The Record Newspaper 30 November 1995

What's Inside . . .

Meditate on the Advent promise of Our Saviour with Archbishop Hickey, Page 2, and reflect further on Page 8 on humility and Advent.

Liturgists call for music reform - Page 2 PERTH, WA: November 30, 1995

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WA woman presents arguments against the ordination of women - Page 11 The Feast of the Immaculate Conception and its invitation to repentance approaches - Page 9

111)1% law ethics focus

By Peter Rosengren

The education of lawyers with a unique training in ethics, social justice and human rights will be a feature of the new College of Law at the University of Notre Dame In Australia announced last Tuesday by the University's Vice-Chancellor, Dr Peter Tannock.

The college, which will begin In 1997, plans to accept up to seventy undergraduates in its first year of operation and will offer a four-year Bachelor of Laws degree to its students.

By the time it is operating at its planned capacity, it will have between 250-300 students enrolled in its subjects.

Dr Tannock said he expected the college would reach full enrolment in about four years.

"It is an exciting development for Notre Dame and will offer opportunities for a unique legal education to those students who are selected to participate in it," he said.

"We're talking about a law school that grows out of the philosophy of education of the university. That in itself will make it different," he said.

In addition, all law students at Notre Dame would study ethics, philosophy and theology, he said,

Or Tannock, left, and Notre Dame Chancellor Terry O'Connor QC this week in front of the law library Mr O'Connor is donating to the university

making it the first law school in human rights and social justice the State to make the study of area as one. The other one is subjects such as ethics compul- property law and the reason for sory. property law is that it's a very In addition to the standard sub- Important area of law - particujects which must be studied to larly in Western Australia obtain an accredited qualifica- spilling over into things like tion, the degree course will offer Native Title. And there is relastudents studies in human rights, tively little focus on it in other social justice and property law places," he said. areas.

Regarding the emphasis on Dr Tannock said most law ethics studies at the new law schools have specialities in the school he said the university law which they seek to develop a planned to develop a close link reputation in, and Notre Dame with the Notre Dame law school had chosen property law.

In the United States which was "We've chosen the ethics, known internationally for its spe-

cialisation in this field of legal study.

"We've had discussions with two of their people about this.

That's a major speciality of theirs - ethics and human rights - and they have indicated to us that they're willing to make available senior staff to spend time over here," he said.

He said the dean of the law school at Notre Dame in the US had also indicated the American university was willing to receive students from the Fremantle campus to do part of their studies there.

Dr Tannock said this practice already existed in other courses already offered by the university.

The emphasis on these areas of study was a natural extension of the university's Catholic ethos, he added.

"The university as a whole is focused on trying to develop and shape young people to follow a Christian values-based philosophy of life. And to teach law within that context - or to teach education - is to give it a flavour, to give it a slant," he said.

He said the establishment of the college had been planned as part of the university's overall structure since its inception and followed widespread consultation within the profession.

There was also the possibility that at some stage in the future the university would offer a

canon law course for those wishing to study it but, for the foreseeable future, the concentration would be on developing and consolidating the undergraduate law course for students wishing to practice in Western Australia, he said.

Helping to kick off the new law school, Notre Dame Chancellor Terry O'Connor, QC, has donated his complete law library of nearly 1500 books which Dr Tannock said it was hoped would form the core for the college's law collection.

"It's a substantial Queen's Counsel collection and it's a very good start for us. It's a generous 'kickoff' for us and what we hope is that it will be the precursor to others," he said.

The comprehensive collection had been accumulated over Mr O'Connor's 30 year career as a legal practitioner specialising in general commercial law and defamation.

Dr Tannock hopes other individuals from a legal background will consider donating materials to the university for its collection.

He said the College of Law was a major development for the Fremantle university.

"I think it's a really important development for Notre Dame . . . it is our fifth college and it really puts in place the foundation structure that the Board of the university has aimed for," he said.

Misunderstanding Perpetual help for Redemptorists of Magisterium's role 'widespread'

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard

talk reflected on the mixed reception several of his key docVATICAN CITY (CNS) - uments have had inside the Criticism by theologians and Church. His remarks indicated other Catholics of recent papal concern about the level of public pronouncements demonstrates opposition that has been a widespread misunderstand- expressed in some quarters.

"Today we have to acknowling about the Church's teachedge a widespread misundering authority, Pope john Paul II standing of the meaning and role has said. of the Church's magisterium," he Addressing members of the said.

Congregation for the Doctrine of "This is at the root of the critithe Faith on Friday, November cisms and challenges which you 24, the day the congregation have observed about some proreleased it's ruling, with the nouncements, especially the approval of Pope John Paul, con- reactions in not a few theological firming that Church teaching and ecclesial areas to the most against ordaining women was recent documents of the pontifipart of the "deposit of faith" and cal magisterium," he said. infallibly declared by the The Pope said this criticism Church, the Pope said the dis- had been directed at such senting voices threatened to cre- authoritative statements as his ate a "counter magisterium." two recent encyclicals on human Particularly dangerous, he said, life and moral truths, and his was the mistaken idea that only apostolic letter on the all-male those Church teachings declared priesthood.

Infallible needed to be followed.

Continued On Page 2 The Pope's strongly worded

By John Travis

This stunning icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a replica of the recently restored original in St Alfonso's church in Rome. headquarters of the Redemptorist Order.

It was venerated recently at a Family Mission Novena conducted in Sacred Heart Parish.

Mundaring, by Redemptorist Fr Liam Creede.

Fr Creede was chosen with fellow Redemptorist Fr Joe Carrel from New South Wales, along with 43 other Redemptorists from around the world, to attend a restoration seminar in Rome on August 15 this year.

The original icon, which was given to the Redemptorists 150 years ago by Pope Pius IX explicitly to make Our Lady of Perpetual Help more widely known, was showing signs of age.

And quite rightly so, because when the Vatican Museum undertook the restoration, they discovered the painted wood of the frame dated back to the year 1100 AD. Fr Creede said the Redemptolists' and their mission work have only prospered to the degree it has been based on Our Lady and promotion of devotion to her as a way to Jesus.

Tabitha Poole, left, places her parents' names at Our Lady of Perpetual Help's altar to be sent to Lourdes, as Rachael Hughes prays before the icon. Both Year One students didn't miss a night of the Family Mission Novena at Sacred Heart, Mundaring.

Ponder with Mary the Saviour's coming A dvent belongs to the Church 1 land to the people of the Church, but one could be excused for thinking that it belongs to commerce. The dominant theme of these weeks before Christmas is buy, buy, buy.

Somewhere in the midst of all this commercial clamour the Church's voice must be heard.

We, the people of the Church, must make sure that we listen to what the Church is asking of us in this Season of Advent, and not be deceived by the materialism that threatens to take over this beautiful time of preparation for Christmas.

In this Advent Season we are asked to consider three things: • the Old Testament yearning of the coming of the Messiah; • the coming of Jesus at Bethlehem; • the final coming of Jesus at the "end times".

In a way, Advent is a small reminder of the centuries that preceded the coming of the Messiah.

During this time we hear of the great patriarchs and prophets who looked forward to the coming of Christ.

We hear of Moses, who led his people from slavery to freedom.

We hear of David, the great king, and, in the words of Zachary, of "the mighty Saviour in the house of David his servant".

We hear of the prophet Isaiah, who spoke so graphically about the one to come as if he actually saw him in a vision. We hear of Jeremiah who told his people that the promise God made to the House of Israel was about to be fulfilled.

The two figures that emerge most clearly during the time of Advent - the two figures that the Church wants us to meditate on -

are St John the Baptist, and Mary, the Virgin Mother.

St John the Baptist belongs to the New Testament, yet he was the last in a long line of Old Testament prophets calling the people to do penance and reorder their lives in order to welcome the Messiah.

St John the Baptist's cry is still very urgent today. He echoed the words of Isaiah when he proclaimed his baptism of repentance.

"A Voice cries in the wilderness Prepare a way for the Lord."

(Luke 3:5) Mary herself is the one who prepared most deeply and intimately for the coming of the Messiah, because she bore Him in her womb.

She peacefully accepted the will of God that she bring God's only-begotten Son into the world.

Liturgists query usic trends SALT LAKE CITY (CNS) "An injustice is committed against God's people when styles of worship and liturgical art are promoted which lack aesthetic beauty," according to a new Englishspeaking statement on Catholic music.

"The Snowbird Statement on Catholic Liturgical Music" was issued on November 1 by 17 Catholic liturgists and musicians from the United States, Canada, England and Ireland.

The statement affirms the emphasis on congregational singing, the use of the vernacular and the focus on active participation in Catholic worship since the Second Vatican Council.

But the signers said they also felt an obligation "to name and critique those developments which we view as problematic, Imperfect, or unworthy of the

Church's mission." Of particu- modern temptation to be "dislar concern was "the indiscrim- couraged as antithetical to the inate incorporation of an enter- nature of the liturgy as the livtainment or therapeutic ethos ing act of God's people" and into liturgical music," the state- had "the effect of discouraging .ment said. This development local communities from mar'constitutes one of the most shalling the resources necesserious problems in the present sary for the authentic celebramoment in the Church's liturgi- tion of the liturgy," it said. cal life," it added.

The statement said so much Singled out as particularly music was now available that problematic were popular common and stable repertoires musical styles that promoted familiar to Catholic populations sentimentality, consumerism, were difficult to maintain. introversion and passivity.

Signers of the statement The statement called for a included well-known names new emphasis on excellence in such as Richard Proulx, Chiccompositions and performance ago-based composer and conof liturgical music. While high ductor, Leo Nestor, music direcstandards would often remain tor at the Basilica of the more an ideal than a reality in National Shrine of the Immmany parishes, "even the small- aculate Conception in Washinest parish communities must gton; fames O'Donnell, master be encouraged and helped to of music at London's Westminproduce music of genuine ster Cathedral; and Monsignor quality, however simple."

M. Francis Mannion, rector of The use of recorded choirs, the Cathedral of the Madeleine organs and cantors was a great in Salt Lake City.

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The Record, November 30, 1995

She was the great sign that the prophet Isaiah spoke of centuries before: "The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign. It is this: The maiden is with child, And will soon give birth to a Son, Whom she will call 'Immanuel', A name which means 'God is with us-. (Isaiah 7:14) During this preparation time of Advent, take some time off from the busy preoccupations of each day and from the worries about buying presents, preparing for parties and the rest of it, and enter into the quiet contemplative spirit of Advent, the spirit of Mary who "pondered all these things in her heart".

It is during those moments of quiet that the Lord speaks most clearly to us, and it is in that contemplative atmosphere that we are better able to listen.

Perspective Take up your Bible or your Missal during Advent and slowly read the Scripture passages that the Church offers us at this time.

Maybe the Lord's quiet voice will be heard amidst the din of the Christmas rush.

CBC Terrace remembered

It's a newly built big, beautiful, wrought iron fence with chunky limestone-white majestic pillars. It's a replica of the old 'CBC in the Terrace' fence erected outside Trinity College to commemorate one hundred years of splendid work by the Christian Brothers. Brother A Dunstan Collopy (left) a former Headmaster of CBC Terrace and Trinity College, proudly inspects the new fence with Brother Tony Kelly, headmaster during the 1962 transition from the Terrace to Trinity. Below, the old fence outside CBC Terrace.

Magisterium misunderstood: Pope of the magisterium when it clarified There had also been opposition to or pronounced on specific issues.

The Pope said it was important for the recent reiteration of the ban on Communion for divorced Catholics the Church's doctrinal officials to use a style and language that would help in invalid second marriages.

He said it was important to distin- convince the consciences of contemguish between legitimate theological porary Catholics. At the same time, questioning, in which difficulties he added, the concept of authority about certain teachings were pre- must be clarified.

He said he was concerned some sented, and a stance of public opposition by theologians proposing people seemed to think Church alternative teachings for the faithful. teachings could be ignored unless He said theology operated within they were presented as infallible. the Church and its basic doctrines; One apparently confusing factor was theologians could not ignore this, that Church teachings did have difand they must respect the authority ferent grades of authority, he said.

"But that does not authorise people to think that pronouncements and doctrinal SHARE YOUR CHRISTMAS decisions of the magisteriurn require irrevocaand give a young overseas student some ble assent only when it genuine West Australian hospitality. presents them with a There are about one hundred Chinese stusolemn judgment or dent pilots training at the West Australian definitive act, and that, Flying College at Jandakot and Merredin, consequently, in all other who will be spending their firtst Christmas cases the only thing that away from their homes in mainland China. counts is the argumentaIt would be a great experience form them if tion or the reasoning they could spend their Christmas holidays adopted," he said.

22 Dec to 5 Jan 96 in a family environment He said it was urgent individually or in small groups. that the whole Church recover an "authentic Please contact: Jenny Wu Chang, Deputy concept of authority," Prinicipal, West Australian Flying College based not only on rules Tel. (W/H) 417 4777, (A/H) 383 9089 but on the faith and the Fax 417 5757 / 417 8832 Church's tradition.

Continued from Page 1

Archbishop's

PRIESTS FOR LIFE Fr Frank Pavone

has appeared on television and radio in America. As National" Director of Priests for Life he has written many articles and brochures particularly aimed at helping priests proclaim the message of life. He was asked by Mother Teresa to address the clergy of India on life issues.

At the invitation of Archbishop Hickey, he brings his message to priests and laity of this Archdiocese. This is a unique opportunity to show your support for our priests who are proclaiming the message of life, so urgently requested by our Holy Father, Pope john Paul II. Fr Pavone will be celebrating Mass. followed by a talk:Tuesday 5th December at 730pm at St Joseph's Church, Bassendean Thursday 7th December at 730pm at Holy Spirit Church, City Beach.

Rosary at ZlOpm Enquiries: Philip Haydon. Ph. 446 9682

Give your copy of The Record to a friend to read

Philippines' social justice worker seeks co-operation was organised as part of ACR's (the industrialised nations) and development education pro- the South (Third World nations) funded by an Australian such as the Philippines where gramme, Working with rural and urban -sponsored 72.5 per cent of the population g overnment the across communities non- still live below the poverty line. and Australian Philippine Philippines and assisting them to proorganisation government She said her main message to develop community programmes has brought Elena Balisi, like gram that involves ACR, NASSA the groups that she was meeting in Australia was one of building many others in similar roles, and other Philippine NGO's. "partnership" between aid agenMost recently Ms Balisi has of realities the hard up against cies and NGO's in different counbeen working a on community poverty and marginalisation in tries. development in the project her own country.

Building such partnerships In Perth for a short visit to southern island of Mindanao in helped to create international Australian Catholic Relief groups the Philippines.

Part of her current visit also pressure for changing unjust siturecently, Ms Balisi, a senior prograin officer with the Philippines involves follow-up contact with ations and structures of the kind the the ACR group that travelled to that exist in the Philippines, she organisation, bishops' National Secretariat for Social the Philippines from Perth as part said.

People were coming to realise Action (NASSA), also called in on of ACR's development education that making an impact on policyschools and other diocesan agen- program. cies.

She said part of the program's making was of prime importance NASSA is ACR's partner in the goal was to promote solidarity "because otherwise you cannot Elena Balisi in Perth's ACR offices with Phil Glendenning, an adult education Philippines and Ms Balisi's visit between countries of the North really do anything." and information officer with ACR nationally.

By Peter Rosengren

Health care in danger of losing soul, Pope warns

By Cindy Wooden VAFICAN CITY (CNS) Modern health care was in danger of losing its soul in a climate of scientific and technological advances and changing cultural ideas about the quality of life, Pope John Paul II told two separate groups last Sunday.

"Your service is first of all a mission, rather than a profession," the Pope told the 10th International conference sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers.

The respect for life and the dedication to people who are sick pledged by physicians through the Hippocratic Oath were medicine's guarantee that the human person and not simply a disease was at the heart of a doctor's concern, the Pope said.

More than 6,000 doctors, nurses, ambassadors, medical researchers and government officials from 108 countries participated in the three-day meeting, which focused on the Hippocratic Oath and the Good Samaritan as models for health care professionals.

The Hippocratic Oath was "one of the noblest expressions of professional conscience," he said, and it imposed "a particu-

lar respect for life and dedica- cine must truly be at the service of the whole person, have tion to the sick."

The example of the Good brought abundant benefits to Samaritan, he said, added to humanity, especially to the that concern for others "the poor, who are now seen as havtranscendent vision of human ing a fundamental right to life, which is a gift of God and is health care, the Pope said.

But the new, broader undercalled to share in eternal comstanding of health also had led munion with him."

Science and faith, especially to behaviour and laws that run when joined in the field of "contrary to the basic rights of health care, were called to the person," he said. advance and defend human life When "quality of life" became and its dignity. the Pope said. overly subjective, people felt 'The field of health policy and they could do anything care, in the varied spheres of including aborting a foetus or health education, prevention. assisting with a suicide - once diagnosis, therapy and rehabili- they make a judgment that the tation. offers countless exam- quality of the life involved was ples of the concrete possibility not up to par. the Pope said. of an association between rea"In this social-cultural context, son and faith to construct, in Catholic universities have a freedom and full respect for the specific task: they are called to human person, the civilisation instill in future doctors, along of life which, to be truly such, with a professionalism marked must also be a civilisation of by high scientific and cultural love," he said. knowledge, a robust spirituality Also last Sunday, Pope John enlightened by the word of God Paul addressed an international authoritatively interpreted by symposium on Catholic med- the teaching of the Church." the ical schools sponsored by the Pope said.

Congregation for Catholic He said a divorce between Education. faith life and one's profesone's "The formation of those activity was one of the sional preparing to work in the field of errors of modern serious most health care is one of the primatime. contemporary of ry concerns Professional ethics centered society, being as sensitive as it is to 'the quality of life," the on the value of every human life and the aim of restoring Pope said.

New scientific and technolog- health have been at the centre ical advances, along with a of medicine for centuries and growing awareness that medi- must be reaffirmed, he said.

New priests take up posts

Fr Nguyen van Huynh

Fr Phillip Perreau

Following last week's ordinations of Fathers Phillip Perreau and Nguyen van Huynh, Archbishop Hickey has announced the two priests' first postings to Perth parishes.

Fr Perreau has been appointed assistant priest to the parish of St Thomas More in Bateman, replacing Fr Joseph Matthew who will

conclude his appointment to the parish on 17 December.

Fr Nguyen van Huynh has been appointed assistant priest at All Saints parish in Greenwood where he will work with Fr Pat Ahern.

The present assistant. Fr Bogoslav Loska SDS will conclude his appointment at the end of December.

New date for Broome consecration Bishop-elect Chris Saunders of Broome said earlier this month the date for his consecration in Broome as Bishop of Broome had been moved from Saturday, February 3 to Thursday. February 8.

Fr Saunders said the Thursday date would allow parish priests

from around Western Australia who wanted to attend the ceremony to return to their parishes for weekend Mass duties.

The new bishop will take the place of Bishop John Jobst who is retiring after 37 years as bishop of the far-flung northern diocese.

"I've never really planned my life. Only my funeral."

Help St Vincent de Paul to be Santa The St Vincent de Paul Society is appealing to Western Australians to help stave off the prospect of a lonely or hungry Christmas this year by donating to the society's annual Christmas appeal.

The society expects over 3,000 needy families will be turning to them for emergency assistance this Christmas and, as in past years, is appealing for donations of food, toys and gifts to fill Christmas hampers for the needy.

Launching the Christmas appeal. recently appointed state president, John Meahan. said the well-known generosity

of Western Australians was again being called upon to help those less fortunate than themselves.

"The purpose of the appeal again this year is to help as many needy families as possible to enjoy a better Christmas," he said.

"Last year, we were able to give out over 3,500 Christmas hampers together with toys and gifts to families.

"This year, we hope to be able to give even more people a taste of the real meaning of Christmas."

He said Christmas was a time for sharing and giving, but

sadly for many it was a time of loneliness and a dreadful feeling of not being wanted.

Mr Meahan said not everyone in the community was in the position to help those in need, but society members could and were prepared to do so. "That's why the general public's help is just as valuable and just as important. With their help - by giving us the means - we become the partners in helping the underprivileged," he said.

Donations of food, toys and money can be made at any St Vincent de Paul Centre or by contacting the society on (09) 325 3649.

Many people care about the kind of funeral service they want.

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The Record, November 30, 1995

3

Community keeps youth in the Church Alyson Chalon responds to Bruce Downes' article last week on Church community for young people In many Christian churches there exists a fundamental awareness of the need to reach out and touch the lives of young people.

Indeed, most Churches attempt to envelop their youth in an environment of love and acceptance by providing solid programmes and activities which foster in the young person a sense of belonging, while encouraging them to realise their own potential and form their own identity.

Essentially, the basic need of a Christian young person is the knowledge that they are accepted for who they are.

What is important is that they find encouragement and edification from others who are facing the same journey of faith and selfdiscovery, as well as from older people who understand that young people affect the Church. just as much as they are affected by it.

Our world isn't always the best testimony or example of the evidence of God's love.

Young people are acutely aware of the negativity and hopelessness that can become by-products of

living a life without vision or a sense of hope.

The basic, essential promise the Church offers is an environment where young people of all ages are able to find a community which will accept them; a community which will encourage them in their hopes, help them realise their dreams and believe in their vision.

The Church is certainly willing to provide that sense of community and that support for the fledgling dreams of its young believers.

However, it simply cannot provide an effective environment for young people to realise their dreams and fulfil their vision unless it understands the desires and needs of the young people it seeks to help.

The concept of community is very different in its definition for a young person than it is for older members of our Church.

Community, to a young Catholic isn't just about fronting up to Church every Sunday, shaking hands with people, saying a few "Amens" and then leaving again.

It's not just about knowing that they are a part of a faith community that extends across the world and incorporates billions of people from different cultures, life styles and societies.

That is all part of it. but young people require a community

SEIZE THE DAYREGISTRATION FORM Please Return to REPLY PAID 16, Catholic Youth Convention, P.O.Box 141, North Perth, WA 6006.

Surname Christian Names Address Post Code Ph D.O.B

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Cost - Just $165 for the full seven nights and six days! A deposit of $40 should accompany your registration with the balance of $125 due by Friday January 5, 1996.

which is relevant to them, where they are at and which is relevant to the experiences now, today, in their own lives.

That concept of community requires a few prerequisites.

There needs to exist an atmosphere of trust, of open, honest interaction and, most importantly, It needs to be Christ-centred.

Young people expect that the communities they are part of respect their needs as individuals and actively encourage them to realise their own potential.

A good community affirms people and provides an atmosphere where its participants are able to share freely and deeply about their faith journey.

If young Catholics can access these communities, they not only grow in their own spiritual maturity, they also begin to associate themselves as part of a Church which is convinced of the hope we have in Christ.

They begin to identify with a faith community which is capable of providing an avenue for young people to realise their dreams and turn opportunities into realities, even when the world around them closes the doors.

It is the promise of community that attracts our young people to the Church.

Ills that promise fulfilled, which keeps them there.

A little reward for keeping their covenant

The Disciples of Jesus Youth Mission Team 1995 with their awards given recently for service to the people of Western Australia in bringing God to students from Years 10 to 12 through drama and giving twilight retreats.

They were involved with young people in a hands-on situation on a 24hour, seven-days-a-week basis for a year, during which they gave up studies, academic and business careers.

Michelle Jones (left rear), Paul Whitely, Andrew Clark and Branka Seselja, with Lynda Brown (centre left), Therese Ouwendyk, and Adam Howard (left front) with YMT manager, Chris Brennan.

WHAT IS A YOUTH CONVENTION? Young people Parishes Parents

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Due to severe financial restrictions, The Catholic Youth and Young Adult Ministry is unable to register anyone who has not paid in full by this date.

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The Record, November 30, 1995

Located just 10 minutes from the City Centre, Aquinas College is perched high above the Swan River and boasts superb facilities.

Please note Live-in accommodation can only be provided for the first 320 registrations - so first come, first served.

Transport During the Convention, delegates will be transported to external activities by bus.

Age The Convention is open to people aged 16-25, those who will be 16 in 1996 or going into Year 11 in 1996.

T-Shirts T-Shirts with the Convention logo are available now at the Catholic Youth Ministry. The cost is $25 and should be added to your registration fee. Do not forget to include your size when ordering.

How to register Please fill in the attached Registration Form, checking that you (or your guardian if you are under 18 years of age) have signed the medical disclaimer.

Send to: Reply paid 16, Catholic Youth Convention, PO Box 141, North Perth WA 6006 Adults, parents and priests please note! A special event specific to your role with young people has been planned. Watch The Record for details.

DO NOT SEND CASH BY MAIL! I have enclosed a cheque/money order for being for... . ..Deposit only....Part Payment.. Full Payment I wish to order a T-Shirt ($25) and have included this in my registration fee (or will pay the balance by January 5, 1996).

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Telephone 328 9622

Archbishop thanks prim pals Archbishop Barry Hickey praised dar of the dioceses of Perth, Geraldton, Catholic school principals last week for Bunbury and Broome because it protheir help in developing new religious vides an opportunity for the Bishops to meet with the principals who also occueducation guidelines for 1996.

Archbishop Hickey said the religious py positions of leadership within their education programs for Catholic schools local communities, a CEO spokesperson in Western Australia were being "fairly said.

This year, the Mass was followed by a drastically" modified to come out in different ways from the guidelines of the formal evening dinner in the eastern courtyard of the Catholic Education past.

This had required a lot of work at both Centre prepared and served by students the primary and secondary level and from the Hospitality Training Course at required an enormous amount of partic- St Brigid's College, Lesmurdie.

Archbishop Hickey reminded princiipation and cooperation from the principals on the importance of their vocation. pals.

"On behalf of Fr Holohan (Director of He said: "principals have a very special Religious Education), and on my own vocation in the Church - not simply a behalf. I want to thank you for the coop- paid position. It is something that goes eration that you have shown in many beyond that . . . [you] are called by the ways in making the schools available for Church and by God to this special vocathe pilot programs where they have been tion of leadership. Principals will know carried out, in giving support to your RE how high the expectations are on them teachers - helping them upgrade their from the community and from parents qualifications, their skills, their expertise, that they will give leadership in the in offering comments on the various school, and that they will help the school modules as they have been sent to you - produce what society and what the parbecause this feedback will help refine ents want. That is, fully developed young them and make them better," Archbishop people as citizens and as members of the Church."

Hickey said.

He said that gatherings such as this He was speaking at the annual Principals' Thanksgiving Mass in the offered the help of peers to one another.

Chapel of St Michael the Archangel at "And you need that, because it is only in the Catholic Education Office last recent years that we have had gatherings of principals where nearly all of them Thursday evening.

Archbishop Hickey, Bishops Jobst. are lay people. There is a new conOuinn and Healy and the priests who sciousness, a new way of thinking of work at the Catholic Education Centre. vocation which is not a religious vocation Frs Holohan, Vinciguerra and Glynn con- but a vocation that is a lay vocation."

Religious education was one of the sericelebrated the Mass. Bishop Justin Bianchini of Geraldton was away in the ous responsibilities that they had to Eastern States and unable to be present. supervise.

"My admiration and my prayers are More than 250 principals, their spouses and members of the Catholic Education with you tonight and my best wishes for a very successful new year as well as my Office filled the chapel for the liturgy.

The thanksgiving Mass has become an thanks for all that you have done over the important event on the education calen- past year." he said.

The chairman of the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia, Bishop Robert Healy, presents retiring principal Sister Jilyan Dingle RSM with a Brady Medal for more than 10 years service to Catholic education in WA at the annual principal's Mass. At the conclusion of the Mass, the Director of Catholic Education, Mrs Therese Temby, paid special thanks and read a personal account of the careers of a number of long-standing principals who were retiring. A number of the retiring principals were presented with the Brady Medal by Bishop Healy. The Brady medal is named in honour of the first Bishop of Perth, John Brady. The retiring principals are: Sr Denise Casey RSJ, Sr Jilyan Dingle RSM, Sr Goretti Keane PBVM, Miss Anne Pusey, Sr Veronica Quinn PBVM, Miss Margaret Sleight, Sr Nellie Versluys RSJ, Mrs Janice Wansbrough, Mr John Willett, and Sr Victor Wright IBVM.

Some of the new Catholic school principals inducted at the principals' thanksgiving Mass. The Mass concluded four days of induction lectures and workshops for 17 new principals.

THE IDEA WAS BORN IN A PUB ,

Br Kevin Paul, Terry Loughnan and Dr Chris Back at the celebrations after the principal's Mass. op 'D

c_f 0

Delight your family with the most precious and lasting gift of all

"0

Sr Raphael Porter, left In discussion with Sr Leonie O'Btfen

RCIA considers its path

Your Life Story

They argued about life's purpose. the goodness of the world. freedom and responsibility, the saving death of Jesus Christ The outcome was Dominic's vision of a community of prayerful, scholarly and passionate communicators of the Gospel Men at ease in the world but with their hearts set on the Reign of Christ

immortalised on tape. because not everyone has time to write an autobiography.

Don't let your story be lost or left to second hand recollection - it's too important!

Just ask your family! Your story is part of their heritage - an heirloom, a golden gift to be cherished by generations to come. Remember libraries are full of people searching for snippets of information about their forbears.

Your story will be recorded using professional audio-equipment in the relaxed, casual atmosphere of your own home, at your own pace, by an experienced and caring interviewer with confidentiality guaranteed.

Optional transcription of tapes available. Do it now!!

Call Lorraine Williams

The conversation goes on If you are interested in taking part. please contact the Friars Preachers through

The Provincial Promoter of Vocations, St Dominic's Priory, 8 16 Riversdale Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124.

Perth Catechumenate Office co-ordinator Sr Kerry Willson, right, with delegates

BA (History), on 364 2617 for a free pre-interview

meeting.

C, op

From an all-night discussion between Dominic and the barman

C,

di0

St Joseph's Retreat Centre, Aldgate which Patricia Brady focussed on an Adelaide, was recently the venue issue increasingly important to catefor the Australian Catechumenate chumenal teams: what is the place Conference, "Initiation Into What?", of spirituality in their lives and in attended by 50 delegates represent- those whom they are initiating into the community. What steps do those ing 12 Catholic dioceses.

Lively discussions were initiated helping catechumens take in uncovby Jenny O'Brien and Elizabeth ering their own paths of spirituality?

Morris in their session "New Those wishing to keep in touch with Wineskins - Old Churchskins: What the Australian Catechumenate Kind of a Church?" session during Network can ring (02) 9953 3419).

Telephone: (03) 9830 5144 Fax: (03) 9388 5943

Please book your advertisements early for our Christmas Issue The Record, November 30, 1995

5

+-

Divine Mercy offered to all Sr Faustina received only three told Blessed Faustina. years of elamentary education Jesus told her that the soul The two sisters robed in heavy but had complete trust in God which venerated this image shall black with contrasting white and it was this faith filled Polish receive many graces and will not inside the 'bonnets' of their black young sister in the Thirties, to perish.

There are five forms of devotion veils, were young and full of fun whom Jesus declared: "In the as they had the brief respite of a Old Covenant I sent prophets to Divine Mercy, explained Sr picnic lunch on the shores of wielding thunderbolts to My peo- Gracia: the Divine Mercy image ple. Today Iam sending you with "to remind us that just as God Lake Monger.

They belong to the My mercy to the people of the shows us mercy, we have to show Congregation of the Sisters of whole world. I do not want to it to others:" the Feast of Mercy Our Lady of Mercy in Poland. punish aching mankind, but I which Jesus asked to be celebratOne is a native of Poland - Sr desire to heal it, pressing it to My ed on the first Sunday after Easter, the Divine Mercy chaplet Magdalena Gluminska, and the Merciful Heart."

Worn out with tuberculosis and which Jesus told Blessed other is USA Texan born Sr ill health offered up joyfully in Faustina, "It pleases Me to grant Gratia Kelly.

This prayerful order is co- order to save sinners, Sr Faustina everything (people) ask of Me, founded by Blessed Faustyna died "in the odour of sanctity" at by saying this Chaplet, if what you ask for is compatible with Kowalska (Faustina in English) the age of 33.

On April 18 1993, Pope John My will." and is primarily given over to Fourthly, Jesus said at 3 pm he saving souls with special care Paul 11 declared her Blessed.

The sisters, who spoke in New wanted people to visit the given to girls and women in Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Blessed Sacrament, make the need of moral assistance.

Sr Magdalena is currently in and Australia, gave talks to Stations of the Cross, or spend a charge of 75 young women at schools, teenagers, and in partic- moment in contemplation of His passion at the hour of His death. their house at the international ular the average lay person.

As for Divine Mercy which they "Jesus told Blessed Faustina, Shrine of Divine Mercy in regard as a message rather than that "As often as you hear the Krakow, Poland.

Invited to Australia by the vari- a devotion, the sisters say it has clock strike three, immerse yourous Divine Mercy apostolates, gone like wildfire throughout the self in my Mercy" and wants us to do three things - pray at 3 pm; they are currently doing a tour of world.

People today have lost their pray to Him; and through the Australia called Mercy Our sense of sinfulness, said Sr merits of His sorrowful passion, Mission.

Jesus appeared to Sr Faustina Gracia, "and so Jesus is coming to to meditate on it, even if only and directed her to write diaries us as depicted in the Divine briefly," said Sr Gracia.

The fifth message is to spread with His messages and gave her Mercy image, looking for the one the message of God's mercy. other instructions to promote lost sheep as in the parable."

The Divine Mercy image of "To all these forms Our Lord devotion to Divine Mercy.

He asked her to tell people to Jesus with the rays of white and has attached singular graces," trust in Him and to believe in His red coming from His heart and she said, "but most importantly, infinite mercy which was there the words I 11.ust In You, were in order to obtain these wondereven for the most hardened sin- reproduced in accordance with ful graces, we have to continue to have confidence in God's mercy ner. He told Sr Faustina that Jesus' wish to Blessed Faustina.

The white represents water and show mercy towards others. even if a person's sins were more For more information please numerous than the grains of sand "which makes souls righteous, in the world. "I would pursue the and red stands for the Blood ring Divine Mercy Apostolate. tel: which is the life of souls," Jesus 448-0002. sinner on all their paths." [ By Colleen McGuiness-Howard

L to R: Victorian Divine Mercy coordinator, John Canavan, with Sr Magdalena Gluminska and Sr Gratia Kelly enjoy lunch at Lake Monger

Seminary celebration Night of lively Chestertonian poetry delights Perth audience

Left Father Basil Noseda (OSB) and Father Ernie Rogers do the honours and cut the jubilation cake at the recent celebrations for the anniversary of the patron saint of St Charles seminary, St Charles Borromeo. St Charles was a leading Church reformer following the 16th-century Council of Trent who died at the age of 46 and has been called 'another St Ambrose.'

A night of high-spirited poetry reading presented by two of Perth's leading actors was recently held at Notre Dame University in Fremantle and organised by the GK Chesterton Society of Western Australia.

The anthology of the English journalist, GK Chesterton's, poetry was presented to an audience of approximately 90 people by Geoff Gibbs and Faith Clayton who read some of Chesterton's poems interspersed with commentary on his life an views.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton, the colourful essayist, apologist and journalist was born in 1874 and died in 1936. A convert to the Catholic faith, he was later made a Defender of the Faith by Pope Pius XI. Many of Chesterton's views were decades ahead of their time and he continually warned of the dangers inherent in abandoning true Christianity for transient

Cunderdin prayer day preaches truth The local hall at Cunderdin became "the Church for the day", to accommodate large numbers of Country folk and some friends from the City on Monday, 6 November.

'Reconciliation" was the theme of both addresses given by Columban Fr Paul Carey.

The whole purpose of Jesus coming, he said, was to reconcile the world. God Loves us. He wants us to be fully alive forever.

St Peter had to learn to surrender to Jesus. He was a man who experienced God's love and forgiveness. The whole purpose of the Church of which he is head is to reconcile everyone.

Jesus gave us the supreme example - he laid down His life

for that purpose. Unfortunately the spirit of this world is under the influence of the enemy. It is the spirit of Jesus, which brings us together in reconciliation.

As the body of Christ we should be evangelising as never before.

Praying and looking for ways to reconcile those who have wandered away from the Father.

With the joy of reconciliation in us we should support one another and give witness to Jesus in our lives.

Father reminded us how difficult it is for the rich to enter God's Kingdom. We in Australia are all very rich compared to so many in other parts of the world.

Our wealth should be used to glorify Jesus. We must not allow

6 The Record, November 30, 1995

fear to control us. If we reconcile ourselves daily and attend the sacrament of Reconciliation regularly we have no need to fear anyone or anything.

Our task is to trust and to pray fervently for all those who have gone astray. Never condemning anyone, simply begging God for mercy on their behalf.

The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy when prayed well can save even those who have hit 'rock bottom'.

With the six other priests present Father Carey gave the opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation to all participants and to bring a wonderful occasion to a climax. Holy Mass was celebrated.

philosophies popular at the time such as Fabian socialism.

Together with friend and colleague Hillaire Belloc, Chesterton conducted flamboyant and vigorous debates against influential thinkers such as H.G. Wells and George Bernard Shaw.

Chesterton's writings riveted an entire generation and he won fame for not only his poetry but his essays, novels and journalism.

The poetry presented on the evening was drawn from the span of Chesterton's career and life.

It included readings from poetry concerning fierce and consistent attack on the planners, sociologists and bureaucrats who sought to supervise and regulate the lives and leisures of ordinary people.

He wrote many love poems, Christmas carols and religious poems of great tenderness and

insight. The main thrust of the poetry presented to the delighted audience during the evening by the Society was Chesterton's love of the gift of life and living, and his denial that anything was or could be uninteresting.

Much of the pleasure which can be gained from Chesterton's poetry lies in the fact that he often made something thought to be the commonplace and ordinary, even despised, appear in an entirely new light.

Society president Mr Tony Evans said that a program of events for 1996 including a debate and a lecture are currently in the process of being arranged.

The society also held its annual general meeting last Tuesday night.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Society can contact Mr Evans on (09) 339 1403.

Timor dance and drama

From 7-10 December you can experience "Wall of Testimony" a production presented by the touring East Timorese Theatre Group from Darwin. It can be seen at lona College in Mosman Par* at 7pm on the listed dates.

L'ellers 10 Ihe• Co Attorney-General 'repeats freedom mantra' he Western Australian Attorney- the level suitable for a five year old; ser1General, Cheryl Edwardes, (The vice providers who establish adults-only T hile the Censorship Bill does Record, November 23) is right in point- services and who take reasonable steps the definition of, and improve ing to some welcome improvements in to screen out minors should be protected the Censorship Bill 1995 but fails to from prosecution, as should users who penalties for, child pornography - the provide material to adults-only computer claim by Cheryl Edwardes (The Record, rebut criticisms of the Bill's failures.

The Bill legalises the possession and services under an honest and reasonable November 23) that it will be a crime to exhibition of X-rated videos, except in a belief that only adults will have access to possess child pornography must be chalpublic place. Unfortunately, the defini- that material". 'Adults only' services is lenged.

The Bill does not unequivocally make tion of public place is drafted in such a simply a polite way of describing explicthe possession of child pornography a way that any cinema, hall or function it pornographic material.

The Bill will allow the computer trans- crime. room can be turned into a private place Only when the Bill is amended: merely by putting up a warning sign or mission of X-rated video (sale is prohib• to make possession, regardless of using a similar device to beat the criteria ited) and explicit still graphics from Xintended use, a crime; that a "public place is a place to which rated video (sale allowed).

• to remove the connection between Contact magazines, which include the public are admitted on payment of consideration, the test of admittance explicit nude photographs, will also be possession and copying; • to remove the literary and artistic being the payment of consideration available online.

The penalties for transmitting such override; and only".

• to ensure that the classification of Once people need to meet some other material to minors have generous test of admittance (even just an age test) defence provisions which will facilitate films and publications is not based on then it is no longer a public place and X- the access of minors to such material the product as a whole, will it be true to provided they claim on computer to be say "that it will be a crime to see, adverrated videos can be exhibited for profit. tise, possess, or display child pornograThe Vice Squad has confirmed that over 18. phy."

The Attorney-General is unlikely to get pornographic clubs will be able to show such videos freely. X-rated videos are censorship legislation right as long as she Ray Studham defined as containing 'depictions of actu- repeats the pornography merchants' Mt Lawley al sexual intercourse and other sexual mantra that adults should be able to see. activity". with 'models' as young as 16 read and hear whatever they choose while ignoring the reality that restricted legally permitted. has encouraged many The Bill also facilitates the setting up of pornography inevitably gets into the I P of society to become selfmembers pornographic computer services in hands of children and that the spread of indulgent and ignore their moral responWestern Australia. In her Second pornography in a society is linked to an sibilities to others by showing a lack of Reading speech, Mrs Edwardes said increase in sexual violence. respect for the dignity of other persons, "The content of computer services Gillian Gonzalez particularly women, because of their should not be required to be reduced to Secretary, Australian Family Association

demands for the right of adults to be able to watch what they like in the privacy of their homes.

Surely these same adults can't close a blind eye to the harmful effects of Xrated videos on members of our society such as a serious increase in crimes of rape and child molesting over the past ten years in which period thousands of these videos flooded into all states by mail order from Canberra, known to many as the porn city.

Professor Bill Marshall, an expert clinical psychologist who treated over 600 rapists and child molesters over a period of sixteen years, was reported in the West Australian on April 5. 1984 as saying that "a third of each group routinely and deliberately used pornography to psych themselves up before committing their sex crimes."

Newspaper reports over these years have said that pornographic videos have been found in the homes of a number of sex criminals including those who killed their victims.

Parents and readers of The Record should get behind our Government members of Parliament who are prepared to tackle the dangers of pornography through the Censorship Bill being introduced to minimise the accessibility of these videos to children and teenagers.

Defeat of ACT Bill welcomed

Mystical Rose devotion

Amendments needed

W

Support for MPs

he defeat of the ACTs euthanasia Bill T 1 by 10 votes to 7 is welcome.

The Bill's defeat was achieved by two

ALP members. Bill Wood and Terry Connolly, defying caucus solidarity and voting against the Bill despite being denied the right to a conscience vote.

This latest defeat of the euthanasia push confirms that the tide has turned. It follows decisive defeats of similar legislation in New Zealand and South Australia, the House of Lords Select Committee report rejecting euthanasia legislation and the injunction by the US Federal Court against Oregon's euthanasia law.

The Northern Territory's notorious Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill remains unproclaimed - not least because its drafting makes it unworkable.

It should be noted that the New South Wales' ALP Government will not be allowing debate on a euthanasia bill until after the Federal election because of Federal ALP fears of an anti-euthanasia backlash against the ALP Here in WA, the Medical Care of the Dying Bill, although it passed its second reading on October 25. now looks set to run out of time for debate in the committee stage before Parliament is prorogued at the end of the year.

Although not endorsing direct euthanasia by lethal injection, the Bill does seek to overturn the law against assisted suicide by forcing doctors to cooperate in suicidal decisions to refuse medical treatment (e.g. stomach pump after a drug overdose).

Western Australians should also note that the ACT euthanasia Bill was in fact a series of amendments to their Medical Treatment Act which is similar to Ian Taylor's Medical Care of the Dying Bill.

This is why the Western Australian Voluntary Euthanasia Society has hailed Taylor's Bill as a first step towards euthanasia.

Richard Egan Coalition for the Defence of Human Life West Perth

Diversity of rites t was with some reserve that I attended I the llidentine Mass at the Pro-cathedral, celebrated by Fr Oppenheimer, a

member of the Fraternity of St Peter (The Record, November 16).

My motivation for attending was partly for nostalgic reasons and partly to allay my concerns that the 'old liturgy' could be a cause of division among Catholics.

One of Fr Oppenheimer's comments did much to lay these concerns to rest. He said the Catholic Church was more than just the Latin rite. There are many other rites within the Church. Here in Perth we have the Ukrainian rite at Maylands, the Melkite rite at North Perth as well as the Latin Rite which offers the Novus Ordo Mass and the Tridentine Mass.

As the Vatican II document on Sacred Liturgy stated, the diversity of rites should be encouraged. Within the unity of the Catholic Church, under the See of Peter, various rites co-exist in harmony and enrich the Church with a diversity of living liturgical tradition.

Far from finding the Latin Mass out of date, without drawing any comparisons, I experienced a timeless liturgy, truly a treasure of the Church, which I am glad to see is still alive and with us.

Helen Sawyer Warwick

Dancing by the abyss dance? This is the c) dance or not "burning question" that has captured T pages and pages of our Catholic newspato

per for weeks now.

Is it any wonder that so many of our contemporaries consider the Church irrelevant?

In a world facing an abyss "to dance or not to dance?" is hardly the question.

What is needed is solidarity with the modern world, not more "point scoring" in the Church.

Fr Tony Chiera Donnybrook

Jesus, God of Love

Roger Ryan Innaloo

his lack of political correctness, would he be criticised for caring more for his peoam writing to encourage people to ple than the wording and meanings of open their hearts in a special way to ecclesiastical articles, and how would He Mother of God on the feast of her the feel abut such activities as liturgical Conception - December 8. mmaculate I dance?

God has chosen to open wide heaven I think most of us know that Jesus. the God of Love is precisely that - all loving. for great graces to flow to us through His all caring and open to all our expressions Mother on this beautiful feast.

During the period of Novemberof love.

1947, a nun, Sister Pierina, December He was a man of action and compassion - not one obsessively preoccupied alleged that the Blessed Mother with the ecclesiastical arguments of the appeared to her in Italy eleven times and revealed that she wanted to be known as day.

Perhaps it is time we take note of this the "Mystical Rose".

The Blessed Mother also said. "My Son person who is our God. Jesus the humble, so greatly offended by the sins of the is God. all-forgiving and compassionate especially by the sins of impurity. people, Kelly L planning to send destrucalready is He Kalgoorlie tion, but I have asked Him to show mercy, and not send the destruction. So that is why I have appeared, to ask for penance occo Loiacono. "No unbroken tradi- and atonement for the sins of impurity." tion," (The Record. November 23) is Our Lady continued to explain that, to be congratulated on his letter on mat- "Penance is nothing more than accepting ters liturgical. all our crosses daily willingly, no matter Normally, I do not read lengthy letters, how small, accept them with love. but the other day while waiting for someOur Blessed Mother explained that on one I had the choice of The Record or the December 8 at noon there would be an daily paper, and chose the better of the hour of grace. She asked that this hour be two. Your correspondent clearly observed every year. expressed views of many people at least During the hour of grace, many spirituthree times his stated age as he described al graces would be granted. The most precisely the people referred to as "The hard-hearted sinners would be touched Baby Boomers", who unfortunately, at by the grace of God. present, prevail in all sections of society.

The Blessed Virgin promised that whatThe penultimate and final paragraphs ever a person asked her during this Hour emphasise the importance of The Holy of Grace (even apparently impossible Sacrifice as it should be recognised and cases) would be granted to them, if it was appreciated by all. in accordance with the Will of the Eternal With people of his calibre showing Father. interest in the liturgy, a bright future for She asked that the following action be the Church and humanity appears on the taken during the Hour of Grace: horizon.

• the person making the Hour of Grace, Patrick J. Brophy either at home or in Church, must put Mt Lawley away all distractions - do not answer the phone, or answer any door, or do anything but totally concentrate on your with God; union orah McMenamin (The Record, the Hour of Grace by praying begin • understand November 9) should that one of the devil's ploys is to convince three times Psalm 51, the Miserere, with Catholics that because God is infinite outstretched arms.

• the rest of the Hour of Grace may be mercy, then everyone will get to heaven because a merciful judge will not send spent in silent communication with God, meditating upon the Passion of Jesus, sayanyone to hell. the Holy Rosary, praising God in our ing if means which justice God is perfect you die unrepentant and in a state of own way or by using favourite prayers, mortal sin you will go to hell, since per- singing hymns, meditating upon other Psalms, etc fect justice demands this.

Dzieciol Elizabeth Paul Sheridan iew Doublev Maylands

I

Youthful hope

R

fter the new look Record appeared I was very happy to see a revamping Demands of justice A of style and presentation.

However, am I alone in feeling fed up N with the constant arguments and opin-

ions of a few who appear as the religious Luddites of our time?

I appreciate the rights of all to freedom of speech, but the total pre-occupation of some of these writers with their own pedantic points of view makes me wonder if sometimes they don't lose sight of the forest because of all those trees.

I would hate to think what might happen to Jesus if He walked in to some of our parishes. Would he be scorned for

The Record, November 30, 1995

7

Advent: an occasion to work on pride

The humble don't retreat

Humility, the heart of strength

By Dan Luby vin and Jeff had been Kr iends since fourth-grade basketball. For five years they

played together, in season and out. They spent hours sharing their hopes of playing for the high school team.

Jeff was, as he put it, "OK." Kevin was faster and better coordinated, with a killer jump shot and good height. He'd have said he was OK too, but really he thought he was awesome.

The summer before high school, they worked out daily at the rec centre. The high school coach noticed Kevin and made a point to meet him and encourage him to try out for the team.

When Jeff said he was planning to try out too, the coach smiled absently and said, "Why not?"

They worked hard in the tryouts. On the day the final roster

By Father John Castelot Vor 20 years the Canaanite I . King Jabin oppressed the Israelites. With 900 iron chariots he appeared invincible.

The people cried out in desperation to God, who heard them. The prophetess Deborah then called upon a man named Barak to assemble a fighting force on Mt Tabor and prepare to engage the armies of Jabin.

This assignment was daunting. Barak was all too aware that no army he could muster would be a match for Jabin's forces. So Barak said to Deborah: "If you come with me, I will go; if you do not come with me, I will not go" (Judges 4: 8). This was true humility, an honest avowal of personal inadequacy, but also confidence in divine help.

"False humility" is a contradiction in terms. For humility is above all honesty. Humility recognises one's own shortcomings but also acknowledges one's ability to accomplish even the seemingly impossible - with God's help.

Humility refuses to crumble in the face of challenge.

Humility enabled Barak to inflict a stunning defeat on Jabin's army.

Here is another Scripture story that casts light on the meaning of "humility." When Jesus directed his disciples to forgive a repentant offender and to forgive even after repeated offences, some apparently felt he asked the impossible.

They could have taken refuge, saying they were too weak to rise to the challenge of such great forgiveness. But they knew they were not left to their own devices.

With God's help they could rise to the challenge.

So they answered with an urgent plea, "Increase our faith." our trust in God's empowering help (Luke 17: 5.)

Another Scripture story tells of a centurion, a self-assured army commander with the authority to get things done simply by giving an order. But he felt helpless when a trusted subordinate fell desperately ill.

Nonetheless, the centurion refused to give up. Having heard of Jesus, he sent emissaries to ask for his healing help. When Jesus agreed to go to the dying man, the normally proud centurion protested, "I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof" (Luke 7: 8).

The centurion was confident Jesus could heal the sufferer by giving an order from a comfortable distance. Authentically humble, he admitted his unworthiness but found courage in Jesus' power.

Finally there was St. Paul, no shrinking violet, but truly humble. His painful realisation of his sinfulness did not cow him into inaction. For he knew God's graciousness.

So Paul boasted of his weaknesses. Why? "In order that the power of Christ may dwell with me . . . for when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

was posted, they raced to the bulletin board, Kevin triumphant, Jeff nervous but hopeful. When they read the list of 14 names they were shocked. Jeff's name was on the list, Kevin's was not.

Kevin swore, turned and walked out of the gym. Jeff stood there in surprise until his coach yelled at him to get dressed.

After practice, the sweaty youngster knocked timidly on the coach's door. He had a question, "Coach," he said uncertainly, "I'm not complaining, but Kevin and I are best friends, and I just want to know what made you pick me instead of him."

"I'll tell you, son," the coach said. "You're a pretty good little player. You made the team because you know your limitalions. You know what you can do and what you can't "You know you'll have to work your tail off to do what's needed.

And you're willing to work for the good of the team. I know you'll do your best when I need you, when the team needs you.

"I couldn't count on Kevin that way. He's a good player - maybe better than you - but he doesn't know his limitations, and that'll cost the team some night. And he's brittle, "With you, I know if you don't play a lot one week because somebody else is on a hot streak, you won't explode or go into a funk. But Kevin's not ready to handle that kind of reality. So you're it."

It was hard to talk to Kevin afterward, and it put a strain on their friendship for almost a year.

But Jeff loved being on the team. They had a great season.

He didn't play a lot. He never got his picture in the paper. But he helped them win, Jeff had the gift of humility. He

looked at himself honestly and saw neither a false self to be ashamed of nor a grandiose one to be pretended. Far from proving a handicap, his straightforward sense of himself - his recognition of his limitations and acicnowledement of his gifts opened up possibilities he'd barely hoped for.

Humility is a wonderful Advent virtue. It helps us make room for the surprising appearances of the "kingdom" in our midst.

It is the virtue which helped John the Baptiser hope for the one to come, who would be greater than he. It is the gift which allowed Joseph the Carpenter to trust his beloved and await the birth of Jesus.

It is the blessing which gave Mary the steely courage to say "yes" to an adventure beyond her wildest imaginings.

It is the quiet heart of strength.

True humility is a virtue, enabling someone to be with others but without having to be the centre of attention

Courage marks truly humble people

By Father John Crossin, OSFS We live in an era of superstars.

They are the focus of television, radio, magazines and newspapers. No popular movie or football team can be without a few such stars. These are the people we want to see and hear.

Maybe we ourselves would secretly like to be superstars.

Even if we don't have the talent to be stars, we wouldn't mind being celebrities. We might imagine being interviewed on a talk show, sharing our deepest secrets with a curious audience.

After all, we might think, even the Church has its "superstars."

Pope John Paul 11 and Mother Teresa draw the crowds and the television cameras. They make the evening news. Their books sell millions.

But flights of fancy yield in time to the truth. A little reflection on the difference between celebrity and reality, superstardom and substance or hype and fact brings us to the much neglected virtue of humility.

For humility is realism.

The humble person sees the ' world and the self with a clear

8 The Record, November 30, 1995 ••••••••••

••=11.1.

eye. No wild imagination conceals the truth of things. No camera lens or inflated ego distorts the image. The humble person has his or her feet firmly on the ground.

These people neither deny their abilities nor overestimate them. They neither exalt nor debase themselves.

They tend rather to be asking you about your daily life and concerns, They encourage you in your dreams and projects. The humble people I know tend to be good listeners. They see the value in each person and respect each person's goodness.

There is more than a little courage in humility. It takes courage to look at our lives realistically. It takes courage to begin to change our patterns of pride. It takes courage to be a person of character in a time when image, spin and proper positioning are valued. Humility leads quickly to generosity. The humble people I know are quick to share. They give whatever they have, One successful businessman I know has made it a goal to give away $1 million in his lifetime.

He urges others to do the same.

He believes that God's blessings should be shared.

With humility, we operate from inner convictions about the good and the right. We know that we can always improve.

The path to humility sometimes comes through personal disillusiomnent, failure and sickness.

The death of a parent or spouse can be the occasion for the kind of deeper reflection that is characteristic of humility, In other words, life's expertences teach us. We often learn humility the hard way.

Experiences puncture our illusions of superiority or control.

They show us our strength is insufficient. They reduce to size our proud egos.

Paradoxically, humble people can also laugh. Having suffered, they can also enjoy. They can appreciate the good, the incongruous and the just plain crazy aspects of life.

The humble person can take serious things seriously and the not-so-serious with good grace and humour.

In our humble realism, we realise that we are completely

dependent on God. All our talents come from God. Without God's grace we would be nothing. Through the grace of Jesus Christ we are everything.

The humble person knows that Jesus is the model.

• He "humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8).

• And he now sits at the right hand of the Father. He urged us to take the last place at banquets and to welcome sinners.

Celebrities seem to be preoccupied with their own feelings, thoughts and accomplishments.

They love the best seats at our televised banquets.

The true superstars are not so self-centred. Pope John Paul 11 or Mother Teresa always point beyond themselves to Christ.

Here is the real power.

Christ is the real superstar. He teaches us that the ultimate realism is not in self-service but in self-forgetfulness. Humility is the premier virtue for Advent.

In Advent, we take a few moments to go back to basics.

Realism is always appropriate.

Is there any hope for humility?

There is no hope without it!

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

iraculous medal paved way

By Peter Dvvan ext Friday, December 8, the N Church celebrates the beautiful Feast of the Immaculate

Conception, which is a holy day of obligation in many countries but not in Australia.

The dogma of the Immaculate Conception teaches that Our Lady was conceived without the stain of original sin on her soul.

Although this dogma isn't explicitly contained in Scripture, various passages point to it.

These passages have been chosen as readings for the Mass of the Immaculate Conception.

The first reading (Genesis, 3:915, 20) tells us that, following the fall of our first parents, God said to the devil, who had appeared to Eve in the form of a serpent and tempted her to eat the forbidden fruit: "I will make you enemies of each other, you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring.

It will crush your head and you will strike at its heel."

The woman referred to in the above passage is Our Lady. Given God's promise to put enmity between the devil and the woman, it was inconceivable that Our Lady should ever have been, even for a single instant, under the devil's power.

During the centuries prior to the definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. by Pope Pius IX, on December 8 1854, theologians used the argument from fittingness: "It was fitting. God could do it. Therefore He did it."

The fathers of the Church often referred to Our Lady as the New Eve. Had Our Lady not been conceived immaculate, she would have been inferior to Eve, who had been conceived immaculate.

The Eve/Mary parallel is even hinted at in the reading: "The man called his wife `Eve' because she is the mother of all those who live."

Just as Eve is the physical mother of all the living, so too is Mary the spiritual mother of all the living.

St Luke's account of the Annunciation (Luke 1:28-38) contains the words: "Rejoice so highly favoured one," or, as it was rendered in older translations:

An 18th century statuette of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception In the

Monactery nf .lacna 1;nra in Poland chnwinn ratholir helipf in HIP &lama

before its infagible definition.

"Hail full of grace." Mary always had the grace of God in her soul and hence was a fitting person to become the mother of His Son. The second reading (Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12,) contains St Paul's words: "Before the world was made He chose us, chose us in

Christ, to be holy and spotless and to live through love in His presence." This was God's original plan for men and women.

However, original sin spoilt God's plan to some extent. It was only in Our Lady that God's plan was fulfilled in every detail.

Bishops from around the world Chosen by God, from all eternity, to be the mother of His Son, travelled to Rome for the definiMary was conceived free from tion of the Dogma of the the stain of original sin. Her Immaculate Conception. Pope immaculate conception announ- Pius IX presented every bishop ced the reconciliation offered to with a gold medal struck to comthe world by the Son on behalf of memorate the occasion, using the Father. gold donated by Catholic miners The dogma of the Immaculate in Ballarat in the then colony of Conception was defined at an Victoria.

Our Lady showed her gratitude opportune time. Nineteenth century men and women had for the definition of the Dogma of become over-optimistic, believ- the Immaculate Conception ing that they could gain perfec- when she appeared to Saint tion by their own unaided efforts. Bernadette at Lourdes, in 1858.

The Church stepped in and When St Bernadette asked Our defined the dogma of the Lady her name, Mary replied: "I Immaculate Conception, which am the Immaculate Conception."

It was only on the third occataught that human nature had been wounded by original sin, sion on which St Bernadette had and that only one person, Our asked Mary her name that Our Lady, had been conceived Lady had replied: "I am the immaculate, and even this was Immaculate Conception."

When St Bernadette told her by virtue of a special privilege parish priest, Father Peyramale from God. Efforts to have the dogma of the what Our Lady had said, she Immaculate Conception defined asked him what the expression had gone on for centuries, with "the Immaculate Conception," the Franciscans being in the thick meant.

Fr Peyramale had hitherto of the battle.

However, it was Our Lady's accused Bernadette of lying, but apparitions to a Daughter of her question made him rethink Charity. Saint Catherine Labowv, his position, as he reflected that in her convent in the Rue du Bac when people tell lies, they use in Paris. during the 1830s when words they know, not words they she revealed the Miraculous cannot understand.

Fr Peyramale had also stipulatMedal, which prepared the hearts and minds of the faithful ed that before he would build the chapel which Bernadette had for the definition of the dogma.

One side of the medal showed said that Our Lady had requestOur Lady as she appeared to St ed. the Lady had to show that she was entitled to the name by Catherine.

Around the edge of the medal which she identified herself. was written the invocation: "0 This Our Lady did through the Mary, conceived without sin, many miracles which occurred pray for us who have recourse to when the sick were bathed in the thee." water from the miraculous The reverse side of the medal spring which Mary had pointed had the letter M surmounted by out to Bernadette. The miracles a cross, and below the M were of Lourdes may therefore be the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. seen as a divine confirmation of When St Catherine Laboure the dogma of the Immaculate asked Our Lady whether there Conception. was to be an inscription on the Therefore, the Feast of the reverse side. Our Lady replied Immaculate Conception should that the M and the two hearts say be a time when we thank Our enough.

Lady for her wonderful gifts of Despite difficulties and delays, the Miraculous Medal and the the Medal of the Immaculate miraculous water of Lourdes.

Conception was eventually May it also be a time when we struck and distributed as Our resolve to say often and lovingly Lady had requested. So many the indulgenced prayer on the miracles were obtained through Miraculous Medal: "0 Mary conwearing the medal that it became ceived without sin pray for us the who have recourse to thee." popularly known as Miraculous Medal.

Mother's simple, indomitable faith leads to sight for her baby OTTAWA (CNS) - This Sunday, pursue intervention at the miraca 49-year-old man who works for ulous shrine at Cap-de-lathe Royal Canadian Mounted Madeleine, near Quebec City.

Police will be able to call himself Since the family was too poor to a saint-maker. afford the trip from Hull to Roland Rodier is one of three Quebec City, Mrs Radler went people miraculously cured of an door-to-door looking for donaailment through the intervention tions. of Blessed Charles Eugene de During this exercise, a police Mazenod. officer stopped the determined This Sunday, Pope John Paul II mother, who was carrying little will proclaim Blessed de Roland in her arms, and arrested Mazenod, who founded the her for panhandling.

Missionary Oblates of Mary At the police station, the chief Immaculate, a saint. did not believe Mrs Rodier's Mr Rodier's miracle occurred story.

48 years ago when he was a 14"He took out his cigarette month-old toddler living in Hull, lighter and flashed into my eyes," Quebec, across the river from Mr Rodier said from his home in Ottawa.

Ottawa, where he now lives.

On June 28, 194Z while rocking "WhenI didn't look at the fire, he in his baby carriage in the back- believed my mother and told her yard of his home, the carriage that if another officer stopped Fremantle parish priest and Oblate of Mary Immaculate, Father John Hannah, plunged into an 8-foot-deep hole her, he was to call that chief left, about to depart for the canonisation of Eugene de Mazenod at Perth International Airport last Sunday week with other Perth pilgrims heading for In the neighbour's back yard. directly."

When Roland was rushed to Mrs Rodier and her sightless the Vatican ceremony Mrs Olga Yaksich, Oblate Fr Peter Daly, rector of the hospital, doctors told his son finally made the trip to the Mazenod College, and Peter Leiba. mother, Ida, that he had suffered Quebec shrine, where Oblate Rodier said. When the two not bother to check on her potentwo fractures to his skull. Seven Father Dollard Francoeur gave returned to Hull, Mrs Rodier fol- tial miracle. eye specialists told Mrs Rodier her pictures of Mary and Blessed lowed Fr Francoeur's instruc"She sat me on my sister's lap her son would never see again. de Mazenod. tions. and was going to give me a Undaunted by the medical "He told my mother to put them The next morning when baby spoonful of my medication," Mr diagnosis, Mrs Rodier decided to on my eyes when I slept," Mr Roland awoke, his mother did Rodier said. "But I opened my

mouth as soon as I saw the spoon."

Mrs Rodier could not believe her eyes. Mr Rodier's sister - 24 years his senior - insisted her baby brother was simply accustomed to the spoon.

But the next day, when Mrs Rodier was about to give her son his formula bottle, he reached for it.

"My God,' my mother started screaming, 'It's a miracle, it's a miracle,- he said.

According to the Church, it was a miracle, and 20 years ago, Mr Rodier and his mother - who died nine years later - were invited to travel to Rome to attend Blessed de Mazenod's beatification.

Mr Rodier's miraculous cure was one of three attributed to Blessed de Mazenod and required for his canonisation.

The first involved David Courtoreille of Fort Vermilion, Alberta, who was mysteriously cured of tuberculosis when he was nine. The third and most recent case involved a Mexican man suffering from liver cancer In 1987

The Record, November 30, 1995

9

Book Reviews

The strength and weakness of reflections Responding in Love: reflections for Sunday readings - Years A: B: C, Anthony Dean CM, St Paul's: Homebush, NSW 1995. 232pp, imp $19.95 Liturgical Gestures, Words, Objects: a collection edited by Eleanor Bernstein CSJ taken from Assembly, a publication of the Notre Dame Centre for Pastoral Liturgy.

1995. rrp $15.00 Reviewed by Fr Russell Hardiman ecent years have seen a plethora of R aterials on homiletics and preaching from the lectionary originating in

many countries.

It is encouraging now to see material also being published in Australia by Australian scholars. As I look around my bookshelves I see the excellent commentaries by Fr. Frank Maloney SDB called "This is the Gospel of the Lord' and the prayer starters by Fr John Reilly SJ called Praying Mark and so on, as well as the major study by Bishop Geoffrey Robinson 'A change of mind and heart: the Good News according to Mark In the broader ecumenical context the Rev Peta Sherlock has continued her series of commentaries for the Revised Common Lectionary which were published in the national Australian newspaper, Church Scene.

Published as Inside the Sunday Gospels: New Commentaries for the Year of Matthew Year A (E. J. Dwyer. Sydney 1995) they read like the popular commentary intended for a church newspaper, conscious of applying the readings to everyday life rather than giving details of exegetical background that explains the context of the readings.

Much earlier (1984) Fr Max Barrett CSsR well known for his writings in the Redemptorist Sunday Bulletin had published a collection called Savouring God 's Word: Reflections on the Sunday Scriptures (Majellan Press: Melbourne).

What these publications reflect is a concern for the importance of preaching. After all Sunday Mass is the main interface with the Church for the vast majority of people. In fact more people go to Church on Sunday than to the weekend football but the proportion of publicity given to the two would never indicate this. What is the universal truth is that there is a great need for formation in faith, on the other hand the consumers keep saying that it is very hard to find good preaching and good preachers.

One of the problems is the meaning of the word 'homily'. Way back in 1969 when the Vatican II lectionary was published we were faced with a new word, homily, to describe a new function that was very different from the previous models of preaching.

Earlier the pattern had been for sermon topics to be assigned by the Bishop, completely independently of the readings, or another pattern had been to choose a sermon topic introduced by a scriptural quote, again which could be totally independent of the readings.

We are still struggling with the scriptural awareness that is a prerequisite to use our lectionary readings properly. This is where books like this one can help.

A good explanation of the function of a homily comes from the USA Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy. Their document of 1982 Fulfilled in Your Hearing, which grew out of their concern for the quality of preaching, describes: '. . .The function of the Eucharistic homily is to enable people to lift up their hearts, to praise and thank the Lord for his presence in their lives. It will do this more effectively if the language is specific, graphic and imaginative.

The more we can turn to the picture lan-

10 The Record, November 30, 1995

guage of the poet and the storyteller, the more we will be able to preach in a way that invites people to respond from the heart as well as from the mind."

The first book under review originated as a series of commentaries on the lectionary readings for Sundays and major Feast Days published in the weekly bulletin sheet, The Saving Word published

by St Paul's. Interestingly the series published by Frank Moloney also began in the same form but at least in his published edition he wrote a major essay on the style and spirit of the individual evangelists we read with each lectionary cycle.

For many things their strength is also their inherent weakness. The fixed formula for writing for the bulletin demands an economy of language limited by the available space.

This has meant the author has deliberately chosen never to mention the New Testament readings or the Responsorial Psalm in his commentary. One obvious result of this is that we never have reference to the lived experience of one Christian community which is a bridge to the worshipping community present.

Reducing his comments to the Gospel and Old Testament passages the author has presented them in their chronological order with the Old Testament first which precludes any opportunity to highlight the Gospel as the dominant motif of the Word for that day.

The work often suffers in this juxtaposition because the historical introduction explaining the sense of the Old Testament reading becomes the first statement encountered by the reader, who could finish with the impression that its main purpose is to teach ancient history. reprinted in Pastoral Liturgy some of the non-Catholics a questioner asked 'why do While it is certainly important to know meditations and reflections in this book Catholics scratch themselves when they the background for a particular text the and found many readers responded. stand up? '.Amidst the suppressed laughgoal of proclaiming the word is to see that Over the same period I have used them ter a few further questions made it clear the same God is active and present with at retreats, in class and in presentations that what she was really asking was an this community as in the past. The lack of with similar responses. Hence it was a explanation of the threefold signing of the reference to the New Testament readings sense of great personal enthusiasm to find cross on the forehead, the lips and the limits the likelihood of showing how that out that the Notre Dame Centre for hearts when they stand up for the Gospel. awareness of Biblical theology so promi- Pastoral Liturgy (Indiana: USA) had After explaining it was a prayer for opennent in the Epistles is now shared in this reprinted this collection as a commemo- ness that the Word of God be on our generation of God's people. ration of their twenty five years of service mind, on our lips and on our heart her The introduction to the lectionary as a public tribute to their late Director, Dr riposte to that was ' well it doesn't look as reminds us: 'When in celebrating the litur- Mark Searle, the author of many of the If most Catholics mean it that way!' I gy the Church proclaims the Old and the reflections. agreed then and I still do that her obserNew Testament, it is proclaiming one and Nowadays, Ills common to speak of the vation is valid. the same mystery of Christ. The New bipolar nature of the brain and the conseIt is possible to give a historical explaTestament lies hidden in the Old; the Old quence for how individuals may differ in nation as to the origins of where a custom Testament comes fully to light in the New. how they both are impacted by, or express originated, but not everybody is touched Christ himself the centre and fullness of information. by the logical rationale. A more imaginaall of Scripture, as he is of the entire liturBriefly it means that the person dominat- tive symbolic encounter may enable peogy. ed by the left hemisphere of the brain ple to enter into the multiple levels of The positive challenge of a work such as works best with a sense of logic, deduc- meaning at their own level and to continthis is in the realisation of our own need to tion, rational calculation and verbal com- ue to deepen and grow in their awareness. do the necessary prayerful preparation for munication of ideas. The right hemi- This book is an admirable invitation to presenting the Word of God whether as sphere orientation means the person is people to grow in this way.

Sunday worshippers, readers or homilists. more influenced by the imagination, the Where everybody is pushing the perfect There can be many contexts where a colourful, the emotional, and feeling. gift for Christmas at this time, here is an structured form of breaking open the By and large most of our liturgy is a very example that truly could be the Grace of Word would be facilitated by the use of cerebral function with a strong emphasis Christ now and many times into the such a book as this. These could include on the purely verbal, the rational and future. reflection groups, personal meditation, strong emphasis on preaching with a formation of RCIA candidates as well as strong intellectual element. preparation for actual ministry of proclaYet, many parishioners will be more mation by a reader or homilist. impacted upon by the flower display in the foyer than anything else.

Personally speakingIknow how difficult JI/tet'ilex; it has been to move beyond the purely historical and intellectual basis of my traditional formation to realise that the vast majority of people do not operate in those ome readers will find the second book terms but bring to worship an emotional under review useful for their needs feeling state. but they need to be aware that there are This excellent little book is a long many similar works available which may due antidote for this dichotomy. It is overbe more immediately pastoral for their poemettes, reflections, meditationsfull of and situation Intriguing graphics that help open up the Occasionally one comes across some symbolic richness of our liturgical gesmaterial that immediately strikes a chord tures, words, and objects. of resonance. Over fifteen years ago I Some years ago at an inquiry night for

Excellent little book a long overdue antidote

S

WORDS OBJECTS

Features

No-o e has ordination right The issue of the ordination of women is one of the most vexed questions in modern Christianity. The Vatican ruling two weeks ago that Pope John Paul H spoke infallibly about a matter that was part of the deposit of faith when he restated in 1994 Church teaching on the inadmissability of ordination of women would inevitably have caused dismay and frustration among those arguing for women's ordination. Dunsborough writer, Kathleen Wood, earlier this year sought to explain this infallible teaching to help the perplexed see the truth of this Church teaching. he Sacred Congregation for the T Doctrine of the Faith issued the document Inter Insigniores as far back as 15th

October, 1976 stating that the ordination of women to the priesthood could not be considered due to the undeviating tradition of the Catholic Church which "in Ludmilla Javorova, a Czech woman who says fidelity to the example of the Lord, does she was ordained a Roman Catholic priest 25 not consider herself authorised to admit years ago under Communist rule that drove the Church underground. A Vatican spokesman has women to priestly ordination".

It was carefully stated that the integral said Ms Javorova is not a priest as any attempt part played by women in the growth, at ordination would have been invalid as she is nourishment and consolidation of the a woman.

Church is fully recognised, but that nevertheless, the Church does not have the together with their relation to one another, power to go against the Lord's own exam- their priests and their Church.

Scripture bears witness to the fact that ple in choosing only men as apostles.

Pope John Paul II has stated that he too, Jesus did not call any woman to be an is subject to authority. On May 22, 1994 apostle. Feminist argument is that this he issued the Apostolic Letter Ordinatio practice was conditioned by the culture of sacerdotalis, confirming that Christ's the time, wherein it would have been example and the Church's constant and impossible for Him to have acted otheruniversal tradition have determined that wise.

However, feminists are strangely silent ordination to the priesthood is for men alone. Therefore the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women. This judgement is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful.

In spite of the Pope having spoken, the rumblings on the ordination of women continue, and this article hopes to shed light on any misunderstanding or confu- on the quite impossible thought that had Jesus become incarnate as woman, "she" sion which may exist in people's minds.

The initial reaction to Ordinatio sacerdo- (because of the culture of the day) would tal& by those seeking change, was shock never have faced the extreme penalty of and dismay, because their perception of crucifixion, because this terrible fate was the document was that the issues of "jus- reserved for men!

To question and to object to the gender tice and equality" currently pursued in secular society, continue to be disregarded of the Incarnation of the Word in Jesus (as by the Church in the ongoing exclusion of some feminists do) is to place the limits of human thinking upon God. women from the priesthood.

Scripture also shows that Jesus clearly To become preoccupied with "rights" is misleading, since the Church has always broke with cultural prejudices many laid great stress on the equal dignity of times, by overriding discrimination men and women in terms of faithfulness against women.

He obviously did not overlook the and devotion.

Much current thought suggests that 2000 appointment of women as apostles in years of priesthood which has been limit- order to remain within the law of the land, ed to men only, ought now be altered to but rather to demonstrate acceptance and bring the Church into line with "enlight- adherence to God's salvific plan for His ened" thinking of the present day. Any Church, wherein the physical and spirituunderstanding of why fidelity to uninter- al differences in the nature of men and rupted tradition remains part of the women are of prime importance.

The concept of the natural order of the Church's structure and of its sacramental sexes ought not to be overlooked. Man character, appears to be lacking.

However, it should be said that uninter- and woman are created by God to live in rupted tradition can be challenged, as it complementarity with each other, but not has been in the past, but whenever a necessarily to assume the same roles.

Church tradition concerns vital elements Within the Church, as with society at (such as Eucharist and the ministerial large, not all that is possible is permissipriesthood required to celebrate it) and ble.

The spiritual truths set out in Genesis 1, when that tradition has remained unbroken despite questioning, discussion and 2 and 3 reveal God's purpose for the challenge, then it is regarded as highly sig- human race. Genesis 1 culminates in the nificant, in fact it becomes an authentic creation of humankind where men and women are fundamentally equal before tradition.

Christ has promised to be with His God, yet different. God blessed them; male Church until the end of time, and has and female, telling them to be fruitful and guaranteed the abiding presence of the multiply. Hence, sexual differentiation is Holy Spirit to lead the Church into all part of God's original purpose.

Genesis 2 reaches its climax in the cretruth. Therefore, every authentic church tradition asserts the guidance of Christ ation of woman from the rib of man. This and the Holy Spirit, and thus may not be does not imply subordination any more than creation of man from the earth tampered with.

Representatives of feminine theology implies subordination.

Rib indicates the sameness of nature maintain that the language of God the Father and the Son prevents a genuine between man and woman. Man is to self-understanding of woman, and also cleave to his wife, therefore the idea of a suggests and promotes a divine and eccle- committed and complementary personal sial situation which excludes women as relationship is established.

Genesis 3 portrays human sin in an act complete human beings and christians.

They argue such a misunderstanding must of disobedience against divine intention, be totally erased, and a reappraisal and resulting in disharmony.

Nevertheless, the chapter ends on a note reaffirmation of the roles of both lay men and women in the Church be addressed, of grace. Humankind is not saved from

masculinity or femininity, but within one ation and her own nature. or the other gender. Man and woman canThis does not deny her any opportunity to not repent about being male or female, employ her abilities and qualities to their but may only repent of the way in which fullest potential within the Church. their lives are lived.

Women are now making inroads into deciSt Paul took up, and continued the sion making and areas of lay ministry withexceptional behaviour of Jesus toward in their own right, bringing with them their women, stressing what had now become own very special gifts and talents, which the new in Christianity, as opposed to the are, and always have been, indispensable.

The only acts both men and women of old in Judaism.

Galatians 3:28 speaks of there being no the laity may not perform are Absolution. difference between Jew and Greek. slave Blessing and Consecration. These belong and free; male and female, for you are all to the sacramental nature of the priesthood, while the laity exercise other ministries in one in Jesus Christ.

This passage refers specifically to bap- the calling and privilege of being cluistian.

An objection often heard, is that if a tism, and is not to be misconstrued to accommodate debate on the ordination of woman cannot represent Jesus because He was male, Jewish and wore a beard, neither women.

Galatians is complemented by Col- then can a clean-shaven, non-Jewish male ossians 3:11 where again the emphasis is represent Him. This completely misses the point. Man not on equality in terms of race, status or and woman can both represent Christ, but gender, but of being one in Christ.

Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 reflect a woman cannot be the sacramental image St Paul's insistence on the Lord's sovereign of Christ in the Eucharist.

In the celebration of the Eucharist. the freedom in the distribution of charismatic priest makes present to us, through the gifts.

It is what Christ wants and decrees that power of the Holy Spirit, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. whose matters. real presence with us during this time All charismatic gifts are purely gratuitous and come from God. No one has any remains male.

"Not so", is the cry of feminists, "the Risen claim or right to be apostle, prophet, Christ represents all of humanity in the preacher, teacher, etc.

Eucharist, where human differences and The feminine character of the Church divisions are transcended". Of course the has been as deeply formed in tradition as Risen Christ represents all, but in so doing, has the privilege of the apostolic office to He remains male and has not become the male. androgynous in the process of glorification.

In the supreme function of the priest in When the priest says "This is my Body: celebrating the Eucharist, within the sym- this is my Blood." the memory of Christ's bolism and in the economy of faith, Jesus paschal sacrifice is renewed sacramentally Christ and the celebrating priest meet. in our midst, thus placing His offering in the hands of the Church by the priest who acts in the person of Christ. i.e.. as His image. as authorised by the Church through the ages.

Priesthood is certainly not about justice and equal rights within the Church.

No-one has a right to be ordained. Many men are turned away.

Thus, the theological grounds for the Jesus overcame sin by His faithfulness to restriction of the priesthood to men are God. with Calvary as the supreme expresbased on the teaching of the Church; that sion of that faithfulness. the priest acts in the person of Christ. and Christianity has been given by God and as such. represents Christ as the Incarnate received by His people in faith. Truth Word who was indisputably male, for rea- remains eternal, and holiness is the result sons of God's choosing. of faithfulness to oneself and to Jesus A woman is unable to image the male- Christ. ness of Christ. In fact, to impose a male God is beyond our human comprehenform of ministry on woman is to fail to sion, and remains unattainable by intellecrespect her specific God-given sexuality, tual exercise. He is eternal mystery, yet her dignity and her special gift of feminini- revealed through Christ, once and for all. tY. The natural roles of men and women are Bibliography: not interchangeable. A man cannot be a Apostolic Letter of John Paul II Ordinatio sacmother. He may act with an equally nur- erdotalis (On Reserving Priestly Ordination to turing ability of love and compassion but Men Alone). St Paul's Press, Homebush, NSW he cannot be mother. Men and women 1994.

Ashley. Benedict M. (1993). -Gender and the have received their particular sexuality from God, regardless of the way in which Priesthood of Christ: A Theological Reflection".

The Thomist Vol 5Z No 3. pp 343-379. The history records the cultural subordination Dominican Fathers, Washington, DC. of women, and in fact the oppression of Bouyer, Louis (1984), Woman in the Church. both men and women in many instances.

Ignatius Press, San Francisco.

Catholics know that woman was the privCullinane, P J. (1994), "A Pastoral Theological ileged place through whom Jesus Christ Reflection on Pope John Paul II's Apostolic was received into the world. Mary's "Yes" Letter concerning Ordination to the was the answer to God long before any Priesthood". The Australasian Catholic Record. apostolic role came into existence, and sig- bed. Four, pp 485-47.

Declaration Inter Insigniores (On the nified not only the sanctity in her physical maternity, but in the (total acceptance of her Admission of Women to the Ministerial Priesthood) of Vatican Congregation for the calling.

Doctrine of the Faith, 15th October, 1976 It has been aptly said that in this supreme Hauke, Manfred. (1988), in the act of divine intervention into the human Priesthood? Ignatius Press, SanWomen Francisco. condition, God called upon a woman's conMoll, Helmut (1988), `Faithful to Her Lord's sent, and dispensed with the male alto- Example" in Moll, H (Ed) The Church and gether! Nevertheless, Mary's "Yes" did not Women: A Compendium. Ignatius Press. San make her eligible to become one of the Francisco.

Ratzinger. Joseph. (1994), "The Limits of apostles.

She is traditionally hailed by the Church Church Authority" in L'Osservatore Romano, as Queen of the Apostles, this title elo- N26, pp 6-8.

Von Balthasar, Han Urs. (1988), "How Weighty quently stating Mary's role in Cluistianity as both prior, and superior to that of the Is the Argument from 'Uninterrupted lladition' to justify the Male Priesthood?" in Moll, H (FA), office-bearing apostles. he Church and Women: A Compendium.

The status of a Christian springs from dis- ITgnatius Press, San Francisco. cipleship and holiness, hence "it is not the office bearers who are the great figures of Kathleen Wood is an Honours Graduate in the Church, but the saints".

Music from the University of Western Australia.

Mary not only gave Christ to the world, She holds a Licentiate from Trinity College of but she also surpassed all others in the per- Music. London: an AAlusA for pipe-organ perfection of her discipleship, and in her full- forrnance. and was the first person in Western Australia to attain the Archbishop of ness of grace from the Holy Spirit.

Certificate in Church Music With Mary as model, the role of woman Canterbury's She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a douwithin the Church is surely one of freedom ble major in Sociology and Geography from and response, true fulfilment stemming Curtin University. She is at present completing from the acceptance of the order of cre- a degree in Theology with Murdoch University

Christian status springs from discipleship and holiness, not holding an office

The Record, November 30, 1995

11

International News

(Marian devotion on Page 9 this issue)

Indian converts launch 'last ditch stand' for rights

Mother Teresa of Calcutta - praise and criticism

L

NEW DELHI (CNS) - Mother low-caste groups. It was organTeresa of Calcutta drew praise ised by the National and some criticism when she Coordination Committee for participated in a prayer meeting Dalit Christians and attended by for low-caste Christians who leaders of various Church groups were kicking off a protest for gov- and Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist ernment benefits. representatives.

The editor of a major Indian Christians have pressed for newspaper called the nun's part equal benefits since a 1950 presin the event regrettable, accord- idential order gave only Hindu, ing to report by UCA News, an Sikh and Buddhist dalits free Asia Church news agency based education, government jobs and In Thailand. parliament and assembly seats to But members of low-caste help improve their condition. groups, known as "dalit," praised These benefits are denied the founder of the Missionaries Christians because in the governof Charity for her support. ment's view Christianity has no The November 18 prayer meet- castes, but society still sees the ing held in front of the New Delhi dalits who have converted as cathedral launched a 13-day fast belonging to castes. in what some called "a last-ditch Church groups wanted the govbattle" to force the Indian gov- ernment to introduce a bill in the ernment to extend statutory ben- winter session of parliament to efits to Christian converts from include such benefits. "This is

Pope applauds Bosnian peace agreement

By Cindy Wooden VAI'ICAN CITY (CNS) - With a blessing for the negotiators and a call for generous international aid for rebuilding BosniaHerzegovina, Pope John Paul II welcomed the Dayton agreements for peace in the Balkans.

The Vatican audience hall erupted with applause on November 22 when the Pope told visitors that "the long hoped for news of a peace agreement for the martyred BosniaHerzegovina" was announced the day before after three weeks of negotiations in Dayton. Ohio.

US President Bill Clinton announced in Washington on November 21 that the presidents of Bosnia. Croatia and Serbia reached an agreement to end 43 months of fighting.

"At this meaningful moment for those populations and for the history of Europe, I want to send to all those involved in the difficult negotiations my fervent congratulations for the perseverance shown in reaching the agreement," the Pope said at the end of his general audience.

"May God bless the peacemakers whom Jesus himself called 'children of God,— he said.

"We thank God for what was accomplished, but there remains a pressing need for prayers so that all those involved in this long process ... have the necessary will and strength to see it to the end," the Pope said. He said

Serbian President Slobodan Mrlosevic, left, Bosnian President Alija lzetbegovic and Croatian President Frani° Tudjman sign the initial peace accord calling for settlement (CNS photo from Reuters)

he was -thinking especially of the numerous victims of the conflict: refugees. the displaced and others."

While the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to be a sovereign state within its present borders, the agreement calls for the creation of two separate internal entities - a MuslimCroat federation controlling 51 percent of the territory and a Serbian republic controlling the other 49 percent.

Each entity will have its own legislative assemblies, in addition to participating in a two-

house parliament for all of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Both sides have agreed to move their forces within established cease-fire lines within one month and all heavy weapons are to be brought to the respective armies' barracks within two months of the treaty signing.

"Again today I renew an appeal to the international community to give generous support for the material, social and spiritual reconstruction of the cities and villages destroyed during the conflict," Pope John Paul said at his audience.

the first time Mother Teresa has joined a protest meeting," said Father Lourduswamy, secretary of the Indian bishops' conference commission that deals with lowcaste and tribal issues.

"It is hoped that a person of Mother Teresa's stature is not reduced to the level of myopic politicians," wrote Chandan Mitra, executive editor of the Hindustan Times. He called it regrettable to have the presence of a "revered beacon of faith" at a sit-in for a sectarian cause.

Mother Teresa's five-minute prayer did not mention dalit Christians or their demands.

"In this beautiful country, let there be no separation or division: let there be peace and unity." she prayed. She urged the government not to discriminate on the basis of caste or religion.

Mother Teresa said "no suffering and discrimination" should exist in the country But Mitra said her message of unity "didn't fit too well" in the context of the meeting because the matter of benefits for Christian converts is "a highly debatable issue."

Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi, a convener of the meeting, said he found Mitra's views "baseless and biased."

He said Mother Teresa's participation was aimed at upholding social justice and equality which the Indian Constitution guarantees to all its citizens. He said the Church organised the fast and other protests because dalit Christians don't believe government promises and are prepared to "go to any length" to get statutory benefits.

Four walls do not a Vatican safe make

By John Travis VATICAN CITY (CNS) - It is surrounded by walls 10 feet thick and guarded by two sets of police. But lately, Vatican City seems as porous as Swiss cheese.

The booty has been bountiful: Paintings, cash. Greek vases, medieval manuscripts and portable computers have all disappeared over recent months.

Equally embarrassing is that several congregations have been hit - including that bastion of confidentiality, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. .

In May, two other congregations - for bishops and sacraments were plundered. Six paintings were cut from their frames, and valuables were removed from desk drawers. Thieves also broke into the Vatican press office.

The Vatican Museums were a target last year. when four Greek vases worth millions of dollars were stolen from a display case.

Three were recovered months later by Italian police investigating the lucrative art underworld In Rome.

The rash of break-ins has surprised outsiders, who consider the Vatican a kind of modern-day fortress.

But the Vatican is far from hermetically sealed. Perhaps the most notorious episode of pilfering was discovered this year at the Vatican Library, where several rare medieval manuscript pages were cut out, apparently by a visiting US scholar.

Most robberies are quiet jobs.

One of the more infamous occurred in the 1970s when Pope Paul VI's apartment was ransacked for medals and other items. Police eventually caught the culprits - Italian telephone company employees who had been installing new lines.

Patrolling Vatican City's warren of offices and historic chambers

and chapels is not easy but it's even harder when the offices spill into Italian territory. St. Peter's Square is itself an open area that reaches right under Pope John Paul ll's apartment building. When the facade was restored this summer, workmen were careful to dismantle the lower section of scaffolding at the end of each day to make sure the local "topi" - thievish "mice" could not use it to enter the papal offices.

Scaffolding was the key to this year's biggest heist. Fourteen Renaissance paintings were stolen in mid-October from the Vatican's Cancelleria Palace, a huge complex in Rome that is home to several curial departments. The take included works

by Giovanni Bellini and Sebastian° del Piombo.

The burglars. according to one newspaper account, were true "state-of-the-art mice." Dressed as workmen, they neutralised a sophisticated alarm system first, then reached the office windows via the scaffolding and used a diamond-tipped cutter to remove a section of glass. Some of the paintings were reportedly cut from their frames with a surgical scalpel.

But five days later, the paintings were back, thanks to what the Vatican gratefully termed a "brilliant" operation by Italian police.

They came up with the paintings in a Rome suburb, although the criminals escaped. In fact, police found an extra painting, which no one immediately claimed.

One of the Vatican's highest officials, Archbishop Giovanni Battista Re, toasted the police and took the occasion to remind all Italians that they "need honesty and order, in order to have a serene social life that is based on mutual respect."

A little less scaffolding wouldn't hurt, either.

Monk stars refuse to let misuse of their chant disturb their beat

By Jeff Sellers

MADRID, Spain (CNS) - Spanish Benedictine monks are refusing to let unholy use of Gregorian chant, which they helped popularise through top-selling compact discs, discourage them from releasing new albums.

Growing misuse of the prayer-inspired, 1,500-year-old music in nightclubs, revelLry and the popular media cannot be stopped, said Benedictine Father Jose Luis Angulo, choirmaster of the monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos in central-northern 12

The Record, November 30, 1995

Spain. But that is no reason to deprive the rest of the world, he said.

"It is understandable that people will misuse the music, because it can take you out of yourself and lead toward a state of ecstasy, peace and tranquillity," he said.

Father Angulo said that he has heard rumours of Gregorian chant being used in pornographic ffims. He was given a video tape of the pop group, Enigma, in which the music is included while a sexual act is represented.

"We are not the monks singing on the tape," he said. "It could be any one of

many recordings of Gregorian chant that are misused because of their transcendence."

The monks' first double compact disc of chant, "Canto Gregoriano," has sold more than 4 million copies since appearing in 1993, said David Hughes, director of EMI Records-UK in London.

Originally, the compact disc was not targeted for sales outside Spain, said Hughes.

"I don't think that anybody could have hazarded a guess as to the success it was going to achieve," he added. "The attention that other counties paid to it was a

direct result of the success it had in Spain." Three months after its release in Spain it hit the US market, and within another three months US sales topped those of Spain, said Hughes.

The monks released a new album in October, "Ave Maria: Cantos a la Virgin," under the Jade label.

Jade, which specialises in religious recordings, also has produced another album with the Silo monks and has contracted for two more, scheduled for 1996 release during Holy Week and Christmas, said Father Angulo.

International Features

Mexico's Tull-scale' depression hits poor first

By Mike Tangeman MEXICO CITY (CNS) - When 24-yearold Erick Ortega Sanchez was picked up by police inside Mexico City's Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the first Monday in November, he didn't have a prayer.

According to police reports, the young man was nabbed by plainclothes cops as he was feigning worship inside the basilica, where he had fled after being fingered by two individuals as the assailant who had robbed them at gunpoint as they left Mexico's foremost Marian shrine.

What the two victims did not know, and what Ortega reportedly confessed to the plainclothes police that arrested him, was that the pistol he used in those and other robberies was a toy plastic gun and that the crimes were driven by need.

In fact, Ortega said his practice of robbing pilgrims with a toy pistol had actually begun out of desperation in January, when he could not find work. His personal economic crisis followed Mexico's plunge into an unexpected national economic crisis as a result of the government's botched devaluation of the peso in December 1994.

While Ortega's story may be unique, it does point to the reality of a spiral of desperation felt by poor and working

Mexicans, who have been most affected by the economic downturn - and who are perhaps the most devoted worshippers at the shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint and "Empress of the Americas."

Mexicans of all classes have been inundated with a flood of economic statistics in the media in recent weeks, with the government putting the predictable spin on the figures to show that the worst is over and its detractors attempting to show that the worst is yet to come.

Whichever spin each Mexican chooses to believe, the depth of the recession is astonishing, considering that not long ago Mexico was expected to join the "first world" via the January 1994 implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Consider this: • Mexico's gross domestic product, or GDP, the most commonly used measure of economic output, contracted by an average 10 percent during both the second and third quarters this year. That was the worst drop in GDP in 50 years and prompted some economists to pronounce the downturn a full-blown "depression."

• Estimates of the number of Mexicans laid off this year as a result of the economic crisis have surpassed 2 million.

Another 1 million youths were unable to enter the work force at entry-level jobs -

that's 3.3 percent of the 90 million population left jobless by the 12-month-old crisis.

• Inflation has already galloped past the government's 42-percent yearly projection, wage levels lag far behind price increases and the poor get hit the hardest The cost of basic food staples alone rose by 2.21 percent in the first two weeks of November, outpacing the overall fortnightly hike in inflation of 1.38 percent.

The tandem blows of rising unemployment and price hikes has led to unprecedented high crime rates, particularly in the capital, Mexico City.

Matching the alarming spike in crime statistics is a plethora of anecdotal accounts of friends being robbed while riding public transport, handbags being snatched on the city's main thoroughfare, Reforma Avenue, and cars being stolen while parked in garages.

For the first time in modern history, potential murder victims are safer in New York than in Mexico City The per capita murder rate in the Big Apple of one per every 40,000 inhabitants during the first four months of 1995 seemed reassuring next to the figure of one murder for every 25,000 residents of the Big Enchilada.

Those who do not turn to crime to survive most often are driven by necessity to enter what Is known here as the "informal sector" of the economy.

Hawking everything one can imagine on street corners, or wiping windshields with makeshift squeegees at red lights, or setting up portable vending stalls before being chased away by police, the workers of the "informal" economy make ends meet by buying cheap, selling for as much as they can get and never paying taxes.

Around the Guadalupe basilica, the ranks of the street vendors of religious goods have swollen in recent months.

Buyers are not as numerous as they once might have been, but those pilgrims who have some spare change can purchase everything from statues of their favourite saint, to holy cards and religious medals all at bargain-basement prices. Even here, the law of supply and demand pushes prices ever downward as a growing number of vendors compete for sales to a dwindling clientele.

Mexico's Catholic bishops, alarmed over the country's downward spiral in recent months, have criticised what they see as the failed market-oriented economic policies of the government.

But, challenged by President Ernesto Zedillo to offer an alternative economic model or hold their peace, the bishops have toned down their criticisms.

Archbishop Sergio Obese Rivera of Jalapa, president of the bishops' conference, recently said that "we are not economists or experts in industry and finance."

Cliffhanger Irish vote ends 58 year ba

By Patrick Nolan DUBLIN. Ireland (CNS) - The narrow vote for legalising divorce in Ireland will spur the Catholic Church to improve its marriage and family life programs. said a spokesman for Ireland's bishops.

The closeness of the vote "indicates that for a great number of people, the choice was a very difficult one," said Bishop Thomas Flynn of Achonry, conference spokesman.

Meanwhile, one anti-divorce group said it planned to challenge the legality of the referendum based on the closeness of the vote and a Supreme Court decision that the government was not authorised to spend public funds to support a "yes" vote in the referendum.

By only a 9,124-vote majority on November 24, voters said they wanted an end to the 58-year-old constitutional ban on divorce.

More than 1.6 million Irish citizens voted in the referendum.

The government already has drafted divorce legislation and hopes to get parliamentary approval for it early next year.

Ireland is the only European country that bars divorce.

The Irish bishops - supported by statements from Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa of Calcutta - strongly opposed legalising divorce, stressing its harmful effect on children.

Now that people have voted "it Is imperative that we, as a society, continue to explore effective ways of supporting marriage and especially couples who find themselves experiencing marital difficulty," said Bishop Flynn.

The bishops pledge to help those involved in marriage breakdowns to ensure that they do not consider themselves as separated from the Church, he said.

Angels who can't see

By Cindy Wooden

Prime Minister John Bruton said that everyone would have to reflect on the anxieties that led to the large vote against divorce and work to strengthen the family.

Richard Greene, leader of the People of Ireland anti-divorce group, said on November 27 that his group would ask the courts to set aside the referendum results and that he may be joined by other anti-divorce groups.

Leaders of those groups said the loss was caused in large part by $800,000 in government-funded, pm-divorce advertisements that the Supreme Court ruled illegal on November 17, a week before the vote.

Bruton withdrew the advertisements after the court verdict.

Supporters of legalised divorce In Ireland cobbles rekreadum results on Divorce opponents also attrib- November 25.

(CMS photo from Reuters) uted their defeat to the support "Our Saviour has shown how to support children whose parfor divorce by all the major political parties and by most of the the nature of the love that unites ents had been divorced. Social a man and woman in marriage, Welfare Minister Proinsias de Influential newspapers.

The vote showed a marked and the good of the children, call Rossa accused the bishops of change in the public attitude for total fidelity on the part of the lying about the consequences of since a 1986 referendum in spouses and an unbreakable divorce.

The bishops are spreading which legalising divorce was unity between them," he said.

The lies and deceit," he once-overwhelming "mythology, supvoted down by 63.5 percent of port for divorce began evaporat- said at a November 20 governthe voters.

However, the 50.3 percent who ing quickly as voting day ment news conference in Dublin.

He said that if the Catholic favoured divorce in the 1995 vote approached. A November 21 poll was a sharp drop from polls ear- showed that 45 percent favoured Church exercised excessive influlier in the year showing 66 per- legalised divorce; 42 percent ence in Ireland, it would be more cent support for legalised opposed it and 13 percent were difficult to secure permanent undecided. peace in Northern Ireland, where divorce.

This marked a 7 percent drop the majority is Protestant.

In the November 24 vote, supAbout 95 percent of Ireland's port for divorce came mainly in support in a little over two from the heavily populated areas weeks and encouraged anti- 3.5 million population professes Catholicism. Many supporters of of Dublin and the eastern divorce campaigners.

Two days before the vote, Peter legalised divorce have said that province of Leinster. Opposition was strongest in small rural con- Scully, manager of the No- the bishops want to impose Divorce Campaign, predicted Catholic teaching on the predomstituencies.

Two days before the vote, the that the pro-divorce effort would inantly Protestant minority in Pope threw his weight behind be heavily defeated.

Ireland. De Rossa was harshly the bid to (I, feat the referendum.

Most of the 13 percent listed as criticised by Archbishop Dermot "I urge everyone to reflect on undecided would vote against Clifford of Cashel. -The accusation of lies and deceit is a very the importance for society of the divorce, he said. indissoluble character of the As pm-divorce feelings slipped. serious one," he said. marriage bond," he told Irish pil- the government heated up its "It is disturbing to rind the mingrims to his November 22 week- support for the referendum. ister resorting to personal abuse ly general audience at the Bruton said on November 19 rather than engaging in reasoned Vatican. that fluidity.; would be provided debate." said the archbishop

ROME (CNS) - A new convent is attracting curiosity in southern Albania because the convent belongs to the Sisters of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a community made up exclusively of blind women.

"They offer their lack of sight. praying that the Lord would give the light of faith to those who are in darkness because they do not know Him," said the secretary of the Little Missionaries of Charity In Rome.

The missionaries were founded In 1915 by Father Luigi Orione: he founded the Sacramentine Sisters for the blind 11 years later as a separate community within the larger women's order.

Members of the Little Missionaries of Charity live with and assist the Sacramentine Sisters in each of their convents in Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Kenya, Italy and Spain.

The Sacramentine Sisters have about 60 members in the seven countries.

Their new house in Elbasan, a city in southern Albania, was officially opened on November 1 with a Mass celebrated by the Vatican's nuncio to Albania.

Priests and religious from other communities founded by Father Orione began working in the area three years ago.

"We think that in a country where Marxist atheism sought to tear souls away from God, the presence of a group of consecrated blind people will help the return to truth and be a precious witness," Sister Maria Anna Atzeni. superior of the little Missionaries of Charity. told Fides news service.

Three Sacramentine Sisters and two Little Missionaries of Ch:Irity are living in the new convent: their only ministr is to tira‘ before the Blessed Sacrair e! and keep the chapel open fir others who want to pray we them.

The Record, November 30, 1995 13

International News

In Brief

Priest protest TOKYO (CNS) - French Father Louis Constant, a veteran missionary in Japan, has taken up protesting his country's Pacific Ocean nuclear tests.

"Sixty percent of French people have protested and the French bishops issued a statement condemning the tests," according to UCA News, a Thailand-based Asia church news agency.

The agency was reporting on a published interview given by the Paris Foreign Mission Society priest to a Japanese bishop.

In a report Bishop Mori quoted Father Constant as saying that while he is ashamed of France because of the nuclear policy. "it is really my love for France that drives me to protest."

400 years of reunion

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) - On the 400th anniversary of its reunion with Rome and in preparation for the new millennium, the Ukrainian Catholic Church must solidify its relations with the Orthodox so the two Churches together can preach the Gospel, Pope John Paul II said.

The Pope met on November 24 with the world's Ukrainian-rite bishops, who were holding a synod in Rome.

"The two great challenges which, in a way, summarise the present season in the Church's life are the new evangelisation and ecumenism. These are closely tied to each other," the Pope told the bishops, led by Cardinal Myroslav Lubachivsky of Lviv, Ukraine.

Especially in Ukraine, which reestablished its independence

after the breakup of the Soviet Union, "dialogue and collaboration with our Orthodox brothers and sisters are important elements in the necessary activity of spreading the Gospel among populations that underwent persistent atheistic propaganda for many years," the Pope said.

Pope John Paul said if the Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox Churches - the traditional faith communities of the majority of Ukrainians - do not work together, they will not be able to overcome the confusion being sown by "Christian and para-Christian sects" that have entered the country in large numbers over the past five years. of The re-evangelisation Ukraine, he said, must concentrate on "proclaiming Christ by guiding people to the rediscovery of their own religious roots with full respect for the freedom of

conscience of each faithful and them," the Pope said. Since the without intentions of prose- 1596 Union of Brest, which brought the Ukrainian Catholic lytism."

When the Ukrainian Catholic conununity back into commuChurch was able to resume oper- nion with the Church of Rome, ating openly after more than 40 the Eastern-rite, or "Greek years of underground existence, Catholics," have suffered misunserious tensions arose between derstanding, persecution and Catholics and Orthodox over even martyrdom, the Pope said. ownership of property and the Many Orthodox leaders saw allegiance of priests and laypeo- the union as a fracturing of ple.

Ukraine's Orthodox community Pope John Paul said the and, especially under Soviet Ukrainian Catholic Church must communism, many Ukrainian promote reconciliation between Catholics accused the Orthodox Catholics and Orthodox wherev- of cooperating with the governer tensions remain. "Such recon- ment in oppressing the Catholic ciliation implies, above all, Church. acceptance and mutual respect."

"The Spirit calls for a greater "Wherever they are found, anywhere in the country and in effort in the conversion of hearts whatever numerical proportion, and of prayer, which will lead to Greek Catholics and Orthodox the necessary purification of the must learn to live together as historic memory" of mistakes by brothers and sisters who have in members of both communities, common more than what divides the Pope said.

Don't compromise on the Millenium no triumph Drugs attacked Gospel: Pope tells Indians MEXICO CITY (CNS) Bishops from nine Catholic dioceses in western Mexico have issued a joint pastoral letter condemning drug trafficking as an "abominable crime" and a "grave sin."

Titled, "Pastoral Counsel Regarding Narcotics Trafficking and Drug Addiction," the document was presented during a November 18 press conference in the western regional capital of Guadalajara, in Jalisco state.

Cardinal Juan Jesus Posadas Ocampo was gunned down by drug traffickers in May 1993.

The 19-page pastoral letter was signed by the bishops of the dioceses of Guadalajara, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Autlan, Colima, San Juan de los Lagos, Tepic, El Nayar and Ciudad Guzman.

Law overturned LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony and the presidents of two Catholic health organisations praised a federal judge's decision overturning much of California's Proposition 187 US District judge Mariana Pfaelzer ruled November 20 that the voter-approved initiative prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving tax-supported benefits conflicts with federal law.

Mexican bishops MEXICO CITY (CNS) Mexican church leaders say they will take a constructive approach to critiquing government economic policy in response to a request from President Ernesto Zedillo.

The new tack follows a private meeting between President Zedillo and bishops in Los Pinos, the presidential residence.

Archbishop Sergio Obeso Rivera of Jalapa, president of the Mexican bishops' conference, said that the bishops decided an approach is needed that "stimulates us to move forward," rather than focusing on "prophetic denunciation."

But they also said it does not signal a departure from their disapproval of unchecked capitalism.

14

By Tracy Early

By John Travis VAI'ICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope John Paul II encouraged India's small Catholic minority to evangelise with enthusiasm and courage and avoid a watereddown presentation of the Gospel.

Addressing a group of Indian bishops on November 25, the Pope urged them to ensure that the faith is presented in all its clarity, inside and outside the Church.

He said the bishops should guard against "teachings which minimise the universal destination of the Gospel, by playing down the uniqueness of the revelation which culminated in the new and everlasting covenant established by the blood of Christ."

Christ is the one redeemer of all mankind, he said.

"No one, therefore, can enter into communion with God except through Christ," he said.

Pope John Paul II

Likewise, the Church is the divinely chosen sign and instrument through which Christ's saving grace is offered to all, he said.

The Pope said it is essential that these truths are taught and understood in seminaries, formation houses and institutes of higher learning in India.

He said that while the Church

in India is a "tiny and somewhat beleaguered minority," it faces a great challenge of evangelization: to take the Gospel message to all those who have not yet heard it.

The bishops should be constantly asking themselves how this can be accomplished more effectively, he said.

The Pope said evangelization goes hand-in-hand with inculturation, which he described as the profound and gradual process of matching the faith with local cultures.

This involves a deep enlightenment of the culture itself, and not he said. externals, just Inculturation cannot be the "result of a hasty or superficial adaptation of the customs and values of those to whom the word of God is being preached," he said. He said the Church's strong social role will also aid evangelization in India by demonstrating that Christians practice real charity.

NEW YORK (CNS) - Christians should ask Jews to help them celebrate the coming millennium in order to avoid Christian triJohn umphalism, Cardinal O'Connor said in a New York address.

Speaking to an audience of Christians and Jews, Cardinal O'Connor said the millennium should not become just a matter of marking 2,000 years since the birth of Christ and of Christians asserting that they won out over the Jews.

Instead, he said, the two communities should focus on the progress they have made.

Discussing "Catholic-Jewish New the and Dialogue Millennium," Cardinal O'Connor and Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary (Conservative) in New speaking on were York, November 20 at Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus.

Religion, humanism, labour resurface in the guilds pagnons, most are independent workers, managers, teachers or PARIS (CNS) - Combining reli- company owners.

The compagnons' success also gion, humanism and manual labour, the spiritual heirs of the comes from their ability to move builders of France's great cathe- with the times. Although their drals are hewing a place for training deals with the transforthemselves in the post-industrial mation by hand of basic materials such as stone, wood, metal or age.

They are French descendants of leather, they have never neglectmedieval trade guilds and are ed technology in their fields.

They erected the Eiffel Tower, called "compagnons," French for restored the Statue of Liberty and "companions."

In much of Europe trade guilds built the pyramid at the Louvre.

They design and build truck have become a colourful anachronism. But in France, the prototypes for Renault, and have all-male compagaons are thriv- been involved in building projects the world over, such as the ing again.

There is no shortage of appren- English Channel tunnel.

The movement grew strong in tices willing to undertake the tough seven or eight years of the Middle Ages as workers training and travel it takes to banded together to protect their skills and free status in an age of become a compagnon.

One reason is that compagnons feudalism, but split along broadare virtually never out of work in ly religious lines at the a country suffering from nearly Reformation.

The compagnons also have 12 percent unemployment The compagnons also offer a training been secretive, mostly for selfin humanism as well as artisan protection, but also so that they could recognise one another skills.

Joining the movement is one of through various symbols and the surest ways for a skilled signs. tradesman to rise to the top. Of The Church frequently persethe more than 20,000 corn- cuted the movement on the sus-

The Record, November 30, 1995

By Barry James

picion that members were welfare of up to 100 young men, Freemasons in disguise. As a aged 17 to 25.

While the compagnons say that result, they destroyed their records at the end of every year. religion and politics are matters The compagnons were accused for individual conscience, the of being Masons under the association Bernard helped to World War II Vichy regime and found is broadly influenced by banned until a stonecutter, Jean Catholic social teaching.

Its library in Troyes, France, is Bernard, managed to convince the regime that they were not a run by Jesuit Father Gerard Pierre. The library and the huge subversive society.

After World War II, however, collection in the House of Tools divisions in the movement con- at Thoyes were both started by tinued because of suspicion that Jesuit Father Paul Feller. some had collaborated.

While in a Nazi prisoner of war Bernard went on to help create camp, the future Father Feller disthe largest of the compagnon covered that a community groups, the Association of the deprived of authority figures creCompagnons du Devoir Du Tour ated a natural hierarchy of chiefs de France. based on abilities.

It maintains houses all over Father Pierre said that the comFrance and in many foreign pagnons are trying to restore the countries for apprentices carry- harmony of a civilisation built on ing out the traditional "tour de the combination of Homo faber France," moving to a new place and Homo sapien - creating man every six months to learn their and thinking man. trade.

"The fundamental idea of the Each house is run by a provost, compagnons is that you cannot a compagnon who is taking time go forward without taking the off from his trade, and a "moth- past into account," Father Pierre er," the only woman allowed into said. "For them, the transmission the secret ceremonies. A highly of knowledge is vital because it revered figure, each mother is obliges the compagnon to think responsible for the upkeep and through what he is doing."

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Residential Aides

EYE •CATCHER Close 5pm Monday Phone 227 7778 (24 hours)

Minimum $5 First 28 words BUILDING TRADES

BUILDING TRADES

GRAHAM WILSON complete garden care, lawns mowed, edged, yard cleanups, gutter cleaning, pruning, weeding, phone 349 4800 or 349 6921.

CONCRETE Worker, all types, addition slabs, driveways, sheds, etc, no job too small, first class tradesman, free quotes, 309 5413 or 015 384 485.

S WIMMING POOLS, service, maintenance, equipment, painting (free quotes).

K AVANAGH'S POOL SERVICE, ph 349 0223. Since 1974.

UPHOLSTERY: lounge

suite repairs, recover dining and kitchen suites, etc. Phone L & K Upholstery 457 6996.

Bricklayer, qualified tradesman. No job too small.

Free quotes. Phone Patrick 305 7808.

W &R Cleaning Services.

Hassle free cleaning guaranteed. Office specialists, vacated premises, bond cleaning executive apartments. Free appraisals.

W &R Cleaning Services, 272 Hardey Rd, Belmont.

Phone 479 4393 all hours.

PAINTING & Decorating,

PERROTT PAINTING Pty

Ltd for all your residential, c ommercial painting r equirements. Phone Tom Perrott 444 1200.

ELECTRICAL contractor rewires fans, power points, lights, lic 004003. Phone Stephen Tierney 354 2263.

HELP WANTED

reg. no. 3622. For all your painting needs, all work p rofessionally done and guaranteed, references available. Call Carlo 444 6797.

BUILDING estimator/ quantifier/handyman, all trades. Phone 483 6042.

HELP needed by Daughters of Chewy to assist in Opportunity Shops on Saturday mornings.

Also urgently need good quality household goods, utensils, nick-nacks, etc.

Contact Sr. Clare 227 6616.

HANDYMAN, painting, gar-

THANKS

dening, pruning, tree lopping, rubbish re-moved, clean windows, houses, will Grateful thanks to our HEAVENLY Father, Lord do contract work Jesus Christ and the Holy 377 2314, Martin.

Spirit for helping us to go Credit cards welcomed.

MASTER plumber and gas through this struggle. fitter, Lic No. 140, bathroom Please do keep guiding us renovations, sewer conver- through life's journey. Also, sions, all maintenance thanks to Our Lady, St work, new houses. Good Joseph, St Jude, St r ates, all hours. Contact Anthony, St Theresa, and Blessed Mary MacKillop John on 457 7771. for interceding for us.

CARPENTER/HANDYMAN QUAUFIED tradesman, any MAY the Sacred Heart of

type of work, phone 041 9916 458.

cgrift

Aar,

Continuous Concrete Garden edging in various colours For obligation free quote ..,Phone John on 331 24021

Jesus be praised, adored and glorified throughout the whole world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus hear our prayer. St Jude worker of miracles pray for us. St Jude helper of the helpless pray for us.

Say this prayer nine times a day for nine days. S.M. M ANY thanks for all f avours and petitions granted.

French Polishing Furniture Restoration Telephone 370 2181

CLASSIFIEDS: CHANGE OF DEADLINE

Enquiries/ Appointments 335 7075

The deadline for notices in the Classifieds is Monday evening 5 pm

Peter Watt PSYCHOLOGIST

PUBLIC NOTICE FURNITURE CARRIED,

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION

Counselling/ Therapy 1 58 Canning Hwy

( part-time)

Sleep Shift Aides ( 7 shifts per fortnight)

Cook/Domestic (10 shifts per fortnight) Catholic Care requires the above mentioned staff to work in a new residential group home. The home, in the Beechboro area, will cater for the needs of four people who have an intellectual disability.

Applicants for the position of Social Trainer, Residential Aide, and Sleep Shift Aide must have experience of working in the disability field. Social Trainers and Residential Aides must be able to work morning and afternoon shifts on a rotating roster.

Sleep Shift Aides must be able to work some weekend shifts.

Applicants must be willing to support the Christian Etho of the organisation, and be enthusiastic about joining a dynamic Residential Services team.

Job Descriptions and Selection Criteria for all positions are available on request by telephoning 474 3303.

Closing date for applications is Monday llth December 1995. Applications addressing the Selection Criteria should be made in writing to:

East Fremantle housefuls, units, flats, SUNSHINE, o ffices, including single WINTER BREEZES. items, small medium and 'SUMMER comfortable, selflarge vans available with 1 Kalbarri, accommodation WANTED TO BUY or 2 men, all metro areas contained within walking and near country. Mike by the sea, and shops of distance The Executive Director Murphy 008 016 310 (free for Catholic Care call all areas); or 24 hour e ntertainment, $140 for WANTED to Purchase t wo; $210 for four; Church pews and other PO Box 5 480 5006. seven days. (09) 459 8554. Church furniture. Anything South Perth WA 6915 MASSEUSE: Bethany Ph: Chris considered.

Clinic, professional Howard 242 1267 or 015 masseuse,. dealing with THANKS 428 861 skeletal and•muscular pain, WANTED. Old Catholic sporting injuries, stress, books,missals, pictures, 5.90.1.47 ;no* soh relaxation and deep tissue NOVENA to St Clare. nimisclual isakitess and how ionams massage, acupressure. Ask for three favours. Say statues etc. If you can help Monday to Friday 9.30am nine Hail Marys for nine please phone 354 5722. to 6pm, Saturday 10am to days with a lighted candle.

5pm. Ring Orial 479 7120. May the Sacred Heart of THANKS $5 discount pensioners. Jesus be praised, adored, ,This service is definitely glorified and loved today non-sexual. and every day for ever and MAY the Sacred Heart of Permanent part-time position available, approx. ever. Amen. S.M. Jesus be praised, adored 4.5 or 5 hours each day (Mon. to Fri) in N'dlands. throughout glorified and THANKS MAY the Sacred Heart of Duties include general cleaning, washing, ironwhole world now and the Jesus be adored, glorified, ing etc. for married couple. Hours are flexible. of Heart Sacred forever. and preserved HOLY Spirit, thou who loved commencing around 9.30am.

Jesus hear our prayer. St makes me see everything throughout the whole This is a pleasant working environment and Jude worker of miracles and shows me the way to world now and forever. would suit a mature responsible lady with school pray for us. St Jude helper reach the ideal. You who Sacred Heart of Jesus pray age or older children who wants to work and still of the hopeless pray for us. give me the divine gift to for us. St Jude helper of Say this prayer 9 times a have time to maintain their own home. forgive and forget the the helpless pray for us. wrong that is done to me Say this prayer nine times day for 9 days. Grateful Must have references and be a self starter.

Thank a day for nine days. and who are in all thanks to Our Lady and St Please phone 389 8805 to discuss and arrange instances in my life with you St Jude for the favour Jude. granted.

M.H. me. I want in this short interview.

THANKS to Our Lady of prayer to thank you for Mount Carmel, Infant everything and confirm that Jesus, Most Sacred Heart, I never wanted to be sepaTHANKS Saint Jude, Saint Therese rated from you no matter and all saints. how great the material desires may be. I want to MAY the Sacred Heart 01 following the be with you and my loved PRAY Jesus be praised, adorec ones in your perpetual prayers daily St Joseph, St and glorified throughout glory. Amen. Say this Rita, Holy Spirit, Blessed the world forever and ever. prayer for three consecu- Virgin of Mt Carmel, St Many thanks for all favours tive days stating your Anthony. All these prayers and petitions granted. favour. Thank you Holy are regularly. printed Spirit, Our Lady of Thanks Saints for prayers NOVENA to St Clare get a Revelation and St Jude.

Ask for three favours. Say answered.

Judy. nine Hail Mary's for nine GRATEFUL thanks to St OH HOLY Spirit, in thee I days with a lighted candle.

Jude, Blessed Virgin Mary, found refuge. You heard Pray whether you believe Holy Child Jesus, Holy my cry and healed me. or not. May the Sacred Spirit. Mother of Perpetual Glory and thanks to you Heart of Jesus be praised, adored, glorified, and loved Help. Many thanks. Coral.

Father, Son and Holy today and every day for Spirit. ever and ever.

All types of antique and newer furniture repaired and restored by certified tradesman, also repairs to most plaster and cementitious statuary

(AMOLIC CARE

Housekeeper/Cleaning

Situations Opportunities Careers "Record" Response

Southern Cross Homes (WA) Inc 1 Bed Unit available in small Retirement Village. Low Ingoing and Maintenance fee.

Ring Helen McDonald (09) 314 2499

When you ADVERTISE! Phone 22 77 080

The Catechism of the Catholic Church Openness to fertility

posing the spouses to cooperate valiantly with the love of the Creator and Saviour, who through them will increase and enrich his family from day to day.

1652 "By its very nature, the institution of marriage and married love is ordered to the procreation and education of the offspring and it is in them that it 1653 The fruitfulness of conjufinds its crowning glory."

Children are the supreme gift gal love extends to the fruits of of marriage and contribute the moral, spiritual, and supergreatly to the good of the parents natural life that parents hand on to their children by education. themselves.

God himself said: "It is not good Parents are the principal and that man should be alone," and first educators of their children. "from the beginning [he] made In this sense, the fundamental them male and female"; wishing task of marriage and family is to to associate them in a special be at the service of life. way in his own creative work, God blessed man and woman 1654 Spouses to whom God has with the words: "Be fruitful and not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of multiply." in both human and meaning, Hence, true married love and terms.

Christian structure of family life the whole Their marriage can radiate a which results from it, without diminishment of the other ends fruitfulness of charity, of hospiof marriage, are directed to dis- tality, and of sacrifice.

The Domestic Church 1655 Christ chose to be born

and grow up in the bosom of the holy family of Joseph and Mary.

The Church is nothing other than "the family of God." From the beginning, the core of the Church was often constituted by those who had become believers "together with all [their] household."

When they were converted, they desired that "their whole household" should also be saved.

These families who became believers were islands of Christian life in an unbelieving world.

1656 In our own time, in a world

often alien and even hostile to faith, believing families are of primary importance as centres of living, radiant faith.

For this reason the Second Vatican Council, using an ancient

expression. calls the family the

Ecclesia domestica. It is in the

bosom of the family that parents are "by word and example . . . the first heralds of the faith with regard to their children. They should encourage them in the vocation which is proper to each child, fostering with special care any religious vocation."

1657 It is here that the father of

the family, the mother, children, and all members of the family exercise the priesthood of the baptised in a privileged way "by the reception of the sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, and self-denial and active charity."

Thus, the home is the first school of Christian life and "a school for human enrichment."

Here one learns endurance and the joy of work fraternal love, generous - even repeated - forgiveness, and above all divine

worship in prayer and the offering of one's life.

1658 We must also remember

the great number of single persons who, because of the particular circumstances in which they have to live - often not of their choosing - are especially close to Jesus' heart and therefore deserve the special affection and active solicitude of the Church, especially of pastors.

Many remain without a human family, often due to conditions of poverty. Some live their situation in the spirit of the Beatitudes, serving God and neighbour in exemplary fashion. The doors of homes, the "domestic churches," and of the great family which is the Church must be open to all of them. "No one is without a family in this world: the Church is a home and family for everyone, especially those who 'labour and are heavy laden.-'

The Record, November 30, 1995

15

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YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT

PRINCIPALS MICHAEL QUIN & KAREENA BALLARD PROPERTY SALES - RENTALS - STRATA MANAGERS

SOUTH OF THE RIVER

474 1533 WE CARE!

SERVING ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS

THE PA SCENE

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Queen of Apostles Celebration

DECEMBER 1 Golden Jubilee Mass for Fr Basil Noseda OSB, Moora - Archbishop Hickey Ecumenical Gathering for World AIDS Day, Subiaco Sr Bernadette Waring PBVM 3

Mass to mark the Canonisation of Blessed Eugene de Mazenod, St Patrick's, Fremantle - Archbishop Hickey Indonesian Catholic Community, Christmas Celebration, South Perth Civic Centre - Bishop Healy Annual Senior Citizen's Christmas Dinner (Association for the Welfare of Migrant Families), WA Italian Club Monsignor Keating

4

Mass of Thanksgiving and Graduation, Maranatha Institute Archbishop Hickey

- OFFICE 272 8411 — Mobile: 018 955 332 (Res): 375 3116 Pager: 483 6551

CARTERS

REAL ESTATE BANSWATER 3a King William Street

Speech Night. Mercy College Monsignor Keating

SALLY PALMER Plea.sed to be of service

6

Blessing of extensions and renovations, St

8

Solemn Novena Mass, St Mary's Cathedral Archbishop Hickey St Charles Seminary - end of year Mass and Dinner - Bishop Healy

Jude's Primary School - Bishop Healy The Queen of Apostles Church Riverton celebrates its 25th anniverBlessing of Mausoleum, Karrakatta sary of its opening on Sunday 17 December. The ceremony of the Cemetery - Monsignor Keating dedication of the memorial Church will be conducted by Bishop Blessing of Extensions and Renovations, Healy at 9 am Mass.

St Jude's Primary School - Bishop Healy Fr John Flynn, Parish Priest from 1967- 1976 and the 'priest builder' of Fr Frank Pavone, Meeting for Priests, the Church, will be the guest at the ceremony. Fr Dean Bradbury SAC Cathedral Presbytery and Fr John Luemmen SAC on behalf of the Parish Council extend a cordial invitation to all parishioners, inc.luding past parishioners who 7 P & F Federation Mass, Wembley have moved to other parishes, to the celebration.

Archbishop Hickey If attending please ring the presbytery on 457-2424. i *••••• SPECIALLY FILTLICED

••itt

Gummed as pure grape pice made ononfonstv ecciesasealmotions for church use

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Produced by

CLAREVALE ISAIA Tot 4.ry684 ALBANY HIGHWAY, EAST VICTORIA PARK TELEPHONE 470 4333

Forrestfield P L Yeap-O'Shea B.Optom NSW

Optometrist and Contact Lens Practitioner

453 2344

Mead Medical Centre 11 Salix Way Forrestfield 6058

Think CARPET! Think Peter RINEY 242 1002 AH 446 6238

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

Carpets for home, school, church and office.

Put fertility on your wedding list ...! Come and have a chat to us any time

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING 221 3866 Country clients wekome. Phone or write.

Phone (008) 11 4010 (local charge) Natural Fan* Planning Centre 29 Victoria Square Member of the Australian Council of Natural Family Manning Inc.

16

The Record, November 30, 1995

EUCHARISTIC REPARATION The next Holy Hour for the World Apostolate of Fatima will be held on Sunday. December 10 at 3 pm in the Immaculate Conception parish Church, cnr Preston Point Rd and Canning Highway, East Fremantle. Fr B Jones will officiate.

APOSTLES OF CHRIST PRAYER GROUP, WILLETTON will NOT be holding a Charismatic Healing Mass during the month of December due to the Christmas Season. The next one will be on 5 January 1996.

MARY MACKILLOP CENTRE At 16 York Street, South Perth opening times: Tues, Wed, Thurs: 10 am - 2 pm. 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month: 2 pm - 4 pm. Bookings Essential. Phone 09-474-3349.

FAREWELL TO PRESENTATION SISTERS The Parish of Our Lady of Mt Carmel. Mullewa, will be holding a function to farewell the Presentation Sisters on Saturday 9th December, commencing with Mass at 5pm, followed by a Smorgasbord Tea in the Mons Bryan Hall. An invitation is extended to all ex-Mullewa teachers, parents and students. For catering purposes please ring (099) 611 075 or (099) 611 154 by 2 December.

DIVINE MERCY Afternoon with Jesus and Mary at St Mary's Cathedral, Sunday, 3

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December. In this program 1.30 pm Holy Rosary, sermon by Fr Carey on Holy Family, Divine Mercy prayers, Benediction. 3.30 pm film: Jesus and His time.

Enquiries: 448-0002 or 457-7771.

NEWMAN SOCIETY The Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday December 4 at 7.30 pm in the West Tutorial Room, St Thomas More College, Crawley. (Please note: not the Senior Common Room as stated in the previous notice).

Elections and the President's Report will be the main business.

Contact No: 446-7340.

PRIESTS FOR LIFE Fr Frank Pavone, the National Director of Priests for Life in America will be speaking at the invitation of Archbishop Hickey to priests and laity. Father will be at St Joseph's Church, Hamilton St, Bassendean to concelebrate Mass at 7.30 pm on Tuesday December 5. He will be at Holy Spirit Church, Keaney PI, City Beach on Thursday December 7 for the Rosary at 7.10 pm and Mass at 7.30 pm. He will be giving his unique pro-life message after each Mass.

GROUP FIFTY PRAYER GROUP REDEMPTORIST MONASTERY Vincent Street, North Perth.

Please note that the December Healing Service - Mass with Anointing of the Sick will take place on the 14th of December (not the first week of the month).

ELLIOTT & ELLIOTT Optometrists Contact Lens Consultants 4 Cantonment Street, FREMANTLE

Phone 335 2602

MANNING & ASSOCIATES Contact Lens Consultants GROVE PLAZA. COTTESLOE Mark A. Kalnenas. B. Optom (NSW) For appointment Phone 384 6633 or 384 6720

10 Mass to celebrate 60th Jubilee of East Victoria Park Parish - Bishop Healy St Nicola Assn Mass - Archbishop Hickey St Nicola Assn Procession Monsignor Keating 12 Heads of Churches Meeting 14 Council of Priests Meeting Commemoration of 50 years Migrations since World War II, St Mary's Cathedral Archbishop Hickey

Message from Our Lady Queen of Peace, given to Marija on November 25, 1995, Medjugorje

Dear Children!

Today I invite you that each of you begin again to love, in the first place, God who saved and redeemed each of you, and then brothers and sisters in our proximity.

Without love, little children you cannot grow in holiness and cannot do good deeds. Therefore, little children pray without ceasing that God reveals His love to you. I have invited all of you to unite yourselves with me and to love. Today I am with you and invite you to discover love in your hearts and in the families. For God to live in your hearts, you must love.

Thank you for having responded to my call.

(Final authority regarding Apparitions at Medjugorje rests with the Holy See of Rome)

Assistant Secretary ( part time)

St Thomas More College We are a Catholic Residential College, affiliated with the University of Western Australia, administered by the Jesuit Fathers.

St Thomas More College is seeking the service, of a part time assistant secretary.

The successful applicant must have an understanding and commitment to the Catholic faith sound computer skills ability to work in a team environment good interpersonal skills.

The position is for three days per week, a total of 45 hours per fortnight.

There is a possibility of full time work during annual holidays.

A written application with names and telephone numbers of 2 referees, should be addressed to: The Administrator, St Thomas More College Mounts Bay Rd, Crawley WA 6009 by the 6th of December 1995