The Record Newspaper 30 March 2011

Bishop Brady Bishop Brady found

Historic discovery of skeletal remains raises more questions about the enigma of founding prelate

BY PETER ROSENGREN

The almost complete skeletal remains of Perth’s first Bishop, John Brady, have been found intact in the French parish cemetery of Amelie-Les-Bains.

The result elated researchers from the Archdiocese of Perth, who had acknowledged before they left WA that after 140 years there might be nothing left due to high concentrations of mineral water below ground level in the spa town.

However, an excavation of the grave on Friday, 20 March revealed that Perth’s first Bishop, who died in Amelie-Les-Bain in 1872,

had been buried in a zinc-lined coffin that was almost completely intact.

After removal of the coffin lid they found that only foot bones were missing.

Excavation team member Odhran O’Brien, who had been writing a daily blog on the effort to return the remains of the founding Bishop of Perth from France to the crypt specially reserved for Bishops of Perth under St Mary’s Cathedral, was delighted by the discovery.

“I am elated to write today’s blog,” he wrote on the excavation team’s daily website.

“The zinc lining had protected the remains inside and when the coffin was opened there

Please turn to Page 9

Excavation begins

Local French workers, above, begin the excavation of the grave of Perth’s first Bishop, John Brady, after having removed the gravestone.

Success

The zinc-lined coffin is finally seen, below left, after two days of painstaking digging. Notre Dame Fremantle Master’s student Odhran O’Brien, at left of photo below, assists Perth archaeologist Fr Robert Cross and Dr Michael Shanahan to sieve material from the gravesite.

20,000 WA

Mass-goers sign up

A large number of this State’s Catholics are believed to have stated their opposition to ‘same-sex marriage’

BY ANTHONY BARICH

UP to 20,000 signatures have been submitted to WA Federal MPs in response to the Australian Bishops’ call to Catholics urging them to protect marriage, according to the Australian Family Association (AFA).

The Bishops distributed a petition opposing the legalising of same-sex marriage in December in response to Federal Greens MP Adam Brandt’s successful motion asking members of the House of Representatives to “gauge their constituents’ views on ways to achieve equal treatment for same-sex couples, including marriage” over the Christmas parliamentary break.

The AFA has urged that the petitions and letter writing continue until the ALP national conference in November, saying there are lobby groups actively working towards changing the definition of marriage, “so it is most important for us to continue to keep up the pressure on our legislators”.

Bunbury Bishop Gerard Holohan was one of the first to distribute the petition Please turn to Page 7

Busselton invites all to rhapsodic celebration

THE parish of Busselton is inviting all to come and enjoy a weekend concert of music around the theme of ‘Rhapsody’ to help celebrate the parish’s 125th anniversary.

The concert will be held on Sunday, 3 April at 2pm. The artists include pianist Mark Coughlan, supported by WASO violinist Stephanie Dean, local soprano Janet Depiazzi and young pianist, Matthew Ho.

The afternoon will see performances of Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin, Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, Richard Addinsell’s Warsaw Concerto and works by Liszt and Chopin. Tickets are $25 adult, $20 concession and $15 for students. Afternoon tea is included. Available from Uniting Church office: tel 9752 3304; Catholic Parish office: tel 9752 1687.

Busselton’s anniversary celebrations told through pictures. Please turn to Page 17

PHOTOS: TOP: ODHRAN O’BRIEN; BELOW LEFT: FR ROBERT CROSS; BOTTOM RIGHT: JADE O’BRIEN

BY ANTHONY BARICH

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Catherine

FORGIVING others leads to God’s healing according to a Presentation Sister who says she was miraculously healed from being deaf, blind and in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Few would believe Sr Eileen Jones when her spine was damaged falling down stairs in her Victoria convent in 1956 and three discs in the top of her spine were crushed in a head-on collision in 1964, but it was only when she forgave them all that she was healed, she said.

By the time she was prayed over by a charismatic priest four days straight for 30 minutes each at a retreat at her Congregational leader’s house at Elsternwick, Victoria from 14-22 May 1977, an eye specialist had predicted she should have been completely blind from the nerve damage in her spine.

When the priest first saw her he told her: “The Lord is going to heal your spine, and when it is healed it will be like a line of white fire burning through every nerve of the spinal system and bring it back to life.”

She didn’t take much notice at the time as she knew nothing about the healing ministry. She has since been touring with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal for the past 30 years, her latest gig speaking at Masses and leading a seminar at Balcatta Parish from 14-18 March.

After the fourth time of the priest praying laying his hands on her head, “while I just sat there peacefully”, she just looked up and said, “I forgive all the people who said there was nothing wrong with me.”

The priest replied: “Eileen, you can now forgive, the Lord can now heal.”

At the first reading during Mass that day, “it was as though the chiropractor had

Top cop inspires at Emmanuel College

jerked my neck into place and I could turn my head for the first time in two years”, she relates.

“The next night I didn’t mind not getting any sleep. One by one, the nerves in my right leg and hip came back to life, and when the sun rose the next morning I could see everything clearly without my glasses for the first time in seven years.”

“Unforgiveness is one of the biggest blockages of God’s healing – whether it’s physical, spiritual, emotional or psychological,” she told The Record, “and that goes right back to the womb.

“Our spirit knows everything that’s happened to us once we were conceived, though our body and brain doesn’t yet.”

When The Record noted that this concept would be a key argument against abortion, she nodded and said she had been involved in the pro-life movement since 1972.

After her first fall in Rutherglen, she waited three months for a bed in hospital and was put in traction – a band strapped to the right hip and a 22-pound weight attached over the end of the bed to straighten the spine.

When she eventually got a bed, the specialist said it had been set up badly. Having physically manipulated her on New Year’s Eve, the next day he told her to go home – “the treatment failed, there’s nothing we can do for you”.

She was put in a steel brace – two bars of steel down the centre of the back strapped around under the arms and just below the waist.

By the time of her car accident, driven by her cousin in Hotham, she had already started losing the capacity to walk easily and the pain was getting worse, she said.

Gradually, her sight was failing but she continued to work as a teacher – her Order posted her to Ferntree Gully where she taught Grades 4-5, which was when she was finally diagnosed as having her spine crushed two years later.

In 1970, the Order moved her to Chiltern as a primary school principal teaching Grades 3-6. All the while she was travelling 50km twice a week to Albury to have spine manipulations and all her teaching was done from her desk as she couldn’t lift her arm above her head to write on the blackboard, she remembers.

Her eyesight deteriorated greatly and, on 14 February 1974, she came out of school, “never to do another day’s work as I could scarcely walk or see”. By the following year, she says she couldn’t turn her head and was seeing an eye specialist every six weeks

In December 1976, the specialist said she’d be blind in two years. “We can’t save your sight,” she remembers him saying. By March 1977 he said it’s only a matter of weeks.

After what she calls her healing, the eye specialist said, “Sister, I’m an agnostic and I’ve done every eye test possible. There’s no way you should be able to see – light or dark – but today I’ve got to acknowledge that there is a God and He Himself has healed you,” she related to The Record “Looking back,” she said, speaking at the Presentation Sisters’ Iona Convent, “I guess the Lord was allowing me to suffer to lead me into the ministry to which He was calling me.” Throughout her sufferings she never lost her faith in God, nor blamed Him. “I still believed in God. Even if it was in Eternity, I knew people would eventually believe me.”

south of the river, with students from 13 Catholic schools in attendance.

STUDENT leaders heard words of wisdom from the State’s top policeman on 4 March when Police Commissioner Karl O’Callaghan addressed the Catholic School Leadership Networking Day. The Commissioner shared his experience of being a leader as well as introducing Catholic student leaders to his favourite series of novels, The Lord of the Rings; explaining some important points about leadership and community

The day was organised to allow students to socialise with their fellow leaders and to collaborate on ideas to improve student leadership and student life within their colleges.

After the Police Commissioner’s address, the students were placed in different groups where they worked on a leadership topic relevant to their Catholic school communities; presenting their findings to the whole group. Plans are already in the works for next year’s networking and leadership day.

Left, Presentation Sr Eileen Jones at the Iona Presentation Convent. Right, Sr Eileen with Fr Irek Czech SDS who invited her to Balcatta to give witness to her story, in which she says God healed her from being blind and in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

PHOTOS: ANTHONY BARICH, COURTESY FR IREK

the novels raise. The event was convened by and took place at Emmanuel Catholic College in Success, 20 minutes

Karl O’Callaghan at Emmanuel College.

Missionary spirit in the Clune blood

Archbishop Clune’s involvement in Ireland’s history that is written in blood has inspired missionaries in the Clune families that are now spread around the world

BY ANTHONY BARICH

DOMINICAN missionary Fr Malachy Clune is one of many priests and Religious whose ministries reflect the legacy of Archbishop Patrick Clune, the first Archbishop of Perth.

Fr Malachy, 77, the second cousin of the late Archbishop, is living proof that missionary fervour is in the Clunes’ blood. Sent to the West Indies after his ordination with 56 others on the Feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel in 1960, he has since established numerous port chaplaincies throughout the Caribbean in between other postings in Central and South America and East Africa.

The late Archbishop Clune also passionately wanted to be a missionary. He joined the legendary All Hallows College in Dublin, which supplied many of Australia’s clergy over the last 100 and more years.

“Missionary blood runs through our veins and it still does – there are vocations coming from amongst our clan to this very day – especially as nuns,” Fr Malachy said while in Perth to concelebrate a 16 March Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral marking the centenary of Archbishop Clune’s consecration as Bishop.

“There’s a huge number of Clune families in Dublin, County Clare and County Wicklow, and he had a great influence as many followed him into Religious life as priests and nuns – many of whom also followed him to Australia.”

Even the children of the principal of Fr Malachy’s old Catholic primary school, where Archbishop Clune had heavily promoted vocations, were affected. Of the principal’s four boys and four girls, three boys became priests and three girls became nuns.

Archbishop Clune led by heroic example.

“He was prepared to leave his

family and county and pastorally take care of the Irish in Australia,” said Fr Malachy, whose birth name was John.

Not surprisingly, “I was influenced by Archbishop Clune in my own way,” Fr Malachy said, having come to Perth 15 years ago to pray at his Redemptorist grave at Karrakatta.

Fr Malachy did extensive research, much of which helped Fr Christopher Dowd OP produce the article featured in The Record on 2 March.

Although he was only two and living in the Clunes’ original home of County Clare when the Archbishop died, Fr Malachy grew up hearing the stories of the legendary Patrick Clune as told by his father and relatives.

He recalls being told how the Archbishop saved an Irish Bishop from assassination.

Archbishop Clune had been recruited to negotiate peace between British Prime Minister Lloyd George and Sinn Fein’s General Michael Collins.

He was travelling to London when he heard that the notorious Black and Tans planned to kill Killaloe Bishop Michael Fogarty who had fearlessly championed the Irish nationalist cause.

According to Fr Malachy, the Black and Tans were a marauding army of thugs, former soldiers

and released prisoners the British Government recruited to suppress the Irish uprising which ended up attacking civilians, burning farms and killing their stock.

Clune, who had spies in the IRA, sent an urgent cable to Bishop Fogarty to meet him in Dublin. The prelate reluctantly agreed and, though the Black and Tans surrounded Fogarty’s house and burned it to the ground, he had escaped due to Clune’s summons.

“It’s all part of the Anglo-Irish history that’s written in blood,” Fr Malachy said.

As Fr Dowd related some of this at the 16 March Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, Fr Malachy said many of the Clunes present could relate to it as “many of my relatives were shot as nationalist leaders”.

A common, seemingly “humane” practice for the British Government, he said, was to ship its political opponents to Australia rather than have them killed.

The eventual peace deal signed in 1922 that granted independence to 26 of the 32 Irish Counties was due in part to the groundwork done by Archbishop Clune, Fr Malachy said. This “extracurricular” work of Clune’s is more amazing, he said, when one considers it took up to eight weeks to travel to Europe by ship every time he went over.

This thought occurred to Fr Malachy as he was flying over the

Pacific heading to Australia – such an easy and fast way of transport compared with what his second cousin had to endure.

“It’s inspiring how he achieved so much. He was everywhere and wanted everywhere, and all the time building the Church in WA, including St Mary’s Cathedral; all with no money but plenty of faith,” said Fr Malachy, who took his Religious name from the 12th century saint who succeeded St Patrick as Primate of Ireland.

“That’s the story of every missionary – we’re told to go and the Lord provides.”

The Clune Chalice, given to Archbishop Clune by his Redemptorist confreres in Ireland in 1913 when he was made an Archbishop, due to the significance of his appointment as the first Archbishop of Perth. The chalice is Gold on Irish silver, and was used by Archbishop Barry Hickey in the special Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral to mark the 100th anniversary of the late prelate’s consecration as Bishop.

Archbishop Patrick Clune, who inspired many of his family descendents to become missionary priests and nuns.

PHOTO: ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH ARCHIVES

Fr Malachy Clune, Archbishop Clune’s second cousin, with a portrait of the late prelate in the North Perth Redemptorist Monastery.

PHOTO: ANTHONY BARICH

The Clune family with Archbishop Barry Hickey at St Mary’s Cathedral.

Santa Clara builds on Dominicans’ labour of love

Former La Salle RE boss meets Jerusalem namesake

A Perth teacher remembers an encounter with a Jerusalem school community which makes harmony shine visibly in a land of sectarian violence.

WHILE on pilgrimage with Archbishop Hickey through the Holy Land last October, teacher Christopher Callus could not help but notice the sign of a school with a very familiar sounding name.

BY GLYNNIS GRAINGER

TWO Dominican Sisters were guests of honour at the blessing of Santa Clara School’s new hall to witness the continuing life of the Catholic school community their Order founded in 1954.

Sr Catherine Brophy, who taught there in 1960, and Sr Anne Larney, who taught at the school from 1965-73 and was Principal from 1983-92, were there on Friday, 18 March when parish priest Fr Francisco Mascarenhas blessed the new building.

The Santa Clara School choir sang the National Anthem and a hymn as students sat cross legged on the floor.

Nyoongar elder Marie Taylor performed an Aboriginal welcome to country; Mary Retel, Deputy Director of the Catholic Education Office in WA gave a speech; Senator Mark Bishop officially opened the hall; and School Principal Richard Win Pe gave the vote of thanks.

The MLA for Victoria Park, Ben Wyatt, and Canning Mayor Joe Della Donne were among the honoured guests.

“As Santa Clara School and parish community, we are delighted with this wonderful new building and asset for our community . . . (which has brought) a renewed sense of community spirit,” Mr Win Pe said.

As well as thanking the Federal Government for its funding of the project, Mr Win Pe said architect Murray Slavin had broken new ground with his energy-efficient and climate-appropriate design.

“With its ceiling fans, high windows and ‘parasol’-style double roof over a heavily-insulated ceiling system, the building will be cool in summer and warm in winter – thereby doing away with energycrunching airconditioning and heating,” he said.

The hall also features a ‘Welcome Mural’ on the hall’s streetfacing wall; a collaboration with Year 10 art students from Iona Presentation College supervised by Head of Visual Arts, Lisa Fay.

Bentley parish priest Fr Francisco Mascarenhas said that while the parish had made sacrifices in terms of parking space, the new hall was a “great thing” for the parish community.

The

“Our Lady Queen of Poland” Parish (35 Eighth Avenue, Maylands) Saturday 10 April at 6.00 pm

Music program includes:

1) J.S. Bach – Symphony from Cantata no. 156

2) J.S. Bach – Aria “Erbarme Dich.” From St. Mathew’s Passion

3) J.S. Bach – Largo from Concerto for two violins

4) And many more.

Standing boldly in front of the imposing walled complex, the sign spelled out, “College des Frères – De La Salle High School, Jerusalem,” reminding Mr Callus of his former school, La Salle College in Midland where he was Head of Religious Education.

Walking through the city, he had earlier recognised a familiar crest on the uniforms of school students and approached them to say hello.

“Most understandably, they were cautious at first but they smiled broadly when I explained my association with La Salle … I taught and served as Head of Religious Education at La Salle College in Midland … for seven years … They were very polite, welcoming and curious to hear about Perth.”

Taking the opportunity to visit the school and introduce himself, Mr Callus spoke at length with the Director of the De La Salle School, Dr Suleiman Rabadi.

Collège des Frères has been a prominent Palestinian institution of education in Jerusalem for 135 years, serving students irrespective of religious affiliation or national identity.

Dr Rabadi said that the school was populated with approximately 50 per cent Christian and 50 per cent Muslim students and that they and all the school community got on very well with each other.

Founded in 1876 by the La Salle Brothers, a Catholic Order dedicated to teaching, the purpose of the school was to provide quality education for (male) children in Palestine, especially from poor families. In 2000, Collège des Frères, Jerusalem updated its enrolment policy to a co-educational system that embraces both male and female students and currently provides classes from Kindergarten through to Year 12.

The school is known for teaching languages such as English, French and Hebrew. It teaches the Palestinian Curriculum and graduates more than 65 students every year in both Scientific and Literary Tawjihi streams. The school also offers the option of student enrolment in a GCE class (British system) and offers subjects at the Ordinary and Advanced GCE levels.

During the meeting, Dr Rabadi presented Chris with a gift of the 2009/2010 School Annual. The publication provided an insight into the philosophy and life of the school. The Director’s Report, The Mosaic of the Educational System, showed great courage, Mr Callus said, in challenging educational authorities to rise above politics and deliver a curriculum that will pre-

pare students for a future in which peace and progress can be found. The staff work under very difficult conditions and should be admired for their courage, resilience and motivation to continue to work for the benefit of their students. There are 104 Catholic schools with a total of 50,390 students depending on the Roman Catholic Latin diocese of Jerusalem today. Thirty nine schools are under the direct supervision of the Latin Patriarchate’s General Schools Administration.

According to the Latin Patriarchate’s website, the Church of Jerusalem today is a small and divided Church: Catholic (six Churches, Latin, Melkites, Maronites, Syrians, Armenians, and Chaldeans), Orthodox (five Churches, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Coptic, Syrian and Ethiopian) and Protestant (two Churches: Anglicans and Lutherans). The jurisdiction of the Latin Patriarchate covers Israel,

Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus. The Crusaders established the Latin Patriarchate in 1099. According to the Crusaders’ thinking, there was no residing Patriarch by the time of their entrance to Jerusalem; therefore they installed a Latin Patriarch to govern the Church.

When Saladin took over Jerusalem in 1187, the Latin Patriarch was forced to reside temporarily in Acco until 1291.

After that period the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem remained a titular residing in Europe. In 1847, Pope Pius IX re-established the residential Latin Patriarch See in Jerusalem. With the re-establishment of the diocese, the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre was also re-established.

The re-establishment of a residential Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem marked the return and the coming of many other Religious Orders and Congregations to the Holy Land at the service of the renewed Roman Catholic Latin Diocese. The De La Salle Brothers feature among them.

While touring around the College des Frères, Mr Callus, the current Head of RE at Sacred Heart College, Sorrento, noticed that familiar figure painted on the wall of the school courtyard. Five students were sitting nearby studying mathematics. In striking up a conversation, one student said that her father drew the picture.

“The students were delightful and smiled warmly when I talked about schools in Perth,” he said.

“They translated the writing, as I guessed was the name, St John Baptist de La Salle; founder of the De La Salle Brothers and Patron Saint of Teachers.”

Students sing during the opening of the new Santa Clara Hall. Below, the new hall.

PHOTOS: GLYNNIS GRAINGER

Local De La Salle High School students in Jerusalem. Below, the school itself.

Bottom, Dr Suleiman Rabadi presents the school Annual to Mr Callus. PHOTOS: COURTESY CHRISTOPHER CALLUS

Polish Franciscan Fathers

Victims of Smolensk Tragedy on the 1st Year Anniversary The Flood in Queensland and the New Zealand and Japan Earthquakes

Pallotti to inspire new wave of laity

Vincent Pallotti

Scholarship available for lay ministry

AT the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII called St Vincent Pallotti ‘the saint of Catholic Action’ and described him as being well ahead of his times in recognising the special role of the laity in the ministry of the Church.

To organise his universal apostolate, Vincent founded the Union of the Catholic Apostolate of priests, Religious and laity.

What became known as the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, or Pallottine Fathers and Brothers, was a central motivating force to recruit and educate lay people for the service of the local Church.

Since his death in 1850, Pallotti’s dream to take Christ to every person and place in the world has spread worldwide.

In Australia, the work of the Union has been two-fold: serving the Indigenous people in Western Australia since 1901, and in Victoria from the early 1950s, as educators for lay ministry.

The modern call of Pope Benedict XVI for the laity to fulfill their role as co-responsible in the work of the Church resonates well

with the charism of St Vincent Pallotti and his followers.

To promote the spread of the love of God in the world, the Vincent Pallotti Scholarship for Lay Ministry is offered twice a year to applicants needing financial assistance to develop projects aimed at a Christian outreach of evangelisation and social justice.

Grants are awarded to applicants who demonstrate enthusiasm and ability in a particular area of endeavour, for example youth ministry, pastoral care, vocational training, community service, Indigenous health and education.

The grants range in value from $500 to $5,000.

Since the scholarship’s initiation in 2007, applicants have received awards to help their study/work in various areas of service. Grants have been made to assist leadership studies for WYD 2008, parish work in counselling, theological and pastoral studies in rural areas, training in parish liturgy and music and lay missionary work overseas.

Info about the scholarship and application forms are on the Pallottine website, www.pallottine. org.au. Alternatively, applicants can contact the Secretary, Vincent Pallotti Scholarship Trust, at 85 Studley Park Road, Kew 3101 or email patron2@ dodo.com.au for further information. Each year there are two rounds for applications, with closing dates on 30 April and 31 October.

Parents honoured at seminary

on 13 March to join their sons for the traditional Sunday Mass and lunch. Held at the start of the year, this annual day for parents is important as it enables parents to take an active role in supporting their sons and other seminarians in their process of discernment. The time also allows parents to experience the St Charles’ lifestyle whilst also getting to know other seminarians and

Parents of first year seminarians were especially delighted to visit the seminary to witness how their sons had integrated so well into the life of the St Charles’ community.

A tour of the seminary was also provided for parents to view their living quarters and the many beauties of the St Charles’ environment.

St Charles’ Seminary would also like to promote their upcoming Vocation Awareness Day on Sunday, 15 May 2011.

Any man who is 17 years or over and is discerning the call of the priesthood can contact Fr John O’Reilly on 9279 1310 for further details.

St Charles’ Seminary students with their parents. PHOTO: COURTESY CJ MILLEN

Left, St Vincent Pallotti. Right, the saint’s incorrupt body in Rome.

Indigenous art floats as Turkey Creek floods

Mary MacKillop’s Sisters affected by Kimberley flood devastation

THREE Sisters of St Joseph are amongst 500 residents of the remote Kimberley community of Warmun which has been evacuated after being devastated by floods on 13 March, leading to the loss of one of Australia’s most significant Indigenous art collections.

Sisters Therese Morrelini, Kathleen McSweeny and Mary MacDonald carry out pastoral work in the Warmun, 200km south of Kununurra.

Warmun received 130mm of rain in just 24 hours last weekend. The downpour turned Turkey Creek, which runs through the centre of the town, into a raging torrent. The open air Catholic chapel, Ngapuna (the Holy Place) where the community celebrates Mass and the Holy Sacraments, is underwater.

“We can’t assess the situation until the roads open again but not all has been lost,” Broome Bishop Christopher Saunders said, adding his relief at discovering many of the artworks in the Gallery had survived and not suffered irreparable damage as was first reported.

Locals reported that in one afternoon the community of Warmun had become an uninhabitable disaster zone. Cars are upturned and piled together. White goods are lodged in trees. The only access is by helicopter.

The majority took shelter in the area’s Mirrilingki Spirituality Centre. Built as a retreat for faith formation, workshops and dialogue for Indigenous people as part of the diocese, the Centre is funded and supported by Australia’s Catholic Mission’s Home Fund and has proved to be a genuine lifesaver.

Relieved that “no one was seriously injured or lost their lives” in the flooding that overwhelmed the community and devastated the area, Bishop Saunders extended his

gratitude to Janyne and Alasdair Brand, the couple who manage the Spiritual Centre, for caring and feeding hundreds of the community’s distressed evacuees.

“They’ve done a marvellous job working 16 hours a day to provide shelter and food and I am extremely grateful to them,” the Bishop said.

With the main highway through the Kimberley blocked and damaged by flooding, fresh food stocks have been dwindling. Up to 250 residents had to be evacuated.

WA Provincial of the Sisters of St Joseph, Sr Pauline Morgan, says the Sisters based in Warmun have reported devastation throughout the community, with residents still in shock.

Warmun, which is internationally renowned for its contemporary Indigenous art, lost the vast majority of its collection when the Arts Centre was dislodged from its foundations by floodwaters.

“The Arts Centre, with its entire collection of beautiful works, simply floated away. The Early Learning Centre was also destroyed,” Sr Pauline said.

Residents of Warmun could only watch as flood water from Turkey Creek rushed through the community, carrying several buildings and cars with it. Many family pets were also lost during the flooding.

The flood has caused the loss of electricity to the community, with numerous homes and the school being severely damaged by water and mud inundation.

During the flooding on 13 March, the 500 residents of Warmun moved across the highway to nearby Mirrilingki Centre, a community facility operated by the Catholic diocese of Broome.

“The managers at Mirrilingki were so welcoming towards the hundreds of people who needed shelter, even though the sudden influx of so many displaced people put a severe strain on facilities,” Sr Pauline said.

“We are just very grateful that there was no serious injury or loss of life during the flood.”

North Perth Peace vigil for suffering siblings

BY MIA WUGOL

MORE than 200 people prayed at the Redemptorist Monastery on 19 March for an end to war, homelessness, poverty, child abuse and for the victims of the recent spate of natural disasters around the world.

People came from as far as Fremantle and Armadale for the 11th peace vigil in North Perth to pray especially for victims of the recent earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand and Japan, and for the floods in Queensland and NSW.

Fr Leo Agapo CSsR addressed the gathering and exposed the Blessed Sacrament during the vigil, which featured the song of

peace

The event began with a half hour session, 20 minutes of hymns, prayers, Scripture readings and reflections for peace in the world, communities and in the hearts of men.

Organisers opened the event to the wider public and other Christian denominations, with Greek Orthodox and Anglicans invited.

Organisers said the aim was to raise awareness in the Church community of the responsibility for those in need.

They told The Record that these “needy” are “not just ‘them’ but those who are indeed our brothers and sisters”.

“Raising our awareness of injustice in our world helps us to overcome our sense of disconnection with those who suffer, to knowing we are all one family belonging to one earth – all children of God,” organisers told The Record. “When that sense of belonging begins to happen, attitudes change and changed behaviour follows. God’s reign begins to come and peace begins to be a reality. For, as Pope John Paul II said, ‘without justice, there can be no peace’.”

Supper provided outside the church during the event provided hospitality and a “listening ear to those participants who were looking for someone to confide their troubles to”, organisers said.

St Francis, Make me a channel of your

Fr Pat Turner returns to God

BY GLYNNIS GRAINGER

THE Requiem Mass for Fr Patrick Charles Turner - pictured at the far right in the photo above - who passed away peacefully on Friday, 11 March, was held at St Luke’s Church, Woodvale on Friday, 18 March, at 10.15am.

A Vigil Mass was held at St John of God Villa Chapel on St Patrick’s Day, Thursday, 17 March at 6.30pm.

He had a cerebral haemorrhage and died, aged 74.

He was born on 16 October 1936 at Perth, and educated at the Convent of Mercy, Toodyay; Denmark and Albany High Schools; Perth Technical College; St Charles’ Seminary, and St Francis Xavier Seminary, Magill, South Australia.

Fr Turner was ordained on 9 July 1966, and became assistant priest at Kalgoorlie in December that year, then at South Perth in February, 1970. He then became parish priest at Wongan HillsDalwallinu in March 1974, and was on leave and then on loan to Kalumburu Mission in February 1978.

He was then parish priest at Kelleberrin in February 1980; Maida Vale in June 1985; Bayswater in December 1994 and Woodvale in April 2001.

He took long service leave in April 2007, and latterly lived at Niana House, Castledare Village, Wilson, visiting St John of God Villa, Subiaco regularly.

‘Tommy More’ College loses great Jesuit

Fr John Begley SJ –friend and teacher

WITH the death in December of Father John Begley SJ at the age of 88, St Thomas More College, the Archdiocesan residential college at the University of Western Australia, lost one of its oldest and most dearly loved friends and supporters.

Ordained as a Jesuit priest in the closing days of 1952, one of Fr Begley’s first appointments was as the foundation Dean of St Thomas More College where he assisted Fr Cornelius Finn, the College’s first Rector.

It was a role to which the young Fr Begley, then in his thirties and only a decade older than the majority of students, was especially suited: It was a role in which he endeared himself to a generation of young Catholic students.

His appointment, which not only included his duties as Dean but also a role as Lecturer in Latin, Philosophy and Apologetics, lasted for six years, concluding in 1962 when he travelled to Rome to complete his own doctoral studies at the Gregorian University.

Fr Begley was far from a stranger at St Thomas More College after 1962, however. He often made time to visit the College on his travels and spent a full term there in 1976 while he awaited his appointment to a teaching post in India.

The author of two short papers on the early history of the College,

WA parishes mobilise to petition government

Continued from Page 1 throughout his diocese, while Archbishop Barry Hickey mobilised the AFA in January, asking for “the ready cooperation” of all Archdiocesan priests and deacons when approached by the lobby group.

With 30 years’ experience as a national political lobby group for family interests, the AFA estimates that, with the support of every Bishop, up to 200,000 signatures were likely to have been collected nationally, with the WA figure constituting about 10 per cent.

While it is understood some priests did not believe the Church should get involved in politics, AFA workers and volunteers collected up to 500 signatures in parishes like Dianella and Bateman, while many others were in the 400s and 300s.

With the AFA estimating an average of 200 signatures per parish, “20,000 is not an underestimate, when you take into account Geraldton, Bunbury and Broome, who all distributed the petition in their parishes,” a WA AFA spokesman told The Record

Some priests took their own initiative to write explanations of the Church’s teachings based on logic rather than theology as many parishioners read the parish bulletin during Mass, and by the end of Mass many were ready to sign up.

“From feedback we received,

parishioners were very appreciative of the information given in the talks and on the ‘marriage facts’ sheets provided,” the AFA said. “Not only did this encourage them to sign the petition but it also provided them with the ammunition necessary to visit and discuss the issue with their Federal representative.”

Applecross parish priest Fr Peter Whitely said he encouraged his parishioners to write letters to MPs as “it’s more effective than signing petitions”.

The AFA said that Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s 20 March declaration on Sky News that marriage rights for same-sex couples are incompatible with Australian culture also indicates that Catholics’ voices have been heard – though she made similar statements last year. The Greens’ Sarah Hanson-Young from Adelaide introduced her Marriage (Equality) Amendment Bill into the Senate on 29 September despite the same Bill being defeated 45-5 in February last year with only her party supporting it.

“The Greens and far-Left members of the ALP have over-reached themselves this time in pushing for same-sex marriage, because it has brought people out of the woodwork who are outraged about what they are trying to do,” the AFA said.

Other lobby groups with thousands of members have also united for the cause, contact-

ing MPs, including the National Marriage Coalition consisting of the Australian Christian Lobby, the AFA and the Dads4Kids Fatherhood Foundation; plus FamilyVoice Australia and Salt Shakers. A multi-denominational group also founded The Canberra Declaration with an online downloadable petition to protect religious freedom, marriage and family and the sacredness of human life.

Tasmanian Liberal Senator Guy Barnett also garnered over 16,500 signatures in a petition promoted online since its 4 February launch.

The AFA also received letters of support from WA MPs from both sides of politics who also stated that they were opposed to any move to redefine marriage. These included Senator Mathias Cormann, Member for Tangney Dr Dennis Jensen from the Liberals and from the ALP, Member for Brand Gary Gray, Member for Hasluck Ken Wyatt and Senator Mark Bishop.

“There are currently approximately 4.5 million married couples in Australia compared with 22,000 same-sex couples - a small minority of whom have expressed a desire to marry,” the AFA said. “One wonders at the logic of seeking to redefine the meaning of marriage to suit such a small number of people who, by their very definition, are unable to carry out one of the primary aims of marriage.”

Fr

he visited St Thomas More four times in the course of the last five years, celebrating Mass in the College Chapel, and endearing himself to a whole new generation of “Tommy More” residents with his gentle humour, kindness, and humility. One of the seminar rooms at the College was named in Father Begley’s honour in 2002.

Mgr Kevin Long, Emeritus Rector of St Thomas More College and currently Rector of the Diocesan Seminary of St Charles Borromeo in Guildford, celebrated a memorial Mass in commemoration of Fr Begley’s life and service in the St Thomas More College Chapel on 24 March.

John Begley SJ

Do the Baptised have any rights?

The answer to the question in the headline above might appear to be ‘No’ after a statement issued on 23 February by the National Council of Priests of Australia which raised the spectre of at least some of its members boycotting the newly translated prayers of the Mass. The statement, however, probably raised more questions about the NCPA (one of two organisations for priests in Australia) than it did about the actual translations themselves. The mention of boycotts by priests made it clear that the right of Catholic families to receive what the Church has to offer them in sacred liturgy had not been an issue of concern to any of those drafting the NCPA statement. This is a most revealing thing.

Among other concerns, the NCPA declared that either it or some of its members held were what it described as a lack of consultation with, presumably, its members. As a result, some had called for a boycott of the new translations which are expected to be introduced to Australian parishes sometime around Advent this year or early 2012. Reference was also made to “concerns” over “exclusive language” in the Eucharistic prayers, while the statement also called “for greater tolerance of people who find this new translation unacceptable.”

The statement quickly drew a response from Fr Peter Williams, the executive secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Liturgy Commission, one of the key individuals charged by the Bishops with coordinating the introduction of the new prayers in Australia’s parishes. Fr Williams pointed out that the NCPA stance risked creating liturgical anarchy in the Catholic Church in Australia. He was quite right.

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It is, of course, quite understandable that priests and laity will have questions in their minds about introducing changes to the wording of prayers of the Mass and it is to be expected that the change to the new forms of wording will take a little getting used to. For almost every Mass-going Catholic, the Mass becomes, in an entirely positive sense, habitual from an early age. To break or change a habit is not usually regarded as an easy thing to do and it is therefore quite likely that when we all come to begin praying the new words of the Mass there will be, initially, some verbal tripping up that occurs in the pews and even from the sanctuary, purely out of habit.

But the statement issued by the NCPA executive is nothing to do with liturgical habits and whether these will be difficult to change and was threatening. It looks to have been formulated without any reference to the identity of baptised Catholics or consideration of what the Church is and how it is constituted. Among many interesting questions the NCPA should answer if it is to be honest with Catholics across Australia are the following:

If it is a fundamental principle of the Catholic Church that all Catholics, by virtue of their Baptismal grace, are full and equal members of the Church, it is also true that all Catholics have, at all times, the right to receive what the Church wishes to give them. By indicating it may support priests in boycotts, the NCPA now appears unable to deny that it or some of its members will effectively encourage a programme of disenfranchising ordinary Catholics of their Baptismal rights to the best liturgy the Church can provide. And it can only be described as ironic that while on the one hand it raises “concerns” at what it describes as “exclusive language,” the NCPA appears to have no equal “concerns” at excluding Catholics from the liturgy which is theirs by right.

By beginning or supporting a campaign to oppose the introduction of the new translations, the NCPA now gives the impression of being prepared to deliberately place obstacles in the way of baptised Catholics and their families. If so, on what authority does it do so and and from whom did it receive the mandate for such a course? And, having flagged such possibilities, it is hard to see how the organisation no longer appears to be able to avoid the criticism that it is lapsing into treating baptised Catholics in the pews as second-class citizens in their own churches. Is there one standard for members of the NCPA and quite another for ordinary Catholics?

Its protest at lack of consultation is remarkable. The new translations have been in preparation for at least 10 years and the NCPA has had more than enough time to set out objections for consideration. But perhaps most amazingly of all is the call for “tolerance of those who find the translations unacceptable,” somehow implying that those charged with the task of introducing them or those who wish to pray what the Church offers are intolerant or deficient, or both. But does tolerance only run in one direction - for the NCPA? Its statement’s assertion that “As in the past, individual priests will adapt and adopt styles to suit individual circumstances whilst being faithful to the key elements of the Eucharistic tradition in the Church” sounds much more like an intention to go ahead and do whatever it wants regardless of the will of the Church.

Accurate or not, the NCPA already has a fairly widespread reputation in Australia as being the most likely to accommodate an almost-anything-goes mentality in matters liturgical. If this perception is generally true, this would be regrettable. Liturgy is not a thing to be fooled with. But with this latest statement, an organisation with such a potentially important role in the Church now appears to have entrenched itself more deeply into a right-wing and neo-clericalist ‘Father-knows-better-thanyou-mere-Baptised’ approach it appears to be taking when it dismisses the rights of Catholics in the interests of its own often-outdated agendas straight out of the 1970s.

These are just a few of the reasonable questions that could be asked. Whether the organisation’s executive is prepared to acknowledge that baptised Catholics have inalienable rights which are to be respected at all times is something many Catholics around the nation will watch with interest in the weeks and months to come.

Letters to the editor

Cathedral concerts a treat

My wife and I attended the first of the Cathedral Concert Series for 2011 on Friday evening, The Feast of the Annunciation. We were treated to a superb feast of the most beautiful sacred music including Vivaldi’s Magnificat in G minor and Gregorian canticles in a Vespers style format. Rorate Coeli in chant evoked the Advent theme of the coming of the Redeemer while the lovely traditional Basque carol, The Angel Gabriel, spoke of The Annunciation to Our Lady.

The Cathedral Choir under Jacinta Jakovcevic was joined by soloists and Senior Choral Scholars and the music was provided by the organ and a small Chamber Orchestra.

It is to be hoped that the Series will be widely advertised and well supported, for the programme promises many delights for the music lover. The Cathedral authorities are to be commended for giving us these treats.

Fr Geoff Beyer Swanbourne

Wonderland

It seems as if we are now living in the middle of an Alice in Wonderland real-life scenario.

The whole madness of the demonising of “carbon” (now an absolute obsession with the left and hangers-on), is enough to make you pinch yourself to find out if you are in the middle of a mad fairytale. Carbon, of which the very building blocks of life on earth are made and carbon dioxide, absolutely necessary for life to continue to exist, are being vilified and hysterically screamed at by hordes of Greenies, leftist politicians and sundry malcontents who apparently imagine that the reason they have the sweats is because of “carbon” and “carbon dioxide”.

These two, one an element and the other a combination of that element with oxygen, are now to be destroyed by all means. They are like the Devil Incarnate.

Those running around like possessed beings, screaming to the rooftops about their pet hates, wish

SUNDAY BEST

Moments of Faith in the trajectory of life

to tax and otherwise penalise all and sundry so as to rid the planet of these sources of life. Please tell me I’m going to wake up and find it was all an Alice-like dream. Surely this madness isn’t for real?

MJ Gonzalez Willetton

Taxing carbon

Do the gullible still believe that China has a commitment to reducing “greenhouse emissions” when they are building coal-fired stations on a regular (some say weekly) basis?

Julia Gillard seems to. Either that, or she’s lying through her teeth again.

Do the gullible still believe that the earth’s climate can be controlled by reducing carbon dioxide emissions - carbon dioxide, the minute component of our atmosphere (0.038 of the air), that also happens to be vital for the life and growth of plants?

Do the gullible still believe that a tax on carbon dioxide will make one iota of difference to anything, except to increase the cost of living?

Mankind-induced global warming is a fraud. Australians must educate themselves in the genuine science.

The futile Carbon Tax must be stopped. Any form of ETS must be stopped.

Mrs CV Phillips Southern River

We want your photos - young or old, any occasion, set in your parish on Sunday (which could mean starting on Saturday evening)

SUNDAY BEST

Send your photos to: production@therecord.com.au (300dpi hi-res)

Opus Dei film role helped actor

MADRID (CNS) - Playing a character with no apparent redeeming qualities was a blessing that helped Wes Bentley regain sobriety after years of addiction and isolation. The actor made the comments to journalists in Madrid for the premiere of director Roland Joffe’s film There Be Dragons, about the early life of St Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, founder of Opus Dei.

Bentley, the son of two Methodist ministers from Arkansas, said he grew up in a “loving, supportive, spiritually strong family.” Over time, he said he “drifted into another world” where “things got very dark and lonely. I had isolated myself from everybody who cared about me.” The first scenes Bentley was asked to shoot were scenes in which his character, Manolo, was 78 years old, on his deathbed and about to reveal long-held secrets to his son. In the film, Manolo grew up with and attended the seminary with St Josemaria but left after one

year and ended up becoming a spy for fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War. The war, which lasted from 1936 to 1939, tore apart families, as well as the country. Manolo’s decisions would lead him down a path of betrayal, vengeance and isolation. Bentley said staring at himself in the mirror as an old man made him realise that he did not want to end up in the same position. “I had many things in my life I had to put right and it was scary, very frightening, and that was the turning point where I started making the right decisions,” he said.

Christian, two and a half, genuflecting in Church with his Poppy.

The discovery of Bishop Brady’s skeletal remains in France have led one historian to begin reconsidering his reputation in history

Continued from Page 1 was a complete skeleton inside! Further investigation of the coffin revealed that the Bishop was buried in a simple soutane without the adornments of a Bishop, namely a ring or pectoral cross. He was to the end a man concerned with far greater things than material possessions.”

A relative of Bishop Brady, Mrs Lorna Lavelle, and her husband Paddy were also present for the exhumation.

The Perth team also located the parochial death record of Bishop Brady, ordered to leave Perth by the Vatican in 1852, in diocesan records at Perpignan approximately 30km northeast of the town. The parish of Amelie-Les-Bains is part of the diocese of Perpignan.

St Mary’s Cathedral priest Fr Jean-Noel Marie, who accompanied the team as a translator, also discovered a nearby sign indicating that Bishop Brady was known to the-then Bishop of Perpignan and had assisted in the consecration of the local church when it was re-opened in 1871.

“This discovery suggests that Bishop Brady was not simply passing through Amelie-Les-Bains when he died. Further, it suggests that he continued the pastoral work of a Bishop until he died,” Mr O’Brien wrote.

The discovery of Bishop Brady’s remains and further information regarding his time in France after his departure from Perth can only contribute to filling out the picture of an often-sketchy figure who remains Perth’s most controversial Catholic Bishop. Almost nothing is

known of his life before arriving in Perth or after leaving in apparent disgrace.

Opinion among historians of the Catholic Church in WA has been divided over Bishop Brady, much as his presence in Perth of the 1840 and 1850s divided the local Catholic population to the point where, on one occasion, fisticuffs broke out between groups of supporters of Bishop Brady and Bishop Serra in Perth streets.

He has alternately been seen as either a misunderstood and saintly figure or an inept and over-prickly personality who needlessly made enemies on all sides and divided the Church.

His banishing from Perth in 1852 after extensive financial problems developed and debts were accumulated has often led to a negative perception of the Bishop as a failure. However, much of the history to do with Bishop Brady was written or informed by those who prevailed in the dispute between himself and the coadjutor Bishop for Perth appointed by Rome, Joseph Serra, a Benedictine.

However, Mr O’Brien wrote on the team’s blog that the new information would help clarify some of the Brady picture.

“What has this week taught us about Brady? Foremost, there is a lot more to discover because

Out from history’s shadows ...

The following words extracted from parochial records of the Diocese of Perpignan provide some of the few known details about Bishop Brady’s death:

“At 9 o’clock on the morning of 4th December 1871, in the presence of John Forné, Mayor and Registrar of the Municipality of Amélié-LesBains, District of Arles sur

Brady’s story has yet to be fully told,” he wrote.

“This project has brought to light important information that was previously unknown. It is time to

Tech, Department of PyrénéesOrientalis, accompanied by Mr François Eichadow, Parish Priest, aged 50, and Mr Pierre Sévely, curate, aged 25, residing in this Municipality, who declared that Mr John Brady, Bishop of Perth (New Ireland), aged 71, of Cavan (Ireland) (no other information available), died yesterday at half past ten in the evening at the home of Naspleda, rue des Thermes, in this Municipality. We, the Officers of the Civil State, having confirmed the death, drew up this certificate and, after reading it, signed it.”

TRANSLATED BY EMILY PLANK, 5.3.11.

rethink our current perception of Perth’s first Bishop. History is written by the winners and this is no less the case in Brady’s story.

“When Brady was asked to leave

Perth, he lost control of the diocese he had founded and his battle to make it prosper. Yet, it should not be forgotten that Brady convinced the Vatican to make Perth a diocese.

“Brady is also central to important parts of Western Australia’s Catholic heritage such as the monastery of New Norcia.

“For these reasons, I have a suspicion that history has by no means finished with John Brady and much of his rich ‘his-story’ is yet to be revealed.”

The excavation team included Mr O’Brien, who is completing a Master’s Degree at the University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle campus on early Perth Bishop Martin Griver, his archaeologist wife Jade O’Brien, archaeologist Fr Robert Cross, retired General Surgeon Dr Michael Shanahan and translator Fr Marie.

The excavation team’s blog can be found at: www.bishopbrady.com.

Historical clue: this record of the death of Perth’s first Bishop in Amelie-Les-Bains was discovered in diocesan records at Perpignan, the centre of the diocese to which the town belongs (see translation below). Does it hint that, although humiliated in far away Western Australia, he was in good standing in France? This may be a possibility, thinks Perth historian Odhran O’Brien, one of the team who excavated his remains.

Heading for discovery: Workers and excavation team members Dr Michael Shanahan, at left, Jade O’Brien, Fathers Marie and, second from right, Robert Cross share the moment with French workers during the dig. A temporary cover erected over the grave, at right, prevented poor weather from interfering.

The forgotten hero of St Mary’s

from the Archives

Perth’s Archdiocesan archivist begins a series on Perth’s history from editions of The Record over 100 years old

The most likely architect of any design for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Perth is Joseph Ascione, a man whose story has been forgotten.

He was born in Naples, Italy in 1819, son of Ignazio and Angela Ascione neé Potere. He arrived in Western Australia with Bishop Serra’s party on the Ferrolana on 30 December 1849. He is variously described as mason, architect, builder, bricklayer and stone mason.

An aspirant to the Benedictine Order, he is not listed as having made any profession of vows. He is listed as living at the Subiaco Monastery and undecided as whether to stay at Subiaco or go to New Norcia.

Brother Joseph, as he was known, had been involved in several of Bishop Serra’s building projects - the first Catholic Church at Guildford, the first Catholic house and Church at Fremantle, the Bishop’s Palace in Perth and the Monastery at Subiaco.

He was the architect and supervisor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Victoria Square, Perth. From 1862 to 1864 he is recorded as employing five ticket-of-leave men. He is mentioned very often in the letters of the monks as they write to each other and mention the progress of the Cathedral.

In a letter of recommendation written by Fr Martin Griver to Archbishop Goold of Melbourne, he referred to the great contribution made by Br Joseph to the construction of the Cathedral.

“He has been a mason from his youth and given proofs of his great skill and capabilities; for he has been the only architect or director of the building ... which every intelligent person says is a work of great merit. The building committee recognises an outstanding debt to him”. His name occurs on the subscription list in the fourth place and the following note explains how he was able to subscribe the large sum of £100: ‘N. - Br Joseph

Ascione, the chief mason and director of the building subscribed for £100 to be paid by his work ... but it is evident that his work is worth more than £100.’

Joseph Ascione was obviously popular during his stay in Perth. He was Godfather to at least 31 children at the first Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary [now the Pro-Cathedral of St John the Evangelist] and was witness to several marriages.

In a letter of Fr Martelli at Fremantle to Bishop Salvado in Rome on 16 November1864, he states that “Brother Architect is leaving for Melbourne”.

In February 1865, soon after the opening of the Cathedral, Joseph Ascione left Perth. He took the Holy Oils Containers to Melbourne and then went to South Australia where he had friends, Bishop Christopher Reynolds and Fr Frederick Byrne, who had also come out with Serra. On 26 June 1865, Fr Martelli wrote to Bishop Salvado: “Ascione has been given work by Byrne enlarging a chapel five miles out of Adelaide. If the work is satisfactory, Byrne will take him on for a further three years. Not a word about a sweetheart but news of a wedding is expected soon”.

Subsequent research in South Australian Records shows that Joseph Ascione married Mary Anne Doyle, aged 22, daughter of Patrick Doyle at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Adelaide on 8 June1865 in the presence of Fr T Dowling.

Baptism and Confirmation Records of six children of the marriage have been found in the Kapunda Church Registers.

Joseph Ascione took the Oath of Allegiance on 27 June 1868 shortly after completing the mandatory three year period of residence in SA, thus becoming an Australian Citizen.

Despite copious research in South Australia, no other buildings have been found that can be attributed to him until he was involved in the building of the school rooms, built and opened in March 1885 near St Rose’s Church, Kapunda, SA.

The architect was Mr Oldham and the contractor, Joseph Ascione. The foundation stone was laid by the Most Rev Christopher Reynolds, Bishop of Adelaide. Three years later, on 17 May 1888, Sister Josephine of the Sacred Heart wrote to Bishop Salvado at New Norcia on behalf of Mrs Ascione to inform him of the sudden death of her husband.

Joseph Ascione died at Kapunda, SA on 10 May 1888 aged 69. He was buried there at the Cemetery of St John on 13 May 1888 by his friend, Fr Frederick Byrne. His occupation was given as mason. The inscription on his tombstone reads Pray for Joseph Ascione who died May 10 1888 aged 69 years Requiescat in Pace.

Clearing away

Christians unite to pra

BY BRONIA K ARNIEWICZ Respect Life Office executive officer

PERTH’S pro-life community gathered on 26 March at St Mary’s Cathedral to celebrate the Mass of the Unborn Child, an annual day of prayer and remembrance for all unborn children and an opportunity to extend God’s love, hope and mercy to women and men who have lost a child through abortion.

The Mass is also held close to the feast of the Annunciation to remember the difficulties and judgements Mary faced with her very unexpected pregnancy. In this case, the actual feast was the day before. Perth Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton concelebrated the Mass with five Perth priests, including Frs Anthony Van Dyke OP, Paul Carey and Andre Mary Feain FI, for over 250 people to pray for all unborn babies and for women and men affected by abortion.

The Bishop’s thoughtful and sincere homily, reiterating the declaration of Bishop Launcelot Goody and offering the Church’s help and support to any pregnant woman with difficulty in deciding to keep her baby, was particularly profound. He also offered the Church’s hope and support to those experiencing deep grief and mental anguish because of their abor-

tion experience. Often, the Church is portrayed a promoting the evil of abortion without understan ing the difficult and complex situations faced by many, yet Bishop Sproxton spoke compassionatel those about their experience.

This year, the Mass also marked the midway po of the 40 Days for Life campaign that was being h in Perth for the first time, joining this internation campaign to pray for an end to abortion.

Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane hav already joined some 300 cities globally for the Vig

Many people, parishes and communities have taken up the challenge to peacefully pray outside the Rivervale abortion clinic and others have bee praying before the Blessed Sacrament with adoration taking place 8am to 5pm daily at nearby St Augustine’s Church. The campaign hasn’t been w out controversy, as a group of university students recently arranged a counterprotest. This took pla on a Sunday when the clinic is shut so 40 Days’ p ticipants chose to avoid any argument and peacef relocated to pray at St Augustine’s.

With many lives lost each year and countless women and men grieving and traumatised by the abortion experience, this has been an opportunity peacefully defend and promote the dignity of eve human person.

Joseph Ascione’s gravestone at St John’s Cemetery, Kapunda.

PHOTO: ARCHIVES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH

with Sr Frances Stibi PBVM

Three Perth youth join in the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil outside an abortion clinic in Rivervale.

the obstacles ... for life

On 26 March, the day after the Feast of the Annunciation, Perth Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton gave this homily at the annual Mass for the Unborn Child, focusing on the Church’s need to support women and families in their time of need to build up the culture of life

To begin, I want to greet the members of the other Churches who have come to join us in prayer. Your presence here encourages us all in this work of the defence of the defenceless, the unborn children. We thank you as well for being the ones who developed the concept of 40 Days for Life.

Our parishes and communities in the Archdiocese and throughout Western Australia have embraced it as a means of giving a focus to our prayer and fasting throughout the 40 days of Lent.

40 Days for Life aims at reducing the incidence of abortion in our society and, through our campaign of prayer and fasting, we work for the complete elimination of abortion from our community.

The Gospel we have received today spoke of the Annunciation that was given to Mary, the mother of Jesus. The clarity and directness of her response to the plan by God for her is remarkable. It is her profession of faith.

God would make what seemed impossible happen, if only she would accept His plan for her.

The plan that God revealed would take Mary in a new and unexpected direction in her life. Her plan was to be changed.

There is some possibility that Mary had already made a vow of chastity so that she could become a maidservant for the Temple priesthood in Jerusalem.

This was not unknown and devout young women would offer themselves for this perpetual service, for their love of God.

Her plan was changed to a degree by

Joseph seeking her to become his wife. The opportunity appeared then for God to call her to the motherhood of the Saviour. She was set now on a new path, with all of its fears, complications and difficulties.

Thanks be to God she did not succumb, for our Saviour was born. Mary believed that with God’s power anything was possible and all obstacles could be overcome. It is many years ago that (Perth) Archbishop (Launcelot) Goody made this pledge: that the resources of the Catholic Church would be made available to support a woman who was contemplating an abortion so that she might be able to accept the child.

This pledge has been repeated by the Archbishops since, and I want to do so again today.

The effect of this pledge is to clear away the seemingly impossible obstacles so that a woman may choose to become a mother.

We know from our experiences of making the most serious of decisions, that freedom is essential.

We have to be as free as possible to be able to make the best decision which delivers justice, respect and wellbeing to all parties.

The eventual decision to go through with an abortion often is because some form of pressure to abort remains and

the child’s reality is explained away. I want to offer this Mass in the first place for the unborn and for their wellbeing.

But I also wanted to offer it for the other victims, the women who have procured abortion.

The last statistical data from the Health Department of Western Australia on abortions shows that in the period 2002 to 2005, just over 30,000 abortions were performed throughout the State.

This is 18.2 per 1,000 of all the recorded pregnancies in that time.

There was a small decline in abortions and this was considered a favourable figure when compared with the national estimate of 19.7 per 1,000.

What these statistics do not record is the effect that these abortions have on women.

There is a growing awareness and acceptance that women are victims, following their dark decision to abort the child.

Statistics are appearing now that indicate that women who have had an abortion are 3.6 times more likely to do hard drugs.

They are twice as likely to be binge drinkers in later life.

Thirty-nine per cent have had another abortion later in life. Many fall into depression and consider suicide as an option to be rid of self-loathing.

I am confident that what we are seeing is trauma, and I am grateful for the work that has been done to raise this awful reality to our attention by Julie Cook, the director of Abortion Grief Australia.

The traumatised women, who are as well the victims of abortion, urgently need both our prayers and support.

40 Days for Life does help us all to focus on the works to eliminate abortion from our community by prayer and the effort to stand with the women, helping to resolve their fears and the other obstacles they see before them.

Our celebration of the Mass today is of the Annunciation. The faith of Mary can be a wonderful light for us all. Her strong and clear decision came from her firm conviction that God loves us and will always provide the strength and courage we need to begin again.

God alone has the power to undo and create anew. Mary’s faith enabled her to set out in a new path, certain that the obstacles, complications and difficulties would be overcome for her.

Let us walk with this sort of faith. Let us announce the love of God to the victims of abortion.

ay for the Unborn Child

The Popes on life

“It is precisely the women … who pay the highest price, not only for motherhood but even more for its destruction, for the suppression of the child who has been conceived. The only honest stance, in these cases, is that of radical solidarity with the women. It is not right to leave her alone.” - Pope John Paul II, Crossing the Threshhold of Hope

“Yes, the men and women of our day sometimes truly find themselves stripped and wounded on the wayside of the routes we take, often without anyone listening to their cry for help or attending to them to alleviate and heal their suffering. In the often purely ideological debate, a sort of conspiracy of silence is created in their regard. Only by assuming an attitude of merciful love is it possible to approach in order to bring help and enable victims to pick themselves up and resume their journey through life.”

- Pope Benedict XVI to the international congress organised by the John Paul II Institute for studies on Marriage and family, Clementine Hall, 2008

Bishop Donald Sproxton

Above, far left, Christians pray at the Rivervale abortion clinic for the 40 Days for Life campaign. Immediate left, Chrisitans unite at St Mary’s Cathedral for the Mass for the Unborn Child on 26 March. PHOTOS: COURTESY HELENE SAWYER

Haitian youth to join Aussies at WYD

BY MIA WUGOL

UP to 260 youth from earthquake devastated Haiti will join over 2,000 foreign students at the Days in the Diocese (DID) event in the lead-up to World Youth Day in Madrid this August.

WYD organisers have guaranteed youth from poorer countries free registration. The diocese of Ciudad Real, for example, is hosting the Haitian youth.

They will join over 4,000 Australian youth who are expected to travel to Spain in August for WYD Madrid, amongst the over one million youths from around the world expected to attend.

The Australians (mostly aged 18-35 years) will be joined by two million other young Catholics from the Americas, Africa, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region at the event that is predicted to be 10 times larger than World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney.

A website, www.dedmadrid11. com, has been launched that has information on every site hosting DID in the lead-up to WYD Madrid.

At least 110 students from Perth have registered for WYD, though

that number is expected to rise once Catholic ethnic groups and other communities are included.

Fifty of these come from the Vietnamese Catholic community, while 60 have registered from diocesan parishes.

Over 300,000 youth from 137 countries participate in DID, a programme started in 1997 to help youth prepare spiritually for the main events and to acclimatise visitors to the host country.

Opportunities to be a part of DID, however, are running out fast, as 12 of the 63 participating dioceses in Spain have already reached capacity.

Up to 2.1 million young people are expected to attend WYD Madrid from 11-15 August, 5,000 of whom will be from Australia.

As Spain has a rich Catholic cultural history, having been first evangelised by St James the Apostle, dioceses are hosting events that will immerse foreign WYD participants in the country’s deep religious roots.

The Basilica of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona will host such an event for youth from Catalonia with local young people. Pamplona will host youth from Sicily, with whom they

are already sharing prayer meetings every Friday to prepare for WYD.

WYD organisers have also planned events that will be unique for WYD Madrid, including Watchmen of the Morning, a writing contest named after a term coined by the late Pope John Paul II when he met young people in his last visit to Spain in 2003.

The Cronica Blanca Foundation will reward journalistic work, to be published on 1 May, that reflects what WYD in Madrid is and means. Compositions can be presented in radio, audiovisial, press or internet formats. Awards will be announced on 16 August, the day WYD Madrid begins.

The popular Stations of the Cross - where the Passion of Christ from His betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane to His Crucifixion is re-enacted through the streets of the host city – will also take on a new twist in Madrid.

A carving of the “Lying Christ” depicting Christ lying down by 16th century Spanish sculptor Gregoria Fernandez, donated by the Cathedral of Segovia, will be used for the 14th Station. Segovia is the 12th Spanish city to be represented in the Way of the Cross.

New priests in Thanksgiving

THE church of Our Lady of Mt Carmel was packed with parishioners and visitors on 5 March for Fr Anibal Leite da Cunha’s first Mass celebration. With Fr Patrick Lim at his side and five more priests concelebrating, Fr Anibal was well supported. Before the final blessing he thanked his parents, relatives, the teachers of St Charles’ Seminary, Fr Patrick Lim and the parishioners of Mt Carmel for their support. Fr Anibal, seen blessing Fr Sebastian Fernando in the photo to the right after his Thanksgiving Mass, also told the congregation if anyone wanted his special blessing, to see him after Mass. His parents and many of his relatives also wanted a picture with the new priest at the bottom of the altar, which was quite demanding, since Fr Anibal belongs to a large family. A get together at Mt Carmel primary school followed and many more persons came to Father and asked for a blessing. There was a cake to be cut as well. It certainly was a joyful start for Fr Anibal.

Fr Daniel Boyd (pictured left in left photo), who was ordained with Fr Anibal, celebrated his thanksgiving Mass at St Joseph’s Parish in Bassendean on 13 March.

St Columba’s farewells Fr Casey at South Perth

The parish of South Perth and St Columba’s Catholic Primary School held a Farewell Mass and celebration on 25 February to honour Fr Michael Casey on his retirement from the parish after 31 years of service. Mgr Brian O’Loughlin has since taken over as the new parish priest, while still maintaining his role as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Perth.

Bishops warn on Greens danger

BY ANTHONY BARICH

CATHOLIC Church leaders mounted pressure on Catholics, warning the faithful about the Greens prior to the 26 March NSW State election, with 10 Bishops and Sydney’s Catholic Education Office all denouncing the ‘environmental’ party.

Nine NSW Bishops joined Sydney Cardinal George Pell in a 17 March statement titled The Green Agenda, warning that the Greens could exercise “significant power over governments with only a few seats”.

The NSW election was a disaster for the Greens. Though the ALP primary vote dropped 13.5 per cent, the Greens picked up only 1.4 per cent, with the Coalition’s primary vote increasing 14.1 per cent, picking up the overwhelming majority of disaffected Labor and independent voters.

The Bishops warned about the Greens’ policies regarding abortion, same-sex marriage, euthanasia and education that they said would restrict freedom of religion and conscience.

Two NSW Bishops refused to sign the letter. Bishops David Walker of Broken Bay and Michael McKenna of Bathurst did not sign the letter but both will distribute it to schools and parishes in their dioceses.

“The Bishops need to take great care regarding intervention in the political process,” Bishop Walker told The Record Catholic newspaper of the Archdiocese of Perth on 18 March, though he supports the highlighting of key issues of concern.

“It is important that people, and particularly people of faith, understand and carefully discern fundamental issues concerning dignity, respect for human life and the world we live in, when approaching any decision-making process.

“I do not believe, however, that attacking a particular political party serves to highlight these issues in the most effective way.”

The Greens are applying pressure on the Federal Government to amend the Marriage Act to allow homosexual marriage. If they fail at Federal level to address this “unfair discrimination”, the Greens will introduce a bill into NSW parliament to legislate for homosexual marriage.

“But it is not ‘unfair’ to recognise that marriage is the union of a man and a woman who bind themselves to each other for the well-being of their children,” the Bishops said.

“Changing the law on marriage would expose churches and schools to coercive pressures from the State to cease teaching their beliefs about marriage and family.

“Same-sex relationships and the relationship between a man and a woman are different realities, and it helps no one to call different relationships by the same name.”

The Greens will pursue the removal of abortion as an offence under the Crimes Act and support Victoria’s successful 2009 legislation that denies doctors the right of conscientious objection to participating in or being associated with the practice of abortion.

“It is remarkable that such

Doubleview celebrates Fr Halstead’s day

reduce State grants to most nongovernment schools, including all Catholic systemic and some Catholic independent schools, to the same total level they were at in 2003 from both State and Commonwealth grants combined.

To cover this loss in funding and maintain current standards, fees in Catholic systemic primary and secondary schools would have to rise by as much as $1,550 a year, the Bishops said, and the NSW Catholic system schools alone would immediately lose more than $318 million a year.

The Greens will also work to end all government funding for the socalled “wealthiest private schools” but do not define what they mean by “wealthy”, the prelates noted.

Jarrett hits back at critics

BY ANTHONY BARICH

offensive laws could be passed in an Australian parliament, denying individuals the fundamental freedom of belief, conscience and religion,” the Bishops said.

Though the Greens tried unsuccessfully to introduce euthanasia legislation into the NSW parliament last year, the Bishops warned of an “ongoing concern”.

“For all the talk about choice, freedom and dignity, the reality is that euthanasia is the killing of another human being. Evidence from countries like The Netherlands and Belgium shows that many of those euthanised are involuntary victims. They did not choose to be killed.

“You cannot write into law absolute safeguards and protections to prevent this here. Abuses and exploitation of the vulnerable will occur.”

The Greens are committed to removing exemption provisions from the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act which would force Catholic schools to employ teachers whose views, values and lifestyles are contrary to the religious tradition.

The Bishops also expressed concern that the Greens want to

“Non-government schools which support parents with the religious education of their children would very likely be denied all State funding under the Greens’ policy if they enrol students and employ staff on faith-based grounds,” they said.

The Greens will also work to treat personal drug use as a health and social issue and therefore acceptable, while keeping “commercialscale” drug dealing, importation and “unsanctioned” manufacture as crimes, but do not define these terms. They also support removing “criminal sanctions for personal drug use and the possession of associated implements” along with removing “criminal sanctions for the possession and growing of a small number of cannabis plants for personal use”.

The Bishops warned that the use of non-therapeutic drugs damages health, life and communities and is an offence against human dignity.

The letter was also signed by Bishops Geoffrey Jarrett (Lismore), Terry Brady, Julian Porteous (Sydney), Anthony Fisher OP (Parramatta), Michael Malone (Maitland-Newcastle), Gerard Hanna (Wagga Wagga), Peter Ingham (Wollongong), Kevin Manning (administrator of Wilcannia-Forbes) and Luc Matthys (Armidale).

Greens ‘detrimental to society’: CEO

THE Archdiocese of Sydney’s executive director of Catholic schools has backed NSW’s Catholic Bishops over aspects of the social policy of the NSW Greens’ political party.

In a statement issued by the Archdiocese of Sydney prior to the 26 March election where the Greens’ dream run was stopped in its tracks, Dr Dan White conceded that “not everything the Greens promote is bad public policy”, sharing the Bishops’ view that more needed to be done to protect the environment.

“However, there are other parts of the Greens’ social policy platform that will impact adversely on many within our school communities - as well as the wider community,” he said.

Catholic leaders had a responsibility to highlight these concerns as some of the core beliefs that lie at the heart of the Catholic faith were being challenged by a number of The Greens’ policies, he said.

He also expressed serious concerns about funding for Catholic schools - a point also highlighted by the NSW Bishops.

“With regard to the funding of Catholic schools, should the Greens’ proposal to revert to funding levels of 2003 be accepted, many families would find it impossible for their children to remain in a Catholic school,” he said.

“Catholic schools already receive less funding per student than State schools, and to reduce that funding even further would cause hardship and heartache for many families.

“This is a policy issue, not a political one. Our democracy allows for all voices and all opinions to be equally heard.

“The policy positions of the two mainstream parties on these issues are generally well known, but the Greens’ position on issues other than the protection of the environment are less well known or understood.”

He said voters in the State election should first consider the entire platform of each party including the social policy manifesto of the Greens before making a final decision on their candidate of choice.

“The greatest harm is often caused when people are not fully informed,” Dr White warned.

LISMORE Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett has hit back at the Greens’ criticism of the NSW Bishops, warning Catholics about their dangerous social policies, saying the party has “long since lost its innocence”.

Northern Rivers Greens’ candidates attacked the NSW Bishops’ 17 March statement on the Green Agenda, of which Bishop Jarrett was one of 10 signatories.

Bishop Jarrett challenged Greens’ candidates who consider themselves Christian to reconcile their party’s stated policies with “any reading of mainstream Christian belief on the meaning, dignity and destiny of human life”.

Having spent 30 years as a priest of the Archdiocese of Hobart, Bishop Jarrett said that “traversing the skylines of the Tasmanian southwest wilderness and exploring its rivers and hidden lakes made me almost as green as (Greens’ leader) Bob Brown”.

“I’d be happy to support (NSW Greens’ candidate) Simon Richardson in bringing the trains back on our tracks, since the first Bishop of Lismore was a key public figure in bringing the railway here at the beginning,” the Bishop said.

“But The Greens have long since lost their innocence. Their policies on euthanasia, abortion, same-sex marriage and school funding show them on the dark side when it comes to a healthy and human environment.

“I do not think that the Bishops’ evaluation of the Greens’ agenda misrepresents the party’s stated policies. Local candidates branding our letter ‘misleading’ is an understandable reaction to a sharp public spotlight being focused on them at the moment.” He added that the calculations of the NSW Catholic Schools Commission are “pretty thorough in working out the exact threat posed to the funding of our schools by the cuts proposed by the Greens”.

“Parents choosing to send their children to nongovernment schools are taxpayers too, and they are not going to pay twice in exercising their freedom of choice for their children’s education,” he said.

Bishop Jarrett, a former Anglican priest, told The Record last week that the NSW prelates were not telling people how to vote, but were “only doing what people expect of us – being ‘watchmen on the tower’.”

“We’re just saying that we’re pastors of the flock and we see danger and we want to raise concerns to anybody who will listen, especially in our own Catholic community and for the wider society as well,” Bishop Jarrett said.

Sydney Cardinal George Pell. Nine NSW Bishops joined the Archbishop of Sydney in warning voters of the dangers of voting for the Greens. PHOTO: CNS

At a special Mass on 20 March, Our Lady of the Rosary parish in Doubleview marked the silver jubilee of Fr David Halstead OP, its former parish priest. Fr Halstead concelebrated the Mass with seven other priests, including visiting Dominican missionary Fr Malachy Clune OP, based in Puerto Rico, who is the second cousin of the late Archbishop of Perth, Patrick Clune. Also concelebrating were Fr Anthony Van Dyke OP and Attadale parish priest Fr Sean Fernandez.

Kids see light at end of tunnel

In the lead-up to National Youth Week, 1-10 April, The Record presents a feature by Vinnies National Youth representative Sarah Crute about how Vinnies camps provide a bright light for disadvantaged kids

EVERY school holiday period around Australia, hundreds of children experiencing disadvantage look forward to that bright light at the end of the tunnel: the upcoming Vinnies Camp.

The Vinnies Camps programme is a residential care and respite programme run primarily by youth and young adult members and volunteers of the St Vincent de Paul Society aiming to add a little happiness, laughter and joy to the lives of children from their local communities. The camps also give respite to parents and carers in hardship.

Two camps have already been run this year, with a Kids Camp in Rockingham from 7-11 January and a 21-24 January Teen Camp in Lancelin. The next one is a 27-30 April Kids Camp scheduled in Harvey.

Referred by conferences of the St Vincent de Paul Society (community-based groups of Vinnies members) and by external welfare agencies, the children come from a wide range of backgrounds and have experienced varying forms of disadvantage, including poverty, severe financial hardship, domestic violence, foster care, grief and loss, abuse, family breakdown, or social exclusion.

For many of these children, opportunities to be carefree kids – to leave the burdens of their dayto-day lives at home for a few days –are few and far between. For many of the new volunteers, the hardships these kids are experiencing are difficult to imagine, let alone comprehend.

In 2010, more than 800 children and teens attended Vinnies Camps in locations across Australia, assisted by 597 volunteers contributing nearly 45,000 volunteer hours.

The programme is the passionate and enthusiastic response to a desperate need.

The children are able to laugh, play, sing, dance, run amok and have fun – things that most Australians view as essential ingredients of growing up. In many parts of Australia, teen camps are also

run, providing person-to-person support for a range of issues facing disadvantaged teenagers.

The volunteers are constantly in awe of the kids’ tremendous resilience and hunger to find joy in all things.

The children are not afraid to try new activities and challenge themselves, even if it means moving outside their comfort zones. Camps also allow the volunteers to serve their community, to grow, develop skills, and have fun.

For the children who attend, the camps also promote personal growth, helping them develop life

Parishes knit to help Perth homeless

THE St Vincent de Paul Society’s Knit a Blanket appeal it launched in September last year has proved a quiet success around Perth’s parishes.

Volunteers knit or crochet from donated wool and items are made including blankets, scarves and beanies. People can either come into the St Vincent de Paul Society’s head office in Belmont on a Friday morning (spaces are limited) or knit/crochet from home.

The group is in constant need of donated wool, eight-ply. Donations can be dropped off to head office at 76 Abernethy Road,

Belmont, Monday to Friday from 8.30am-4.30pm.

The items are then given out by Society volunteers to people they visit in need of warm clothing/ items or through our other homeless support services.

Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in East Victoria Park has organised a group where wool is supplied free of charge, with parishioners skilled in knitting or crocheting taking part.

Anyone interested in helping the knitting group can phone Lyn on 9457 7957.

Other parishes and communities can also start the initiative.

skills and enhancing their sense of value and worth. Often, many of the benefits stem simply from the kids being able to spend time with compassionate, caring and enthusiastic people who can act as positive role models in their lives – something they may not have experienced before.

Volunteers quickly learn that their perspective on life changes as well. It is impossible to leave camp unchanged and, over time, volunteers learn as much about the world around them, the way they relate to others and the impact of disadvantage, as they do about themselves.

The volunteers also learn the value of justice and compassion. There is insight into the lives and struggles of others, into the human condition, and into our own insecurities and fears. This leads not only to greater understanding of ourselves; it helps us understand and better respond to the needs of the poor.

As the kids experience personal and emotional growth, volunteers see first-hand the true value of their efforts to make a difference, even if it may seem only small. Camp volunteers experience what it means to serve the poor, in the way that only

someone who loves the people they serve truly can. Camps typically run for three to five days. The daily programme includes rock climbing, abseiling, swimming, high rope and low rope courses, raft-building, target-shooting, ball sports, miniOlympics, arts and crafts and teambuilding games.

Activities provide powerful opportunities to instil confidence, develop trust, foster teamwork, build self-esteem, and develop skills for social interaction with peers and young adults in a safe and encouraging environment.

The kids are immersed in a variety of outdoor activities designed to challenge each child and push their personal boundaries, while allowing them to reach attainable goals.

The children experience healthy lifestyle choices and a chance to kick back, have fun, build confidence and try new things, while being encouraged to realise their potential to achieve anything.

Many of these experiences come through the example of volunteers who model positive and healthy lifestyles and test their own personal boundaries in many of the activities.

Sometimes it’s an achievement to get to the top of the ladder – rather than the end of the course – and that’s the message we try to convey to the kids. It’s important to set small goals and give it a go.

Reflecting on their most recent camp experience, one camp volunteer observed that: “At any time during the three-day camp it was quite rare to find a face without a smile, or to be able to get words in sideways as the kids exchanged stories of the fun days they’d had.

“From descending a 10m vertical wall to building and navigating a raft, the kids were willing to get stuck into it and often surprised themselves, as well as everyone else, when showing their skills and enthusiasm.”

For most members and volunteers, camps are integral to their Vincentian journey. Another member described his most recent camp as “one of the more Vincentian experiences I’ve had – one of those times when you suddenly wake up and realise why you’re doing this, why you’re with Vinnies; where the Vincentian spirit feels almost tangible.”

I view the programme as an extension of home visitation, that concept which the Society’s XIV President, General José Ramón Díaz-Torremocha, has called “the classic expression of what is most intimate in our commitment.”

Fore more information on the camps, email info@svdpwa.org.au or phone 9475 5400.

Malaysians to help Aborigines

THE Malaysian Singapore Catholic Community of Australia (MSCCA) is hosting a Hollywood night dinner and dance at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on 2 July from 6.30pm to support indigenous Australians and WA’s most needy.

The Yabu Band, Steve Armstrong and the Fabulous Flirtettes, the Newman Youth Band, Speak easy Band and Tres Classique Ensemble will perform.

For info contact www.mscca.org.au or contact Jenny Heng 0425 542 828.

Above, water sports at Waroona Dam in 2006 with Chris Hassett. Below left, rock climbing at Teen Camp in July 2010.

Below right, water fun in January 2008 in Busselton.

PHOTOS: ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

Ladies in the St Vincent de Paul Society knitting group who do their work at the Society’s Belmont headquarters every Friday until 12.30pm. Sitting are Jennifer Vallelonga, Rita Rego, Joy Lee and Barbara Foster. Standing are Mirella Masetti and Lyn Del Borrello.

Queen of Apostles turns 60

Queen of Apostles Parish in Riverton celebrates its Diamond Jubilee

THE parish of Our Lady Queen of Apostles in Riverton celebrated its 60th anniversary on 25 March with a Mass led by Perth Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton.

The parish was established on Easter Sunday, 25 March 1951,with a Holy Mass celebrated in a Riverton public hall.

The newly formed parish, run by the Pallottines, had just 220 parishioners. The parish has been blessed over the years and today comprises a beautiful church building, an expanding parish school, a large parish hall and a storeyed parish house – all of which are set in beautiful surroundings with an oval attached, and cater to the needs of almost 5,000 parishioners of diverse backgrounds.

On 25 March 2011, Fr Eugene San SAC, Regional Leader of the Pallottines, Fr Poulose Manickathan SAC, parish priest, and other members of the Pallottine Community concelebrated a special Mass with Bishop Sproxton commemorating this history.

The congregation included representatives of various organisations which have been, and continue to be, involved in the development of the parish, and their participation was marked by the lighting of special candles at the altar.

Candles were lit by Bishop

Jesuits reel in corporates

Sproxton, Fr Eugene San SAC, Sr Georgina Heger, Superior of the Schoenstatt Sisters in Armadale, Sr Charla Fernando OSM, Superior of the Servite Sisters in Australia based in Riverton, Queen of Apostles School principal Shaun O’Neill and UAC president Trish Wisolith.

The students of the Queen of Apostles School presented a dramatic performance during the Mass, after which Bishop Sproxton joined the priests, nuns and parishioners in the Fr John Luemmen Hall for refreshments and camaraderie.

Filipino youth empower families

FILIPINO ministries Youth For Christ and Singles for Christ raised $1,750 to sponsor nine Perth delegates to attend national conferences in Adelaide next month and in Brisbane in September with a series of Catholic rock band performances and a sausage sizzle at St Joachim’s parish hall in Victoria Park on 26 March.

The two ministries which hosted the event - which was called Empowered and drew over 150are part of a family ministry under the umbrella of Couples for Christ Australia, whose vision and mission is families in the Holy Spirit renewing the face of the earth.

As a charismatic group, Couples for Christ Australia has a strong drive to serve in the local parish as they are scattered all around Perth. Fortnightly, they have household or cell group gatherings. They also organise camps for the youth and monthly community gatherings.

The St Joachim’s event had live performances of dancers and singers ranging from solo to quartets and bands.

A ‘Youth Mission Team’ also performed a skit and facilitated a game that involved all the youth who attended. Participants were also led into worship by Gener8, a youth group from Good Shepherd Parish in Lockridge. Youth for Christ dancers put on a performance to finish the night.

“This may have been the most fun I’ve had at an event purely from the laughter, fun and excitement. The Holy Spirit was truly among us. It can be said that everyone involved and all who came to watch are looking forward to next year; may this be a continuous event,” organiser Jeremy Baltazar told The Record.

BY MIA WUGOL

WORLD Vision Australia

chief executive Tim Costello is coming to Perth to address a Leadership Breakfast Series on 31 March.

Mr Costello, also a Baptist minister, is a feature guest speaker as part of the Just Leadership Breakfast Series organised by Jesuit Social Services.

He will be speaking on the theme Just Success – Rising to the Challenge, as individuals and organisations, of building a more just and inclusive society at the Collins Room of the Bank West Tower on St George’s Terrace.

Jesuit Social Services launched the Just Leadership Breakfast Series in 2009 in Melbourne to help professionals to stop and reflect about values, meaning and leadership.

They represented a first step in finding and connecting people in the CBD and beyond who were:

● energised by the thought of being part of a growing network of people exploring ideas about success, community and justice

● keen to be part of a new conversation about social leadership, which can be realised from wherever they sit within an organisation

● inspired by the thought that they could strengthen their values and grow their courage, tenacity and leadership capacity in ways that help build a more just and compassionate society.

The series received an overwhelmingly positive reception and highlighted the strong desire amongst professionals, predominantly in the 20-40 year age group, to engage with questions of meaning, purpose and community contribution through their work.

Jesuit Social Services, keen to grow this work, sought private seed funding for a three year period to support the development of a Centre for Just Leadership.

It was hoped that, by working in the space that links leadership, corporate social responsibility and organisational development, we might make a unique contribution to the emerging leadership/ social leadership and community learning field.

- additional reporting by staff writers

Above, Bishop Sproxton concelebrates Mass for Riverton’s 60th. Right, UAC president Trish Wisolith lights a candle during Mass. Below, choir and congregation in full voice. PHOTOS: RIVERTON PARISH

Tim Costello

Above, Youth For Christ dancers perform to fundraise for their national conference. Below left, Anne B sings with a band.

Below right, Joel and Andrea belt out tunes at St Joachim’s parish hall.

PHOTOS: JEREMY BALTAZAR

Vietnamese villagers become neighbours

The Record continues its Lenten series for Caritas’

Project Compassion

WEEK 4 – V IETNAM

“Authentic development is the transition from less human conditions to those which are more human.” Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio (1967)

In a small village in Vietnam’s Thua Thien-Hue province, Bach, 42, lives with his wife and four children. Bach lost his fingers in a mining accident as a boy and his 22 year old daughter, Dao, requires constant care as she is deaf and paralysed from an accident as a baby.

Like most families in the province, until recently Bach relied on casual work and agriculture, struggling to make ends meet.

“My wife and I take care of our disabled daughter and three other children but we had low living standards because I am disabled too,” he told us. “I had no chance to do the jobs that I wished and couldn’t make enough money to support my family.”

In 2009, Bach was invited to a workshop about a Disability and Development programme run by the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD), supported

in brief...

Face2faith connects Mercedes students to the world

A GROUP of Mercedes College students from Years 10, 11 and 12 participated in an international video conference on 8 March – International Women’s Day - with students from two Eastern States’ schools and a school in India.

Mercedes students have been involved in the Tony Blair Faith Foundation programme ‘Facetofaith’ since late last year which connects students from around the world in discussion of contemporary issues from their faith perspective.

Presenter Amy McNair, from the United States, spoke to the students about her involvement in community development projects which began as a 14 year old. Amy, now 23, is responsible for implementing interfaith programmes focused on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in universities in Chicago.

After the presentation the students questioned Amy about her work and observations on women’s rights. Amy and UK facilitator Jo Malone then questioned the students about women’s rights in their countries and women who have been an influence in their own faith. Mercedes students selected Catherine McAuley who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831 as their example, a woman whose values and work lives on through the College.

Year 11 student Grace Turco said the video conference was an eye opener and highlighted

by Caritas Australia. The project supports 750 people with a range of disabilities and their families in the flood-prone province, one of Vietnam’s poorest regions.

Disability is both an important cause, and consequence, of household poverty. More than 32,000 people are thought to live with a disability in Thua Thien-Hue. Yet, sadly, most people with physical and mental disabilities live isolated from their community. The project therefore works to improve

that the inequality of women is a universal struggle.“The discussion between the Australian and Indian school showed me that further persistence is needed to fight for gender equality,” she said.

Organ concert for NZ victims

TWO Perth music companies will dedicate their first performance of 2011 to the memory of three organ technicians who lost their lives in the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February.

Pipe Organ Plus and the Giovanni Consort have announced that Stabat Mater on 3 April will be performed in honour of Neil Stocker, Scott Lucy and Paul Dunlop – two employees and an assistant for the South Island Organ Company of Timaru, New Zealand.

The concert will take place at The Basilica of St Patrick in Fremantle, the site of the South Island Organ Company’s first Perth commission back in 1998.

Having never been to Perth before, Neil Stocker was here for two stints during that installation and was also here for the Winthrop Hall and St Mary’s Cathedral projects, making a total of six visits to Western Australia.

Tickets can be purchased from BOCS on 9484 1133 or at www. bocsticketing.com.au. For more information about Pipe Organ Plus’ concert series, visit www. pipeorganplus.com or call 9339 7418.

More Caritas film screenings

CARITAS Australia has revealed that screenings of Lisa

ence of taking care of our children and started to feel confident, communicate more and access information for our daily life.”

As healthcare is an immediate concern for people with disabilities, Bach’s group prioritised their needs for equipment, medical checks and disability care training for their families.

Caritas Australia’s local partner provided a healthcare and rehabilitation fund for each group to manage which helps each member live more independently.

Every group also receives agriculture training according to their plans and small loans to improve their livelihoods.

“I lacked money and knowledge on cultivation and animal husbandry until these trainings,” Bach explains. With new skills and ideas: “I also received finance skills and a loan to buy a pig to raise.”

for disability issues in village meetings. Local government representatives and other organisations now often attend the Disability Support Group meetings.

Caritas Australia also funds the province’s Disability Vocational Training and Employment Centre, training staff to teach employment skills to people with disabilities from around the province.

Ramps have been installed and equipment for social activities provided. Bach hopes that one day his daughter may be able to join these activities. Bach’s confidence has grown markedly since he joined the programme. “Participating in the group has increased my hope in life and willingness to improve,” he explains.

the health, livelihoods and social integration of people with disabilities by encouraging them to form Disability Support Groups where they can meet other families with challenging situations and gain practical, social and vocational skills.

Bach explained that in his village: “We people with a disability started to come together, which had never happened before. We learnt to form a group and create plans for our households. We shared our experi-

Jackson’s powerful movie The Greatest Silence will be held in Geraldton, Bunbury and Perth.

The screenings are at St Thomas More College, Mounts Bay Road, Crawley on 29 March at 8pm, Geraldton’s Cathedral Centre at 9 Maitland Street on 31 March at 7pm and Bunbury’s Parish Hall at the new Cathedral site on 5 April at 7pm.

A survivor of rape herself, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Jackson sensitively yet unflinchingly brings to light the plight of women and girls caught in that country’s intractable conflicts.

The film features interviews with activists, peacekeepers, physicians, and even the indifferent rapists. But the most remarkable moments of the film come as survivors recount their personal stories - inspiring examples of resilience, resistance, courage and grace. The screenings have been organised by Caritas’ young Be More Ambassadors across the dioceses of Bunbury, Perth and Geraldton. Contact 9422 7925 (Perth, Bunbury) or 9964 2716 (Geraldton).

New era for SJOG

A NEW location, new name and new era began on 14 March for the St John of God Counselling Centre Fremantle, with the official opening of St John of God Murdoch Ferns House, with a Fern sculpture created by participants of the centre’s expressive therapy programme. The centre moved from its original location in Henry Street, to larger and more versatile premises in order to better meet the needs of clients. The building was named St John of God Murdoch Ferns House, after the diocese in Ireland where the Sisters of St John of God began their mission.

Bach has now been elected Deputy Head and Accountant for his group. He records the revolving loan fund and visits members’ houses to help when needed.

With increased confidence, Bach willingly gives to others: “I help other people with disabilities to participate in the group meetings and trainings. I encourage them to be more confident, to look for opportunities and relevant jobs and take loans for agriculture.”

SRD helps each group register with local authorities and facilitates workshops with community leaders to build awareness and policies

“I’m having success raising my pig and I’m earning an income from growing cassava, rice and beans. I want to invest more in pig raising.” Bach is now better able to support his family. As he and other people with disabilities come together and learn skills, they are gradually developing more confidence. Lives and incomes are improving.

Every day, Caritas Australia continues to work with partners like SRD to mobilise awareness and solidarity so that people with disabilities have opportunities in life equal to all other villagers.

Your donation to Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion appeal helps people living with disabilities, like Bach and his family, to live a life of dignity in their community.

Irish cousin flies in for Bishop Holohan

A fleeting glimpse of an Irish family reunion in Bunbury

BY BRIDGET SPINKS

A BANKER from Letterkenny in County Donegal and a first cousin of Bishop Gerard Holohan’s returned to Bunbury for five days especially to witness the dedication of the new St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Irishman Tony Murray, twelve years his counsin’s senior, said he came out ten years ago with one brother and three sisters and spouses to witness the Ordination in 2001 and he “returned for the dedication of the wonderful Cathedral”.

“Our family kept in close contact with our lone emigrant cousin as he was growing up as a young boy in Vic Park in Perth.

“Sadly, we never got to meet his father, Joe. But we were in touch with his progress from primary school through our mutual uncle, a wonderful Carmelite priest, Fr Gerard Holohan ODC.”

Tony described the new Cathedral as a “revelation of colour, space and simplicity”.

“The family ties in Ireland are very strong; mainly because my family, the Murrays, numbering 10, were orphaned at an early age during the 1940s. Despite not having parents, we said the family Rosary every night,” he said.

Tony said the Holohan family are originally from Galway.

Bach from Vietnam, who has been empowered by Caritas Australia.

Brothers in Christ: Bishop Gerard Holohan of Bunbury with his first cousin and Irishman Tony Murray, who visited Australia for the Dedication of St Patrick’s Cathedral on 17 March, the feast of St Patrick.

PHOTO: BRIDGET SPINKS

Kalgoorlie marks St Patrick’s

Artist on show for Cathedral

Marian Procession, Salesian relic go through Melbourne

MORE than 2,000 people witnessed to their faith through the streets of Melbourne in the Take the Walk with Mary procession on 27 March.

Melbourne Auxiliary Bishop Tim Costello was the principal celebrant for the event, which included prayer and Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral and the procession to St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral.

“When we process for the Mother of God, she is present to us,” organiser Ian Gaudrey said. “It is not so much our love for her, but rather the love she bestows upon us as we gather in her honour.”

For centuries, the Catholic Church has honoured the Mother of God in this manner. At Lourdes, Our Lady requested that the faithful come in procession.

“Battles indeed have been won through processions; as grand a claim as this sounds, it is true. Lepanto is the classic example,” he said.

“When Christian forces were severely threatened and all hope seemed lost, Christians throughout Europe processed in honour of Our Lady and prayed the Rosary and victory was won. The Almighty greatly blesses those who honour

His Mother. Today, the battle is of a different kind, but it is nonetheless just as serious as previous external threats to Christianity. Today, the threat within is indifference; today the threat without is a moral threat.”

● Hundreds of youth joined priests and Religious last week to witness a relic of Salesian founder St Don Bosco which toured Melbourne. Conducted in a style to capture the “Spirit and Style of Don Bosco’s original Oratory in Turin”, more than 200 students joined Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart at St Margaret Mary’s Parish in North Brunswick for prayer, catechesis and presentations on aspects of Fr Bosco’s life and charism on 19 March.

They also had a prayer service around the Relic of Don Bosco, a concert and fireworks.

The celebrations continued the next day centred on the Eucharist with Masses in English, Italian and Vietnamese during the morning before a festive procession leading up to an open air Mass celebrated by Salesian Bishop Costello.

All this was after the relic’s twoweek tour of Salesian schools, parishes and communities around the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Busselton celebrates 125th in all sorts of ways

The statue leaving St Paul’s Cathedral at the conclusion of the ceremonies.

PHOTO: CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE

In the green: St Patrick’s Day celebrations at St Mary’s Church, Kalgoorlie bring together locals Bill Shehan, John Joyce and Jenny Paynter with Missionaries of Charity Sisters, Kalgoorlie parish priest Fr Joseph Rathnaraj, Krystyna Joyce and Dorothy Ivanac.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE KALGOORLIE/BOULDER PARISH

Perth artist Margaret Fane is selling her artwork, including these pictured above, at shows in St Mary’s Cathedral on 30 April; 1, 7-8 May from 9am to 6pm. Above left, from the Shroud of Turin; Right, Lockwood - Cape Arid National Park.

PHOTOS: MARGARET FANE

Two busloads of St Joseph’s Busselton parishioners toured Bove’s Farm and God’s Farm; prayed the Rosary and Benediction on 29 January. Middle right, an art exhibition at Busselton parish was displayed 18-20 February as part of the celebrations. These are likely to continue all year. Watch this space. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BUSSELTON PARISH

Bunbury Bishop Gerard Holohan joins the parish to celebrate its anniversary.

FRIDAY, 1 APRIL

The Shroud of Turin at Catholic Faith Renewal Evening

7pm at St John and Paul’s Parish, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. Exhibition and talk by Fr Ted. Followed by Stations of the Cross, Holy Mass, Exhibition and light refreshment. Enq: Kathy 9295 0913 or Ann 0412 16 6164.

The Alliance, Triumph and Reign of the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

9 pm at St Bernadette’s Church, Glendalough. Commences with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Reflections and Rosary. Vigil concludes with midnight Holy Mass in anticipation and preparation for the Lord’s second coming and His reign on earth. All welcome. Enq: Fr Doug Harris 9444 6131 or Dorothy 9342 5845.

St Denis Youth Group

7.30pm at St Denis Parish, Osborne St and Roberts St, Joondanna. Reflection on Jesus’ Passion in the Stations of the Cross. Enq: Fr Paul 0401 016 399.

SATURDAY, 2 APRIL

Day with Mary

9am-5pm at Cnr Leeder and Jugan Sts, Glendalough, St Bernadette Church. 9am video, 10.10am Mass; Reconciliation, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament, Adoration, Fatima message formation, Rosaries and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.

WYD Event: Sand Sculpture Competition

9am at Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre. Great family and community event. Register a team on cym.com.au before 25 March. Enq: Stefania 9422 7912.

Divine Mercy prayers

1.30pm at Windsor St, East Perth, St Francis Xavier Parish. Reconciliation, Rosary and Benediction. Followed by Homily on St Francis of Panola by Fr Asnaban. Refreshments afterwards. Enq: John 9457 7771

SUNDAY, 3 APRIL

Taizé Prayer Evening

7-8pm at St Lawrence Parish, 392 Albert St, Balcatta. An hour of beautiful canon music, short readings and intercession prayers with quiet reflection. Enq: Fr Irek 9344 7066 (Tue-Thur, 9am-2.30pm) or www.stlawrence. org.au.

TUESDAY, 5 APRIL

Lenten Preparation

7-8pm at St Benedict’s School Hall Alness St, Applecross. “Spirituality & The Sunday Gospels” by Norma Woodcock. Collection to cover costs. Enq: Norma 94871 772, www. normawoodcock.com.

THURSDAY, 7 APRIL

Group Fifty Weekly Meeting

7.30pm at the Redemptorist Monastery, 150 Vincent St, North Perth. Group Fifty is a prayer group of CCR (Patronage OLPH). Prayer, Praise, Mass and Anointing of the sick. Enq: V Roberts.

SATURDAY, 9 APRIL

Divine Mercy Healing Mass

2.30pm at Windsor St, East Perth, St Francis Xavier Church. Celebrant Fr Meilak. Italian Reconciliation available. Prayers to end Abortion by Veneration of First Class relics of St Faustina. Enq: John 9457 7771.

St Padre Pio Day of Prayer

8.30am at 49 Jugan St, Glendalough, St Bernadette Parish. Includes Padre Pio DVD, Adoration, Rosary, Divine Mercy and Benediction. 11am Holy Mass. Bring a plate for lunch. Enq: Des 6278 1540

SUNDAY, 10 APRIL

Anniversary of Virgin Mary’s Apparition

2pm at the Shrine of the ‘Virgin of the Revelation,’ 36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook. Celebration of Our Lady’s Apparition to Bruno Cornacchiola at Grotto Tre Fontane, Rome. Reconciliation, Rosary procession followed by Mass. Enq: Aileen 9447 3292.

THURSDAY, 14 APRIL

Healing Mass

7pm at St John & Paul Parish, 5 Ingham Ct, Willetton. Mass in honour of St Peregrine, patron of cancer sufferers and helper of all in need. Followed by Veneration of St Peregrine Relic and anointing of the sick. Enq: John 9457 1539.

FRIDAY, 15 APRIL

Payment due date for World Youth Day

If you are 18-35 years of age and interested in attending this year’s August WYD in Spain, don’t miss out and register now. Enq: Anita 9422 7912 or www.wydtours. com/perth.

GOOD FRIDAY, 22 APRIL

Passion Play - 35 Actors

9.45am at Holy Spirit Oval, 2 Keaney Rd, City Beach. Enq: Janny 0420 635 919.

Divine Mercy Novena

3pm at Lot 375, Alcock St, Maddington, Holy Family Parish. Every day until 30 April. Adoration, Divine Mercy formation and healing prayers. 2.30pm Reconciliation. Enq: Fr Parackal 9493 1703.

Good Friday Ceremonies

11am at Catholic Agricultural College, Bindoon. Begins with Stations of the Cross. 2.30pm will be a solemn ceremony - The Lord’s Passion. 10.30am Reconciliation. Enq: Fr Paul 9571 1839.

HOLY SATURDAY, 23 APRIL

Passion Play – 35 Actors

11.30am Fremantle High St Mall.

Enq: Janny 0420 635 919.

SATURDAY, 30 APRIL

Live Ministries - Charismatic Healing

6.30pm at Sacred Heart Parish, 64 Mary St, Highgate. Come and get prayed over and be healed from past and present issues or stand in for a loved one who may be ill or facing problems at this time. Team includes Fr H Thomas, Fr D Watt, Fr P Bianchini, Fr D Harris. All welcome. Enq: Fr Hugh or Gilbert 0431 570 322.

SUNDAY, 1 MAY

Centenary of Kellerberrin Parish

11am at St Joseph’s Parish, Kellerberrin. All present and past parishioners are invited to the parish Centenary celebrations. Mass celebrated by His Grace, Archbishop Barry Hickey, followed by a catered luncheon at the Kellerberrin Shire hall. RSVP by Saturday, 2 April for catering purposes to Christine Laird 9045 4235 or fax 9045 4602, or Audrey Tiller 9045 4021, or stmary@westnet.com.au.

2011 Busselton Rosary Celebration

12.30pm at Queen of the Holy Rosary Shrine, ‘Bove’s Farm’, Roy Rd, Jindong, Busselton. Celebrant: Bishop Gerard Holohan. Mass followed by Rosary Procession and Benediction. Tea provided. All welcome. Bus booking and Enq: Francis 0404 893 877 or 9459 3873.

Divine Mercy Feast

3pm at Lot 375, Alcock St, Maddington, Holy Family Parish. Solemn procession of Divine Mercy Icon, Adoration, Mass and fellowship dinner. All welcome. Enq: Fr Parackal 9493 1703.

Divine Mercy Sunday

1.30pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, 17 Victoria Square, Perth. Rosary, Reconciliation, chaplet of Divine Mercy and prayers to end abortion. Benediction and Veneration of two first-class relics of St Faustina. 2.30pm Concelebrated Mass. Main Celebrant and Homily: Mgr Kevin Long, Rector of St Charles Seminary. Parking for Clergy at ground level. Enq: John 9457 7771.

MONDAY, 9 MAY

Pilgrimage for 17 days

Vietnam and Cambodia tour until 25 May. Includes the Centre for Handicapped Children, the opening of a new church on 12 May. $3,800 per person twin share. Enq: Francis 9459 3873 or 0404 893 877.

SATURDAY, 14 MAY TO SUNDAY, 15 MAY

Catholic Faith Renewal Weekend Retreat 9am- 6pm (daily) at James Nestor Hall, Catholic Education Centre, 50 Ruislip St, West Leederville. “ Living life to the fullest in Christ ” by Fr Henriques. Admittance by registration only. Enq: Kathy 92950 913, Ann 0412 166 164 or Rita 9272 1765, catholicfaithrenewal@gmail.com

EVERY SUNDAY

Gate of Heaven Catholic Radio

Join the Franciscans of the Immaculate every Sunday from 7.30-9pm on Radio Fremantle 107.9FM for Catholic radio broadcast of EWTN and our own live shows. Enq: radio@ausmaria.com.

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

EVERY FIRST SUNDAY

Divine Mercy Chaplet and Healing Prayer

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

EVERY SECOND SUNDAY

Healing Hour for the Sick

6pm at St Lawrence Parish, 392 Albert St, Balcatta. Begins with Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and prayers. Enq: Fr Irek 9344 7066 or ww.stlawrence. org.au.

EVERY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

Oblates of St Benedict

2pm at St Joseph’s Convent, York St, South Perth. Oblates are affiliated with the Benedictine Abbey of New Norcia. All welcome to study the rule of St Benedict and its relevance to the everyday life of today for lay people. Vespers and tea later. Enq: Secretary 9457 5758.

EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life

2-3pm at Infant Jesus Parish, Wellington St, Morley. The hour includes Exposition of the Blessed Eucharist, silent prayer, Scripture and prayers of intercession. Come and pray that those discerning vocations to the priesthood or Religious life hear clearly God’s loving call to them.

EVERY MONDAY

Evening Adoration and Mass

7pm at St Thomas’ parish, Claremont, Cnr Melville St and College Rd. Begins with Adoration, Reconciliation, Evening Prayer and Benediction. Followed by Mass and Night Prayer at 8pm. Enq: Kim 9384 0598, claremont@ perthcatholic.org.au.

LAST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH

Christian Spirituality Presentation

7.30-9.15pm at the church hall behind St Swithan’s Anglican Church, 195 Lesmurdie Rd, Lesmurdie. Stephanie Woods presents The Desert Period of Christianity, 260 to 600AD. From this time period came the understanding of the monastic lifestyle and contemplative prayer. No cost. Enq Lynne 9293 3848.

EVERY TUESDAY

Novena and Benediction to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

6pm at the Pater Noster Church, Marmion and Evershed Sts, Myaree. Mass at 5.30pm. Enq: John 0408 952 194.

Spirituality and The Sunday Gospels

7-8pm at St Benedict’s school hall, Alness St, Applecross. The power of the Gospel message; How can we live meaningful and hope-filled lives? Presented by Norma Woodcock. Donation for The Centre for Catholic Spiritual Development & Prayer. Enq: 9487 1772 or www.normawoodcock.com.

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Holy Spirit of Freedom Community

7.30pm at The Church of Christ, 111 Stirling St, Perth. We are delighted to welcome everyone to attend our Holy Spirit of Freedom Praise Meeting. Enq: 0423 907 869 or hsofperth@gmail.com.

Holy Hour at Catholic Youth Ministry

6pm at 40A Mary St, Highgate, Catholic Pastoral Centre. 5.30pm Mass followed by $5 fellowship supper. Enq: Stefania 9422 7912 or www.cym.com.au.

EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY

Holy Hour prayer for Priests

7-8pm at Holy Spirit Parish, 2 Keaney Pl, City Beach. All welcome. Enq: Linda 9341 3079.

SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

Chaplets of the Divine Mercy

7.30pm at St Thomas More Church, Dean Rd, Bateman. Chaplet will be accompanied by Exposition followed by Benediction. Monthly event. All welcome. Enq: George 9310 9493 or 9325 2010 (w).

EVERY THURSDAY

Divine Mercy

11am at Sts John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. Pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and for the consecrated life especially here in John Paul Parish, conclude with veneration of the First Class Relic of St Faustina. Please do come and join us in prayer. Enq: John 9457 7771.

Fr Corapi’s Catechism of the Catholic Church

7.30pm at St Joseph Church, 20 Hamilton St, Bassendean - Parish Library. Enq: Catherine 9329 2691.

EVERY FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

Taize Prayer and Meditation

7.30-8.30pm at Our Lady of Grace Church, 3 Kitchener St, North Beach. Prayer and meditation using songs from the Taize phenomenon. In peace and candlelight we make our pilgrimage. All are invited. Enq: Joan 9448 4457 or Office 9448 4888.

FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life

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

Catholic Faith Renewal Evening

7.30pm at Sts John and Paul’s Parish, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. Songs of Praise, sharing by a priest followed by Thanksgiving Mass and light refreshments after Mass. All welcome to attend and bring your family and friends. Enq: Kathy 9295 0913, Ann: 0412 166 164 or catholicfaithrenewal@gmail.com.

Communion of Reparation All Night Vigils

7pm-1.30am at Corpus Christi Church, Lochee St, Mosman Park. Enq: Vicky 0400 282 357 and at St Gerard Majella Church, Ravenswood Dr and Majella Rd, Mirrabooka, Enq: Fr Giosue 9349 2315, John or Joy 9344 2609. The Vigils consist of two Masses, Adoration, Benediction, Prayers and Confession in reparation for the outrages committed against the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary. All welcome.

Healing Mass

7pm at St Peter’s Parish, Wood St, Inglewood. Reconciliation, praise and worship, Exposition of Blessed Sacrament, Benediction, Anointing of the Sick, and special blessing. Celebrants Fr Sam and other clergy. All welcome. Enq: Priscilla 0433 457 352, Catherine 0433 923 083 or Mary-Ann 0409 672 304.

Healing and Anointing Mass

8.45am at Pater Noster, Myaree. Reconciliation, followed by Mass including Anointing of the Sick, Praise and Worship to St Peregrine and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All welcome. Enq: Joy 9337 7189.

EVERY FIRST SATURDAY

Healing Mass

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

FRIDAY, 8 TO WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER

Cruise on the River Nile

14-Day package. Includes Tour/Sightseeing of Jordan and Egypt. Cost: $4,900 per person twin share (22 people). Accompanying priest: Fr Joe Carroll. Itinerary and Enq: Fadua 9459 3873 or 0404 893 877.

FRIDAY, 11 NOVEMBER TO TUESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER

Pilgrim Tour To The Holy Land Jordan, Israel and Egypt. Spiritual Director, Fr Sebastian Kalapurackal VC from St Aloysius Church Shenton Park. Enq: Francis – Coordinator, 9459 3873 or 0404 893 877 or Skype ID:perthfamily.

PILGRIMAGE TO PRAGUE, POLAND AND AUSTRIA

St Jude’s parish, Langford is organising a 13-day pilgrimage departing 1 October. Pilgrimage will include visits to the Shrines of Divine Mercy, Infant Jesus, the Black Madonna, St Faustina, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II and the Museum at Auschwitz. Total cost per person $5,800. The Spiritual Director, Fr Terry Raj. Enq: Co-ordinator John Murphy 9457 7771, Matt 6460 6877 mattpicc1@gmail.com.

14

15

16

23

24

28

29

16 “In Christ there is neither ___ nor gentile…”

17 What the sea bottom became when Moses parted it

19 The whole earth had one before the Tower of Babel

21 The Diocese of Boise is here

22 Second woman mentioned by name in the Bible (Gn 4:19)

23 Member of a religious order

LAWN MOWING

WRR LAWN MOWING & WEED SPRAYING Garden clean ups and rubbish removal. Get rid of bindii, jojo and other unsightly weeds. Based in Tuart Hill. Enq 9443 9243 or 0402 326 637.

OPPORTUNITIES

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Work from Home - P/T or F/T, 02 8230 0290 or visit www.dreamlife1.com.

TRADE SERVICES

BRENDAN HANDYMAN

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

BRICK RE-POINTING Ph Nigel 9242 2952.

PERROTT PAINTING Pty Ltd

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

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

WANTED

CARPENTER TO MAKE PEWS for church. Tel 0427 08 5093.

WE ARE SEEKING DONATIONS of old Chalices and Patens for parishes in the Philippines. If you could assist, please contact Fr Robert Carrillo on 9456 5130.

BOOK BINDING

NEW BOOK BINDING, General Book Repairs; Rebinding; New Ribbons; Old Leather Bindings Restored. Tydewi Bindery 0422 968 572.

Deadline: 11am Monday

PILGRIMAGES/TOURS

World Youth Day August 2011 (10 days)

Sun, 14 - Tue, 23 August 2011 (18 people)

For cost/itinerary and more information please contact:

Francis Williams (Coordinator)

T: 9459 3873 (after 4.00pm)

M: 0404 893 877 (all-day)

E: francis@perthfamily.com

Skype ID: perthfamily88

ACCOMMODATION

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION

ESPERANCE 3 bedroom house f/furnished Ph 09 9076 5083.

LOOKING FOR HOME TO

SHARE I am a professional person looking to share with a nice friendly pensioner who would like some good, happy company and in return a good, well mannered house mate to help with expenses. I am from Europe with University Degree and have Perm Residency in Australia. I wish to live in the Subiaco, Shenton Park, Claremont area 040 708 4508.

MATURE AGE single gentleman looking for a room. Non-smoker, and works fulltime at Royal Perth Hospital. Has been a house friend for two elderly people over the past 20 years, carrying out light house-duties and gardening when required. If you can help, please call Greg O’Brien on mob: 0413 701 489.

SETTLEMENTS

ARE YOU BUYING OR SELLING

real estate or a business? Why not ask Excel Settlements for a quote for your settlement. We offer reasonable fees, excellent service and no hidden costs.

Ring Excel on 9481 4499 for a quote. Check our web site on www.excelsettlements.com.au.

WALK WITH HIM

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

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

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

KINLAR VESTMENTS

Quality hand-made and decorated vestments: Albs, Stoles, Chasubles, Altar linen, banners, etc. 12 Favenc Way, Padbury. By appointment only. Ph Vicki on 9402 1318 or 0409 114 093.

OTTIMO Convenient location for Bibles, books, cards CD/DVDs, candles, medals, statues and gifts at Shop 41, Station St Market, Subiaco. Fri-Sun 9-5pm.

FURNITURE REMOVAL

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

PERSONAL

I AM KATHY, 59 YEARS. INDONESIAN LADY , single/ caring, looking for friendship with genuine, loving Catholic/Christian man. I will visit my sister in Albany in April 2011. Send message or ring on 0011-62-8118-60911, (H) 0011-62-21-5400 249.

Vio 3 S 4TH SUNDAY OF LENT

1 Sam 16:1,

You opened my eyes

Ps 7:2-3, 9-12 God is a just judge Jn 7:40-52 No agreement

In the school of the Holy Spirit

Father Jacques Philippe

RRP $27.95

In the School of the Holy Spirit will help you get to know the Sanctifier of your soul. It will lead you to be more attentive to the movements of the Holy Spirit in your life as you learn to love the third person of the Holy Trinity. Fr Philippe explains the rewards of being attentive to the Holy Spirit and provides simple and concrete ways to grow in this inner sensitivity. In his clear and simple style, he illustrates his points with many examples from modern life. In the School of the Holy Spirit is a valuable aid in your own spiritual journey.

Interior Freedom

Father Jacques Philippe

RRP $27.95

Interior Freedom leads one to discover that even in the most unfavourable outward circumstances we possess within ourselves a space of freedom that nobody can take away, because God is its source and guarantee. Without this discovery, we will always be restricted in some way and will never taste true happiness. Author Fr Jacques Philippe develops a simple but important theme: we gain possession of our interior freedom in exact proportion to our growth in faith, hope, and love.

Written in a simple and inviting style, Interior Freedom seeks to liberate the heart and mind to live the true freedom to which God calls each one.

Searching for and Maintaining Peace

Father Jacques Philippe

RRP $24.95

We live in a day and age characterised by an extraordinary amount of agitation and lack of peace. This tendency manifests itself in our spiritual as well as our secular lives. In our search for God and holiness, in our service to our neighbour, a kind of restlessness and anxiety takes the place of the confidence and peace which ought to be ours. What must we do to overcome the moments of fear and distress which assail us all too often in our lives? How can we learn to place all our confidence in God and abandon ourselves into His loving care? This book is here to help us in that pursuit.

True Self-Esteem

Jim McManus, CSsR

RRP $26.95

Self-esteem is a psychological concept rooted in human nature. Yet, people need an understanding of self-esteem that is healthy, Christian-based, and nourishing. This book synthesises the ways psychology and theology approach the issue of self-esteem. It shows how our psychological natures relate to and form the basis for our spiritual selves, and, conversely, how our spiritual life enlivens and enriches our human lives. Whatever form of “higher power” you believe in, this book, rooted in psychology and faith, has something for you.

Where There Is Love, There Is God

Mother Teresa

RRP $36.95

Mother Teresa’s relationship with God and her commitment to those she served—the poorest of the poor—is here powerfully explored in her own words. Taken largely from her private lessons to her sisters, published here for the first time, Where There is Love, There is God unveils her extraordinary faith in and surrender to God’s will. This book is in some way a sequel to Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light, in which her own very private spiritual struggles were explained. Sent to alleviate the sufferings of the poor, she assumed their struggles and pain in the depths of her heart. This led to particularly intense anguish which she lived through with heroic courage and fidelity over several decades. As important as this aspect of her life is, that remarkable testimony of her life and her words intensifies the need and desire to know more of her thoughts. There is much she can teach us as we face our daily struggles or sufferings, which can at times be unusually severe. Where There is Love, There is God, though not an exhaustive anthology of Mother Teresa’s teaching, nonetheless shows what she believed and taught about important issues that confront all people. Due to her constant interaction with people of diverse backgrounds, no life situation was foreign to her and, in this book, her role is primarily one of teacher and guide.

“What you are doing I cannot do, what I’m doing you cannot do, but together we are doing something beautiful for God, and this is the greatness of God’s love for us—To give us the opportunity to become holy through the works of love that we do because holiness is not the luxury of the few. It is a very simple duty for you, for me, you in your position, in your work and I and others, each one of us in the work, in the life that we have given our word of honor to God.…You must put your love for God in a living action.”

- Mother Teresa, from Where There is Love, There is God

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