The Record Newspaper 28 November 2007

Labourers for the Vineyard

Thousands across Perth flock to witness visiting Italian Friar Elia

Thousands of people flocked to see visiting Italian preacher Friar Elia, a former Capuchin Franciscan who is believed to suffer the stigmata – the wounds of Christ’s crucifixion. Though bandages cov-

ered his hands, hundreds at a time lined up at City Beach, Leederville, Spearwood, Bassendean, Mosman Park, West Perth, Balcatta, Ocean Reef and Glenalough parishes to receive a blessing.

Friar Elia also met with a group of Perth priests and later spent an hour with Archbishop Barry

Hickey. When the bandages are off, scars can clearly be seen on the back of Friar Elia’s wrists.

One Perth priest who did not want to be named told The Record that he saw close-up what he described as burned or peeled-back skin on the top of his ankles and wrists, at the points where the nails would have

pierced Christ during His crucifixion. Friar Elia is also said to suffer wounds on his back and shoulders and, during Lent, his head reportedly bleeds from wounds similar to those Christ would have suffered when the crown of thorns was placed on his head. While the Vatican is still investigating his

experiences and claims of physical healings, he is allowed to tour and preach with the permission of his local Bishop of Terni-NarniAmelia, Italy, and at the invitation of dioceses he visits.

He visited Perth with the permission of Archbishop Hickey, Continued - Page 7

Welcome: Priests come forward to pray over four new priests ordained by Archbishop Barry Hickey at Infant Jesus Parish Church in Morley on Friday evening November 16. Ordained were, from left, Ernesto Cerruti and Manoele Borges, from the Neocatechumenal Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Morley, and George James and Arnel Taracina of St Charles Diocesan Seminary in Guildford. Also ordained to the diaconate was Pavel Herda, standing at right, of St Charles. All five men were born and grew up overseas. The ceremony was attended by approximately 80 priests, three bishops and 800 people.

PHOTO: P ROSENGREN

■ By Anthony Barich

Parliamentary welcome for newest MLC

WA’s newest Member of Parliament reflects our nation’s diversity

Those who know Western Australia’s newest Member of the Legislative Council in State Parliament, Batong Vu Pham MLC, will not be surprised to hear that he was choked with emotion as he read out his oath of office on Monday morning November 26 at Parliment House.

The ceremony took place before family, friends and fellow politicians but Mr Pham took his oath in a wheel chair while still recoving a brain aneurism he suffered in July. He regards his recovery a miracle.

Born to Van Vo Pham, a school head master, and his wife Diep Nguyen in 1967, Batong Vu Pham was raised in the small town of Baria in Vung Tao, South Vietnam. He was to become the fourth eldest sibling among nine children.

The family fled the Communist regime by sea in 1978. Their 12metre boat was jammed with 73 people. After seven days at sea the

boat started to disintegrate in rough seas.

Fortunately an American World Vision ship crossed its path and managed to save all on board.

After four months in a Malaysian refugee camp the family was interviewed by Australian immigration authorities and allowed to come to Australia. Batong was eleven years old when his family arrived to Australia on February 14, 1979.

the Benedictine life of divine praise and Eucharistic prayer for the Church?

Contact the: Rev Mother Cyril, OSB, Tyburn Priory, 325 Garfield Road, Riverstone, NSW 2765 www.tyburnconvent.org.uk

His Primary school Principal Sister Margaret O’Sullivan RSJ recently recalled that a school outing to Rottnest Island was not Batong’s idea of fun! “He would not board the ferry and had to be excused”.

The family started a new life in Midland. As strong Catholics the fam-

ily was delighted to live next door to the Franciscan Friary.

Both the Friars and the Josephite Sisters provided invaluable support for the new Australians. Batong’s parents worked extremely hard to provide for the family and so did he and all his brothers and sisters. Today all the children work in different professions.

Batong was educated at St Brigid’s Midland and won a scholarship later to La Salle College, then joining the cadets at the Australian Royal Air force. He enjoyed political studies at high school and was determined to become a Member of Parliament in the future.

He later completed an Associate Diploma of Business Administration at Perth Technical College and headed off to the family market gardening business, growing export quality strawberries.

While expanding the family’s business Batong crossed paths with local Member, the late Ted Cunningham.

This meeting was to become the start of Batong’s political career as Ted took Batong under his wing and became his mentor. Batong

later became a Justice of the Peace and worked for various Members of Parliament.

With his strong work ethic, commitment to help the community and constant support from his family and friends, Batong has achieved his dream of becoming a Member of Parliament.

Parish priest Fr John Jegorow said: “It was a special privelege for

me to be invited to attend Batong’s induction as a member of the Legislative Council - in fact, it is a first for me.”

“Batong will make a great politician because he understands all levels of human need - not just the material.

“He has strong Faith and his particular experiences will keep him close to any one in real need.”

Changing someone’s Christmas

The St Vincent de Paul Society’s 2007 Christmas Appeal is one with a difference.

The 2007 St Vincent De Paul Society’s Christmas Appeal will kick off on Friday November 30 in Bunbury.

The appeal will be launched in conjunction with the official opening of the brand new Bunbury Vinnies Retail Centre, Depot and Welfare Centre.

Housing stress and eviction are the two most significant issues facing families around Australia this Christmas and the Society is largely called upon during the Christmas and New Year period as many families struggle to celebrate Christmas day and finance the back to school period for their children.

State President of the Society, Genevieve De Souza says: “We ask the community to help change someone’s story this Christmas by donating to the Christmas Appeal.

“West Australians are very supportive of those in need and we are always grateful for their support and generosity, especially approaching the festive season.”

The Society sees many different reasons why people find themselves in need at Christmas time and these underlining problems most often manifest in the form of financial crisis and impact on their ability to pay rent, utility bills and to join in the festivities.

The Society aims to raise $500,000 from the Appeal this year and is encouraging the community to donate by giving money or gift vouchers, including food and shopping vouchers.

“The St Vincent de Paul Society has cho-

sen to launch the Christmas Appeal from the new Bunbury location to thank regional members, volunteers and supporters and to highlight the increasing complexity of the needs of our community,” Mrs De Souza said.

The new Bunbury Centre and venue for the Christmas Appeal launch will provide a much needed service for the South West Region and will encompass a Vinnies Retail Centre and Depot, as well as an on-site Welfare Centre.

The launch and official opening will be attended by many local identities.

Many thousands of West Australian families will have a brighter Christmas this year with the support of the Society through Christmas Hampers, gift vouchers and toys.

To make a donation to the Society please call 13 18 12, or log on to www.vinnies.org.au.

Great moment: Family and friends gather with the Honourable Batong Vu Pham in the State Parliament building to congratulate him on being sworn in as a Member of the Legislative Council. Also joining him for the occasion were, below, from left, John D’Orazio MLA, parish priest Fr John Jegorow, president of the Legislative Council Nicholas Griffiths and Minister for Employment Protection Michelle Roberts together with her husband Greg. PHOTOS: COURTESY FR JOHN JEGOROW

Vatican tackles corruption, disarmanent

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Forty years after Pope Paul VI’s groundbreaking encyclical on human development, “Populorum Progressio,” the Vatican is preparing to launch a new series of conferences and publications on poverty, corrup-

tion, disarmament, prisons and the ethics of taxation.

The new proposals were discussed at the November 20-21 plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, which examined the impact of the

CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH PERSONAL ADVOCACY SERVICE

Committedtotheinclusionofpeople with intellectual disabilities GROUP PROGRAM COORDINATOR (0 8)

Personal Advocacy Service provides support for people with intellectual disabilities to enable them to live fully as active members of their local community. The support is enhanced through personal development programs conducted by staff and volunteer advocates.

PAS is seeking a person to coordinate the delivery of the Personal Advocacy program in parishes throughout the archdiocese. Specifically, this person will support the development of volunteer advocates as they respond to the emotional, spiritual and social needs of people with intellectual disabilities.

Responsibilities include:

♦ induction and training of group leaders and voluneer advocates

♦ coordinating the work of group leaders in various parishes

♦ overseeing the implementation of the faith development program

♦ liaising with families, carers and community organisations in the ongoing provision of services to people with intellectual disabilities

The successful applicant will ideally possess:

♦ tertiary qualifications and experience

♦ commitment to the Catholic faith

♦ sound interpersonal and organisational skills

♦ the ability to both take initiative and work in a team

Experience in the areas of primary or secondary teaching, disability support or pastoral ministry would be considered an advantage. This position offers fulfilment and flexibility of hours.

To obtain the full selection criteria and position description, please phone 9275 5388 or email admin@paswa.org.au

Written applications, including a curriculum vitae and names and contact numbers of three referees, should be addressed to: Executive Director, Personal Advocacy Service, PO Box 1261, Morley WA 6943. Applications close: Wednesday 12 December 2007

Catholic Charismatic Renewal Perth, West Australia

End of Year Mass & Fellowship

Tuesday, 4th December at Holy Family Church, Como. Commences with Prayer & Praise at 7.30pm.

Please bring a plate of finger food to share. All welcome!

Enquiries to Pam 9381 2516 or Dan 9398 4973

12th & 13th December

DYNAMIC INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS

Nancy (Fr Jozo’s Translator) & Patrick Latta

Medjugorje and the messages of Our Lady, Queen of Peace

Wednesday 12 December: 10.30am-2pm - St Bernadette’s Church, Glendalough. Rosary, Holy Mass, Talks (Bring lunch to share. Tea/coffee supplied)

7pm-9pm - Holy Spirit Church, City Beach Rosary, Holy Mass & Talk

Thursday 13th December: 10.30am-2pm - Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church, Willagee Rosary, Holy Mass, Talks (Bring lunch to share. Tea/coffee supplied)

7.30pm-9pm - Our Lady of the Missions, WhitfordsCraigie Rosary, Holy Mass & Talk Enquiries: Margaret 9341 8082

1967 encyclical and the new challenges that have emerged since its publication.

The council announced proposals for at least four major international conferences on themes related to justice and world peace. It

said the topics will include “politics, democracy and values”; disarmament; Catholic social doctrine and the laity; and “ethics and taxation.” Future documents will address the topics of poverty and globalisation; penal justice and the re-edu-

cation of convicts; and the fight against corruption, it said.

During the encounter, participants underlined that the moral dimension of development was more important than ever in an increasingly globalised economy.

Moved by the desperate plight of Christians in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East, the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has been supporting the country’s beleaguered Christian population. Sadly, due to ongoing violence and oppression, the proportion of Christians in the Holy Land has plummeted from 20 percent to as little as 1.4 percent in the last 40 years.

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

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

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

0Yes please send me the little olive wood crib*

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

Help Keep Christianity Alive in the Holy Land and Middle East Send To: Aid to the Church in Need, POBox 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148 Phone/Fax No: (02) 9679-1929 E-mail: info@aidtochurch.org Web: www.aidtochurch.org

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

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

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

AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED ... A Catholic charity dependent on the Holy See, providing pastoral relief to needy and oppressed Churches.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just Released...

Hymns and Songs

✟ Ave Maria

✟ Panis Angelicus

✟ Faith Of Our Fathers

✟ Sweet Sacrament Divine

✟ Soul Of My Saviour

✟ Hail, Queen Of Heaven

✟ Christ Be Our Light

✟ On Eagles’ Wings

✟ Come As You Are

✟ Prayer Of St. Francis

✟ The Lord Is My Shepherd (Crimond, The 23rd Psalm)

✟ Faith Of Our Fathers (U.S.A.)

✟ Agnus Dei

✟ Nearer My God To Thee

✟ How Great Thou Art

✟ Love Never Ends

✟ (There is a) Balm In Gilead

✟ I Believe

✟ Amazing Grace

✟ The Lord’s Prayer (Mallote)

Faith of Our Fathers marks a significant milestone in the 40th year of the illustrious recording career of Kamahl.

The hymns in this album, both traditional and modern, are well known and loved by Catholics of all ages.

Acclaimed for his charity work, Kamahl is also delighted that the sale of Faith of Our Fathers will assist the St Vincent de Paul Society in its work among the poor and disadvantaged, especially at Christmas time.

“These recordings are heartfelt renditions by one of the most remarkable voices of the international stage and will serve to lift both our hearts and spirits.

I pray, too, that the sale of this CD will further assist the St Vincent de Paul Society in their great ministry of love among the poor, disadvantaged and marginalised.”

David Cremin

Vedette’s vows a first for rare Order

■ By Anthony Barich and Peter Rosengren

Perth woman Vedette Lendich took vows as a member of a women’s religious congregation with a difference at Good Shepherd Parish in Lockridge recently.

Mrs Lendich, married with two children, was professed as Sr Vedette of the Sister Servants of the Sacred Cross.

She took her vows before Archbishop Barry Hickey at the Saturday evening Mass at Lockridge on November 17.

On hand to witness Sr Vedette’s profession after two years as a novice was Mother Superior Wendy James of the Sisters, who is an Anglican.

Also vested in the sanctuary of the Good Shepherd Church was Perth Bishop Harry Entwistle - of the Traditional Anglican Communion.

The rea son for such an ecumenical event was sig nificant.

Received: Archbishop Barry Hickey, above, receives Sr Vedette’s vows at Good Shepherd Parish, Lockridge, on Saturday November 17. In the bottom photograph, Archbishop Hickey poses for photographs with Traditional Anglican Communion Assistant Bishop for Perth, Harry Entwistle, Mother Wendy James, centre, and Sr Vedette, at right, together with another Sister Servant of the Sacred Cross. PHOTOS: P ROSENGREN

received five enquiries in Australia and has five waiting for her back in Canada, three of whom, Mother Wendy says, want to live in the convent.

“We focus on ways in which Anglicans and Catholics can be united and live our lives as much as possible in Communion,” Mother Wendy said.

“We seek to find every way to be united while respecting the sacramental integrity of both ecclesial bodies”, she said, meaning that while the Order has both Anglican and Catholic Masses, members of respective denominations participate but do not receive each other’s Eucharist.

In September this year the Order voted to expand its mandate to a prayer ministry for the unity of the Universal Church, taking St Athanasius – the “Father of Orthodoxy” - as the patron of this ministry.

The Order has also undertaken a ministry of prayer for priests – Anglicans, Roman and Orthodox Catholics – with St John Vianney, the patron of parish priests, as its patron in that work.

Wendy

The Sister Servants are a new congre gation who accept women from Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox backgrounds without requiring them to change the denomination to which they belong.

Moreover, Mother Wendy is a member of the Traditional Anglican Communion, whose bishops recently addressed a letter to the Vatican seeking full communion with the Catholic Church on behalf of their estimated 400,000 adherents worldwide.

The Servants of the Sacred Cross were founded in Nova Scotia, Canada by Mother Superior Wendy, a married mother of three and grandmother of four, and has novices in Perth, Newcastle, Canberra and the United States.

While it started as an Anglican Congregation loyal to the Archbishop of Canterbury, recent events like the denomination deciding to consecrate female and openly homosexual bishops saw it widen its scope to accepting those loyal to the

Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC), plus Catholics and Orthox.

Members of the TAC – including Mother Wendy - believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and agree with the Catholic Church’s position on priesthood and gender.

The Servants of the Sacred Cross Order is linked to Forward in Faith, a global association of Anglicans who are unable in conscience to accept the ordination of women.

The original vision of the Servants of the Sacred Cross was to establish a community that would be traditional and orthodox in its theology - while also upholding the Catholic faith including the Nicene and Apostles Creeds – for women who are called to live religious life.

It is a ‘dispersed’ community of women who live ‘in the world’ in their own homes as married, single and widowed, and only wear their habits while at Mass or during their ministry.

However, in August this year it opened its first convent in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with two nuns tak ing vows of poverty, chastity and obedience; this is different from the Sisters who live ‘in the world’, who make vows of simplicity, purity (chastity within the married state, celibacy for single and widowed) and obedience to the Mother Superior of the Order.

“The convent is something we could never have imagined in our wildest dreams,” Mother Wendy said. She says that by accepting Catholic women and changing their membership requirements, “we see

There are now 13 members –seven Catholics, three Traditional Anglicans and three belonging to the Canterbury Anglican Communion – plus a support network of men and women associates.

Visiting Perth last week and present at the ordination of Perth’s

Mother

James of the Sister Servants of the Sacred Cross.

A year ago, Fr Nicholas had a vision to carry out the work of JPII in a new ministry. Last weekend that vision solidified, forging bonds between country and city Catholics for a common cause:

Giving Voice to the Voiceless Voice to the Voiceless

■ By Anthony Barich

For thousands of years, indigenous Australians have used outstandingly high granite outcrops like the geological wonder Wave Rock as an easily visible meeting place.

It is appropriate then, that the 14m-high, 110 metre-long Wave Rock at Hyden, roughly 350km south-east of Perth, galvanised Catholics from WA’s metropolitan and country communities on a pilgrimage last weekend.

As Aborigines would climb to the top of Wave Rock and plan their journeys, so too did the natural phenomenon serve as an important point where modern-day Catholics of all ages forged bonds that would unite them more in their newly formed group, the Voice of the Voiceless.

The trip to Wave Rock in the stifling heat was a bonding experience as some pilgrims needed to rely on each other to get back down the daunting hill after we climbed to the top of the massive landmark.

VOV was started in December last year by Fr Nicholas Nweke, a Nigerian priest ordained recently in the Archdiocese of Perth who has, through nothing but word of mouth, gathered significant support through his charismatic leadership and unflinching friendliness.

After assistant priest appointments at Willeton, Lockridge and Belmont, Fr Nicholas has this year been posted to Corrigin-Kulin, roughly 250km south-east of Perth.

The vision of his VOV group, which already has almost 100 people either signed up or strongly interested, is to carry on the work of the late Pope John Paul II, starting primarily by raising money for seminarians back

in Nigeria to complete their formation, and to help international students at St Charles Seminary in Guildford with language skills. They are also committed to praying for the canonisation of JPII. Voice of the Voiceless draws its inspiration from JPII’s Post-Synodal Exhortation “Ecclesia in Africa”, issued to the Church in Africa regarding its evangelising mission. It stated: “The Church must continue to exercise her prophetic role and be the voice of the voiceless, so that everywhere the human dignity of every individual will be acknowledged”.

The two-day pilgrimage strongly emphasised a sense of community between city and country Catholics.

The city Catholics, up to 50 of whom had come from the parishes of Lockridge, Willeton, Karinyup, Belmont, Riverton, Leeming, Ferndale, Beechboro, Ellenbrook, Balcatta, Canning Vale and Thornlie, developed an acute appreciation of the life of the faithful in the country; while the country Catholics gained important and muchneeded solace that they are not alone in their committed faith. After travelling by bus from Willeton and Belmont, the city Catholics arrived an hour late at Corrigin due to the federal election that morning, but the local Catholics were not discouraged.

They welcomed us into the Church of St Therese with arms open, just enjoying the chance to share their faith with the Body of Christ – both figuratively in a communal sense and physically, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar.

After the music ministry, provided by Perth parishioners, set the mood with praise and worship, Fr Nicholas welcomed the city slickers on behalf of the locals and spoke of how the pilgrims from near and far had united to

celebrate Christ the King and to testify the universal kingship of Christ.

“In the presence of our Blessed Lord, we tell ourselves the Truth that He reveals to us. When we come to terms with these truths we are compelled to listen and ponder on them. Eucharistic adoration gives us the opportunity to accept what the Scripture says: “Be still and confess that I am God” (Psalm 46:11).

Far removed from the business of my city existence, kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, I came to realise exactly what Fr Nicholas meant. I was 250km away from the nearest skyscraper, yet here, in this humble chapel built in the 1950s, was Jesus, in the Blessed Sacrament, just as He is in any Mass.

The true nature of what binds the Universal Church was brought home to me in a powerful way, right there.

So, too, were the seeds of Fr Nicholas’s Voice of the Voiceless ministry sewn in the hearts of those present: uniting Catholics from so far away to build the kingdom of God in the hearts of many started right there.

Hearing the locals tell their stories about how they’re lucky to get more than five people to Mass, which is only held every couple of weeks as Fr Nicholas spreads himself among six towns, the importance of Catholic unity hit me hard. Some had come from over 20km away just to be here. November is also a crucial time for farmers, yet they had left their farms at that time to share their Catholic faith for an opportunity too good to miss.

To Yvonne Mouritz, a stalwart of Hyden (another 170km from Corrigin where a second prayer service, including the Divine Mercy Chaplet, was held in the local Our Lady of Sorrows Church), the gathering was great for “public relations” in this remote wheatbelt town.

“Many people don’t think we have Catholic gatherings,” Yvonne said. “This helps us feel like there are others out there. We’re fairly isolated here, and we’re very scattered. Many people have come a long way just to come to Church. These sing-alongs are great too, as they encourage the young people to get involved.” She described the VOV ministry as “inspiring”. The dedication of the locals was inspiring in itself. Not only did they wait an hour at both Hyden and Corrigin, but they had prepared a feast. The same happened the next day in Kulin, 283km out of Perth, where a Mass was held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, which has a Marian Shrine adjacent where Fr Nicholas held a Eucharistic procession. This same sense of community crossed denominational boundaries. Sheenagh and Denis Collins, a local Uniting Church couple who run the local hotel in Hyden, often give visiting priests, counsellors or single people hotel beds to welcome them into the local community. They are inspired by Fr Nicholas’ ministry and see it as representative of what they are doing, in their own small way, to building the kingdom of God.

“There are too few of us out here to be segregated, so we need to stick together,” says Sheenagh, whose husband gave an entertaining tour of Wave Rock, complete with intriguing stories from Aboriginal folklore that had the kids on the pilgrimage spellbound, and talking about it for the rest of the day.

“What Fr Nicholas is doing is great – the local farmers really appreciate his visits and much-needed support, especially in periods of drought. We’re really fond of them (Catholics in town, and the visiting city folk) – they’re part of our lives and we’re part of theirs, so we may as well make the most of it.”

Contact Fr Nicholas on 9880 1436 or jr_nnweke@yahoo.co.uk.

Singing praises: Voice of the Voiceless organiser John Sutton looks on as Fr Nicholas Nweke leads a Eucharistic procession from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Kulin to the adjacent Marian Shrine, erected by Fr Brian Rosling.

Families in faith: Luissa Fabriziani and Alicia Jong, both 9, shelter under a tree as Fr Nicholas venderates the Blessed Sacrament at Kulin after celebrating a Healing Mass, during which local Catholics shared faith with Perth pilgrims.

Young faith: Fr Nicholas blesses a local lad during the healing Mass at Kulin. PHOTOS: ANTHONY BARICH

Extraordinary message, ordinary voice

Fra Elia is believed by many to be a stigmatist. Mark Reidy reflects on what he expected to see and hear when the Italian friar visited Perth last week - and what he actually found.

■ By Mark Reidy

It is the merging of the ordinary and the extraordinary that left the greatest impression on my encounter with Italian Friar and reported bearer of the stigmata, Brother Elia. Crammed into St Mary’s Church in Leederville with over 500 others, it was difficult not to be caught up in the sense of excitement that was present, yet at first glimpse it was equally difficult to marry this emotion to the humbleness and normality of the man that we had all flocked to see.

His introduction after the celebration of Mass by local priest and interpreter, Father Tiziano Bogoni, had only served to heighten the expectation that permeated the crowd.

He spoke not only of Brother Elia’s 40-day Lenten fasts and the manifestation of the wounds of Christ, but also of his clinical death on Good Fridays, his return to life on the following Saturday evenings and the gifts of bi-location, miracles and healings that are believed by many to be real.

He even asked light-heartedly for people to refrain from rushing forward to touch him or cut fragments of cloth from his garments

However as I watched necks crane, cameras click and those crammed at the back move enthusiastically forward to sit at his feet, I began to wonder if Father Tiziano was actually joking.

Arriving in Perth with certification from a leading Italian physician, the full support of his own Bishop and the invitation of Archbishop Barry Hickey, it was no surprise that each church he had

Painful: A photo taken in Italy of Brother Elia with dried blood, reportedly from suffering the headwounds from Christ’s own crown of thorns. Other photos seen by The Record showed his bed in Italy soaked with blood, reportedly from wounds in his wrists, feet and from a 10cm gash in his side.

visited during the week had been overflowing with both the faithful and the curious.

Initially I felt guilty as the atmosphere of awe and the comparisons that had been made to Saint and Capuchin, Padre Pio, had triggered

within me a Thomas-like desire to witness something supernatural.

I wondered if I was alone in my yearning for physical evidence to justify my wavering faith in this phenomenon. My insecurities soon began to fade, however, as Father

Many impressed by visit of Fra Elia

Continued from Page 1 who was asked to invite him by South Australian Rosa Branca, a former Perth resident.

Organisers of Friar Elia’s Perth visit said that Australians wanted the former Capuchin to visit due to the “many blessings” such a visit would bring to the local community. He was also reported to have been very positive about the “huge” potential for vocations to come from the Archdiocese of Perth.

Perth Catholics who experienced Friar Elia’s preaching and blessings endorsed him on the internet blogsite intothedeep.wordpress. com.

One, called Jessica, said: “I cried the whole way through. I felt like I could connect to God through him. He was such a humble man.

“When he was blessing me, the water (that he blessed people with) smelled like rose – but it was only tap water. How could it possibly smell like a rose?”

Perth priest Fr Tiziano Bogoni, who accompanies Friar Elia throughout Perth and travelled

with him to Melbourne last week to translate his sermons, told The Record that the Italian Friar emphasises the importance of prayer – for the dying, the youth, the forgotten and the abandoned, because he sees God in them.

Translating Friar Elia’s story to The Record, Fr Tiziano said the Friar started seeing angels at the age of seven. Not long after that he reportedly started receiving deep bruises on his wrists, feet and on his side.

Taken to hospital, he lost drastic amounts of weight as he could not eat during Lent; his parents were accused of malnutrition.

At 18 he got a job as a postman and found himself delivering mail to a Capuchin monastery in Milan. He was overwhelmed by a sense of joy and love when he went inside.

He regularly returned to pray at the invitation at the Capuchins but had to stop when he was transferred to a different part of the Lombardy region. It was then that he first felt the call to religious life. He entered the monastery at 21 and was studying scripture when blood from his

head reportedly dropped onto his book. A Friar at the hospital who was also a nurse reportedly said, “I hope this isn’t what I think it is”.

Elia was frightened and fought against the experience, leaving the Capuchins determined to marry.

But his absence only drew a further longing for the monastery, and he reportedly received another apparition from his guardian angel telling him to enter an enclosed monastery, which turned out to be a Benedictine one, in Tuscany.

After four months there, he formed the Congregation of the Apostles of God in 2000, whose rule orders them to be “pilgrims in the world”. The Franciscans gave him an abandoned 13th century convent where his order, consisting of 10 people – three consecrated Sisters and seven Friars – are now based.

The mission of his Order is to evangelise, make a home for destitute and abused youth and to build a large church where there will be a font of water from the tabernacle to the back, symbolising the water of life and baptism.

said, and had initially been a very reluctant recipient of the stigmata, even telling God that he would get married so that the wounds would no longer appear.

This humility became obvious as Brother Elia addressed us. One could immediately recognise that one was in the presence of a man who did not want the message of God to be dwarfed by the messenger. As he spoke passionately about the need for prayer, of loving one’s adversaries, the Church as a home and the equality of all in the eyes of God my desire for signs and wonders began to fade.

My attention moved from his bandaged wrists to the peace and compassion that flowed in his words. Somehow the message of this unassuming Italian became more powerful as his humanity came into focus.

He was a simple man with a simple message, no different to the message that Christ gave 2000 years ago - God our Father loves us unconditionally, but it is only through forgiveness that we will begin to recognise this love. I found myself imagining Jesus as He hung on the cross.

He did not speak at great length and there was nothing mystical about his presence. I should have been disappointed, but I wasn’t. Perhaps God had granted extraordinary gifts to this humble man so that people like me would be drawn to hear his message?

Tiziano continued to speak.

He said that he was glad that Brother Elia did not speak English as he would have been embarrassed by the references to these mystical gifts.

He was a humble man, the priest

Perhaps miracles are not always supernatural, because this was a message I had heard many times before, but I had been able to hear it in a deeper way. There was a collision of Heaven and earth that day, but it was not in the way I had anticipated. I had gone expecting the extraordinary and I left knowing that I had encountered it.

It was just that I hadn’t expected it to be so ordinary.

Momentous: A Perth Catholic who joined the lined up of over 150 metres receives a blessing from Friar Elia at St Mary’s Church in Leederville. Hundreds flocked to hear him preach and receive blessings.

PHOTO: ANTHONY BARICH

Gorgeous: The 13th-Century Franciscan convent in Calvi that Friar Elia has aquired from the ancient Order.

Perspectives

editorial letters to the editor

Belief: Miracles

OArchbishop Barry Hickey’s final talk on Belief and the Catholic faith.The new series and all his previous talks can be viewed on www. perthcatholic.org.au.

ne of the fascinating supports for belief is the steady stream of miracles with which God graces the world. Only a small percentage of them are recorded or officially recognised by the Church.

The greatest miracle is the Resurrection, and as St Paul said, without it our faith would be vain.

But Jesus performed all manner of miracles – healing the blind, the deaf, the mute, the lame and the lepers; casting out devils; feeding the multitudes with only a few loaves and fishes; and raising the dead to life.

He did all this to show that he really was the Messiah, the one who was sent, and that his words were to be believed.

He gave this power to his disciples while he was still on earth, and they marvelled at the things they did in his name.

It continued on after his death and resurrection and has been a constant reminder of the presence and power of the Risen Lord in the life of the Church right through to the present day.

The apparitions of the Virgin Mary and the streams of miracles of grace at places like Lourdes, as well as the holiness of the Church and the lives of her saints, are constant sources of refreshment and strength to those who believe.

To those who do not believe, they are a constant problem. Some just ignore them, which closes them off from a great display of life. Others deny them, and yet others say that God shouldn’t be allowed to interfere like that – or, if he does, he should do more of it.

Not even the Church claims to know why particular miracles occur and others apparently do not, but the Church knows that whatever God does is always good.

Miracles and the other fruits of the spiritual life are a glorious reminder that the entire spiritual world is close to us and the love of God is always in our midst.

There is no crisis of faith for those who hold on to this belief.

Knowing when you are well off

Some people don’t know when they are well off, and Premier Alan Carpenter has joined their ranks.

Events in the Upper House and his own determination to force the Hon Shelley Archer MLC out of the Labor Party mean that the Government’s prostitution bill would be defeated. This would save Mr Carpenter and his government from being branded the biggest pimp in the State’s history. Sadly, Mr Carpenter does not know when he is well off, and he is now breaching parliamentary standards and protocols in futile efforts to use the power of the Legislative Assembly to force Ms Archer out of the Legislative Council.

THE RECORD

PO Box 75

Leederville, WA 6902

cathrec@iinet.net.au

Tel: (08) 9227 7080

Fax: (08) 9227 7087

The immediate effect of such a move, if it came about, would be that he could get his prostitution bill through the Council without delay.

It highlights once again the mystery of why the Government, and particularly Mr Carpenter and his AttorneyGeneral Jim McGinty, are so desperate to impose legalised prostitution on the community. They have not been able to demonstrate any benefits the community would obtain, nor any demand in the community for prostitution in every neighbourhood. They know from experience in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland that legalised prostitution results in huge increases in the number of brothels – at least half of them illegal – and the associated involvement of organised crime and the proliferation of drugs through brothels.

Those States have also seen increases in child prostitution and the trafficking of women from South-East Asia and Africa for the purposes of prostitution, trafficking that puts these women under the control of criminals. In that respect, the new Federal Government faces an interesting challenge: former Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews announced last week that, post-election, prostitutes would no longer be able to enter Australia on temporary visas with working rights attached. Will this become Government practice?

One big advantage Premier Carpenter has at the moment is that the community is now fully aware of the Swedish legislation which criminalises the purchase of sex. This system is being accepted/considered by numerous European governments who are deeply concerned about the extent of trafficking in women and children and their brutal exploitation in the sex trade. With a clear mind and pure heart, he could let Mr McGinty’s inadequate bill disappear into oblivion and then launch a full study of the meaning and the results of the Swedish model. - This editorial is not by Archbishop Hickey

Around t he tabl e dnuorA t eh

Readable reading, cover to cover

Iwish to congratulate the editor and journalists for the articles that are contained in The Record

For years I have been buying The Record out of duty, but when trying to read it found that 95 per cent of the content was so hard to understand I felt you needed to have studied theology to get what was being said.

However the last 12 months it is now a very interesting paper, and I enjoy reading it from cover to end.

Thank you very much and continue the good work.

Bev Macri Gabbadah

The Sisters created a family

Thank you for the article about the dear Sisters at St Emilie’s convent.

I was one of the fortunate children to attend St Joseph’s College when it was in Adelaide Street, Fremantle.

The education both social and academic was of the highest standard and still relevant in the changing world of today.

Whilst all the Sisters in your picture are known to me, Sister Emmanuel was my teacher in my senior school years and as quoted by Sister Damien, made a huge impression on us, and still does to this day.

I feel blessed indeed, to be part of the loving extended family these dear Sisters have created.

Gibson

Tricia

Keep up the good work

Iam from True Jesus Church in Perth. I came across the “Discovery” magazine issue The Healing Hands of the Holy Spirit (Issue 32, October 2007) at my office and had a light read over lunch.

First of all, I would like to compliment all the efforts which you and your team put into the publication. Your church’s dedication and love towards the Lord is very evident from the publication. May the Lord remember your labour and bless you abundantly.

However, I came across a small section in the magazine which teaches a little differently regarding the truth to my church. It is on page 7, the right most column about the Holy Spirit. I have included two publications.

Remembering great ladies, old friends

Ienjoyed very much the article by Sian White on the Mt St Emilie’s Sisters of the Congregation of St Joseph of the Apparition.

Sian seems to be personally well-acquainted with the Sisters, so, in partial thanks for her writing such an interesting article, I will add a little bit for her enjoyment.

I was in my final years of primary boarding at Mary’s Mount when the Sisters bought Mt St Emilie’s, which I note now has the ‘Mt’ removed from the name.

I boarded from the years 1942-1948, and, when St Emilie’s was bought, we older boarders were taken down there to clean up, which included the cleaning of a large swimming pool.

This was a wonderful escape from boarding school life for a while and I can remember that there was quite a large swimming pool and we were required to line it with some white stuff - disinfectant of some sort, I guess.

We were absolutely overwhelmed with the piped music through so many speakers throughout the grounds especially around the pool. For the 40’s, this was quite exceptional.

St Emilie’s was, and is, a beautiful place: beautiful and serene. I spent much of my adult life out of Western Australia, but returned to St Emilie’s on two occasions.

The first was in 1984 on the occasion when my brother John was near death and I went up to visit Sister Marcelline.

She was so tough on all of us as kids - the toughest lady, and yet she had been at school with my mother as well - but at this stage of her life, she was wonderful, bringing a drink and cake, or such, and we had a marvellous relaxed conversation, her being very direct as usual.

But she had mellowed significantly and was very pleasant company indeed. She passed away soon after.

The second occasion was when Mary’s Mount had a special celebration in 1995 and the much-loved Sister Raymond, who taught us music and radiated such happiness and warmth, was going to give an address at the school but was not well and was resting at St Emilie’s.

I went down to see her but she was resting and I left my card for her, so I hope she was happy with the thoughts.

I never saw her again but went to her Mass and burial soon after.

So, you see that your article has awakened many memories of wonderful people.

I can vividly recall Mother Pius, Sisters Patrick, Joan, Celina, Celestine, Lawrence, Hilda, Fidelis, Magdalene, Josephine and the marvellous teacher Sister Ambrose who obtained scholarships for my brothers and myself.

The names roll out very easily. Indelible impressions.

Thank you for the lovely article, Sian.

Dr Ken J Mann BSc, MSc, PhD, FIMA Principal, KM Finance Consultants

I am very interested to find out more about the truth that your church preaches and would like to find out more in your church sessions. God Bless. Keep up the good work.

Henry Tan Perth

Great air time

There is a wonderful Catholic program on TV channel Access 31 every Sunday at 1pm which I recommend to all Catholics to watch. There is a great need for re-evangelisation and we need to be informed about our Catholic faith especially in this day and age. Secondly, the cost of keeping this Catholic program on air has risen, and unless we Catholics step in and help the RCTA (Rosary Christian Tutorial Association) financially, the program will go off the air. I therefore appeal to all Catholics for their generous help. All that’s needed is 300 people to give $1 a week, or $50 a year. There is also another Catholic program

on Radio 107.9 FM. It is called Gate of Heaven and airs every Sunday evening from 7.30pm to 9pm. The program is run by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate but air time is costly and any help would be greatly appreciated.

May God bless the RCTA and the Friars of the Immaculate for spreading the Gospel through these wonderful programs. Name and Address supplied

Drop them a line, and help save Christmas

Every year, from Christmas Eve until the Octave of Epiphany, a Crib representing the Birth of Christ is displayed in our Catholic churches, in order to remind us of the mystery of the Incarnation and to recall the birth of the Redeemer, Christ Our Saviour.

Southlands Shopping Centre, in Willetton has once again placed a lovely Nativity Scene on display in the mall, for Christmas. Letters continued - Page 13

Vista CHOSEN

four more priests for Perth

■ By Anthony Barich

The Archdiocese of Perth has four new priests after Archbishop Barry Hickey ordained Arnel Taracina, George James, Ernesto Cerutti and Manoel Borges at Morley’s Infant Jesus Church on November 16. St Charles Seminary student Pavol Herda was also ordained to the Diaconate on his way to becoming a priest next year.

In front of over 700 people, Archbishop Hickey urged the new priests to not just be shepherds but to evangelise “the lost sheep”; have special concern for young people, celebrate the Mass properly and to be priests primarily of service.

He thanked the new priests and deacon for their “self discipline and courage” to offer themselves to the Catholic Church, saying that the reason for the relative lack of vocations is the reluctance of so many to do what Jesus is asking them, to “come follow me”.

“You have turned down so many other opportunities that the world presents, which is so hard to do – to give away the possibility of becoming wealthy,” the Archbishop said.

“You have heard the call and have said ‘yes’.”

He said the call to serve is not always clear, and for some in the secular world it means to dominate and command; but Jesus said that to become leaders, they must be of service.

This was the top priority of new priest Fr James, from India, who said he considers service to be the most important part of his priesthood.

“L

ook also beyond your own circle to the lost sheep who don’t know Christ or believe in Him, for you are not only shepherds but evangelisers, with a spirit of service lit by the Holy Spirit that burns strongly within you because of your life of prayer.”

- Archbishop Hickey

“I have nothing special,” Fr James said, “and it is not me that brought me to this stage; it is people’s support and prayers that now enables me to serve the Archdiocese.”

Archbishop Hickey urged the four new priests to have special concern for the young, as the values they so often encounter in life are contrary to the Church’s.

“Pray for the young people,” the Archbishop said, “and let them see in you someone who they can mould their own lives on.

“Look also beyond your own circle to the lost sheep who don’t know Christ or believe in Him, for you are not only shepherds but evangelisers, with a spirit of service lit by the Holy Spirit that burns strongly within you because of your life of prayer.”

He also urged adherence to the proper celebration of the Mass. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis, released earlier this year, Archbishop Hickey said that the very way that priests celebrate the Mass encourages others and builds the faith of others.

In this way, he said, Mass will be a grace-filled encounter “if we do it well”.

“The Mass can be a great channel of the grace and love of God,” the Archbishop said.

To Deacon Pavol, Archbishop Hickey said his focus is assisting in the Eucharist and taking it to the sick and frail while also celebrating baptisms, weddings and preaching.

“It is a great privilege to administer the sacraments and to be so close to the Eucharist,” the Archbishop said. - Profiles of new priests, ordination photos - Vista 2-3

Priviledge: Above - New deacon Pavol Herda incenses the congregation as Archbishop Barry Hickey looks on; bottom left - Fr Manoel Borges is congratulated after his ordination; bottom right - the Archbishop addresses the congregation.

Th e Pr iesth ood i s a g ift , and The Priesthood is a gift, and

Father Ernesto Cerutti

■ By Sylvia Defendi

For newly ordained priest Fr Ernesto Cerutti the priesthood is about seeing the will of God and of the Church - wherever that may lead. Originally from Argentina, Fr Ernesto came to Perth to study for the priesthood at Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Morley. “The Church has been good to me and I want to give back with humility,” he said at the recent ordination ceremony, where he and three others committed their lives to serving the Church.

And while he admitted being a little nervous of the road that lay ahead, Fr Ernesto said he was sure God would show him the way. Indeed, Fr Ernesto said it had been that way his entire life.

When he finished school in Argentina he felt God calling him to the priesthood. “I was wondering what to do with my life and felt the call to share what I had received from the Church – namely, the experience of God’s love,” he said. Fr Ernesto describes the ensuing years as ones of gradual growth towards true vocation.

At his home parish in Argentina, parish priest Fr Salvador was a role model like no other for Fr Ernesto.

“I could see his dedication each week and it gave me courage in accepting my vocation to see another who had said yes to God’s call for them,” he said. After his ordination, he said that he felt as though his life was merely beginning. After studying nearly eight years at the Perth seminary, the ordination was the beginning of a new life in the Church that he said would be shared with the people of his parish.

Father George James

■ by Anthony Barich

Fr James, 29, joined the Carmelites aged 14, but after 10 years in the congregation and becoming a Brother, he started doubting his vocation.

So he left the congregation for a year and worked with the poor in India’s rural areas. At first he thought it was nothing special, but after a while working with the poor Fr James realised he really enjoyed serving the poor and thought it would be better to make his life more useful, so he came to Perth to become a priest.

Five years in St Charles Seminary completed 15 years of formation and he was ordained a priest with Arnel Taracina, who shared his diaconate ordination less than a year ago at St Joachim’s ProCathedral, and two candidates from the Neocatechumenal Way.

The charism of the Carmelites, who trace their beginnings to some hermits who settled on Mount Carmel over 800 years ago during the Crusades to the Holy Land, is still very much alive in Fr James.

“The charism of the Carmelites is service and contemplation – half and half, split evenly,” Fr James says.

“It’s still present in my mind and heart, and will be with me as I serve the Archdiocese of Perth.

“I have nothing special to offer,

but through the prayers and support of people, I have been able to complete my formation and serve the people as a priest.”

After the ordination ceremony at Infant Jesus Church in Morley, Fr James placed his hands on his parents and blessed them. It was an experience he concedes was a tad ”strange”, but was a moment of grace none the less.

Franciscan Sisters loyal to the charism of St Clare were Fr James’ primary inspiration to seek religious life back in India.

They taught him at school and gave Fr James his earliest catechesis that proved to be the cornerstone of a faith that enabled him to say ‘yes’ to Jesus Christ’s call to follow Him.

Big moment: Archbishop Hickey ordains Ernesto Cerutti during the ceremony at Infant Jesus Church in Morley on Friday November 16. Below, at left, newly-ordained Fr George James blesses friends who attended his ordination, while Fr Borges, right, prays over his mother who travelled from Brazil together with his father to be present. For families and seminarians it was a night of joy as sons welcomed parents and close friends to receive their first blessings as priests.

Priestly: Fr Joe Walsh vests new deacon Pavol Herda.

Solemn moment: Archbishop Hickey ordains George James to the priesthood for the archdiocese.

Blessing: Fr Arnel prays over a wellwisher.

New garb: Fr Arnel Taracina stands in contemplation after his ordination.

e L o rd i s w ith Hi s p eo ple

d the Lord is with His people

Father Arnel Taracina

■ By Anthony Barich

Fr Taracina spent 12 years in minor and major seminaries in the Philippines to arrive at this point in his life, where he is now an ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Perth.

Despite over a decade of formation, his mind was a concoction of nerves and optimism with the realisation that all that preparation was about to be fulfilled.

“People ask me ‘why are you becoming a priest’?” Fr Taracina, 32, said after his ordination. “I say, as long as I can lead them to God – not because of any heavy theology, but simply because I have experienced God myself – then I am doing my job as a priest.

“I have experienced God in living out my daily life, in all its blessings and graces.”

Fr Taracina said he would feel fulfilled as a priest if, when people look at him and the way he lives his faith, they see Christ.

Dedication to the Archbishop of Perth and a life based on prayer would be the cornerstone of his priesthood.

“It’s hard, but prayer is the most important thing,” Fr Taracina said, after he got the opportunity to bless his parents.

“I still can’t believe it, getting the chance to bless my parents,” he said.

“My dad couldn’t believe it either – that his son was placing his hands over his mother.”

After his time in the Philippines, Fr Taracina underwent three years of further formation at St Charles Seminary in Guildford before he was ordained on November 16.

■ By Sylvia Defendi

After years of questioning, former Judo champion and recently ordained priest, Fr Manoel Borges said he has found fulfilment in accepting his vocation to the priesthood.

Originally from Brazil, this 41 year old priest said that as a teen he would only go to Mass because of the requirement to do so.

“I went there, but received nothing,” he said.

Working as a Judo teacher, Fr Manoel said he was seeking success when he unexpectedly found what he was truly searching for, at a parish retreat offered by lay people for others within the parish.

“I wasn’t really happy at that point in my life and was searching for true happiness; but they told me that God loved me the way I was and it changed my life,” he said. However, it was only a few years later that the love he felt discovering God’s love called him to the priesthood.

Not the first time, Fr Manoel said he felt a calling to the priesthood at the age of seven, when a Capuchin priest gave a great example in being able to build relationships with the young and elderly within his parish.

“Now a priest, I also wish to work well with youth and those young at heart, by building genuine relation-

ships with each and every member of my parish community,” he said.

After the ordination ceremony, Fr Manoel said his priorities as a newly ordained priest would be to announce the Good News through reason.

“Society today does not believe that Christ is risen. They do believe in life after death and that we need Jesus,” he said.

At first scared of his mission as a priest, Fr Manoel said he now could not wait to find out to which parish he had been assigned and to finally begin the vocation he had been seeking for so long.

All photos on these pages and Vista 1:

and Peter

Father Manoel Borges

Justine Stevens

Rosengren

Sacred moment: Archbishop Hickey prays the Eucharistic Prayer during the celebration of the Eucharist and is joined by the new priests who concelebrate the Mass with him. Present but not concelebrating is Deacon Herda.

Here we are: Fathers Manoel Borges and Ernesto Cerutti enjoy the moment.

Trust: Fr Manoel Borges receives the chalice and patten of priesthood.

First: Fr George James concelebrated with his fellow clergy.

Loyal: The four candidates for the priesthood are presented to Archbishop Hickey as their seminary rectors attest to their readiness for the duties oif priesthood.

Assuming the mantle: Acolytes, fellow clergy and, or, family members assisted the new priests to don their priestly vestments as priests for the first time.

The moment: Fr Borges is ordained by Archbishop Hickey.

Special: Archbishop Hickey ordains Deacon Arnel Taracina a priest.

Record

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Opinion

Expectation, hope the meaning of Advent

Q&A

By Fr John Flader

Ihave always been somewhat confused about the meaning of Advent. I thought it was a season in which to prepare for Christmas but the readings for Mass on the first Sunday are more about the end of the world, not Christmas. Also, is it a season of penance like Lent?

Advent has a long history. Its name, both in Latin and English, means “coming” so that tells us something about the meaning of the season.

It is a time to prepare for the coming of the Lord. It seems to have originated in Spain and Gaul around the end of the fourth cen-

tury, at about the same time that the feast of Christmas began to be celebrated. It came to be celebrated in Rome around the second half of the sixth century.

Originally, it commemorated the long wait in the Old Testament for the coming of the Messiah, and it was thus a preparation for Christmas. Gradually it evolved into preparing also for Christ’s second coming at the end of the world.

Today, the Church commemorates both comings in Advent. The focus on the first Sunday is the second coming of Christ at the end of time. Then it shifts to John the Baptist’s preaching in preparation for Christ’s public life, and finally, on the fourth Sunday, to Mary’s preparation for the birth of Christ.

These comings are related to each other. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “When the Church celebrates the liturgy

of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Saviour’s first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming (Rev 22:17).” (CCC 524)

With the first Sunday of Advent the Church begins the new liturgical year.

There is thus a certain continuity between the end of the liturgical year, when the readings focus on the end of time, with the celebration of the feast of Christ the King, and the beginning of the liturgical year, when we again prepare for Christ’s second coming.

Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and always has four Sundays. Its length varies, depending on the day of the week on which Christmas falls.

When Advent was first celebrated in the Church it had six Sundays before Christmas. The number was reduced to four by

Pope St Gregory the Great (591604). The Eastern Orthodox Churches still celebrate a longer Advent, beginning on November 15, the day after they celebrate the feast of the Apostle Philip.

Thus for them Advent, like Lent, has 40 days. It is lived as a penitential season, sometimes called St Philip’s Fast, although the penance required is not as strict as that for Lent.

In the Catholic Church, the predominant spirit of Advent is one of expectation, of hope.

The Vatican’s General Norms of the Liturgical Year and Calendar, issued in 1969, says that Advent is “a period for devout and joyful expectation”.

Nonetheless, the 2002 Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy adds that Advent is also a time of “conversion, to which the Liturgy at this time often refers, quoting the prophets, especially John the Baptist, ‘Repent for the kingdom

Complicating an already big problem

Fr Joe Parkinson, Director of the LJ Goody Bioethics Centre, comments on the proposal to lift donor family limit to 10

How many brothers and sisters do you have? Three? Four? How would you feel if you discovered that you have 15 or 20 - or more?

That’s what one Perth IVF clinic wants to make possible with a proposal to lift the limit on gamete donor recipients from five to ten families, in an effort to overcome a shortage of egg and sperm donors.

Sometimes a couple wanting children cannot produce the required gametes themselves, and so have to rely on donated gametes (eggs and sperm).

Current State regulations limit to five the number of families who can receive gametes from the same donor.

In practical terms this means that, at most, there might be 10 or 12 children in five different families who are, in effect, half siblings because they share the same egg or sperm donor.

Raising the family limit to ten automatically doubles the possible number of half siblings, so each child created in this way could have 20 or more half-brothers or half-sisters living in up to ten families.

National guidelines set by the IVF industry itself note the risk of half-siblings later meeting and wanting to marry as the reason for the family limit, but this is not the only issue.

In the view of many experts, two other key issues are how well a person can deal with knowing that they have 7 or 10 or 20 halfsiblings, and whether it is ethically acceptable for our State to be complicit in creating this problem in the first place.

The IVF industry itself recognizes that every child has a right to know its genetic parents, and organisations like ‘Tangled Web’ provide ample evidence that children born as a result of donor sperm feel cheated if they can’t make contact with their donor and form some sort of relationship with him.

The same is true for siblings. All children have a right to know who their siblings are, and the right to form some sort of relationship with them if they wish.

How can this happen if there are lots of siblings in up to ten different families, maybe

Life

By Fr Joe Parkinson

in different parts of the world? How would a child deal with finding out that he or she has so many siblings?

What would that mean for the child’s sense of personal identity, or their sense of family identity?

Katrina Clark is a 19-year-old American woman born through anonymous donor conception. This is part of her story, told just one year ago in The Washington Post

“I was angry at the idea that where donor conception is concerned, everyone focuses on the “parents” - the adults who can make choices about their own lives. The recipient gets sympathy for wanting to have a child.

“The donor gets a guarantee of anonymity and absolution from any responsibility for the offspring of his ‘donation.’ As long as these adults are happy, then donor conception is a success, right?

“Not so. The children born of these transactions are people, too. I’m here to tell you that emotionally, many of us are not keeping up.

“...the IVF industry needs to recognise all of the legitimate rights and needs of the children it produces, and not limit its focus just to the aspirations of potential parents.”

“We didn’t ask to be born into this situation, with its limitations and confusion.”

“Those of us created with donated sperm won’t stay bubbly babies forever. We’re all going to grow into adults and form opinions

Dr Michael Vermesh holds a baby boy born in California. The baby was born after an embryo frozen for seven and a half years was implanted in his mother. The unidentified parents already had a boy nearly eight years ago from the same in-vitro fertilisation process that created the newborn’s embryo.

about the decision to bring us into the world in a way that deprives us of the basic right to know where we came from, what our history is and who both our parents are.”

Katrina Clark’s message is clear: the IVF industry needs to recognise all of the legitimate rights and needs of the children it produces, and not limit its focus just to the aspirations of potential parents.

Lifting the family limit on donated gametes is not likely to solve the donor shortage, but it will certainly make life very much more complicated for children born as a result.

It is one thing to honour the legitimate aspirations of couples wishing to become parents, and to help them achieve that dream in ethically acceptable ways.

But no-one should override the equally legitimate rights of children born through IVF technology to know their real genetic parents and all of their half-siblings.

of heaven is at hand.’ (Mt 3:2)” (n. 96)

Repentance, in the sense of sorrow for sin, conversion and acts of penance, is always an appropriate way to prepare for a great celebration.

The Church has traditionally preceded the great feast days with days of penance, as in the 40 days of Lent in preparation for Easter. The liturgical colour of violet used during the Advent season reminds of this penitential aspect. On the third Sunday, Gaudete, or “Rejoice”, Sunday, the colour may be rose, suggesting a lessening of the penitential aspect as Christmas approaches.

We can consider that through our conversion and penance, including the sacrament of Reconciliation, we are cleaning out the stable of our hearts so that Jesus can find a clean resting place. Fr Flader is the Director of the Catholic Adult Education Centre in Sydney

Give them a call

Continued from Page 8

Before and after Christmas each year, I make a point of thanking shopping centres who display the nativity scene. I usually call and say how much my family appreciates the nativity scene because it reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. The staff are always very pleased to get positive comments. These days we sometimes hear that it is offensive to people of other cultures to display Nativity Scenes in public, or to say “Merry Christmas,” instead of “Happy Holidays”. If the ‘politically correct’ crowd have it their way, Christmas may one day be abolished.

We have all heard the old saying: “out of sight out of mind” and this is exactly what the atheists and agnostics are hoping will eventually transpire in the public arena. Make no mistake, their mission is a secular world, devoid of God and Christianity. The idea of Christmas as a holy day has almost disappeared from the mind of our secular world but Christmas is a Christian holy day and a celebration of the Incarnation of God. Christmas is an abbreviation of the phrase ‘Christ Mass,’ which reflects its true meaning. Many years ago I read an article written by Lutheran minister, Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who was tortured for his faith by the Communist government in his homeland of Romania. He stated that the early Christians greeted one another with “Mary Christmas” not “Merry Christmas” as we do today. Through Mary came Christ and through Christ came the Mass. So the greeting, Mary Christmas makes a lot of sense. It is clear that our world desperately needs to put “CHRIST” and His “MASS” back into CHRISTMAS.

Our mission must be to ensure that Christmas and other Christian traditions remain intact.

If we choose to sit on the sidelines as mere spectators, we may eventually lose the precious, religious freedoms we now enjoy. So please do take the time to give shopping centres such as Southlands Willetton a call. It is important to thank them and express your appreciation.

Cecilia Natta Willetton

Keep it real, nation’s bishops tell Rudd

■ By Paul Gray

Archbishop Philip Wilson has congratulated the newly elected Rudd Labor Government, and praised departing Coalition Prime Minister John Howard for his long years of dedicated public service.

Offering prayers for the new Government’s future, the Archbishop also drew attention to the key policy principles outlined by the Australian bishops during the build-up to last weekend’s nationwide poll.

“It is our hope, and the hope of many, that the Rudd Labor Government will grasp the opportunity to pursue policies which integrate the pursuit of economic prosperity with social justice and an overriding concern for life and the human dignity of all Australians,” he said.

“The measure of this will be particularly evident in policies which affect the most vulnerable, including our indigenous brothers and sisters, refugees and asylum-seekers, people with disability and their carers, and vulnerable employees in the workplace.”

Archbishop Wilson was speaking on behalf of the bishops, who gathered in Sydney this week for a plenary meeting.

He said that while meeting together, the bishops would “pray for Mr Rudd and his colleagues, that the new government will be guided by wisdom, justice and integrity.”

Before the election, the bishops issued a lengthy statement outlining eight separate areas of critical importance for the next Government and for the Church. Here is a list of these areas and a brief outline of how the Rudd Government is likely to perform in each of them:

Life – the bishops want Australia’s Government to protect human life at every stage, including the life of the unborn.

On the life issue, Prime Ministerelected Kevin Rudd has personally demonstrated some sympathy with the Church’s position, voting against cloning but in favour of the bill which effectively legalizsd RU-486.

Of greater concern to the bishops will be the large number of ALP members and MPs who support a libertarian position on the life issues.

Should another serious legislative contest on one of the life issues emerge during the life of the Rudd Government, it is by no means clear that Mr Rudd would be able to control the anti-life forces on his back-bench.

However, because the abortion drug RU-486 and the practice of human cloning were both effectively legalised under the previous Government, there is no clear legislative action which the new Government is immediately likely to undertake which would further undermine the protection of the unborn.

Two areas of possible concern remain, however. One is that euthanasia could conceivably become a federal issue once again, as it did in 1997 when the Northern Territory passed a pro-euthanasia law.

Should a federal territory adopt a similar pro-euthanasia position in future – or should any other “conscience” issues involving the ending of human life come before federal parliament - it is difficult to foresee a Rudd Government holding back the libertarian tide.

Family – the bishops want the traditional structure of family life, based on marriage between a man

and a woman, to be preserved and privileged as society’s norm.

Activist agitation in favour of “gay marriage” is likely to continue under a Rudd Government.

Mr Rudd has said he is against legislating to make homosexual marriage legal.

Again, it is not inconceivable that an activist-minded territory government could take action to institutionalise equality between marriages and “gay marriages.”

This would very likely force the issue back before the federal parliament again, leaving Mr Rudd with a difficult decision over whose values should prevail - his own values, which are in line with those of the Church, or the values of his backbench, which is much more likely than the previous government to support the concept of gay marriage.

Indigenous Australians – the bishops have said Aboriginal Australians should be given a say “in the process of Government.”

On this theme, Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission was quick off the mark this week to welcome Mr Rudd’s promise that he would be a “Prime Minister for Indigenous Australians.”

As well as tackling the economic side of Aboriginal problems, Mr Rudd should act to preserve the cultural identity of Aboriginal people, the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission said in a statement released this week.

Along the way to ending the disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal people, the new Government should develop relationships with “the broadest range of indigenous leaders around the country,” said the Commission’s CEO Peter Arndt.

Education – the bishops have emphasised the importance of diversity of choice in schooling: a reminder that religious schools’ rights must be preserved.

Education is one of the two critical areas in which the Government hopes to achieve popular reforms.

While no major threat to the integrity of the Catholic school system can be detected from a Rudd Labor Government, Catholic education officials in Brisbane and Melbourne have welcomed Mr Rudd’s pre-election commitment to improve information and technology resources for all Australian school students.

In a significant indication of the new government’s priorities, Mr Rudd this week instructed all elected Labor MPs to visit both a non-government and a government school in their own electorates before attending the Government’s first caucus meeting on Thursday.

Health – the bishops have signalled the importance of a range of health issues including mental illness.

Health is the second critical area where the Rudd Government hopes to achieve popular reform, particularly by ending the traditional “buck-passing” and general lack of co-ordination between federal and state governments over hospitals and health issues.

Within its first 100 days in office, the new Government is expected to establish a National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission, to advance this cause.

The environment – drought, global warming and land degradation are among the Green issues spotlighted by the bishops before the election.

The new Government plans a number of acts in the area of climate change, including ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, attending the United Nations climate change summit in Bali, introducing a new law on renewable energy, establishing a “national emissions trading scheme” and, possibly, toughening environment protection legislation.

Immigration and refugees – the bishops have called for an end to the “Pacific solution” for asylumseekers, and for proper entitlements for asylum-seekers found to be refugees.

Mr Rudd has already been criticised by an activist group, the Asylum-Seeker Resource Centre, for refusing to repudiate the principle of mandatory detention of asylum-seekers.

However Mr Rudd has promised to end the Pacific solution, as urged by the bishops.

Peace – the bishops have not called for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq, but did question the idea of combating “violence with greater violence” in the war against terrorism.

Joining the Iraq war was one of Mr Howard’s most memorable policy decisions. The continuing violence in Iraq in the wake of that war, including violence suffered by Iraqi Christians, may have undermined electoral support for his judgment. Mr Rudd has indicated he will begin negotiating a phased withdrawal of Australian troops from Iraq. However, the larger question of opposing terrorism on a global scale will be the subject of continuing research and investigation by the new Government, with two policy “white papers” likely to be written.

Fifty years of putting faith into action in workplace celebrated

Fifty years of the Young Christian Workers’ international efforts to make the workplace a more harmonious and humane place for young people was celebrated in Perth.

■ By Anthony Barich

Perth Young Christian Workers have joined thousands around the world to celebrate the 50 years of empowering youth to continue demands for the realisation of the dreams of young workers.

At Perth YCW’s celebration at the Catholic Pastoral Centre at Highgate on November 17, West Australian members were regaled with tales almost unthinkable for Western folk by 27-year-old Sri Lankan Geethani Peries, who worked in a garment factory on $20 a month with no overtime pay.

Geethani, now YCW’s Hong Kong-based Asia Pacific coordinator, told a November 18 meeting at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, Highgate that she worked 14-hour days, with each worker called only by their employee number, leading to a lack of identity and confidence.

It was not until a young man pestered her for three months to join a YCW discussion group in her village that she gradually developed the courage to challenge her employers to give her a face-mask due to the fumes that were choking her.

Her first request was literally laughed off as she was only one out of 800 workers to complain.

But as she returned to work wearing a hankerchief over her nose and mouth – though initially embarrassing – many workers eventually followed her lead, forcing the employer to give them face masks.

This action, while small, helped Geethani regain confidence and leadership in her life, and she started organising YCW groups of her own.

Similar tales were told at the International YCW meeting in Manila, The Philippines, which Perth-based YCW national secretary Sara Kane attended on August 25 to mark 50 years of action to ensure the dignity of young workers.

The IYCW started an international coordination in 1957, and now serves to develop action by, for and with young workers marginalised through their work in the informal sector, as casual and precarious workers, as young women workers and as workers without access to training or employment, in over 40 countries.

The celebration in the Philippines also marked the launch of preparation towards the world council of the IYCW in Tamil Nadu, India in September 2008, which will seek to define the international movement in the current globalised world.

“India is changing rapidly and is immersed in the culture of globalisation,” said Teresa Villamin, IYCW international coordinator for the Asia Pacific.

The dreams of young workers will be collected and launched on

the IYCW International Council 2008 official website, togetherinaction.org, in recognition of the 50th anniversary.

It also recognises the need to transform these dreams and needs into reality.

Joyful unity: Perth Young Christian Workers diocesan president Marie Raheb, 26, YCW Asia Pacific Coordinator Geethani Peries, 27 and YCW national secretary Sara Kane, 31 enjoy some camaraderie at the Perth celebration of the International YCW movement’s 50th anniversary at the Catholic Pastoral Centre.

PHOTO: ANTHONY BARICH

New cardinals’ rings a sign of unity

■ By John Thavis

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -

Concelebrating Mass with 23 new cardinals, Pope Benedict XVI gave each of them a gold ring as a symbol of their new bond with Rome.

The rings were engraved with the scene of Christ’s crucifixion, and the pope told the cardinals it should remind them always “which king you serve” as they assume their new role in the church.

The November 25 Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica came the day after the pope presided over a consistory to formally create the new cardinals. Among them were U.S. Cardinal John P. Foley, grand master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, and Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston.

The basilica was packed with prelates and pilgrims from around the world, and applause rang out when the pope slipped the ring on each new cardinal’s hand.

“Receive this ring from the hand of Peter, and know that with the love of the Prince of the Apostles your love toward the church is strengthened,” he said.

In his sermon, the pope noted that while the cardinals are consid-

ered to form the church’s “senate” the value and dignity of their office depends in their personal relationship with Christ.

“In a particular way, venerated brother cardinals, our task is to announce to the world the truth of Christ, which is the hope for

every person and for the entire human family,” he said. Touching on ecumenism, the focus of a papal meeting with cardinals two days

earlier, the pope said he wanted to entrust to their prayers a particular goal of their shared mission: “peace among all the disciples of Christ, as a sign of the peace that Jesus came to establish in the world.”

“Prayer for peace and unity constitutes your first and primary mission, so that the church may be bound firmly together, a sign and instrument of unity for the whole human race,” he said.

After the Mass, the pope walked outside to the steps of the basilica and gave an Angelus talk to thousands of pilgrims who had watched the Mass on TV screens in St. Peter’s Square under light rain.

He said he realized many of those who could not get a place inside the basilica had come from distant countries and thanked them for helping to manifest “the unity and universality of the Catholic Church.”

The pope then gave greetings in seven languages, offering congratulations to various local churches that now have a cardinal.

The Pope said: “Let us give thanks to God for the gift of these new cardinals and strive to follow closely in the footsteps of Christ Our Lord, bearing constant witness to his saving truth.”

Church leaders welcome stem cell breakthrough as ethical

■ By Nancy Frazier O’Brien

WASHINGTON (CNS)Scientists, ethicists and church leaders hailed as a breakthrough two studies showing that human skin cells can be reprogrammed to work as effectively as embryonic stem cells, thus negating the need to destroy embryos in the name of science.

Separate studies from teams led by Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University in Japan and Junying Yu and James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison were published online Nov. 20 by the journals Cell and Science, respectively.

“The methods outlined in these papers fully conform to what we have hoped to see for some time,” said a statement from the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

“Such strategies should continue to be pursued and strongly promoted, as they should help to steer the entire field of stem-cell research in a more explicitly ethical direction by circumventing the moral quagmire associated with destroying human embryos,” it added.

By adding four genes to the skin cells, the scientists were able to create stem cells that genetically match the donor and have the ability to become any of the 220 types of cells in the human body.

“The induced cells do all the things embryonic stem cells do,” Thomson, who isolated the first embryonic stem cells in 1998, said in a university news release. “It’s going to completely change the field.”

The White House also praised the breakthrough Nov. 20, saying that President George W. Bush’s June 2007 executive order expanding stem-cell research using “ethically responsible techniques” was “intended to accelerate precisely the kind of research being reported today.”

“The president believes medi-

Creating Stem Cells

cal problems can be solved without compromising either the high aims of science or the sanctity of human life,” said press secretary Dana Perino.

“We will continue to encourage scientists to expand the frontiers of stem-cell research and continue to advance the understanding of human biology in an ethically responsible way.”

The findings drew similar reaction from Catholic and pro-life leaders abroad.

Australian Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said, “While it is still early days for this research, it is a very promising discovery which will help scientists to fight serious diseases without resorting to the deliberate destruction of human embryos to obtain stem cells.”

He expressed regret that the Australian Parliament had acted to permit embryonic stem-cell research when more effective and more ethical means were just around the corner.

In Great Britain, the head of the pro-life group Society for the Protection of Unborn Children said

the new stem-cell studies “show that one can be both pro-life and pro-science.”

“Experimenting with embryos, on the other hand, is both bad ethics and bad science,” said Anthony Ozimic.

“Science advances when it respects human life, but stalls or even goes backwards when it treats human beings as mere research material.”

Ian Wilmut, the Scottish scientist who created Dolly the cloned sheep in 1996, told the London Telegraph that he had decided in light of the new findings to abandon his efforts to clone human embryos and would instead concentrate on research involving the new reprogramming techniques.

Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow, Scotland, chairman of the United Kingdom and Ireland Joint Bishops’ Bioethics Committee, welcomed Wilmut’s announcement, saying: “The Catholic Church has constantly supported the work of scientists who use adult stem cells, research which has produced much more promising results and avoids the ethical dilemma involved in creating and destroying human life.”

Comment

■ By Fr Joe Parkinson

At last - this essential medical research can continue without destroying human life.

Reprogramming adult somatic or body cells so that they behave like pluripotent (embryonic) stem cells is obviously a better option than the deliberate creation and destruction of human embryos.

Even the creator of Dolly the sheep, Edinburgh University’s Professor Ian Wilmut, has committed his team to develop somatic cell reprogramming rather than pursue ethically problematic ‘traditional’ stem cell research like therapeutic cloning.

And somatic cell reprogramming has a number of huge advantages over therapeutic cloning.

First, it has already passed the ‘proof of principle’ stage and is currently undergoing refinement, whereas no-one has yet claimed to have produced a human ‘therapeutic’ clone.

Indeed, only this month we heard about the world’s first primate clone, and most researchers agree that cloning human embryos will take many more years of research.

Second, therapeutic cloning requires hundred of human eggs to produce even a single cloned embryo - the recent primate clone required over 300 eggs to produce just 2 stem cell lines.

It was the problem of egg supply which prompted the Australian Government in 2005 to consider permitting research on hybrid embryos formed by mixing human DNA with animal eggs.

Thankfully, somatic cell reprogramming will probably make this appalling procedure completely unnecessary. Third, somatic cell

reprogramming will produce stem cells that will not be rejected by the patient because they have been formed from the patient’s own cells.

Professor Wilmut says this option is 100 times more interesting than the cloning options, and it seems to pose no ethical problems whatever.

There are, however, some practical problems to solve before this technique will produce reliable therapies.

So far researchers have delivered reprogramming proteins to the cell nucleus by way of a ‘carrier’ retrovirus, but that virus can then establish in the cell itself and could reactivate in the future. One major hurdle will be to find a virus which, even if it does reactivate, will remain harmless to the patient and to the human genome. Another challenge is to learn how to ‘steer’ stem cell differentiation so that the right kinds of tissue are produced for therapy. These may seem huge barriers, but they are perhaps compensated by the very rapid rate of research development.

It was only 18 months ago that Dr Yamanaka in Japan first achieved somatic cell reprogramming of mouse cells. Today he and others have achieved the same using human cells.

Suddenly the distant promise of stem cell therapy seems much, much closer. One can only wonder if it would have happened at all had our Church not prompted scientists to rethink the wisdom of destroying human embryos.

We have been saying for years that medical research is only truly good when it is conducted with appropriate respect for the dignity of the very creatures it is meant to benefit: the human person. At last, science seems to be catching up.

Joy: New Cardinal Emmanuel-Karim Delly of Baghdad, Iraq, leaves the consistory on November 24 at the Vatican. The Chaldean patriarch said Pope Benedict XVI hoped that naming him a cardinal might promote dialogue and reconciliation between Christians and Muslims in Iraq.Photo:

CNS/ALESSANDRO BIANCHI, REUTERS

Joe Parkinson is the Director of the LJ Goody Archdiocesan Bioethics Centre in Perth

PANORAMA a roundup of events in the archdiocese

Panoramas

Panorama entries must be in by 5pm Monday. Contributions may be faxed to 9227 7087, emailed to administration@therecord.com.au or mailed to PO box 75, Leederville, WA 6902.

Submissions over 55 words will be edited or excluded. Inclusion is limited to 4 weeks. Events charging over $10 constitute a classified event, and will be charged accordingly. The Record reserves the right to decline or modify any advertisment. Please do not re-submit Panoramas once they are in print.

Friday November 30

HEALING FIRE BURNING LOVE MINISTRY

7.30pm – 9.30pm, Our Lady of the Missions, 270 Camberwarra Drive, Whitford/Craigie. Open wide your hearts this Advent and prepare to receive a personal encounter of the healing and redeeming love of Christ Jesus. This is our final Charismatic Mass and healing service for the year and will be back at Whitfords in 2008. Enq: Jenni Young 9445 1028 or 0404 389 679.

Saturday December 1

“DAY WITH MARY”

Our Lady, Queen of Apostles Church, 57 Tudor Avenue South, Riverton 9am – 5pm. A video on Fatima will be shown at 9am. A day of prayer and instruction based upon the messages of Fatima. Includes Sacrament of Penance, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons, Rosaries, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross. Please BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.

Sunday December 2

LIVE YOUTH MASS

Holy Family Church at Lot 375 Alcock Street, Maddington starting at 5pm, to be celebrated by Bishop Don Sproxton. We extend an invitation to all the Youth in the region, especially those preparing to attend WYD 2008, to come along and join us. Light refreshments will be available afterwards. For those who can’t attend in person this Mass will be broadcast live: www.holyfamilycatholic.org. au <http://www.holyfamilycatholic.org.au> click on the Live Mass link. Enq: Fr Francis Ly 9493 1703 or email maddington@perthcatholic.org.au

Sunday December 2

ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK

Every Sunday, 1 - 2 pm on Access 31 December 2; Virtue and vice : the reality of sin and its antidote / Fr John Corapi [Catechism of the Catholic Church]. Please be part of the New Evangelisation by helping us keep these inspiring programs on Access 31. Donations may be sent to The Rosary Christian Tutorial Association, P.O. Box 1270, Booragoon 6954. Enq: 9330-2467

Sunday December 2

DIVINE MERCY

An afternoon with Jesus and Mary will be held at St Joachim’s Church, corner of Shepperton Road and Harper Street in Victoria Park, at 1.30pm. Program: Holy Rosary and Reconciliation, Sermon on Holy Family with Fr Tiziano Bogoni followed by Divine Mercy prayers and Benediction. Afterwards refreshments in the parish hall, followed by a video/DVD: Holy Eucharist and The Family with Fr John Corapi. Enq: John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608.

Tuesday December 4

CHARISMATIC RENEWAL MASS

Catholic Charismatic Renewal invites you to the End-of-Year Mass & fellowship. Held at Holy Family Church, Como. Commencing 7.30pm with Prayer & Praise. Concludes with light supper (please bring a plate). Enq: Dan 9398 4973.

Thursday December 6

TAIZE SERVICE  OUR LADY OF GRACE

3 Kitchener St, North Beach. Starting at 7.30pm (50-60 mins). Our Lady of Grace have been offering this simple meditative service for two years, every first Thursday in the month. This service will be a contemplation of Advent through Taize. Enq: 9448 4888 Our Lady of Grace or Beth O’Neil 9447 0061.

Friday December 7

PRO LIFE PROCESSION  MIDLAND

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

Friday December 7

CATHOLIC FAITH RENEWAL  CHRISTMAS CAROLS

An invitation to all to join in a night of singing Christmas Carols and songs of Praise & Worship at St John and Paul’s Church, Pintree Gully Road, Willetton, followed by light refreshments in the parish centre. All welcome. Invite your family and friends! Enq: Rita 9272 1765 or Rose 4043 300 720.

First Friday December 7

ALLIANCE AND TRIUMPH OF THE TWO HEARTS

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

Friday December 7

SILVER JUBILEE OF PRIESTLY ORDINATION: FR PETER STIGLICH O PRAEM

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

Saturday December 8

SINGLES CHRISTMAS PARTY

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

Sunday December 9

GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS  OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP, WILSON

The Catholic Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (formerly Castledare Boys’ Chapel), 14 Castledare Place, Wilson, will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee with a Mass at 9.30am, officiated by Archbishop Hickey, followed by a morning tea in the Community Centre of Castledare Retirement Village. All past and present parishioners, and anyone with any association with our community over the years, would be most welcome to attend our celebrations.

Wednesday December 12 to Thursday December 13

MEDJUGORJE PEACE DAYS

Nancy (Fr Jozo’s translator) and Patrick Latta of Medjugorje (both dynamic speakers) will be visiting Perth for 2 days. Perth will be the end of their Australian & New Zealand Speaking Tour, speaking on Our Lady Queen of Peace and Her Messages.

PROGRAMME FOR PERTH: Wednesday 12 December, ST BERNADETTE’S CHURCH, GLENDALOUGH starting at 10.30am. Rosary, Holy Mass, Talks concluding 2pm (B-Lunch to share); HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH, CITY BEACH starting at 7pm. Rosary, Holy Mass, Talks, concluding 9pm. Thursday 13 December, OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE, WILLAGEE starting at 10.30am. Rosary, Holy Mass, Talks concluding 2pm (B-Lunch to share); OUR LADY OF THE MISSIONS, WHITFORDS-CRAIGIE starting at 7.30pm. Rosary, Holy Mass, Talks, concluding 9pm. Enq: Margaret 9341 8082.

Wednesday December 12

CHAPLETS OF THE DIVINE MERCY

A beautiful, prayerful, sung devotion to be held at St Thomas More Catholic Church, Dean Road, Bateman on the second Wednesday of each month commencing at 7.30pm. All are welcome. Enq: George Lopez on 9310 94939 (h) or 9325 2010 (w).

Friday December 14

WYD PRAYER VIGIL

Join us for a night of prayer and adoration hosted by the young people of Perth. In the spirit of the Advent season we pray for the coming of Jesus at Christmas, and in preparation for 2008: the coming of the WYD Cross & Icon and WYD08. Come to Good Shepherd Parish, 215 Morley Drive East KIARA, 8pm-6am. Come along for an hour or two, or why not stay for the entire night. Enq: wydperth@highgate-perthcatholic.org.au or 9422 7944 (www.wydperth.com)

Saturday December 15

GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION MASS  BRENTWOOD

Starting at 9.30am at Regina Coeli Catholic Church Brentwood. To mark the Golden Jubilee of our church, dedicated on 15th December 1957, past & present parishioners are invited to participate in Mass to be concelebrated by Bishop Don Sproxton and Priests ,who have served our community over

the past fifty years. Refreshments will be shared following Mass. RSVP (for catering purposes) by Saturday 8th December to Marie Hill 9364 6042 or email reghill@optusnet.com.au

Sunday December 16

SILVER JUBILEE OF PRIESTLY ORDINATION: FR VINCENT GLYNN

The parish of Floreat/Wembley invite you to join with Fr Vincent Glynn as he celebrates his 25th anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. A special invite to all past parishioners and friends of Fr Vincent. An anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving will be held at 9.30am at St Cecilia’s Church, Grantham St, Floreat. It will be followed by a morning tea. RSVP florcath@iinet.net.au by Dec 5th.

Sunday January 6 to 12

THE SUMMER SCHOOL OF EVANGELISATION 2008

Is a unique week long Retreat and formation experience that will set hearts on fire. Open to everyone over 16yo and is the ideal preparation for World Youth Day. Night rallies open to the public. 67 Howe St, Osborne Park. See http://sse2008.disciplesofjesus.org/ <http://sse2008.disciplesofjesus.org/ for brochure/registration or Enq: 0401 692 690.

First Sunday of Every Month

HEALING FIRE BURNING LOVE MINISTRY

Celebrates the Sunday Mass at St Bernadette’s Church, Cnr Jugan and Leeder Streets, Glendalough commencing with praise and worship at 6.30pm and Mass at 7pm. We have healing prayers after the Mass so please invite all those in need of the healing love and power of Jesus. Enq: Jenni Young 9445 1028 or 0404 389 679.

Third Sunday of the Month OBLATES OF ST BENEDICT MEET

Venue: St Josephs Convent, York Street, South Perth at 2pm. An annual Retreat is held at New Norcia, Trinity Sunday Weekend. Oblates are affiliated with Benedictine Abbey New Norcia. We celebrate our 50th Anniversary September 2008. A golden celebration. All welcome. Vespers and afternoon tea conclude monthly meeting. Enq: Secretary 9388 3026.

Every Tuesday WEEKLY PRAYER  MARY’S COMPANION WAYFARERS OF JESUS THE WAY

Starting at 7pm at St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish Centre, 450 Hay Street, Perth. Appreciate the heritage of the Faith united with others asking Jesus and Mary to overcome burdens in life. Receive healing in prayer through the Rosary, Scripture, meditation and praise in song. Followed by friendship and refreshments. Prayer is powerful. Come join us!

First Friday and first Saturday of each month

COMMUNION OF REPARATION  ALL NIGHT VIGIL

Corpus Christi Church, Mosman Park 7pm-1am. 46 Lochee Rd, Mosman Park. Mass, Rosary, Prayers, Confessions and silent adoration. Contact: Catalina 0439 931 151.

First Sunday of each month

DEVOTIONS IN HONOUR OF THE DIVINE MERCY

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

Every Saturday

PERPETUAL HELP DEVOTIONS

4.30pm. The half hour perpetual novena devotions to the Mother of Perpetual Help continue each Saturday at the Redemptorist Monastery Church, 190 Vincent St, in North Perth. Reconciliation available before and after the devotions. All welcome.

Every Sunday

BULLSBROOK SHRINE

Sunday pilgrim Mass is celebrated with Holy Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 2pm at the Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation, 36 Chittering Road, Bullsbrook. Reconciliation is available in Italian and English before every celebration. Enq: 9447 3292. Book donations wanted. We are seeking donations of Catholic books, Bilbles, Missals and Divine Office books any age, any condition. If you can help please tel: 9293 3092.

Every Sunday LATIN MASS

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

Every First Friday

HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE RELIGIOUS LIFE

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

Second Friday of each Month GENERAL PRAYER ASSEMBLY

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

Every Fourth Sunday SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER

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

Every Fourth Sunday

WATCH AND PRAY

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

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Ignatian Volunteers Australia calls for part-time volunteers to respond to the needs of people in the community who live in marginalised circumstances. At the heart of this program is a reflective process based on Gospel values, which supports the volunteers in their work. To learn more: www.volunteers.jesuit.org.au Contact Kevin Wringe, Perth Coordinator (08) 9316 3469 kwringe@iinet.net.au .

Every First and Third Monday of the Month

ST TERESIAN PRAYER GROUP

The St Teresian Prayer Group meets every 1st and 3rd Monday of the Month on 7pm at Infant Jesus, Morley. Enq: Darren Miranda 9276 6358 after 1pm Every Third Saturday of the Month PRAYER FOR LIFE

Father Jim Shelton leads prayers from 10am to 11am at Abortion Clinic in Rivervale. All welcome. Enq 9279 1549 or 9403 2444

Every Wednesday

HOLY HOUR, BENEDICTION

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

Every Tuesday THE GOSPEL OF ST MATTHEW

Starting at 7.30pm to 8.30pm Fr Douglas Leslie Rowe S.F.P conducts a wonderful Bible course free of charge on “The Gospel of St Matthew” at St Joachim’s Parish Hall, Shepperton Road, Victoria Park. Those interested may bring friends along. The course starts punctually at 7.30pm. Free parking available. Light refreshments after each session. Every Sunday evening.

N.O.W NIGHT OF WORSHIP

On the initiative of Fr Charles Waddell PP and the assistance of Flame Ministries International, a new and exciting service called “N.O.W” (Night of Worship) has begun at 7.15pm followed by Mass at 8pm every Sunday at St Thomas the Apostle Church corner of College Road & Melville Street, Claremont. “NOW” is aimed at attracting people back into the Church and to the Mass as well as attracting regular Mass goers both youth and families. Come and join us each Sunday for a new experience of dynamic and joyful worship.

Classifieds

MIGRANTS

■ MIGRATE TO AUSTRALIA

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

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

■ 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), Myree, 9329 9889 (after 10.30am Mon to Sat). We are here to serve.

■ 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.

■ KINLAR VESTMENTS

“modern meets tradition”

Quality hand-made & decorated vestments, altar cloths, banners

Contact: Vickii Smith Veness 9402 8356 or 0409 114 093

THANKSGIVING

Aussie youth ministry network prepares national statement

The Australian Network of Diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinators (ANDYMC) is collaborating with the Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life (BCPL) to develop a Vision Statement for Youth Ministry in Australia. The working group works also with the WYD office, Bishop Joe Grech and the Australian Catholic Youth Council.

A call for feedback on material presented so far has been extended to December 15.

The bishops of the BCPL have ratified three goals of Youth Ministry: to empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in the world today; to draw young people into responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Catholic Faith Community; and to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

The Vision Statement recognises that there are different key areas of youth ministry, and that these can be explored through a variety of approaches.

Each of these eight areas and the three goals are based in Scripture and in Canon Law.

They are listed as being: Advocacy, Catechesis, Evangelisation, Community Life, Justice and Service, Leadership development, Pastoral Care and Prayer and Worship.

compared two youth ministry framework documents “Renewing the Vision” from the USA and “Tu Kahikatea (Standing Tall)” from New Zealand, with the Australian experience of youth ministry.

An interim report, generated from the discussions of the symposium, calls for feedback from the wider community. It has been available to dioceses and other youth ministries since August 07.

Karen Lunney, working group leader, said: “World Youth Day will leave a lasting impact on young people in this country, and a desire in many local communities to develop their youth ministry.

“The Vision Statement will be an important document that outlines why youth ministry and young people are a vital part of our Church today, and will give a framework around which many models of youth ministry can grow”

“We want to invite as many people as possible to respond, so that the voice of young people and Australians in ministry with young people will be heard. This will be the base that the Bishops’ Commission for Pastoral Life will use to develop our National Vision Statement for Youth Ministry.”

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

■ ALL AREAS Mike Murphy 0416 226 434.

■ ACHES, PAINS, STRESS???

Indian mature male masseur offers Reflex Relax Massage at $30 for 60mins. Phone Jai 0438 520 993.

■ 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

■ HEALTH AND WELLNESS

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

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

EMPLOYMENT

Part time Project Officer required for administrative projects and some reception duties at the Magnificat FertilityCare centre, Yokine. Appreciation for Catholic teachings on Human Life essential. Please send CV and references to Amanda Lamont, 15/162 Wanneroo Rd, Yokine 6060 or amandalamont@fertilitycare.com. au by 12 December 2007.’

Classifieds must be submitted by fax, email or post no later than 12pm Monday. For more information contact 9227 7778.

Spend some time with Him

What is the Eucharist?

The faith of the Church, Pope Pius XII tells us, is this: that one and identical is the Word of God and the Son of Mary who suffered on the Cross, who is present in the Eucharist, and who rules Heaven. This beautiful little book looks at the Eucharist as exemplified in the lives of the saints, those who have followed their Creator with all their heart and all their will. In its pages you can find inspiration to begin to discover the real meaning of your life.

Available from The Record

$6.95 + postage

Call Natalie on (08) 9227 7080 or via bookshop@therecord.com.au

A consultation phase was launched in June 2007 with a Symposium in Sydney that attracted people from all areas of youth ministry – parish, diocesan, groups and movements.

This focused on the eight areas, and

Copies of the feedback sheet, interim report and notes from the June Symposium can be downloaded from www.vision. oz.cathspace.com, where an online discussion is also available.

National Youth Ministry Vision Statement Working Group, PO Box 201, Bendigo 3552; email youthmin@sand.catholic.org.au or contribute online at www. vision.oz.cathspace.com.

THE PARISH THE NATION THE WORLD

Read it in The Record

DECEMBER ENGAGEMENTS