercive measures and carve out strict realms of conscience which are unreachable by activist courts and corrupt politicians,” said Father Euteneuer in a commentary on the decision. Judie Brown, president of the American Life League, put it more bluntly: “The devil wins in Connecticut.”

Mary Ann Kreitzer, president of the Catholic Media Coalition, called on the Connecticut bishops to rescind their decision in an October 4 letter. It was co-signed by nearly two dozen members of the Virginia-based group, which includes “Catholic writers, webmasters, editors and others engaged in producing media for and about the Catholic Church,” according to its website. “It is a grave scandal to have Catholic bishops approve the use of the abortion drug,” they said. “Their capitulation encourages further coercion by the government against the church.”

Teresa’s niece spills beans

Blessed Mother Teresa’s niece shares stories of famed nun’s youth

LATROBE, Pennsylvania (CNS) - Blessed

Mother Teresa’s niece told an audience at St Vincent College in Latrobe on October 6 that she remembers her father, Lazar, telling stories about growing up with the older sister who would become the famous nun.

“He was the only boy in the family and he was very naughty,” said Agi Bojaxhiu of Italy. “Mother Teresa tried to protect him when he got in trouble.”

Their mother, who raised the family alone after her husband died, was very strict, according to Bojaxhiu.

“Sometimes when she punished Lazar by sending him to bed without dinner, his doting sister would save half of her food and smuggle it to him,” she said. “She would do his homework for him, too.”

Mother Teresa, the founder of the Missionaries of Charity, was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu into an ethnic Albanian family in Skopje, in present-day Macedonia. She died in 1997 and was beatified in 2003.

Her niece was one of four relatives and friends who shared stories about her at an evening panel discussion during an October 5-7 conference titled “Remembrances of Mother Teresa of Calcutta by Her Family and Friends.”

Bishop Lawrence Brandt of Greensburg celebrated the event’s opening Mass.

Another panel speaker was Sandy McMurtrie, who was Mother Teresa’s traveling companion from 1981 until her death in 1997.

The single mother of three children, she longed for another child and often asked Mother Teresa to find her an orphan to adopt.

“‘It is not time,’ she would tell me,” McMurtrie said.

“Then one day - and she often talked about herself in the third person - she said, ‘Mother would be very happy for you

to have this child.’” She was referring to Maria, a raven-haired little girl, now 24, who also attended the conference.

Film producer Jan Petrie, who, with her sister, Ann, produced two films about Mother Teresa, became her friend.

“We had a very emotional time when we went to Albania,” Petrie said.

That was where Mother Teresa’s mother and sister were buried, and the country was legally atheist.

Undaunted, the nun insisted that a cru cifix be placed to mark the grave where she had their remains relocated together.

Shortly thereafter, other crucifixes appeared in the cemetery where before there were none.

“There were so many examples of her being stubborn,” Petrie said.

She was that way, too, when it came to defying advice from Dr. Patricia Aubanel, who took care of her from 1991 until her death.

Toward the end, as her heart and lungs were failing, she insisted on seeing Pope John Paul II one more time.

She was in a wheelchair when they met.

“He was waiting for her,” Aubanel said.

“He knelt and kissed her head and said, ‘My mother, my mother.’

“For her, the Holy Father was every thing. They loved each other.”

The pontiff was ill, too, and could barely walk.

Yet, at the end of Mass, as Mother Teresa held her face in her hands, he struggled down the aisle to her wheelchair.

When she realised that he was there, she got up to embrace him.

“Every single person there was crying,” Aubanel said. “It was the last time they would be together.”

The National Catholic Bioethics Centre in Philadelphia said in an October 3 statement that the Connecticut law is flawed because it contains state mandates that do not allow for a physician’s best medical judgment, do not protect the conscience of individuals or institutions and do not allow rape victims to have all the information they need to decide whether they want emergency contraception.

“The NCBC understands the judgment of the Connecticut bishops that the administration of a contraception medication in the absence of an ovulation test is not an intrinsically evil act,” the statement said. “However, it is immoral to violate one’s conscience, including the corporate consciences of health care agencies, and the unwillingness of the state to allow an exemption of conscience makes the law unjust and onerous.” The state’s bishops and hospital leaders said the use of Plan B pills for rape victims “cannot be judged to be the commission of an abortion because of such doubt about how Plan B pills and similar drugs work and because of the current impossibility of knowing from the ovulation test whether a new life is present.”

Russians walk out of talks

Pope asks for prayers after Russian Orthodox walk out of dialogue

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Benedict XVI asked for prayers for participants in the Catholic-Orthodox international theological dialogue after the Russian Orthodox delegation walked out of the meeting.

“I ask you to join me in praying that this important meeting will help the journey toward full communion between Catholics and Orthodox and that we could soon share the same chalice of the Lord,” the pope said October 10 during his weekly general audience. Members of the dialogue commission were meeting October 8-15 in Ravenna, Italy, to continue work begun a year ago on a document on the sacramental nature of the Church and its consequences for the structure of the church and church decision-making.

When Mother Teresa returned to Calcutta, India, she told her sisters: “My mission is completed.” A month later, she died peacefully.

“She had so much love,” Petrie said. “She would always say, ‘God bless you, God bless you.’ I feel that blessing all the time.”

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, prays in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima during the opening of the new Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Fatima, Portugal, on October 12. An estimated 300,000 pilgrims converged in Fatima to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the last Fatima apparition and to dedicate the new church.

US Cardinal William Keeler, retired archbishop of Baltimore and a member of the dialogue commission, said, “I expect we will have the agreed statement ready by the end of the meeting,” although commission members had not set a publication date. The document marks “substantial progress” in theological agreement among Catholics and Orthodox, and “I do not think the absence of the Russian Orthodox will hurt that.” In preparation for working together on the document, Roman Catholic participants met separately from Orthodox participants, who came from 16 different Orthodox churches.

During the Orthodox meeting, Russian Orthodox Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria told the other Orthodox participants that his delegation would abandon the meeting if they did not ask the Estonian Orthodox delegation to leave.

The Russian Orthodox Church does not recognise the Estonian Apostolic Church, which is tied to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, said a statement by the Russian Orthodox Church, and believes the Orthodox in Estonia fall under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church, not the ecumenical patriarchate. Delegates decided to move forward with their work and the joint sessions were “going exceptionally well,” one participant said, adding that delegates expected to complete work on their document, “The Ecclesiological and Canonical Consequences of the Sacramental Nature of the Church: Ecclesial Communion, Conciliarity and Authority in the Church.”

Embracing The Future

Benedict XVI sets course for New

■ By Cindy Wooden

Pope Benedict XVI has named 23 new cardinals, expanding the number of people who will vote for his successor.

The Pope announced the names at the end of his weekly general audience on October 17 and said he would formally install the cardinals during a special consistory at the Vatican on November 24.

Naming 18 cardinals under the age of 80, the age limit set for voting in a papal conclave, Pope Benedict said he was setting aside the limit of 120 potential papal electors established by Pope Paul VI and confirmed by Pope John Paul II. After the new cardinals are installed next month, there will be 121 potential voters, bringing the

total membership of the College of Cardinals to 202, marking the second time Pope Benedict has created cardinals since his election in April 2005. At a March 2006 consistory he created 15 new cardinals, who represent 15 countries on five continents. Eight of them are current or retired Vatican officials, 13 are current or retired heads of archdioceses around the world and two are former rectors of the main pontifical universities in Rome.

After he had read the 23 names, Pope Benedict told 30,000 in St Peter’s Square that “they reflect the universality of the church with its multiple ministries: Alongside the prelates deserving for the service they have given to the Holy See there are pastors who devote their energies to direct contact with the faithful.” Continuing a papal cus-

tom, among the new cardinals were five churchmen over the age of 80, whom Pope Benedict said he wanted to honour because they were “particularly deserving because of their commitment to the service of the Church.” The five included the Iraqi-based head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Patriarch Emmanuel-Karim Delly of Baghdad, 80; Archbishop Giovanni Coppa; retired Archbishop Estanislao Karlic of Parana, Argentina, 81; Spanish Jesuit Fr Urbano Navarrete; and Italian Franciscan Fr Umberto Betti. Pope Benedict said he also had planned to name 93-yearold retired Bishop Ignacy Jez of Koszalin-Kolobrzeg, Poland, but “the well-deserving prelate” died unexpectedly on October 16, the day before the new cardinals were announced. -CNS

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - US

Cardinal-designate John Foley was standing in the middle of St Peter’s Square among a sea of 30,000 pilgrims when Pope Benedict XVI named him a cardinal.

Though he knew the previous day he was going to be one of 23 people to receive a red hat, the announcement was going to fall on the same morning he had a followup visit with his eye doctor.

The cardinal-designate is mainly known worldwide for his Englishlanguage commentary for major papal ceremonies. “I didn’t get back in time to be there at the beginning of the audience and I didn’t have my glad rags on,” meaning his formal clerical dress, so he said he just snuck inconspicuously into the middle of the crowd. He said he never expected to be the second new cardinal listed after the senior Vatican prefect, Cardinal-designate Leonardo Sandri.

When the Pope “started the list there I was No. 2 on the list and that

Foley said, adding that a pilgrim standing next to him asked him if he knew any of the men the Pope had just named to be Cardinal.

“I said ‘Yes, I know quite a few of them.’ And I said ‘I am one of them,’ Well, I don’t think he believed me.”

“What would I be doing standing out in the middle of St Peter’s Square, you know. But I thought it would be nice to hear the announcement anyway,” he said happily.

The Columbia University journalism school graduate and former editor of The Catholic Standard and Times, Philadelphia archdiocesan newspaper, headed the Pontifical Council for Social Communications for 23 years.

In June, Pope Benedict XVI named him pro-grand master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, a chivalric organisation dedicated to supporting the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and to responding to the needs of Catholics in the Holy Land. He turned many years of journalistic experience into a great asset for the universal church. His media-friendly style and quick sense of humour

Surprises galore as a former jounalist transforms

shine in person and throughout the numerous speeches and homilies he has delivered around the world. This self-described “chocoholic” often speaks of the joys of working for the Church, but tells his audiences that while the pay is not that great, “the benefits are out of this world.”

Foley will receive his red hat in a November 24 consistory at the Vatican. He remains deeply committed to promoting the church’s mandate for using the media ethically and delivered an October 11 address to advertisers in Oslo, Norway. There, he urged his audience to plug their products for the

common good and appealed for major reform of campaign financing legislation, including in the United States. He asked that candidates be able to advertise and “present their message without financial contributions corrupting or co-opting them.”

In June, when he left his communications job, Cardinal-designate Foley said he hoped he had accomplished two primary goals: “First, that the church recognise the importance of the media for communicating the good news of Jesus Christ”; and second, that church leaders understand “the communications media are not threats, but opportunities.”

He has said he loved being able to merge his love for God and the media. “In my work as a priest and as an Archbishop, I am able to do two things I love very much: to be active in communications and to tell people about Jesus,” he said in a May 6 commencement address to students at the University of Portland, Oregon.

Under his leadership, the social communications council

Sandri, 64 Prefect of Congregation for Eastern Churches;

Communications for

years.

Vicente,

Founded

distancelearning institute of theology; slammed Spain’s ‘express divorce’ laws.

Ortega, 68 Heads the Archdiocese of Mexico’s third-largest city, where drug-related violence has been on the rise.

Coppa, 81 Latinist at Second Vatican Council; nuncio to Czechoslovakia then to the Czech Republic.

Sistach, 70 Member of Apostolic Signature, a Vatican court, and Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.

Gracias, 62 President of Latin-rite Conference of Catholic Bishops of India; serves on Vatican’s Vox Clara Committee. DiNardo, 58 Known for strong vocations focus, strengthening adult RE programs, emphasis on value of Catholic schools.

embracing The Future

Evangelisation with cardinals elect

Analysis

Ignoring quotas, the Pope has confirmed the priorities of his pontificate

■ By John Thavis

With his latest batch of cardinal appointments, Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed some important directions and priorities of his pontificate.

First, the Pope’s picks have once again boosted the European and US presence among voting-age members of the College of Cardinals.

The list of 23 new cardinals, announced on October 17, included

18 under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave.

Two are Americans, which will leave the United States with 13 under-80 cardinals, matching a historically high number.

The Pope’s choice of Cardinaldesignate Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston was particularly significant because it went outside the group of US dioceses traditionally headed by cardinals, instead looking to the South, where the Catholic Church has grown most rapidly in recent years. Over the last 20 years, the number of Catholics in the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston has increased by nearly 80 per cent.

Cardinal-designate DiNardo, 58, also has several years of experience as an official of the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops.

Ten of the 18 voting-age cardinal appointees are from Europe, which means that Europeans will constitute approximately 50 per cent of the potential conclave voters.

Of the 30 cardinals Pope Benedict has named to the under-80 group since his election, 16 have been European.

The Pope’s choices this time included only two residential bishops from Latin America - one from Brazil and one from Mexico.

Brazil, which has the largest Catholic population in the world, will now have four under-80 cardinals; Mexico, which has the second-largest Catholic population, will also have four.

All of which goes to show that Pope Benedict does not follow geographical quotas when he makes his cardinal selections.

After the November 24 consistory, the global breakdown of voting-age cardinals will be 60 from Europe, 21 from Latin America, 16 from the United States and Canada, 13 from Asia, nine from Africa and two from Oceania.

Seven of the new picks are active officials of the Roman Curia or Vatican-related organisations, including US Cardinal-designate John Foley, who is perhaps best known to English-speaking television viewers around the world as the most regular commentator during papal Masses at Easter and Christmas for many years.

While there has been much talk about reducing the number of curial cardinals, it appears that Pope Benedict is not going down that road.

Three of the Pope’s Cardinal

appointees are in their 50s, including Cardinal-designate DiNardo. Overall, the residential bishops among the new cardinals have an average age of 64 - 13 years younger than the average age of current cardinals.

At the same time, Pope Benedict named a record number of five over-80 cardinals, rewarding a Roman Curia veteran, an Argentine pastor and two Roman academics. Iraqi Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel-Karim Delly, 80, was perhaps the most significant of these appointments.

In naming him a cardinal, the Pope was showing symbolically his concern for the suffering Catholic population in Iraq, where violence and intimidation have forced tens of thousands of Christians to leave.

for

Also

into a Cardinal Iraqi Catholics given a voice

separate documents promoting ethical standards in advertising, communications and on the Internet. Another council document denounced pornography.

When the Vatican started to investigate the possibility of going online, Cardinal-designate Foley lobbied tirelessly for the Holy See to be given its own top-level domain.

“We were first told that we should be part of .it for Italy; I told them we were surrounded by It; that in another sense, we were It, but we were not in It.”

After refusing to settle for .it and .org, he succeeded in getting the Vatican the top-level domain of .va.

“For us that is very important because you can be sure that anything coming from .va is authentic ... material from the Vatican and the Holy See,” he said in a May 10 speech. Born in Darby, Pennsylvania on November 11, 1935, he was ordained a priest in Philadelphia when he was 26 years old. He served as assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Havertown, Pennsylvania, and later at St John the Evangelist Church in

Philadelphia, starting in 1966. Foley said his experience in journalism dated back to the seventh grade when he started writing radio plays on the lives of saints. As a teen, he was also asked to be an announcer for Sunday morning programming on a local radio station. He relaunched his radio career in 1966 as co-producer and co-host of the Philadelphia Catholic Hour. He also appeared on television during his university years in a weekly university debate program and later co-produced a 20-program televised series on “The Making of a Priest.”

Between stints as assistant editor of The Catholic Standard and Times in the 1960s, he conducted his graduate studies in philosophy in Rome, where he also served as a journalist covering the news from Rome and the Second Vatican Council, 1963-1965.In 1970, he was appointed editor of The Catholic Standard and Times until 1984, when Pope John Paul II appointed him head of the

for

beleaguered Catholics by naming Cardinal

■ By Carol Glatz

Iraq’s beleaguered Catholic minority received major recognition when Pope Benedict XVI named the head of the Chaldean patriarchate a cardinal.

Chaldean Patriarch EmmanuelKarim Delly of Baghdad was designated to receive a red hat when the pope named 23 new cardinals on October 17; they are to be elevated at a consistory on November 24.

The Cardinal-designate has stood out as the voice of the ongoing suffering of all Iraqis, not just the Christian minority.

At 80, Cardinal-designate Delly will not be eligible to vote in a conclave.

He was elected patriarch by the synod of bishops of the Chaldean

tion invaded Iraq.

The violence soon escalated as fighting among Iraq’s Shiite and Sunni Muslims and other factions erupted and worsened.

As Christians became increasingly targeted, he repeatedly stressed that the Christian minority always has considered itself to be Iraqi and recalled how members of different faiths had once coexisted in peace.

“We are all one family, an Iraqi family,” he would say time and time again.

The Chaldean bishops were forced to hold their 2005 extraordinary synod in Rome instead of Iraq because of the war.

During the synod, the cardinal-designate highlighted “the tragic situation that is spreading across our martyred country” and appealed for peace.

He often urged nations to have pity on fleeing Iraqis and not send them back to Iraq.

He lamented the exodus of so many citizens, “but when your

children get kidnapped or killed, when there’s no security, no peace, well, of course (people) will want to spend the 20 or 30 years they have left to live on this earth abroad,” he told CNS during a Rome visit in 2005.

He also expressed his gratitude for the solidarity shown by the Chaldean communities abroad who generously give aid to those in Iraq. The diabolical situation Christians face in Iraq was highlighted in June this year when Fr Ragheed Ganni, 34, was shot dead along with three deacons after celebrating Mass in Iraq. Fr Ganni had been close friends with at least two priests in Perth.

Born in Telkaif, near Mosul, in 1927, Cardinal-designate Delly was ordained a priest in 1952 in Rome. From 1963 until his retirement in October 2002, he served as an auxiliary in Baghdad, where the Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate is based. The Chaldean synod elected him patriarch just over one year later.

Vatican body

social communications. He was ordained an Archbishop the same year.

to 2006;Vatican Diplomatic

Cordes, 73 Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Vatican agency responsi ble for promoting and coor dinating Catholic charitable

Karlic, 81 Was on commission appointed by JPII to write Catechism of Catholic Church, working closely with Joseph Ratzinger

Sarr, 70 Served as president of the bishops’ conference of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau.

Vatican City; director of Italian bishops’ National Vocations Centre from 1994.

Rylko, 62 President of Pontifical Council for Laity; professor of pastoral theology at the Krakow Theological Academy.

Farina, 74 Salesian; Archivist and librarian of Holy Roman Church, Vatican Secret Archives; undersecre tary of Pontifical Council for Culture.

Vingt-Trois, 64 Archbishop of Paris; director of vocatons; taught at Issyles-Moulineaux seminary; ex-Vicar General.

Navarrete, 87 Advises Congregation for Divine Worship, Sacraments, Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.

Njue, 63 Named Cardinal before even installed in new Archdiocese of Nairobi; head of Kenyan bishops’ conference 1997-2003.

Betti, 85 Franciscan who served with Joseph Ratziinger as theological experts working on Vatican II document “Dei Verbum” on divine revelation.

Brady, 68 Primate of Ireland; Canon lawyer; rector of Irish College; strong Gaellic footballer in his youth.

Scherer, 58 Archbishop of Sao Paulo, Brazil; one of two secretaries for 5th General Conference of Bishops of Latin America & Caribbean.

named by the Holy Father:

Graphic: P. Rosengren

BOOK DONATIONS WANTED

PANORAMA a roundup of events in the archdiocese

We are seeking donations of Catholic books, Bibles, Missals and Divine Office books any age, any condition. If you can help, please tel: 9293 3092

Every Wednesday HOLY HOUR, BENEDICTION

Holy Hour 4pm to 5pm. Held at St Thomas, 2 College Road, Claremont. Followed by Evening Prayer and Benediction. Personal prayer before the Blessed Sacrament is Adoration of Jesus’ gift of Himself, of His love for you, for you loved ones and for our world. Come and Thank Him.

Friday October 26

SETON CATHOLIC COLLEGE’S ANNUAL BR FRANCIS VISUAL & PRACTICAL ARTS EXHIBITION

Opens at 7pm - 9.30pm with presentation of Awards. The Exhibition of work from students in Years 8 -12 will include religious art, paintings, graphics, ceramics, printmaking also large and small projects in wood. The Exhibition can be viewed on Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30, 8.30am3.45pm. Enq: College on 9314 1816.

Friday October 26

HEALING OF THE FAMILY TREE

Our Lady of the Missions Church, 270 Camberwarra Drive, Whitfords/Craigie. Change of Date. Don’t miss this opportunity to be set free from generational sins and sicknesses. Jesus says I have come to give you life in abundance. Presiding celebrant is Fr Hugh Thomas CSsR. Family Tree Booklets available from the Healing Fire Burning Love Ministry during their Services for $2. Or contact Jenni Young on 9445 1028

Friday - Sunday October 26-28

CATHOLIC FAITH RENEWAL: RETREAT BY FATHER GINO HENRIQUES

God and Your Inner Self. Fr Gino Henriques CSsR is a Catholic priest of the Redemptorist congregation. Ordained in 1960 and studied Sacred Scripture and Theology in Rome and Mass Media in Canada and the USA. He is an international speaker who has preached to Bishops, Priests, Religious and laity. Enq: Rita 9272 1765, Rose 0403 300 720, Maureen 9381 4498.

Saturday October 27

MOTHERS PRAYERS NATIONAL PRAYER WEEKEND

Over this weekend it would be wonderful if we could all join in prayer for all children and parents. Below are two prayers of the faithful which you may be able to ask your parish priest to include in your weekend Masses: We pray for all the children of the world, especially the sick, hungry, abused or forsaken, that You will enfold each of them in Your love; We pray for all parents. May your Holy Spirit strengthen, guide and comfort them as they fulfil their God given vocation.

Saturday October 27

MONTHLY NOVENA

The Monthly Novena to Our Lady of Good Health will be held at the Holy Trinity Church, 8 Burnett Street, Embleton. Starting at 5pm followed by the Vigil Mass at 6pm. Enq: 9271 5528 or 9272 1379.

Saturday October 27

MUSIC IS MAGIC

Invites you to a One Day Play-In for all string players, wind players and pianists. Professional tutors. Subiaco Church, 260 Bagot Road, Subiaco at 10am to 6pm. Coffee/Tea provided. Registration forms from Sonia Letourneau, 9382 4509 or 0405 570 045.

Sunday October 28

REGIONAL ELECTIONS FOR THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER OF WA

All professed Secular Franciscans are encouraged to attend the Regional Elections to be held at the Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St. East Perth. Arrive at 10am for a 10.30am start. The day will conclude with Mass at 3pm. Please bring a plate to share. Visitors are welcome. Enq: Michael 9275 2066.

Sunday October 28

WYD GOLF TOURNAMENT

Sign up for 3 Parish WYD Golf Tournament. Starting

at 1pm, 18 hole at Collier Park Golf Course and dinner at Holy Family Parish. $100 per person. Enter a team or individually. Enq: Martin 0410 52 1073.

Sunday October 28

JENNACUBINE

An invitation is extended to all persons who have any links to St Isidore’s Church, Jennacubbine to attend the 100th Anniversary Celebrations at 10am. Celebrant: Archbishop B J Hickey. We would appreciate the offer on-loan of any memorabilia or photos of interest. Contact: Joe & Cathie Bowen 9623 2264 cbowen@wn.com.au.

Sunday October 28 – 1 November PARISH RENEWAL

Fr Justin Belitz, OFM will be conducting a parish renewal at St Thomas More Church 100 Dean Rd Bateman. Start October 28 at 7pm with a repeat session the following morning at 9.30am and concluding 7pm Thursday November 1. All welcome. Enq: 9310 1747.

Tuesday October 30 DAY OF REFLECTION

MMP Tuesday Cenacle

Please join us at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, cnr Harfoot and Milroy Streets, Willagee. Commencing at 10.30am with Rosary followed by Holy Mass and Talks. Concluding 2pm. Celebrant and Speaker Rev Fr J Piumatti. Bring lunch to share. Tea/Coffee supplied. Enq: 9341 8082.

Thursday November 1

TAIZE MEDITATION

First Thursday of the Month

Our Lady Of Grace, 3 Kitchener St North Beach, start at 7.30pm. There will be an All Saints Mass 7pm - 7.30pm prior to Taize

Friday November 2 PRO-LIFE PROCESSION MIDLAND

The first Friday Mass, Procession and Rosary Vigil commencing 9.30am with Mass celebrated at St Brigid’s Church, Midland. Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate will lead us. All are invited to witness for the sanctity of life and pray for the conversion of hearts. Enq: Helen 9402 0349.

Friday November 2

CATHOLIC FAITH RENEWAL – PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Commencing at 7.30pm at St John and Paul’s Church, Pinetree Gully Road, Willeton. A talk will be given by Fr Greg Donovan titled “Do You Have To Be Sick To Be Anointed?” followed by Thanksgiving Mass. There will be light refreshments after Mass. You are all welcome to attend and we encourage you to bring your family and friends to this evening of fellowship. All welcome. Enq: Rita 9272 1765 or Rose 4043 300 720.

First Friday November 2

ALLIANCE AND TRIUMPH OF THE TWO HEARTS

Holy Mass and Eucharistic vigil at St Bernadette’s Church Glendalough. Confessions at 5.15pm. Parish Mass at 5.45pm (Celebrant: Rev. Fr Doug Harris) followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, hourly rosaries, hymns and reflections etc. Vigil concludes with midnight Mass in honour of the BVM (Celebrant: Rev. Fr. Hugh Thomas CSSR). Enq: Fr Doug Harris 9444 6131 or Dorothy 9342 5845.

Saturday November 3 DAY WITH MARY

Holy Family Church, Lot 375 Alcock Street, Maddington at 9am to 5pm. A video on Fatima will be shown at 9am. A day of prayer and instruction based upon the messages of Fatima. Includes Sacrament of Penance, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons, Rosaries, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq: 9250 8286.

Saturday November 3

PINNAROO VALLEY ALL SOULS MASS

Mass to commemorate the souls of all the faithful departed will be celebrated at Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park Crematorium Chapel starting at 1pm. All welcome. Enq: Our Lady of the Mission Parish Office 9307 2776.

Panoramas

Panorama entries must be in by 12pm Monday. Contributions may be faxed to 9227 7087, emailed to administration@therecord.com.au or mailed to PO box 75, Leederville, WA 6902.

Events charging over $10 constitute a classified event, and will be charged accordingly. The Record reserves the right to decline or modify any advertisment. Please do not re-submit Panoramas once they are in print.

Saturday November 3

WITNESS FOR LIFE PROCESSION

The next first Saturday Mass, Procession and Rosary Vigil commencing with Mass at 8.30am at St Anne’s Church, Hehir Street, Belmont. We proceed prayerfully to the Rivervale Abortion Centre and Conclude with Rosary, led by Fr Paul Carey SSC. Please join us to pray peacefully for the conversion of hearts. Enq: Helen 9402 0349.

Saturday November 3

CATHOLIC EDUCATORS SEMINAR WITH ARCHBISHOP HICKEY

Archbishop Hickey and Anthony Cleary from the Sydney CEO will be speaking on the New Evangelisation and Generation Y at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Highgate, from 9am – 1pm. For catholic educators (all sectors), student teachers, catechists, home schoolers and apologists. Cost: $10. RSVP by October 31. Enq: Renato 94375349 or admin@scta.org.au

Sunday November 4

DIVINE MERCY

An afternoon with Jesus and Mary will be held at St Joachim’s Church, on the corner of Shepperton Road and Harper Street in Victoria Park. Starting at 1.30pm. Holy Rosary and Reconciliation, Sermon ‘Holy Souls in Purgatory’ with Fr Doug Harris followed by Divine Mercy prayers and Benediction. Afterwards refreshments in the parish hall followed by a video/dvd “A Priest prepares to meet Jesus”. Enq: John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608.

November 10 – 11

ART EXHIBITION TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE CATHEDRAL RESTORATION

Oils by Margaret Fane to be held after Mass Saturday night and after Sunday Mass 9am to 4pm. Bateman Catholic Parish Church Hall, 100 Dean Road, Bateman. Enq: 0432 834 743 or 9443 1853.

Saturday November 10

WOMEN OF WITNESS REFLECTION DAY

Women are invited to a day of down to earth teaching and pampering as we explore how we can be women of witness and a light to the world. For registration and information contact Therese 9437 5349 by November 2. First 30 registrations receive a free gift. Cost $20 for morning tea and lunch.

Saturday November 10

THE ANNUAL HOLY MASS AT THE GROTTO ON RICHARD AND JUDY PRIESTLEY FARM

Starting at 10.30am. Please bring a chair and hat. BBQ meat will be provided for lunch. All welcome. Directions: Take Great Eastern Highway to El Caballo Blanco, turn south into Wariin Road and go 1.8km. Turn east into Chinganning Road and go 2.2km (allow 40min from Midland)

Saturday-Friday November 10 - 16

THE 2007 BUNBURY CATHOLIC COMMUNITY RENEWAL

Success Full: Relationships will be the subject for Fr Justin Belitz OFM during the week-long Renewal at St. Mary’s Church beginning with the Parish Masses November 10 and 11, followed by sessions on November 11 to November 15, beginning at 9.45 to10.45am each morning and 7.30pm to 8.30pm each evening. All welcome. Enq: Dick 9721 4651. November 12 – 15

MISSION AND HEALING MASS

St Bernadette’s Parish invites you to a Mission and Healing Mass. The theme of the Mission is “Peace at any Cost” and the main presenter is Norma Woodcock. Come and join us on this exciting spiritual journey at the Parish Centre, Grand Ocean Boulevard, Port Kennedy, 7pm. The Mission will conclude with a Healing Mass. Enq: Val Hilton 9537 1038.

Tuesday November 13

CONVERSATIONS ON TAP

An event hosted by the University of Notre Dame Australia, Guest speaker Duncan MacLaren past Secretary-General of Caritas Internationalis 19992007, accompanied by Liz Stone (Caritas Australia Community Engagement Manager) Venue: Fremantle Hotel (cnr Cliff & High Streets), 7pm9pm.Cost $10 Light snacks & beverages included, RSVP on 94330611. Unable to make it? Duncan will also be guest speaker at Caritas Australia’s Annual Get Together on Monday November 19.

Wednesday November 14

CHAPLETS OF THE DIVINE MERCY.

A beautiful, prayerful, sung devotion to be held at St Thomas More Catholic Church, Dean Road Bateman on the second Wednesday of each month commencing at 7.30 pm. All are welcome. Enq: George Lopez 9310 9493

Wednesday November 14

CARITAS AUSTRALIA BUNBURY PUBLIC FORUM

Guest Speaker Duncan MacLaren past Secretary-

General of Caritas Internationalis 1999-2007, accompanied by Liz Stone (Caritas Australia Community Engagement Manager), Hear Duncan’s thoughts on “Social Justice and the Millennium Development Goals”, 7.30pm - 9pm at Our Lady of the Bay Community Centre, College Avenue, West Busselton. Enq: Caritas 9721 0500

Friday November 16 and Sunday November 18

WEEKEND RETREAT: DANCING THE PSALMS

Friday November 16 starting at 7.30pm and Sunday November 18 starting at 2pm. St Joseph’s Retreat Safety Bay Enq: Evelyn Tierney 9370 2541 or 043 245 1171

Saturday November 17

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS CELEBRATES 60TH

ANNIVERSARY IN WA

Perth Town Hall starts at 7.30pm. Public awareness meeting. All welcome. Enq: AA Central Service Office 9325 3566.

Friday November 17

INTERCESSION FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008 All night prayer vigil. St Bernadette’s, Jugan St, Glendalough. 8pm-6am. Begins with Mass ends with Breakfast. All are welcome to come to pray and intercede for World Youth Day 2008. Come for an hour, stay the night.

Monday November 19

CARITAS AUSTRALIA PERTH ANNUAL GET TOGETHER

Guest speakers Duncan MacLaren past SecretaryGeneral of Caritas Internationalis (CI) 1999-2007 and Jack de Groot (CEO Caritas Australia), 5.15pm (Registration) – 7.30pm, Catholic Pastoral Centre Seminar Room, 40A Mary Street Highgate (Entry off Harold St), No charge, Refreshments provided, Hear up-to-date information on Caritas Australia’s work and its role as a member of CI, RSVP: Essential by Thursday 15 November Tel 9422 7925.

November 23 - 24

CHRIST THE KING: RETREAT & HEALING RALLY

A Retreat & Healing Rally presented by the Holy Spirit of Freedom Community will be held in the Sacred Heart Church, Pemberton. Bookings and Information: Marcelle 9776 1542

Sunday November 25

CHRIST THE KING: EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION

The Sacred Heart Parish Pemberton, in conjunction with the Holy Spirit of Freedom Community, invite you to join the 10.30am Parish Mass followed by a Eucharistic Procession to Karriholm-God’s Sanctuary, Benediction and a light lunch.

Friday December 7

SILVER JUBILEE OF PRIESTLY ORDINATION: FR PETER

STIGLICH O PRAEM

The Norbertine Canons and the Parishioners of East Cannington/ Queens Park invite past parishioners, friends and supporters to celebrate with them, Fr Peter Joseph’s Ordination Anniversary at 7.30 pm, with Solemn Mass in St Joseph’s Church, 135 Treasure Rd, Queens Park, followed by Supper at St Norbert College. RSVP 9458 2729 ext 238 by November 30.

Saturday December 8

SINGLES CHRISTMAS PARTY

Three course meal. Inc wine, tea and coffee. $25/ head $20 conc. Venue: Integrity House, 67 Howe Street, Osborne Park. Run by disciples of Jesus Catholic Community Reach Out Ministry. Come along & meet new friends. RSVP Barbara 9341 5346 by 18 November.

Every First Friday and First Saturday of Each Month COMMUNION OF REPARATION ALL NIGHT VIGIL Corpus Christi Church, Mosman Park 7pm-1am. 46 Lochee Rd, Mosman Park. Mass, Rosary, Prayers, Confessions and silent adoration. Contact: Catalina 0439 931 151.

First Sunday of each month

DEVOTIONS IN HONOUR OF THE DIVINE MERCY

The Santa Clara Parish community welcomes anyone from surrounding parishes and beyond to Santa Clara Church, cnr of Coolgardie and Pollack Sts, Bentley. The afternoon commences with the 3 o’clock prayers, followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet, reflection and concludes with Benediction.

Last Sunday each month

HEALING FIRE BURNING LOVE

Charismatic Mass celebrated at the Holy Spirit Chapel, 85 Boas Avenue, Joondalup at 5.45pm. Worshipping the Father in Spirit and in truth John 4:23-24. St Bernadette’s, 6.30pm – 8.00pm. Cnr Leeder and Jugan St Glendalough.

Every Saturday

PERPETUAL HELP DEVOTIONS

4.30pm. The half hour perpetual novena devotions to the Mother of Perpetual Help continue each Saturday at the Redemptorist Monastery Church,

PANORAMA continued

190 Vincent St, in North Perth. Reconciliation available before and after the devotions. All welcome.

Every Sunday

BULLSBROOK SHRINE

Sunday pilgrim Mass is celebrated with Holy Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 2pm at the Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation, 36 Chittering Road, Bullsbrook. Reconciliation is available in Italian and English before every celebration. Enq: 9447 3292.

Every Sunday

LATIN MASS

The Latin Mass according to the 1962 missal is offered every Sunday at Our Lady of Fatima, 10 Foss St, Palmyra at noon. All welcome.

Every fourth Monday

SCRIPTURAL PRAYER PROGRAM

7.30-9pm. Venue: St Mary’s Parish Centre, 40 Franklin St, Leederville. The Council for Australian Catholic Women (CACW) is offering a scriptural prayer program developed in the Jesuit tradition. This form of prayer can lead to more reflective living, greater spiritual depths and promotes lay spiritual leadership in the Church. Led by Kathleen Brennan (ibvm). Enq: Michelle Wood 9345 2555.

Second Wednesday of Each Month

CHAPLETS OF THE DIVINE MERCY

A beautiful, prayerful, sung devotion to be held at St Thomas More Catholic Church, Dean Road Bateman commencing at 7.30 pm. The next devotion is to be held on Wednesday 14 November 2007. All welcome. Enq: George Lopez 9310 9493

Every second Wednesday

FORTNIGHTLY BIBLE REFLECTIONS

Workers in the Garden of the Holy Family are conducting Bible Reflections at St Mary’s Church, Parish Centre, 40 Franklin Street, Leederville. Commencing 7pm with Rosary, refreshments provided afterward. Dates: October 17, 31, November 14, 28, December 5. Enq: 9201 0337.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Holy Trinity Church, 8 Burnett Street, Embleton. Every Monday to Thursday after the 8.30am Mass untill 10am. Every Thursday night from 11pm to midnight. Every Friday Eucharistic Adoration after the 8.30 Mass untill 6pm. Enquiries: Mgr McCrann on: 9271 5528 or George Jacob on: 9272 1379.

Every First Friday

HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE RELIGIOUS LIFE

At Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins Street, Glendalough. 7pm Mass with celebrant Fr Albert Saminedi. 7.30pm Holy Hour Adoration with Fr Don Kettle. Refreshments to follow in the hall. All welcome.

Second Friday of each Month

GENERAL PRAYER ASSEMBLY

The Couples for Christ and its Family Ministries welcome all members who now reside or are visiting Perth to join the community in our monthly general prayer assembly 7.30pm, St Joachim Parish Hall, Shepperton Road, Victoria Park. Enquiries: Tony & Dolly Haber (08) 9440 4540.

Every Fourth Sunday

SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER

The Perth Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order assembles every fourth Sunday at 2.30pm in the Chapel of RSL Care, 51 Alexander Dr, Menora. Enquiries John 9385 5649.

Every Fourth Sunday

WATCH AND PRAY

A Holy Hour is held at Infant Jesus Parish, Morley from 2-3pm with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The hour consists of some prayers and Scripture but mostly the hour is silent prayer for Vocations. All are welcome. Please encourage others to come and pray. Prayer - it works! Enq: 9276 8500.

WINDOW FUND DONATIONS WELCOME

St Catherine’s Catholic Church, Gin Gin. Parishioners are currently fundraising to restore the church windows. The cost of each window is $1500. If anyone is able to assist our fundraising efforts please telephone Fr Paul 9571 1839.

Every Monday

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

The Emmanuel Centre are offering to help people who gain weight because they are using medication for their mental illness. The group helps participants to manage their weight safely and healthily. Mind-Body-Life meets at the Emmanuel Centre on Mondays from 12.30-2.30pm. Free. The group starts with a weigh-in, then a talk on nutrition and healthy eating tips, goal setting and then half an

hour of exercise. Enq: Amanda - Emmanuel Centre, 9328 8113.

CLUB AMICI

Club Amici aims to build community amongst Catholic singles, couples and families (aged 25 and up) by organising social events. If you would like a copy of our new calendar of events or would like to be on our mailout list please contact Therese 9437 5349 or email clubamiciwa@yahoo.com.au.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Ignatian 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 supports the volunteers in their work. To learn more: www.volunteers.jesuit.org.au Contact Kevin Wringe, Perth Coordinator (08) 9316 3469 kwringe@iinet.net.au .

REUNION

John and Marie Acland are planning to hold a reunion later this year of all past and present members of the Apostles of Christ Prayer Group Willetton and all other persons who took part in their Meetings, Fellowship Nights, Life in the Spirit, and supplementary Seminars, the Alpha Course and other group activities. Details will be advised when full numbers are known. Enq: Marie Acland. Tel/fax 9537-3390. Email jmacland@bigpond.com or Dianne McLeod 9332-0829. Email danielmcleod@bigpond.com

OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE HOUSE OF PRAYER

Archbishop Hickey, at the end of 2006, approved a House of Prayer in the Archdiocese of Perth. The house must be fully purchased or donated and operational by the end of November 2007. All donations may be deposited at the CDF (Catholic Development Fund), 61 Fitzgerald Street, Northbridge. Ph: 9427 0333 Fax: 9427 0379 Email: cdf@archdiocese-perth. org.au. All donations will be fully refunded in the first half of December 2007 should a suitable house not be found and purchased. Please enquire about Tax Deductibility and General Enquiries: 9444 1940.

DONATION WANTED: THE CHAIN OF MARY

From 2004 up until now the Chain Of Mary has had a positive response throughout Australia and is now making its way overseas. We are now looking for anyone who can help with donations towards the continued printing and distribution of these Booklets. If you can assist Please call Rose on 0437 700 247.

FIRST EDITION MULTICULTURAL COOKBROOK

Published by St Lawrence Parish, Balcatta - Easy family recipes only $15. To purchase a copy, call Luciana Bailey 9344 7066 during office hours: Tuesday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Classifieds

ACCOMMODATION

■ DENMARK

Holiday House 3bdr x 2bath, sleeps up to 8. BOOK NOW. Ph: Maria 0412 083 377.

■ FAMILY GROUP ACCOMMODATION Visit http://www.beachhouseperth.com Call 0400 292 100

BLINDS

■ BLINDS SPECIALIST Call AARON for FREE quotes 0402 979 889.

BUILDING TRADES

■ BRICK RE-POINTING Phone Nigel 9242 2952.

■ PERROTT PAINTING PTY LTD

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

■ PICASSO PAINTING Top service. Phone 0419 915 836, fax 9345 0505.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

■ BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Extra income from your own home-based business. Work part-time without disturbing what you are doing now. Call: 02 8230 0290 or 0412 518 318 Events

EMPLOYMENT

■ AUTOMOTIVE PARTS SALES PERSON

We sell Auto Parts – Second hand. Recycled from insurance damaged motor vehicles. An experienced Auto Tradesperson would be ideal. We deal with the Trade and DIY customers. We welcome any enquiries. Phone Kevin McAuliffe 9459 4111

FURNITURE REMOVAL

■ ALL AREAS Mike Murphy 0416 226 434.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

■ THE JAMES CROFTS HOPE FOUNDATION INC. seeks volunteers for the following positions. 1) Treasurer - with accounting experience. 2) Events Manager Please contact Helen on 9445 7661

■ THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY Volunteers required for Polling Day. Paul Connelly 0414 247 286 or pmjconnelly@hotmail.com

HEALTH

■ ACHES, PAINS, STRESS??? Indian mature male masseur offers Reflex Relax Massage at $30 for 60mins. Phone Jai 0438 520 993.

■ HEALTH AND WELLNESS

A FREE Sample Pack of wellness, weightloss, and energy products. DVD and product brochure also enclosed. (Only while stocks last - hurry!!) Call 02 8230 0290 or 0412 518 318.

■ 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.

MIGRANTS

■ MIGRATE TO AUSTRALIA

For guidance and visa processing, Skilled or Family Visas and Study visas. Call Michael Ring or Ajay Trehan Registered Migration Agent – (MARN # 0212024). Phone: (02) 8230 0290 or 0412 518 318 for a no-obligation assessment, please call or email: michael.ring@bigpond.com

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

■ CATHOLICS CORNER

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

TO LET

Mogʼs Place, Guilderton. Self contained cottage available for holiday rental. Sleeps 6. Contact Mog 0419 926 280.

BOOK REPAIRS

■ REPAIR YOUR LITURGICAL BOOKS

Book repairs; leather restorations; secondhand Catholic books @ Tydewi Bindery ph.92933092

FUTURE OF PARISHES COMMITTEE

■ EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

This committee is seeking to appoint new members who will contribute to its work of supporting new growth and pastoral opportunities within the Archdiocese by: Working with parish priests and parish pastoral councils. Making recommendation to the Archbishop on parish matters. Members are appointed by the Archbishop on a voluntary basis. The committee meets six times yearly. For expressions of interest or further details please contact Julie Williams on 9422 7900 or email: padperth@highgate-perthcatholic.org.au <mailto:padperth@highgate-perthcatholic.org.au> by November 9, 2007.

PREMISES REQUIRED

We are looking for premises either North or South of Perth where we can hold daytime clinics for our clients. We require premises for a period of three to four hours during one day of the week; where we can see the clients privately and also has a waiting room. A Doctors surgery would be ideal. Similar offers would be appreciated. Our teachers are highly qualified in the field of Fertility education and management in the Billings Ovulation Method. Please contact Billings WA 0409 119 532 Marilena Scarfe.

THANKSGIVING

O Holy St Jude Apostle and Martyr great in virtue rich in miracles. Near Kinsman of Jesus Christ faithful intercessor of all who invoke your patronage in time of need. To you I have cause from the depths of my heart humbly beg you to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me now in my urgent need and grant my earnest petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked.

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 your 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. (Make your request)

O Jesus, who has 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. (Make your request) Thank you to the Infant Jesus of Prague for favours granted. E.R

Holy Spirit Thou who make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal. You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank You for everything and confirm once more that I never want to be separated from You no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with You and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Amen. JEP

ENGAGEMENTS

26-28 Parish Visitation, Gosnells Bishop Sproxton

27 Vigil Mass for UWA students - Archbishop Hickey

28 100th Anniversary of Jennacubbine Church - Archbishop Hickey

30 Mass and Ministry of Acolyte, St Charles’ Seminary - Archbishop Hickey Blessing of renovations, Christ the King School, Beaconsfield - Bishop Sproxton

31 Christmas Appeal Liturgical Launch, Highgate - Archbishop Hickey Blessing of extensions, St Joseph’s Secondary Campus, Northam - Bishop Sproxton

Baby Brandon at 3 weeks age as photographed by Justine Stevens

Spiritual greats of the Twentieth Century reflecting on the reason for the season

Advent & Christmas Wisdom from G.K. Chesterton

Daily scripture and prayers together with G.K. Chesterton’s own words. This Advent let us join Chesterton as he approaches the child Jesus. “You will come to find, as others before you, that Gilbert Keith Chesterton has walked into your life to make you laugh and think, to serve as your friend and mentor”

$15.95 + postage

Advent & Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen

Daily scripture and prayers with Nouwen’s own words. Henri J. M. Nouwen is one of the most beloved and well read spiritual authors of our time. This book will both challenge you and warm your heart during your annual preparation for the Lord’s coming. Nouwen shares with the reader his own journey of waiting while seeking the Lord.

$19.95 + postage

Advent & Christmas Wisdom from Fulton J. Sheen

Selections from the immortal pen of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen enrich advent preparation and offer practical spirituality for survival amid the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. Timeless, peace-filled and prayerful, each selection cultivates a renewed appreciation for Advent and continuing through the twelve days of Christmas.

$15.95 + postage

Advent & Christmas Wisdom from Pope John Paul II

Compiled by John V. Kruse, PhD, a theologian with expertise in Franciscan Spiriuality and the understanding of the office of the papacy. This Advent, let us join Pope John Paul II as he guides us to the child Jesus, following the signs of hope, where we will discover God’s never ending love.

$15.95 + postage