The Record Newspaper 27 August 2008

THE R ECORD

Through Pilgrim Eyes

After World Youth Day was over The Record asked pilgrims to write about what they felt they got out of the experience, or what made it special for them. See how our readers answered the call and what they wrote about being there...

What it was like to be at World Youth Day

Pages 3 - Vista 3

BISHOP QUINN DIES

The second Bishop of the Diocese of Bunbury, Peter Quinn, has died following a long illness. His successor recalls him as a man of wisdom whenever advice was needed.

Western Australia’s award-winning Catholic newspaper since 1874 - Wednesday August 27 2008 Perth, Western Australia $2

THE PARISH. THE NATION. THE WORLD.

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

-Bishop Matthew Gibney 1874

Saint for the week

Rosalia

c. 1125-c.1166

feast – September 4

CNS

Bishop ‘close to the struggles of his people’ dies aged 80

■ By Anthony Barich

BISHOP Peter Quinn, former Auxiliary Bishop of Perth and Bishop of Bunbury, has died aged 80 after a four-month battle with cancer.

was joyful and serene all the way through.”

Bishop Quinn succeeded Bishop Myles McKeon as Bishop of Bunbury from 1982 to 2001 when he retired.

This Sicilian saint’s story comes mostly from local tradition. Born to a noble family near Palermo, she left home at 14 to live as a hermit. The cave she lived in has an inscription reading “I, Rosalia, ... have decided to live in this cave for the love of my Lord Jesus Christ.” She later moved to a grotto on Mount Pellegrino, nearer Palermo. She died there; according to tradition, her remains gradually were buried by limestone deposits from stalagmites. In the 1600s, following two miraculous apparations during a plague epidemic, she was named the patron saint of Palermo.

Stewardship

© 2005 Saints for Today © 2008 CNS

Bishop Quinn, whom his successor as Bishop of Bunbury, Gerard Holohan, described as “a man of great faith and courage”, died at his home in Bedford on the morning of August 23.

His funeral Mass is at Bunbury Catholic College stadium at 11am on September 3. A burial service will be held at the Bunbury Crematoriam at 1.30pm, after which his remains will be kept at the Bunbury Catholic cemetary until he can be buried in the city’s new cathedral.

A vigil Mass will be held for Perth parishioners at Infant Jesus Church, Morley at 7pm, September 2.

“He was a man who was very much loved and felt very much for the struggles people were living in their lives,” said Bishop Holohan, who also knew the late prelate through a family connection. “He was a man of

great compassion and understanding; someone anyone could talk to. He was always recognised as a charismatic, dynamic person.” Bishop Quinn was a founding member of the Catholic Education Commission of WA and “had a passion for all aspects of Catholic education in schools,” Bishop Holohan said. A more detailed account of Bishop Quinn’s life will appear in a forthcoming edition of The Record

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

22nd Sunday in Ordinar y Time

In today’s second reading, St. Paul exhorts the Romans to total stewardship. Brothers and sisters he urges, “... present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” Stewardship as a way of life involves conversion. “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” Total stewardship means discerning your individual vocation, that is, what is God calling you to be? You respond to God’s call when you then discover, develop, and disperse the gifts God has given you.

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

Walking with Him Daily Mass Readings

31 22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Gr Jer 20:7-9 Insult and derision

Ps 62:2-6.8-9 You are my God

Rom 12:1-2 Worship God

Mt 16:21-27 Being a follower

1M

Gr 1Cor 2:1-5 The crucified Christ

Ps 118:97-102 I ponder your will

Lk 4:16-30 The spirit of the Lord

Bishop Quinn, who has been retired for six years, spent time at Mirrabooka parish as a priest and was an administrator of St Mary’s Cathedral before becoming Auxiliary Bishop of Perth.

Bishop Holohan, who knew him for 50 years from the time that he was a St Mary’s Cathedral choirboy while Bishop Quinn was then an assistant priest at the cathedral, said there was no question that the focus of the late prelate’s life was “drawing closer to Christ”. “He was quite happy when he was diagnosed with cancer, knowing that the ultimate meeting with Christ was coming,” Bishop Holohan said of his predeccessor.

“At no stage was he down about his illness. He

2T

Gr 1Cor 2:10-16 God’s Spirit

Ps 144:8-14 Compassionate Lord

Lk 4:31-37 The Holy One

3 W St Gregory the Great, Pope, doctor of the Church (M)

Wh 1Cor 3:1-9 God’s building

Ps 32:12-15.20-21 God’s chosen people

Lk 4: 38:44 Crowds look for Jesus

4 T Gr 1Cor 3:18-23 You belong to Christ

Ps 23:1-6 Not worthless things

Lk 5:1-11 If you say so

5 F Gr 1Cor 4:1-5 The mysteries of God

Ps 36:3-6.27-28.39-40 Trust the Lord

Lk 5:33-39 Fasting and prayers

6 S

Gr 1Cor 4:6-15

Fools for Christ’s sake

Ps 144:17-21 The Lord is just.

Lk 6:1-5 Master of the Sabbath

Democratic Labor Party

Aussie child obesity appointment

Child obesity has become such a problem in Australia that a Sydney hospital has dedicated one of its medical staff to treating overweight children. The Children’s Hospital at Westmead believes it may be the first such appointment in the world. Demand for weight management services at the hospital has increased five-fold in the past three years and there are waiting lists. Seventeen morbidly obese children were treated in 2005; this year the number is expected to be at least 90. Nationally, there are an estimated 1.5 million overweight and obese children.

- FamilyEdge

The Democratic Labor Party, WA Branch is fielding four Legislative Council candidates for the September 6th 2008 election. Due to the 500 member rule, they will be standing as independents. They are, however, members of the WA Branch of the Democratic Labor Party, which is formed in accordance with the constitution of the federal body, which can be viewed on their web-site www. dlp.org.au. The DLP agrees with all the policies listed on the Christian Values Checklist compiled by the Australian Christian Values Institute and available at www.saltshakers.org.au. The DLP has a number of policies specific to Western Australia. All candidates are dedicated pro-life people and preferences will go to other pro-life parties then pro-life candidates in major parties, so no votes for these candidates will be wasted.

Man of courage: Bishop Peter Quinn, born February 17, 1928, died August 23, 2008. His successor as Bishop of Bunbury, Gerard Holohan, described him as courageous.

Students bring back prayer experience

Pilgrim prayer at Corpus Christi College – continuing the call of the Holy Spirit.

CORPUS Christi pilgrims started an initiative at World Youth Day with our group of 22 which we termed Pilgrim Night Prayer. Each night upon returning tired and weary to our accommodation in Marayong at about 12.30-1am we held a group gathering praising and thanking God for the chal-

JOHN HUGHES

CHOOSE YOUR DEALER BEFORE YOU CHOOSE YOUR CAR

lenges and highlights of the day. Throughout World Youth Day we continued this prayer with our final group prayer in the airport lounge awaiting a flight to Perth on July 20. We are lucky to have weekly contact with our group and continue Pilgrim Prayer every Thursday at lunchtime in the park across from our school or in the college’s Student Ministry office and our numbers are growing as other pilgrims hear of the group and come to spend time to support

JohnHughes

each other in the daily challenges of life.

As Jesus said in Matthew’s Gospel: “Whenever two or more gather in my name I am there in their midst” and the Holy Spirit is certainly alive and active in our small group and flourishing within the community of Corpus Christi. This time allows pilgrims to continue witnessing their faith and strengthening their awareness of the active presence and power the Holy Spirit has in their lives.

- Bernice Roche

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

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

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

Is it true that I have over 40 technicians who are dedicated to getting my used cars in first class condition before sale? rst

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

Is it true I have my own finance company to assist good people with poor nance company to assist 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 have a warehouse selling cars under $10,000 and that I offer a full money back guarantee within one week?

Alive: One of the most valuable experiences for many Catholic youth who became part of the World Youth Day phenomenon in Sydney in July was seeing that hundreds of thousands of others just like themand by implication millions around the world - regard being a follower of Christ as an absolutely normal thing. This is not the message they hear from the Internet, television, movies, radio, magazines and popular music. These pilgrims from Coprus Christi College in Bateman, above, have brought the experience of prayer back to their campus environment.

SYDNEY AND BEYOND WYD PILGRIM

STORIES

Chris Andrews - Dianella

SO many images are with me as I reflect on WYD which my husband and I had the privilege of attending as companions to a young woman, Stephanie.

Being a pilgrim, walking in a sea of people in perfect harmony, picking up our bags of food and sitting with the world eating their contents, exchanging small souvenirs with perfect strangers who felt like family, praying, living, singing, dancing together, accepting the help of volunteers who gave it with such love and care, experiencing the extraordinary liturgies and seeing our Church revealed to the whole world through them feeling the pride of that, listening to the wonderful teachings.

Above all we marvelled at the commitment of the young who walked the journey all week with such joyful and prayerful dedication.

As my husband and I stood in the grandstand on Saturday night after the evening prayers and looked across at the 400,000 youth of the world tucked up in their sleeping bags, sleeping in perfect safety and trust of one another, I saw the possibility of a new world where loving kindness and respect is the base from which all people come – wouldn’t that be wonderful.

We continue to pray for each and every one of those who were there that their dreams for our Church and our world come true and along the way may they be supported and respected as the future leaders of our Church and our world by all they encounter.

We heard from several sources that people who live in Sydney experienced “something in the air” over that week, those of no religious persuasion felt that something had changed and it was hard to put a finger on but it had the feeling of peace… as believers we know it was the Holy Spirit of Jesus alive and well amongst us.

When 400,000 people come together to pray, it changes the environment around us – prayer works!

An image that stays with me is that of three bishops standing down at Circular Quay eating icecreams chatting to the pilgrim youth of the world.

They were quite calmly eating their icecreams with their pink sashes and pink skull caps on and long black habits.

Many religious were doing the same thing being visible and accessible and it was wonderful to be there to see it.

The Vocations Expo was another example of how proactive our Religious were as they joyfully called out from their attractive stands to “come and see” and offered their advertising and gifts to encourage the young to Religious vocations.

Their friendliness and joy were infectious.

Finally congratulations to the World Youth Day Committee, the City of Sydney, the Archdiocese of Sydney, the many sponsors and businesses and all of those who supported the event from all over Australia and beyond. You did a wonderful job – the organisation was brilliant.

We couldn’t fault a thing.

God, you are awesome – your power was evident in everything.

All those who spoke in your name reached their mark – from Pope Benedict, through the catechesis teachers, through the liturgies, through the Stations and the Prayers, through the Religious and the lay, through the kindness of the organisers – we feel our Church is in good hands – a genuine encounter with Christ – Alleluia!

John Paul CollinsSt Patrick’s Katanning

HAVING been named after his holiness Pope John Paul II, who was the founder of WYD, I would have loved an opportunity to attend a WYD during his papacy and be able to feel his holy presence.

Although I never had that opportunity I was lucky enough to be able to attend WYD Sydney along with a group of 12 from the combined parishes of Katanning/Kojonup in the Diocese of Bunbury.

One of the special things about WYD for me was the contrast between the spiritual energy and atmosphere amongst the crowd for the opening Mass, papal arrival and the final Mass and then the sombre atmosphere of the Stations of the Cross on Friday afternoon.

I thought that Australians could learn a lot from some of the other countries in attendance who were not shy about their love for the Catholic Church and their own faith – expressing their love in song, dance and fellowship.

June Sharp

St Gerard Majella, Mirrabooka.

LIFE is an endless list of things to do, places to go and people to see.

We may get so caught up, frustrated, tumble and fall. Yet, being a child of God’s sheep that get lost, he will always be there waiting and catching us when we fall.

I guess that is how we all felt before WYD - lost, afraid and in search of enlightenment. As for me, I wanted to enhance my faith with God. Don’t you believe you have a purpose on earth? I do. You were created for a reason. So, I was looking for my light/mission that God has prepared for me.

With all the troubles and uncertainty, I arrived at Aquinas College in Menai. There I met the most amazing and inspirational people. Together we became a stronger group in wonder, faith and hope.

While sharing our bountiful supply of canned tuna, soups and muesli bars, we felt motivated to keep on truckin’ through the day because God moves in mysterious ways.

You could see Him among us and the miracles performed each day.

As the Pope arrived my excitement grew and my faith was deepening. Knowing that this was all going to end soon but feeling this was the start of something new. Saying “Benedetto!” Seeing millions of people all come together to share one love in one faith, was that not enough to show you that there is still faith?

The final Mass had come and all the lost sheep were gathered together. This is just the beginning where now he has given me the strength, courage and hope.

If you believe then you will see and with Gods’ love, there you will find home. No longer will you be a lost sheep. Go! (to the next WYD), he is calling you…

Happy and shiveringJeanette and Angela D’Castro’s story

IT all began around Easter when I saw Pope Benedict XVI celebrating Mass in Rome and again when he visited the United States and celebrated Mass at Yankee Stadium.

These two events were the deciding factor for me to go to World Youth Day.

Not only did I change my mind and now want to go but I also managed to convince my sister to come with me.

What more could I ask then to share this experience with my best friend?

The only hiccup we had is that my brother and his family told us they were coming to visit.

So to try and satisfy both, we decided to go for the weekend.

Finally we arrived on July 18.

Sydney had certainly rolled out the red carpet weather-wise and the locals were extremely friendly and helpful. My highlight of the weekend was the evening Vigil where His Holiness led us in prayer.

A sea of candlelight and a feeling of peace and joy were expressed by all. It was wonderful to participate with people from all ages, cultures and backgrounds who share the same faith. Sunday’s final Mass was like icing on the cake.

My suggestion to people who question: Is this really for me? Will I fit in? Should I go? I would definitely say YES. We met some wonderful people along the way and it was a fantastic experience, a special time that I’ll never forget.

WORLD Youth Day 2008 was an amazing experience for me - much greater and more powerful than I expected. The atmosphere in Sydney was something you had to be amongst to believe, so much life and spirit from so many different people, from all over the world praising the same God.

Walking among the pilgrims was an experience within itself, from joining in with smaller groups singing and praising in their foreign languages, to chanting ‘Benedetto’ in crowds of over 100,000 people.

Being at World Youth Day was a real eye opener to how strong our religion is, and there will be so many youth embrace our God and carry it on to the next generation.

To me, the week in Sydney felt like you were in a small country town, except for being with a thousand times more people.

There was no hesitation walking up to a stranger and giving a hug, or having a chat.

It was hard to skip the “free hug” signs that so many people wore around Sydney I must admit.

The thing that made this whole experience so peaceful was the fact that everyone knew they were part of one family, and treated each other accordingly.

World Youth Day 2008 was so much more than I thought it was going to be, and I would definitely consider attending the next one. It has given me a great outlook on life, showed me where I want to be and how I want to live the remainder of my wonderful journey through life.

I WANT to thank all the organisers and volunteers who made World Youth Day so successful. The Leaders of our group from Personal Advocacy in our Parish, and the special people Leonie, Jocelyn, Alan and Patrick, who were so generous and caring throughout the Pilgrimage.

Since WYD I feel different and feel blessed and so lucky to be in the Group of loving people, come together as one, sharing happy and prayerful times, helping us to come closer to God in our hearts and touched by the Holy Spirit.

A special experience was with other young people from so many different countries and cultures, all united in our Catholic Faith and guided by the Holy Spirit. I felt so proud of my Catholic Faith.

Of course Our Holy Father’s presence was very, very special. The Closing Mass at Randwick was an occasion I will never forget.

Katrina Sidamon - Lake Grace pilgrim, Maria Regina Catholic Parish

APART from the many experiences that will continue to inspire me for the rest of my life, seeing Pope Benedict was just great. I felt like the atmosphere was changed when we saw him. Seeing him was like making yourself getting closer to God’s presence. I don’t know how to describe my emotions at that time. It was intense, but I felt excited, blessed and there was this great feeling of joy - a feeling that does not happen all the time. So it was really a great opportunity to see him. When I got back to Perth, blessings just kept on coming. My shift at work was good so I saved a lot of money to pay fees at uni. Then the next day I got a call from the laboratory where I did my work experience and they offered me a job. I did not even have to apply for that position. This was the prayer I have been asking but before it did not match my timetable so I did not get in. So now, I am working in the lab and at the same time, I can keep my old job. I thank God for the opportunity to be in Sydney for WYD08. Being at WYD was not just an opportunity to see another part of Australia but also to have this exciting, amazing, and spiritual pilgrimage that I will forever cherish.

John Paul Collins

Maria Lisa Hill

Matthew Peter O’Neill - Lake Grace pilgrim, Maria Regina Catholic Parish

Matthew O’Neill: Posing with Fransican Friars during the Welcome Liturgy for His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.

SYDNEY AND BEYOND WYD PILGRIM STORIES

Melissa Haydon

WORLD Youth Day 2008 was an amazing experience and one of the special highlights was the vigil on Saturday night at Randwick Racecourse.

Through the misty darkness, the altar on the brilliantly illuminated stage could be seen, complete with a monstrance larger than the Holy Father.

As the beautiful ceremony commenced,

thousands of candles lit up, tiny lights breaking the darkness.

When the chorus of the WYD theme song was heard, these lights swayed in time with the music, as their bearers sang away the chill of the night.

So many people, from ‘every nation and every tribe’, knelt together to pray and humbly adore our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

It was a very special experience to share with the Head of the Church on earth as well as thousands of other young Catholics.

Ally Gunnell

MY name is Ally Gunnell. I’m a pilgrim. I`m deaf. I thought that I had lost faith. I hadn’t. It was just misplaced. I arrived in Sydney airport seeing so many people. I had no idea what was in store for me.

Members of the Menai Aquinas College community and other pilgrims from other States and countries welcomed us. It was amazing to hear their experiences of their own parishes and to learn about their lives with God.

I saw Pope Benedict XVI at Barangaroo where he gave a very emotional service in many languages. It made me realise how many people have come here together to celebrate our faith, to celebrate life and to make many new friends.

Then on July 17 my journey with the others stopped, due to a blood clot in my heart and lung. It worried me at first that I was going to miss out. The Pope visited the hospital I was in so I got to see the Pope twice. Close up. I look forward to World Youth Day 2011.

PERTH based youth ministry, Youth Impact, was fortunate at World Youth Day to facilitate two catechesis venues in the Sydney CBD.

Catechesis was an opportunity for spiritual instruction and formation of the pilgrims prior to the Randwick vigil and closing Mass with Pope Benedict XVI.

Nelle Caddy, a Youth Impact leader, said that for many of the pilgrims “it was one of their highlights. It made the experience a lot more personal and a lot more accessible being able to speak to bishops one on one.”

Catechesis ran over three mornings, each containing a Bishop’s presentation on a specific topic, question and answer time, Reconciliation and Mass.

This all being complemented with young people facilitating the sessions by adding music, personal sharing and lots of fun and interaction.

as a service to the Christian community In the 2006 Census 64% Australians identified themselves as Christians. This checklist has been compiled after an exhaustive search of party platforms, voting history, statements, including in some cases the voting record of their Federal counterparts. Positions are often difficult to summarise in a format of this kind, and parties have not always made definitive statements. Therefore a '?' indicates in some instances a conscience vote, or a less than conclusive opinion on the party's position on some of the issues. Tick equals YES X equals NO

Ally (left) with fellow Perth pilgrims.

This summary of the positions of major parties on issues of concer n to Christians is provided

Yo bros: Brigette Kaciuba and Karl Brown, St Stephens’ venue MC’s.

PHOTO: JOHN BAIN

Together in faith: City Beach parish pilgrims enjoy the spirit at Royal Randwick Racecourse, the site of the Saturday night Vigil and the final Mass presided over by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday.

SYDNEY AND BEYOND WYD PILGRIM STORIES

Dane Ehrlich -

St Francis Xavier Parish, Armadale

WHAT was my experience of WYD? To summarise such an important experience inevitably means leaving a lot out, however for me a summary is easy: WYD08 was the most profound and life-giving spiritual experience in my life so far.

I have always considered myself to have a strong faith, but the power of WYD for me was in changing myself rather than trying to change others.

The most important spiritual developments that I have made personally are a new respect and appreciation of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and of the power of prayer to positively affect your life.

I truly experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit during the entire WYD week but on a personal level the best experiences were from the Catechesis seminars I went to with my youth group.

There, we met the universal Church and saw what a wonderful diversity of cultures can reach out to praise and worship our lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

I feel that in a special way everyone who went to Sydney got to experience the faith of the Church in action and it is truly awesome. I encourage everyone, young or young at heart, to truly consider the call to pilgrimage from the Holy Father. Go to Madrid for the next WYD in 2011, it will change your life.

Peter Valega, Ukrainian Catholics

NO one can actually explain to you what this is, if you have not experienced it yourself. No one can convey the emotions and experience they felt on a pilgrimage to onetenth or even one-hundredth of its enormity. No one can tell you what it was like to go on a pilgrimage - only how it changed them.

There are many moments I could choose to define as the start of this event: The arrival of the Pope in Sydney for WYD. The 9.2km pilgrimage walk to Randwick racecourse for the vigil sleepout and final Mass. Our arrival in Sydney itself. The moment we set off from the Lozyk’s residence on the Malanka bus. The purchase of the bus itself. My journey to Rome for WYD in 2006 as part of the Australian delegation to receive the WYD Cross and Icon. The announcement that Sydney would host this international WYD. It’s not important. What is important is that each pilgrim was present, and they have grown from the experience. They have changed and they have also changed others. We sometimes see ourselves in isolation, and forget every single thing we do will impact others, like ripples from a pebble dropped into a still pond. I cannot fathom the lives of all those people I have changed, through my presence, my words, my participation and my frustrations. Simply through my being. I hope I inspired goodness overall. I never knew what to expect; whenever I do, my expectations are generally proven wrong. I knew I would meet many people, old friends and new. I knew I would see the Pope. I knew I would get tired and cranky and jubilant and inspired, yet the details in how and why were unknowable. And the outcome I could not predict.

I saw many people grow. I saw my relationships change. I found a width and breadth of experience that I had never experienced

Michael Evans - Holy Spirit City Beach

I HAD many concerns about WYD08 before attending, and none so festering as my fear that it would fail, not from terrorism or bad weather, but from apathy from those attending and from Sydney itself.

The events that unfurled could not have proven this fear to be more irrelevant than if a bomb had exploded at a rain-soaked Randwick Racecourse.

The week provided an enormous variety of ways in which to explore the treasure of Catholic Faith.

But incredibly, no matter how many were around me or where my group was, I could experience the unifying love of Christ and it was this which daily took my, - and, I’m certain, Sydney’s - breath away, though not everyone may have recognised why.

I felt the peak of this phenomenon occurred during Pope Benedict XVI’s presiding over the Saturday Evening Vigil: the crowd of hundreds of thousands on their knees, together in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, brought me to tears.

I have never felt so blessed, so loved, or so spoken to before; and these impressions were echoed again and again later by our group members from Holy Spirit, City Beach and other pilgrims.

I also realised how much I had to be grateful for; not only those who spent years organising the events at Sydney and around Australia, but for my fellow pilgrims, our parish and its priest Fr Don Kettle, my previous parishes and family, and all those who share our Faith, had all played a part in helping me reach WYD and made sure the event reached me.

WYD experience with Morley and Leederville

“WYD Sydney was, for me, an opportunity to experience commitment to Christ lived and practised by thousands of people as they sang, prayed and shared together.

I attended with an enthusiastic group of young students and workers connected with the Morley and Leederville parishes.

The walking between venues extended the sense of pilgrimage and journey - we are all on our way but there are many paths, just as there are many rooms in the Father’s house.

The excitement was evident everywhereamong the pilgrims, the volunteers and the numerous local people we encountered.

My lasting memory is of the happiness, joy and peace of that week. My challenge is to continue this in my daily life.”

Sister Frances Hayes PBVM

before. I saw community. I saw love. I saw challenges and I saw people - so many people, all unique and special. If I could have told every single person, I would have.

I heard beautiful singing. I heard new and interesting music. I heard inspiring words and speeches, and the chatter of pilgrims in many different languages. I heard complaints and suffering and excitement, which is what pilgrimage is all about.

I felt a million different emotions blurring together in a two-week journey that seemed like a lifetime. I lingered and lapsed, I celebrated and cherished. I lost things and gained others. I am a wiser and fuller person for it. You can read the newspaper articles and speak to the people who were there, but you’ll see most strikingly the way each pilgrim has changed. It’s profound to observe, but so hard to do when you’re in the moment.

And if you’re reading this and wondering if you specifically had an impact on me, chances are you probably did. Actually, I can pinpoint the beginning of this pilgrimage: our journey began at the moment God Himself conceived each and every one of our existence, and it shall end when we are reunited with Him once more. World Youth Day was merely an event on this journey.

Personal Advocacy on pilgrimage

PERSONAL Advocacy Service, an archdiocesan agency that works towards the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities into the life of their local church communities, stepped out recently into a brave venture by arranging its own group of ‘pilgrims’ to attend World Youth Day in Sydney.

Nineteen young pilgrims with intellectual and other disabilities, each accompanied by their own ‘companion’, were part of a group of 42 that set out to see the Pope.

Despite the 29-hour delay in departure time that was reported in The West Australian, this group showed extraordinary patience and maintained their enthusiasm for taking part in all that they could during their time in Sydney.

We watched Nick Palmer, one of our young pilgrims, take part in the Presentation of Gifts at the Opening Mass celebrated by Cardinal George Pell at Barangaroo.

To find ourselves sitting amongst 150 000 people, all gathered to celebrate our faith together, with flags waving from 168 countries around the world was a remarkable experience.

Just as remarkable was the experience of friendship, fun and faith being shared together on the streets of a great city such as Sydney over these few days.

While some of our pilgrims were limited in verbal capacity, language barriers simply did not matter as people greeted each other, smiled, shook hands and exchanged badges. In spite of obvious limitations with

wheelchairs and other disabilities, our pilgrims were overwhelmed by the acceptance offered to them by so many strangers who simply saw them as people.

What were the highlights? For a couple of pilgrims such as Melanie and Amanda, it was an opportunity to see Guy Sebastian and join in singing the WYD song with him and 400 000 others at the final Mass at Randwick.

For Danny and Peter, it was ‘seeing the Pope’.

For Nicole, Maria-Lisa and Stephanie, it was meeting their former teacher, Mike Penhaligon, who was there with his own group of pilgrims from Corpus Christi College, and getting a hug.

For Kiro, the highlight was simply ‘the people’. Not just the huge crowds gathered each day in Sydney, but the experience of being part of our own special community, sharing time and space together at our campsite at Wanawong, on the southern edge of Sydney.

For Greg, one of our pilgrims’ companions, “The best part for our friends was being able to soak in the atmosphere and the spirit of friendliness that was just there amongst the crowds”.

Coming together like this showed that we are all part of an on-going story that has been celebrated for 2000 years, and that ‘together we are strong.’

Our 18 months of preparation for this venture now seemed well worthwhile.

Amanda’s question lingers: ‘Why can’t people be like this all the time?’

Michael amongst pilgrims in Syndey

L a Salle College

TWENTY FIVE La Salle College students and five staff members arrived at Bondi Beach on July 12 for an experience in their faith development and an opportunity to be part of a very special event.

Our first Mass in Sydney was held at St Patrick’s Parish in Bondi and a special

welcome was given to all the pilgrims from around the world by Fr Tom.

Following the Mass, a special morning tea was organised by his parishioners where new friendships were made and talk of the excitement and experiences to come were shared. During that week, we were all touched at some point of time by the Holy Spirit and the memories and experience will remain with us always.

THERE were many touching moments during my one-week pilgrimage to Sydney for World Youth Day.

Like most people, July 20 was a personal highlight, but not for the reasons that one would expect.

After the papal Mass had concluded, I still had one thing left on my to-do list for WYD08: a visit to the relics of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.

In August 2007, a friend and I had the opportunity to travel to Turin and visit his tomb for the first time.

This came at an interesting time, since it was still undecided if Pier Giorgio’s family would give permission for his body to travel down under for World Youth Day.

Many Pier Giorgio devotees and WYD organisers were praying hard that permission would be granted and there we were: standing in front of his chapel in Turin.

So of course, there could not have been a better time to get down on our knees and put this special request to our Heavenly Father.

Soon after we started praying, the cathedral cleaner spotted us kneeling at the gates of his chapel and in a moment of divine providence, unlocked the gates and invited us forward to pray with our hands on his tomb.

I have never prayed the Rosary as intensely as I did during those brief moments!

Perth band sees record crowds

By Adrienne Downes

Shannon Kyrwood

THE whole journey for me started just after Easter 2007. I decided to convert to Catholicism so I started the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program at my parish. I have been attending St Thomas More, Bateman parish for about eight years now. My sponsor was my sister-in-Law Heather Cooper. I was baptised at Easter 2008 in my parish by Mgr Michael Keating.

For adults who are converting, Confirmation normally occurs at this time also. Not so for me.

I was asked by my parish if it was ok that they put my name forward for the chance to be confirmed by the Holy Father. I said yes, but I never actually understood the magnitude of what I was agreeing to. I was in for the ride of my life. The Vatican chose two people from each of the States/Territories in Australia and also 10 international pilgrims. I was one of the Western Australians chosen hence my Confirmation was held off until WYD. We all had to send off personal information/ID etc. to the WYD Head Office in Sydney as we needed to be accredited to be near the Holy Father. This was quite a long process as we needed Vatican clearance and also NSW Government clearance.

All of the Confirmation candidates chosen and their sponsors travelled to Sydney with their pilgrim groups. During our week in Sydney there were events organised for all to attend. We attended what we could but we also had rehearsals so we all knew what protocols had to be followed and where we were to sit/stand on stage.

We had two events where we were up on stage – Saturday night for the Vigil Mass and then Sunday morning for the closing Mass. On the Saturday night Vigil, all of us were introduced and we were on stage kneeling in front of the Holy Father during the adoration of the Eucharist. Being in his presence was amazing but this was nothing compared to what was to come on the Sunday. That morning we were all confirmed by the Holy Father, all in a line with our Sponsors behind us. The Holy Father made the Sign of the Cross on our foreheads with the Oil of Chrism. This was very nerve-racking.

together. It is really hard to explain what we were feeling at this time. You just can’t put it into words. The Holy Father has piercing blue eyes and he looked right into my eyes as he made the sign of the cross. I felt the Holy Spirit wash over me at this time and I got ‘goose bumps’.

Then to have to walk all the way back down to the bottom of the stage was really quite difficult. I just wanted to hug Heather for all her help and support throughout the whole journey but we had to stick to the schedule and get back down to the holding pod. Some people were crying as we were walking back down. I kept it together until I got down the bottom into our ‘holding pod’ and emotion exploded.

Everyone was congratulating each other, hugging, crying and talking about how we were feeling at the time. It wasn’t long after this that we had to walk back up onto the stage to receive Communion from the Holy Father.

We all received a Vatican-approved Communion slip that we had to keep on us at all times. Security was very tight during the whole week and only those with special clearance could get close to the Holy Father. We all had to kneel to receive Communion from the Holy Father. This was a new experience for me as I have never knelt to receive Communion – I think this made it that much more special.

We walked back down to the ‘holding pod’ and watched the end of the Mass together. After it all finished we stayed around and got some photos of us all then we all headed our separate ways back to our pilgrim groups.

What an amazing experience WYD was. To top it all off I had my family there with me. My sisters travelled with me in my pilgrim group, my parents (who are not Catholic) and fiancé flew over from Perth and my in-laws (who live in Sydney) were able to get tickets to the Mass also. I got to experience this incredible event with friends and family who mean the world to me. What more could I have asked for?

Fast forward 11 months to World Youth Day in Sydney and our prayers had been answered: the relics of Pier Giorgio Frassati were available for veneration in St Mary’s Cathedral.

There was a beautiful ambience inside the cathedral, truly befitting the “Man of the Beatitudes”.

The presence of the relics gave all pilgrims the opportunity to reaffirm their beliefs in the resurrection of the body and in the intercession of the Saints. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: pray for us!

PERTH-based youth ministry, Youth Impact, showcased their band at a performance to more than 2000 World Youth Day pilgrims at Tumbalong Park on July 17.

Youth Impact’s sound is modern contemporary Christian rock.

It featured songs from many Australian Christian artists as well as their own original songs written by Catholic young people from Perth.

Melissa Gee, a youth leader and vocalist in the band, said: “This performance was a chance to praise God amongst the busyness of World Youth Day, I think the pilgrims really engaged with it.”

“The Youth Impact band was absolutely amazing! People came together regardless of the language they spoke or where they were from to praise God.”

“It was definitely my highlight of the week,” said Perth pilgrim Tom Coffey, 18.

The band performs regularly at Youth Impact events, as well as diocesan events including the upcoming post World Youth Day teenage conference, Activ8. For more information see www.activ8.org.au.

The aura around the Holy Father was incredible. It was very hard to keep it all

The experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity and it was very humbling for us all. It affected everyone differently which made it all that more special. We are now all friends who will keep in contact throughout the years as we have all shared an experience that none of us will forget.

(2)

(3)

Venice Ravenna Florence (2)

Assisi (2) Loreto (1)

San Giovanni Rotondo (2)

Angelo Pietrelcina

Rome extension (3)

Bondi: La Salle College Students with Fr Tom (back) at St Patick’s Parish, Bondi, Sydney.

Matthew Hodgson - Pastoral Project Officer, Perth WYD Office.

Highlight: Perth’s Youth Impact band wowed audiences in Sydney. Rob DiGillianardo lead guitarist; Adrienne Downes is the vocalist.

PHOTO: JOHN BAIN

Swan View pilgrim surprises Cardinal Pell with greeting at Mass

■ By Anthony Barich

A SIX-HOUR delay and a flight cancella- and a cancellation before even getting to World Youth Day was all washed away when Swan View youth Nicholas Palmer got to shake hands with the most senior Catholic in Australia.

Nicholas, 26, was one of 42 representatives of Personal Advocacy who were stranded with The Record’s two reporters at Perth domestic airport on July 12 before the flight was eventually cancelled after waiting six hours for what was reported as engineering problems to be sorted out.

While The Record’s journalists managed flights the next morning, shifting the collective flights of 42 people proved more tricky, and Qantas put them up overnight.

But the trouble wasn’t over.

They were sitting on the plane waiting to take off the next day when Qantas told them the pilot had flown too many hours and could not fly.

They were stranded in Perth another day. Nicholas’ date with Cardinal Pell in Sydney was less than 48 hours away.

That night one of the 19 young people with intellectual disabilities who Personal Advocacy assisted in getting to WYD slipped over and required four stitches in their head at Royal Perth Hospital and missed their trip to Sydney.

When they finally arrived it was all downhill from there. WYD provided adequate facilities for the care of people with intellectual disabilities, and the pilgrims – helpers and leaders as well as the youth with disabilities – had a ball.

Nicholas’ job was to bring the chalice which would soon hold the blood of Christ after the consecration by Cardinal George Pell and hundreds of concelebrating cardinals, bishops and priests at the opening Mass at Barangaroo, a disused shipping port in East Darling Harbour.

When the time came, he processed up with several representatives from other countries dressed in their traditional uniforms (see photo). After he presented the gifts to Cardinal Pell, he added a personal gesture – offering the Archbishop of Sydney a handshake and saying: “Hi, my name’s Nick Palmer from Perth. How’s it going?”

Without blinking, the cardinal happily shook Nicholas’ hand and offered a similar remark, and the Swan Christian College café kitchenhand made his way back down the stage, happy as Larry.

“He was really nice; I’m really happy. It was a great experince,” Nicholas later told The Record back at his Swan View home, at Swan View where he lives with his parents Terry and Ann.

Later in the week, Nicholas and his parents slept in the function room in the grandstand, allocated for people with intellectual disabilities and others, before the final Mass on July 20, when Pope Benedict XVI announced Madrid as the next WYD in 2011.

“The service and help in Sydney was very good – people involved in the rail, trains, police and volunteers gave us lots of assistance,” Terry said.

“Sometimes it was a challenge to find out what services were available, but there was a free taxi service for people with disabilities based at the Hilton Hotel where we stayed.

“At the main events we were looked after. We had chairs and it was an area near the toilets, which is important.”

While some people from his local parish had been to WYD before, Terry says there’s a difference between hearing about it and actually walking and talking with people at the event.

“Even lining up for coffee in Sydney we got talking with a lady from a Sydney school who managed to be on the boat with the Pope, and how great that was for them,” Terry said.

Philip Anh Tuan Truong

MY name is Philip, I was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to embark on a journey to find God. But before I share that with you, I want to let you know a small part of me that led me to want to seek Him. I was born and raised in a beautiful Catholic family, my grandfather was a servant of God and he loved the Church so much, it is shown through his works. He always made sure that Jesus was present and alive in all his family. I was baptised when I was a baby and received my first holy communion when I was 8 yrs old. Confirmation happened four years later and the rest was up to me.

At the time I knew God was but I didn’t have a relationship with Him. I grew up going to church every Sunday, but really not knowing why. Only until through a special friend I understood God’s love for me and how much I needed Him in my life. She encouraged me to seek after him to open my

heart and trust him to change my life and have a relationship with Him, because God promised if we take a step towards Him, He would take a thousand steps towards us; to turn to Him at all times through the good times and difficult times.

She reminded me that the Bible tells us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6) and from here I wanted to seek more of God.

WYD was an opportunity for me to fill the hunger and thirst I had after God. When WYD was introduced to me I was really excited because it looked so fun. But little did I know anything about the WYD.

So my enthusiasm started to wear off and few months down the track along with study and workloads it nearly lead to my brothers and I cancelling our trip. But to God’s greater purpose we couldn’t cancel, so we stayed on and never regretted our decision, but felt as this was a blessing.

The first day was such a rush of energy and excitement. It was such a blessing from God to see so many Catholics in one place ready to receive the power from the Holy Spirit. Our mission was clear, be witnesses to the Holy Spirit and witnesses we will be.

Our pilgrimage has started and we had to set our focus back to why we’re here and who we wanted to be part of our lives for eternity.

As WYD was upon us we gathered into our groups daily and would start the day off, giving thanks to the Lord in advance for the lovely weather and guidance he will provide us thru the journey to receive the Holy Spirit. Most days we would walk far, and at times struggling with fatigue and hunger; but then I think back on the time when Jesus and His disciples travelling in far worse conditions than us. And with that thought and God’s grace the strength was given to us and the burden was lifted. “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Mat 4:4)

Nightly reflection was a time for fellowship, to share and learn from each other.

Jesus says, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

(Mat 18:19-20)

For once in my life, I wasn’t ashamed or afraid to express my feelings about my faith; I knew God wanted me to be a messenger to spread the good news. I was so proud to see my fellow Christian brothers, especially my brother David, sharing and reflecting and how God is so important to them and us, and that we need Him and it is because of the love for him we are gathered.

On this journey with God, I have realised that the power of prayer was a gift that God gave to us so that we could communicate to Him and share with Him our deepest thoughts.

Livia from Flame Ministries

AS Flame Ministries International, we attended World Youth Day 2008 with little knowledge or expectation of what we were about to embark on.

It was a journey for each of us personally and as a Ministry united in Christ and moved by the Holy Spirit.

Running our catechesis venue at Holy Family parish in Menai was an experience that will remain with us forever.

Remembering the enthusiasm of the pilgrims, God working through each of us and wonderful talks given by the bishops, really emphasised that we were One Body, one family, the Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit and a witness to the love that Jesus Christ has for each and every one of us.

Performing the Freedom album at Tumbalong Park on the Thursday night festival was just as exciting. Pilgrims flooded the park, embracing their Faith and sharing it with the whole world just as we were through our music.

We enjoyed the crowd singing along with our songs and dancing in the park. Without shame or reservation we proclaimed what we all lived for, Jesus Christ.

Joyful expectation: Nicholas Palmer, fourth from right, back row, waits with international pilgrims to greet Cardinal George Pell.

SYDNEY AND BEYOND

Kolbe Catholic College Rockingham.

THE first six belong to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish “Discovered Youth Group” Rockingham...

Jeremy Tucker went to WYD from the Shoenstatt Shrine in Armadale.

Silvana Scarfe, 19Catholic Youth Ministry Perth

AFTER missing the Opening Mass of WYD08 and shopping for shoes instead, Alison Atkins experienced a life-changing moment.

“We are so lucky to have experienced this in our lifetime and in our own country,” Alison Atkins said to me during World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney.

It was a far cry from Alison’s first WYD experience which she describes as “indifferent”.

Now an employee of the Thomas More Centre in Brisbane, Alison decided to attend WYD in Rome in 2000 after being made redundant when two insurance companies merged. “I didn’t care who the Pope was and used my redundancy payment to go to Rome,” she said.

“I was with a group of 400 from Melbourne and someone said if we run three blocks we can see the Pope passing in the street. I was indifferent to him and then I saw him and it was electric.

“He captivated me and I started studying the faith. The more I knew the more I loved it and the more I studied.”

Alison then went to study at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and the Family.

Now more of a ‘big sister’ to the new wave of pilgrims, Alison said she hopes to witness a major resuscitation that will not stop.

“We haven’t given up on youth and Christians in this country.

“I saw what happened to me after WYD and I’m excited that what happened to me will happen all over Australia.”

Already in her home city of Brisbane, 20,000 youth converged in the city centre on July 12 for Days in the Diocese in the days leading up to WYD. Now Alison and those she works with are in Sydney to connect with Brisbane youth and bring the benefits of WYD back to their state.

“I can’t stand the idea of enjoying WYD and then letting its message slip,” she said.

The challenge now, she says, is to let the youth of Australia know that the movements of the Church and enthusiasm they experienced here at WYD is available in their own back yard.

Phil McLachlan

WHATEVER was happening in Sydney, was in we certainly experienced the Holy Spirit here in Thornlie. The beautiful Mass on the first morning was led by priests speaking in English, German and Burmese, and one of the pilgrims playing the flute. It set the tone for the week, which was just a series of wonderful encounters that I wish everyone in our parish could have experienced. Our lives have been truly blessed.

FOR me, WYD was an experience of the me, WYD was an experience of the heart. I came to realise that it is not places or things that make a deep impression on one’s life, but rather those special people God brings into your life at particular moments.

I experienced this profoundly at the Fr Stan Fortuna (rapping priest from the Bronx, New York) and Matt Maher (contemporary Catholic music artist) concert organised by the Franciscan Friars at Bondi Beach on the Wednesday of WYD.

During Matt Maher’s performance he ministered to all those present and testified to God’s love – during the testimony, a pilgrim I had not yet met took my hand in his and held mine in a gesture of fellowship.

I began to cry and feel God’s Love at such a profound level that I let go of anything that had previously prevented me from submitting my all to Him.

Through this, God showed me during the remainder of WYD the great joy in being a gift of self to others – by just being there when another pilgrim experienced physical pain, emotional anguish or the awesome love of God and witnessing the Holy Spirit at work through the weaknesses and self-doubt of young pilgrims journeying to WYD.

Our Lady of the Rosary Doubleview parish pilgrims

THIS was a monumental experience for all of us. We stayed at the Dominican Girls’ College in Strathfield which was a 20-minute train ride west of the city of Sydney. Each day was separated into three parts: a three-hour catechesis session at the church involving a lecture from a guest bishop, question time, Adoration and Mass.

The second part of the first day involved the Opening Mass by Cardinal George Pell, followed on the following days by the papal welcome to Pope Benedict XVI and Stations of the Cross.

We were lucky to get within five metres of the Pope as he travelled through the crowd. The third part of the day was a festival in Darling Harbour.

WYD was not a holiday, it was a pilgrimage. There was nothing so affirming as seeing thousands of people who shared the same faith trying to live it out all together in one huge area.

There’s nothing quite like hearing the sound of nearly half a million people completely silent after Holy Communion at Randwick. You really would have had to experience it to understand it.

Thanks very much to Stephanie, Annie and Patrick van der Moezel, Ben Jacobs, Errol Lim and John Mordini.

Spanish pilgrims

DURING the recent lead-up to World Youth Day, Perth was privileged to play host to many pilgrims on their way to Sydney.

Our parish of Our Lady of Grace in North Beach was especially blessed to host 30 wonderful pilgrims from Spain.

Most of the group came from or live near a beautiful little Spanish town close to the Portuguese border called Tuy.

The town of Tuy is also the birthplace of our own Bishop Rosendo Salvado and so the call to see the peaceful town of New Norcia was what drew the Spanish pilgrims to break their long journey in Perth.

The group marvelled at the treasures carefully housed in the Museum and strolled with awe among the stately buildings of this unique town but, their biggest pleasure from the trip seemed to come from an impromptu meeting with the only remaining Spanish Monk - the 97-year-old Dom Paulino Gutierrez.

They regaled him with some beautiful Spanish folk songs which were sung with so

much energy and love. We could certainly learn a lot from our Spanish amigos about taking time to appreciate the important things in life.

I know that I am definitely richer from the experience of hosting these deeply spiritual and friendly people and I hope that one day soon, our paths will cross so that our journeys continue together.

I think that the impact this special group of people has had on Australia can be beautifully summed up by a recent email I received from one of the Pilgrims:

“If you imagine that 2000 years ago a bunch of fishermen, totally unskilled and poor guys changed the world... why not us the same of course with the help of the Holy Spirit. For that Mission we count also the prayers of all our friends from Australia, we are not alone and we are not isolated and old fashioned people like many people try to show us, like Catholics in the third millennium... we need to be united in prayer and in confidence with God and we can be sure that we can change the world - in fact we have already started to do it.”

Jade and Taryn Mohen

Julieanne Simmons

WHAT a wonderful experience it was to have our pilgrim Britta stay with our family and for us to be involved with such a great group of young people.

The Schoenstatt pilgrims really were appreciative of all that the parish and host families put together for them. Sr Marion, Fr Lukas and Fr Helmut are great role models.

I am sure there have been some life long friendships made during this short visit.

A 12-HOUR delayed flight and a mix up and a mix up with our accommodation was not enough to discourage the excitement of a group of 15 young teachers heading to Sydney for our very first experience of WYD.

We were completely amazed by the gathering of young people that were all there for the same reason and beliefs. We hit the streets of Sydney with our WYD lanyards and bright orange and yellow backpacks, feeling completely part of this beautiful event. It was a true privilege to share and learn more about our faith with young people from all countries.

After a week of catechesis sessions, the Stations of the Cross truly moved us and brought many to tears. The culmination of the week was the pilgrimage walk across the bridge and the sleep-out. During the final Mass, the Pope gave us an inspiring message of trust, hope and dreams - something that we brought home with us and will continue to share with our friends and students.

Caroline

Kate Kelly Thomas Lisa

Shanon Jeremy

Alison Atkins

■ By Sylvia Defendi

Silvana Scarfe and Matt Maher after the concert at Bondi Beach.

Hosts Julieanne and Steven Simmons with daughter Isobel and Schoenestatt pilgrim Britta, outside Sacred Heart Church

Spanish pilgrims on the steps of St Ildephonsus, New Norcia.

SYDNEY AND BEYOND

WA rocks Sydney @ WYD

St Matthew’s parish, Narrogin

ST MATTHEW’S parish sent 20 young people to Sydney on the WYD pilgrimage to share Mass with our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. This journey was not just the three-hour walk to Royal Randwick, but the 18 months of preparation, fundraising and community building that took place.

Our group made themselves proud through many efforts which brought our faith community together, including other denominations and members of the town. We had a quiz night, Christmas pork dinner, chocolate raffles, wood raffles, cake stalls, crutching days, catering for events, mulesing days, and many more.

Through our hard work and commitment to the Church, we were able to raise around $35,000, which was enough to support our young people in their accommodation and life-transforming experience of World Youth Day.

We are truly indebted to our parish community and will repay the favour by sharing our experiences and renewed enthusiasm with them.

This will be through our participation in the Church’s ministries and setting an example for the younger generation to show what they can do by being part of the universal Church. We want to share with people that the Church is well and truly alive and that

we must be witnesses to the Holy Spirit, and spread the good news and never be ashamed of who we are and what we stand for because Jesus loves us all very much.

We are going to step in and take active roles in helping our Church grow. We must join the different ministries and encourage others to do so to ensure the growth and development of our Parish.

Catechesis sessions were real eye opener to our young people to clarify their faith issues and offered an awareness to see how God works in the lives of the people and how God loves and cares for each one of us individually. Catechesis began in the morning with prayer, song, teaching, questions and discussions and concluded with the celebration of the Eucharist and lunch. It was wonderful to hear from bishops and about the ordinary lives of the people. We saw how God touched and transformed them through the pains and struggles of their lives.

WYD is about gathering the young people of the world together to contemplate the face of Christ and His Church and celebrating our common faith that builds bridges of friendship and hope between continents, peoples and cultures.

The WYD theme, “be my witnesses” highlights the promise made by Jesus to set fire upon the Earth by the power of the Holy Spirit which inspires the pilgrims who come to Australia, to believe and be a witness to Him.

The overall involvement of West Australians was outstanding for WYD08. Some interesting WA facts:

■ Over 3000 WA pilgrims registered

Many more West Australians also attended WYD by simply being in Sydney that week.

■ 60 Priests from the Archdiocese of Perth attended WYD 08.

■ 8 Catechesis sites were led by WA groups.

■ 4 musical performances featured purely WA performers at WYD 08.

■ 2 candidates who were confirmed by the Pope: Shannon Kyrwood, David Proudlock.

In addition to the confirmation candidates, the following also received communion from the Pope at the Papal Mass: Heather Black and Heather Cooper, the sponsors of WA’s two Confirmation candidates David Proudlock and Shannon Kyrwood.

■ Michelle Jack, from Mt Lawley Parish, was a part of the International Liturgy Group that prepared and served at the WYD liturgies.

■ 35 choristers from Perth were involved with the World Youth Day Choir at all official ceremonies,

■ Seminarians also assisted with the Papal Mass: Christian Irdi, a young Perth man studying for the priesthood in Sydney, was in the Scholar Choir which sang for the dedication Mass on July 19, and was on the Sanctuary assisting with Pope Benedict XVI’s Mitre for

Reflections on World Youth Day

By Steph Lam

WORLD Youth Day 2008 in Sydney was something that I didn’t expect to be as wonderful and amazing as I experienced it.

The fun and joy of expressing our Christian faith, I learnt, was and is not something to be ashamed or embarrassed of but to be proud of.

To be able to celebrate it with many thousands of youth around the world is amazing.

No words can describe the atmosphere shown through World Youth Day.

Each day was filled with waking up to a lively city and experiencing different ways of expressing your Christian faith from three days of catechesis, prayer vigils, many masses and meeting new people. I remember just walking along the street and someone from another country would just yell out “Hello!” or, “Hey, where are you from?”

It made me feel lucky to be part of our Christian faith to belong and to be someone part of it and not someone just looking on.

“You will receive the power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses” [Acts 1:8].

Corpus Christi College Education Support Centre

THREE students from Corpus Christi College Education Support Centre attended the 2008 World Youth Day activities in Sydney during the July holidays. Nathan Hughes, Kellie Jones and Courtney Rochford with three carers, Mr Penhaligon, Mrs Marini and Mrs Basley, attended most of the activities on offer.

One of the exciting moments was realising that we were going to travel on the same boat as the Pope was going to use to get to Barangaroo for the Papal arrival.

The three students actually got to meet a Captain Cook look alike before seeing the sights of Sydney. All of the students had their own very special memories. Courtney’s finest memories were firstly of the trip to Sydney - she needed to be brave because she was leav-

ing her mum and dad. She was very excited about the Pope arriving on the same boat as we had travelled on earlier in the week. The highlight for her was the Papal arrival at Barangaroo and the concert on the Tuesday evening when her “Idols” Guy Sebastian and Damien Leith entertained us.

Kellie’s fondest memories were receiving a personal wave from the Pope whilst we were stopped at some traffic lights. She loved the boat trip, especially the food and the scenery, and was very excited to see the Pope arrive on the same boat for the Papal arrival via the Boatacade!!! Kellie also said it was great to see and hear Guy Sebastian and Damien Leith singing songs for us in the evening.

The best memory for Nathan was the Stations of the Cross. He said it was a long time but fantastic. He enjoyed meeting people from all over the world and the fact that he could watch the rugby on the Saturday evening.

Every person at this event has received the power and looking upon the hundreds and thousands of people we truly were witnesses of the Holy Spirit in every one of us.

World Youth Day was an event to never forget and I will always cherish the memories that came with it for the rest of my life.

By Alyssa Ferrante

“You will receive the power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses.” - Acts 1:8

WORLD Youth Day was truly a life changing experience and a memory that will stay with me forever.

Every Mass, prayer, vigil and catechesis class taught us all to look for the Holy Spirit and to come closer to God. We all did receive the power and felt the Holy Spirit come upon us as a whole group.

The opening Mass and final Mass at Randwick racecourse was a wonderful experience. Seeing hundreds of thousands of youth from all around the world, coming together to worship and be with God was an experience that I will never forget. It was amazing hearing the Mass, the prayers and even waking up to people singing in different languages. It made me realise how many different people had come from all over the world to come together to celebrate this one event.

The lyrics of the World Youth Day song say that “Every nation, every tribe, come together to worship You.” and this is what had happened throughout the whole World Youth Day week. We were all together as one.

BEYOND WYD PILGRIM STORIES

the Papal Mass on Sunday, July 20.

All the St Charles Seminary students from Guildford and Redemptoris Mater Seminary students from Morley assisted with the distribution of Holy Communion at the Papal Mass.

■ Youth Festival sites were also run or assisted by Perth groups:

Love and Life Site – Perth’s Respect Life Office, WYD Cross and Icon Tent – Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community and Youth Mission Team, Act Today Change Tomorrow Workshop and Various Sites – Young Christian Workers (YCW) and Young Christian Students (YCS), Social Justice Concert – Young Vinnies Caritas site

The Domain event post-WYD by communities of the Neo-Catechumenal Way.

■ The West Australian Vocations network hosted a stall at the Vocations expo. hosted a stall at the Vocations expo

■ Involvement of Anita Parker, Perth WYD officer:

EWTN Interview Monday July 14,

Receiving Holy Communion from Cardinal George Pell at the Opening Mass at Barangaroo on Tuesday July 15,

Hosting Goliath comes to Sydney youth festival event Wednesday 16 JulyPapal Boat ride Thursday July 17,

EWTN live broadcast interview Friday July 18,

■ A number of West Australian volunteers also assisted at a variety of events during the WYD week.

■ The seminarians and young Religious attended a special Mass with the Holy Father.

- Info provided by the Perth WYD Office

Day from Mercedes students

Joanna Waloszek

■ By

Sylvia Defendi

AS shouting pilgrims sang songs of worship and chanted loudly, one pilgrim suffered from a lack of voice and discovered the beauty of Adoration.

Joanna Waloszek, a 22-year-old psychology student from Melbourne, lost her voice on the first day after an energy-filled drive from Melbourne to Sydney for World Youth Day. She travelled as a group leader for Melbourne’s Divine Mercy Polish youth group.

Having experienced WYD in Rome and Toronto, Joanna said it was a blessing to host the international youth event in her own home.

“It was great to have the time to get to know people in my group properly. I recognise people’s faces at Mass but we really connected here at WYD and it was great seeing them change as the week progressed,” she said.

Personally, Joanna also feels WYD offered her a unique experience. “The fact that I lost my voice on first day challenged me. I really needed patience to communicate with the masses of people,” she said.

In her relatively quiet WYD experience, Joanna realised she needed Adoration as part of her prayer life. “I realised I needed that

down time with God, in my charismatic life,” she said.

Asked how WYD would change her group’s activities when they returned to Melbourne, Joanna was excited to share her vision. “Our youth group now have a warehouse with an old chapel in it. We received a large donation to fix it and run a youth group in it.

“It will be for all but particularly for those who attended WYD in Sydney, who have had a taste of what is possible and want more,” she said.

By Annabel Seow and Bonnie Power

THE highlight of our experience was when we were literally metres away from Pope Benedict XVI.

In the morning after the camp-out on the racecourse, Bonnie’s mum told us to go and get hot chocolate. Unwilling, we walked to the other side of Randwick Racecourse and queued in line.

We started to walk back when we noticed that nobody seemed to be moving. We ran up to the front of the fence only to find a volunteer saying that the racecourse was in ‘lockdown’ mode so nobody could try to harm the Pope whilst he was entering the race course.

We tried to explain that our parents were on the other side but we still were not allowed through. Suddenly loud cheering erupted from close by and there the Pope was driving in front of us and waving.

Notre Dame University Pilgrims

It was amazing to be so close to the Pope himself.

By Kin D’Silva

MY experience that I have obtained from World Youth Day will stay with me for the rest of my life. Witnessing thousands of people praying, singing and openly expressing their faith proudly, was in itself experiencing Christ. I met so many great people from different parts of the world, and the fact that we were all there for the same reason, left me with a sense of belonging.

Before I attended World Youth Day, one question kept playing on my mind: Could I actually receive the power from the Holy Spirit to become a better child of God?

WYD was a wonderful experience where I was able to share my faith with so many people. WYD showed me how the Holy Spirit can guide us in our actions to be witnesses to all.

WHAT can I say about WYD? A lot of people have asked me about it and I could only manage “amazing”.

Since I already thought I was a strong Catholic, it didn’t occur to me that I would experience anything so powerful to change me spiritually anymore. I was wrong.

I returned home feeling stronger than usual and so proud to be part of such a beautiful religion. I proudly share my experiences with others, explaining my unforgettable spiritual journey, which has had an impact on a number of people, who wish to receive what I received.

I believe that the people who attended World Youth Day, were chosen for a reason. In the famous World Youth Day song, “Receive the Power”, there was one sentence that stood out to me the most. “Receive the Power, to be a light unto the world.”

From this, I believe it was a message for those people who attended World Youth Day, to return home in a different state of mind as an instrument of Jesus, filled with Graces from the Holy Spirit to help others realise the importance of our faith. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to go to World Youth Day, as it has definitely benefited me in so many ways and I feel like a different person.

It was amazing but it was also an opportunity to experience the cultures of the world and their strong belief in their faith. From all walks of life and all cultures we mixed as young Christians all seeking to show the world that the Catholic Church is still very much young at heart.

One moment I will never forget is the coming together of a group of American pilgrims and Iraq pilgrims and their flags flying in unison.

WYD was a once in a lifetime experience; especially having the privilege of being in our beautiful country.

The atmosphere was extraordinary; seeing people from all walks of life expressing their faith was incredible.

Every step of the pilgrimage walk filled me with pride; especially as we walked over the Harbour Bridge.

The experience meant a lot more to me as I was able to share it with those close to me.

Brian Robinson

Jacinta and Cate at candle-light vigil during the sleep out at Randwick

Jacinta Elder

Notre Dame Pilgrims (L-R) Brian, Cate, Rita and Ric at the Stations of the Cross, Barangaroo

PHOTOS: NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY

Kyle Tucker

Perspectives

It is Faith and hope that binds us Start loving without limits

Ifeel I have always had a Catholic faith, though I was brought up an Anglican. My mother was an Anglican, though non-practicing. My father is a non-believer of anything. But I was attracted to the Church because I just knew that there was something there. I knew that there was God.

I married a Catholic, though that had nothing to do with my conversion. My husband Patrick comes from a small village in Ireland and is one of nine children. There’s no faith other then Catholicism according to them.

Why I became Catholic

with Debbie Warrier

Patrick never attempted to convert me but he attended Mass and I used to attend with him on most Sundays. I had done so since we were married. We now have three children: Gemma (18), Kate (17) and Kieran (14). When my eldest daughter had her First Holy Communion I thought, “This is ridiculous. I go to Mass regularly but I can’t take Communion.”

I decided I wanted to become Catholic because it was part of being a part of my family. So I contacted my parish priest, Father Ken Keating, and he arranged for me to take part in the RCIA.

The whole thing about Communion is that closeness. You’re sharing the Body and Blood of Christ. If you can’t take Communion you can be at Mass but it’s like you can’t take that last step. Communion is like the pinnacle of the Mass.

When I was living in Alice Springs I met a young Indian woman who was a dentist. I spoke to her a few times. She was Catholic and went to India to work amongst the poor. It was so sad because she died. She got toxic shock or something. I really respected the way she had lived out her faith. You can’t exist without faith. Everyone’s life has obstacles. For instance, my father has bowel cancer at the moment. Faith gives you that inner strength.

I have Catholic and non-Catholic friends. I look at families that have been brought up with Catholicism and there is an extremely strong bond there. I admire their faith. The sense of community is another thing that is appealing. You get to know people and there’s a sense that if ever you needed it there would be support there.

We call our children the “parasites!” That’s our little nickname for them! I work full time so they can afford to go to Catholic schools. They go to Sacred Heart College. It’s beautiful actually. They get all these fantastic opportunities. For instance, both my girls have been to the Vietnam Mission Immersion Experience. Kate’s been on the Music tour and all my children are doing music. Gemma was the Liturgy captain last year. Now she’s doing physiotherapy at Notre Dame University.

I am a Dental Therapist and teach Dental Therapy and Hygiene at Curtin University. I’m studying as well. I’m doing a Bachelor of Science and Health promotion. I did a unit in mental health and spirituality was included in it. The World Health Organisation defines health as physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. It’s actually documented that families and communities with faith have better health outcomes. Mental illness is really prevalent in our society and it’s increasing at such a major rate. I just think if people had faith that would be cut in half.

To live is to love without limitsthe Love and Life Site

During the week of WYD I was blessed with the chance to spend much of my time at the Love and Life Site. Organised by the Sisters of Life from New York, with help from the Knights of Columbus and the John Paul II Institutes, the Sydney campus of Notre Dame became a place for pilgrims to experience a culture of life.

with Bronia Karniewicz

The Sisters sought to create a community where everyone felt welcomed and accepted; a place for pilgrims to consider their unique dignity and how much they are loved by God.

The whole campus was transformed. In the mornings, catechesis and Mass were held in St Benedict’s chapel and for the rest of the day there were an assortment of events on the go.

The courtyard became a union of nations, a venue for socialising, eating meals and listening to concerts from famous Catholic artists like Matt Maher, Scythian and Fr Stan Fortuna’s community, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.

Within the classrooms speakers discussed issues significant to the human person and the questions of the human heart. Topic titles like, “Sex in the City”,

“Are You More than Your Genes?”, “God’s Vision for the Family” or “The Challenge of Pornography” drew people in and started them talking.

My role at the site was to simply “help out” which meant everything from talking to pilgrims and answering any questions, to serving meals or moving the many boxes of books the sisters were giving away. It is difficult to isolate a favourite moment or highlight, for me the Love and Life Site had many special moments. Being able to stand and have your photo taken with Pope Benedict XVI was pretty exciting, yes it may have only been a cardboard cut-out but not everyone can tell from the photo...

Local businesses donated sandwiches, veggies and salads giving a welcome reprieve from the staple pilgrim menu of baked beans, bread, lamingtons and

By Fr John Flader

From time to time I have seen references to the “Credo of the People of God”, for example in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Can you tell me what this is?

The Credo of the People of God is a profession of faith, or Creed, proclaimed by Pope Paul VI 40 years ago on June 30, 1968, the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

Why did the Church need a new Creed, when we already had, among others, the ancient Apostles’ Creed and the fourth-century Nicene Creed? We should understand that over the 2000 years of the Church’s history there have been numerous Creeds, some of them coming from Church Councils and others from Popes.

In this regard the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “Through the centuries many professions or symbols of faith have been articulated in response to the needs of the different eras: the creeds of the different apostolic and ancient Churches, for example the Quicumque, also called the Athanasian Creed; the professions of faith of certain Councils, such as Toledo, Lateran, Lyons, Trent; or the symbols of certain popes, e.g., the Fides Damasi or the Credo of the People of God of Paul VI.” (CCC 192)

In the years following the Second Vatican Council, which ended in December, 1965, there was a great deal of confusion in matters of doctrine,

stew. A visit from the Co-ordinator of WYD, Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, was a special honour for the site while meeting Catholic artist Matt Maher left me a little star struck. My experience at the Love and Life site was an injection of hope. It is easy to become pessimistic about the state of the world with the negative approach of the media and our culture towards issues of life.

But here at WYD were numerous people questioning our culture, looking at their own experiences of sexual relationships and the impact of abortion, contraception and the sexual revolution on their lives. It was a unique and amazing opportunity to see the Church’s relevance, to appreciate its teachings as an authentic truth of freedom and genuine love.

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

Credos are to safeguard Truth

morals, the sacraments, etc. We should not forget that even before the Council ended, in September 1965 Pope Paul wrote his encyclical Mysterium fidei, to restate the Church’s teaching on the Eucharist in the face of errors that were circulating at the time.

In great measure because of this confusion, less than two years later the Pope called for a “Year of Faith”, to be celebrated from the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29, 1967, to the same feast the following year.

The year would also commemorate the 1900th anniversary of the martyrdom of the two Apostles, much as the “Year of St Paul” we are now celebrating commemorates the 2000th anniversary of the birth of the Apostle.

At the conclusion of the “Year of Faith” in 1968, Pope Paul issued his “Credo”. In his homily presenting it, he explained the reason for the new Creed: “In making this profession, we are aware of the disquiet which agitates certain modern quarters with regard to the faith. They do not escape the influence of a world being profoundly changed, in which so many certainties are being disputed or discussed. We see even Catholics allowing themselves to be seized by a kind of passion for change and novelty. The Church, most assuredly, has always the duty to carry on the effort to study more deeply and to present, in a manner ever better adapted to successive generations, the unfathomable mysteries of God, rich for all in fruits of salvation. But at the same time the greatest care must be taken, while fulfilling the indispensable duty of research, to do no injury to the teachings of Christian doctrine. For that would be to give rise, as is unfortunately seen in these days, to disturbance and perplexity in many faithful souls.”

He added: “We have wished our profession of faith to be to a high degree complete and explicit, in order that it may respond in a fitting way to the need of light felt by so many faithful souls, and by all those in the world, to whatever spiritual family they belong, who are in search of the Truth.”

The text of the Creed then followed. It is longer (some 2500 words compared with 220 in the Nicene Creed) and more detailed than any of the other familiar Creeds.

After a profession of faith in the Blessed Trinity and in each of the three Divine Persons, it goes on to speak of Mary, including her perpetual virginity, her immaculate conception and her assumption into heaven.

It then speaks of original sin and our redemption through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and of the need to baptise infants in order that they may share in divine life.

It speaks at length of the Church, including the infallibility of the Pope and of the Bishops in communion with him. It mentions the Church as necessary for salvation, and the possibility of salvation for those outside the visible confines of the Church.

Among other truths it speaks of the Mass as the sacrifice of Christ made sacramentally present on the altar and of the Real Presence in the Eucharist, including transubstantiation. It ends with a consideration of the realities of eternal life, including Purgatory and heaven.

On this 40th anniversary of the Creed, it would be well worthwhile to read and meditate once again on this great gift of Pope Paul to the Church. It is truly a providential statement of our Catholic faith.

Got a question? Email Fr Flader: director@caec.com.au

Carol Nevin

The Nation

Archbishop invites Bethel members to meet

Archbishop Barry Hickey has issued an invitation to current and former members of the Bethel Covenant Community to contact him at his office if they feel that there are matters relating to Bethel that still need to be resolved.

In a letter to current and former members, Archbishop Hickey pointed out that, according to

the statutes of Bethel, two senior former members are responsible for the winding up of Bethel and the proper disposal of assets.

However, since the closure of Bethel, many people had approached him to see what could be done to bring some sort of healing and resolution of the issues they had with the leadership of

Bethel. “I therefore invite any former member of Bethel to see me personally if they wish at my office at 21 Victoria Square, Perth,” he said.

“Alternatively, Bishop Donald Sproxton and I with two Religious Sisters will be available for personal or small group meetings on September 16 at the Vietnamese

Catholic Centre, corner of Wanneroo Rd and Victoria Rd, Balcatta, from 9.30am to 7pm.

“Following the meetings on September 16, it may be necessary to initiate a ‘truth and reconciliation’ process among Bethel members and their friends at which the truth can be told to the assembly and apologies given.

“I would hope that some healing could result from such a meeting.

“If there are any allegations of sexual abuse of minors, I urge that they be given to the Police.

“I sincerely hope that this opportunity will allow people to say what they need to say, so that ‘the truth will make you free’ (Jn 8;32),” the Archbishop concluded.

Theology student beats the giants on sex ads

Decision to withdraw offensive billboard ads a big win for campaigner.

■ By Anthony Barich

A 19-year-old Catholic theology student has taken on advertising giants over overtly sexual advertisements - and won.

Matthew Restall, a first-year Bachelor of Theology student at Australian Catholic University, created a local storm when he started petitions in Victoria and NSW to put a stop to “offensive” billboards and vehicle advertisements.

Matthew, from Werribee in Victoria, said NSW and Victoria are littered with big yellow billboards saying, in huge lettering, “Want longer lasting sex?”

On August 25, the ASB announced it would remove all 120 ‘want longer lasting sex’ signs Australia-wide, despite originally declaring it would not review its decision until 2012.

ASB chief executive Alison Abernethy said the organisation has received continued complaints about the ‘want longer lasting sex’ Advanced Medical Institute billboard for 18 months.

She conceded that when the ASB previously considered the advertisement, it was identified as being at “the upper limit” of what the community considered acceptable and, “with the shift in community standards, the content of the billboard was no longer acceptable”.

“The increased placements

since February 2007, its size, bold colours and blatant message were considered by the Board as making the billboard confronting to a large section of the community,” Ms Abernethy said.

Mr Restall told The Wyndham Leader that it’s an issue not just for that it’s an issue not for parents or religious people.

“They don’t want to know about people’s struggles in the bedroom,” he said.

When told by his local council to contact his local member of parliament, Mr Restall and his

Church heads to quiz WA’s political leaders

Deputy Premier Eric Ripper and Opposition Leader Colin Barnett will attend a Christian political meeting in the Burswood Grand Ballroom at 7pm on Wednesday, September 3. Members of the public can also attend.

The two leaders will address the gathering and will then answer questions posed by various Heads of Churches, including a representative of the Catholic Church.

The meeting has been organised by the Australian Christian Lobby, which organised a similar event in Canberra attended by the then Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd prior to the last Federal election.

Archbishop Phillip Wilson represented the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference on that occasion. The ACL maintains strict political impartiality. Its objective is to make politicians, political parties, the media and the community aware that the

twin brother Christopher started a website, notosexualadvertisements.info, on which people can download a petition to the Speaker and members of the Legislative Assemblies of NSW and Victoria.

As The Record went to press they went to press had gathered 1500 signatures, and had inspired contacts in Brisbane to start a similar petition campaign to the Queensland parliament.

Among signatories are some of the biggest names in the Church in Australia: Cardinal George Pell of Sydney and Archbishops Denis

Chinese put best face on for games

Christian community has a strong interest in the good governance of the State.

Next week’s meeting will give Christians an opportunity to hear the leaders of the major parties on issues that particularly relate to Christian principles.

Christians of all denominations are invited and encouraged to attend to ensure that there is a big crowd.

Archbishop Barry Hickey has supported the gathering and encouraged Catholics to participate in order to show the political leaders that Christian moral principles should have their place in political considerations.

“Christian principles relating to the dignity of each person and the importance of the common good must not be discarded from the legislative process, “ he said.

“We can protect these principles for the good of all by making politicians aware that they are important to our society.”

While Chinese officials were making last-minute efforts to get Beijing up to scratch for the Olympics, a growing number of Chinese adolescents were concentrating on getting themselves in shape. A report from Guangzhou province said dozens of school children had been turning up at hospitals for cosmetic surgery since the beginning of July.

They prefer to get procedures such as blepharoplasty (double eyelids), breast enlargements and liposuction during the summer when they have time to recover. A doctor at the Guangdong Armed Police Hospital said the youngest case he had seen was a girl of 13. Newly graduated junior middle or high school students change their looks to give them confidence when entering new schools.

Hart of Melbourne and Mark Coleridge of Canberra-Goulburn.

The interfaith campaign has also attracted the signatures of Dr Mohammad Anas, Imam of Auburn’s Omar Mosque in western Sydney, Baptist Pastor Paul Mosiejczuk, Australian Family Association national president David Perin and National Civic

Council national president Peter Westmore.

Mr Restall, president of the Victorian Catholic Students and Young Adults Association, said the ABS’s original moral standard did not reflect the general Australian community’s.

“We’ve got strip club advertisements and big yellow advertisements for nasal delivery technology for sexual dysfunction in residential areas and on freeways. They’re everywhere,” he told The Record.

There are several of the yellow and red “want longer lasting sex” advertisements on the major street Parramatta Road alone, he says.

His next target is cars driven around Victoria advertising Kittens car washes with explicit images of “virtually naked” women on them.

He has at least two Liberal members willing to put a Bill forward to place tougher restrictions on what advertisers can say in their signs, though he says that politicians in Victoria currently have their hands full with euthanasia and abortion bills passing through their State parliament.

“I’d be disappointed if legislation doesn’t get passed to stop this kind of advertising, because it seems like there are lots of people in NSW and Victoria who want to change it,” Matthew said.

“I’m fairly confident, though, as I believe they will do the right thing; though we haven’t seen anything happen like this in a while.”

PRINCIPALSHIP

BIRLIRR NGAWIYIWU CATHOLIC SCHOOL, YARUMAN/RINGER SOAK WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Birlirri Ngawiyiwu (Spirit of God) Catholic School, which was founded in 1986, is located 165 kilometres south east of Halls Creek and and serves the Kundat Djaru Aboriginal Community children from Kindergarten to Year 7. The school originally commenced in a bough shed, but is now housed in several, well-equipped buildings. This is now a central place of learning for everyone. Jaru children and adults are involved in school activities during and after school time. Birlirr Ngawiyiwu is a bilingual school that fosters the Two Way learning process and aims to assists its students to develop belief in the value of:

❚ keeping Jaru language and culture strong ❚ the local country and its ties to the Jaru language and culture ❚ peaking Jaru when in Yaruman ❚ understanding non-Aboriginal culture ❚ speaking and understanding Standard Australian English

❚ being committed to and involved in the life of the Church

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

The official application form, referee assessment forms and instructions can be accessed on the Catholic Education Office website www.ceo.wa.edu.au. Enquiries regarding the position should be directed to Helen Brennan, Consultant, Workforce Relations & Development Team on (08) 6380 5237 or email wrd@ceo.wa.edu.au. All applications, on the official form, should reach The Director, Catholic Education, Catholic Education Office of WA, PO Box 198, Leederville 6903 no later than Friday, 19 September 2008.

Movers and shakers: The fuss kicked up by Wrribee twins Christopher and Matthew Restall, 19, have prompoted nationwide changes, with billboards advertising impotency treatment being removed.

PHOTO: COURT ESY OF MATTHEW RESTALL

the World

Chinese arrest Bishop as Games come to close

‘He’s going on a summer tour,’ security officials tell Catholics

HONG KONG - A Chinese Catholic bishop not registered with the government was taken away from his residence by Chinese public security officers and government officials.

A Catholic source told the Asian church news agency UCA News that Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding, 73, was resting and talking with some Catholics in his room in the Christ the King Cathedral compound when the officers took him away on August 24, the closing day of the Olympics in Beijing.

The Diocese of Zhengding is in Hebei province, which surrounds much of Beijing.

The source said the incident occurred after the prelate celebrated Mass at the cathedral in Wuqiu, a village near Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital, about 270 kilometres southwest of Beijing.

The officers, from the Shijiazhuang area, told Catholics at the scene that the authorities

have arranged “a summer tour for the bishop” and that “he will not be back soon,” the source added.

Some of the hundreds of Catholics who attended the bishop’s Mass that morning were still in the cathedral and saw security officers lead Bishop Jia away.

As of August 25, the bishop, who is in ill health, was under house arrest in Shijiazhuang, the source told UCA News.

Local Catholics said they do not know the reasons for removing the bishop, the source said, but surmise that it could be linked to the upcoming Paralympic Games in Beijing from September 6-17.

Bishop Jia runs an orphanage that also cares for disabled children, the source noted.

Bishop Jia had celebrated Mass on August 15 for the feast of the Assumption.

More than 1,000 Catholics attended even though public security officers had warned Catholics in the diocese to stay away from the Mass at the cathedral.

The US-based Cardinal Kung Foundation said on August 24 that this was the 12th time the bishop

has been arrested since January 2004.

Bishop Jia was arrested in August 2007 and released in December, then placed under house arrest.

“We do not know where Bishop Jia is detained at this time,” the foundation said. “We also do not know why he was arrested again at this time.”

Church sources told UCA News in early August that a small house was built in April in front of the cathedral for public security officers to guard the bishop aroundthe-clock.

Sources reported officers were taking eight-hour shifts and entered the bishop’s residence in the cathedral compound every two hours to check on Bishop Jia, who was on medication.

The Chinese government requires the registration of bishops and church communities, but Bishop Jia has not registered with the government.

Some Catholics view registration as a tool for control and prefer to exercise the faith in a semiclandestine manner.

Beijing bishop urges papal visit

Chinese bishop hopes for papal visit; Vatican calls talk premature

■ By John Thavis

ROME (CNS) - The bishop of Beijing said he hopes Pope Benedict XVI will visit China in view of the country’s improved relations with the Vatican.

In response, the Vatican said it was premature to talk about a papal trip to China, but it called the bishop’s remarks a “positive and encouraging” sign.

Bishop Joseph Li Shan, who was named to head the Diocese of Beijing last year with government and papal approval, made his comments in an interview on August 20 with the Italian state television, RAI.

“We strongly hope that Benedict XVI will make a visit to China. This is a great desire, and we have hoped for a long time that it will

happen,” Bishop Li said. “Relations with the Vatican are constantly improving.

“One can say there are important developments,” he said.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, told Vatican Radio on August 21 that Bishop Li’s comments could be considered a response to the Pope’s expressed desire for a normalisation of China-Vatican relations.

“For now, to speak about a trip by the Pope to China is completely premature,” Father Lombardi said.

“However, the words of Bishop Li Shan show that all Chinese Catholics love and respect the Pope, recognise his authority and would be happy to meet him, and this is certainly a very positive and encouraging aspect,” he said.

Asked about the current state of Vatican-China relations, Father Lombardi said “various important problems are unresolved,” but that the Vatican intends to keep promoting a “sincere and constructive dialogue.”

Bishop Li estimated there were

between 8 million and 10 million Catholics in China. He said that in Beijing, there were about 20 churches celebrating three or four Masses on Sunday, with about 3,000 Catholics in attendance at each one.

A commentary published on August 19 in the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano , said China’s hosting of this year’s Olympics could mark the beginning of a new chapter in international relations.

It expressed the hope that, in its approach to China, Europe and the rest of the world would move from an attitude of fear toward engagement and dialogue.

On China’s part, it added, this would require “progress on the path of human rights, an area in which the country still seems to suffer a structural deficit, and on the path to democracy and substantial freedom.”

Such reforms may take longer than the West wants, but the important thing is that they take place, the commentary said.

Little Flower’s parents to be beatified

Benedict approves beatification of Louis and Marie Zelie Martin.

■ By Cindy

Wooden

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Benedict XVI has approved the beatification of Louis and Marie Zelie Guerin Martin, the parents of St Therese of Lisieux.

The couple will be beatified on October 19, World Mission Sunday, during a Mass in the Basilica of St Therese in Lisieux, France, the Vatican announced on August 19.

St Therese and St Francis Xavier are the patron saints of the missions.

The Vatican did not say who would preside at the Martins’ beatification Mass. With beatification, the diocese where the candidate lived or the religious order to which the person belonged is authorised to hold public commemorations on the person’s feast day.

With the declaration of sainthood, public liturgical celebrations are allowed around the world.

The Martins were declared venerable, one of the first steps in the

Cheerleading injuries

sainthood process, in 1994. But despite the active encouragement of Pope John Paul II to move the cause forward, the miracle needed for their beatification was not approved by the Vatican until early July.

Louis lived 1823-1894 and his wife lived 1831-1877. They had nine children, five of whom joined religious orders.

The Vatican also announced on August 19 that four other beatification ceremonies:

● Sister Vincenza Maria Poloni, founder of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy in Italy, will be beatified on September 21 in Verona, Italy.

● Father Michael Sopocko, founder of the Sisters of Merciful Jesus and spiritual director of St Faustina Kowalska, will be beatified on September 28 at the Church of Divine Mercy in Bialystok, Poland.

● Father Francesco Pianzola, founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Queen of Peace, will be beatified on October 4 in Vigevano, Italy.

● Father Francesco Giovanni Bonifacio, martyred in 1946 by Yugoslav communists, will be beatified on October 4 in Trieste, Italy.

for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research shows cheerleading accounted for 65.1 per cent of all such injuries among high school females over the past 25 years. At college level the figure is 66.7 per cent.

FAMILYEDGE

Bishops’ Conference structure ‘hampers Gospel’: bishop

English prelate urges bishops to rediscover courage.

■ By

Simon Caldwell

LONDON (CNS) - An English bishop has criticised the structure of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales for hampering the effective proclamation of the Gospel. Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue of Lancaster said his fellow bishops wrongly delegate their responsibilities to committees of laypeople. He said the agencies and depart-

ments of the bishops’ conference were acting independently of the bishops and did not always fully uphold church teaching in their dealings with secular authorities.

The structure of the conference was preventing bishops from speaking individually on matters of importance to the Church and society, Bishop O’Donoghue said in a document called “Fit for Mission? Church,” which was to be released on August 27.

He added that the failure of bishops to reach agreement on certain issues often had resulted in inadequate statements or interventions instead of the witness that was “so urgently needed.”

Bishop O’Donoghue expressed disappointment that the bishops’ conference had failed to produce a “collegial response to the government’s legislation on same-sex adoption.”

The legislation has been threatening Catholic adoption agencies with closures unless they agree to assess homosexual couples as potential adoptive parents.

“Due to the division of responsibility among the bishops, such as education, liturgy, health care, migrants ... there can often be a reluctance among the rest of the bishops to speak out on these issues as if somehow they had handed over their competence in these

areas to the responsible bishop and his particular committee,” he said.

“The problem of attempting to arrive at a consensus among bishops with sometimes divergent views is that episcopal conference statements and documents have a tendency to be often flat and safe at a time when we need passionate and courageous public statements that dare to speak the full truth in love,” the bishop added. He said it “needs to be reiterated” that bishops had not delegated their authority to conference committees and staff, who were setting agendas and taking it upon themselves to decide what was best.

“Sometimes the secretariats of

the bishops’ conferences forget that they are the servants of the bishops,” Bishop O’Donoghue said. In the preface, Bishop O’Donoghue said that he has written the 92-page document for “all Catholics who love the Church and deeply care about the future of Catholicism” in England and Wales.

He said that the vision of the document is the “vision of the Second Vatican Council” which encouraged bishops to organise themselves into national conferences. But he said the document reflects on problems foreseen by the council but which “now face us in full force.”

Holy: Louis and Marie Zelie Guerin Martin, the parents of St Therese of Lisieux, will be beatified on October 19, World Mission Sunday. CNS PHOTO/SANCTUARY OF LISIEUX

the World

US Catholics urged to pray for elections

Catholics encouraged to pray novena in weeks leading up to election

WASHINGTON (CNS) - The US bishops are encouraging Catholics to pray a novena for life, justice and peace before the November election.

An August 19 news release said the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has made available for download from the Internet a podcast of a “Novena for Faithful Citizenship” at www.faithfulcitizenship.org/resources/podcasts. It will be available until the November 4 election.

The special novena is part of “the bishops’ campaign to help Catholics develop well-formed consciences for addressing political and social questions,” said Joan Rosenhauer, associate director of the USCCB’s Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development.

The bishops adopted the document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility” in November 2007.

The “Novena for Faithful Citizenship” runs for nine days and can be used consecutively, one day each week, for nine days prior to the election, or “in any way that works best for a community or individual,” said Rosenhauer.

“Novena” comes from the Latin word “novem,” meaning nine, and the prayer form first appeared in

the Middle Ages in France and Spain. A novena is usually held prior to a special feast or for a spe-

Heaven is a real place - not an imaginary concept: Benedict

Belief in the Assumption has logical consequences

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy

(CNS) - Heaven is not an abstract idea or an imaginary place, but heaven is God, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Celebrating an early morning Mass on August 15, the pope said the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary “urges us to raise our gaze toward heaven, not a heaven of abstract ideas nor an imaginary heaven created in art, but the true reality of heaven which is God himself. God is heaven.”

During the Mass in the small parish Church of St Thomas, located on the main square in Castel Gandolfo, the pope said that while Mary’s assumption is “totally unique and extraordinary,” it also assures believers that their destiny, like hers, is to be with God forever.

God is “our goal, he is the dwelling place from which we came and toward which we are called,” the pope told about 200 people who had crowded into the church, while hundreds of others watched on a large screen erected in the square.

“We are all children of God the father, brothers and sisters of Jesus, children of our mother Mary,” the pope said.

“And all of us want happiness, and that happiness is found in God.”

Pope Benedict said Mary, as the loving mother of her son’s followers, “helps us, encourages us so that every moment of our existence would be a step in this jour-

and their intentions include: the Diocese of Hong Kong, prior to the Beijing Olympics, for the Catholic Church in China; the bishops in the United States, for life, leading up to the feast of the Visitation; and the Indianapolis Archdiocese, for all the sick, after Indianapolis Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of the year.

The USCCB Web site suggests ways Catholics can pray the “Novena for Faithful Citizenship”:

- Start on September 2 and pray for nine consecutive Tuesdays, up until the general election.

- Start the novena on any day of the week, whenever people gather, and pray on that day every week.

- Begin praying the novena on October 26, nine days before the election, and continue each consecutive day.

- Create any combination “and feel free to pray the novena more than once.”

Helen Osman, USCCB communications secretary, expressed hope the novena could help “Catholics enter into prayerful reflection as they prepare to vote.”

cial intention. Examples of where recent novenas were announced to the public

Osman said the USCCB wants to support Catholics as they weigh pre-election issues and that “providing a prayer resource on the Web can help us focus on our common values and identity as Catholics.”

- CNS

Mary, “signs of hope and consolation.” At midday, Pope Benedict recited the Angelus with visitors gathered in the courtyard of the papal summer villa.

He said that while the last mention of Mary in the Bible places her with the apostles awaiting the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the church teaches that she was taken, body and soul, “from the earth to heaven.”

“This firm conviction of the church found its coronation in the dogmatic definition of the Assumption pronounced by my venerable predecessor Pius XII in the year 1950,” he said.

“From paradise, the Blessed Mother continues always, especially in difficult hours of trial, to watch over her children, whom Jesus himself entrusted to her before dying on the cross,” the pope said.

Pope Benedict said the hundreds of Marian shrines around the world testify to the fact that millions of Christians have and continue to experience her maternal love.

The pope specifically mentioned the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, which he will visit during a September 12-15 trip to France.

200,000 expected at Lourdes for papal visit marking 150th

Bishop notes change in media attitudes to Pope Benedict XVI

LOURDES, France (CNS)

- At least 200,000 pilgrims are expected to attend the Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI during his September visit to the Sanctuaries of Our Lady of Lourdes, said the local bishop.

Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes said: “We will be outside the holiday period, so there’ll probably be fewer pilgrims from the central Paris area. We are expecting 200,000 people for the main Mass, but one is always in for surprises when popes come to France.”

He added that each day of the papal visit from September 13-15 will be different - “at first international, then for young people, and then for the sick.”

on September 12. The trip will include the September 14 Mass in Lourdes as well as meetings with non-Catholic religious leaders and French culture representatives in Paris.

Besides praying at the Marian grotto where St Bernadette Soubirous saw an apparition of Mary while gathering firewood 150 years ago, the pope will follow the path commemorating St Bernadette’s life.

Writing in the August 19 French edition of the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Bishop Perrier said the French public had viewed the pope at his 2005 election as “a rigid man, inflexible theoretician and stranger to the affairs of this world, lost in his principles.”

ney toward God.” “Gazing at Mary, assumed into heaven, we understand better that our everyday lives - although marked by problems and difficulties - flow like a river toward the divine ocean, toward the fullness of joy and peace,” he said.

The pope said that in a world marked by “the sad spectacle of so much false joy and, at the same time, so much agonising pain,” Christians must learn to be like

“Mary assumed into heaven indicates to us the ultimate aim of our earthly pilgrimage,” he said.

“She reminds us that our whole being - spirit, soul and body - is destined for the fullness of life, that one who lives and dies in love for God and for one’s neighbour will be transfigured into the image of the glorious body of the risen Lord, that the Lord casts down the mighty and raises up the humble,” the pope said.

The bishop told France’s Le Monde daily on August 17 that the visit would be “totally different” from the 2004 pilgrimage to Lourdes by Pope John Paul II, who was “already very sick.” Public access to Lourdes would be less restricted for those wishing to see the pontiff, he said.

“This visit will help rediscover the original intuition of Lourdes: closeness to the excluded and solidarity within the Christian family,” he said.

Pope Benedict will visit Lourdes as part of a four-day pilgrimage to France, beginning

But he added that French citizens had discovered the pope “a bit better” during his visit to the United States, and noted his “courage and sensitivity” in confronting recent church scandals.

“We have observed a change of tone in media commentaries. He (the pope) has surprised them, and we could also surprise him by turning out in large numbers to show him we love him and are at one with him in the church,” said the bishop.

Lourdes is expected to attract 8 million pilgrims during the jubilee year, which began on December 8, 2007, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and runs until December 8 this year. - CNS

Greetings: Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful gathered for the Angelus prayer on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, on August 15.

PHOTO: CNS PHOTO/TONY GENTILE REUTERS

the World

School uniforms project helps women to trade

Good Shepherd Sisters’ uniform project aids women in developing world.

■ By Pat Norby

ST. PAUL, Minn. (CNS) - As Good Shepherd Sister Patricia Marie Thomas sees it, Catholic school uniforms should serve a dual purpose: outfitting students and providing a trade for poor women in different parts of the world.

Sister Patricia Marie would love to see schools in the Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis buy fairtrade uniforms made by women in Mexico and Thailand.

The uniforms can be purchased through the Fair Trade School Uniform Project, an offshoot of the Good Shepherd Sisters’ Handcrafting Justice, a fair-trade partnership with women in developing countries.

“If (the women) can get with a project like (school uniforms) or something similar, and it can be ongoing, that is what gives them new life and helps them in many ways,” Sister Patricia Marie told The Catholic Spirit, archdiocesan newspaper of St Paul and Minneapolis.

Several schools on the East Coast, one in Oregon and one school-uniform vendor in New Jersey currently buy the handmade uniforms from the Good Shepherd Sisters’ New York office, which coordinates all the fair-trade items for sale on the sisters’ Web site, www.handcraftingjustice.org, and from Good Shepherd communities across the US.

Owen Cahillane, director of the sisters’ uniform project, said that although the goal is to provide business for the women a key aspect of the program is also teaching students, parents and teachers about fair-trade principles.

The project’s prices are competitive, Cahillane said, but the cost of shipping may increase if an order is too small.

“We’d like an order of 500 pieces, like 500 polo shirts,” he said. But an order that large is not required.

A customer just starting with one grade, for instance, would start smaller and “hopefully” increase over the years, he said. “We are constantly trying to refine our

Work with dignity: A woman in Thailand is seen in an undated photo pressing and folding school uniform shirts as part of the Fair Trade School Uniform Project, which ensures fair wages and fair working conditions for women.

business model; we exist for our partners.”

A typical cotton-polyester blend polo shirt in a child’s size would cost about US $17 for a short-sleeve shirt and US $18 for a long-sleeve shirt. That includes the hand-sewn embroidery for a school logo. The company gives discounts to poor, inner-city schools and for larger orders.

Many of the women at the fairtrade factory in Leon, Mexico, would not be working and their children would be exploited at industrial factories, if it were not for the opportunity provided by the project, according to its sponsors.

Cahillane said one reason that Handcrafting Justice started the uniform project in 2004 is because women artisans were already making school uniforms for children in

PHOTO: CNS,COURTESY OF HANDCRAFTING JUSTICE

their home countries. There also is a belief that handcrafts won’t provide a steady income forever, while school uniforms will always be needed.

About 100 women and a few men participate in the project, which is a member of the Fair Trade Association that oversees a stringent accreditation process, Cahillane said.

The association monitors the shops and makes certain that working conditions are acceptable and that workers are paid a fair wage, among other requirements.

In 2006 Handcrafting Justice hired an employee whose job is to oversee the Fair Trade School Uniforms Project.

“It’s been growing ever since and we are hoping to keep growing,” said Cahillane, who is the second director to oversee the project.

Brisbane archbishop tells parish it has excommunicated itself

■ By Anthony Barich

An entire parish in Queensland has effectively excommunicated itself through liturgical abuses and the placing of a Buddhist statue in its church, says Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane.

In an August 22 three-page letter to Fr Peter Kennedy, administrator of St Mary’s parish in South Brisbane, the archbishop said that it has rejected apostolic authority, and in doing so has put itself “out of communion with the Roman Catholic Church”.

He said that his authority as archbishop in the Archdiocese of Brisbane is “scarcely recognised” by the parish, which he noted is “not unusual considering that criticism at St Mary’s has been directed against Pope John Paul II”.

He said that an underlying criticism of the Church seems to flourish in the parish, but said that that despite its faults and failings, “Catholics know that the supreme meeting place with Jesus is in the (Catholic) Church”.

He said that “ad hoc” decisions have been made by St Mary’s about liturgy, “certainly with the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, marriage and especially the Eucharist”, and that some marriages seem to take place “without the slightest respect for Canon Law”.

“The question for me is not so much whether St Mary’s should be closed down, but whether St Mary’s will close itself down by practices that separate it from communion with the Roman Catholic Church,” the archbishop wrote.

Though the parish originally began in communion with the Archdiocese and the Roman Catholic Church, “sadly that communion of St Mary’s with the Church no longer seems to exist”.

“St Mary’s exists independently of the Archdiocese. My hope is that once again St Mary’s will place itself back in communion with the Roman Catholic Church to which it was originally linked and in which it rejoiced,” he said.

“In reality, St Mary’s Brisbane has taken a Roman Catholic parish and established its own brand of religion. (The parish) seems to be an authority unto itself.

“Therefore we might well ask is it a parish in communion with

the Roman Catholic Church, or a community in schism?

“Undoubtedly it does good, it promotes a strong sense of community, opens its doors to all who wish to come, but its own style of worship and sacramental practice can hardly be described as Roman Catholic.”

He added that the parish, which has a congregation of about 700 according to Brisbane’s Courier Mail newspaper, also has governance problems.

Archbishop Bathersby said that while Fr Kennedy was legitimately appointed as parish administrator, Fr Terry Fitzpatrick, who is listed on the parish’s website as “priest-in-residence”, has never been appointed to St Mary’s.

“Despite his lack of authority, on numerous occasions he has spoken to the media about St Mary’s as if he were the parish priest,” the prelate said, adding that the parish tends to be “congregational in governance and culture”.

Trouble has been brewing as early as 2004, when the archbishop questioned whether a parish that changes the structure of the sacraments could remain part of the universal Church.

The archbishop’s 2004 comments came after a concerned grandparent told him that Fr Kennedy and Fr Fitzpatrick changed the words of baptism from “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” to “Creator, Liberator and Sustainer”.

The archbishop declared the baptisms invalid and instructed Fr Kennedy to use only the valid baptismal formula.

Though the priest had reportedly said he did not believe the baptisms were invalid, the parish had told the archbishop ‘some time ago’ it would use the traditional words.

Things came to a head recently when a parishioner reportedly stole a small statue of Buddhist monk praying and smashed it to pieces.

While the archbishop condemned the violent act, he said that placing such a statue in a Christian church confused the notion that Jesus Christ is actually “Lord and Saviour”, not “just another prophet like Buddha or Mohammed”.

“Only extreme recklessness would place a Buddhist statue in a Christian church,” he said.

Mexican bishops stick to their guns on dressing with dignity

Mexican prelates defend editorial calling for women to dress modestly.

■ By David Agren

MEXICO CITY (CNS) - An editorial in an online publication from the Archdiocese of Mexico City urging women to don more conservative attire has generated headlines across the country as Catholic leaders defended their call for modesty as a method of promoting dignity and reducing incidents of sexual harassment and assault.

In an August 14 statement issued by the archdiocese clarifying the editorial, church leaders said women should “make sure that their dress is not a pretext for being intimi-

dated, victimised by violence and sexually assaulted in a city where gender-based violence is a part of everyday life.”

The statement added: “The Church is conscious that the human body is naturally beautiful, it is a work of God and for our eyes, it is the most perfect of works.”

Local media responded to the editorial and statement with a steady stream of cheeky headlines, suggesting the Church was out to ban miniskirts.

A small group of young women - clad in miniskirts - protested on August 16 outside Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral. Even high-profile politicians weighed in; they included Ruth Zavaleta, speaker of the lower house of Congress known for her stylish attire.

“How is it possible that it’s a pretext ... that because we wear miniskirts we’re

now going to be victims of a crime?” she asked. Catalina Morfin Lopez, director of the human development centre at Jesuit-run ITESO University in suburban Guadalajara, said the church comments were received poorly by some groups because they interpreted them as “blaming the victim.”

“Violence against women and children is a serious problem” in Mexico, she said, although she cautioned that it was difficult to compare figures on the subject with other countries.

Others heeded the archdiocesan call, however. A public university in the western state of Sinaloa banned miniskirts and sexy attire throughout its high school system after consulting with parents and faculty.

Some prelates also said the attire of some parishioners was becoming increasingly inappropriate. “The most important thing is

a dignified appearance - that a woman dresses so that she is respected - and that (the appearance) respects others,” Archbishop Jose Martin Rabago of Leon told reporters on August 17.

“I believe that there are forms of appropriately dressing for different places ... one isn’t going to dress the same way at the beach as in a church,” he said.

Archbishop Hector Gonzalez Martinez of Durango said that revealing clothing being worn at special events like weddings was becoming problematic for some prelates.

“What honour (is there) with such dresses so open and worn so high?” he asked.

“When (some women) sit up front ... I’m left with no other recourse but to look up,” he added. “The view is very natural and although I’m a bishop, a woman still captures attention.”

the World

Cubans offer homes as houses of prayer

Catholics encouraged to pray novena in weeks leading up to election.

■ By Ellie Hidalgo

PEDRO BETANCOURT, Cuba

(CNS) - As a summer afternoon rainstorm brewed, nearly two dozen Cubans gathered on a friend’s covered porch to celebrate Mass.

Wooden chairs were lined up, row by row, to accommodate neighbours. A visiting priest turned a small table into an altar.

Another man strummed the opening song on his guitar while a couple of horses rested on the nearby grass, languishing in the muggy heat.

Liturgies at home have become a phenomenon in Cuba as the Church slowly rebuilds communities of faith. They are a way of bringing Jesus into the barrio instead of expecting that people make their way to a church they might not have attended in decades - or ever.

These missionary houses of prayer are known as “casas de mision,” and Santa Catalina Parish in Pedro Betancourt has about 15 satellite mission homes and a chapel.

Isabel Maria Marishal, 65, offers her home as a mission house in this particular neighbourhood.

Transportation is difficult in the island country, and bus service is hard to come by in the farmlands. Marishal, who has heart problems and diabetes, stopped going to Mass for a time; the chapel about a mile away was too far for her to walk. So she welcomed the opportunity to gather neighbours in her home for liturgy.

“God helps me,” she said. “I pray a lot to God.”

Her husband is often working and her two children are grown and no longer live with them. “I feel alone. But I’m not alone,” she added. “I’m with God.”

Marishal said she learned the faith from her family as a young girl. It’s a faith she’s held onto even after Fidel Castro’s revolutionary government came to power in 1959 and Castro declared himself a Marxist-Leninist in 1961. Cuba was officially atheist until 1992,

when that word was struck from the Cuban Constitution.

Missionary homes began appearing in the 1990s as tensions started easing between the government and the Catholic Church. “Casas de mision” continued flourishing after Pope John Paul II made a historic visit to the island in 1998.

Jesuit Father Robert Alonzo, pastor of Santa Catalina Parish, makes his way up the hill to Marishal’s home on a compact motorcycle.

During the homily one Saturday afternoon, Father Alonzo talked

about Jesus’ cup of suffering, which the priest said was widely misunderstood by the apostles as they bickered among themselves for power. “This is what is distinctive about being a Christian - service,” said the silver-haired priest as a few raindrops began to fall. “You all know that there are many ways to serve. Even giving an aspirin to a neighbour who comes by with a headache. That’s a service. Allowing someone to take a ‘guayaba’ fruit from my tree so they can make a

little juice drink. That’s serving. All that I do to serve my brothers and sisters, to alleviate their situation, that is service.

“We are going to ask God in our Eucharist today to help us to serve - that we live with an attitude of service,” added Father Alonzo.

Victor Sanchez and Vivian Sosa have been answering the call to service and Christian love since the 1970s. They met as catechists during a retreat, married and have three children. They participated in the earliest mission homes and offered their own home when few people openly practiced their faith.

The two are committed to working as volunteer youth ministers in the community because “of our love for children,” said Sanchez. They said they are trying to nurture the faith of the next generation.

“It’s nothing more than the Holy Spirit pushing and inspiring me,” said Sanchez. “I got to know youth from catechesis and I haven’t stopped since.” Sanchez recently gathered the youths for a craft project to make Rosaries using brightly coloured beads and materials brought by US visitors.

He also plays the guitar and leads the choir, bringing messages of hope and faith through music.

“People have many preoccupations,” including illnesses and concerns about employment, he said.

“We volunteer because of God’s love,” said Sosa, whose own mother has been very ill.

Evangelisation is done best through actions and good works more than words, Sanchez said. One member of the local faith community has been visiting the elderly and another, a nurse, tends to the sick.

“We have to do God’s will,” said Sanchez, putting his hand on his heart.

God wants all - not some - of us to be saints: Benedict

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) - All people are called to holiness, and having extraordinary gifts does not make someone a greater saint than someone else, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“Precisely the ‘normal’ saints are the kind of saints God wants,” the Pope said on August 20, briefly setting aside the prepared text at his weekly general audience.

“Holiness is not a luxury. It is not the privilege of a few, something impossible for a normal person,” the Pope told an estimated 4,000 people gathered in the courtyard of the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, and in the square outside. Holiness,

he said, “is the common destiny of all people called to be children of God; it is the universal vocation of all the baptised.”

Pope Benedict told the crowd that the summer holidays are a perfect time to pick up a biography or the writings of a saint, but the Church’s calendar also gives Catholics a daily opportunity to contemplate a saint.

“Naturally, not all saints are equal,” he said. They are different from one another like rays of “divine light” that have passed through a prism, he said.

“And a great saint is not necessarily one who possesses extraordinary charisms. In fact, there are many whose names are known

to God alone because on earth they led an apparently normal life,” he said.

The example of the so-called normal saints proves that when one has a close relationship with God he or she is filled with joy and peace and becomes a source of serenity and optimism for others, the Pope said.

By canonising some of the holy men and women who have lived throughout the centuries and by remembering them at feast-day Masses, the Church proposes them as examples for all Catholics, the Pope said.

“Cultivating a knowledge of and devotion to the saints, alongside daily meditation on the word of God and a filial love toward the

Blessed Damien of Molokai... SAW WHAT COULD BE DONE IF YOU TRY

Immortalised in the 1999 movie Damien, starring David Wenham, Blessed (soon to be canonised) Damien saw people in need of help and set about doing just that - helping them. Over his lifetime, as everyone now knows, the results were extraordinary, a transformation of lives and communities. Here in Perth, the forthcoming Stewardship Institute will offer Perth parishes an insight into the Stewardship phenomenon that has been embraced by parishes throughout the US and further afield and which is also transforming parishes in remarkable ways. Stewardship shows parishes how the time and talents of every parish member can contribute to, and transform, the life of the parish at every level. If you think you are interested in this concept, you should be there...

A special two-day Perth seminar September, 24-25 Featuring US presenters FR GERRY SCHRECK and MARGARET TRUETT

For further information contact Brian Stephens from the Archdiocesan Stewardship Office on (08) 9422 7924 or go to www.australianstewardship.catholic.net.au

Blessed Mother” is “important and profitable,” he said. The Pope focused specifically on St Pius, “who, in a difficult period, led the church and renewed the liturgy, in that way renewing the church from the inside.”

In addition to encouraging the frequent reception of the sacraments of penance and the Eucharist, St Pius was particularly strong in insisting on proper decorum during the celebration of the Mass.

During his 1903-1914 pontificate, he highlighted the beauty of Gregorian chant, cautioned against using popular music styles and encouraged the faithful to participate actively in the Mass by singing.

Local: Nearly two dozen Cubans gather for Mass at a mission home in the neighborhood Diana in the province of Matanzas, Cuba, on July 26. Gathering in homes for liturgy is increasingly a popular way to bring the Catholic faith to Cuban neighbourhoods.

PHOTO: CNS, ELLIE HIDALGO

Panorama

A roundup of events in the Archdiocese

Panorama entries must be in by 12pm Monday.

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

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

Thursday September 4

PRAYER AND MEDITATION SERVICE USING SONGS FROM TAIZE

7.30pm at Our Lady of Grace, 3 Kitchener Street, North Beach; the service is a prayerful meditation in which beautiful easy to learn chants from Taize are sung together. Come spend time in prayerful, meditative silence, bathed in candlelight reflecting upon themed readings. Enq: Beth 9447 0061 or Office 9448 4888.

Friday September 5

THE ALLIANCE, TRIUMPH AND REIGN OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS AND IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY VIGIL

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

Friday September 5

PRO-LIFE WITNESS

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

Friday September 5

HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE

7pm at Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins Street, Glendalough; Mass celebrated by Fr Saminedi, followed by Holy Hour Adoration at 7.30pm with Fr Don Kettle. Enq: Des 6278 1540.

Friday September 5

CATHOLIC FAITH RENEWAL

7.30pm at St John and Paul’s Church, Pinetree Gully Road, Willetton. Praise and Worship, then talk – Be still and Know I am God, by Fr Clayton Mitchell. Thanksgiving Mass, followed by refreshments. All welcome, bring family and friends. Enq: Maureen 9381 4498 or Rose 4043 300 720.

Friday September 5 to Sunday September 7

48-HOUR PERPETUAL ROSARY BOURQUET

6pm Friday to 6pm Sunday, this is WA’s gift to Our Lady for her Birthday, free intentions. Rosary can be said anywhere, anytime during the 48 hours. To be part Enq: Margaret 9341 8082, bowen@iinett.net.au or Jan 9255 1382.

Saturday September 6

A MORNING RETREAT

9am-12noon at McKillop Room- Multi-Purpose, John XXIII College; Inner Joy- Presenter: Murray Graham, Inigo Centre Director. Cost: Donation for Inigo Centre. Enq: Murray 9383 0444.

Saturday September 6

HOLY SPIRIT OF FREEDOM

10.30am at St Peter the Apostle Parish Hall, 91 Wood Street Inglewood; a day of praise, worship and fellowship followed by a shared lunch, BYO and then more worship in the Church at 2.30pm, leading up to the Charismatic Mass at 3pm. All are welcome.

Saturday September 6

HEALING SERVICE AND TALK ON DIVINE MERCY

6pm Holy Mass at St Aloysius Church, 84 Keightley Road, West Shenton Park; 7pm Divine Mercy talk by Br. Joe Fernandes – Singapore. 8pm Healing and Adoration followed by laying of hands. Enq: 9381 5383

Saturday September 6

WITNESS FOR LIFE

8.30am at St Augustine’s, Gladstone Road, Rivervale, commencing with Mass, followed by Rosary procession

and prayer vigil at abortion clinic, led by Fr Paul Carey SSC. Enq Helene 9402 0349.

Saturday September 6

DAY WITH MARY

9am to 5pm at St Andrew Church, 53 Belleville Gardens, Clarkson; 9am Video on Fatima. Day of prayer and instruction based upon the Fatima message. Reconciliation, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons on the Eucharist and Our Lady, Rosaries, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286. Transport: Nita 9367 1366.

Sunday September 7

DIVINE MERCY

1.30pm at St Joachim’s Church, Shepperton Road, Victoria Park, Holy Rosary and Reconciliation. Sermon on St Gregory the Great, by Fr Terry Rag. Followed by Divine Mercy prayers, Benediction and refreshments. Video/ DVD on Holy Rosary, Part 3 by Fr John Corapi. Enq: 9457 7771.

Sunday September 7

FAMILY DAY - VIRGIN MARY’S BIRTHDAY

CELEBRATION

9am at Good Shepherd Parish, 42 Streich Avenue, Kelmscott: Mass, followed by Rosary procession and then fun fare. Enq: Fr Francis 9495 1204.

Sunday September 7

SOLEMN PONTIFICAL HIGH MASS

3.30pm Rosary at Good Shepherd Parish, 40-42 Streich Avenue, Kelmscott; followed by Traditional Latin Mass celebrated by The Most Rev. Barry J. Hickey at 4pm. Not the usual time of 2pm. Experience the timeless beauty and sacredness of this ancient rite including Gregorian Chant. All welcome. Enq: Mathew 9390 7163.

Monday September 8

OUR LADY’S BIRTHDAY

11.30am at St Joachim’s Victoria Park, meditative Rosary led by Fr Paul Carey, 12.10pm Mass, Celebrant Archbishop Barry Hickey, 48 Hour Perpetual Rosary Bouquet Scroll to be taken up at Offertory. Enq: Margaret 9341 8082 or bowen@iinet.net.au, or Jan 9255 1382. Visit: www. rosarywa.info.

Wednesday September 10

UNDERSTANDING AND COPING WITH GRIEF

10am first session at Saint Andrew’s Catholic Parish, 53 Belleville Gardens, Clarkson; and second at 7.30pm, by Mr Gerry Smith, a respected counsellor, sessions are for anyone experiencing grief from whatever source - loss of job, death in the family, illness, etc. Free, sponsored by Catholic Mental Health Group. Enq: Sr Wendy 9305 0834 or Barbara 9328 8113.

Wednesday September 10

CHAPLETS OF DIVINE MERCY - MONTHLY DEVOTIONS

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

Friday September 12 to Sunday September 14

SPRINGTIME WEEKEND WITH ST FRANCIS AND ST CLARE

ANNUAL RETREAT SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER 7pm at the Redemptorist Retreat House; come learn more of the Franciscan spirituality at the annual retreat. Presenter, Sr Shelley Barlow RNDM. All welcome. Bookings: Mary 9377 7925 by 31 August.

Saturday September 13

FEAST OF THE STIGMATA OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

2.30pm at the Redemptorist Chapel, Retreat House, North Perth; all are welcome to join the Secular Franciscan Order, WA, celebrate the Feast with the readings of the

Stigmata of St Francis. Concludes with tea. Enq: Mary 9377 7925.

Sunday September 14

THE WORLD APOSTOLATE AUSTRALIA INC

Fatima Devotions 3pm at St Joseph’s Church, Hamilton Street, Bassendean, all welcome. Enq: 9339 2614.

Sunday September 14

ANNUAL JENNACUBBINE PICNIC – MASS

11am at St Isidore Church, BYO picnic and drinks, chairs or rugs. Bon-fire or BBQs. Join us for a relaxing day by the river, under the sheoks. Everyone welcome. Follow direction to the farm. Enq: Joe & Cath 9623 2264.

Thursday September 11 to Sunday September 14

FEAST OF OUR LADY MARIA SANTISSIMA DEL TINDARI

7.30pm at Basilica St Patrick, Adelaide Street, Fremantle; Triduum Mass celebrated by Fr Christian Fini OMI –Melbourne. 9.45am Sunday concelebrated Mass, principal celebrant Archbishop Barry J Hickey. 2pm Sunday procession from the Basilica through Fremantle Streets. Enq: Joe 0404 801 138 or 9335 1185.

Tuesday September 16

ADVENTURES IN ST MATHEW’S GOSPEL

7pm at 8 San Miguel Drive, Leeming; for young women who are discerning where God is calling them, in life or Ministry. Matthew portrays Christ as the fulfilment of Scripture, true Messiah from God. The one Jews and all Israel have been waiting for. Let it be a light for your path!

Enq: Sr. Ann SSJG 0409 602 927.

Friday September 19 to Sunday September 21 WEEKEND RETREAT-TRANSFORMATION AND EUCHARIST

7pm at St John Of God Retreat Centre, you are invited to explore and deepen your understanding of the Eucharist.

Enq: Sr Ann Cullinane 0409 602 927.

Saturday September 20

ONE-DAY INNER HEALING RETREAT

9am to 5pm at St Aloysius Church, 84 Keightley Road West, Shenton Park; led by the Vincentian Fathers and assisted by Brother Joe Fernandes, Singapore. No charges but donations are welcome. Lunch and tea provided. Bookings: 9381 5383 or vcparackal@rediffmail.com before September 17.

Saturday September 20

ST PADRE PIO PILGRIMAGE TO TOODYAY – FEAST DAY AND 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH

8.15am depart, route, Glendalough, Balcatta, Leederville, Morley, Bassendean and Midland. 10.15 Padre Pio DVD. 11.30am Mass. 12.45 Lunch BYO. 2pm Eucharistic Procession, Rosary, Adoration and Benediction. Confession available. 4.15 Return. Enq: Des 6278 1540. Victoria Park, Mirrabooka, Girrawheen, Nita 9367 1366.

Friday September 26 to Sunday September 28

WEEKEND ALL-NEW SPRING RETREAT

7.30pm at Dardanup, all welcome. Enq: Trish 9728 1148 or visit www.dardanupretreat.com, http://www.dardanupretreat.com.

Friday September 26

MEDJUGORJE EVENING OF PRAYER

7pm to 9pm at St Gerard’s Parish, Changton Way, Mirrabooka; a prayer with Our Lady Queen of Peace, will commence with Adoration, Rosary, and Benediction ending with Holy Mass. All welcome. Free DVD on Medjugorje. Enq: Eileen 9402 2480.

Monday September 29

DIVINE MERCY PILGRIMAGE TO GINGINCHITTERING FEAST OF THE ARCHANGELS

11.30am lunch BYO at Gingin; 12.30pm Holy Rosary and Way of the Cross - with Pilgrim Cross. 1.30pm depart to the Divine Mercy Shrine for 2pm Holy Mass, followed by

Divine Mercy Devotions and Benediction. 3.30pm Tea.

4.30pm return. Divine Mercy Prayer Groups welcome. Transport: Francis 9459 3873 or 0404 893 877. Enq: Sheila 9575 4023 or Fr Paul 9571 1839.

Friday October 3 to Sunday October 5

GOD’S FARM RETREAT

7.30pm at God’s Farm, Gracewood, Father Paul Glynn, renowned author, will celebrate Brother Andrew’s 8th Anniversary on Feast of St Francis of Assisi with talk; The Healing Dimensions of the Sacraments and Brother Andrew. The Tony Glyn Story - book will be promoted. One retreat in WA, book early, limited places. Bus enq: Yvonne 9343 1897 or Betty 9755 6212.

Friday October 3 to Sunday October 5

CATHOLIC FAITH RENEWAL – RETREAT

6.30pm at Advent Park, 345 Kalamanda Road, Maida Vale; Talk, God – I am yearning for you, longing for you and desiring you- Where are You, by Fr Gino Henriques, CSsR, an international speaker. Enq: Kathy 9295 0913, Rose 0403 300 720, Maureen 9381 4498.

Mid October

DIVINE MERCY APOSTOLATE

Pilgrimage to Lourdes for nine days. Father Meilak will be the Spiritual Director. This invitation is open to anyone who would like to join us. Consider this wonderful place of healing for all humanity in body, mind and spirit. Lourdes celebrates 150 years this year. Enq: John 9457 7771.

Every Thursday until October 2

BE BAPTIZED BY FIRE: THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS ANOINTING

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

Third Sunday of the Month

OBLATES OF ST BENEDICT MEETING

2pm at St Joseph’s Convent, York Street, South Perth: we welcome all who are interested in studying the rule of St Benedict and its relevance to the everyday life of today for lay people. Will conclude with vespers and tea. Enq: Secretary 9457 5758

Every Tuesday

NOVENA MASS TO GOD THE FATHER

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

Every Monday ADORATION, RECONCILIATION AND MASS

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

Every Saturday

VIDEO/DVD NIGHT

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CATHOLIC FAITH

After the 6.30pm Mass at St Joseph’s Church, 20 Hamilton Street, Bassendean; 23 August Kibeho Apparitions, Africa; Apparitions approved by the Church. 30 August; Miracles of the Eucharist. DVD’s approximately 30 mins. Bring family and friends. Enq: 9379 2691.

CARETAKER COUPLE NEEDED

For Catholic Church, Bindoon. Accommodation provided. Suit active pensioners. For details telephone 9571 1839 or 9576 0006.

Give me a day at

Harmless editor

■ By

Peter Rosengren

SPRING is here and offers the chance to dustoff the Suburban Blues and ensure you make it to one of the social events of the year well worth the catching: the Jennacubbine Picnic to be held on Sunday 14 September.

The day commences with Mass at St Isidore’s Church, after which it will be a simple matter of following the signs to the farm for the day’s gathering by the river and under the sheoaks.

The picnic is a BYO affair, so those planning on being there will need to bring their own picnic food and drinks, together with chairs or rugs.

A barbecue will be

Jennacubbine

available for cooking up the snags, chops and steaks and a bonfire will also be lit; it promises to be a great time for one and all.

A hundred years ago a day trip to the country was a highlight for many suburban families, and the Jennacubbine Picnic offers a great chance to rediscover some good old-fashioned pleasures from the era before the onset of television.

However it is also a chance for city-based Catholics to renew the links between themselves and their regional brother and sisters.

Parochialism is a wonderful thing: I am always in favour of the parish - but not when it shuts our eyes to the wider world and the challenges of life in general. That is why it is important

for city Catholics to break the suburban chains that hold us to the television set and venture out into the world where others live.

Additionally, it is the ideal time of year for picnicking and socialising. You should travel out into the country, surgically separate the children from the computer games and music videos, leave the concrete behind and just enjoy the experience.

That’s enough lecturing from the editor. For now. Be there.

No it’s not. I still have several column centimetres to fill. Latest news: one of the beehives at the bottom of the garden swarmed on the weekend. A rapid inspection showed honey building up rapidly. Subsequent harvest: 21kg.

MISSION MATTERS

Reflections on this Sunday’s Gospel; Matthew 16:24

“...If anyone wants to be a follower of mine...”

In following Jesus, our missionaries have renounced themselves, In Jesus, our missionaries have renounced themselves, taken up their crosses in loving witness and service to those who suffer the most in communities afflicted by poverty and violence.

In supporting their efforts from afar, we too must find the inspiration and courage to follow suit. Sometimes all it requires is a small step, something we commit to on our days off or annual holidays...

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

BUILDING TRADES

■ BRICK RE-POINTING

Phone Nigel 9242 2952.

■ PERROTT PAINTING PTY LTD

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

■ BRICKLAYING

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

■ PICASSO PAINTING

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

BOOK REPAIRS

■ REPAIR YOUR LITURGICAL BOOKS

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

HOLIDAY ACCOMODATION

■ MANDURAH

Fully furnished, air conditioned 2 bedroom flat 100m to Halls Head Beach ring 08 9385 9732.

■ MANDURAH

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

■ MANDURAH

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

EMPLOYMENT

■ CARETAKER COUPLE

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

SETTLEMENTS

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

HEALTH

■ 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.

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.

■ RICH HARVEST – YOUR CHRISTIAN SHOP

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

■ ALL SAINTS HANDCRAFTED ROSARIES AND CHAPLETS

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

■ KINLAR VESTMENTS

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

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

■ ORGANIST

St Joseph’s, Subiaco is seeking an organist to play for Masses and other occasions. Lessons given if required. Please contact Michael Peters, Director of Music, on 041 429 4338 or michael@michaelpeters.id.au

Thank you for prayers granted, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Lady, St Jude, St Joseph, St Anthony, and Our Lady Vailankanni. Colleen

0619.

Every 1st Sunday of Month

DIVINE MERCY

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

What kids really need from their dads

What kids really need from their dads.

A DVD produced by The Fathering Project

Running Time: 21 minutes. Cost: $25.00

■ Reviewed by Mark Reidy

IN his experience as a lung specialist, Professor Bruce Robinson began to recognise two common interrelated regrets with men who were terminally ill: 1 - that if they could live their lives again, they would spend more time with their children and 2 - that their work had seemed a lot more important than it was in reality.

The regrets of these men became the inspiration for Robinson to produce the DVD, “What kids really need from their dads”.

In this concise, inspiring production the viewer is introduced to numerous fathers and children who share their experiences in an endeavour to emphasise the vital role of fatherhood in the development of a child.

Dealing with issues such as communication, time, personal involvement in all aspects of their lives, making them feel special and loving them without necessarily having to love what they choose to do, fathers and father-figures are reminded of some obvious, but oft-forgotten, aspects of raising emotionally healthy and well adjusted children.

Interviews with both well-known and ordinary fathers, including separated dads, range from older men sharing the wisdom of their mistakes to the enthusiasm of a new generation who are more aware of the benefits of personal involvement in all areas of their kids’ lives.

The wide array of famous, unknown, young and old, indicate that the challenges of fatherhood are universal and require sacrificial choices and commitment.

The presentation generates a positive outlook and is intended to inspire discussion, further reading and, most importantly, an understanding of just how essential fathers and father-figures are in forming the future generations of men.

Available from The Record Bookshop