The Record Newspaper 07 March 1991

PERTH, WA: March 7, 1991

Registered by Australia Post Publication No. WAR 0202

Number 2729

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Pope John Paul had better hang on to his copy of Common Wealth and Common Good that Bishop Pell of Melbourne presented recenty at a meeting of the Vatican Council for Justice and Peace. The first edition of 10,000 copies has sold out and the publishers are organising a second printing.

Thousand headaches

VATICAN CITY, (CNS): Less than a week after the shooting stopped, the Catholic Church began picking up the pieces of the Persian Gulf War and fashioning them into a peace plan.

The main aims included immediate material aid for the shattered lives of war victims and giving the Church a strong, unified voice in solving the political problems .remaining in the Middle East.

Hammering out the peace proposal at a March 4-5 Vatican meeting were Pope John Paul Catholic leaders from

Were raising the standard.

directly countries involved in the conflict, and Vatican officials.

They included: patriarchs • Seven from the Persian Gulf and Middle East, representing the region's Catholic minority of four million.

• Seven heads of bishops conferences from other countries involved in the war, including the United States, Great Britain and France.

• Six high-level Vatican officials in charge of diplomacy, relief efforts, Eastern-rite churches and interreligious dialogue with Jews and Muslims.

The meeting was called by the pope, who has expressed continuing concern over the Gulf crisis and the negative effect it was having on the region's other political problems, relations between the West and the Arab-Islamic world, and Christian-MuslimJewish relations.

The pope quickly set the tone and outlined the goals of church efforts in the "post-war Gulf".

The meeting gathered Catholic leaders representing people who fought each other, and now "these same pastors call them to reconciliation to build together a future which permits

everyone to live in dignity and peace," the pope said in opening the meeting.

This includes works of charity and working for "a just and durable peace" through solving pressing political problems, he said.

Otherwise, we face "the anger inherited from the past", he said.

"If yesterday's problems are not resolved or do not even know the beginnings of a solution, the poor of the Middle East — I especially think of the Palestinians and the Lebanese — will be even more threatened," the pope added.

Other problems cited by the pope as needing immediate attention are security for Israel, foreign debt relief, controls on arms sales and an overall disarmament agreement for the region, and greater guarantees against military invasion.

The overall need is for a world order which excludes war as a means of solving disputes between nations, he said.

The pope also asked for greater freedom and respect by Arab governments for the tiny Catholic minority in the region.

Throughout the area, Catholics face "1000 difficulties, the greatest

of which is to affirm themselves as a Christian minority in Islamic societies," he said.

Catholics in Arab countries face the same problems as Muslims, he said.

"We can imagine the Islamic attitudes range impatience of Iraqis, from tolerance to rejec- Christians and Muslims. tion, the pope said. as they await a true peace "There are countries for today and tomorrow," which do not permit he said.

Christian communities The Catholic Church to take root, celebrate wants to show its solidartheir faith and live ity, said the pope. according to the "When war sows divdemands of their confes- isions, suffering and sion.I think especially of death, it is of primary Saudi Arabia," he said. importance that the "There is not a religious Catholic Church appears war in progress" and the in the eyes of the world Gulf fighting was not a as a community of "holy war- because charity," he said. "belief in God calls to understanding and dia• Christians outlawed — Page 2. logue", he added.

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War is not yet over

Bishop Hickey congratulates Robert O'Bryan.

... SAYS SEMINARIAN AS HE PLEDGES TO CARRY ON WITH VOCATION "The war is not yet over" was Robert O'Bryan's description of his vocation after his admission to candidacy for ordination last Saturday in Geraldton Cathedral.

Robert (42) has spent the last four years at the seminary in Adelaide, and on Saturday night he made a public commitment before

Bishop Hickey to con- had so far are part of tinue his preparation the war or the battles for diaconate and I'll be continuing with. priesthood.

"The challenge will "Ihave found the first always be there untilI four years of study die — to serve God to difficult and I dare say the extent that I the next three years believe God wants me won't be easy either," to as a priest."

Robert said.

Raised in Perth, "But I don't expect Robert lived in Port my life as a priest is Hedland for 13 years, going to be that easy most of that time as an and the challenges I've ambulance officer,

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The Record, March 7, 1991

By Ian Esmond before going to the seminary in 1987.

Deciding to study for the priesthood for the Geraldton diocese, he felt apprehensive as to how an outsider would be accepted.

"After the receptionI received tonight I'm very happy andIknow

I am accepted as a member of this community," Robert said.

"I look forward to serving here as a priest."

Bishop Hickey said in his homily that Robert's candidacy was a public expression of his readiness to take the final steps leading to the holy orders he sought.

"Robert is called from among the people of this diocese and he needs your prayers and support in order to see that God is calling him to serve you as a priest," Bishop Hickey said.

"I receive him on behalf of the Church of the diocese of Geraldton and we rejoice that one of our

Christians outlawed VATICAN CITY (CNS): When the Vatican planned its summit on the Gulf war, it could have set a symbolic place at the table for Saudi Arabia.

Unlike other major Catholic communities in the Middle East, Saudi Catholics were not sending a representative to the March 4-5 meeting.

That's because in Saudi Arabia — the host nation of Operation Desert Storm — the practice of Christianity is outlawed.

Living under strict Islamic law, the estimated 400,000 Catholics in the country go without regular pastoral care. There is no bishop, and officially no priest is allowed to operate.

"We're in the catacombs in Saudi Arabia," said one church official who has worked in the region for years.

Saudi Arabia is one of the few places in the world where carrying a Bible or wearing a crucifix can land someone in trouble.

By law, all Saudi citizens are Muslims, and there is a death penalty for conversion.

Islamic law takes the place of constitution, and Islamic courts administer justice.

The lack of religious freedom was eased somewhat for the a pproximately 400,000 US troops based in Saudi Arabia, most of whom were Christian. Chaplains were permitted to visit soldiers and hold religious services — but with great descretion.

When a reporter asked US military officials about the possibility of attending such a service, for example, he was told it was highly unlikely because that would

"offend the host country".

Arabia's Saudi repressive policies on religion have long been a concern of Vatican officials.

"It's really an impossible situation and constitutes an ,extremely serious obstacle on a human rights level. The situation is complicated because theoretically, there is no Catholic community (in Saudi Arabia). But there are many Catholics among foreign workers," said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.

With its growth as an oil-producing country, Saudi Arabia's foreign residents now number four million out of a total 11 million population.

Many are from predominantly Catholic countries like the Philippines. This helps explain why, despite the ban on

worship and proselytising, the Catholic community there has increased four-fold in the last 10 years.

The Church in Saudi Arabia today represents a flock larger than several of the older Catholic communities in the Middle East, whose patriarchs were summoned to the Vatican meeting.

An effort to maintain an "unofficial" pastoral ministry in Saudi Arabia is an upand-down battle that presently is in a down phase.

Under pressure from Muslim fundamentalists, Saudi leaders adopted an increasingly strict interpretation of Islamic law over the last decade, ending a brief period of relative tolerance.

At one point the government had even approved the building of a non-sectarian

community has heard our Lord's call and is faithfully following it."

Robert will spend three months later this year on pastoral placement in the Geraldton diocese as part of his seminary training.

Robert is due for ordination as a deacon next year and as a priest after completion of his studies in mid1993.

church in Jeddah, but the permission was withdrawn.

In the mid-1980s, some priests — officially in Saudi Arabia as teachers — were expelled from the country after they were "caught" celebrating Mass.

Today, church sources hint that there may still be a handful of priests working clandestinely among the foreign community. But they are careful not to say more than that, because the Saudi government will tolerate no publicity on the matter.

The Arabian vicariate based in the United Arab Emirates — on the Gulf side of the Arabian peninsula — is technically responsible for the pastoral care of Catholics in Saudi Arabia, but it is not allowed to work inside the country.

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Forget the quaint message machines and the excuse "Don't call us, we'll call you...!"

Forget Australia Post's community service at 43 cents a letter and forget the excuse -Our letter is in the mail...!"

We now have The West Australian' Post. The new service in which for 50 cents a day the public may learn something to their advantage.

That is how the archdiocese of Perth finds out about the decisions the West Australian government departments are making about one of its properties.

On Wednesday February 27 The West Australian reported that the Planning Dept is reviewing the widening of Fitzgerald Street (unbelievably just 22 weeks since the hotel's demolition was absolutely demanded of its buyer...).

A phone call to the Dept that morning could get no answer why the archdiocese had to read this news in a newspaper and why the archdiocese would not be kept informed to such a review.

On Saturday morning March 2, again The West Australian reported Heritage Minister Mr Jim McGinty saying: "the proposed widening of Fitzgerald Street — which would have spelt the hotel's demise — was no longer needed."

Even more remarkably this revelation did not come from the Planning Minister Mr David Smith whose portfolio covers the Dept in question.

Further, revealed The West Australian, "Mr McGinty would advise the Catholic Church (sic) that it was no longer imperative to demolish to hotel..."

Five days later the archdiocese has had neither a phone call or a letter to explain the status of its agreement with the Planning Minister to demolish the hotel.

Will Minister McGinty publish that letter too in The West Australian?

Mr McGinty of course had resorted to the oldest trick in journalism: a quick word to the press late on Friday before a long

weekend holiday. It stops awkward questions.

When government re-opened however on Tuesday morning the archdiocese went in search of the press statement that would reveal these matters. "No releases went out" said the Government Media Office," the ministers spoke to The West/Sunday Times.

The Sunday Times chief of staff and the reporter concerned said on Tuesday they had known of no such call.

The archdiocesan again phoned the Planning Department on Tuesday morning and was told that the review of the Fitzgerald Street widening was NOT concluded.

How does Mr McGinty and his conduit The West Australian know otherwise? Does the newspaper have some privileged information about this issue?

Is this the era of government by newspaper'? It was The West Australian's journalists who only three years ago pleaded for help against pressure from the State government which owns part of this monopoly.

They need not have bothered. They are obviously compliant with whatever Minister McGinty says and definitely won't uncover why the Heritage Department and the Perth City Council are defying the Planning Department on this issue.

The archdiocese property is the meat in the sandwich of a departmental feud and The West Australian is being used to manipulate the public.

There will be no help forthcoming from the Minister for Planning.

On Tuesday morning at 11.20 am The Record faxed three questions to the minister for his reply or comment. Twenty four hours later the minister's office was called to see if any replies would be coming.

At the time of the Record going to press (4pm) the call had not been returned.

The shabby, manipulative and selective treatment of the Catholic archdiocese of Perth in this matter can only beg the question why?

No doubt we shall hear further via The West Australian Post.

Don't call us, we'll call you The Minister for Planning and Urban Development, Mr David Smith, apparently will take no responsibility for shedding light on his Planning Department's involvement in the Fitzgerald Hotel issue.

The Record asks why.

On Tuesday, March 5, at 11.20am the Minister was faxed three questions for his comment or reply.

On Wednesday, March 6, at 11.30am The Record contacted the minister's office and asked if the fax had been received and whether replies were forthcoming.

At the time of going to press 4pm no reply to the question or to the earlier call had been received.

The Record calls on the minister to answer the following questions: 1) When, between Wednesday morning February 27 and Friday afternoon March 1 was a review of the Fitzgerald Street widening concluded, if we are to go by what has been reported?

2) Why did a call to the Planning Department this week reveal that review has not been concluded?

3) How soon after the public auction on September 26 was the review initiated and why was the archdiocese not informed of such a possible review? When will the archdiocese be informed and by whom?

Material submitted to The Record should preferably be typewritten or clearly and legibly handwritten, at least triple spaced with wide margins, in upper and lower case, and in style for the section for which it is intended.

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The Record, March 7. 1991

3

Pope names first ever nuncio to Bulgaria

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II named a Vatican expert on Eastern-rite churches, Msgr Mario Rizzi, as the first diplomatic representative to Bulgaria since 1950.

Bulgaria is the fourth former Soviet bloc nation to exchange ambassadors with the Vatican since the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe.

He becomes the first apostolic nuncio ever posted to Bulgaria. Beginning in the 1930s, the Vatican maintained relations with Bulgaria through a series of delegates, including Archbishop Angelo Roncalli, the future Pope John XXIII. When communists came to power after World War II, relations were broken off.

Catholics are a tiny minority of Bulgaria's 9 million population. The Vatican estimates that there are about 70,000 Catholics, of which 20,000 are Eastern rite. The majority of the population is Orthodox.

Need for strong Catholic voice in Italy •

VATICAN CITY, (CNS) — Pope John Paul

I Itold a group of Italian bishops that Catholic

faith needs to have a strong voice in Italian society.

"A socially irrelevant faith would no longer be the faith the Acts of the Apostles and the writings of Paul and John," the pope said to bishops from the Emilia-Romagna.

"The new inculturation of the faith is the primary task of the Christian generation, which is facing the third millennium."

An essential ingredient in that task, he said, is to "announce the religious value of human life."

The pope told the bishops their part of the country has a high standard of living and "enjoys a certain civic tranquility," marked by tolerance and respect among its citizens.

But the region is becoming increasingly secularised and faces problems brought by an extremely low birth rate and increasing divorce, separation, abortion and suicide.

"One at times has the impression that yours is a people who believes in living life, but does not know which life to love," the pope said.

A Catholic voice in public debate is needed "in an environment in which freedom of speech is often used as a weapon to weaken freedom of thought," he said.

4 The Record, March 7, 1991

Danger of daily soap operas DALLAS (CNS): Television entertainment should reflect "moral integrity" and "religious and spiritual values", Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, told US bishops gathered in Dallas.

If daily soap operas portray divorce, adultery, fornication, contraception, abortion and lying as normal and acceptable ways of coping with life, he said, "is it any wonder that what is said on Sunday from the pulpit. . . seems restrictive and almost irrelevant?"

"This does not mean that evil cannot be depicted — but as evil. It should not be canonised as good," he said.

"The truly insidious influence," he said, comes when characters depicted as "good people" are "portrayed in a sympathetic light as they engage in activity certain to erode the moral fibre of our people".

Archbishop Foley urged the bishops to "provide special pastoral care for those in the communications and entertainment industries".

Because of the influence of the media on consciences, he said, the Church should give "sensitive

care and attention" to the consciences of those responsible for the media "so that moral integrity and artistic quality might survive and flourish in a very competitive environment".

He said news reporting is also "an area filled with moral dilemmas".

"How is news reported?" he asked.

"Are those who are concerned for life depicted as crazies who seek to deprive women of what is perceived as a fundamental right?

"Are those who raise questions about euthanasia depicted as heartless legalists who wish to see old people suffer and their families reduced to penury?

"Are those who object to the distribution of condoms in schools depicted as unrealistic dreamers who actually think that teenagers should be encouraged to practice chastity?"

News media need to engage in an ongoing "examination of conscience" about how they handle such issues, he said, because "consciences are formed through the words which are used, the scenes which are depicted and the people who are chosen to be interviewed".

God's command not a licence' WASHINGTON (CNS): God's command to "be fruitful, multiply and dominate" in the Book of Genesis "is no licence to exploit", a priest who specialises in ecological concerns said.

"The human person, as we see in the story of Noah, is to care for all animals, whether useful to him or not, because human life is inconceivable apart from the other creatures that inhabit the earth," said the priest, Mons Charles Murphy.

Declaring that "animals, like the land itself, are

not just human property", Mons Murphy said.

"They have a right to exist because they belong to God and to themselves."

Mons Murphy has written: "At Home on Earth: Foundations for a Catholic Ethic of the an Environment", approach to the environmental challenge based on Catholic social teaching.

"The great dividing line is not between humanity and the other creatures but between God and all his creation."

In Genesis, "creation is described as the estab-

lishment of a cosmos, an ordered place", he said.

"There are therefore limits placed upon human activity, a respect for the delicate order and balance of the universe required as well as an awareness of accountability before God for our actions."

The earth "is not a hotel for transients, but a storied place, a place we care about", he said. "It is our home."

The Church, he added, "has every right to summon us all to conversion, to wanting less, not more, in imitation of

ecology's patron, St Francis of Assisi".

Mons Murphy said a leading American scientist recently told a bishops' committee that scientists, politicians and economists tend to see only their part of the problem, but not the whole picture.

"But somebody has to think about the whole picture because the problem of the environment is not just another problem," he said. "It has to do with our feelings and convictions and our relationship with the place where we all live, and it touches upon our

notions of God and our accountability to him."

Mons Murphy said: "Are we in the developed nations advocating an environmentalism only for others, demanding that the underdeveloped nations remain undeveloped, that they reduce their populations, discontinue the destruction of the Amazon rain forest, etc. so that we can go on living in the style to which we have become accustomed, the richest one-fifth of the world's people consuming 70 per cent of the world's goods and services?"

upon by treaty," the California prelate said.

Archbishop Mahony linked pornography to wars in the 20th century, including the Persian Gulf conflict.

"The 20th century has been ravaged by three major atheistic philosophies which have led to bloodshed on a horrifying scale: fascism, communism and materialism — much of it spawned by the Western

nations," he said.

He said "the Weimar Republic that led directly to German Nazism, and Lenin's USSR. and our post-World War II secularised West, made access to pornography a socalled 'right."

This led to a mentality which, he said, "has helped to destroy countless people in the United States through rape,

rape-murder, date rape, child molestation, venereal diseases and the killer disease, AIDS — all the fallout of pornography."

In calling for sanctions, Archbishop Mahony did not cite any nation by name, but nations heavily involved in illegal porn include the Netherlands, West Germany and Thailand.

Call to UN to enforce porn laws LOS ANGELES (CNS): Archbishop Roger Mahony of Los Angeles urged the United Nations to "identify and impose sanctions" on countires which traffic illegally in pornography.

"I call upon the United Nations to enforce the international pornography laws that have been already agreed

"Pornography is no more acceptable in the new world order than are slavery, apartheid, cocaine smuggling or germ warfare," he said.

Archbishop Mahony made the call at a February 9 forum on pornography in Los Angeles.

Pope sympathises with Brazilians VATICAN CITY (CNS): social teachings, he said Pope John Paul II said he in a message sent to understands the impa- support the Brazilian tience of many Brazilians bishops' annual Lenten facing "personal and campaign. social injustices".

The Church is trying to help by spreading its

The Lenten campaign consists of fund-raising

programs and educa-

tional projects centring on different themes each year. This year's theme is United in the Dignity of Work. •

are treated "simply as things" having to face "all types of intolerances and discriminations", the pope said.

In Brazil "the goods of the earth are shared by a few" and human beings

Brazilian workers, he said, have a right to expect just wages,

healthy working conditions and job stability.

"Iunderstand very well the impatience, anguish and anxiety of those, who with a Christian soul, are not in conformity with personal and social injustices," the pope said.

'P44

Eli

C-7

Medjugorje: Now the pope steps in...

VATICAN CITY (CNS): Pope John Paul II met with a Yugoslavian bishop on February 8 to discuss reported Marian apparitions at Medjugorje and a recent report that downplayed a "supernatural" explanation for the e vents.

Bishop Pavao Zanic of Mostar-Duvno, the diocese that includes Medjugorje, said after the private audience that the pope assured him the Vatican eventually would make a statement on the matter.

In the meantime, pilgrims continue to arrive at Medjugorje despite discouragement from his diocese, Bishop Zanic said. He would give no further details of his meeting with the pontiff.

Bishop Zanic has sharply criticised the Franciscans who run the Medjugorje parish and has said he is convinced the alleged apparitions are not authentic.

The Yugoslavian bishops said last November that, based on evidence studied so far, "it cannot be confirmed that supernatural apparitions and revelations are occurring" at Medjugorje, a small village in western Yugoslavia.

The bishops also said, however, that the influx of pilgrims to the site required closer pastoral attention.

They said the bishops' conference was willing to help Bishop Zanic organise programs for the visitors.

Bishop Zanic said the bishops' proposal for pastoral

programs reflected concern about reports of nonChristian influence a Medjugorje. The bishops, he said, wanted to "preserve Medjugorje from the fanatics and the gurus."

The bishops' statement has not been published officially, though it has been printed by various news organisations. Yugoslavian church sources said the statement was sent to the Vatican's doctrinal congregation for review, along with other materials.

Bishop Zanic said it may be that the doctrinal congregation eventually will publish the statement with its own pastoral guidelines. The pope meanwhile counselled patience and told him that a statement would be published "in due time," he said.

Since November, Bishop Zanic said, "nothing has changed" at Medjugorje. He said it was unclear if new pastoral services would be offered to Medjugorje pilgrims. To date, there has been no attempt to prepare such services, and as local bishop he is in no hurry to do so, he said.

He said he was "completely satisfied" with the bishops' statement last November. He noted that of 20 bishos present, 19 approved the statement and one abstained.

"The whole world now knows the judgment of the bishops, and there's no going back," he said.

Call for changes in marriage rites GRAND JUNCTION, CONO (CNS): The need for change in the current rite of marriage was a popular issue at a liturgy conference here.

Bishop Ricardo Ramirez said that the Church has made great strides in the sacrament because of the Second Vatican Council, but more changes are needed.

"We need to initiate a new study to open up the rite even more," Bishop Ramirez said. "The liturgical reform has not run its course. There are new challenges of c ontemporary society that need our attention."

Jesuit Father John Baldovin of the GradTheological uate Union in Berkeley, California. said in an address that "Christian marriage has become more an issue of canon law than sacramental theology."

He added, though, that the Church has adopted a more vibrant attitude toward matrimony in the past century.

Father Austin Fleming, author of "A for Prayerbook Engaged Couples". said the Church is not always responding to the true needs of engaged couples.

He said many engaged couples are living together or have already estab-

lished a sexual relationship; are estranged from the Church and only want a Catholic ceremony to appease their parents; are religiously illiterate and in dire need of catechesis; or find some elements of the marriage rite irrelevant because of their cultural heritage or interfaith relationship.

Father Fleming defined Christian marriage as "a man and woman promise to love one another and model their faithfulness and fidelity on the faithfulness and unity that Christ enjoys with his church."

The best way to help couples enter this

promise, he said, is to break open the word of God with them.

"Only with God's help can one pledge one's faihfulness to human another being. The only way to avail ourselves to the power and grace of God is through prayer," Father Fleming said.

"It is possible that the greatest gift we can give these engaged couples is not in liturgy planning, but in prayer?"

Eileen Raffaniello, a psychologist said couples should be asked to examine their family histories, especially if they come from dysfunctional families.

"We have to be able to integrate now just

our present, but our past. When we marry, we marry into the family," she said. "The binds and bonds of dysfunctional family patterns get in the way of the true sacrament of marriage."

Ms Raffaniello said healing is possible through forgiveness and through placing trust in God. She said liturgists and ministers need not be certified therapists. but merely be sensitive to others' problems and then invite them to seek help.

"Most pastoral ministers want to make people happy," she said. "Liturgists may have to challenge, upset and disturb people."

Bulgaria invites pope LONDON (CNS): Bulgaria has invited Pope John Paul II to visit the country and promised to investigate the 1981 assassination attempt against the pontiff for which Bulgaria was blamed.

Bulgaria's head of state, Zhelev said his government would investigate

allegations that Bulgarian secret police conspired to kill the pope.

He hoped conclusive results would be available by May, the 10th anniversary of the assassination attempt.

Mehmet All Agca, a Turk, was sentenced to

life imprisonment for shooting and seriously injuring the pope at his weekly general audience on May 13, 1981. Pope John Paul has visited his would-be assassin in prison.

Three Bulgarians and three Turks were acquitted in 1986 of charges of

helping Agca under the auspices of the Bulgarian secret police. But suspicions remained that the t hen -Communist government of Bulgaria was involved in supplying weapons and other aid to the alleged plot.

Zhelev, Bulgaria's first non-Communist head of

state since World War II, also asked for help in investigating the killing in London in 1978 of Bulgarian broadcaster Georgi Markov. Markov was killed by a poison pellet fired from an umbrella. Britain blamed the Communist Bulgarian goverment.

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1 5 •

+ Akir Condoms for schools shock Catholics very sad over decision

NEW YORK (CNS):— Catholic leaders in New York expressed dismay at the 4-3 vote of the City Board of Education to approve distribution of condoms to public high school students on request.

"I feel very sad about the vote," said Bishop Thomas V Daily of Brooklyn. "At the same time, however, I want to

tion "Communi6 et Progressio", which offered guidelines for the use of communications media, and the importance of the council's work on updating the document.

The pope quoted from a section of the 1971 document referring to media professionals covering violent situations.

"The safety of such correspondents should be ensured in every possible way because of the service they render to man's right to know about what is happening.

This is particularly true in the case of wars — which involve and concern the whole human race", the pope read.

BEIRUT:— Now that Kuwait has been liberated, the West has an even greater responsibility to end longstanding injustices in Lebanon and Palestine, Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah P Sfeir said.

An international peace conference on the Middle East is needed, he said, but meanwhile "Lebanon cannot wait" for such a conference to remove foreign armies from its soil.

Patriarch Sfeir said many Lebanese are angry at the West and feel the war against Iraq proved there is a double standard at work.

In Kuwait, "all the resolutions taken by the international community were implemented" with great rapidity, he said. Yet there are several UN resolutions calling for the departure of foreign troops from Lebanon that have never been enforced, he said.

"People are asking why," the patriarch said.

"If Lebanon had been freed by virtue of these resolutions, perhaps Iraq would not

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have had the courage to attack Kuwait," he added.

Syrian forces have been in Lebanon since the 1970s, and today some 40,000 Syrian troops control most of the country. The Israeli army holds a buffer zone inside southern Lebanon as protection against Palestinian guerrilla forces in the area.

The patriarch said he did not favour the kind of military ultimatum used against Iraq in order to restore Lebanese sovereignty.

Diplomacy must be used instead, but with "urgency" because Lebanese Christians are continuing to emigrate, he said.

He also acknowledged that the intervention of Syrian forces has brought a certain stability to Lebanon, which had been wracked by 16 years of civil strife. But "to be independent and free, all foreign troops must get out," he said.

"We are not a colony, we are an independent country," he said.

Two women held in massacre case The two women, who are sisters, confessed to helping plan and carry out the killings with four men.

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bypass ethical criteria."

He said he would collaborate with Cardinal John J O'Connor of New York to "do what I can . . . with whatever resources are available to change this policy on condoms now voted, and restore the educational system to the observance of proper moral values."

'Injustices must end'

Media power in Gulf war VATICAN CITY, (CNS): The Persian Gulf War illustrated how the media can be used to help people and societies or to harm them, Pope John Paul II said.

"The current conflict has been waged not only with the weapons of war but also, to some degree, through the media," the pope said.

While the media helped people keep informed during the conflict, "we have also seen that where respect for the truth is lacking they can be a powerful force for injustice", he said.

He said the war and other events in the world in the last 20 years show the continuing relevance of the pastoral instruc-

commend the three members of the board who had the courage to vote their convictions and witness their stand for morality in public schools."

Bishop Daily quoted from a statement

by Pope John Paul H on the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of World War H: "The fact is that public life cannot

been dressed in dark uniforms, witnesses said.

One woman said she accompanied the killers from house to house, pointing out where the victims lived. Maria Christina Vasquez said she went along but said she saw nothing of the killings.

The military Special investigations Unit has said it was seeking three former members of the armed forces and a fourth man in the case it says was the result of a

family feud.

Catholic leaders have accused the armed forces of carrying out the murders. At least one witness under church protection has said she recognised soldiers among the killers.

Archbishop Arturo Rivera Damas of San Salvador recently charged that a government report on the killings lacked credibility because the agency issuing it is politically biased.

The armed forces have denied any involvement.

Protest over carnival RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (CNS): As samba dancers swirled in clouds of feathers, and fireworks sent revellers rushing for cover, Brazil's Catholic bishops cast a jaundiced eye on the traditionally raucous pre-Lent revels of Rio de Janeiro's Carnival.

"Carnival has lost its more acceptable characteristics and transformed itself into an opportunity for disgraceful exhibitionism," Rio de Janiero's Cardinal Sales said in a radio broadcast.

The Church in Brazil, which has the world's largest Catholic population, condemned Carnival as "an affront to good sense". Carnival marks the period before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday.

Meditation: Good, bad...

Learning meditation is not the end of the task but only the beginning, says an American woman religious with more than 30 years experience in the field.

"The people who meditate must spend the rest of their lives tilling the soul, on purification, on opening, on the softening of their being," says Sister Mary Jo Meadow who is currently lecturing in WA. Meditation

she explains is a means of exploring inner space.

"We do a lot of exploring of outer space, of the things outside ourselves but meditation is the discipline for exploring inner space."

There are several reasons for the growth in popularity of meditation today, she says, and not all of them are good.

Meditation makes a person capable of exploring the ultimate reality, God and that is the first spiritual reason.

"You can't make it happen however. You can only make yourself fit for it to be able to happen.

"But a lot of people are making mistakes when they take up meditation for the wrong reasons.

"They go for the glitter and gloss, for the pursuit of instant salvation. In the USA a new instant salvation is being born every day.

"They want a two weekend program to become fully enlightened, to have nothing but this blissful experience for the rest of their lives."

There are other valid motives for meditation, she says.

Meditation has therapeutic benefit in psychological and physical functions, in health and healing. The words health and holy have the same roots, she points out.

The bad motive she says is to say: "I want an exciting experience.

Without any effort I want to get rid of all my troubles."

The adventure motive is very strong and people make mistakes.

"I try and teach people how to steer their way among what is offering and to make good choices for themselves. Otherwise they can waste a lot of time and there are dangers. These are powerful practices and dangerous without proper guidance.

Sr Mary Jo said last year's Vatican monitum on Eastern practices created some dissonance in the United States partly because in press reports it was read not as a warning but as a prohibition.

"My mission is broadly an interfaith one which has its roots in Vatican ri and is not radical although it is so in many people's minds.

"The task is to understand what other faiths have to offer, to go with

Ups and downs of priesthood VATICAN CITY, (CNS): The number of priests in religious orders dropped worldwide, but the decline was almost entirely offset by an increase in diocesan priests, according to Vatican figures.

The same figures showed the number of seminarians increasing by 1.3 per cent.

The total number of priests at the end of 1989 was 401.479. That was a decrease of 451.

A 0.2 per cent growth in the ranks of diocesan

priests offset the loss in religious-order priests.

Asia and A frica accounted for the growth in the diocesan priest corps, the Vatican statistics said. But there was a decline in Europe, the United States, Canada and Oceania.

Other statistics showed a rise in permanent deacons and a drop in women religious.

According to the Vatican figures: • Permanent deacons numbered 16,603 at the end of 1989, a rise of 5.8

per cent. There were 15,686 permanent deacons in 1988.

• Major seminarians totalled 93,405 at the end of 1989, a 1.3 per cent rise. There were 92,173 seminarians in 1988.

There was an increase in all regions of the world, except Europe. The greatest increases were in Africa and Asia, where a combined 6.3 per cent rise was recorded.

• The number of women religious declined 0.9 per cent in 1989 to 885,645. There were 893,418 in 1988.

an 'and' and not an later how to find much interdenominationally 'either/or' mentality that detail about what is but inter faith." a person who does not happening to her.

Asked who is the typical see it as we do has to be "The F.ast can offer us a person coming to her wrong, that there are a lot of tolerance which we courses Sr Mary Jo said: number of things of along with the other "Anybody who is thirsty value in other spiritual semitic relgions, Muslim for something genuine traditions. and Jewish, have not and not just a reworked "In a world as small as made our greatest virtue mass package of ideas ours we must appreciate in respect for others. that say `believe this, do what is of value to others that', in their relationship She says that in the if we want them to Catholic tradition a lot of with God. People who appreciate what we have her work has been the are thirsty and haven't of value. integration of St John of slaked that thirst."

In the small community "These other traditions the Cross with Buddhist can augment and supple- meditation practice. she has taught to mediment where we have "They seem to me to be tate in the US are been rather thin in what clearly saying the same housewives, a chemical we have. In meditation thing." The same can be engineer, a woman edumany traditions older said of St Thomas cator, an alcoholism counsellor, a woman than Christianity have Aquinas. university had many saints and "In our tradition we are caterer, sages, and have deve- encouraged to prepare students. loped methods that we ourselves to be able to Her retreats are adverdon't have. taste God, to let God tised as for people who "We have methods but come to us, to get out of want a little more depth with nothing of their our rational mind, to and a little more immediprecision" she said citing realise as John of the acy. The common a 500 AD Sir Lankan Cross said: `No thought denominator she says is monk's treatise on Bud- or conception of God, the thirst and not educadhist meditation that was however noble is God tional background. already then some 1000 and to cling to that is a Fr Doug Conlon said it years old and in which block to God coming became necessary to she is told as an Ameri- directly to us.' limit the numbers at a can woman 1500 years "We can work not only one day Seminar because

MARY JO MEADOW, PhD

so many had applied. A Safety Bay silent retreat, he said, had attracted mostly women religious but they could pass on their experience to others, he said.

Father Conlan stressed that Sister Mary Jo does not charge for her services. People can make an offering but there is no charge.

"It's a 2500-year-old Buddhist tradition," says Sister Mary Jo that you do not charge people for giving spiritual teaching.

"There are a few people unfortunately who do charge for Buddhist teaching but most honour the tradition. It is not unique to me," she said.

Father Conlan said that in addition to the meditation talks other lectures were for people working with alcohol and drug addiction cases, for carers in hospitals and prisons, teachers and parents of young people.

SEVEN DAY RETREAT March 15-22

8 St Joseph's Retreat House,Safety Bay This is a silent retreat from the Christian Carmelite and Buddhist Theravadan (Vipassana) traditions, with special reference to the teachings of St John of the Cross and Guatama Buddha.

There will be group sittings, instruction in Vipassana meditation and a question and answer time each day. Private counselling and guidance will also be available each day. The emphasis will be on interior and exterior silence and awareness, through meditation. Meals will be taken in silence.

Retreatants are asked to leave all reading

materials home, and to refrain from anything that would weaken their spirit of silence and awareness.

The method of working with the body sensations, emotions, memories and other experiences that will occur is that of insight meditation which will be thoroughly explained.

The retreat is intended for those who desire greater depth than most retreats offer. Experiences are sometimes intense, but the method provides ways of managing this. No previous meditation experience is necessary for attending this retreat.

Mary Jo views Vipassana meditation as an excellent way to make oneself "empty" of roles, voluntary experiences. and other trappings of ordinary daily life — in order to be available to God. It is an excellent method for being receptive to the purification that Saint John of the Cross taught.

COST $210 accommodation.

for

residential

Mary Jo follows the Buddhist Dana system and makes no charge for the teaching, though voluntary donations may be made at the end of the retreat.

All enquiries to Fr Douglas Conlan, Aquinas College, Manning 6152 (PLEASE PRINT) NAME:

Day Ph.

ADDRESS.

Evening Ph P/C:

DEPOSIT: $20 ENCLOSED (Cheques payable "Sadhana Retreats") ENQUIRIES: Fr Conlan 450 5222 or Phil Carrier 277 3068

The Record, March 7, 1991

7

What i communal penance?

When I was growing up, Saturday night was "confession night".

Parishioners would come in and out of church during the time for confessions.

Some would be in the pews preparing to go to confession, others waiting in the lines outside the confessional, while still others were saying the prayers they were given as their penance.

In a way, it was a communal penance service but not in the sense of the "communal" pennance services encouraged since Vatican Council if The council intended to

emphasise that this sacrainent is a celebration of forgiveness, of reconciliation, and saw the confessing of one's sins in that context.

Hence the sacrament's of name offical "reconciliation".

This emphasis was put into concrete form with the approval in 1973 of three rites of reconciliation: one for individual penitents; one for several penitents who also make individual confessions and receive individual absolution; and one for several penitents who make a general confession and receive general absolution, used in cases of great necessity.

It is the second al these rites that is palatally "comounal called penance" becausekople come together/as a community to cabbrate reconcilation their through the sacrehent.

According to tli! rite, "Communal celelration shows more clee y the ecclesial natten of penance" (No 2' In other words, tead of a number of pathioners showing up inihurch around the samelme to make private onfessions, they come tether as a parish to affirm their desire to lives God wants, to seek hellin the areas where the! have

fallen short and to strengthen one another through prayer, song, faith and example.

Here's how the rite works: Assembly: First, the community gathers. Typically, there is a song that draws them together and expresses the purpose of their assembly. Then the presider greets everyone and invites all to pray for God's grace and mercy.

Word of God: Next, one or several selections from Scripture are read. These passages usually recall God's promise of forgiveness and especially the redemptive love of Jesus.

The passages remind

By Father Robert Kinast the people that God's forgiveness depends on true sorrow for sin and a willingness to change.

This is accomplished by doing penance — replacing sinful attitudes and actions with those that are pleasing to God. The homily reviews these themes and prepares people to examine their consciences. A period of silence may be Oven for this examination, or a review of the ways people sometimes sin may be read aloud.

Rite of Reconciliation: After this period of

personal examination, the participants make a common acknowledgement of their sins. This is similar to the penitential rite at mass. It is an expression of confidence in God's mercy and a pledge to live better in the future.

Sometimes there is a litany of saints and petitions to reinforce the communal aspect of reconciliation before everyone prays the "Our Father".

Individual Confession and Absolution: With this preparation, individ-

uals now approach the priests available for confession. There is no need to begin with the familiar introduction, "Bless me, father, for I have sinned", because the whole community has just made this acknowledgement.

The actual confessing of sins should be as natural and relaxed as possible.

First, indicate how long it has been since your last confession, then fill in any important facts about your situation in life.

This puts the priest in touch with you and makes it easier for him to respond in a helpful way.

In mentioning your sins, you are expected to

state those that are serious first.

If you do not feel you have serious sins to confess, indicate first those for which you are most sorry or which pose the biggest obstacle in your life.

Since the main emphasis of the sacrament is you reconciliation, should focus on what makes you "unreconciled", what comes between you and God and other people.

Regarding less serious sins, you are not required to mention every little thing you can possibly think of.

A pointed, succinct confession helps the priest suggest a penance

Why do you value spiritual direction? What is it?

Selected responses from readers: "St Bernard said the person who directs himself spiritually is directed by a fool. We all need to have some perspective. The spiritual life is a life of oneness, not a life of isolation.

We need to be affirmed as well as challenged on our task of soul-making." — Alexandra Guliano.

"I have had good experiences of seeking spiritual direction through the sacrament of reconciliation. I was encouraged to be gentle with myself and be more accepting of my struggles and limitations. Through spiritual direction, I realise that I can be more compassionate toward others by accepting and forgiving myself." — Janet Roth.

"Spiritual direction, which differs from spiritual or pastoral counselling, is entrusting the content of my prayerful journey to the hands of another individual who has peculiar gifts and experience superior to my own." — David Lay.

By Father John Castelot

Of confessors who are spiritual directors A fter experiencing infant loss, separation and divorce within a three-year period, 1 turned to spiritual direction through the sacrament of penance because traditional avenues of counselling had not addressed the faith elements in my life.

"Are you mad at God?" the priest asked during a penance session.

"Oh, no,"Iresponded. "I believe in a kind and loving God. Why should Ibe mad at him?"

"Think back," he prodded, gently. "Have you changed your worship habits lately?"

"Well, yes," I acknowledged, with a certain amount of surprise. "I stayed away from Mass for awhile, but I'm attending church regularly again now."

"Do you suppose," he continued, "that you have been mad at God but haven't acknowledged that anger to yourself?"

I had to laugh. It was a relief to admit that, "Yes, I really have been angry at God," and even more a relief to be assured that it could be better to direct anger at the Lord than at yourself because of the outlet's latter destructiveness.

The face of confession has changed.

It does tend to be a compassionate face, however.

Of course, you can still go to confession — even during communal penance celebrations — anonymously, with a

Ihad gotten stuck in my grief and couldn't see how it was affecting my faith life until the priest helped me talk my way through those painful experiences during the sacrament of penance.

Several months later, I found myself enthusiastically researching and writing a six-part series on "Faith Amidst Adversity".

I felt spiritually renewed as I talked with people who had experienced loss of freedom, loss of health, loss of mobility, loss of spouse,

loss of child and loss of youth.

All said they couldn't have made it through these dramatic lifealtering adversities without the Lord's help.

Spiritual direction is gaining widespread acceptance as Catholics try to address the stresses of modern life.

Sometimes people are motivated to seek spiritual guidance following a grief experience such as the death of a loved one or job loss.

Others turn to spiritual direction as a way to

reflect on past decisions, sort out future plans, deal with current events and get a better understanding of how God fits into their lives.

Franciscan Sister Diane Jamison, co-ordinator of spiritual development said spiritual direction helps people who "often find themselves in a struggle with their values vs the values of society".

"They are struggling with trying to find balance in life. They want to pray, but they're caught up in that wonderful rat race," Sister

screen dividing you from the priest.

ting on a chair next to the priest, quietly engaged in conversation with him.

Yes, conversation. In this sacramental context, a kind of dialogue may develop as together you explore a key need in

Our life. It can be an absorbing dialogue.

During communal penance services in parishes, when several priests usually are available for individual confessions, many people

Food for thought In fact, in today's confession settings, you may well find yourself looking directly into someone's face: the priest's.

8

The Record, March 7, 1991

But what is new is the common opportunity for face-to-face confession.

In this setting, you will likely find yourself sit-

"True spirituality needs to be open to the reality of the day," Sister Pat

explained. 'The great saints were open to the reality of their day, and they did what they could, given their own gifts."

Today, she said, spirituality faces the nuclear weapons issue, ecological issue, social justice issues, consciousness issues and other world concerns.

"If people really are going to be in touch with God and become the type of people that see more and more as Jesus did, and as God does," she said, "then they have to open their eyes to some of these things that are hard to look at and change their lifestyles."

appear to find this faceto-face encounter completely comfortable.

You might think that speaking openly in the presence of a priest of your shortcomings, failures and need to grow

would hardly be a comfortable thing to do. But people find it healing, reconciling.

This is, after all, the sacrament that today goes by the name of "reconciliation".

Diane said.

By Mary Ann Wyand

Scripture, faith sharing and spiritual direction are tools to facilitate prayer and healing, she said.

"People are really searching, looking for more, looking for the spiritual part of life," Adrian Dominican Sister Patricia Benson, director of spiritual formation, explained.

Sister Pat joined the Benedictine retreat centre staff last summer after receiving her doctoral degree in theology.

ing, dismissing the assembly.

The rite itself encourages adaptations of this basic form so the sacrament will be as meaningful to people as possible (Nos 38-40).

Sometimes the adaptations may be confusing or they don't meet the expectation of certain individuals.

Even in this case, a communal penance service expresses the fact that we are not just private individuals coming in for Saturday night confessions; we are "the Church, which includes within itself sinners and is at the same time holy and always in need of purification" (No 3).

Taking away the word and where is the voice?

DISCUSSION POINTS

Vatican Council II approved three rites of reconciliation in 1973, writes pastoral theologican Father Robert L. Kinast. He adds, "ft is the second of these rites that is popularly called 'communal penance' because people come together as a community to celebrate their reconciliation through the sacrament".

which will be most suited to your needs.

Sometimes you may think of a penance that would help you improve your life more effectively.

You can suggest this as an alternative.

When you have agreed with the priest on your penance, the priest extends his hands over you and gives you absolution.

At the end of the prayer of absolution, you say, "Amen".

Conclusion: Ideally, everyone reassembles after individual confessions are completed to express again the communal bonds that unite them. The presider offers a final prayer and bless-

Mary Ann Wyand states that "spiritual direction is gaining widespread acceptance as Catholics try to address the stresses of modern life.

Why are passages from Scripture read at penance celebration?

St Augustine once wrote: "Take away the word, the meaning, and what is the voice? Where there is no understanding, there is only a meaningless sound. The voice without the word strikes the ear but does not build up the heart."

This expresses well a basic reason for Scripture's use in the administration of the sacraments. The sacraments are basically signs, but signs of what?

A sign without meaning is confusing, to say the least.

Furthermore, the meaning of the sacraments calls for more than a cold "assent of the mind" that does not "build up the heart".

For people are not disembodied intellects, but integral human persons, with hearts and emotions.

The sacraments are meant to be totally engaging experiences, interpersonal encounScripture ters, as suggests.

In Luke's story of the risen Lord's meeting with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Christ first explains the Scriptures to them. It is only then that they are able to "recognise him in the breaking of the bread" (Luke 24:35).

But the Scriptural explanation was not just a head trip. As the disciples exclaimed their reaction, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32)

One ought to approach the sacrament of reconciliation with a keen sense of coming into comforting contact with the compassionate, forgiving Christ.

It is the role of the word, the Scriptures, to enliven this sense and make the sacrament itself, the sign, not only meaningful but positively joyful.

Several optional readings are suggested for reconciliation, all preceded by the invitation: "Let us listen to the Lord as he speaks to us."

The compassionate Christ, well aware of our weaknesses, assures us in these readings of his eagerness to be reconciled with us.

Who can really listen to his parable of the prodigal son and not be deeply moved, encouraged to meet God half way. For it is he who takes the first steps to meet us.

Luke tells us that "while he was a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him" (15:20).

Who wouldn't hurry into the embrace of such a loving father with his eager mercy — not just tolerant, but eager?

There are almost a hundred such readings from both Testaments, for both individual and communal reconciliation.

All have the same purpose, to "build up the heart", to make the sacrament a meaningful and reassuring encounter with the compassionate Christ.

Word and sacrament are inseparable. "Take away the word, the meaning, and where is the voice," the sign, the sacrament?

The Record, March 7, 1991

9

Thank God for your Four Aquinians, three former and one grade 12, went to India for several weeks recently and came back full of appreciation for our wonderful way of life, abundance of food, high standard of living and above all — our spacious country.

Another friend of Father Bede was C.S. Lewis, one of his teachers.

Life for all at the Ashram is very simple and the mud huts with their wooden beds and no mattresses, are devoid of furniture.

Meal times consist of sitting on the floor and Having experienced the sight and smell of 800 million people in overcrowded India which eating with one's hands.

This is how the Indians eat and when they expands its population by 15 million per year, these young gentlemen believe the average moved on to Mithra in Madras, run by Australian Sister Theodore, which is a home and Australian has no idea how well off he is. centre for the mentally and physically education They also drew the contrast between the Indian disabled, some of the children who had no arms, poverty stricken mass who have a much greater fed themselves by their feet. sense of God and the sacred, than we do in our Or others fed them with their hands. materialistic society.

After their Ashram experience, Justin and And concluded we don't need many of the things we think we do, when their poor live so Michael with Father Conlan moved on to Mithra for a week to offer help to Sr Theodore. simply on so little, and thank God for it.

In fact Fr Conlan had organised a $3000 Two of the boys, Justin Furey (second year biological science student at Murdoch) and donation by Australian doctors, of vitamins to Michael Rowe (environmental science, Mur- go to Mithra.

However, they were unable to receive it from doch), went initially, teamed up with Aquinas chaplain Father Doug Conlan, and were then Customs who shocked the boys with their graft joined by brothers Russell (studying for his PhD and corruption.

"Everyone was in there for their cut," they electrical engineering at UWA) and John said, "right from the very lowest to the highest."

Sumich (year 12 Aquinas).

Blatantly they would ask: "How much are you The five moved on to Agra in the north of India to spend 12 days at Shantivanam Ashram prepared to give me to get them?" But paying headed by Father Bede Griffiths, Australian out the bribery fee here and there still wouldn't Benedictine, who has modelled the Ashram on have secured the necessary release of the vitamins destined for the poor. that tradition.

At the point they left, they still hadn't been The boys said it was a place of quiet religious experience where you got up very early for able to get the vitamins for Sr Theodore. prayers, meditation and Mass.

Corruption in India is immense and They said 86 yo Father Bede lives simply like everywhere at all levels, they believe, and Russell the Indian poor. "He's very intelligent and states that those who have the power and money spiritual and is equally at home in the academic would rather extort it from the poor people than or spiritual spheres." give them food.

Russell, John, Justin and Michael said they "The government is not willing to spend in benefitted from the experience and in the order to create a better standard of living, process met a lot of fascinating people, including because this would mean money out of their long time friend of Father Bede, Abbott pocket.

Cornelius Tollens, founder of the inter monastic "They want to siphon money from the poor dialogue who usually resides in Amsterdam. into their own pockets to increase their wealth

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and keep the poor in lowly ranks where they are no threat to them.

"This applies also to education which is not encouraged for the same reason — so that they can keep the poor people where they are."

Mithra is yet another instance of Australians helping out in third world countries, with no assistance from the government.

The land, which was a reclaimed swamp, was given by the government to Sr Theodore in the seventies.

Having built it up, unaided by them, into the complex it is today with living quarters for 75 children (and she's aiming for 400), a daily child servicing of 200 (the balance are day attendances), paying for staff to help run the facility, and education classes for handicrafts and manual arts in order to equip the children where possible for future societal integration — the Indian government now wants to take it back. Gratis of course.

The government is not interested in its "social rejects" so called because the Hindu religion considers children with disabilities, whether mental or physical, a curse on the family, the boys said. So they provide nothing for them.

One attributable reason for a high incidence of disabled children within families, is due to the fact that marriage between close relatives is encouraged in order to keep the money in the family.

As a result many are born with disabilities.

In order to help overcome this and other ignorance, Sr Theodore is trying to educate women and plans to move into the villages.

The children attending the centre on a daily basis are transported there by Mithra run buses.

Occupational therapy is available at Mithra and seven doctors attend on a part time basis.

Six require payment and the other is voluntary.

Sr Theodore knows each child by their name, and according to the trio, lives entirely on her faith for God to provide. And He does, they said.

When there is no food, some turns up.

Bless me father but mum's the word

WHEELING, W.Va. (CNS): It was no ordinary confession. In fact, nothing in Father Donald X. Higgs' seminary training prepared him for the desperate plea of the woman sitting before him.

Find a home for my child, she begged the priest, for in an hour the woman said she would "no longer be alive".

"My first thought was this wasn't happening," said assistant Father Hi • • of the February 4 incident. "We talked as o ut things like this in the seminary, but it was all theory.Inever thought it would happen."

The priest knew that letting the woman leave her child and possibly commit suicide was not the answer, but he was under the seal of the confessional and could not call for help without her permission.

"I tried to get her to see that there were other possibilities," he said. After an hour, when he saw he could not change her mind, he asked her to meet him in 10 minutes in the Church with the child's birth certificate and a written statement of what she wanted to do.

"She wanted to hand the child over to me right there in the rectory," Father Higgs said.

"ButIwanted to do it in the Church because that would haVe been a public place."

By the time he got to the Church, however, the woman had panicked and left the child in a pew. Father Higgs then went

to the parish priest. "I told him a child had been left in Church and that I was under the seal".

Initial reports that an abandoned boy had been found in Immaculate Conception Church set off a flurry of phone calls from people who wondered if he was their missing child. Others wanted to adopt the child or offer clothing.

The parish priest had seen a brown car outside the Church around the time the child was abandoned. But Father Higgs did not speak to police because of the confessional seal.

The 2-year-old child's mother, and a male companion, were arrested about 160 miles away when a used car salesman recognised the car they were trying to sell and called the police.

The mother said she did not intend to abandon her child but wanted to find him a good home. She told police she was fleeing an abusive ex-husband.

After she was charged with abandonment, Father Higgs went to her to be released from the seal of the confessional.

The priest said he supports her claim that she never intended to abandon her son, whc had been placed in foster care by the state "Abandonment is too harsh a word," he said "she was distraught. She really wanted whai was best for her child."

good life They said she is a woman of great ambition and is expected to visit Australia this year.

Mithra and the children taught the boys a lot, they said "and they taught us much more than we gave them".

"Some had disabilities which would make most people cringe, but after a few days you look for their smile and not their disabilities."

It allows you to look at their intrinsic humanity they said. "They were the most giving and loving children."

Sr Theodore has four novices and her right hand lady, is Sr Patricia Powers an Australian from Adelaide.

The centre is run by donations "and God's assistance through Sr Theodore's faith".

India was a culture shock to the boys who saw and experienced the sight and smell of open sewers in towns and the chronically hungry.

They saw how the very young upwards would pray and offer incense and have a great sense of the religious "despite being handicapped by a corrupt bureaucracy".

They wondered at the mass who had no privacy and for whom there was no concept of personal space.

And noted the assault of their senses in experiencing India. "The air pollution is overwhelming and so are the smells from the effluent in the open sewers" with no existing hygiene as we know it.

The sheer weight of congested humanity was a shock to them — and a chance for gratitude when returning to Australia, in thanking God for what we have. And urging their fellow Australians not to take our wonderful country for granted with all its attendant good things — but to thank Him for so much, when others have so little.

Above: Sunesh Babu, 12 yo, who is one of a number of "very loving children" suffering from cerebral palsy at Mithra. With this condition he is unable to it up for very long.

Left: Russell (left), John, Father Bede Griffiths, Justin and Michael with this r emarkable Australian B enedictine whose A shram, Shantivanam is based on iis order's spirituality.

Have you ever been thirsty?

Not the quickly-quenched thirst of an hour in the sun, but the life-threatening dehydration of living with drought.

Many people in Third World countries have known no other life, as they eke an existence from a desolate, parched land.

Project Compassion is helping right now with programs to seek, tap and manage water for drinking, hygiene and agriculture.

With your help, these programs enable drought -afflicted people to become self-sufficient and -reduce demand for scarce, expensive emergency aid.

Give generously to Project Compassion this Lent, and share the burden of thirst with the victims of drought.

proittt trAiNssion

tp:k

mi gm i= N. ma Australian Catholic Relief 19 MacKenzie Street North Sydney 2060

•• •••

7 I'd like know more about the work of Project Compassion I enclose my donation for Project Compassion $ ] Please debit my Bankcard D Please debit my Visa I Please debit my MasterCard i 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1 1

i

i

i

‘vith the amount of $ Expiry date of card Signed Mr/Mrs/Miss

(BLOCK letters plea,e)

Addrcs Postcode Donations over $2 are tax deductible 9A R4 mu EN on ME =I EME IMO

The Record, March 7, 1991 11 . ••

RECORD CLASSIFIED Knights remember ADVERTISEMENTS Minimum $5 for first 28 words. Post or deliver.

No phone ads. Closes noon Wednesday.

BUILDING TRADES

PUBLIC NOTICE

SITUATIONS WANTED

Painting, quality work at Illness and injury insuthe right price. John rance — AMP. For a small Accountant/bookkeeper Freakley. Phone 361 4349. weekly outlay an Income (semi retired). Moderate Protection Plan covers rates for small business.

MASONRY REPAIRS and you 24 hrs every day, Phone 450 3090 restoration: Chemical including holidays and tightening of soft mortar, weekends. Can you Caretaker/handyman. Do re-pointing fretted brick- afford not to have this you peed a reliable, work, damp-proofing cover with holidays conscientious worker with silicone injection, approaching? For peace , expenencedin all aspects tuckpointing. Country of mind, phone Brian of caretaking and general enquiries welcomed. Jarvey 362 3866 for a free maintenance of buildings, Please phone Steve brochure and persona- , gardens and grounds?

481 0753 lised quotation for your Then please phone John for further information o Building repairs and needs. A/H 350 6179 349 8789. Resume, CV maintenance. All facets of For an obligation free and references available building trades, eg car- service to help you plan on request. Country pentry, plumbing, roof 1 for: enquiries welcome. carpentry, studwork, • Family protection Curtain cleaning. Have stumps, pergolas, car- • Income protection your curtains profession• Retirement concrete, additions, ports, ally dry-cleaned. Guaransavings • Tax free etc. References available, teed no shrinkage. Free please phone Bob on • Children's education • Mortgage cancellation metro pick-up & del or 410 1436 Local Knights of the Holy Please phone VINCE bring in this add and get Briddayer requires large Fassom 321 5833, 459 4261 20% disc. Phone 381 4377.

Sepulchre gathered recently to or small jobs, free quotes. A/H pray at the Redemptorist church for Picture framin*, quality Ring 447 6128 or work and genuine reasoFURNITURE CARRIED. their late Grand Prior Archbishop 405 3426 One item to housefulls. nable prices. Family phoCelebrants of the Mass were Foley.

Handyman painting inte- Small, medium, large vans tos, prints, certificates, rior/exterior repairs, gut- available with one or two baptismal, marriage, birth, ters, yard cleanups, gar- men from $24 per hour, trade, etc etc. Care taken. cleaning all areas. Cartons and G.C. Kiernan 279 6035 or dening, windows, landscaping. cheap storage available. 279 4760 Ask for Martin, 377 2314 Mike Murphy 330 7979, before 8.30am 317 1101, 444 0077, The Inglewood/Bedford in Tasmania, and as CWL THANKS Lk Master plumber and gas 447 8878, 272 3210, Branch of Catholic Worn- national president 1966-68 fitter, No 140, bathroom 378 3303, 384 8838. Ask St Care for one en's League lost two she presided over the 1967 renovations, sewer conver- Country in callers: business and two impossistalwart members, Mrs national conference held sions, all maintenance work, 008 198 120 CWL Balmer was Mrs Perth. ble favours. Say nine Hail new houses. Good rates, all Flo Balmer and Mrs representative on the commithours. Contact John on l Eiren-e Home Retreat Marys for nine days with Carmel Tomlin. offers sanctuary and candle burning. On ninth tee formed to establish the 457 7771 space for any Christians : day let candle burn out.

Mrs Balmer joined CWL in Catholic Family Welfare Bureau who would like to with- Publish this notice in 1952 and was an active in 1968 and was on deputation REAL ESTATE draw from the business of paper. W & J.M. member until her death on to the Government on behalf of their lives and spend time Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, January 9. She was foundation the Right-to-Life Movement. In with God, in quiet, caring,, may your name be praised secretary of the Inglewood heeding the demand for SELLING OR BUYING? branch, its president in 1957 Catholic women to be involved 3rd place of 250 Roy simple, rural surround- and glorified throughout the and CWL State President and concerned with changing Weston sales representa- ings. Contact Sheelagly world now and forever.

1964-69, when WA became attitudes affecting family life, tives in WA for month of Akerman, telephone Amen. Say nine times a day (097) 58 4581. PO Box 166, for nine consecutive days the national body of The she led the Catholic Women's December 1991. and promise publication.

Australian Council of Women League into this field at state, Contact BRIAN FLOOD Augusta 6290 Thanks to the Sacred Heart.

— later known as Catholic national and world level for results, 316 1779, Developers I will buy*. J.E.M. Women's League, Australia. In As CWL initial delegate to asbestos tile houses that home 480 4020.

1965 she represented WA at could be transported or Thanks to Our Lady and St The National Council of the CWLA National Conference transport buildings, all Clare. Pray nine Hail Marys Women in 1952, Mrs Balmer for nine clays lighting candle PERSONAL types, for relocation. and letting it bum out on the Perth House Transport Gent 31, interests sport, 272 3831, State Wide ninth. Publicise this devotion.

El music, beach, movies and Service (098) 41 5288 dining. Would like to SUPERANNUATION is Heartfelt gratitude darling Si meet similar outgoing still the best way to save , Jude for granting my earnest In so short a time lady 21-32 yrs with Chris-- for your retirement. request. you answered my urgent tian values for friendship. Example: A 25 yr old prayer. May all those in need Phone Gerry 457 0971. worker, saving $25 per turn to you and honour you.

ROME (CNS): The Israeli Guy 25 single, interests — week could make $1.5 L OV. on Palestinians in curfew WASHINGTON (CNS): beach, most sports, music, million by age 65. Start Thank you T.Z.J. Record dancing, movies and some AMP super by publication 24.1.91, you led the occupied territories John Schuchardt, the turned the West Bank and dining — would like to calling Brian Jarvey on me to St Jude. Once more. protester arrested on meet single lady, 20-25 364 9999 work or Thank you St Jude for your Gaza Strip into "a great February 17 during church with similar interests, for 350 6179 A/H. continuous help. Pray for us prison", said Catholic attended by services all, we still need help. LM. friendshp and possible religious leaders in President Bush in KenneSincere thanks to the Sacred relationship. Write to erusalem.

J THANKS Heart, Our lady and St bunkport, Maine, is a David c/- The Record. answering my for The curfew was a "colJoseph university former Quaker who Lady, Asian, 42 Jesus of Most Sacred Heart prayers and granting an punishment" lective educated, widow, no may your name be praised urgent became a Roman Catholic request. L.D. against 1.5 million Paleschildren, home-loving, and glorified throughout the in the early 1980s while tinians, leaving "elderly caring, wishes to meet world now and forever. living at the Jonah House FOR SALE slim non-smoker, social Amen. Thanks J.L and sick people without community in Balitmore. drinker, good-natured May the Sacred Heart of Caravan alum, annex medicines", they said in a Catholic gent for lasting Jesus be adored, glorified. alum, both 241t, sleeps 10 Schuchardt, 51, also statement. f riendship/marriage. loved and preserved comfortably, fully carwas a member of the Palestinians face "an Prefers someone born throughout the world now peted furnished and ' alarming material situaunder Scorpio/Pisces sign and forever. Sacred Heart of equipped to live in. for us, St Jude tion" and a "tragic between 44-50 yrs. Please Jesus pray, conditiof miracles, pray for Evaporative air reply w/photo to: Lisa Cl worker situation of international us, St Jude helper of the poor, oned, on site Mandurah - The Record. injustice", they said. pray for us. Say this prayer area. $8000 ono. Urgent Man 34, interested in nine times, on the 10th day must sell. 451 4460. meeting an outgoing lady your prayer will be answered. aged 30-36. Call Garry Never known to fail. Publication must be promised. r 328 7985.

Gent 5'81' tall. 9 stone, M M good looking, well Thanks to St Anthony for , dressed, very romantic, favours granted YE. INT/EXT BY REGISTERED TRADESMAN affectionate, much love to Ask Our Lady and St Clare for spare, some find difficult one business and two imposto handle variety of sible favours. Say nine Hail interests. Want to meet Marys for nine days with slim lady, 45-50 years candle burning, on ninth day FREE WRITTEN QUOTES young. Please phone let candle burn out. Publicise this devotion A J.P. All areas work g'teed 2 yrs 458 5890 for more details.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Knight Fathers Patrick Ahern and Patrick Homes OSCam. Readings were delivered by the Lieutenant Clifford Holloway, the Chancellor Kevin Rosam and Benito Brucciani.

OBITUARY

tA great

) prison

Painting & Paperhanging

Pensioner discount

THANKS Grateful thanks to Sacred Heart of Jesus, Saint Jude and Saint Clare for prayers

answered. I.W.

may your name be praised and glorified throughout the now and forever.

Grateful thanks to the Holy Spirit, Our Lady and St Jude for prayers answered. Vicky

12 The Record, March 7, 1991

Please phone

EUGENE on 330 6368

E. & A. Cunningham Painting Co

Reg 2702

was state president 1971 -76, receiving her life membership of that organisation and the Catholic Women's League of WA. She devoted much time and dedication to the National Safety Council implementing motions such as the urgency for the use of baby car seats and harnesses With over 30 years of continuous voluntary service to her credit Mrs Balmer was nominated for the Australian Bicentennial Woman '88 award and was the recipient of a medallion.

She was a keen sports person, enjoying her weekly game of bowls as a member of

the Inglewood Sportsmans Club of which she was named Patron.

Mrs Carmel Tomlin who died on February 13, formerly Carmel Somers, was a member of the Catholic Young Ladies Club at the Cathedral in the 1920s and after her marriage an original member of the The Catholic Women's League in Bedford, where she was secretary then treasurer for many years. She was an enthusiastic worker in the Daughters of Charity opportunity shop, Mount Lawiey for 19 years, known as a most caring and compassionate person whose concern for others gained first priority at all times.

Catholic protester Plowshares Eight and served a year in prison for damaging nuclear missile components during a 1980 protest at a Pennsylvania weapons plant.

Other members of the Eight Plowshares included Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan, his brother Philip, a former priest who founded Jonah House along with his wife, former nun

Elizabeth McAlister; Sacred Heart Sister Anne Montgomery of New York; and Father Carl !Cabot of Baltimore.

In the February 17 incident, Schuchardt was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, for disrupting services at the First Congregational Church of Kennebunkport.

TOMORROW TODAY with Father Joe Parkinson

Richard Nolan, Simon Rose, Tim Landrigan and Anthea Mitchell during one of the talks on Greenwood's weekend.

CATHOLIC PARISH YOUTH PRESENT . . .

1991 SEXUALITY s,„? WEEKEND

Greenwood Antioch held a successful weekend recently, and from the looks of things everyone enjoyed themselves!

BACK TO THE CROSSROADS

15-17 MARCH

1991 YOUTH CONFERENCE REUNION

* * *

DISCOVER YOURSELF * * *

This annual program will be held at Eagle's Nest, Gidgegannup and is open to Catholic youth aged 16 years or over. Transport can be arranged if necessary

SATURDAY. 13 APRIL 1991 St Mary's (Aran.more) Hall

Cost $33

Cnr Franklin & Oxford Streets. Leedendle 7.30pm-12 midnight

Drinks and snacks on sale BE THERE!!

NEEDED!!

1 1111fts....

Flashback to the January youth conference — the reunion on April 13 should be spectacular!

The Catholic Youth Formation Centre "Eagle's Nest" is in need of a trailer and a microwave oven. The oven is for normal preparation and warming of food for groups using the centre, the trailer for general maintenance and caretaking purposes.

For bookings andfurther details call Stacy or Paddy on 328 8136

Welcome to the next weekend

APRIL 5-7

Many young people are seeking their own identity and vision. . trying to build strong friendships and relationships with God. If you are over 17 and interested, come along!

Please contact the Chaplain's Secretary, Catholic Youth Ministry, on

RING

328 9622 if you are able to hego.

332 1069 328 9622

Catholic Youth Formation Centre

EAGLE'S NEST

This popular centre for youth retreats and other youth formation programs is located at 116 O'Brien Road, Gidgegannup. Able to cater for up to 55 persons, Eagle's Nest is available to Catholic schools and parish youth groups.

For further information and bookings contact the Chaplain's Secretary, Catholic Youth Minister on 328 9622.

The following are currently free dates at Eagle's Nest — asterisk indicates a free weekend.

MARCH 20-22 MAY 6-8, 24-29* JULY 1-7*, 13-16*, 22-23, 29-31 SEPT 2-6, 9-12, 16-22*, 30 NOV 1-8*, 11-22*, 25-26 The Record, March 7, 1991 13

APRIL 2-5, 22-26, 29-30 JUNE 4-5, 7-12*, 17-19 AUGUST 5-7, 12-14, 26-30 OCTOBER 1-4, 11-18*, 21-25, 28-31 DEC 2-3, 9-17*

MORLEY YOUNG PEOPLE'S GROUP could be for you!

As a non-profit body we are asking either for donation of these items or information on where we may be able to purchase them at reduced rates.

THANK YOU!!

Interested in finding out more about yourself. God & others? Live in the northern suburbs? Then the

YOUTH OFFICE DIRECTORY

MEETINGS FRIDAY NIGHT 7.30PM ST JUDE'S HALL HOLDHURST WAY, MORLEY We are also holding a FREE CAMP on 5-7 April. Curious? Then contact Sharon 275 2827 or Alan 244 1794

CHAPLAIN: FR PARKINSON 328 9622

ANTIOCH 328 9622

CPY 328 8136

YCW 328 9667

CRY° 328 9622

YCS 227 7061

TYCS 328 4071

Literature for Mies A prison reformer

by Colleen McGuiness-Howard

AFTER rut

Elizabeth suffered from attracted to a young poor health during most coffee and tea merchant of her childhood. Her from London named father was a wealthy, Josephy Fry. When she successful merchant and was 20 in 1800, Elizabeth banker in Norwich, Eng- married Joseph. land. Elizabeth's mother During the first part of died when she was 12. their marriage, ElizaHer family's faith was beth's life centered on that of the Society of caring for their 11 childFriends, known also as ren. Taken up with home Quakers, but her parents and children, she at times did not follow Quaker felt she was not doing principles very strictly. enough as a Quaker to Elizabeth wrote in her help others. diary as a teen-ager that Moved by the death of she had no religion. her father in 1809, ElizaBut when she ws 18, she beth became more active met a Quaker minister in Quaker worship and from America. William activities. By 1811 she Savery made a profound was accepted as a minister impression on Elizabeth. and began serving other She became more aware Quaker communities in of God's presence in her nearby towns. She life and began to observe believed strongly that Quaker traditions more women had an important faithfully. role in society, especially About the same time in caring for women in Elizabeth became need.

One day in 1813 Elizabeth brought some clothes for the women prisoners at the Newgate prison near her home in London. She never forgot what she saw that day.

The jail was hopelessly overcrowded.

The women prisoners lived in filth, with nothing to do all day. Some had their children with them.

Innocent women lived side by side with hardened criminals. Fights and violence were common.

By 1816 Elizabeth began to visit the prison regularly. The next year she began an organised effort to help the women prisoners, believing as a good Quaker that every human being deserves to be treated with respect.

Under her direction, teams of Quaker women

came each day to Newgate. They read the Bible to the jailed women, as they learned to sew.

Elizabeth insisted that the inmates be paid for any work they did in the prison. She also encouraged the prisoners to assume responsibility for helping one another.

Soon the prison and its inmates changed. The women prisoners became orderly and productive.

Life behind bars became more humane. The city improved living conditions within the jail.

Elizabeth travelled throughout England and to other countries helping to reform prisons. She also helped set up a shelter for homeless children in London and founded a community of nursing sisters.

Elizabeth died in 1845.

Alphabet Puzzle. A peepthrough -the -window book 401Downie (Macmillan Children's Rooks

000 011 WM gl A mig

$9.99).

An entirely new alphabet book, hiding its secrets with only a glimpse through a cutout window until the page is turned. Always teasing and often surprising, this novel idea has been stunningly realised by the Scottish artist Jill Downie, whose exquisitely detailed pictures contain a wealth of small treasures for young and old to find.

"The answer is not always obvious as the artist does her best to tease, and this makes it a guessing game in which the whole family can join."

— The Bookseller.

Ossie fun m miiitti. Cott

Head in the Sand by Michael Cole. (Michael O'Mara $5.99).

Why does Ostrich have his head in the sand?

To hide from Lion.

Does it work?

Yes! As Ostrich and his friends find out.

A Rose for Pinkerton.

Story and pictures by Steven Kellogg (Macmillan Children's Books $6. 99).

Pinkerton. the lovable but boisterous great darie, is lonely. He needs a friend, and a sweet, cuddly little kitten

like Rose seems the perfect answer. But Rose has ideas of her own . . .

"The sequel to prizewinning Pinkerton. Behave! exudes the humour and affection that makes Kellogg's books a must for little ones." — Publishers Weekly

HARRY HIPPO GETS FIT

Air baby The Door in the Air and other stories by Margaret Maby (Puffin $6.99) From the moment she is born, Aquilina is a child of the air. She travels with her parents in an acrobat circus until she meets a true prince and finds that her trapeze is the door to a very special kingdom.

"The Door in the Air' is followed by eight other stories, including the awardwinning 'Wind Between the Stars', the hilarious, surreal 'Hookywalker Dancers', and the wry tale of a special cake, 'A Work of Art'.

More witty and imaginative short stories by Margaret Mahy, twice winner of the Carnegie Medal.

14 The Record, March 7, 1991

Harry Hippo Gets Fit by Kathy Sleight (Macmillan Children's Books bb $16.95).

Harry Hippo loves to keep fit He swims, jogs, plays tennis, lifts weights, works in the garden and goes disco dancing. But he always forgets his clothes!

You can help him find the right clothes — all you have to do is to press out the pieces from the beginning of the book and fit the tabs neatly into the slots provided on each page.

Harry is then ready for his exercise.

M argaret

liostkowsKi

After the Dancing Days

by Margaret Rostkowski, published by Piper. $7.99.

The war is over, her father's coming home and Annie looks forward to the first normal summer in !ears. She goes to the station with the rest of the town to greet the returning war heroes. But it's the injured Annie really sees - men like badly burned

Andrew, men everyone else wants to forget.

Annie looks beneath Andrew's scars to find an intelligent, proud and lonely person. She learns to feel his isolation — and grows to question a community that builds a monument to the dead but turns its back on the living. It is a summer unlike any (her. .

The William Companion

by Mary Cadogan. (Macmillan London, bb, $35.)

Richmal Crompton created William Brown just over seventy years ago as a potboiler, hut his instant and enduring success kept her writing about him for five decades. As well as dreaming up a wide range of extraordinary adventures for her scruffy, opinionated and exuberant anti-hem, she gathered around him a vivid world of events, relationships and places, and, most of all, of engaging, obnoxious or eccentric characters.

The William stories occupy thirty-eight books; this Companion provides an A to Z of who's who and what's what in the saga, placing many apparently disparate incidents in context, and providing atmospheric and amusing studies of hundreds of characters. Lesser lights as well as luminaries are featured; plots and incidents from many of the stories are vividly described; and the Companion will help William enthusiasts to trace elusive episodes, incidents, protagonists or quotations.

Did William, for example. really pay Joan the compliment of saying that he liked her better than any insect?

C

ABC and Things by Colin McNaughton. (Macmillan London, bb, $9.95.)

One of the funniest ABCs published in recent years if now reissued — Colin McNaughton's puns and jokes are 3 delight

kgbI,.%n

123 and Things by Colin McNaughton. (Macmillan London, bb. $9.95.)

Colin McNaughton's hilarious counting book is now available again. A delight all the way

Land of literature Australiana in paint ^ i4S A ‘it

c`

How he lived Masterpieces of Australian Painting (Bay Books distributed through Collins bb $29.95) Masterpieces of Australian Painting is a comprehensive collection of some of this country's most outstanding examples of watercolour and oil paintings.

Specially chosen as definitive and eclectic pieces of the artists' work, this unique edition is a chronological record of the movements in Australian art from the early days of settlement to the 1980's.

In lavish, pictorial form, 'Masterpieces' gives us a

total look at our art heritage, from those early watercolours executed by convict artists who recorded their alien surroundings in a penal colony, to the hold, expansive, internationallyacclaimed works of Nolan, Drysdale and Whiteley wlrio dramatically proclaim their Australian identity A short biography on the life of each artist provides excellent reference material and 100 full colour plates, each one a masterpiece to enjoy again and again. presents a brilliant, personal gallery of Australia's most celebrated v.-orks of art.

DAVID M AC At L AY "-lot 7.1

God's Fool: The Life and Times of Francis of Assisi

by Julien Green. Published by Spire through Hodder & Stoughton. $14.95.

God's Fool is the capstone of the prolific writing career of novelist and diarist Julien Green. An emotionally gripping portrait of St Francis of Assisi, it traces Francis's pampered childhood, his lusty rung adulthood, his worldly fancies and desires, his brief but pivotal imprisonment, the jolting stages of

The Organic Garden Doctor by Jackie French.

(Angus & Robertson through Collins $24.95).

The Organic Garden Doctor is an authoritative guide for all those gardeners who wish to cultivate plants in a natural, chemical-free environment. It outlines every common garden problem and explains how to tackle it through organic means, without resorting to harmful pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or soil sterilants.

Recipes and directions for the use of organic sprays and fertilisers are given, together with lists of natural predators and companion plants that provide alternative methods of disease, pest and weed control.

All the main garden plants are listed alphabetically under chapter headings including vegetables, fruit, flowers and trees and shrubs. For each plant, details of possible symptoms are given, along with notes on the probable cause and the appropriate treatment.

Yummy pasta

The Neu, Pasta Cookbook. A collection of culinary delights — perfect pasta, sensational sauces and memorable meals by Joanne Glynn.

(Bay Books distributed through Collins $6.95)

f.

how things work and would like to be stimulated and entertained in the process.

This is no mere catalogue of cut-away diagrams. It is a remarkable overview of technology, and of all the key inventions which shape our lives today, infused with the author's personality humour, and his unique gift for bringing potentially difficult concepts into the context of everyday life.

David Macaulay not only demonstrates how machines do what they do — from the simplest lever to the most sophisticated computer — he also shows how the concept behind one invention is linked to the concept behind another. Using the humorous analogy of a woolly mammoth to illustrate principles, he offers even the least mechanicallyminded reader a window of understanding into the complexities of today's technology.

Who needs poisons!

Heroines of God

7

The Way Things Work by Dat-id Macaulay (RD Press distributed through Collins bb $39.95) Did you know that the principle behind the zip fastener also governed the building of the pyramids?

Did you know that the dentist's drill is a direct descendant of the first windmill? Do you know what links a car tyre and a parachute, or a wheelbarrow and a bottle opener?

These are some of the fascinating connections made by David Macaulay in this brilliant, origninal and yet highly accessible guide to the workings of machines.

Employing all the skills of imagination and draughtshave manship which brought him a prize-winning international reputation with such titles as Cathedral, City, Pyramid and Castle, David Macaulay has now created an outstanding book for anyone who wants to understand

his conversion, his growth to maturity as a servant of God, and the establishment, growth and widespread influence of the religious order that took his name.

God's Fool is a warm, vigorous, unsentimental account of the most popular and compelling of the saints.

It is crafted with literary elegance and rich in historical detail.

by Colleen McGuiness-Howard

To Celebrate My Son. A history of the Marist Missionary Sisters by Claire O'Brien, copies obtainablefrom Ms Frances Spora, "Corniglia" Gulargambone, NSW 2828.

To tell the important story of her congregation Sister Claire O'Brien very appropriately puts her focus on the people on the spot and the work they did, rather than on structures and distant superiors, writes John Hosie SM in his foreword.

O'Brien tells stories of extraordinary heroism, and of grinding day to day courage, of laughter and tears. She tells of those who lived through the mindless insanity of world wars, or

Great Saints, Great Friends by Mary Neill, OP and Ronda Cberrin. Published by Alba House through St Paul Publications. $13.95.

The God Seekers discussed in this book are eleven great saints and mystics — Paul, Francis of Assisi. Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena. who became physically but Joan of Arc, Thomas More, never spiritually misshapen Teresa of Avila. John of the by diseases like elephantiasis Cross, Bernadette of or leprosy; of those who Lourdes, Therese of Lisieux wanted to be in the missions, and Elizabeth Seton — who but whose cross was to be sought God with their whole unable to go, and of those mind, heart, soul and whose bodies, after long strength and had a profound service simply could not and edifying impact on keep up with their spirits. countless men and women and whose lives thereafter down through the ages who could offer only from a came to look upon them, as wheelchair — to a younger the authors do, as friends. generation and to us — the Each chapter contains a matchless wisdom of their brief life of one of these experience and their saints and then discusses the example. effect their "friendship" has In a world which seems on the modern believer. The dominated by complete result is an interesting and selfishness, the stories of informal look at holiness these dedicated women over suitable for meditation as a century and a half are well as for imitation by the always interesting and often busy layperson, religious or very moving. priest.

Delicious, easy and quickcooking, pasta is also a nutritious, energy -giving food. This tempting cookbook shows you how to make the most cif pasta in all its infinite variety.

Superb recipies for spaghetti, vermicelli, macaroni.

tagliatelle. fettucine. lasagne, orechiette, bucatini. conchiglie, penne and many other kinds, all make satisfying meals the whole family can enjoy And what's pasta without a sauce? The New Pasta Cookbook has recipes for old favourites like Pesto Genovese, Napoletana and Marinara Sauces as well as new, tantalising ones such as Gorgonzola Sauce with Avocado, and Pistachio Mayonnaise.

There are cold salad dishes, satisfying soups, hearty main meals. fast food, gourmet dishes you'll be proud to serve and palate-cleaning desserts with pasta, fruit, yog,hurt, nuts and cheese.

For ready-in-a-jiffy meals that appeal to the eye and the taste buds, The New Pasta Cookbook has it all. Many recipes take only as long as the pasta takes to cook. In minutes you'll have an inexpensive meal with maximum flavour and a minimum of effort!

Spiritual greats

The Record, March 7, 1991

15

CATHOLIC DOCTORS & SPOUSES Talk by

Mary Jo Meadow PHD Professor Psychology Mankato University USA

7.30pm, March 12 The Bioethics Centre 39 Jugan Street

Glendalough

TOPIC Meditation and the therapeutic deconstruction of normative psychological functioning.

This will describe the power and effects of insight meditation. Discussion and questions afterwards.

Please contact Dr Roly Bott 313 1749 or 362 3677 if attending.

Cost $5.

YOU ARE INVITED TO

THE PARISH SCENE Archdiocesan Calendar

/IMO. ww arm I

MARCH 10 Commonwealth Day Mufti-Faith observance, St George's Cathedral, Monsignor McCrann.

12 Clergy morning with Romeo Maione, Bishop Healy.

13 Heads of Churches meeting, Bishop Healy.

15 St Mary's Cathedral Presentation lona Mass, Bishop Healy.

16 St Joseph's Subiaco, St Patrick's Day Mass, Bishop Healy.

19 Dedication of Queens Park church, Bishop Healy.

20 Conference of Churches of Christ, Bishop Healy.

22 Bless of Phys Ed Centre, Newman Senior College, Monsignor Keating.

26 Mass of the Chrism, St Mary's Cathedral, all priests.

The Month's Mind for the late Archbishop Foley will be observed at the Redemptorist Church with Mass at 7.30pm on Monday, March 11. The faithful are invited to attend.

ST PATRICK'S DAY

A 15 WEEK, IN-DEPTH CHARISMATIC TEACHING SEMINAR PROGRAMME:

Seminar Overvie% & Registration night Wednesda," March 6th. -.30p.m. l eek I: Knowing the Lcise of God". Stek 2: He is LoniWeek 3: Healing Through Forgiveness'' Week 4: • ' The Holy Spint & His Gift" Week 5: "The Outpouring of the Holy Spint. (Nthy lbrigues)" VA•ek 6: "Rightecumess" leek 7: "The Authority of the believer" Aeek 8: Spintual Armour" (Eph 6) Ikek 9: -Prarng Effective Pr.r.i.7 Reek 10: "The Motivational Gifts" Seek 11: In the world, not ti the world Aeek 12: • They turned their world upside down with Faith in the name of Jesiz• iIeek 13: Intercessory Prayvr (Its power & effects) ' ‘Veek 14: "Practical Soul Winning for Practical PeopleNteek IS: The Great Commission"

3 LIVE-1N RETREAT WEEKENDS:

Yr essential to the Seminar & occur at week week 10 & week COST: Si 00 per session = ($75). Seminar Kit included.

RETREATS: $25 ea. (Fn-Sun).

"Set My People On Fire" WILL BE HELD AT: The .therma Centre. St. Lawrences Church, Albert Street, Balcatta. 730p.m. Wed March 6th.

ENQUIRIES: STEVE PEAKE (09) 4470671

The Christian traveller is welcome at...

t

ZIt1e1-.1ilgrintage 'Travel Clothe Pilgrimage tours for the Christian traveller to

• Lourdes • Fatima • Medjugorje • Rome • The Holy Land • Czestochowa • Eastern Europe and otherplaces of spiritual significance For tour brochures ring (09) 324 1234 1304 Hay Street West Perth 6005 Western Australia PO. Box 251 West Perth 6005

'Fe!: 61 +9+ 324 1234 Fax 61 + 9 + 481 0890 A division of Professional navel Services Pty Ltd tic No. 9TA 00487 INC WA A.C.N. 009 36 828

The Irish community celebrates St Patrick on Saturday, March 16 with Mass in St Joseph's Church, Salvado Road, Subiaco at 10.30am. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Healy. The public are welcome. Immediately after the Mass, a buffet lunch will be available at the Irish Club, 61 Townsend Road, Subiaco.

On St Patrick's Day, March 17, festivities at the Irish Club begin with a full Irish-style breakfast from 7.30am. Bookings for both meals are essential, and can be made on 381 5213. The Irish Club will be open until midnight, with plenty of Irish music and entertainment and food available throughout the day.

PRAYER Experience of Prayer -- a guide to growth in personal prayer. Monday, March 18, 5.30pm arrival, bring light meal, tea/coffee provided. Concludes 8.30pm. Suggested costs $5.

Brochures for 1991 program now available. Bookings, further details write/ring Redemptorist Retreat Centre, 190 Vincent Street North Perth 6006. Telephone 328 6600.

Conducted by Father Pat Kearney C SSR.

FAMILY MISSION NOVENA A family Mission Novena will be conducted by Father Creed CSSR at St Francis Xavier Church, Armadale each evening from 7.30 to 8.30pm from Monday, March 18 to Tuesday, March 26.

NEWMAN SOCIETY

On Sunday, March 17 at 10.30am in St Thomas More College Chapel, Crawley, Mass in thanksgiving for the completion of studies by 1991 graduates from all four universities. Father Gerard Brennan will preach. A light luncheon will be available ($7.50 per head).

On Wednesday March 20 at 7.30 pm in the Senior Common Room of St Thomas More College Mr Romeo Maione will lecture on "Rerum Novarum: The Workers' Charter". (1991 is the centenary of this landmark papal encyclical). Mr Malone has been executive director of the Canadian Catholic Organisation for Development and Peace and also observer to the Synod for the Laity.

He visited Perth as international president of the YCW. Vatican II Study Group: Tuesday March 12 at 11 am decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Chapt 2 Section 10.

Scripture Group. Tues March 26 at 11 • am (note change from Thursday to Tuesday). Acts of the Apostles chpts 6-12.

Each of last two meetings to be presided over by Father Dynon at 13 Dean Street, Claremont. All four events open to anyone interested Contact number 446 7340.

will be concelebrated by

Bishop Robert Healy

The AGM of past pupils and friends of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart will be held on Sunday, March 10 at 8pm at St Joseph's Convent, York Street, South Perth.

CATHOLIC LIBRARY New timetable: Tuesday: 8.30am7.30pm commencing on Tuesday, April 2. Address: Catholic Education Centre, 50 Ruislip Street, Leederville.

BURMA HELP The Australia Burma Mission Relief Society will hold a Jumble Sale at the Morley Market, next to the Bishop Street Newsagent, on Thursday, March 21 from 9am onwards. Donations of bric-a-brac and other household items will most gratefully be accepted. Helpers required too. Enquiries 272 1379 or 342 1053.

ST PATRICK'S SUNDAY Mass at 11am at St Patrick's Church Adelaide Street, Fremantle parade including pipe bands, horse drawn float, sporting social and cultural groups from Esplanade Park via: Adelaide, Point, Cantonment, Market, South Terrace & Essex Streets to Esplanade Park. Exhibition of Irish dancing, Irish music and pipe bands, entertainment for children, Fat Cat, clowns and balloons, WA Fire Brigade, merry-go-round and Bouncy Castle, candy floss, ice cream, cool drinks and for the adults soda bread and potato cakes. For further information ring Tom 337 8737.

Your School Audits

16

School boards, principals and bursars Do you need an auditor for your school?

We are an experienced firm of Chartered Accountants established since 1907 and have wide experience in the audit of Catholic schools Please contact

in St Joseph's Church

Maurice Anghie or OsmundPerera

Salvado Road, Subiaco on Saturday, March 16 at 10.30am

McLaren & Stewart Chartered Accountants GPO Box L892, Perth 6001 Telephone: 321 5701

Everyone is welcome to attend The Record, March 7, 1991

AH 446 6238

DIAL-A- CARPET 504 Charles St, North Perth (opposite Charles Hotel)

Carpets for home, school, church and office.

ST JOSEPH'S PAST PUPILS

A TTENTION

The Irish Community's Annual St Patrick's Mass

Think CARPET! Think Peter RINEY 242 1002

OU

V

PETER KEARNEY IN CONCERT PE1ER KEARNEY . . . one of the pioneers of contemporary religious music in Australia, composer of "Fill My House", "The Beatitudes" and "Where is Your Song. my Lord?" Sang before Papal Mass in Canberra, 1986. Winner of the Declan Affiey Memorial Award . . . best new song at the National Folk Festival, 1988. Toured UK and Ireland in 1989.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 8pm JAMES NESTOR HALL 50 Ruislip Street, Leederville Cost: $4 children, $6 adult or $15 family Tickets from CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMISSION 2nd Floor, 459 Hay St, Perth Enquiries. 325 1212, 325 1022

Australian Catholic Relief and the

Catholic Social Justice Commission invite you to a dinner with

ROM MAIONE (ACR Lenten Visitor)

MONDAY, MARCH 18 7pm St Joachim's Parish Hall Cnr Shepperton Rd & Harper St, Vic Park

Cost $10. Bring your own drinks.

Tickets are available from Church Office, Victoria Avenue or Catholic Social Justice Commission, 2nd floor, 459 Hay St, Perth Enquiries 325 1212

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