The Record Newspaper 12 September 1991

PERTH, WA: September 12, 1991

Registered by Australia Post Publication No. WAR 0202

Number 2756

POST ADDRESS: PO Box 50, Northbridge, 6000 WA. LOCATION: 587 Newcastle Street, Cnr Douglas St (near Loftus St)

TELEPHONE: (09) 22 77 080

FAX (09) 22 77 087

PRICE 600

to"

1411L;

A thousand Clontarf balloons soaring into Sunday's black skies brought a smile at least to Clontarf old boy Brother Robert Costello (left) who came from Melbourne for the occasion.

Painful end to peace project A slump in enrolments

and lack of funds for a renovation major caused New Norcia

Catholic demise.

College's

Enrolments which had peaked at 210a few years back are now down to 130. It has been estimated that an enrolment of 230 to 250 is needed to make the college viable.

Short term refurbishments of the college buildings have taken place but a $3 million refit would have been needed to bring the college up to comparable school boarding standards.

This sort of capital was not available from the Catholic Education System of which the college is a part.

The archdiocese of Perth had underwritten over $500,000 of deficits in the college's first three years of operation so that the Catholic Education could Commission pursue the long term viability of the college.

New Norcia Catholic

College became a reality in 1986 when the Catholic Education Commission took charge of the school.

A 1985 review recommended that Sr Therese Marie Fleming of the Good Samaritan order be invited to head the administration because of the order's close affinity to the Benedictines. Thirteen sisters now work in WA.

Since 1974 it had functioned as Salvado College under the Benedictine owners of the college buildings. Since 1908 and 1913 it had as the operated renowned St Gertrude's and St Ildephonsus Colleges under the direction of the Josephite and Marist orders. Earliest Catholic education commenced in New Norcia in 1848 under Salvado.

CEO spokesman Mr Michael King said that the opening of a Catholic secondary college at Karratha, expansion of Catholic secondary edu-

cation in the Kimberleys and the downturn in many mining towns had made a viable enrolment impossible to achieve at present at New Norcia.

The six years of New Norcia Catholic College's existence were built around the Benedictine motto of Pax (Peace), says the principal Sr Therese Marie Fleming.

"We offered an environment in which multiculturalism could not only operate but be successful. Overseas students, Aboriginals and other WA born students got to know each other as people.

"It worked. We had Aboriginals saying they were really accepted and never heard a word that made them feel less a person.

"We tried to build on peace with each other and peace in the larger community."

Sr Therese Marie spearheaded the college move to recruit students from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

There was an added benefit from New Norcia she said.

"It was a monastic town.

The environment was surrounded by the bells across the road calling the community to prayer.

"It had its effect. We had numbers waiting three years to become Catholics. Nearly 30 entered the Church, and only two of them were from Asia.

You don't get that in many Catholic schools."

Sr Therese Marie's achievement was also the unique curriculum that included a pony club, TAFE equestrian courses and agricultural classes for all years.

As she sets about finding places for her pupils next year St Therese Marie is philosophical.

"We don't do it for an ultimate success. Each year we do it for the students.

"If we are able to help them on the journey then we think that is successful."

Gone with the wind

By Roy Lazaroo The rains came down but the balloons went up.

As they faded into oblivion, so did the spirits of those who organised the event.

Yes. Sadly what was planned as a bumper fair at Clontarf grounds last Sunday turned out to be a foul day.

It wasn't only Clontarfs catastrophe. The deluge spelled out ruin for the West Coast Eagles, too, if that is any consolation.

The open day at Clontarf was aimed at attracting old boys of Clontarf, Bindoon, Castledare and Tardun, their families and friends.

It was to mark the 90th anniversary of the Christian Brothers there.

Organisers, headed

by Michael Dark, had hoped that 10,000 to 15,000 would turn up for the barbecue picnic-cum-fun day.

Instead just about

300 showed up. The incessant showers had obviously been the off-putting main factor.

To put it in boxing parlance, the organisers threw in the towel well before the intended closing time.

Michael Dark, chairman of the organising committee was not a happy man when interviewed.

He found it quite heartbreaking to watch eight months of effort being washed up. He said: "It was a disaster. But it was beyond our control."

There was plenty of high water but no hell.., because it had been months of a labour of love.

Added Michael: It was a disaster in one sense and a triumph in another — the good name of the Christian Brothers had once again been resurrected.

So much for the dart side of things.

• See page 6 for happier moments.

Christianity in action BIG CHANCE TO SHOW IT IN PORT HEDLAND, SAYS PRIEST The presence of Cambodian refugees at Port Hedland will be a chance to show Christianity in action says the parish priest there.

With not many of the expected arrivals being Christians, "we've got to work doubly hard at teaching what Christianity is rather than talking about it" says parish priest Father Larry Reitmeyer.

"It will be a chance to really practice Christian charity and do it in a compassionate way — a chance many do not have.

"Money can be collected but you don't always have a chance to get in and help personally in a direct way."

Father Reitmeyer says it is not yet clear how much access will be possible with the Cambodians and how free they will be to be in contact with the Port Hedland community but he is confident that bridges can be built.

"Our problem is not whether they stay or are sent back; that is the government's problem. Ours is to make life as pleasant and comfortable for them as we can.

"Obviously the government cannot spend a lot of money, and neither can we, but we can help by sharing.

"If they are free to come and go people can open their homes to these

people and perhaps help the children, and adults, learn English."

The prospect of helping Cambodian refugees at Port Hedland is not new to Father Reitmeyer.

Twelve months ago when he was appointed to the parish, there was talk of boat people being settled there and Bishop Hickey knew of the priest's concern over this problem. It did not eventuate.

"I'm just happy that these latest people are coming here," he said. "I'm sorry that there are boat people at all.

It's one of the great injustices of today and the more we can do to rectify that, the more ought to be done."

Port Hedland is able to offer a welcome to these newcomers, he pointed out because it is already a town with a great mix of nationalities.

At latest count there are 70 nationalities in the town who speak some 57 different languages. In addition to groups such as Yugoslays and Italians there are Filipinos, Indonesians, Torres Strait and Christmas Islanders. There are many of Islamic faith.

"They are going to dovetail well into this situation," he said. "Catholics already have a reputation for helping through St Vincent de Paul and many other charities," he said.

• See page 7.

Above: Kim Rose and Mark Winter studying displays illustrating the life of a priest.

Left: Fr Justin Bianchini tells Christian students all about seminary life.

Vocations awareness

During Vocations Awareness Week some eight schools dropped in on the display at St Charles Seminary.

Pictured listening to Father Justin Bianchini describing the history

Thalia Economo and Nick Catalano have a face to face conversation with St Charles Borromeo.

2 The Record, September 12, 1991

•••

and life at St Charles are Year 12 students from Chisholm College.

The display of photographs is now available to any parish or group that wants to have a vocations awareness activity.

Francesca Costa, Barbara Crosbie and Paul Connell examining some of the liturgical vestments on display.

Forgiveness by the black folk already in evidence

Archbishop Hurley. . . a balance of power will exist in South A frica.

Hope a necessary ingredient, he says Hope is a necessary ingredient for the future of South Africa, says one of its outstanding bishops and forgiveness by the blacks is already in evidence.

A balance of power will exist in the future, he says because a black government will depend on a whiteled economy and civil service.

"I'm optimistic and it is the duty of everyone to be optimistic, to contribute hope, trust and confidence," says the bishop of 45 years standing.

"It's a huge shock for white South Africa to have to face a black government but it will be difficult for the black government too," says the Oblate of Mary Immaculate who was born to Irish parents in Cape Town.

The black majority government, Archbishop Hurley

pointed out, will have to retain a largely white civil service and to deal with a largely white dominated economy with seven or eight large corporations at the top.

"You can't change that overnight or you will wreck the country. A market economy needs to be retained but naturally changed more in favour of the black population and workers.

"I have every hope this will provide the balance of power for a government run largely by blacks and an economy and civil service run largely by whites.

"I'm hopeful it can succeed because of the tolerance, spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation already shown by black people.

"It has been shown in Zimbabwe and it is showing itself in South Africa."

Whites struggling to open their hearts South Catholic Africans were a minority minded Church until Vatican II set new horizons says one of its serving longest bishops. document The Church in The Modern World showed how the Church could affect cultural and economic situations says Archbishop Hurley who was ordained priest in 1939 and ordained a bishop in 1947.

Being only five per cent of the population, the South African Catholic Church was "barely suffered and tolerated and very much with a minority psychology".

"We sought to carry on and evangelise but without rocking the politically, boat socially or culturally."

Only later did the

Church realise it could exert some moral power but the first efforts were not successful.

In 1952 the bishops put out their first statement.

"It makes us sweat now, it was so patronising, so naive. It was addressed to whites to treat blacks with justice.

"We found out politics don't work like that. Justice comes up from the people suffering injustice and is seldom handed out by those in positions of power and privilege."

After Vatican II the Church decided to clean up its own house he said, by defying the 1948 apartheid segregation in seminaries and in schools.

In 1976 even black seminarians were diffident they could

succeed in a mixed race seminary.

In desegregating schools, while the government hesitated "we took the lead, jumped ahead and took the gap"!

White Catholic South Africans, Archbishop Hurley pointed out, inherited the 500-year-old colonial tradition as in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand that accepted the total superiority of the white race and the inferiority of the black.

In South Africa the group areas legislation has meant that there are few residentially mixed parishes but that is slowly changing.

White Catholics are still struggling to open their hearts, he said.

Black Catholics, he said, are confused that

It's time for sanctions to be lifted It's time for sanctions to be lifted from South Africa says Archbishop Hurley of Durban.

"The process going on in South Africa is irreversible, he says and a healthy economy must now be built.

The South African conf9rence bishops decided in August that sanctions should be lifted.

"Once De Klerk gave freedom of speech to the liberation movement and freed Mandela there was no hope of turning back.

We did not realise it at the time and could hardly believe the decision of the National

Party.

"What we have got to do now is prepare a healthier economy by the time a new government under a new constitution takes over before September 1994.

"A probably black majority government by then will be to develop a new economy with things possibly in decline, facing problems such as huge unemployment of 40%, an education system that is chaotic for blacks and a housing backlog requiring 400,000 a year.

"The sooner a health economy gets going the better."

"Iwanted to be sure Mum was happy with her funeral.

SoIasked her." the people who brought them the gospel of love and kindness can treat them like they do.

In 1980 the Church decided that the only way forward was to have small communities where people of different races can discuss and pray about their problems together and to turn parishes into communities of communities. The Renew and Lumko methods are both used.

The age of priests has nothing to do with the success, he said but depends on their character and background.

After 52 years of priesthood, Archbishop Hurley is convinced of the need to have an optimistic temperament, "to always call the glass half full rather than half empty".

, Because many people care about the kind of funeral service they want, Bovaa & O'Dea have designed a unique Pre-Paid Funeral Plan.

It allows you to plan every detail according to your parents' wishes.

And by pre-planning and paying, you are spared the financial and emotional burden of making the funeral arrangements at a time of crisis.

For a copy of our informative booklet, "Funeral Planning. Because you care", telephone our Head Office on 328 7299. Or visit 68 Stirling St, Perth.

A TRADITION OF TRUST

BOWRA & O'DA FUNERAL DIRECTORS (Eq. 184181

The Rectird, Septernb6r. 12, 1991

3

Record Aeneas was frightened of the gift the Greeks were bringing to the gate of Troy and the Brides of Christ should look twice at the Bouquets being showered their way.

The praise is formidable, led by Australia's most vocal atheist and religion debunker, Philip Adams who is fulsome in his praise.

The Age's Debi Enker is in raptures, puts 'Brides' alongside 'The Dismissal', 'Vietnam' and 'The Dunera Boys' and 'doing what many of the very best westerns have done . . . about deep and abiding friendships'. Phew!

The West Australian's critic Pam Casellas can't put the subject down, for yet a second time; and the ABC is absolutely beside itself in its own publicity and promotional material.

They can't all be wrong; so Catholics who are hooked on the series after only two episodes so far need not feel guilty. It must be like they say it was, say many former Catholic school girls.

On the other hand, the crowds at the Roman Coliseum too enjoyed the entertainment, even if it was not fun for the Christians in the arena.

The question is whether the real-life brides of Christ are doing as well out of the series as the television brides. Only a very presumptuous person would speak for those hardy women from whom we ought to hear on the matter.

The series may be trying to be truly a picture of the Church — but from only one angle: the confusion that comes from change but the worse confusion from misunderstanding the nature of reform.

It is here that 'Brides' has to fall back on the cut-out stereotypes of nuns and of males who are wimpish clowns, so that the well worn theses can be trudged out in the name of 'Vatican-Twoism'.

It says that if only that hard harsh Church would change its ways and get on to the merrygo-round of divorce, contraception, abortion and free love what a bright future we would all have.

'Brides' therefore is not about the real crisis in religious life and about which religious themselves after a million seminars and discernments are not much the wiser. Does the ABC know better?

The risk is that middle aged Catholics on the outside may be wanting to purge themselves once and forever of what they believe was happening to them in the 1960s. It may be a good catharsis. It may not awaken them to where the Church is in the 1990s.

It was a thought that gripped the ABC in the Geraldine Doogue series ahead of Pope John Paul's Australian visit. "It would be a greater Church, if it could disown its past and present, and if . ."

It surfaced again in the 'Menotti' priesthood series — far more subtle than 'Brides' but with young and old in the same conflicts.

The series is not the invention of the real brides and should not be laid at the convent door even if a few real life religious could have given the lead parts a true to life reality.

The idea belongs to ABC drama head Penny Chapman who turned to writers John Alsop and Sue Smith. All three it is said are drawing on their Catholic childhood recollections.

Brenda Fricker (alias Sr Agnes) has much to say about her brutal and fearful Dublin convent upbringing culminating in her real life expulsion.

Sandy Gore (Mother Ambrose) mercifully has gentler if unresolved mysterious thoughts about the nuns who taught her.

Josephine Byrnes (Sister Catherine) resolved her own questions about faith, the publicity says.

The ABC post mortems too had a field day.

Adviser Sister Margaret Beirne being very ambivalent still about the patriarchal church and the future even of religious life. The ubiquitous Father Paul Collins sat on the fence in his own peculiar approach to Church teaching while a middle aged Adelaide professional woman seems to be dining out even yet about the decision she made at all of 15 to give up the Church.

And so on into the night with the word 'Vatican II' bandied about like a new soap powder to clean up the Church in 15 minutes flat.

Certainly, 'Brides' in the 1990s is not a series about which today's real Catholics ought to get upset. Quite the contrary.

If Catholicism and its so called doctrinal antics and observances — and after all we are a modest 260/0 of the Australian nation — does not bore the pants off the slumped masses, then we must be getting more free publicity than a thousand advertisements of the Catholic Enquiry Centre.

Thanks Aunty. But thanks to us for giving the story line.

4 The Record, September 12, 1991

11 LI. 1] I1AN C-7

4

Religious freedo with fall of communis

CAUSE FOR REJOICING, SAYS CASSIDY VATICAN CITY (CNS): The fall of communism in the Soviet Union is cause for rejoicing and appears to place religious freedom "beyond dispute", said the Vatican's top ecumenical official, Cardinal Edward Cassidy.

thing which we can only rejoice at.

At the same time, the push for independence among republics — particularly in the Soviet Ukraine — could raise delicate questions for C atholic -Orthodox dialogue.

So far, the dramatic events in Moscow have provided a setting for Catholic and Orthodox cooperation, Cardinal Cassidy said.

Cardinal Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, said: "The fall of communism and the possibility of the churches to work freely and normally is some-

"It is obvious that communism is gone and that the freedom of Soviet peoples to worship and organise their religious life is now something that is beyond dispute," he said.

He does not foresee ecumenical problems in the Ukraine, a place of historical misgivings between Catholics and Orthodox, if the Ukraine continues to remain in whatever emerges as the "new format" of the Soviet Union.

Difficulties could arise, however, if the Ukraine were to "opt for complete independence", with the Catholic Church leading the way, the cardinal said. He said his impression was that "it is very important to the Russian Orthodox Church that what one might consider the 'heart of Russia' remain unbroken. This would he at least the republics of Russia, Byelorussia and the Ukraine".

In late August, the Ukrainian Catholic Church threw its full weight behind the Ukraine's initial declaration of independence from the Soviet Union.

At that time, Cardinal Lubachivsky, head of the Ukrainian church, called on faithful to work to

strengthen "our fully realised and independent state".

Cardinal Cassidy said that, realistically, if the Ukraine were to become independent, it would have to have support that extended beyond confessional lines. The Catholic Church is a minority of perhaps 25 per cent in the Ukraine, with the Orthodox the great majority.

A Ukrainian referendum is scheduled for December on the independence declaration.

Cardinal Camidy said the Church defends the right of all peoples to determine their political future.

"How you apply it to a particular case — I don't think that is something the Church should be

involved in. It should be left to the people themselves to make their own decisions," he said.

The leading role played by the Russian Orthodox Church in resisting the coup attempt and getting rid of the communist system has left more trust on the part of Catholics, the cardinal said.

He noted that Pope John Paul II and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexi II defended religious freedom in similar terms during this crisis.

Cardinal Cassidy said he thought there was a strong movement within the Russian Orthodox Church to be free of "too close a relationship with the state", a relationship that had limited the church in the past.

Appeal for rosaries HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (CNS): Father Patrick Peyton, founder and head of the Family Rosary Crusade, which promotes Marian devotion, asked Americans to mail him rosaries to send to the Soviet Union.

At the same time the Holy Cross priest announced he had authorised the rosary crusade's media operation, Family Theatre Productions, to produce a film series on the rosary.

The films would "be aimed directly at the youth and families of Russia and throughout the world to

strengthen the family unit by restoring family prayer".

Rosaries are to be forwarded to rosary crusade headquarters in Albany, NY. From Albany, Father Peyton said, rosaries would be sent to families in Russia, the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

"The gift of these rosaries will be a personal prayer to these families from the families of America," the announcement said.

Rosaries may be sent to: Family Rosary Crusade, Executive Park Drive, Albany, NY, 12203.

Mary's promise at Fatima credited for collapse ALEXANDRIA, SD, (CNS): Our Lady of Fatima's promise in 1917 of the conversion of Russia is responsible for the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union, said Father Robert J. Fox, Fatima apostolate founder.

According to accounts of the Fatima apparitions, Mary said that if the pope, in union with all the world's bishops, consecrated the world, and especially Russia, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Russia would be converted and there would be peace.

Father Fox said the one survivor of the three peasant children who

saw the apparitions, Lucia dos Santos, now a Carmelite nun, said in a message released in July 1989 that the "collegial consecration" of Russia and the world had been accomplished on March 25, 1984, as requested by Our Lady of Fatima.

The nun, now in her 80s, was 10 at the time of the first apparition on May 13, 1917.

On March 25, 1984, the

world's bishops joined Pope John Paul II, at his request, in a collegial consecration, calling on Mary's intercession for help in combating a host of contemporary threats to human life, ranging from nuclear war to "sins against life from its very beginning".

The same month, Father Fox said, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev became second-incommand in the Soviet government. The following year, he said, he became top Soviet leader.

In addition, he said, in the months following release of Sister Lucia's message the world "saw one country after another throw off communism".

Father Fox said that in 1985 at the request of former President Ronald Reagan he went to Fatima, Portugal, and there consecrated the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Reagan "told meIcould not say anything publicly

about it before the act was accomplished. If there was publicity, the White House would deny knowing anything about it," he said.

The priest said he currently has a letter from President Reagan acknowledging the US consecration at Fatima on display at his parish, St Mary of Mercy in Alexandria.

He said, however, he did not attribute the fall of communism to Reagan's request.

Gorbachev's economic and government restructuring policies "opened the doors", he said. "there's no doubt (Gorbachev) has been used by the Blessed Mother to fulfill her promise that

eventually after much suffering and persecution" Russia would be converted and world peace would begin.

"Anyone who sat back and watched the daily news in the fall and early winter of 1989 and 1990 would have no doubt," he said, that the tremendous political changes that took place during that period in the Eastern bloc were the "fulfillment of the prophecies of Our Lady of Fatima", he said.

Father Fox said it was important to keep in mind that Russia has not yet been converted.

"We're only at the beginning. The best is yet to come," he said.

4

EAM

L.

4 4

4 4

Marriages in US top casualty of war FORT McCOY, Wis. (CNS): Although few US soldiers died in the Persian Gulf War, the collateral damage to marriages and families continues today, according to a military chaplain and professional counsellor.

Citing the skyrocketing divorce rates at some military bases after the war, Baptist minister Rev Travis said that although service in the Gulf war may have triggered the domestic turmoil that sometimes occurs when service members return home, the root causes go deeper.

"Strong marriages survive" such disruptions, he said, while "for fragile marriages, it may be the final straw".

While Gulf war veterans and their families suffering from postwar stress need ministry, Mr Travis said, more attention must be paid to building healthy marriages before a crisis occurs.

In another address to the workshop, Gen Norman Schwarzkopf's staff chaplain said chaplains serving in

the Gulf war provided the military's "most effective ministry ever", despite restrictions on them.

The Rev David Peterson, a Presbyterian minister said the restrictions were imposed because of a sensitivity to religious sensibilities in the Gulf, particularly in Saudi Arabia.

Among the restrictions Mr Peterson criticised were instructions not to wear religious insignia such as a cross or Star of David, calling chaplains "morale officers" and generally not informing the US public of ministry services available to those serving in the Gulf.

Some of the restrictions were ignored, he said, and ministry improved without any ill effects to public relations.

"It was a big mistake to even suggest we take the (religious) insignia off," he said. "Taking the cross off hurt my ministry. I put it back on, and service members came up and said, 'I didn't know you were a chaplain. I've been looking for a chaplain.'"

Bishop Stallings, who was excommunicated from the Catholic Church after forming his denomination, announced that he ordained Ms Vernell, a former Oblate Sister of Providence, and Carlos Harvin, a former Catholic seminarian, at his Imam Temple in Washington.

She was a deacon in his church.

Ms Vernell, her two sisters, four brothers and their mother had been among the founding families of St Peter Claver Parish in Asbury Park, NJ, which opened in 1942. She said her decision to join Stallings' Bishop church was not celebrated at the parish.

"It went over like a lead balloon."

Divine Word Missionary Father John Wadeson, pastor of St Peter Claver, said that the prominent parishioner's departure actually had a positive effect on the small, predominantly black parish of 115 families.

"It bound the rest of the Church together," he said.

Father Wadeson, who is white and a native of Australia, said he agrees that

there are too few black lay people, black nuns, black priests and black bishops.

"But I don't believe real change in the Church is made by those in positions of authority. To say Stallings' church is the solution because people in leadership are black is as ridiculous as to say that the US government is going to be good because the _people in leadership positions are white," said Father Wadeson.

Ms Vernell charged that black Catholics traditionally were taught that while they suffered in this life, their reward would come in heaven which was "filled with honey and streets of gold".

Ms Vernell said that since childhood she

The most important

central office of German Catholicism, the secretariat of the German bishops' conference, intends to stay put.

However, the Commissariat of the German bishops, also called the Catholic Office, will make the move.

Since it functions primarily as the Church's

liaison office to the German federal government, the commissariat will relocate when the most important government offices move.

The Catholic Military Bishop's Office will move to the reunited Germany's once and future capital. Its statutes require the agency to be located at the seat of the

The government's move to Berlin is expected to boost mostly Protestant Berlin's Catholic population to 500,000, up from 436,183. The total population, including east and west sectors of the city, is about 3.3 million.

The expected influx has increased the likelihood

ADVERTISING! This space costs $42

MANNING & ASSOCIATES ono eir1:4/4 I Contact Lens Consultants GROVE PLAZA, COTTESLOE Russell W. Manning. WAOA (Dip) Mark A. Kulnertas, B. °prom (NSW) For appointment Phone 384 6720

The Daughters of Charity

NEED YOUR HELP for their work for the development of the underprivi leged

URGENTLY NEEDED Clothing, clean, wearable — household goods — nick-nacks — ornaments, jewellery etc.

For truck to call — Phone 227 6616

has wanted to be "a person of religion within the Church".

In 1959, she joined the Oblate Sisters, an order of black nuns.

For the next 10 years she taught poor children.

In Minnesota she left the Oblate Sisters. "I felt I was a member of a black community but a very ineffective community within a E uro-structured church. The order had the numbers and the power to do things it was not doing, and I was frustrated," said Ms Vernell.

She remained in Minnesota working in the chancery office of the Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis. Later, in 1972, she married Jacob Vernell. The couple adopted an infant son and daughter in 1974.

federal government.

requires regular

534 William Street, Highgate

Arrange your funeral now and give you and your family peace of mind.

Horizons, the Donald J. Chipper I& Son Pre-Arrangement Funeral Plan.

Horizons is the sensitive and realistic approach to planning your funeral.

It means your loved ones won't have the burden of having to face such distressing decisions at a very difficult and emotional time. And you'll be assured that the funeral is carried out according to your wishes.

Horizons allows you to pay for your funeral in advance. This once-only, inflation-proof payment protects your pension and guarantees you'll receive all the dignity and honour of a Donald J. Chipper & Son funeral.

Call Kim Chipper now to discuss details of this special Funeral Plan.

Telephone 381 5888 (24 hours a day).

ill Donald J.Chipper & Son.

Not all will follow govt to Berlin BONN, Germany (CNS): The decision by the German parliament to move government and parliamentary offices from Bonn to Berlin has led to discussions within several Catholic Church offices on whether to follow the government's lead.

Selling...

Promoting...

Deliver to

Inever felt part of Church, says ex-nun WASHINGTON (CNS): A former nun who was ordained a priest by Bishop George Augustus Stallings, organiser of the breakaway A frican-American Catholic Congregation, said she left the Roman Catholic Church because she never felt truly part of it.

Successful

Funeral Directors

COMPASSION, KINDNESS & CARE.

that Berlin will become a new metropolitan see for a Church province that would include the entire area of the former East Germany.

385 Rokeby Rd. Tel. 381 5888 • •SUBIACO: , BOORAGOON: 506 Marmion St. Tel. 330 6344 e ROCKINGHAM:

6 Robinson Pl. Tel. 528 1244 MANDURAH: Arnold St. Tel. 535 4166

The recent elevation to cardinal of Berlin Bishop Georg Sterzinsky was seen by some as Vatican confirmation of such plans.

The Record, September 12, 1991

5.

Clontarf reunion dinner a remarkable success

By Roy Lazaroo The reunion dinner held last Saturday at Clontarf (this was organised by another committee) was a "remarkable success".

It was held to mark the

90th anniversary of the Christian Brothers.

It was not rain-affected and the turnout — 200 were at the dinner — was most heartening for the organisers.

Maurice Whitfield chairman of that committee, said: "It went extremely well."

He added: "It was certainly worth the effort."

The committee had spent many hours on the phone tracking down boys all over Australia and overseas.

In doing so they received many apologies from old boys who would have liked to have been at the dinner but were prevented by the distance of travel or work commitments.

However, they received donations and good wishes from most who could not make it.

The committee also

The oldest Apart from Louie Younger (1921) oldest "old boys" at the reunion were Clarrie Gilbert (1926-27) and John McLeod (1922-29).

old boys

Br Pat O'Doherty congratulating Michael Dark for his effort with Br McAppion applauding.

6

The Record, September 12, 1991

Br Bruno Doyle takes a closer look at a memento presented to the Christian Brothers. At the microphone is Maurice Whitfield. On the far right is Br O'Doherty.

received some negative calls from old boys who had not come to terms regarding the circumstances of their childhood.

He hoped that many at some future time may be able to help others who are finding it difficult to understand that being placed in institutions like Clontarf was not of their own or the Christian Brothers' making.

He told the gathering in his address that committee, however, was able to talk to and put a more positive light on the past to "some of the old boys".

He summed up that evening with these words: "It was a great joy to be with them."

Brother Cusack from New Zealand was present, so was Bro Costello and Bro Higgins.

The dinner went on in a happy atmosphere and there was plenty to eat.

The committee put in five months of work to ensure it was a success.

Mr Whitfield's address was greeted with spontaneous applause.

New Zealand visitor Br Nick Cusack with Brian Tennant and Max Crowley.

Government more compassionate ARCHBISHOP HICKEY ON SHIFTING OF 113 REFUGEES FROM MELBOURNE TO SYDNEY

By Cliff Baxter in the Catholic Weekly

Sydney was handled with delicacy and with some awareness of the fear that people have because they don't understand all the workings of government, that they might be deported, was acknowledged.

"So I would say it was handled as far as I can tell with some sensitivity andIthink even though these people have no automatic right to stay, the Government should continue to treat them with the dignity that befits human beings recognising the difficulty of going back to Cambodia at the present time, recognising, too, that they may have a good claim to refugee status.

Archbishop Hickey said so far as he is aware the Cambodian refugees who were transferred controversially from Villawood in Sydney to near Darwin were still in Darwin.

SYDNEY: The shifting of 113 refugees from Melbourne to Sydney recently appeared to have been done in a more compassionate manner, the new Archbishop of Perth, Archbishop Hickey, said this week.

Recently he was very critical of the insensitive way in which other illegal immigrants were packed off from Villawood in Sydney to Darwin.

However, he told the Catholic Weekly the latest move seemed to have been done more humanely.

He wondered, though if the people themselves knew why they were being moved around.

Archbishop Hickey said people were absconding in Melbourne for fear that they might be deported.

"I know that the Government plans to bring This was obviously against the law and should people from all around Australia and locate them not happen, he said. in the one spot at Port Hedland," said Bishop Hickey.

So they were moved elsewhere.

"Facilities are being prepared already," said There was another move to Port Hedland in West Archbishop Hickey.

Australia being planned.

"It seems to me the move from Melbourne to Port Hedland is in the Diocese of Geraldton

which he occupied until recently as its Bishop.

"There's a lot of people in the Port Hedland area who will welcome their presence there, the facilities are good and I think it is a place where the people will be treated well while they wait their fate.

"They mightn't understand again why they are being shifted, that certainly is a problem, they shouldn't be shifted so much, so often, but I think once they get to Port Hedland they will find that it's a welcoming community and there'll be a lot of local support.

Archbishop Hickey agreed that Australia had a long way to go to understanding the refugee problem.

"There is a lot of people in Australia who would want to deport these people as soon as they arrive on our shores," said Archbishop Hickey.

"But if they were in a similar situation they would appreciate the compassion of the Church and want to have their case, and want their situation looked at, and also an appreciation of the terrible situation that they are fleeing from.

"I think we've got a long way to go before those factors are appreciated," said the Archbishop.

'Holding camp' worries SYDNEY: The Australian Government's decision to establish a central "holding camp" for illegal immigrants at a lonely post far away in Western Australia has raised some e yebrows in legal circles.

With "illegals" seeking refugee status touching more than 17 thousand in Australia and rising at a thousand a month, the Government has the wind up about what to do.

It will be more convenient to have a central holding camp, far away from lawyers, TV cameras and the media.

But how will it help people who don't usually have any English and are terrified of going back to

their homeland?

Many people have applauded the measure, but others have lingering doubts.

The WA Legal Aid Commission has said it has not been able to help illegal Indonesian fishermen immigrants and certainly won't be able to service the 500 or more people to be placed in the camp at Port Hedland in the Pilbara region.

Port Hedland is a small town about 1150 miles (1840 kms) north of Fremantle.

It's named after a pearler, Peter Hedland, who discovered the port in 1857.

The question being asked is: why are the refugees to be placed so far away.

By Cliff Baxter in the Catholic Weekly Is it out of sight, out of mind?

What access will people who are afraid to go back to their country of origin have to the media?

What newspaper would send a reporter thousands of miles from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to examine an alleged case of injustice?

What lawyer would go?

And, remember, these illegal immigrants will have a mere 28 days in which to lodge an application to be classified as a refugee.

Cambodian illegal immigrants were bundled out of Villawood detention centre, Sydney and packed off to Darwin to be held in another camp.

Since then, the transfer of other "illegals", from Melbourne to Sydney, has proceeded in a more gentle manner.

But some suspicion has been aroused by the latest development.

The Law Report on ABC Radio last week disclosed that the Federal Government had bought the single men's quarters from BHP at Port Hedland to establish a holding centre for refugees or "illegals" as people coming into Australia without permits are called.

RECORD classifieds close noon Wednesday. Post or deliver. No phone ads. SS minimum for 28 words. ister, Mr Gerry Hand, said on the program: "You had to get facilities which were adequate, and big enough to hold a large number of people, that was of a standard befitting the sort of standards we require here in Australia.

"We could have built a tent city or prefab huts in other parts of Australia, but we currently have people in eight temporary holding facilities and two more high-security centres — and that's a totally wasteful way to run an operation like this."

ELLIOTT & ELLIOTT Optometrists CONTACT LENS CONSULTANTS Perth Piccadilly Arcade Fremantle 30 Market St

A CARING FUNERAL SERVICE

Mr Hand said that the Government had looked wide and far for a site for refugees. The Port Hedland site was by far the best.

MEAD SON & CO Established 1910.

$50,000 to assist flood victims

Phone 361 6191 or

Catholic Australian Relief has sent $50,000 to assist the victims of the current flooding in Cambodia.

The funds will provide rice and other foods, inflatable boats and rice seed. ACR has already helped provide 120,000 sandbags required to protect maior population centres such as Phnom Penh.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, Mr Kong Som 01, told ACR's Director, National Michael Whiteley that 4,000,000 hectares had been inundated and 10 per cent of the rice crop destroyed.

"We need your help urgently," Mr Kong Som 01 said.

Some 250,000 people

Immigration Minister Mr Gerry Hand has already been publicly criticised for the way

have been affected. In the province of Kompong Speu the water rose so fast that people had to leave everything and flee for their lives.

As firewood needed for cooking was not useable, cooked rice and bread had to be sent from Phnom Penh. staff ACR Two members working in

The Immigration Min-

have been Takeo stranded by the floods.

"Our public health nurse working has not been in contact for two weeks.

We are not concerned for her safety but it does indicate the grave difficulties under which development programs are carried out in Cambodia," Mr Whiteley said.

Mr Whiteley said that non government organi-

sation aid was necessary immediately, as it takes a much longer period of time for aid channelled

through governments to reach the victims.

The current political situation in Cambodia further complicates the process.

"I think that this is the reason Mr Kong Som 01 wrote directly to ACR," Mr Whiteley said.

321 8151 335 2602

190 Albany Highway, Victoria Park (upp Cargill St. State School)

361 3482

Armadale & Districts

Phone 398 2208 Mt. Lawley - Scarborough

Phone 444 3217 Bull Creek - Mt. Pleasant

Phone 332 6401 Also at Northern Districts

.A#t

The Record, September 12, 1991 7

Racism divides people. It leads to pain Ind causes us to overlook the gifts of others.

In our series this week, David Gibson suggits that the need for unity among peoples becoies greater as our world grows smaller. The Kiwi Your Faith editor quotes Jesuit Father Pi e Teilhard de Chardin who once wrote that Ihe

By Katharine Bird For about 20 years Harry Fagan immersed himself in the issues and problems of social justice as director of the Commission on Catholic Community Action in the Diocese of Cleveland. In early 1983 he moved to New York City to become associate director of the new National Pastoral Life Centre, an outgrowth of the US bishops' Parish Project.

future "depends on the courage and resourcefulness" which human beings display in overcoming the forces that drive them away from each other.

Thus efforts to unify people, Gibson says, can be seen as a sign of hope for the world's future.

Katharine Bird interviews Harry Fagan who has long worked to promote social justice. He says

racism is costly in more ways than one. Ms Bird is Know Your Faith associate editor.

Patricia Davis reflects on some of the lessons about racism that she has learned over the years.

The mother of an adopted Korean daughter, Ms Davis lived for a time in Japan. She tells what she

thinks parents can do to combat racism. Ms Davis is on the staff of the US bishops' Secretariat for the Laity.

Father John Castelot talks about St Paul's three journeys as a missionary and the strong sense that the Holy Spirit was his guide and companion.

cism is corrosive'.

In an interview the wit known social actiyit expressed some of his vim of racism.

Q. What is racism?

A. Racism is a sin: It deni that God made people • certain colours.Isee racis on two levels: as social $ but also as personal sin.

Racism appears as a sins society in the way v systematically institution lise practices and polici which discriminate agaig people of colour. The practices keep people froi achieving their naturi

potential. Racism shows up in housing practices, in health care and justicerelated issues, in recreational and educational policies.

On the personal side, racism has to do with the way we conduct ourselves as individuals: in the stories we tell, in how we raise our kids, in the way we treat others. It shows up when we demonstrate hate and anger at a group of people rather than consider individual worth.

Q. How widespread a

problem is racism?

A. Racism in endemic in our society and in our people. For years ethnic enclaves in cities have borne the brunt of being identified as places with racial problems to deal with. Yet racism is just as hateful in the suburbs.

Take a family situation, for instance, where mum and dad take care to raise their kids in a prejudice-free home, where no racial joke is ever told. In spite of their efforts, however, one day their teenager comes home

and uses a racial slur in talking about a bus driver.

That's very frustrating to parents and to me.

Q. How damaging is racism?

A. On the spiritual level, living with the sin of racism is corrosive — it corrupts. If we tolerate people not being respected for their God-given dignity, we lessen ourselves as Christians.

On the level of society, racism is extremely expensive.

In a city like New York, the

highways are crammed because many white people refuse to live next to brown and black people. Every 10 years or so, the suburbs move further out as whites depart.

Racism is expensive too in terms of the kinds of programs established to help its victims.

forting her to work. They don't address the issue that minorities have been robbed of education, or of the skills needed to hold jobs.

Q. How can parishes help Christians see that racism affects everyone?

A. There's no one way — I see a number of ingredients here.

Too often we fall into stereo-types, like the minority welfare mother with two children who is considered "too lazy" to work.

Programs developed to help her often focus on

• Talk about what racism means to us as people who live in line with Christian values. What does it mean to us as American Catholics to practise discrimination?

• Try to get at what

Holy spirit guide and companion

By Father John Castelot People like St Stephen and St Paul are interesting in themselves. But they are even more interesting as instruments of the Spirit.

We see that the Holy Spirit is the ruling principle for them as we look at what Luke writes in the Acts of

the Apostles. Paul (Saul) and his exploits take up a major portion of Acts. Right from the beginning the Spirit is active.

During a celebration of the liturgy at Antioch, the Spirit suggested to the congregation that members "set aside Rarnabas and Saul . . . to do the work for which I have called them." (Acts 13:2) Barnabas and Saul were commissioned at the Holy

Spit's promoting to set out or he missionary venture tli would bring Paul "even tol se ends of the earth".

Sit by the Holy Spirit, Pa embarked on what was to e the first of three farm hing journeys. ( the first leg of the trip, or he island of Cyprus, a m ician tried to dissuade th Roman governor from lisning to Paul. But Paul "v; filled with the Holy

Spirit" and effectively put the intruder in his place.

Later, when Paul's first sermon on what is now the mainland of Turkey met with some success, but even more in terms of violent opposition and expulsion from the city, "the disciples could not but be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit", Luke comments.

Paul converted many gentiles on his first mission. But

this met opposition from a wing of the Jewish-Christian community at Jerusalem.

Paul had to go there to settle once and for all the matter of admitting gentiles to the Christian community.

Speaking in Paul's defence, Peter alluded to his own conversion of the gentile household of the Roman centurion, Cornelius: "God, who reads the hearts of men. showed his approval by

granting the Holy Spirit to them just as he did to us."

(Acts 15:8)

Subsequently, James, head of the Jerusalem community despatched a letter to the gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, in which he wrote: "It is the decision of the Holy Spirit, and ours too, not to lay on you any burden beyond that which is strictly necessary." (Acts 15:28)

Worlds are growing

By David Gibson

A Vietnamese Catholic parish came into existence in Falls Church, Virginia several years ago.

It began in 1979 during

the period when large numbers of Vietnamese refugees were welcomed by families in that community and in many other communities.

Of course, that parish began as a rather solemn reminder that the war in Vietnam, like all wars,

left great numbers of Television news brings people homeless — even the problems of the without a homeland. world's far-flung peoples That is part of any war's right into our living rooms daily. World leadtragedy. ers jet to each other's But the new parish also n ations for important stood as a reminder that s ummit conferences, Vietnamese people, once r eturning home almost regarded as the people of before the public realises a far-off culture and race, t hey'd departed in the had become our neigh- first place. bours. The world, the parish seemed to pro- Soon, we are given to claim, is indeed growing understand, business smaller. associates in distant If we are looking for corners of a nation may signs that the world is turn to teleconferences growing smaller, they as a means of conducting aren't hard to find business face to face,

without having to travel anywhere.

Undoubtedly it is the destiny of people on a shrinking globe to grow closer together — at least in an outward, visible way. Peoples who once thought they were widely divided will see and hear more of each other, if nothing else.

A world that is culturally diverse is now close at hand for more and more of the population.

As the world grows smaller, however, will

our own worlds grow larger? That is the question some thinkers ask. It is what the famed Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit scientist and philosopher, thought should happen.

He hoped — and believed — that a shrinking globe could become the environment where humanity would reach greater maturity by achieving greater unity.

He thought it should be a unit permeated and fostered by love.

Once, in a book called,

Paul's very itinerary is seen as guided by the Spirit on the next journey. And, always conscious of the activity of the Spirit, Paul exhorted Church leaders at Ephesus: "Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock the Holy Spirit has given you to guard." ( Acts 20:28) Paul, at that point, was on his way back to Jerusalem after his third journey.

"The Future of Man", he wrote: The future "depends on the courage and resourcefulness which men display in overcoming the forces of isolationism, even of repulsion, which seem to drive them apart rather them than draw together".

In this way, Father Teilhard identified what he saw as a requirement if we wish our own worlds to grow larger as the planet grows smaller.

Some have suggested that as we come to

recognise the dignity of others who are different because of culture or race, and to see the positive values of their traditions, our own universe expands; we are enriched. In a 1980 statement on cultural diversity, a committee of the US bishops said this: "The believer, who is also a product of history, culture and environment, is in contact with unfamiliar cultures, ethnic differences and the many disparate customs and qualities of his or her neighbour."

What can one person do?

Schools are very good places to begin breaking down racial barriers.

8

The Record, September 12, 1991

"Mum, can Maxine come over after school today?" called Cathlyn as she headed for the door, grabbed her books and lunch.

"Sure," I replied, and then forgot about it until 3pm when Cathlyn returned home alone.

"Where's Maxine?" I asked.

"She changed her mind," said Cathlyn vaguely. I was disappointed, because we had moved recently and I was eager for my sixth-grader to make friends in her new school.

I encolIged Cathlyn to call Maxine and see if silo ouldn't play at least for a while.

But aftotalking to Maxine for a short time, my aughter put her hand over the receiver Id turned to me, saying: "Her mother tilts to be sure that you know Maxine Pink."

I wasa Prepared for the conclusion to the couvoation. But I still recall it when I think times in my life when I got a glimpseIto the effects of racism — in myself, others, in society.

There as also the time when I learned

what it felt like to be the only white parent at a PTA meeting or a dance recital. The experience reminded me of the years I lived in Japan. I felt equally conspicuous there.

There were times when I sensed an overly friendly attentiveness to Amy, my adopted Korean daughter, and recognised the veiled questions about her dating and marriage.

And there were the times I recognised fears in myself — fears of others based

on race, as I walked briskly to my apartment at night.

Racism is more than a self-conscious feeling, an insensitive remark or even a stupid and cruel custom.

Racism begins and ends, I am convinced, in self-hatred. All people want to deny that parts of themselves and their experience which feel frightening. A dominant social group can project on another group — another sex, religion, nation or race — that which is feared in itself.

attitudes and behaviours discriminate against people.

• Treat racism through concrete issues, not in the abstract. Avoid paralysis by analysis.

• Help people develop the skills needed to combat racism. Isolate a concrete issue, such as housing discrimination, and then see what is needed to research the issue and develop a strategy to deal with it. See what resources of the parish can be used to work against a particular kind of discrimination.

Q. How necessary is community effort in working to overcome racism?

A. On the social sin side, I think individuals need to form groups. We need the r esources, psychological support and skills available in a community. We need organised efforts to work against institutionalised racism.

And let's look at our primary model: Jesus formed a group of 12 apostles to accomplish his work. He gave us a model for change.

Ways for p arents to help kids

Ways for parents to help children develop respect for people of all races were discussed in an interview with Harry Fagan, associate director of the National Pastoral Life Centre in New York City. He has long worked to promote social justice.

Fagan noted that many parents are dismayed when they encounter a real life incidence of prejudice in their children.

Yet racism is so ingrained in society, Fagan said, that children meet prejudice in their classmates or in the community even when their parents are careful to promote Christian values at home.

What happens in a typical situation, Fagan said, is that a teenager comes home from school one day and uses a derogatory phrase to refer to someone of another race.

Asked how parents might respond to such a situation, Fagan advised initiating a discussion with the youth, maybe asking a question such as: "Why do you think like that?"

What's needed is to get behind the racial slur and see where the youth is coming from, he emphasised. Sometimes the youth is simply "repeating what friends say on the street".

If that's the case, Fagan continued, parents should try to get their children to take a look at what they are doing when they simply parrot street talk thoughtlessly.

The social activist emphasised it is counterproductive for parents to say to teenagers, "you are wrong or stupid or crazy" for using racial epithets. Instead parents should concentrate on getting youths to think through the implications of what they are saying.

In some cases, parents may discover that the teenager has encountered a person of another race and thought that individual to be rude.

Then the parent needs to help the child see that the person's race has nothing to do with the behaviour. "Individuals are rude, but not groups," Fagan stressed.

Fagan strongly recommended that parents "actively work to expose children to situations where they are around" people of other races.

He is convinced that "exposure and interrelation are definite keys" to fighting racism.

The Record, September 12, 1991 9

Zooming in on Eagle's Nest

About 40 coordinators and committee members from the eight Parish care programs spent a day at Eagle's Nest reflecting on their role with the Church and discussing their work.

Jim Miolin, executive officer of the Catholic Social Apostolate took them through the process of recognising and appreciating their own uniqueness and vocation at home, work and in the parish as well as understanding the

role of the lay faithful in the Church.

Tony McMinden of the Archdiocesan Outreach team likened the development of the parish outreach programs to the spread of a caring virus against which no one was seeking an antidote.

He said that care programs were being established at the rate of one per working month, while 13 other parishes had asked for assistance and were waiting to start up similar programs.

Bishop Healy in his Mass homily highlighted the impor-

tance of the role of the volunteers and the caring programs in the Church. At lunch he spent time discussing their work with them.

some of these included reading to the blind, visiting the sick, helping families in crisis, driving people to Mass, handyman jobs and others.

The group shared experiences and stories of help given to those in need and

The Reachout care group from North Beach was one year old last month and Sr

Annuntia and her Luordinators gave reassurance and encouragement to the newer care services. She said that requests for assistance took time to build up and it only • began to flow when people realised how well the system worked.

Wanneroo Catholic Ball Debutantes and their partners were recently received by Monsignor Michael Keating at the annual Wanneroo Catholic Ball.

The Catholic Ball has been a feature of the community since 1958. The 1991 Ball was the 34th annual Debutante Ball.

. rnest drops In

Visiting Chinese Oblate Father John Chai making his first visit to Australia which he regards as "simply paradise" 10

The Record, September 12, 1991

Father John Chai, the Oblates' first Chinese priest, has been visiting his brother Oblates around Australia.

The experience of Australia has been wonderful, according to Father Chai as this is his first time here and he regards Australia as "simply paradise"!

Currently based in Hong Kong, Father Chai was born in China "and always wanted to be a priest."

Becoming one proved too difficult with the communist takeover in 1949, so on good advice from Cardinal Thomas Tien SVD, who was also exiled from China, he fled from Peiping to Hong Kong, walking

more than 1200 miles by night.

He then sailed for the Philippines where he spent his final two years in the special Jesuit school for Chinese seminarians at the San Jose seminary in Manila.

Ordination day in 1951 brought with it a sense of achievement and arrival after treading his arduous path to the priesthood, but it also brought with it 'a near miss!' which would have made him one of the shortest serving priests ever.

His jeep overturned that same day while on a sick call but attributing his miraculous survival to God, he survived intact.

And he gives praise

where it's due, stating that "God has been good to us, showering more blessings than we deserve."

Father Chai remained in the Philippines for 20 years and then spent the following 20 years in Hong Kong where he's still based.

There's no chance of working as a priest in his native land though, given the communists' attitude to Catholicism.

Of China's 900 million people, the majority are Buddhists and six per cent are Christian of which three per cent are Catholic.

In China there are two Catholic churches, the official patriotic church which does not recognise

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard Roman authority and the unofficial church which operates underground and is loyal to the Vatican.

The pope is currently hoping to achieve dialogue between the two churches so that they can unite to become one.

Meanwhile Father Chai, who 40 years ago may have been fit but with a considerably diminished love of walking after his 1200 mile epic to freedom, confines himself to liaising with the government through his work at Notre Dame College, Kowloon.

There the government and Catholic Church harmoniously work together. Such are the fruits of democracy!

65 years an Oblate...

He's 90 years old and looking great!

Father John Ryan is a tall, well built man who carries with dignity his impressive years.

Been an Oblate for 65 of them and he started off by telling me that he'd led an uneventful life and was hard pressed to think of anything outstanding.

But with a little shoving and pushing mentally on my part, he got going and the started stories flowing!

Born in Co Limerick, Ireland, he came out as a young man in 1927 and wasn't able to return there until 20 years had elapsed.

It was to be a surprise for his family and friends and so disembarking from the train he made his way to the Church, slipped into Mass and then watched as everyone filed out without recognising a soul.

Later on he wondered why he hadn't but time and memory tend to fade and reshape images.

During the past 20 years he'd spent time at St Patrick's Fremantle and also at Beaconsfield which was then part of the Fremantle parish.

That was in the days when ladies wore hats or some form of head covering and one poor pious soul's blew away just before Mass started.

To her, this meant she couldn't go into Mass, so she outlined her dilemma to Father Ryan who gave her his.

It was battered and used for shoving hard down on his head when he rode his motorcycle; in effect, it had seen better days!

However in the Communion queue, quite oblivious to the incongruous hat, came this little lady whose only thought right then was to receive the Eucharist — and anything else just simply didn't matter . . .

Around that time Father Ryan too had some problems of his own as to how they could get water for the Spearwood school.

With no water available and hard inhospitable terrain in which to drill, Father Ryan and his band of workers borrowed government drilling equipment and projack to ceeded hammer into the unremitting rock so they could sink a bore.

and the frail craft, Father Ryan quicldy erased his dubious thoughts about the boy's early foreclosure of the fishing trip, and instead he now blessed him!

Father John Ryan being feted at a Fremantle Mass to celebrate 65 years of his priesthood.

That they did, he assures me, with much lost sweat in the blistering heat, but trouble was, having plumbed the depth of 75ft, there insufficient was water.

"Practically broke my heart when someone suggested we'd have to sink a well! because getting the bore down had been back breaking enough," he recalled, but then he conceived a brilliant idea.

Dynamite! Blast the obstinate rock to kingdom come!

Itching to give it a go he tempered his instincts with the dull but safer virtue of "moderation" and only gave it a small plug.

The result was barely a burp. Just a hiccup!

Now convinced that "moderation" was NOT the way to go, he reverted to his original instincts of blasting a hole to the earth's core and set off this almighty blast.

It did the trick! and a brand new reservoir was brought into existence which provided heaps of water for a thirsty windmill to draw up.

Father Ryan was able to use this "interesting little area of expertise" also when he was involved with the building of the Beaconsfield church.

Upon his return from Ireland, Father Ryan was asked to take charge of the new Oblate parish of Moe, Victoria.

There was a great influx of migrants at that time with many being employed in the brown coal open cut mine at Yallourn which was about four miles away.

Moe grew rapidly with ten prefabricated homes a day being erected, and a new school to accom-

modate all the migrant children who reflected many different nationalities.

It opened with the Presentation Sisters in 1950 with 135 students which then swelled to 600 plus and then to cater for the burgeoning student population the Sisters built a secondary school "which is still flourishing".

According to Father Ryan it was "a rough town" at First. With unmade streets and footpaths and no sewerage.

And apparently quite a number of the new residents were that way too, "with many who had little respect for the law!"

"But gradually the lawless either mended their ways or left," Father Ryan concluded, "and now Moe's as respectable as any other town in the Latrobe Valley."

Having spent seven years there, Father left in 1956 stating his only claim . to fame there was never having had a Sunday off duty, but quickly reassuring he'd caught up with the imbalance during the week!

Father Ryan was then transferred back to Lesmurdie and from then on to various other places until he became chaplain to the De La Salle Brothers' Boys' Town in Beaudesert Queensland from 1977-82.

This proved a very interesting time for Father Ryan where he found the need to remount a mount at the ripe old age of 74!

Considering it was a home for delinquent boys and he'd just had a heart attack prior to his transfer, it hardly seemed the safe and sensible approach to walk the foolproof road to recovery.

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard However with 84 boys and 70 horses, the only way to keep up with his flock was to ride a (hopefully) trusty steed.

Not a good start there because Father's was an exrace horse named Earl Star.

Frisky, he was, and he thought he'd give "the old fella" a run for his money and tried to throw him.

But out to prove the theorists wrong when they put the ageing priest and horse "out to pasture", Father Ryan proved his skill, survived a potentially dangerous fall by tightly reigning Earl Star and earned the horse's respect by not allowing anyone else to ride him. Not to mention the great skill of Father Ryan.

The boys there were apparently expert riders also, competing in gymkhanas and showing the locals their considerable ability.

On one occasion during a break at a Nerang, Gold Coast, gymkhana, Father and the boys were sitting in a clearing having lunch when one went over to the truck containing their gear, and casually pulled out some tools and began shoeing his horse.

He pulled off the shoe, offending straightened it on the anvil, and nailed it back on again.

Meanwhile all eating had ceased and a fascinated audience watched in silence at the skill and nonchalance of this young farrier who was only 12 or 13 years old!

During the six years there, Father Ryan found it "a wonderful place" for riding and with Earl Star

explored the country along many old stock routes.

Of course at this stage, Father was now 80 years old, riding high and playing golf.

There were achievements there too because after 40 years on the turf he scored a hole in one, and got free membership to the club under the "80s and over go free" qualification.

About the time Father left Beaudesert, a new superior replaced the horses with 20 new trail bikes which Father Ryan regretted, "because you can't lavish love, care and affection on a machine!"

The boys there lived like lords, according to Father Ryan, each with their own room and freedom to help themselves to food whenever they felt like it.

As well as riding spirited racers, there were other heart starters in store for Father Ryan during his autumn years, such as the weekend outing on Lamington Plateau.

A dirt track had been carved around the mountain side leading to the summit.

However with a downpour of torrential rain sections of the track went too.

The horses had been trucked to Kerry which was the starting point and then the riders had to, in this case flirt with death! and descend down the mountainside track which by now in some places was pure mud.

The horses went down up to their knees in some places and the track itself was only a metre wide in others with the awesome prospect of a quick descent to the thousand foot drop staring them in the

face at the side of the track.

Terrified but honest with a "I've never been so frightened in all my life!" and "I'd have gladly walked home but couldn't 'chicken' out before the boys," Father Ryan heaved a sigh of relief as he said they all made it intact, with no fear shown on the part of the boys.

Tough kids in a man's country!

Of course Father Ryan would have been cheated of this expeBeaudesert rience if the elements had achieved their destructive course during an incident in Victoria back in 1949.

Out on a fishing trip with a companion and his son, the u nthinkable happened.

The fish were starting to bite about a mile off shore and the rain started coming down.

That wasn't the problem — after all, what's a bit more water! but the boy who had asthma started crying.

Most unimpressive, according to Father Ryan, who was "mentally cursing him because the fish had just started biting", but who was forced to bow to family wishes and return to shore.

Then the truth of "lots of awful things turn out for the best" came home to him! because as they pulled into shore and tied up their boat, a formidable storm erupted and wrought havoc.

Every yacht along the Portsea Road beach was pulled from its moorings with some driven through the heads.

Visualising their fate had they been a mile offshore, given the storm's vengeance

"His asthma saved me from a watery grave."

And also added weight to the scarey thought "Who really are your blessers or cursers?" They come in so many guises . . .

These days Father Ryan who has only 10 per cent vision and 75 per cent hearing is in semi-retirement in his 90th year but still hears confession and helps out wherever he can.

There is however nothing diminished about this priest, despite his years, who is the longest serving Oblate in Australia.

Being back in Fremantle, where his priestly journey began, Father Ryan has watched the city itself change from an interesting water-side town when mail came by ship once a week, to the interesting, sophisticated mix it is today.

Sacrament attendance has changed also within FA Patrick's church where more now receive the Eucharist, but less go to reconciliation!

And yes, he admits, society has changed "and it's certainly more lax, isn't it'?" But yet concedes the churches are full at Mass.

The family breakups are a tragedy, he ruminates, with shocking .cost to the children. And some don't bother with marriage at all! And the causes? "Who knows! There are many. But certainly the working mother doesn't help the cause when children come home to an empty house. But yet," he concedes, "apparently it takes two wages to support a family and not everyone can get working hours within school time."

"Vatican II has wrought many changes — and is blamed for much.

Then there are priests and religious leaving their vocations — and a lack of more."

But the final question — is he happy?

Would he have changed anything, having given 64 years to the Church in Australia?

"No!" he quickly answers. "I've loved my priesthood and wouldn't have changed a thing . . ."

The Record, September 12, 1991

11

RECORD CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

C-7 C-7 -

[-S;]

to the Editor

Brilliant words

Minimum $5 tor first 28 words. Post or deliver.

No none ads. Closes noon Wednesday.

BUILDING TRADES

IN MEMORIAM

from JF HARDING, Dianella

would not become yet another victim of the plan of international Communism.

should have known much better and the cost to health and wellbeing.

Well, that is what the Catholic faith is all about.

What a great tragedy that sacrifice for the common good no longer appears to be taught in our schools any longer and I would need to cast my mind back around three decades to have any reference to social responsibility in parishes that I attend. There are none so blind than those who refuse to see.

Painting, quality work at CANNY, (Gladys Lucy) the right price. John (Joseph Germain). Our Mother and Freakley. Phone 361 4349. dear Mumma, Father and Papa Building repairs and — departed this life maintenance. All facets of 17.9.1980 and 25.6.1984. building trades, eg car- Remembered with love. pentry, plumbing, roof Brian, Janet, David, Janine, carpentry, studwork, Paull and Greg. May stumps, pergolas, car- perpetual light shine ports, additions, concrete, upon them. etc. References available, RON Margaret: Of please phone Bob on your AN, charity please pray 410 1436 for my dear friend and Bricklayer requires large fellow legionary May, or small jobs, free quotes. who died recently. Rest in Ring 447 6128 or peace. Ethel Kersting._ 405 3426 Handyman, gardening, PUBLIC NOTICE remove rubbish, small repairs, painting clean 'FURNITURE CARRIED. gutters. 377 2314 before One item to housefulls.

8.30am Small, medium, large vans tic Master plumber and gas available with one or two fitter, No 140, bathroom men from $24 per hour, renovations, sewer conver- all areas. Cartons and sions, all maintenance work, cheap storage available. new houses. Good rates, all Mike Murphy 330 7979,

A triumph for Mary

457 7771.

from W VC. THOMAS,

hours. Contact John on

ROOF PLUMBER all roof plumbing, metal and Super Six. 458 6979.

Electrician for all residential and commercial work.

New power points, lights, fans etc. Free quotes.

Phone Brad Capper 3 44 8249 (messages 446 3600) CHURCH FURNITURE MAKER, pews, altars, lecterns, chairs, tables, made to order. Old church furniture repaired, looking as new. Reference available. Ring M. and B. McGuirk, Wood Specialists, on

(09) 279 9449

Control your garage door.

Remote controllers fitted on existing doors, roller or tilt. Phone Andrew 448 2551

Masterhand Wall Repairs.

Fretting bricks and mortar, tuckpointing, rising damp.

Mobile: (018) 942 753.

A/H: 481 0753. 14A Mayfair Street, West Perth Handyman, repairs, cleaning windows and door locks installation, gutters, gardening, yard cleaning. Professional job done. 377 2314 bef 8.30 am.

TEACHER AVAILABLE MUSIC LESSONS. A qualified teacher of electronic organ and/or musical theory has vacancies for students of any age.

Theory exam coaching, for Preliminary to Grade V, also available. Phone 446 6805

317 1101, 4 47 8878, 378 3303,

Country

444 0077, 272 3210, 384 8838.

008 198 120.

callers:

MASSAGE by a qualified therapist combined with reflexology (foot massage). Helping to relieve tension, back and neck problems. For more information please phone Loretta Crameri 444 7534.

MOBILE TAX. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. WE COME TO YOU to prepare your tax return.

Located Albany, Bunbury, Fremantle, Rockingham, Mandurah and throughout Perth metro area.

Telephone Pat (09) 490 2600.

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION WINTER SUNSHINE, summer breezes. Self contained chalets by the sea at Kalbarri. October school holiday special $210 for 7 days (per family of 4). Telephone Pat

BENTLEY 3 bedroom furn house avail, long term $130. Tel (097) 55 3555 office hours.

DianeIla 2 bedroom unfurnished courtyard unit in small quiet block close to Dianella Plaza. $95 per week. Phone 275 2579 Wk 222 2731 12

It epitomises the previous 2-3-4 decades of the life of a number of dedicated men and women who answered the call during that period and joined their trade unions or entered the political life of this country to set up a road block that Australia

Medina

Sir, The current total collapse of Communism, following the courageous stand taken by the hitherto enslaved Russian people, clearly presages great hope for the conversion of Russia and the granting of an era of peace to the world, as p romised by Our Lady at

HOLIDAY accommodation wanted. Family of four requires self contained accommodation in Albany during Christmas holidays for two weeks.

Phone (09) 593 1000.

THANKS

To Our Lady of Czestchowa.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Blessed Virgin Mary of Revelation, St Jude, St Antonius, St Martha, St Clare, St Rita, St Teresa, St Joseph, Sr Faustine and all saints, please hear our prayer, we beg you for help in our difficult case. We need your urgent help and protection.

You are our only hope. We promise devotion and publication. By your power may our prayers be answered. B.

The Record, September 12, 1991

Fatima, in the foreseeable future There is no doubt that the Immaculate Heart of Mary has even now triumphed over the evil scourge of atheistic Communism. For this we must really thank Our Blessed Mother who alone has brought it about in answer to the many Rosar-

They were ostracised.

The rewards were certainly not in this world; many have since gone to their eternal reward and for those that are present today to witness the fulmination of their dedicated work, find that there are very few indeed who have the faintest c onception of their lack of support from those who

les and constant prayers and sacrifices offered daily by her devoted children who never doubted that she would one day fulfil her promise given at Fatima seventy-four years ago. The annihilation of Communism can well be seen as a prelude to the conversion of Russia which would still largely depend on how we

respond to Our Lady's call for us to pray and amend our lives.

If more Catholics to whom Our Lady's message of prayer and penance has mainly been directed, would play their part; it could hasten the dawning of the glorious new age of Mary, as Mother of God, and her triumphal victory over Satan

has moved Location: 587 Newcastle. cnr Douglas. near Loftus. Bus No. 15.

Postal address: PO Box 50, Northbridge WA 6865

22

77 080 (t-rs4)

AFacxc t2s237278 0183781(324 hrs)

RECORD CLASSIFIEDS Send cheque and advertisement to:

Closes noon Wednesdays. $5 min. for first 28 words.

Post or deliver.

No phone calls.

RECORD CLASSIFIEDS 26 JOHN STREET — P.O. BOX 50 NORTH BRIDGE, W.A. 6000

(09) 459 1849.

Thanks. My heartfelt gratitude to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for petitions answered.

B.C. Thanks to the Holy Spirit for favour granted, CAM Thanks to Our Lady, St Jude, St Michael, Holy Spirit, Guardian Angel, St Isidore for help received. R.M.Y. Grateful thanks to St Clare, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Genuine sincere Filipina Lady of Lourdes, St Jude for lady seeks penpal and favour granted. Please conview marriar, please tinue to hear my prayers. write to: Miss Marina P R Thanks to Our Lady and St Antonio, Barangay Naun- Clare. nine Hail Marys gan Ormoc City Leyte for ninePray days, lighting 6541 Philippines and Miss and letting it burn outcandle, on last Melly Ruta Barangay day. Request three favours.

Seguinon Comma Albu- Publicise this devotion. F.P. era Leyte, Philippines.

My grateful thanks for favours granted through Our Lady and the Sacred Heart of ACCOMMODATION Jesus.

G J F.

A VAILABLE

Sir, I congratulate The Record on the brilliant, honest to God editorial in the current issue.

MARK CLASSIFICATION Sits. wanted IL_ ] Sits. vacant L Help wanted El Teacher wanted El Teacher available O Building trades CI For sale CI Wanted to buy

CI Accom. wanted CI Accom. available CI Wanted to rent CI House to let E Flat to let 0 House for sale CI House wanted CI Holiday accom.

El Baptism (free) 11 Engagement El Marriage O Silver wedding E Golden wedding CI Diamond wedding 1: Jubilee [I) Anniversary

CI Death CI Death: Thanks CI In memoriam III Thanks E Wanted I I Public Notice • Personal IN Information ,

HAVE YOU ANYTHING

WISE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ADVERTISE FOR

FOR SALE? SELLERS GET BEST RESULTS WITH RECORD CLASSIFIEDS

TEACHERS ,

FIRST IN THE RECORD

,

'

$5

_

ADDITIONAL: 10 cents for each 4 words or less

$5.10 $5.20

_ NAME: ADDRESS: TELEPHONE:

and the powers of darkness in conformity with God's ancient decree that her heel will crush the cursed serpent's head!

Then, also, will Russia be converted and the longed for era of peace be granted to the world by Almighty God through Our Lady's powerful intercession.

...yet God's name not up for mention from Ian ASHLEY, Dianella Sir, The most extraordinary combination of events have taken place during the last five years, culminating in the overthrow of communism, a democratic revolution in the Soviet Union, and the levelling out of dictatorships all over the world.

And yet God's name has not been mentioned once in the world media. All credit has gone to this or that leader, with God as merely an onlooker.

I feel our church is to blame for this. We have not drawn the attention of the world to the messages of Fatima, Garabandal and Medjugone. It is time we brought a new dimension to the news and gave credit where it is due. Let us capitalise on the uniqueness of the Catholic Church and not hide our light under the bushel of orthodoxy.

Message is clear from Trevor BOARDMAN, Highgate Sir, For all the high and noble ideals and aspirations that Communists have been wont to express, time and time again have they helped demonstrate so clearly in practise, that it is only in loving Jesus, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we can truly and effectively love our fellow human beings in actual fact.

L

TOMORROW TODAY with Father Joe Parkinson

'

Above and Below: Greenwood's closing ceremony on Sunday night alternated between quiet prayer and rowdy singing!

Forty-five young people made Greenwood's latest Antioch Weekend, held at the Warwick High School on August 23-25.

Thanks 1.5 million!

While Greenwood Antioch were holding their latest weekend on August 23-25, two of their members were returning from the most successful World Youth Day held so far.

Anthea Mitchell and Michael Celenza were among the Australian

People who are suffering need someone St Vincent de Paul was someone

BE SOMEONE!!

What do the Vinnies do?

• Provide support & friendship for: homeless youth, marginalised, elderly, lonely, suffering.

• Offer the chance to join: camps, visitation of prisons, hospitals, homes. . .

Three hundred bishops from around the world helped prepare for the big event by leading days of reflection in 25 local churches — "a sort of mega retreat" according to President of the Council, Cardinal Eduardo Pironio.

The Cardinal later thanked the international Catholic community for its prayers for the success of the World Youth Day. "It went better than we could have dared to hope, and the good God blessed the whole event

with abundant graces." he said.

"The International Youth Forum was the best of the three forums we have had to date," the cardinal added. "There was a great atmosphere of faith and prayer. exchange and sharing.

"The words of the Holy Father at the vigil, and especially perhaps during his homily at the Mass of the Assumption. offer much food for our meditation and for our work with young people in the future."

Meanwhile Poland's Primate, Cardinal Jozef Glemp, said that one fruit of the event was the discovery that over 1000 youth present have expressed a desire to become priests or religious.

EAGLE'S NEST

For details call Angela or Marcelle on

YOUTH OFFICE DIRECTORY

in on transistor radios, while vision was provided on seven gigantic screens installed along the two-mile length of Immaculate Conception Avenue.

CATHOLIC YOUTH FORMATION CENTRE

JOIN THE VINNIES!

325 3472

contingent who joined nearly one and a half million young people from around the world — including an amazing 80,000 from Soviet republics — to meet Pope John Paul II at the Shrine of the Black Madonna in Czestochowa in Poland on the Feast of the Assumption.

Under-Secretary of the Council for Laity Monsignor Peter Coughlan said that the occasion was a huge success, not simply because it was the biggest of the six World Youth Days held to date, but from a technological point of view as well.

Simultaneous translations of the Pope's talks were provided through use of Poland's national radio frequencies, with the young people tuning

Remaining free dates for 1991:

For team leaders Troy Fuller and Rebecca Garbenis the weekend ended several weeks' worry and hard work!

PHONE: 328 9622 FAX: 328 7976

ANTIOCH 328 9622

CPY 328 8136

YCW 328 9667

CRY() 328 9622

YCS 227 7061

TYCS 328 4071

OCTOBER 14-18, 28-Nov 1 NOVEMBER 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-26 DECEMBER 16-17

I

1992 school & parish bookings open on Monday, September 16 I nformation and bookings:

Ph 328 9622 Disciples of Jesus Youth Mission Team

ANCHOR WEEKEND 27-29 September

A weekend of music, drama, talks, sharing andfun while getting to know God better

Eagle's Nest, Gidgegannup.

Cost: $45 Bookings close Friday, September 20.

Enquiries: Steve 341 3392 jenny 341 4317 The Record, September 12, 1991 13

Tidbits of wisdom

by Colleen McGuiness-Howard

IN A NUTSHELL

"No Excuse Sunday" To make it possible for everyone to attend church next Sunday, we are going to have a special "No Excuses Sunday".

Cots will be placed in the foyer for those who say "Sunday is my only day to sleep in".

Spend time with children. Learn more about laughter, spontaneity, curiosity, acceptance, resilience, trust, determination, and your imagination. They are here to teach us!

Visine will be available for those with tired eyes — from watching too much TV too late on Saturday night.

We will have steel helmets for those who say, "The roof would cave in if I ever came to church!"

Blankets will be furnished for those who think the church is too cold, and fans for those who say it is too hot.

We will have hearing aids for those who say "The preacher speaks too softly" and cotton wool for those who say he preaches too loudly.

Score cards will be available for those who wish to list the hypocrites present.

Some relative will be in attendance for those who like to go visiting on Sunday.

There will be TV dinners for those who can't go to church and cook dinner also.

One section will be devoted to trees and grass for those who like to seek God through nature.

Finally, the sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas bush and Easter lilies for those who haven't seen the church without them.

Thought: If simply going to church makes you a Christian, then going into a barn could make you a horse!

I sar // / iv/S/4 rh 7c/ea/ e ey

'Lip

•

•

c/o/4(4'

/hal

go oia cieterInitze Pesidisfor kvhcie tve reap.

111 the

110* •

AI aTe vsikl't\e Nio,•-• I• ng tOt

tt ale else. As yo

oppottttnity.

OSIVEI,I, sotTlhistg et" evry S at ehappen, do lite taletAts, IN P. into weavd.vgloxls to t.ttap thing 3 onediscovet yoos pto the vaiOxg tot ing in. picking v Iollywood to basket in is late class in boylviendotganise t yoxtv a take yoos s. o gcneantitnei. ot atTive IC ball, teadcake ‘Intil he cettain . tot the bake a a 10udernonstvate yotl a Oxon ot test.t1t. SIVN1101•1 photo doing so, end the st 1 etachinent coo GO" Of LVC111•IG d " f5 CCV,I.,f,R A

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF

L

oving our neighbour as ourselves automatically assumes that we should love ourselves. Note that the instruction is not to run yourself down and build up your neighbour. We are not advised to deprive ourselves, to suffer and be miserable. My interpretation of "love your neighbour as yourself" is that we should maintain a balance between our needs and our neighbour's needs; respect both parties.

14

The Record, September 12, 1991

*itt

IN A NUTSHELL Your mind is a magnet. Continue to dwell on what you want and you will achieve it.

Think of your thoughts as invisible clouds which go out and gather up results for you. By disciplining your thoughts, you determine what you reap.

The Lord's Prayer When we feel insignificant and have lost our sense of worth, Lord, tench us to pray: OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN When we want to withdraw from involvement in work to be with you in prayer, Lord, tench us to pray: HALLOWED BE THY NAME When we think of the future as fixed and impossible to change, Lord, teach us to pray: THY KINGDOM COME When we evade life's deep demands by saying they are too idealistic, Lord, teach us to pray: THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN When we are satisfied and forget that others are hungry, in need, homeless, deprived, Lord, tearh us to pray: GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD When we allow bitterness and resentment into our lives, Lord, teach us to Pray:

FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US When we are faced with pressures that are likely to be too much for us, Lord, teach us to pray: LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL When we become self-centred and seek OUT own satisfaction, Lord, teach us to pray: THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.

Students and Literature

by Colleen McGuiness-Howard

Performing Arts Festival

Fairy magic

Mercedes was one of a number of talented choirs who performed so well in the recently held Performing Arts Festival which drew participants from around WA and Perth much to the enjoyment of audiences and adjudicators.

Emma's a winner

Flower Fairies of the Spring, %Inter, Summer.

Autumn; of the Wayside, the Garden, the Trees and the Alphabet, by Cicely Mary Barker (F. Warne & Co through Penguin Books bb $7.95 each).

These beautiful new editions of the Flower Fairies books have been designed to recapture the charm of the original editions which were first published in the 1920s.

By using modern printing techniques Frederick Warne has been able to achieve reproductions of Cicely

Mary Barker's original artwork which reflect better than ever before her outstanding craftsmanship as an artist.

The delicate brushwork, subtle shadings and fine details now revealed will enchant a new generation of readers.

These drawings of Cicely Barker coupled with her meticulous botanical accuracy, have captivated children and adults alike for nearly 70 years, and the books have become classics of children's literature.

A.FLOWER.FAIRY • ALPHABET.

Mercedes College is delighted with year 12 student Emma Leahy of Mt Lawley who has taken off a real coup in winning the 1991 Social Justice Essay Competition, gaining her the prize of $500.

She competed against all A ustralian states with over 200 entries being submitted overall.

Each student taking part received a certificate of appreciation and it is hoped that the competition held for the second year running, will continue to attract and encourage submissions to the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council in North Sydney.

Emma's essay of 1000 words addressed the Australian poverty issue and the lack of solidarity which exists within the Australian community.

As to her aspirations from hereon in, Emma wants to be a diplomat and work in France where she can utilise her love of French and expertise.

The Record, September 12, 1991

15

STUDENTS Tom and Eileen Glynn of Beaconsfield celebrated their 50 years of marriage in Christ the King parish that is their second home since arriving 35 years ago.

Flying from the UK for the occasion was bridesmaidKath Darcy at the ceremony in St Anne's church Buxton on August 25, 1941.

The Irish Glynns brought four children with them and the family has since grown to seven children — Maureen, Veronica, Sheelah, Kathleen, Frances, Patrick and Kieran and 23 grandchildren.

In Australia Eileen has been a tower of strength to Fr O'Donovan and the St Joseph Sisters as well as her Legion of Mary and part-time SVDP store works. She was also a catechist in government schools.

Mass was celebrated by Fr O'Donovan.

Progressive Home Tutors We have qualified and experienced school teachers who will assist you with your studies in your home.

All suburbs, all subjects, all years.

310 6771 CBC FREMANTLE

90th BIRTHDAY REUNION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10 South Fremantle Football Club 7.30pm, $30 (3 course buffet meal & drinks) Available from CBC office, Ellen Street, Fremantle. Phone 336 2700.

Our Lady's Message given in

MEDJUGORJE on August 25, 1991 Dear children, Today again I invite you to pray now as never before when my plan has begun to be realised. Satan is strong and wants to sweep away plans of peace and joy, and make you think My Son is indecisive Therefore, I call all of you dear children to pray and fast still more earnestly. I invite you to self sacrifice for nine-days, so that with your help everything I want to realise through the secrets I began in Fatima may be fulfilled. I call on you dear children to grasp the importance of my coming and the seriousness of the situation. I want to save all souls and present them to God. Therefore let us pray that everything I have begun be fully realised.

Thank you for having responded to my call.

INVITATION INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATION ASSEMBLY On Friday, September 27, 1991 the opening Mass for the inaugural INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATION ASSEMBLY will be concelebrated in Corpus Christi Church, Mosman Park at 5pm.

Major Superiors of Presentation Sisters from Ireland, England, the United States, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Zimbabwe, South America, etc will be attending the week long conference to be held at "Iona" Presentation Convent, Mosman Park.

All priests, religious, past pupils and friends of the Presentation Sisters are cordially invited to attend the opening Mass of the assembly and to meet with the delegates over light refreshments to be served in the college undercroft immediately afterwards.

For catering purposes would you kindly RSVP by Monday, September 23 on 384 5433 between 8.30am-5pm Monday to Friday or 384 5092 nights and weekends and indicate if you will join us for refreshments. Priests kindly indicate whether you would like to concelebrate with Bishop Healy.

We're countrywide too . . !

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

Is as close as your phone

4

(008)11 4010 (free call) (Metro callers please use 221 3866) Natural Family Planning Centre 27 Victoria Square Member of the Australian Council of Natural Family Planning Inc

16

The Record, September 12, 1991

H PARISH. SCENE,

Archdiocesan Calendar

MARIAN MOVEMENT The monthly meeting of the Marian Movement will be held at the Little Sisters of Carmel, 2 Frazer St, Swanbourne on Tuesday, September 17 at 10.30am.

September 14 Ordination to the diaconate Stephen Durkin, Archbishop Hickey.

"The Next Step", Claremont Superdrome, Bishop Healy.

15 Newman Society Mass, Archbishop Hickey.

Associazione Maria SS Addolorata Mass, Bishop Healy.

16- Clergy Retreat, Bishop Healy.

20 20 Open High Wycombe School, Archbishop Hickey.

Opening Anglican Synod, Archbishop Hickey.

208i Confirmation Lesmurdie, Bishop 21 Healy.

22 Confirmation Spearwood, Mons Keating.

Confirmation Palmyra, Fr Chris Ross.

25 Presentation concert, Bishop Healy.

Confirmation Osborne Park, Mons Nestor.

27 Uniting Church Synod, Archbishop Hickey.

Feast of St Vincent de Paul Kwinana, Archbishop Hickey and Bishop Healy. "lona" Presentation Assembly and Mass, Bishop Healy.

October 1 Cottage Hospice Inauguration, Archbishop Hickey.

YCW 50th Anniversary Mass at 6 Newman College, Archbishop Hickey.

Holy Rosary Nedlands Parish Feastday, Archbishop Hickey.

Nazareth House re-dedication, Bishop Healy.

10 Council of Priests meets.

PSYCHIATRIC CONCERNS Father Richard Ruthauskas will talk on Walking With Jesus followed by Benediction at St Francis Xavier's Church, Windsor Street, Perth on Sunday, September 22 at 3pm. A social and afternoon tea will follow at the Emmanuel Centre next door.

Please bring a plate. Open to the public.

MAJELLAN RETREAT Book now for the Majellan Retreat at St Joseph's Retreat House, Safety Bay from October 25-27. Cost $55.

Please forward deposit of $20 or full amount to Mrs B. Townsend, 23 Daglish St, Wembley 6014, cheques payable to "Majellan Groups of WA".

A bus leaves on Friday evening from the Monastery. Please book bus seat when making retreat booking.

Spiritual director is Sr Paula Quinn.

G OOMALLING THANKS A Mass of Thanksgiving will be held on Saturday, October 26 at Sacred Heart Church, Goomalling, to commemorate the Centenary of the Presentation Sisters in WA. Mass at 11am will be followed by BYO lunch at the pavilion. Enquiries Carmel (096) 29 1044, Lorraine (096) 29 1149.

MUSIC MINISTRY Bateman Catholic Parish is presenting a seminar for those interested in music ministry in Corpus Christi College Auditorium on September 21-22 starting at 9am.

Representatives from other parishes are most welcome and should contact Angela McCarthy on 337 9224a/h.

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.

IL

AH 446 6238

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

Carpets for home, school,

church and office.

Rerum Novarum Centenary Conference Keynote speaker: Fr Donal Dorf Saturday, September 28, 7.30pm-9pm Sunday, September 29, 8.45am-5pm Santa Maria College, Attadale (BYO lunch. Tea and coffee and childminding provided)

REGISTRATION Name Address Phone Parish Organisation School Childminding needed: Yes 0 No E Please send registration with payment $10 ($5 conc) per person to: Catholic Social Justice Cormnission 459 Hay Street, Perth WA 6000 Enquiries: Peter Stewart 325 1212

EUCHARIST: MYSTERY, LIFE, CELEBRATION A seminar by Raymond Topley, sponsored by Catholic Adult Faith Education Service

BLOOM...where you are planted! " ---Aratit— Efirdr

.00 .0

Think CARPET! Think Peter RINEY 242 1002

Saturday, September 21 9.30am to 4pm Mercedes College Hall, Victoria Square $10 per person (BYO lunch, coffee and tea provided)

P iorwa LierAwililT.Atrima aJrn3 raL4'ilLsm i

3 111 10 II

REGISTRATION

u alift26,. n "rit. .4111310:1 4rna 45=4 viitn „..awilrejgr o a (41i ni g t, o Ei • ismiew

3100 1".1 .re" a 'a

'fa

it,

111

ii

00

Name:

Address

I

A call to single lay women to live a consecrated life in the world For information about: The Secular Institute of the Kingship of Christ, contact: Fr Finian Perkins OFM 53 Great Northern Highway, Midland, WA, 6055. Phone 274 1159

Phone: Parish, Organisation, School Please send registration form with payment to: Catholic Adult Faith Education Service Second Floor, 459 Hay Street PO. Box P1217 PERTH 6001 For information, please phone Anne Harris 221 1548.