The Record Newspaper 30 June 2005

From Party member to underground priest - one man’s story may be an example of a much bigger picture of the new China

‘I am ready to die’

Archbishop Ncube throws down the gauntlet to Mugabe

Zimbabwean archbishop says he’s ready to die in defence of people

■ By Simon Caldwell

LONDON (CNS) - Zimbabwean Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo said he would rather die than stay silent in the face of widespread human rights abuses in his country.

“I am ready to stand before a gun and be shot,” Archbishop Ncube told Britain’s Channel 4 News in an interview from Vatican City.

The Archbishop, a longtime critic of President Robert Mugabe, said the president should be arrested and tried before an international court for destroying shantytowns and leaving some 275,000 poor Zimbabweans homeless in an attempt to force the residents to return to rural areas.

Mugabe’s Operation Drive Out Trash has been widely condemned by Zimbabwean church leaders and the international community.

Archbishop Ncube’s interview with the television station came

Continued on page 00

Daily TV Mass coming

C atholic Mass will be broadcast on television every day from July 3 on Aurora Community Television, Channel 183 on the Foxtel Digital and Austar Subscription Services.

“Putting Mass to air is a service Australian Catholic Television is delighted to provide for those Catholics who may not have ready access to the celebration of the Eucharist in their local Catholic parish,” said Fr Richard Leonard SJ, Director of Australian Catholic

Continued on page 2

Pope sympathises with Bunbury for cathedral

Pope Benedict XVI has expressed his sympathy for the people of Bunbury Diocese upon the loss of St Patrick’s Cathedral, following the tornado that ripped through Bunbury in May.

The Pope’s Message was passed on to parishioners by Bishop Gerard Holohan during a farewell Liturgy in St Mary’s Church, South Bunbury last Sunday.

Nearly 350 people turned up to hear the Pope’s message.

The ceremony began with

Continued on page 2

Church sponsors more than 25 per cent of global AIDS services

Catholic Church said to be at forefront of AIDS treatment, prevention

■ By Tracy Early

UNITED NATIONS (CNS) - The Catholic Church is at the forefront of efforts for the prevention and treatment of AIDS, Vatican representatives said during a day the

PIONEERING WOMEN

United Nations devoted to reviewing the international community’s AIDS-related programs.

Father Robert Meyer, a US priest on the staff of the Vatican’s UN mission, cited estimates of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers that more than a quarter of all AIDS services were sponsored by the Catholic Church.

The Catholic AIDS Funding Network Group of donor organisations reports that it funds or sponsors AIDS programs in 102 countries, he said.

Four French Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition arrived in Fremantle 150 years ago, the first of a remarkable group of women who were to influence many.

Father Meyer presented the Vatican statement to a session described as a “round table on treatment, care and support.”

It was one of several plenary sessions, smaller group meetings and more informal conferences held by the UN General Assembly in early June to review progress toward goals set at a 2001 special session on AIDS.

At a round table on prevention, Mgr Ruben Dimaculangan, another staff member of the Vatican mission, said the Church does not

accept condom use and called for changes in behaviour to prevent transmission of the disease.

When people live out their sexuality in a responsible way, the prevention issue has been largely resolved, he said.

Francisco Dionisio, a Portuguese intern at the Vatican mission, told a conference on the question of stigmatising people with AIDS that the inherent human dignity of every person means “we are called today to fight against the stigma and to continue to care generously

and without judgment” for those with AIDS. At the beginning of the AIDS crisis, he recalled, while “most government agencies, public and private entities, and even family members” abandoned those in need, Church agencies “embraced and cared for” people with AIDS.

The call to speak the truth “challenges us to shout that HIV/AIDS is not a punishment, is not a crime, is not a horror, and is not a curse, but rather it is the face of suffering in our brothers and sisters,” Dionisio said.

THE PATH TO ROME

Mothers Prayers - an informal movement of mainly women (men are welcome too) who pray for their children is now operating in at least five metropolitan parishes. For many parents mourning the loss of a child from the community of faith it is an important way to put their own faith and love into practice. This group met at the North Beach parish last week when journalist Jamie O’Brien was on hand. story on page 4

Vatican star attraction

Australian television audiences will soon be able to see a regular roundup of the activities of the Pope and the Vatican in “Octava Dies” (Eight Days) to be broadcast by Catholic Church TV on Aurora Community Television.

The program will launch on Sunday, July 3 at 10.30am, and be seen on Channel 183 on the Foxtel Digital and Austar Subscription Services.

Many commentators and observers seemed surprised at the calibre and number of world leaders who attended recent papal events at the Vatican.

For Vatican watchers, however, it came as no surprise at all.

On a weekly basis the Vatican maintains a regular schedule of high-powered diplomatic negotiations, representations to international bodies and participation in global forums.

“Vatican television has the exclusive rights to the news footage that comes out of this smallest sovereign state in the world”, said Fr Richard Leonard SJ, Director of Australia Catholic Television.

“In Octava Dies Vatican TV has packaged the footage into a weekly magazine program.

“We get everything from the audiences the Pope had with spiritual leaders, heads of State and government, arriving and departing ambassadors, humanitarian delegations and church groups, to

the bishops on their five-yearly ad limina visits, special Masses and liturgical ceremonies, beatifications and canonisations and conferences the Vatican is sponsoring, or participating in.”

One of the more unusual features of the show is the weekly profile and explanation of the work of a different Vatican department, from the diplomatic service and pontifical universities to the coin collection, tapestry workshop and museums.

The program is being sponsored for Australian audiences by Australian Catholic church agency Catholic Church Insurances.

“It opens up a world Australians know very little about, and with a new Pope the time has never been better for us to understand the complexity and richness of the modern papal ministry”, Fr Leonard said.

Daily Mass comes to TV

Continued from page 1 Television. For 31 years Channel Ten has been generously broadcasting “Mass for You At Home” at 6am on Sunday mornings. Aurora Community Television gives the Church the opportunity to put the Mass to air throughout the week, and at more viewer-friendly times.

The Mass will be broadcast on Aurora Community Television every day at 10am AEST.

“At the moment there is a repeat of the Mass each day at 5am AEST, which is not such a good time for eastern Australia but it is decent for the central and western time zones,” Fr Leonard said. He said the televised Mass did not take the place of the local parish celebration of the Eucharist.

“Over the years the people who have appreciated the TV Mass most have been in nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, prisons, and in regional and remote parts of Australia.

“Being on the digital service with Foxtel or Austar means there is not a place within the country we cannot reach”, Fr Leonard said.

“In the Year of the Eucharist I could not think of a more longlasting benefit in a far-flung country than this service.

Catholic Church TV Australia programs can be seen on Aurora Community Channel 183 on the Fox pay-TV network. Programming appears regularly in The Record and discovery

St Pat’s Carecentre founder, former Parish Priest, die

■ By Fr Don Hughes OMI

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate have mourned the loss of two of their members in recent weeks.

Br Ignatius Hannick of the Fremantle Oblate community died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday May 14. Ignatius was born in Ballina, Co. Mayo in 1928. After working as an Oblate in Ireland he volunteered to work in the Australian province arriving at Fremantle in 1970. He soon realised the need for work for the needy and homeless in the area and began the St Pat’s Carecentre. This centre at first provided daily food then spread gradually to provide short and long term accommo-

dation as well as being open daily so that the homeless would have a place to come to socialise as well as shower and wash clothes.

In more recent times it provides doctors, nurses, chiropractors, hairdressers etc.

In recognition of his efforts Br Ignatius (known locally as Br Iggy) was declared ‘Citizen of the Year’ by the Fremantle City Council in 1981.

Among the tributes paid to him at his funeral was one by a former street kid whom Br Iggy met and monitored over the years. That young man is now on the staff of the Carecentre. Br Iggy was buried in the Oblate plot at the Fremantle cemetery on Wednesday May 18 2005.

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Father Noel Geraghty OMI died in Melbourne on Friday June 17.

Born in Tullamore, Ireland he was ordained on June 29, 1950. In September 1951 he arrived in

Australia and spent the next 54 years working in parishes in Australia and New Zealand.

On two separate occasions he worked in the parish of Massey, Auckland, New Zealand.

He was Parish priest of Sefton and Claymore, New South Wales; Hillcrest, South Australia; Springvale North, Victoria.

In January 1981 he became Parish priest of St Patrick’s in Fremantle, where he remained until January 1987. He left his mark as a keen pastoral priest in every parish he served.

Fr Noel retired to the Oblate Provincial House in Camberwell, Victoria, in December 2002. In recent years his health declined steadily. He was buried in the Oblate plot at the Necropolis, Springvale on Thursday June 23.

Br Ignatius Hannick OMI

Fr Noel Geraghty OMI

Survey finds students pressured

■ By Jamie O’Brien

Asurvey by the Young Christian Students Movement in Perth has revealed that 78.6 per cent of students surveyed feel pressured from teachers and parents to work harder and do better at school.

The results were gathered from nearly 1000 students from across Perth.

That means 786 students identified that they feel their parents and teachers don’t feel they are doing well enough.

Thirty eight per cent of students surveyed revealed they felt pressured from the media and peers to have the ideal body image, while 32% said they felt pressured to take alcohol.

Pressure to do well, body image, pressure to drink experienced by students

Although some students acknowledged in the survey that some of this pressure was positive and necessary, most stated that it also had a negative effect.

The survey has been part of an attempt by the YCS to identify the extent of low body image among students across Perth and Australia.

Details of the survey were due to be provided at a Body Awareness event on Wednesday at Chisholm Catholic College in Bedford as The Record was going to press.

The focus of the event was to raise awareness of the problems young people face concerning body

image and to educate and inform them to take positive action.

“The Body Awareness event was developed after a number of students from the YCS Movement began talking about issues concerning their body, confidence, selfesteem and health,” said YCS Adult Co-ordinator Margaret Maassen.

“Many of them seemed to adopt an attitude that sometimes it can be positive, as it makes me work harder, but most of the time it just gets me really worried,” Mrs Maassen said.

Others spoke about stress, depression and taking drugs and alcohol to relieve this stress.

As part of the discussions before the event, students from the YCS Movement held student camps focussed on self-esteem and also wrote to clothing outlets, challenging them about the labelling, display and design of clothing for young people who do not fit the 8/10 size garment.

They also explored how the media, and especially magazines influence a negative promotion of ideal body image. They said the pressure causes feelings of exclusion, self-hate and low self-esteem.

“This is directly what the students said,” Mrs Maassen said.

The survey concluded that, overall, students felt the pressures they lived under resulted in them feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, tired and suicidal.

These three couples have a good reason to smile

These three couples have lots to smile about having just completed a 40 hour program designed to deepen their romance and love.

T hey are: Tony and Teresa Gorman of Albany, left, Francis and Joan Arakkal of Bateman and Damon and Dennise Leete of Gosnells.

Interest in the Marriage Encounter weekend is on the rise.

The June 17 weekend was fully booked well in advance, while 20 couples came from as far away as Albany and Bunbury to participate.

“The most unfortunate aspect of trying to get the message out, is that people think that Marriage Encounter is for couples whose marriages are in trouble” said presenter Father John Jegorow.

“In fact, it is for those with a good marriage - wishing to make it better”.

RETIREMENT NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD.

OVER 75% SOLD

Pope sympathises with Bunbury for loss

Continued from page 1 parishioners carrying up to the altar various religious symbols rescued from the damaged Cathedral.

After the Bishop’s greeting, a power point presentation recalled the Cathedral before and after the tornado.

Bishop Holohan told the congregation that the Pope was saddened to learn of the fate of the Cathedral.

“The Pope wished to express his spiritual closeness to all who grieve over the loss of this sacred building,” the Bishop read.

The Pope expressed the hope “that the faithful of the Diocese will look to the future with confidence as they begin construction of their new Cathedral, a sign of their hope and trust in the Lord”.

The Pope’s message concluded with him sending his Apostolic Blessing to all in the Diocese.

The Bishop noted that St Patrick’s Cathedral has been a significant building for the parish, the diocese and the city.

Within it, said the Bishop, had been celebrated many diocesan events, including last year’s Golden Jubilee and the ordinations of priests and deacons.

The Bishop reminded parishioners that the Cathedral was built by past generations as a statement of their faith.

“We must now fulfill the wishes of the Holy Father and look to the future as we begin to build our new Cathedral.”

The challenge for today’s Catholics is to avoid becoming too preoccupied with rebuilding a new cathedral, important though this task will be.

“They need to focus more on rebuilding the community life of the 7000-plus Catholic family of the Bunbury parish,” he said.

For over 155 years the Sisters of Mercy have provided wonderful aged care and community services from the Wembley site.

Now, as part of a program to expand and develop these important services, a substantial area of this historic site is being transformed into an over 55s village of world-class. Mercy Village–Wembley will offer luxury apartments, villas and terraced villas in a safe, involving and superbly planned community, with its very own chapel.

To find out more about the limited opportunities available to become a part of this incomparably well located, premium–quality village, simply telephone Karen Bailey or Chris Gaggin now on 1800 144 313.

Or visit the Sales and Information Centre located at the Catherine McAuley Family Centre, at 18 Barrett Street, inWembley.

You’ll soon discover that we’ve taken care of absolutely everything.

Three happy couples who attended the two-day Marriage Encounter at Jarrahdale. The next weekend is on October 17 and bookings can be made on (08) 9417 8150.

Mothers’ prayers remain constant

■ By Jamie O’Brien

E

very week, Josephine (not her real name) gets into her car and travels the 25 minute drive to North Beach parish.The northern suburbs mother has three children, two of whom are no longer close to the Church, and makes her way there for one reason.

To pray for her children and grandchild.

Josephine is just one of many mothers who meet on a regular basis usually at someone’s home as part of the Mothers Prayers group.

During their meetings, the women discuss some of the issues of being a parent, and pray for the spiritual wellbeing of their children.

Once a month they gather in the North Beach parish to celebrate Mass, with Parish Priest Fr Kenneth Keating.

During the meetings, the women unite in prayer, placing their children’s names into a basket at the

For many Christian parents the drift of their children away from the faith of the Church is distressing. But it can also be a call to them to use the most powerful of all tools: prayer.

foot of the cross as a symbol that they offer them to Christ’s care.

For a long time, Josephine says she was also far away from the Church.

“It took many years to allow God to work in my life,” Josephine said.

Josephine says she cried for the first ten sessions of the Mothers Prayer Group.

Both her children use drugs.

Last year her unmarried daughter gave birth to her first child.

Jospehine is thankful to God that at least her daughter didn’t have an abortion, a fact she realises is common and easily accessible in today’s society.

Now she is trying to help her youngest aged nine, to believe that Christ is real and present not just in the Eucharist, but in her life too.

“However, at the end of the day, children have to make a choice

when they are able,” Josephine said.

Josephine believes that for many people, the Church doesn’t fit in with their lifestyle, hence a decline in Church attendances.

“Trying to help people to understand that Christ is present in the Eucharist is very difficult.”

“They have to believe this.”

“There are so many questions, such as why do we genuflect, why prayers, what do the scriptures mean, and the only way they are going to find out is by coming to Mass.”

However the situation is not all doom and gloom.

Josephine still has hope that her children’s salvation is near.

This is just one of the stories that has emerged from the group of mothers who regularly attend Mothers Prayers group meetings.

Organiser Veronica Peake, from

Ncube: I am ready to die for the truth

Continued from page 1

after the African Union rejected calls from Britain and the United States to intervene in the crisis. He condemned the African Union as a “club” that was refusing to act because it resented the economic and political power of the West. He singled out South Africa for criticism in particular.

“The South African government cannot talk about interference; they have done nothing but support Mugabe,” Archbishop Ncube said on June 24.

“Mugabe is killing his own people here. Prime Minister Mbeki (of South Africa) has lost all reputation in Zimbabwe for supporting

a dictator who is killing his own people,” he said.

The archbishop said he could not understand why the international community will not intercede given the persistent human rights abuses led by Mugabe against ordinary Zimbabweans.

“We have some mad people in this world. For instance we have seen what happened in Rwanda. People are standing around, the UN standing around, the African countries did nothing about it and 1 million people perished. We want another Rwanda to take place due to a mad man who is just after power? Why can’t we help a situation?” he asked.

The archbishop said that he was

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frequently followed, and expected to be under tighter surveillance when he returns to Zimbabwe.

“I am aware of the dangerous situation of speaking up but that is the only thing I can do - to speak up for the people. I’ll go back there. I am so angry. I am ready to stand before a gun and be shot,” he said.

Godfrey Magwenzi, the charge d’affairs and deputy head of the Zimbabwean Consulate in London, told Channel 4 News that nobody in Zimbabwe took Archbishop Ncube seriously.

“The sewage and filth that spills out of that man’s mouth should shame and embarrass all men of the cloth,” he said.

New cross reaches out

■ By Pat Fraser

O

ur Lady of the Mission Parish in Whitford will remember the Feast of Corpus Christi on Sunday May 29 for some time to come.It was both a day of celebration of God’s wonderful gift of his real presence in the Eucharist, and blessing of a beautiful new threedimensional stainless steel cross on the roof of our church.

The old cross was well past its use by date, so it was decided that a design and craftsman should be found.

Father Joseph Tran explained what he wanted the design to be, then one of our hard working parishioners, David, set about finding a craftsman.

His inquiries eventually led him to Jean-Pierre Peroomal, not only a fine craftsman, but also a parishioner.

After Mass on Corpus Christi Fr Joseph showed slides of the instal-

Our Lady of Grace in North Beach read about the idea in the Jesuit publication Majellan in 1998.

Inspired by the idea, Mrs Peake met with a couple of other mothers and then approached the parish priest to advertise the group in her parish.

The groups now operate in the parishes of Tuart Hill, North Beach, Willeton, Riverton and Ocean Reef.

One of the original co-founders of the group Sandra Williams, who lives in England, also came to Perth and gave Mrs Peake information to inform more mothers.

A mother of 11 children, Mrs Peake says that for the children of today, religious education in our schools is not enough.

“I think that children need a lot of encouragement,” Mrs Peake said.

“It is easier to provide spiritual help to your children when they are

in Primary school because they still live with you and still come to Mass with you,”

“But in high school (and also later in life) there is more pressure for them to do their own thing.”

Mrs Peake also mentioned that the group is not just for young mothers, but for mothers with children of all ages.

“It needs to be reinforced in our homes, in our families,” she said.

Mrs Peake said that the weekly meetings are helpful because they help those who attend to remember that no matter where their children are, God is in the centre of their life.

“This gives us a lot of peace,” she said.

“Knowing that when we present our children to God, in whatever situation they are in, and because there is nothing we can do, they are in God’s hands.”

“Eventually they will come home like the Gospel says.”

For information on your nearest Mother Prayers group, please contact Veronica Peake on 9447 0671.

Parish workers prepare the new cross for installation as it is blessed by Fr Joseph Tran at Our Lady of the Mission Parish in Whitford.

lation of the new cross and invited us to the pathway outside where Fr Benedict carried out the blessing.

The design of our new cross is a replica of the one our late beloved Pope John Paul II had built on the church of his home town after he became a priest. It is 4 metres tall and 2.5 metres wide and was installed by crane.

The arms reach out to the north, south, east and west, symbolising Christ reaching out to everyone in love and offering salvation to all.

One child who was present said, “the new cross looks like an antenna.”

Fr Joseph thought it was a great comment; the new cross is like an antenna channeling all who view it towards the Trinity, a channel to Jesus when a cross enters our lives, bringing hope through the Resurrection, to know God’s everlasting love.

The new cross is visible travelling north or south along Marmion Avenue. At night it will be floodlit.

Jean-Pierre and his son generously donated their talents and time to this project, saving our Parish a considerable amount of money.

We thank you, God bless you, Jean-Pierre.

College marks milestone by giving

Lumen Christi College raised almost $7000 for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal when it celebrated its 21st birthday on June 17.

Prayer, creative flair, participation and good natured competition were all hallmarks of the day for the college, located in the south-eastern suburb of Martin.

The donation raised for the St Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal is a fantastic achievement, demonstrating the light of Christ is truly shining in this place.

Our need of God and appreciation of the many gifts, talents and privileges enjoyed at Lumen Christi were acknowledged in the opening Mass.

Celebrations continued as achievements in community service and impressive sports results were applauded by Wayne Bull, the College Principal, who also praised staff for their work across the curriculum and the generous support that students receive.

These show the College has reached adulthood, he said, as he also highlighted the part each member of the community must play to ensure Lumen Christi becomes the best school that it can be.

Students contributed to the success of the day by helping prepare the many food and activity stalls scattered around the campus organised by Homeroom groups.

The spirit of generosity which permeated the day was particularly evident in the Talent Quest, a great finale.

All nine acts competing for the prizes were enthusiastically supported as loose change thrown

into buckets became the voting currency.

This novel scoring method helped to greatly increase funds raised for the Society of St Vincent de Paul.

Lumen’s 21st birthday was a

Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney Director Marketing & Communications Director Evangelisation & Catechesis World Youth Day, Sydney 2008

fantastic expression of life and faith.

May this vibrant community remain a beacon of light in the local community for many years to come.

- Anne Kennedy, Lumen Christi College

Sydney has recently submitted a bid to host the World Youth Day in 2008. Sponsored by the Catholic Church, and held every three years in different locations around the world, WYD has become the largest, single international mobilisation of youth in the world. The number of international visitors for this week long event in Sydney will rival the 2000 Olympics.

By hosting this event the Archdiocese of Sydney aspires to provide an occasion and space for young people to make a pilgrimage in faith, experience hospitality, be evangelised and receive catechesis; to enable a personal, life-changing encounter with Christ and a closer relationship with the Church; and to reinvigorate Church and society in Sydney and Australia through the witness of these young people.

Director, Marketing & Communications

The Director Marketing & Communications will play a pivotal role in making this vision a reality. This will include developing and implementing a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy; negotiating sponsorships and media arrangements; oversight for the development of the WYD website and registration packages; oversight of international and national promotions; and working closely with a wide range of local and international stakeholders to ensure the success of this global event.

Director of Evangelisation & Catechesis

The Director of Evangelisation & Catechesis will play a pivotal role in the development and implementation of evangelical and catechetical activities in the leadup to and during WYD week. This will include the coordination of national and local evangelical and catechetical activities in the leadup to WYD; coordination of the catechetical sessions, youth festivals and vocational expos during WYD week; and working closely with local and international stakeholders to ensure the success of this series of events.

Applicants for the above positions must be motivated by the opportunity to play a key role in what will be one of the largest and most important initiatives of the Catholic Church in recent times. Candidates will have relevant tertiary qualifications, ideally dealing with the youth demographic. In addition to having the requisite technical skills in these areas, the individual will be an outstanding communicator, a strong team player and be an individual with proven judgment and maturity. Importantly, candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to the values of the Catholic Church.

Applications to be sent in confidence to: Manager, Employment and Staff Development, Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, Level 16, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney 2000 or to anthony.spata@ado.syd.catholic.org.au. Enquiries to Anthony Spata on 02 9390 5317.

Perth Priest for Finland

Archbishop Hickey has responded to an urgent appeal from Bishop Józef Wróbel of Helsinki, Finland for a priest to help the Church in his country. Finland has a small Catholic population with no local Finnish priests. The Bishop depends entirely on the generosity of other Dioceses to help him. At a recent Conference in Galilee, Bishop Wróbel asked Archbishop Hickey to assist him as he was getting desperate.

Perth has already sent priests to Broome, Darwin, Sydney and Melbourne Archdioceses.

Fr Melvin Llabanes, currently Parish Priest of Kelmscott, will travel to Finland in the near future for a period of three years. Fr Melvin received his formation at Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Morley.

Other changes announced by Archbishop Hickey are: Fr Francis Sandararajan, currently serving the Pastoral Area of Yanchep-Lancelin, has been appointed Parish Priest of Good Shepherd Parish, Kelmscott.

Fr Peter Meo, assistant at St Mary’s Cathedral, has been appointed to the Pastoral Area of Yanchep-Lancelin.

The Vatican’s ‘unknown’ agency Page 8

Applications close July 8, 2005.

Lolly bags for sale where a small part of the fun as Lumen Christi celebrated their 21st birthday on June 17.

Painter infuses art with love

Titane Laurent brings her love of life, humanity and God to her art.

Formerly a high flying Europeanbased promotions manager and marketer Titane Laurent abandoned “high” society to pursue her artistic vision.

Nine years after leaving it all behind, Titane Laurent is currently presenting her exhibition, It’s all about l’Amour, alongside the Ceramic Arts Association of Western Australia Annual Selective Exhibition.

Titane also creates the God’s Stuff cartoon which features in each edition of discovery magazine circulated through Catholic schools and parishes.

In It’s all about L’Amour, currently showing at the Gallows Gallery in Glyde Street, Mosman Park, Titane reveals triumphantly the essence of the individual bathed in imperfection. As through a window, she shows the fragility of each subject empathising with their faults

letters to the editor

Around t he tabl e dnuorA t eh lbat e

O Big Brother!

Following the furore over the telecasting of the porno’ show Big Brother, it was totally predictable what arguments defenders of this rubbish would peddle:

1. If you don’t like it switch to something else, 2. Channel 10 warned viewers in advance what was in the show, 3. Don’t try pushing your beliefs on us. In the latter case, they ignore the fact, that they think it’s in order to inflict their views on everyone else.

Would the local councils be beyond criticism, provided they warned citizens in advance that they intended to dispose of raw sewage by tipping it into the local swimming pool, subsequently telling those who complained that they could simply switch to another pool if they didn’t like the idea?

Some might argue that the local council wouldn’t be so uncaring and stupid to do such a thing. Of course they wouldn’t, so how come

and yet finding the hidden beauty in each; a common brotherhood of human frailty.

Titane paints about people in their every day lives and the mundane activities that they carry out.

Through collages and layers of glaze she deconstructs the universal man, exposing him in all his glory.

Her scenes are minimalist, austere: a chair, a bed, a cross; enough to create the setting and amplify the primordial vulnerability of the subject, caught in his nudity or his thoughts.

The artists’ own journey is revealed in the collection as she progresses through each phase of her life, changing her focus from the dark torment of a deep and painful past, to introducing light and colour expressing her love and compassion for all humanity and for those around her.

Titane’s exhibition is showing until July 17.

offer their ideas on youth formation and evangelisation.

Spiritual War

I attended the pro-life rally at Parliament House on May 26 and was pleased with the turnout. However, this is primarily a spiritual war (Eph. 6:12), which will be won above all with spiritual weapons of prayer and penance. For instance, during the rally there were at least 4 Masses in the city: 12.10pm at the Cathedral; 1.10pm at the Pro Cathedral; 12.10pm and 1.10pm at Allandale Square. Are all prolifers aware that if on a particular day they cannot attend both Mass and a rally, they should unhesitatingly choose Mass?

Fr David Watt Chaplain, Edith Cowan University

TV executives and their supporting advertisers, would be so uncaring and stupid? Because they relish the idea of having no boundaries and no negative judgements on their irresponsible behaviour.

Frank Bellet Petrie Qld

Romero missed

Included in our Sunday church bulletin this week was a reflection headed “Do Not Be Afraid.” It told of persons of extraordinary courage who refused to allow their lives to be governed by fear: Nelson Mandela, many Bishops in China who were jailed for their beliefs, the man who stopped the tanks in Tiananmen Square and Aung San Suu Kyi who fought for democracy for the people

Year of the Eucharist

Devotion to the Eucharist is the noblest of devotions, because it has God as its object. It is the most profitable, because it gives us the Author of grace. It is the sweetest, because the Lord is sweetness itself.

– St Pius X

The proper effect of the Eucharist is the transformation of man into God.

– St Thomas Aquinas

of Burma.

All deserved this acknowledgment for their bravery.

But I was surprised and greatly saddened not to see the name of Archbishop Oscar Romero included in this list.

To me he is a modern-day martyr who could not ignore the pleading eyes of his people, the peasants and farmers of El Salvador who had no voice but his.

His fellow Bishops turned their backs on him and in so doing enjoyed a life of safety and comfort.

In one of his last homilies before his murder, on March 24 1980, Oscar Romero said to his people “I do not believe in death without resurrection. If they kill me, I will be resurrected in you, the Salvadorian people”.

To me his name should be remembered and revered by the Catholic Church in Australia as a man who lost his life because he could not remain silent while people lived in fear and poverty. He was not afraid.

Kathleen Brosnan Geraldton

Ready and waiting

We commend the initiative of youth consultation, in which Archbishop Hickey and Bishop Sproxton invited young people to

ess or, unconsciously, hinder it. We hinder it by trying to reclaim the past or by embracing every new fad that comes along.

These become our security blanket in the face of the dissolution of everything we may have held dear or hated.

This might alleviate our anxiety but it is a losing battle.

Arguments about women priests, democracy in the Church, homosexuality, birth control, abortion, celibacy, sexual mores etc. are therefore so many red herrings whereby we avoid facing the very real “death” of the Church, as we have known it.

On the other hand, we cooperate with the process by allowing and encouraging the development of what is yet to be even though we do not really know what shape that will take.

It would be helpful therefore, if our gaze was less on the “ain’t it awful”, and more on the movement of the Spirit in the world to cooperate with it wherever we find it.

Desmond Murphy North Perth

We were also pleased to read in the June 2 Record of the vigorous discussion and encouraging signs of religious and spiritual life among young Catholics.

We were dismayed however to read that for young women considering religious life it was claimed that ‘there were not many Sisters to help them’! This indicates a lack of awareness of many positive initiatives which are happening within the Archdiocese.

Most congregations of women have specially designated people working within the ministry of vocations.

The WAVN committee [Western Australian Vocations Network] is in touch with many religious groups and is aware of much good work being done to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Our hope would be that young women considering religious life realise that they can get in touch with representatives of many different Congregations who would welcome their enquiry and provide meaningful contact for them in their search. Alongside personal contact there is of course the availability of websites through which, increasingly, a number of people make their initial enquiry.

Fr Ray Hevern SAC President – WA Council of Religious Institutes

Missing the wood for the trees

Regarding reasons given for the decline in church attendance, it needs pointing out that these reasons are but symptoms of a deeper, unrecognised dynamic.

What is happening is that the Church is being called by the Divine to let go of its past partially-complete identity, so that a deeper, more complete identity may emerge.

The shell has to break asunder before the chicken can emerge. The negative things in the Church therefore must happen. Our only choice is to cooperate in this proc-

Common sense?

It really is incredible that a State Government could actually hand over our ocean seabed to developers, be happy to extinguish West Australian rights to use of that seabed in order to let a private residential canal marina be built at Port Coogee and call such action “common sense”.

Just who is going to foot the bill for the inevitable damages when we have an unexpected seasurge, a huge storm or a mini cyclone?

Which insurance companies will be prepared to insure houses 400 metres out into the open ocean?

Just why wouldn’t this Government even consider or look at the practical “common sense” (the logical meaning of ‘common sense’) alternate plan for development of this part of the Cockburn Sound coastline in Western Australia?

This intelligent plan provided for a small marina closer to the South Fremantle Power Station, housing development and hotels set back from the coastline (so necessary in this era of ever increasing coastal erosion) preservation of our only remaining visible federally listed heritage shipwreck, and most importantly recognised the importance of protecting our beautiful and unique Coogee Beach, which is regarded as Perth’s best family beach. It is a beach which people in the Department of Tourism are proud of and of which even Queenslanders admit that they have nothing comparable. Most importantly, this alternate plan looks after the interests of all the ratepayers and beachgoers and did not discriminate between rich and poor or create friction between neighbours.

With so many unanswered questions one can only assume that it must be the need for even more money which has affected the judgment of our elected politicians. Or could it be something else?

Marie Slyth West Perth

Join Pope Benedict XVI in prayer - June

“For the millions of refugees in the world: may they receive brotherly love and concrete aid from all Christians.”

Mission intention: “For Christians: may they come to an ever deeper realisation that the Most Holy Eucharist is the pulsing heart of the Church.”

It’s all about love, baby...

As shows like Big Brother continue to erode our community’s understanding of the sacred nature of human sexuality, Jonathon and Karen Doyle travel the country offering something which is about as different to Big Brother’s absence of values as you can get - Values Based Sex Education (VBSE) seminars.

These seminars are one branch of CHOICEZ. COM.AU, a business which the Melbourne-based couple founded after witnessing the devastation experienced by young people who had made poor sexual decisions. The Doyles now attend schools, church and youth groups and attempt to empower their audiences with the skills to navigate the critical years of their sexual formation. “Of particular concern to us were the lack of formation and knowledge that teens had about their bodies, relationships and the consequences of some of the sexual decisions they were making”, said Karen.

In a media-saturated culture Johnathon and Karen Doyle have a big job - teaching young people to see their sexuality as a gift. They are bringing a new, refreshing and flexible approach to sex-education which is especially welcomed in schools.

Johnathon and Karen Doyle

With Jonathon having worked as a teacher and Karen coming from a nursing background, as well as being house parents for 70 boys at a Queensland boarding school, the Doyles were well aware that this generation of youth was being moulded by a culture that was more sexually saturated than ever

before. They saw it as no coincidence that there was also an unparalleled increase in divorce, violent sexual crimes, pornography, sexually transmitted infections and abortions. They believed that young people deserved better.

In response they created a program called, “Worth the Wait” which provided young people with the knowledge and resources to allow them to choose abstinence over pre-marital sex. This program is now an integral part of their VBSE seminar.

“Our vision is to see the youth of this nation empowered and equipped to make choices that will see them flourishing in life rather than struggling,” Karen explained, “The heartbeat behind all we do is to see teens fully informed and empowered to embrace their worth and dignity and to cherish the gift of their sexuality.”

To increase their own knowledge they both

Continued on Vista 2

Not happy, Channel 10! - ways you can tell a TV station they can improve

■ By Derek Boylen

According to last Thursday’s West Australian 47,000 children under the age of 12 watched Big Brother Uncut on Monday June 20. This means that 47,000 children in Australia received an abysmal message about the value of who they are, their bodies and sexuality. We should do something about it.

Once-upon-a-time television was intended to be informative or entertaining. At its best it was both. And the whole family could view most programs. It’s developed considerably since then. Now you can watch base, voyeuristic, pornog-

raphy with your teenage children from 9.40pm Mondays on Channel 10.

Then again, if you take your faith seriously or there is this niggling feeling that there is something terribly wrong with Big Brother I encourage you to turn it off. It’s your conscience speaking.

Instead, for the sake of your conscience and those of your children, I have some other suggestions:

• Change the channel,

• Turn in it off and use the opportunity of have a frank and open family discussion about sex and sexuality.

• The second suggestion might not be for eve-

rybody, instead you might like to spend the time doing something else as a family. Play a game!

• Or, if Channel 10’s blatant lack of moral discernment is really getting to you then take a stand. Boycott Channel 10. Phone or write them and lodge a formal complaint. Then, write or phone your Member of Parliament and complain. Let them know that you’re appalled at what is being displayed and that you think it is time the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice received an overhaul. Lastly, contact the sponsors of Big Brother such as 3 Mobile and let them know that you will be boycotting their products and encouraging friends and family to do the same.

The Path to Rome via Portugal, Spain, France and Switzerland

During a recent pilgrimage around the world to Catholic Shrines, Bateman Parish Priest Mgr Michael Keating was inspired by A N Wilson’s biography of Hilaire Belloc, an English writer, politician and Catholic intellectual, who opened up for Mgr Keating many insights into Europe and the faith.

■ By Mgr Michael Keating

It was fortuitous that I happened to see A N Wilson’s biography of “Hilaire Belloc” in our local newsagency and it proved to be an inspired choice of reading as 37 mainly Bateman parishioners and myself discovered Catholic Shrines and other places in Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland and finally Italy in over three weeks of bus travel in May – June. Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953) was an English writer, politician and Catholic intellectual – Seminarians of the 1950’s and 60’s knew him and his friend G K Chesterton well. His biography opened up for me many insights into his ideas of Europe and the faith. In our new Pope we have a Western European vision. When we went to the public audience on June 1st of Pope Benedict XVI we were struck by his presence, friendliness and spirituality. He gave us a friendly wave as “St Thomas More Bateman” was read out and we leapt to our feet and cheered. His wonderful command of languages enabled him to communicate clearly with the tens of thousands present. He spoke especially to the Italians in a warm and beautiful manner which obviously delighted them. As they shouted before “Giovanni Paolo”, they now shouted enthusiastically “Papa Benedetto” – “Viva Il Papa”.

From the previous page

I am hoping that our young Australians going to World Youth Day in Cologne in August will see the true Catholicity of their Church. The new Pope spoke beautifully to the young Italians at the general audience asking them to hold onto Christian values in their lives. He suggested that in the month of June (month of the Sacred Heart) each day, we all think about the love of Jesus for each one of us.

I am sure Pope Benedict XVI will charm and challenge the young people of the world when they come to Cologne. His great predecessor of course started the World Youth Days and had an extraordinary rapport with young people, even in his later years of extreme infirmity. The image of Pope John Paul II is still in the Shrines of Europe, especially Fatima and Loreto. His simple but beautiful tomb in the Crypt is now a must for any visitors to St Peter’s. As I came to it, at the closest altar a group of about fifteen young Polish Priests were concelebrating Mass.

I expect the Polish people are still in deep mourning for John Paul II and at the general audience they received a special greeting from the new Pope to which they responded

enthusiastically. It had just been announced on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, that Pope Benedict would fast track the cause of beatification of Pope John Paul II.

I did notice some subtle differences at the General Audience of the present Pope. He received personally only the Bishops ….. and the sick people (fifty of them at least) in wheel chairs. Others such as newly weds were mentioned but not personally presented. Our only security hitch was when we attempted to enter with a large cardboard carton containing a statue of Our Lady of Fatima. It did look rather suspicious, but we wanted the Pope to bless our statue. When security questioned it, I said “I’m a Catholic Priest from Australia and this is a Statue of Our Lady of Fatima” The security man rather curtly said to me “and I’m Father Christmas”. They finally let it through.

After climbing the “Dome” of St Peters, I had a coffee at the new “Refreshment Bar” on the roof of St Peter’s. The more than 300 steps are a challenge even without the Roman heat. From the top, one has a remarkable view of the eternal city.

A.N. Wilson “Hilaire Belloc”- A Biography Random House Sydney 1997 p111 - 115

We had visited Monte Cassino where St Benedict and St Scholastica are buried, and it reminded me of the explanation the Holy Father had given of his choosing the name Benedict – the patron of Europe. In Wilson’s Biography of Hilaire Belloc, he speaks of Belloc’s book “The Path to Rome”. This is not about Belloc’s conversion because he was a cradle Catholic – it is about to some extent his realisation of Europe’s role in the Western Church; unlike England where Catholicism was and is a minority religion after the Reformation, he realised that in

bigger European terms, the faith was the religion of the majority, indeed it was he says “the natural religion of European Man”. He wrote “I have never said that the Church was necessarily European. The Church will last for ever. And on this earth, until the end of the world; and our remote descendants may find its chief membership to have passed to Africans or Asiatics in some civilisation yet unborn. What I have said is that the European thing is essentially a Catholic issue, and that European values would disappear with the disappearance of Catholicism.”

As we journeyed around the Shrines of Fatima, Lourdes, Lisieux, Chartres, Tours, Rue Du Bac (Paris) Padua, Loreto, Lanciano, San Giovanni Rotondo, we saw clearly the different expressions of piety of the various European countries but we also saw evidence of Catholic practice that our new Pope will wish to fan and intensify. When one sees many churches and towns one recognises what Wilson calls the “the numberless dead.”

They were united in “the collective rituals, belief and language of the great and undivided Latin Church.”

Another very interesting point which also resonated with me was Belloc’s expression that the Roman Catholic Church is the unifying force as was the Roman Empire – Wilson expresses this beautifully in these words: “The ‘fons et origo’ of his devotion to Catholicism was that it was the ancient faith of Europe… And the Church which enshrined their belief was also, in some measure, a continuation of something even older than Christianity itself. In its very language, it perpetuated the unifying force of the legions and magistrates of the Roman Empire; and, in many of its temples and shrines, it worshipped, with different words and gestures, on the very stones where the old gods had been invoked centuries before Virgil.” Belloc says interestingly “Have you ever noticed that all the Catholic Church does is thought beautiful and lovable until she comes out into the open, and then suddenly

she is found by her enemies (which are the seven capital sins and the four sins calling to heaven for vengeance) to be hateful and grinding? So it is; and it is the fine irony of her present renovation and those who are the most angered by her appearance on this modern field all armed, just as she was, with works and art and songs sometimes superlative, often vulgar. Note you, she is still careless of art or songs, as she always has been. She lays her foundations in something other, which something other our moderns hate. Yet out of that something other came the art and song of the Middle ages. And what art and songs have you? She is Europe and all our past. She is returning Andiamo.”

Just as we also experienced, especially in Rome, the universality of the Church with pilgrims from everywhere and a huge number of young priests, religious and seminarians studying and working there, so

Continued next page

JPII Institute graduates tackle youth issues, sexuality

Continued from Vista 1 began studies at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Studies in Melbourne. It was here that they deepened their understanding of the Church’s profound teachings on human sexuality. Both attribute Pope John Paul II as having great influence in their lives and his insights have helped shape the VBSE seminars.

As with John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body” the dignity of the human person is a key focus of their presentations. They endeavour to create a safe environment in which young people can be provided with medically accurate and age appropriate information. They encourage the exploration of sensi-

tive issues such as why waiting to have sex until after marriage is an achievable and positive choice, as well as the consequences of premarital sex, such as sexually transmitted infections and pregnancies. Also discussed are issues such as pornography, self-esteem, peer group pressure, recognising positive relationships, distinguishing between love and infatuation and how drugs and alcohol can affect decision-making.

The Doyle’s deliver their message to both Christian and nonChristian groups alike. “Obviously we love to speak from a Christian perspective,” said Karen, “Because we believe it is the only way. But having said that we have also writ-

ten a program that is delivered from a value based perspective. We have a real heart to reach the unchurched and to be part of the New Evangelisation.”

For more information on CHOICEZ.COM.AU phone (03) 94598247 or see website: choicez.com.au

Conference and DVD

As well as providing young people in schools and church and youth groups with information, CHOICEZ trains and supports parents, teachers, educators and youth workers in encouraging young people in choosing healthy alternatives in the face of the self gratification that is often promoted in today’s society.

On September 8 and 9 this

year CHOICEZ will host Australia’s Inaugural Values Based Sex Education Conference in Melbourne. The conference is aimed at all educators and leaders who have youth in their care. While it will be faithful to the teachings of the Church it is not overtly Christian and will be beneficial to anyone wanting to promote abstinence until marriage as the best choice for young people. It will attempt to bring together those working with youth in the area of sexuality and expose them to the latest in digital media, informed speakers, networking opportunities and innovative ideas as well as current research and resources so that they will be equipped with

the knowledge necessary to assist youth in making the best choices for themselves.

This conference will coincide with the launch of a new DVD resource for teachers called, “It’s your choice”, that will allow them to bring the CHOICEZ seminar into their own classroom. Designed for Years 9-12.

Perth Visit Jonathon and Karen Doyle will be visiting Perth later this year (date has not been set) and will be available to speak to schools, churches, youth groups, or with parent or teacher groups. They can be contacted on (03) 94598247 for further information or bookings.

Christianity

On Wednesday a report by Reuters noted that the sales of religious books is booming in the United States. The article cited data from the Book Industry Study Group showing that total US book sales rose 2.8% in 2004 to $28.6 billion. In the same period, sales of religious books increased by 11% to nearly $2 billion. And this might understate the situation, as the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association says sales of its members’ books amount to $2.38 billion a year.

Amy Grant had a recent recording of hymns take the No. 1 spot on the Top Christian Albums chart in May, so far selling 54,000 copies. A 2002 collection of hymns sung by Grant has sold 465,000 units.

The growth is in both nonfiction and fiction. In the first category self-help books based on evangelical spirituality are selling well. Fiction too is popular, according to Joan Marlow Golan, executive editor of Steeple Hill, an imprint of romance publisher Harlequin dedicated to “faith-based” fiction. The company’s editorial guidelines exclude alcohol consumption by Christian characters, as well as dancing, gambling and sexual intimacy.

And on Tuesday the South

not

just a story, but

bestseller

Anti-religious sentiments abound in contemporary culture and the media, but this is not the whole story. Increasingly, Christians are creating their own currents, and with notable success.

Florida Sun-Sentinel reported on a new computer video portraying Jesus. Titled “The GodMan,” it took four years and $6.2 million to produce. The company behind the video, the Book of Hope organisation, is dedicated to giving away Bible-based books.

“We still have a simple goal: to tell the story of Jesus in the most relevant form for the children of this generation,” said Rob Hoskins, the organisation’s executive director. The 52-minute video has already been translated into Spanish, and plans call for it to be translated into many other languages. It starts with the creation story of Genesis, then goes directly to recount the life of Jesus, highlighting the main episodes, from the nativity to the crucifixion and resurrection.

The Sun-Sentinel noted that another Christian video was released on DVD last year, “The Animated Passion Trilogy.” The birth of Islam was also told in animated form, in a version that ran in cinemas late last year.

Comic relief

Comic books are another area where religion is appearing.

According to a June 3 report by the Associated Press, the number of Christian comic books has grown rapidly in the last few years. A cooperative has been set up for Christian

artists, Community Comics LLC, to help promote and distribute their work.

Sales figures are difficult to obtain. But Steve MacDonald, who

runs the Web site www.christiancomicbooks.net, told the AP that the numbers of titles has doubled in the last year. His site lists Christian comic books and graphic novels and where to get them.

“Christians have the best stories to tell,” said Sherwin Schwartzrock, a Christian comic book artist and graphic designer. “The world is full of hurting people, with drug abuse and with all types of problems that we have as human beings. Jesus Christ is an answer.”

Continued on Vista 4

Mgr Michael Keating

Pope Benedict XVI during a recent visit to Rome to visit Catholic Shrines for three weeks. Mgr Keating accompanied 37 pilgrims to Portugal, France, Spain, Switzerland and Rome.

Above: Faithful gather at the historic shrine of Fatima. Below: Mgr Keating celebrates Mass at the tomb of St Martin of Tours Basilica in Tours, France.

Kinsey: from puritanism to the desert

■ With Mark Reidy

Alfred Kinsey is the man many describe as the father of the sexual revolution. In the US in the 1950’s he was hailed by some as the chosen one destined to deliver people from the bondages of repression into the fulfillment of sexual freedom.

His efforts failed however and instead led to the demise of subsequent generations who were left to wander aimlessly in a desert of self-destruction.

That was until forty years later when the teachings of Pope John Paul II began to receive recognition. And although the world is in the embryonic stages of understanding his insights on sexuality, he will one day be known as the father of the counter-revolution – who led a captive people to the Promised Land.

Ironically both these influential men shared a common foundation. They viewed puritanical attitudes, which had variously been influential at the time when both were in their formative years, as repressive and a barrier to a true understanding of human sexuality. It was here, however, that their paths diverged.

Kinsey responded to the sexual suppression imposed by his evangelical father by removing God from the equation and viewing sexuality as a series of biological impulses. He believed that individuals should not be prohibited from satisfying such urges and, on this flawed premise, gathered the sexual histories of almost 20,000 people.

Despite its amoral foundations the resulting data was published and a nation once hidden from sexual understanding was sud-

denly exposed to an uncensored panorama of taboo activity. Sadly, although possessing the truth about who we are and God’s plan for human life, the Church at the time could not repond with the same apparent sophistication as the challenge.

In the absence of truth many people accepted the lies and an exodus began. Consequently, over the ensuing years, aspects of Kinsey’s statistics were influential in helping to mould, repeal or weaken laws on, amongst other things, abortion, pornography, divorce, adultery and homosexuality.

However, as western society was

to discover, once Kinsey’s “Gateway to Freedom” slammed shut, all that was left was a barren land.

Divorced from its Creator, sexual behaviour became more widely bridled to the passions of the individual and inevitably people stumbled deeper into the desert.

With an unprecedented rise in family breakdown, unwanted pregnancies and abortions, sexual violence, pornography, and sexual diseases, the promise of a land of sexual milk and honey seemed more out of reach than ever before.

A false prophet had helped lead the people from ignorance to captivity. But the time had also come

for an apostle of God to lead people from that desert into the true fullness of freedom.

And this is exactly what John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body” does and will do. In a series of addresses in the early years of his pontificate, John Paul II has provided not only the Catholic Church, but also the entire world, with a compass to redirect us to the truth that we have always sought.

He has proclaimed that the beautiful gift of sexuality can only find its fullness within the embrace of a loving God, and that true freedom only comes from embracing God’s plan for life and love.

However while John Paul II, like Moses, would not live to see the fullness of his endeavours, God perhaps granted him a glimpse of the glory ahead.

“God is preparing a great springtime for Christianity”, he once shared in his latter days, “And we can already see its first signs.”

He has delivered us from the bondages of slavery to the edge of the wilderness. As the Body of Christ our mission now is to continue this journey towards God’s Promised Land.

For further information on “Theology of the Body” see www.theologyofthebody.com or contact The Record for resources on (08) 9227 7080.

From comics to movies, faith and good are ‘in’

Continued from Vista 3

The comics range from adaptations of scriptural stories, to the creation of superheroes with a Christian angle. Schwartzrock noted that kids don’t want to be preached to, so it is important to entertain them, and to do so in an appealing way.

Christian music is another success story, Reuters noted on June 11. Apart from popular music by Christian artists, a recent trend is the increasing interest in hymns. Singers are taking the lyrics familiar to regular churchgoers and setting them to different musical styles, from country to jazz to Southern gospel.

One artist, Amy Grant, had a recent recording of hymns take the No. 1 spot on the Top Christian Albums chart in May, so far selling 54,000 copies. A 2002 collection of hymns sung by Grant has sold 465,000 units.

Another singer, Bart Millard,

told Reuters that he chose to do a hymns album because he wanted to create something special for his young son. “The way that music is going, there may be a chance that my son won’t have memories of old hymns as I did growing up,” he said. Many churches have replaced hymns with contemporary worship music, Millard explained.

Meanwhile, singer Ashley Cleveland noted: “There is a mindset that they represent antiquity, they are dusty old relics that aren’t relevant, but to me nothing could be more relevant. There is so much division in our culture and even within the Christian community, but when you pull out a hymn that everybody knows, we are all unified.”

Fit to print

From England, the London-based Times newspaper reported on April 11 that a new tabloid, The Son, is off to a strong start. The paper is pro-

duced by a reporter, Hugh Southon, who converted to Christianity eight years ago. The inaugural edition sold 40,000 copies, and the second, published at Easter, 62,000.

“We wanted to produce an uncompromising, proactive and provocative newspaper that will put Jesus back into the centre of society, but we wanted it to be fun to read and relevant to today’s celebrity culture,” said Southon. The paper is bimonthly, with plans to come out monthly next year. Its sales are mainly through the evangelical Christian network.

Even the world of fashion models, not known for its ascetical ways, is seeing inroads by Christians.

A report on May 17 by the Irish Independent newspaper described the activities of the New York-based group Models for Christ.

The organisation was set up by a former Ford agency model, Jeff Calenberg, to give spiritual guidance to models. “There are plenty

of people in our industry who have gone through tragedy because of the pressures on them,” he explained.

The group was set up in 1984 and in recent times has gained strength, with a mailing list of around 500. Local branches have also been established in Los Angeles and Miami. One of the organisation’s functions is to support those who are recovering from crises or addictions. But it also encourages members to give their time to help the poor, and to serve as mentors to young models starting out in the industry.

Calenberg also encourages models not to accept jobs that they are uncomfortable with because of their religious beliefs. And the group also operates its own network for photographers and agents who share the same beliefs.

Profitable fare

The public’s thirst for wholesome media fare is evident in the success of family movies. On March 15, the

Associated Press reported that last year PG-rated films grossed more than R-rated ones for the first time in 20 years. PG titles took in US$2.3 billion in US sales, compared with US$2.1 billion for R-rated films. The data were released by the National Association of Theatre Owners. The most popular category were PG-13 movies, with $4.4 billion in ticket sales.

Then, on June 7, the Associated Press reported that a study by the Dove Foundation, a group that encourages the production of family friendly movies, found that Grated movies are more profitable than R-rated films.

According to a study of the 200 most widely distributed films by the major studios during 1989-2003, the average G-rated production was 11 times more profitable than the R-rated films. If nothing else, the bottom line might yet make believers out of Hollywood moguls. - Zenit

Cause: Alfred Kinsey

Cure: John Paul II

I am Bao, a priest

Conversions to Christianity, along with consecrated vocations, are increasing in China, says AsiaNews. Despite incessant State propaganda and the lack of religious freedom, many young people are reportedly looking into Christianity out of curiosity - and some are joining the Catholic faith. A survey conducted by the Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing showed that over 60% of students in Beijing and Shanghai are interested in Christianity, according to AsiaNews. At a time when China’s Communist Party is going through a crisis of identity - few people still believe in Maoist ideals - many members of the party are taking interest, albeit secretly, in religion and the Christian faith. Below is a personal story reported by AsiaNews. It tells of the conversion of a Communist Party militant, a university student in the country’s northern region. (The names and geographic places in the story are undefined for security reasons.)

Mlooked for a church in the area and found a Protestant one.

y name is Bao Yuanjin and I’m a priest in China’s north. I entered the priesthood several years ago. I was baptised only 11 years ago. Before that, I was an atheist, and indeed an activist in China’s Communist Party.

But a Communist is prohibited from believing in a religion. Thus, I would go to see the Protestants secretly.

the first time in my life, I turned to Our Lady: “Holy Mary,” I said to her, “if you really exist, if the Catholic faith is true, if you want me to become Catholic, give

As for my family, only my grandmother was a Protestant.

At university, I was the leader of the young Communists at my faculty. In my heart, I had many plans and ideas for the future, but none of these had anything to do with God who, for me, did not even exist.

When I was a child, I heard her once speak about Jesus: She said that Jesus was the son of God. But I was not interested in any religion. Education in atheism is mandatory in China from elementary school to university.

have had to appear very late at my first job and on my first day of work. I thought of praying to Our Lady again: “Help me to get a train ticket. If you help me this time, I swear I’ll follow you!”

Waiting in the long line, I lost all hope. All of a sudden, a man arrived, shouting: “This ticket is for the city of --. It’s for today. Who wants to buy it?” That was my destination. I bought it immediately.

The man said he had got the ticket for his friend who had just called him to say that he was not able to arrive in time. He asked him to return the ticket but, since the train was to leave in 40 minutes, it was too late for a refund and so he was asking around, trying to sell it to someone.

It was a small sign, but it was the beginning - the first step of my conversion.

Party activist

My mind was full of atheist theories and I thought that believing in God was something childish, perhaps something even a bit stupid.

In my fourth year of university, I joined the Party. People in China sign up to the Party a bit out of conviction, but mainly to make “friends” that can one day help them find a job, and give them a hand if they get into trouble.

My life in the Communist cell was neither good nor bad. We students were good with everyone, studious and good at organizing all sorts of activities.

After having taken up my job, I went to look for a Catholic Church and there I attended Mass, but always secretly. Bit by bit, I came to understand more about the Catholic faith and, in the end, decided to ask to be baptised.

Finding peace

In finding the Catholic faith, I found a community full of simple and good people, where there’s no lying. I found some real friends.

It was liberating for me: I no longer needed to lie.

But I was struck by the fact that, in the Party, all these things, however good, were done not for the good of others, but for oneself, for the sake of career advancements. And then there were lies: These were the main feature among us: Everyone lied and everyone knew about the lies, but we carried on all the same.

For example: At every cell meeting there was a moment set aside for confessions and self-criticism (the exact name of the process was “criticise others and criticise yourself”). Actually, there is no self-criticism and no one really criticises anyone else.

People really criticised themselves in this community and they even criticised the priest. I began to see the light and to understand that I had found the meaning of life.

But to be baptised, I had to overcome a big hurdle: my membership in the Communist Party.

A formal kind of communication sets in, which can even become a form of flattery or adulation. Someone might say to the dean, for example: “Dean, I must criticise something that you did not do well. You worked too much for us. Yes, work is important, but so is your health. You must take better care of it so that you can do even better work for the community.”

At times like this, a voice from my heart would say to me: “It’s a lie, it’s a lie!” But I too had to do this.

A Communist is atheist; a Christian believes in God: being Catholic and Communist at the same time is impossible. Even the priest who was training me said that I needed to leave the Party. But I didn’t have the courage to do so: I feared that, leaving the Party, I would have faced dire consequences: perhaps I would lose my job or even find myself persecuted.

The Communist Party in China controls everything: To break ties with it means in a way losing all hopes for a life of tranquility; it means feeling like a stranger.

After some time, I became ill. I often had nightmares that even woke me from my sleep. One night, I dreamt that I found a package; I opened it and found a book in it. It was a Bible, all shining and bright. I woke up and recalled that my grandmother was the only person to have told me about the Bible. I remembered her saying that Jesus is all-powerful.

So I thought: if Jesus is all-powerful, then perhaps he can cure me! And so I

tion month, a friend - who was Catholic, I later discovered - gave me 10 cassettes with recordings of the sermons of a Chinese priest. After having listened to the cassettes, a battle began to rage in my heart: I thought that perhaps God really exists; perhaps the Catholic religion is really the true one. …

But at the same time, all the theories on atheism studied at school and in university came to mind. I was overcome by distress, also because I feared that, in accepting the Catholic faith, I risked losing my job.

I didn’t know what to do. That was the day I was to return to the city to take up my job. I already had my bus ticket. For

of the wreckage through the windows. I was shaken by the incident, but didn’t give much thought to this sign.

After hours of wait, the bus company sent us another bus and we continued our trip. But the accident had made us lose time.

When we reached the train station - my trip was to continue on rail - it was very late and tickets for my train were sold out. There was a long line at the counter and everyone was telling us that the only tickets available were for a train in three days.

I was exhausted and distressed: I would

The Party in China controls everything: To break ties with it means in a way losing all hopes for a life of tranquility; it means feeling like a stranger.

There’s a rule in the Chinese Communist Party: Each member must give a certain monthly sum to the Party. If a person does not pay for six consecutive months, he is punished and sometimes expelled from the Party.

Since I did not have the courage to openly leave the Party, I thought to get out of it this way and thus I didn’t pay my dues for six months. But nothing happened: Without letting me know, the cell leader, seeing that I wasn’t paying, was paying for me!

I don’t know why he did it. He was a normal sort of person, neither good nor bad. Perhaps he thought that I had forgotten and advanced the money expecting me to repay him later; perhaps he didn’t want his superiors to see that there were “slackers” in his cell, for which he could have been

The World

‘Unknown’ agency helping many

No glory for little-known Vatican agency that funds Eastern Churches

When the Vatican agency that coordinates funding to Eastern Catholic Churches - more often called by its Italian acronym, ROACO - hired a Belgian priest to head its office, the first thing he said was “What is ROACO?”

Father Leo Lemmens said that when he was asked earlier this year to be the organisation’s secretary, he never had been aware of its existence.

Hardly a household name, ROACO is much like the backstage manager of a big Broadway show: far from the limelight, ROACO coordinates the roles of numerous Catholic aid agencies on the world stage and gets little glory when things go without a hitch.

Created by the Vatican’s Congregation for Eastern Churches, ROACO coordinates nearly 20 US and European agencies and organisations that provide assistance to Eastern Catholic communities in Asia, Northern Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Coordinating the vast amounts of aid and the projects to be funded is key if the Church and its donors want to avoid doubling efforts.

Such was the case in Iraq.

Donor agencies last year were eager to contribute humanitarian aid to the country. But ROACO told members that the Caritas Internationalis network was successfully providing the needed emergency assistance.

Instead, further donor help was needed in providing pastoral care to help strengthen the local Churches in Iraq especially after several Church buildings had been the targets of bombings in 2004.

ROACO also acts as sort of clearinghouse, taking in requests for aid and support from the Eastern Churches all over the world.

Eastern Catholic Churches are often a minority in overwhelmingly Muslim or Orthodox Christian nations and are located sometimes in very poor countries.

At its annual meeting on June 2024 at the Vatican, ROACO alerted its members to the urgent requests for help coming in from Eritrea

- a country on the horn of Africa.

“The institutions of the Catholic Church there: the charity houses, the schools, hospitals, and clinics are risking collapse” if they do not receive needed aid, Father Lemmens told Catholic News Service.

Eritrea is “the fifth poorest country in the world and yet it is among the five countries of the world receiving the least help,” he said. Though funding remains “a huge problem,” Father Lemmens said ROACO helped assign which member donor agencies would take on projects there that needed assistance. ROACO also acts as a bridge linking the Holy See and Christians of the Latin tradition to those of

the Eastern Catholic Churches. The Eastern Churches have their own distinctive liturgical and legal systems, but enjoy the same dignity, rights, and obligations as members of the Latin rite.

In his June 23 address to ROACO members, Pope Benedict XVI praised the organisation for its work in helping “brothers and sisters in difficulty” and in “making visible the charity that binds Christians” of the Latin and Eastern traditions.

“To strengthen such ties is to offer a very precious service to the universal Church,” he said.

Moreover, in a world in which individualism seems to reign, the Pope said Christians need to show

“solidarity that crosses all frontiers.”

Though ROACO addresses the needs of the Eastern Churches across three continents, it also comes to the aid of the Latin-rite communities in the Middle East, particularly the Holy Land.

In order to better assess how they can help the Christian communities there, ROACO invited Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Vatican’s representative to Israel and the Palestinian territories, and Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, custodian of the Holy Land, to tell donor agencies about the current situation.

Father Pizzaballa told CNS that “unfortunately the political and social situation remains unstable for Christians” with many continuing to emigrate abroad.

Pope Benedict said there have been “some positive signs” seen recently that have strengthened “our hope that the day of reconciliation” between Israelis and Palestinians “will not be long in coming.”

Father Pizzaballa, however, said Israel’s continued construction of a security barrier was a symbolic sign of stalemate.

“The wall is a strong, visible reality that is a symbol of the actual situation (in the Holy Land) of no dialogue between the parties,”

Father Pizzaballa said. He urged ROACO members to keep investing in schools and training teachers “because the future for Christian communities passes through the schools.” He also said the number of foreign tourists coming to the Holy Land on pilgrimage was on the rise. CNS

Italy should honour Christian heritage Church still credible

In Latin America, Catholics down, Church’s credibility up, poll says

The number of Catholics in the world’s most Catholic region has dropped off slightly, but the Church’s credibility in Latin America remains high among people of all faiths, according to a survey by the Chilean polling firm Latinobarometro.

The survey said that 71 percent of South Americans consider themselves Catholic, down from 80 percent in 1995, while the percentage who consider themselves evangelical or Protestant rose from 3 percent to 13 percent in the same period.

In a region buffeted by corruption scandals, economic crises and social unrest, many people view presidents, legislatures and political parties with distrust. The Church, however, enjoys the confidence of 73 percent of Latin Americans.

Because of that credibility, church leaders are often called in to mediate political and social conflicts. The Bolivian bishops’ conference played a key role in bringing protesters and government officials to the negotiating table during the recent upheaval that led to the resignation of President Carlos Mesa

and his replacement by the head of the Supreme Court, Eduardo Rodriguez.

In Peru, Sacred Heart Father Gaston Garatea, who heads the country’s national antipoverty task force, recently helped calm a conflict between community organisations and a mining company in the highlands of southern Peru.

When countries are “up to their necks in political, social and economic problems, people turn to the Church and we take on the difficult role of mediator. That’s what we are here for,” said Venezuelan Archbishop Baltazar Porras Cardozo of Merida.

The Latinobarometro survey underscored one concern that the region’s bishops have although nearly three-quarters of the region’s people consider themselves Catholic, only 40 percent said they practise their faith. The rate is highest, about 48 percent, in Central America, and lowest, 37 percent in the southern countries of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay.

There has been a significant drop in the past decade in Mexico, where 31 percent of the country’s Catholics said they practise their faith, compared to more than 60 percent in 1995.

On state visit, Pope says Italy should not abandon Christian heritage

Making his first official state visit to Italy, Pope Benedict XVI urged Italians not to abandon their Christian heritage and ageold values on human life and the family.

The Pope made his comments during a formal encounter on June 24 with Italian President Azeglio Ciampi, who hosted the pontiff at Rome’s Quirinal Palace, the presidential residence.

The tone of the two-and-a-halfhour visit was friendly and cordial. But in his speech, the Pope challenged Italians on several key issues, including abortion, euthanasia, marriage and aid to private schools.

Saying that Italian culture was “permeated with Christian values,” the Pope warned that the country would be seriously damaged if they were eroded. He told the president that he had several specific worries in mind.

On human life, he said, the Church asks that it be protected “from its conception to its natural end.” Abortion is legal in Italy, while euthanasia remains illegal.

The Pope noted that the Church believes palliative care should be given to the terminally ill to make death “more human.”

On marriage, the Pope said the family founded on matrimony is a value that “must be defended against every attack that aims to undermine its solidity and put its very existence in question.”

While same-sex marriage proposals have made little headway in Italy, Church officials are worried that approval of gay marriage in other European countries could influence Italian opinion on the issue.

The Pope also referred to a longstanding church-state issue in Italy, the public funding of Catholic schools. Italian Church leaders have for years sought legislation to increase government aid to private schools.

Pope Benedict said it was the state’s responsibility to protect the right of parents to freely choose schools without having to bear a heavy economic burden.

On all these issues, the Pope said, Italian lawmakers should have the wisdom to find solutions that respect the “inviolable values” involved.

The Pope’s visit, which was carried live on Italian television, was marked by pomp and pag-

eantry. As the Pope rode in his open Mercedes through St Peter’s Square and crossed the border into Italy, he was met by a delegation of government officials and a crowd of cheering Romans.

A military band played as the Pope rode slowly in a motorcade through downtown Rome, his car flanked by a squad of helmeted carabinieri on horseback. He donned sunglasses and occasionally wiped his brow in the summer heat, waving to well-wishers who lined the streets.

His motorcade stopped briefly in the historic Piazza Venezia so the Pope could greet the city’s mayor, Walter Veltroni, before reaching the Quirinal Palace, a one-time papal residence that passed to Italy’s civil authorities in the 19th century.

Ciampi welcomed the Pope warmly, leading him through the ornate rooms of the palace. The two paused on a loggia to admire a view of the dome of St Peter’s Basilica across the roofs of the city. In his own speech, Ciampi said it was clear that Italy and the Pope shared a set of fundamental values. But he also spoke of the necessary distinction between religious conviction and political activity, and said he was proud of the secular nature of the Italian state. CNS

Belgian Father Leo Lemmens, seen on June 24 at the Vatican, is head of the Vatican agency that coordinates aid to Eastern Catholic communities. PHOTO: CNS

The World

Promises remain inactive

Sri Lankan church acts as shelter as tsunami promises remain unmet

For some tsunami-displaced families in Ettukala, the local church is shelter from the rain at night, an alternative to their leaky makeshift huts as they wait for promised new houses.

“We are unable to live in the huts during the daytime because of the sun, and at night because of heavy showers,” W. Basilica Fernando said, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand.

“We try to find shelter under the trees during the day and go to the church at night,” she said while standing in the shade. Her children sat listlessly in the heat at the church-run Don Bosco relief camp.

Fernando, 35, is one of an estimated 450 people in the camp. She and others take refuge at night in nearby Mary Help of Christians Church.

It has been six months since the tsunami smashed into the Sri Lankan coastline on December 26, killing more than 31,000 people.

Ettukala was not devastated, as were some southern areas, but people in this coastal town who had their homes or shops washed away are suffering just the same.

“My family has just one room to live in and this is where we cook, eat and sleep,” Fernando

said. She recalled her expectations had been high just after the tsunami, when her family and many others received plenty of emergency aid. The Catholic Church was one of the first to step in to provide food, makeshift shelters and transportation for some.

“There were many promises to help us build houses, but what is happening now?” she asked. “We live in the dirt and among the mosquitoes. We all heard about

dengue, but there is nothing that these people can do. A temporary tent can’t protect them. This is the rainy season, and the tent roof leaks,” she said. Six months after the tsunami, complaints like Fernando’s are heard more frequently in coastal communities. About 103,000 people live in 257 tsunamirelief camps around Sri Lanka, according to the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies in Colombo.

Money and aid have been pouring into Sri Lanka, totalling $3 billion. But people in the camps see few permanent structures going up and little sign of a plan.

S.D. Leelawathi, 48, a Buddhist resident of the Don Bosco camp, said people were “suffering due to the political tug of war between the government and other political parties.”

“Fortunately some Catholic priests and some parish teams are around us,” she said.

Salesian Father W.S.J. Xavier Coonghe, who is in charge of the camp, said politics is impeding progress.

“Just after the disaster, all political leaders pledged to rebuild the nation forgetting all divisions, colour, religions and race. However, nothing concrete has taken place yet, and as usual, party politics is being played freely,” he said.

W. Anestine Fernando, a local Catholic, said it is “unfair” when Buddhist political parties blocked aid from reaching areas controlled by the rebels in the North and East. Fernando said that in early June, a Buddhist monk went on a six-day hunger strike to protest the government “sharing” tsunami aid with the rebels.

The government signed a long-awaited pact on June 24 to share the $3 billion in tsunami aid with the Tamil Tiger rebels. Observers said the move could revive a stalled peace process. CNS

Vinnies receives an unusual bequest

The Society of St Vincent de Paul in Ireland now owns one of the city of Galway’s busiest pubs after inheriting the four-story building from its previous owner.

O’Connell’s pub is one of Galway’s most popular drinking venues, known for its mixed clientele where fishermen, businessmen and students all rub elbows. The building, a former guesthouse, also has 15 bedrooms and a large yard.

Local real estate agents estimate that the building will sell for more than $12 million, providing a huge financial windfall for the charity. Columba Faulkner, the society’s national secretary, cautioned against speculating on the building’s worth. “Obviously we are delighted, but no one knows what the bequest is worth until the pub is sold,” she said. The former owner, Maureen O’Connell, also left another Galway building to the society. When both properties are sold, the total bequest to the society will likely exceed more than half of last year’s total donations of $28 million, Faulkner said.

The society learned of the bequest in 1998, following O’Connell’s death in May of that year, but legal issues surrounding the disposal of the estate delayed the sale of the pub, which is expected to go on the market in the Autumn. According to the terms of O’Connell’s will, money raised by the sale of her estate must be spent on St Vincent de Paul Society activities in County Galway. O’Connell inherited the pub from her uncle and aunt, with whom she lived from an early age; the couple were childless and raised O’Connell as their daughter, a common unofficial fostering practice in Ireland in the first half of the 20th century.

People remember O’Connell as a temperate woman who attended daily Mass and who loved being in the pub, chatting with regular customers and meeting new people.

Caritas International calls for more help in Tsunami areas

The Catholic Church’s international social aid network said it has responded well to the tsunami tragedy, but said much work remains to be done to help people in the long term.

“Half a year after the tsunami we can be proud of the achievements,” said Duncan MacLaren, secretary general of Caritas Internationalis. But the pressure of outside expectations has never been as strong as in this disaster, he told UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in

the world in brief

Latin prayers recalled

Bangkok. About 50 member organizations of Caritas Asia and Caritas Internationalis, the worldwide confederation of more than 160 church agencies, met in Bangkok June 1416. They came together to take stock of their progress almost six months after the disaster, which prompted the largest Caritas humanitarian relief operation ever.

MacLaren said Caritas tsunami-relief projects so far have been allotted $33 million in Sri Lanka, $55 million in India and $25 mil-

Presenting the new “Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church,” Pope Benedict XVI urged Catholics around the world to memorise the most common Catholic prayers in Latin. Learning the prayers in Latin as well as in one’s own language “will help Christian faithful of different languages pray together, especially when they gather for special circumstances,” the Pope said on June 28 as he distributed the Italian version of the compendium, which included an appendix with the Latin texts of many traditional prayers, including the Sign of the Cross, the Gloria, the Hail Mary and Come, Holy Spirit. The Pope said he hoped

lion in Indonesia since giant waves pounded coastal areas in these and other countries in the Indian Ocean region. But he said more aid will be needed in the coming years.

Father John Noronha, director of Caritas India, said he was “quite happy with our achievements.”

The first stage of emergency aid is completed, he reported, including the construction of 750 permanent houses in Kerala state.

In Pondicherry, “we are helping the fishermen to lead a better life

the compendium, a 200-page synthesis of the 1992 catechism, would give Catholics and non-Catholics easy access to the basic and essential tenets of the Catholic faith.

Shanghai bishop

A 42-year-old Chinese priest who has studied in the United States was ordained auxiliary bishop of Shanghai on June 28. A statement from the New York-based Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, whose superior general attended the ordination, said Bishop Joseph Xing Wenzhi was ordained “with the approval of the Holy See and is duly recognized by the local government authorities responsible for religious affairs in China.” It said Bishop Xing was in line to succeed Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian of Shanghai, the

than before the disaster,” he said. Caritas has repaired or replaced 10,000 fishing nets and 2,300 boats, he said.

However, Father Noronha also spoke of “pressure to spend the money quickly” from some donors who themselves are being pressed by foreign governments which channelled aid through Caritas.

In Sri Lanka, the bishops’ conference is working with lay experts in its response to the tsunami, Father Damian Fernando of Caritas Sri

government-approved bishop of Shanghai, and Bishop Joseph Fan Zhongliang, head of Shanghai’s underground Catholic community. Bishop Jin, 89, presided at the liturgy until the episcopal ordination was over, then Bishop Xing carried on as presider, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Bishop Jin appeared to be not well at the end of the liturgy; he was led away in a wheelchair and did not join the subsequent banquet.

Sin laid to rest

Filipinos accompanied Cardinal Jaime Sin’s body to its final resting place with honours and expressions of gratitude for the man who helped steer the nation through

Lanka said. But he said the instability of the government is seen as a problem for the ongoing aid program.

Father Fernando said another problem is the increased difficulty in finding land near beaches to build homes for displaced fishermen. A main reason for this, he said, is that hotels are mushrooming and expanding their premises in the areas formerly occupied by fishing families.

two presidential crises. Cardinal Sin’s body was entombed in the basement of Manila’s cathedral on June 28 following state honours and a funeral Mass attended by an estimated 5,000 people, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Before the Mass, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the ceremony honouring the late cardinal, who called people to prayer vigils in the streets in the “People Power” movement that led to the downfall of Presidents Ferdinand Marcos, in 1986, and Joseph Estrada, in 2001. Cardinal Sin, retired archbishop of Manila, died on June 21 from multiple organ failure following a long bout with a kidney ailment. He became archbishop of Manila in 1974, was named a cardinal two years later and resigned as archbishop in September 2003, less than a month after turning 75.

A young Sri Lankan tsunami survivor drinks water from a tap while taking a bath at Arasady Camp in Sri Lanka. Photo: CNS

Vatican opens JPII sainthood process

The process to beatify and canonise Pope John Paul II opened on June 28 with an evening prayer service attended by cardinals, bishops, lay people and representatives of the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Cardinal Camillo Ruini, papal vicar of Rome, presided over the ceremonial opening of the Rome Diocese’s investigation into “the life, virtues and fame of holiness of the servant of God, Pope John Paul II.” He began by thanking Pope Benedict XVI for accepting “the choral and ardent pleas raised by the people of God” to waive the normal five-year waiting period before Pope John Paul’s cause could begin.

While the June 28 ceremony was the official beginning of the process, it was clear much work already had been done.

Cardinal Ruini had appointed a Polish priest working in the Rome tribunal, Mgr Slawomir Oder, to be the postulator of the cause.

The postulator promotes the cause by identifying witnesses to testify about the candidate’s life and holiness, collecting the candidate’s writings, compiling his biography, gathering evidence that he has a widespread reputation for holiness and looking into claims by the faithful that they were healed through his intercession.

During the opening ceremony at the Basilica of St John Lateran, Rome’s cathedral, Mgr Oder presented Cardinal Ruini with a list of some 100 people who will be called to testify about their knowledge of Pope John Paul.

While “reserving the right to present other witnesses,” Mgr Oder formally vowed not to “say or do anything directly or indirectly that would offend justice or limit the freedom of the witnesses; I swear, finally, to maintain the secrets to which those having a part in this cause are held.”

One of those secrets is the identity of the people on the list, although Mgr Oder told Catholic

News Service earlier that not all the witnesses are Catholics.

Cardinal Ruini, the judges and the notaries involved with the cause took oaths promising to carry out

their assigned tasks in investigating “the life and virtues” of Pope John Paul, as well as any miracles attributed to his intercession.

They also were asked to swear they would not accept “any type of gift” meant to influence their work.

Cardinal Ruini read a long biography of Pope John Paul, which, he acknowledged, “could appear superfluous given how great and universal knowledge of him is and given how deep and unanimous is the conviction of his holiness.”

The cardinal said that as archbishop of Krakow under the communist regime, the Pope “knew how to unite his intellectual strength and artistic genius with a passionate love for Christ, for the Church and for men and women.”

His 1978-2005 pontificate, the cardinal said, was marked by a deep love and concern for “humanity wherever it was threatened,” by untiring efforts to promote peace and help the poor, and by an unwavering call to defend every human life and the traditional family.

“At the root of all this untiring apostolic activity, there clearly was the intensity and profundity of the prayer of John Paul II - which many of us witnessed directly - that intimate union with God that accompanied him from his childhood to the end of his earthly existence,” Cardinal Ruini said.

The cardinal prayed that God would help the process to beatify and canonise Pope John Paul reach its conclusion soon.

In an interview published on June 28, Avvenire, the Italian Catholic daily, asked Mgr Oder about a rumour that Pope John Paul could be canonised without first being beatified.

“At this point, I can say only that that is a pious hope,” Mgr Oder answered. “Our technical approach is the ‘normal’ one,” working first toward beatification.

“But, certainly, the competency belongs to the Holy Father, and he could decide what he wants,” the monsignor said.

- CNS (Rome)

Bao’s story: from Party Member to underground Priest

Continued from Page 7

criticised. In the end, my only option was to go through official channels, and I wrote my letter asking to leave the Party. But I didn’t have the courage to hand it in. I decided many times to present it, but in the end I wouldn’t follow through. At a certain point, I summoned all my courage and went straight to the Party official and gave him my letter.

He was speechless: It was the first time he saw a person who refused to remain in the CCP. He was completely confused.

Finally, I could be baptised. And with this sacrament, I began to enjoy a profound peace.

After some time, I ran into an old friend from the cell. We had been friends even before joining the Party. He had heard that I had left the Party to become a Christian. He told me that I was very courageous and added that he would never have been able to be so brave.

Underground seminary

After becoming Catholic, I continued to attend Mass every Sunday, but with an underground community, not recognised by the government.

Once a nun said to me: Why don’t you follow Jesus fully and become a priest? I said “no” right away. There are no believers in my family and becoming a priest would have been difficult.

As a firstborn child, I was obliged, by Chinese tradition, to support my parents in their old age. By entering a seminary, my first enemies would have been my parents. In 1983, in my hometown, there were only three Catholic families. Now, after almost 20 years, there are more than 4,000.

Six months later, I was praying in my room when I heard a voice calling me: “Follow me.” There was no one in the room. In my heart, I understood that it was Jesus calling me, but I was too frightened: Becoming a priest - of the underground Church - meant abandoning everything, leaving my family, my work, putting myself at risk, embracing the Cross, suffering, imprisonment.

I said no. But with my refusal, I no longer

had peace as I became restless and lost all joy. I didn’t want to follow Jesus since I had a good job, a quiet life. But I couldn’t resist the Lord’s call.

Thus, I prayed to find another job, in a city farther away. That way, I could leave my job less conspicuously and could enter the seminary. I worked in this other city for almost two years, to earn as much as possible, saving everything so that I could leave money for my parents and in the end I followed Jesus’ call.

I knew that I was weak and so I prayed: “Jesus, if you want, you can make me faithful through and through, your disciple forever. This will be a very great miracle.”

I spent five years in the seminary of the underground Church. Life was very difficult and very risky.

Wake-up time was 5am. After a halfhour of meditation, we celebrated Mass and then lauds. After breakfast, we would clean up and then our studies would begin. We would go to bed at 10 pm.

Life in an underground seminary is a bit hard: We lived in a country house made available to us by a member of the faithful.

But when we got news that the police had discovered us, we were forced to flee and settle in another place. In five years, we changed location three times.

We seminarians had to take care of the cleaning, but also the cooking, preparing meals for everyone. From the material standpoint, life was truly difficult: little food, few vegetables, hardly ever meat; crowded rooms with no extra space.

But, in my heart, I felt peace and even an entirely new joy, different from what I previously felt. There was a strong friendship and sense of brotherhood among the seminarians.

Difficulties were quickly overcome since everyone was ready to love each other.

After five years of study, the day came for my priestly ordination. There was a lot of tension at that time in my diocese and we risked being jailed by police. Thus, we

celebrated the Ordination Mass at 4 o’clock in the morning. At that time everyone in China is asleep, even the police.

Even if our life as Catholics is difficult, our faith truly strengthens us day after day. And this is also thanks to the example of priests in prison.

One small example: In my hometown, in 1983, when China began its great economic reforms, there were only three Catholic families. Now, after almost 20 years, there are more than 4,000. It is really true that the blood of martyrs becomes the seed of new Christians.

For me too, my strength is Jesus himself. He said, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you” (John 15:16). Along this path, I find the Cross, but also joy and peace. With his help, I will always follow him, overcoming whatever difficulty that may arise.

Men in Perth contemplating whether Jesus is calling them to follow Him as a priest could do a lot worse than contacting St Charles Seminary on (08) 9279 1310.

A Chinese woman prays at a Catholic church in Beijing. China’s state-sponsored Christian churches claim more than 10 million congregants, but religious rights groups say millions more pray at banned underground churches. Photo: CNS

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

RE-UPHOLSTERY

■ REUPHOLSTERY Lounge,kitchen,dining,etc. Wide range of fabrics. Warwick, Can/vale, Willetton and surr areas. Call Lawrie 9456 0757, mob 0409 689 955.

TO LET

■ ROOM IN MEDITERRANEAN STYLE HOME Vacant room in modern Mediterranean style home. King sized bed, TV, VCR, walk in robe, modern bathroom, foxtel, internet and pool/spa. Shared cooking and washing negotiable. Public transport every half hour to Midland, Morley and Joondalup. The ideal applicant will be a mature woman 35 years plus, non smoker or drinker and Christian values a must, to share with single mother and young daughter. Call Bernadette on 0402 551 787.

WANTED

■ CHILD MINDER

For two toddlers on Sundays between 8.30am and 1.30pm an hourly rate of $10 will be paid. Contact 9244 7057

Classifieds Ph: Eugene 9227 7080 or A/h:

PANORAMA a roundup of events in the archdiocese

TWO HEARTS EUCHARIST ALL NIGHT VIGIL

All Saints Chapel, Allendale Square. First Friday and Saturday devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Commencing with Mass at 9pm followed by Rosaries, Hymns and Prayers concluding with Mass at 7am. Enq 9409 4543.

Sunday July 3 DIVINE MERCY

An afternoon with Jesus and Mary at St Mary’s Cathedral, Victoria Square, Perth at 1.30pm. commencing with Holy Rosary and Reconciliation, sermon with Fr Francis Ughanze on St Thomas apostle followed by Divine Mercy Prayers and Benediction. Enq John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608.

Sunday July 3

ANNIVERSARY OF PRIESTHOOD

Friends and past parishioners of Fr Geoff Aldous are invited to join with the parish of Northam in celebrating his 40th Anniversary of Priesthood, with Mass at St Joseph’s Church, Cnr Gordon and Wellington Sts, Northam, at 11 am followed by lite refreshments in hall.

Sunday July 3

ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK

1  2 PM ON ACCESS 31

Spiritual journey of Fr Jay K. Kythe, a convert from Hinduism with Marcus Grodi, Journey Home Series. Please help us keep these wonderful evangelising programs on Access 31, as we are reaching many souls. Funds are running low, so help is urgently needed. Many Catholics are still unaware of EWTN. Please let your family and friends know about the Sunday program, and about availability of tapes and DVDs. Postal address: The Rosary Christian Tutorial Association, PO Box 1270, Booragoon 6954.

Enq9330 1170.

Sunday July 3

GATE OF HEAVEN

Please join us this Sunday at 7.30pm on 107.0 FM, Radio Fremantle, for more Global Catholic Radio. This week we will feature: (1) The Ten Commandments with Fr Benedict Groeschel “The Sixth Commandment”. (2) Life On The Rock with Fr Francis “Chastity and Homosexuality”. Donations toward the program may be sent to Gate of Heaven, PO Box 845, Claremont, WA 6910.

Saturday July 9 CROSS ROADS COMMUNITY INVITES YOU TO OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER

At South Fremantle Football Club at 7pm. For more details please contact us on 9319 8344.

Sunday July 10

FATIMA HOLY HOUR

The World Apostolate of Fatima will hold a Holy Hour in St Jerome’s Church, Troode St, Munster from 3pm. In this special year of the Eucharist, let

us spend an hour in the company or Mary, to make Eucharistic reparation to her Divine Son. All are very welcome. Enq 9339 2614

Saturday July 16

CARMELITE FEAST

A Solemn Concelebrated Mass for the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be offered at the Carmelite Monastery, 100 Adelma Road, Nedlands on Saturday, at 11am Archbishop Hickey will be the main Celebrant. All are most welcome to the Mass and light refreshments afterwards.

Sunday July 24

FIRST ANNIVERSARY MASS AND FEAST OF STS JOACHIM & ANNE

At St Anne’s church, Bindoon, 12 noon BYO lunch. 1.15 pm Rosary and Benediction. Holy Mass 2pm. Afternoon tea provided. For more details contact: Jean 9576-0006 or Susan 9576-0403 or Fr Paul 9571-1839. For all transport arrangements contact: Francis Williams Tel: 9459 3873 / Mobile: 0404 893 877. Cost $14.00 per person (Return).

Sunday July 24

75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER

In 1930 the first WA fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order, a world-wide body established by St Francis over 700 years ago, was estabished at St Mary’s Cathedral. The SFO comprises over 1,000,000 men and women from all walks of life. The 75th Anniversary will be celebrated by attending Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral at 10am followed by lunch at Miss Maud’s (Cnr Pier and Murray Sts) at noon. All SFO’s and their friends are invited.

Tuesday August 9-13

THE DREAMER, TOM PAVEY

There is nothing like the excitement of live theatre and we can look forward to a new Christian, historical - fiction play, being staged at the Nexus Theatre, Murdoch University. The play attempts to convey the universal love and forgiveness of God. Tickets are now on sale through ticketmaster7 www.ticketmaster7.com Phone 1300 558 878 Full $20 con. $15 Students $15 Student Groups $12 (Teachers Free) Religious/Clergy Free (Tickets from ticketmaster7 outlets - No phone bookings ) A donation will be made to St Vicent de Paul Society and Linda’s House.”

CROSS ROADS COMMUNITY TERM 2

26TH APRIL 1ST JULY

Family & Friends Support Groups of Substance

Abusers are on Wednesdays 7–9pm, Substance Abusers Support Groups are on Tuesdays 5.30–7.30pm & Fridays All day Group for Substance

Abusers is from 9.30am to 2pm including Healing Mass on Fridays at 12.30pm during term. Rosary is from Tuesday to Thursday at 12.30-1pm.

19 - 21 August

WEEKEND OF PRAYER

How do I know what God is calling me to? Join

a group of other young people for a weekend of prayer, listening to other people’s stories and learning tools to help you determine where God is leading you in terms of your state of life, career or any other part of your journey which may be unclear. Run by the WA Vocations Network, the retreat will be held at the St Joseph’s retreat house. Please contact Bronia for more information on 0407 430 478 or 9478 1263 or Bronia.Karniewicz@cpawa.com.au

BLESSED SACRAMENT ADORATION

Holy Family Church, Alcock Street, Maddington. Every Friday 8.30 am Holy Mass followed by Blessed Sacrament Adoration till 12.00 noon. Every first Friday of the month, annointing of the sick during Mass. Enq. 9398 6350.

REFLECTION AFTERNOONS

Challenge of Living as a Eucharistic Community in the Modern World. For everyone involved in Eucharistic Ministries or Service. Speakers include Archbishop Hickey. Topics: Engaging Our Youth, 12 June; Spirituality, 10 July; Evangelisation, 7 August; Challenge of Change, 21 August, Redemptorist Monastery, 2- 4 pm. Phone 9422 7902

SUNDAY CHINESE MASS

The Perth Chinese Catholic Community invite you to join in at St Brigid’s Church, 211 Aberdeen St (Cnr of Aberdeen and Fitzgerald) Northbridge. Celebrant Rev. Fr Dominic Su SDS. Mass starts 4.30pm every Sunday. Enq Augustine 9310 4532, Mr Lee 9310 9197, Peter 9310 1789.

LITURGY OFFICE OFFERING EXCELLENT WORKSHOPS

Leadership for Music Ministry, 28 July and 25 August. Cantors for the Country: To give people confidence and practical skills to lead the singing in country parishes 13 August and 22 October, Combined Liturgical Ministry Workshop No 2 28 June. Phone: 9422 7902.

CONFRATERNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Confraternity of the Holy Spirit has been sanctioned in the Perth Archdiocese, our aim is to make the Holy Spirit known and loved, and to develop awareness of His presence in our lives. If you would like more information please call WA Coordinator Frank Pimm on 9304 5190.

SECULAR FRANCISCANS IN WA

You are invited to find out more about following Franciscan way of life as a layperson. Contact the group nearest you and come along. Midland frater-

Dear reader,

nity meets on the second Friday of each month at 1pm, contact Mary 9377 7925. Balcatta fraternity meets on the third Sunday of each month at 3pm contact Dunstan 9276 9415. Perth fraternity meets on the fourth Sunday of each month at 2.30pm contact John 9385 5649. Dardunup fraternity meets on the third Sunday of each month at 1.30pm contact 9721 6815.

CATHOLICS EXPERIENCING THE BIBLE

An exciting opportunity to learn more about your faith. Enrolments are now open for study at ‘Acts2come’ Catholic Bible College. Subjects include Bible Timeline, Theology of the Body, Acts of the Apostles, Spiritual Gifts, Life Skills, Christian Virtues in a Post-modern Society and Catholic Ethics. Day, evening, and part-time courses are available. Enq Jane Borg on 9202 6859.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOK

Valid through June 2006 available at ALL SAINTS’ CHAPEL, 77 Allendale Square, St. George’s Terrace, Perth. Featuring the best in dining, hotel accommodation, theatre, sports and much more all with 25% to 50% off or two for one offers. Place your order now. Available from May 30th. Enq 9325 2009, daytime hours 8am – 4pm, Monday through Friday. Thank you for supporting All Saints’ Chapel fund raising efforts.

First Sunday of each month

DEVOTIONS IN HONOUR OF THE DIVINE MERCY

Fr Douglas Hoare and the Santa Clara Parish Community welcome anyone from surrounding Parishes and beyond to the Santa Clara Church cnr of Coolgardie and Pollock Streets, Bentley. The afternoon commences with the 3 o’clock prayer, followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Reflection, and concludes with Benediction.

THE DIVINE MERCY APOSTOLATE

St Mary’s Cathedral, Victoria Square, Perth –each first Sunday of the month from 1.30pm to 3.15pm with a different priest each month.

All Saints Chapel, Allendale Square, 77 St George’s Tce, Perth - each Monday and Friday at 1.35pm Main Celebrant Fr James Shelton.

St Francis Xavier Church, 25 Windsor Street, East Perth - each Saturday from 2.30pm to 3.30pm main celebrant Fr Marcellinus Meilak, OFM. Saints John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Drive, Willeton - each Wednesday from 4pm to 5pm. All Enq John 9457 7771.

Please be advised that all Panorama items now incur a small administration fee, to coincide with this re-structure all items to be included are to state the duration for inclusion and a billing address. Please ensure the bill payer is aware of this change. Also note all accounts will be invoiced at the end of each month.

The Last Word

Sisters mark 150 years since arrival

■ By Phil Bayne, CEO Media

In the year 1855, the P&O ship Lady Amherst sailed into Cockburn Sound after four long, tedious and sometimes dangerous months at sea. Anchored off Fremantle, the passengers disembarked, passengers who included four French Sisters of the Congregation of St Joseph of the Apparition.

Earlier this month, 150 years later, the Congregation celebrated the anniversary of this arrival where it all began, in Fremantle.

In her address of welcome, at the mass in St Patrick’s Basilica, congregational leader, Sr Angela Basile, said she could see many people who could share stories about the impression that the Sisters made on their lives.

The Mass, she said, was not only to remember the first four pioneer Sisters, but to also “pay tribute to those wonderful women who, over the past 150 years, have contributed

so much to education, health care and other ministries”. In his homily, Fr John Sherman OMI, borrowed the theme of the Gospel reading to draw a parallel between Jesus and the work of the Sisters.

“Like Jesus, you came to respond to the needs of the people, to bring the love of God into people’s lives,” he said. The Offertory Procession brought with it symbolism of the Sisters’ work in the form of:• A model of the Lady Amherst

• The flags representing the connection between France and Australia

• A pearl shell in honour of the first four French Sisters

• The Bible, desk and piano of education and the bed of nursing

• The bread and wine to be used for the Mass.

The end of the Mass brought with it a reflection on the words of the Congregation’s founder, St Emilie de Vialar:

“Go with what you have and will receive, do all the good you can”. An article on the Sisters’ achievements over the last 150 years will appear next week.

Why Marriage Matters...

MReason One

others as well as fathers are affected by the absence of marriage. Single mothers on average report more conflict with and less monitoring of their children than do married mothers. As adults, children from intact marriages report being closer to their mothers on average than do children of divorce. In one nationally representative study, 30 percent of young adults whose parents divorced reported poor relationships with their mothers, compared to 16 percent of children whose parents stayed married.

But children’s relationships with their fathers are at even greater risk. Sixty-five percent of young adults whose parents divorced had poor relationships with their fathers (compared to 29 percent from non divorced families). On average, children whose parents divorce or never marry see their fathers less frequently and have less affectionate relationships with their fathers than do children whose parents got and stayed married. Divorce appears to have an even greater negative effect on relationships between fathers and their children than remaining in an unhappy marriage.

Above: The Sisters are joined by a full contingent of family, friends, associates and well wishers.

Below : Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton of Perth, at centre, together with retired Bunbury Bishop Peter Quinn and clergy during the Mass.

Photographs: Phil Bayne