The Record Newspaper 02 May 1996

What's Inside...

PERTH, WA: May 2, 1996

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will Australia's Catholic bishops employ a full-lime executive officer to co-ordinate their attack on the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy and religious.

The bishops nine-point 'plan of action' issued last Friday to deal with the cancer of child sex abuse of children also calls for bishops and other church leaders to meet victims to hear their stories of suffering, and for a Church investigation as to whether any factors peculiar to the Catholic Church might lead to sexual abuse by priests, religious or other church workers.

The bishops' action in issuing the plan in the form of a Pastoral Letter to all Australian Catholics follows intense media coverage of allegations of sexual abuse by clergy and religious before the New South Wales Royal Commission into that State's police force during the last two weeks.

It was alleged in the commission that some Church officials, including one bishop, failed to take action when such charges of sexual abuse were made against clergy.

The commission heard the allegations as the question of how to deal with clergy and religious sex abuse of children dominated the attention of the 15-24 April meeting of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference in Sydney.

As the conference ended last Wednesday week, Bishop William Murray of Wollongong, south of Sydney, admitted to the Royal Commission he had done nothing after a seminarian had complained to him he had been sexually assaulted as a student by a Christian Brother and a parish priest.

Bishop Murray, who has just submitted his resignation on account of having reached the canonical retiring age, said he had been worried that the seminarian's journey to the priesthood would be rough if he had pursued the allegations.

The Church would not also have been able to control the way in which the allegations were aired.

He said he didn't think at the time that the seminarian was making a formal complaint and that he had not spoken to either the Christian Brother or the parish priest

Trusting in God in multiple sclerosis - Page 9

PRICE 60c

Bishops begin new attack on sex abuse

By Peter Rosengren

Rural women reflect on adult faith education in the bush - Page 5 National Catholic education conference begins in Canberra - Page 3 New provincial of the Christian Brothers discusses the challenges ahead - Page 6

who were accused until after revelations on the matter had emerged in the media.

The bishop's action plan. developed from protocols established by the Bishops Committee for Professional Standard's since 1988. includes arranging face-to-face meetings between victims of sexual abuse and bishops and religious leaders to hear directly their stories, hurts, concerns and needs.

Dioceses and religious institutes will be asked to engage professional and independent persons to make suitable case studies on how incidents of sexual abuse have been handled, and a representative committee will be established to prepare codes of conduct for priests and religious.

Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, a member of the Bishops' Committee for Professional Standards, said the meetings between bishops and victims were the most important aspect of the overall plan.

"There's nothing as important as that, as actually sitting down and listening to victims," Bishop Robinson said. " After you've done that you can't have any illusions any longer, any at all, about sexual abuse, the gravity of it and the effects it has on people's lives." he said.

In their letter the bishops said that while those who have sexually abused children are small in number their actions have affected all priests and Religious as well as the wider Church community throughout Australia.

"The bishops say without hesitation that the overwhelming majority of priests and Religious serve their people with integrity and dedication. They deserve affirmation and support," they said.

In their pastoral letter the bishops acknowledged "with deep regret" that a number of people associated with the Church "have betrayed the trust placed in them by sexual abuse of minors and adults."

"In doing so they have acted in a way that is contrary to everything the Church stands for," they said. "We cannot change what has happened in the past, undo the wrongs that have been done, or banish the memories and the hurt," they said.

"In seeking to do what is possible. our major goals must be: truth, humility, healing for the victims, assistance to other persons affected, an adequate response to those accused and to offenders, and prevention of any such offences in the future."

Prayers for all caught in a whirlwind of evil

Rescue workers rush a victim from the scene of the massacre last Sunday. Photo CNS,Reute

By Peter Rosengren As the reality of the massacre at the popular tourist site of Port Arthur in Tasmania's south begins slowly to sink into Australia's social consciousness, more is beginning to be known of the alleged killer, 29-year-old Martin Bryant.

Although it is not yet clear what caused the tragedy, it seems Bryant was severely disturbed and had become a psychological time bomb.

Two nieces of the director of the Archdiocese of Hobart's Catholic welfare service, Father Clem Kilby, lived on the same suburban block as the alleged killer and had met him. Fr Kilby is coordinating the Catholic Church's emergency counselling services to residents and victims' families.

Twenty one year-old Angela Peters and her younger sister Elizabeth had known of him for several years but not trusted him when he arrived at their front door as a stranger asking for a date early in 1995.

Angela told The Record his demeanour had given both the girls the impression that not all was right. But she had not known him closely.

"One day he came round and my younger sister (then aged 16) opened the door and he started talking to her and he asked her out, if she wanted to go out for a date or something like that." Her sister had refused.

On the odd occasion when Angela had met him he had given the impression of being highly strung, she said.

"He seemed very nervy. He would ask a question and then start laughing straight away. He always had this smile on his face and (would) just laugh all the time and (yet) we hadn't said anything funny," she said. "He just seemed to be very cau-

tious. I feel, and (was) always lookint; around, taking in a lot. He was verl observant. I think: she said.

He also seemed to be a contradictory type of character, "kind of 'cluey' but not really knowing what was going on."

The massacre begun at the Broad Arrow Cafe has brought forth prayers for the victims, their families and the apparently deranged gunman.

Catholic Archbishop Eric D'Arcy of Hobart said that at Masses held on Monday in his archdiocese for victims, Tasmanians had been unable to do anything but cry His message to the victims' families was one of unity in prayer.

"Every Tasmanian unites with you in love and every Christian in Tasmania unites with you in prayer through Jesus and his mother who know what suffering and death are like from their own personal experience," he said.

He called for prayers for gunman.

"I would say that we must pray for him.

It's one of the hardest things in the Gospel. I think its one of the hardest demands of the Gospel that we should pray for those who have injured and wronged us," Archbishop D'Arcy said.

Father Morgan Batt, parish priest of the parish of Richmond that covers Port Arthur told The Record he knew of at least three parishioners who had been killed in the shooting spree. Those killed Included the bus driver who bused children to St John's school in Richmond.

"There are many people, loved ones and friends, who have been shot . . . .

They need professional help and they need to pray to God," he said. "I ask everyone to pray for us and for all those who were shot or injured," he said.

Archbishop Hickey asks us to reflect on the causes of violence - Page 2

Only Gospel brings peace in violent world T

he recent tragic events of Port Arthur in Tasmania, where so many innocent people lost their lives, leaves us with a feeling of uncomprehending sorrow and frustration.

Why was it that little children and their parents should die so needlessly? It makes no sense.

Our hearts go out to all the families that lost their loved ones, and our prayers are with them in their loss.

We wonder, too, how the family of the young man at the centre of the tragedy can possibly cope with the knowledge of what has happened.

This Sunday I hope all parishes will offer prayers for the relatives of the victims and pray for the repose of all who died in the tragic episode.

In the aftermath calls are being made for tighter gun control, for the detection of warning signs in people at risk, and for an end to violence that breeds violence.

There is no doubt that all these matters must be thoroughly investigated, and changes made, but, when all is said and done, there is probably no way of anticipating such a terrible tragedy.

We never thought it would even happen in Australia.

Without presuming to make any judgements about the Port Arthur situation, it is salutary for us all to think about the problem of violence in our society.

It takes many forms.

Last week I launched a statement issued by the Australian Catholic Social Justice Commission on Domestic Violence where it was stated that eight out of ten cases of reported violent acts are carried out by men. The causes are complex, a mixture of personal, relational and societal factors.

Yet it is abhorrent and completely contrary to the vision of loving marriages that Jesus and St Paul presented to us. The

C111111;11 has a role to play in comWe must also do what is in our bating domestic violence by clear power to find answers to the vioteaching about marriage, human lence that goes on around us. dignity and respect, by providing We need to find ways of communities and parishes that strengthening and supporting are supportive of marriage and married people, of training chilfamily life and by offering help to dren in the ways of love and people in crisis. peace, ways of finding fulfilment Taxi drivers are not alone in in the lives of many youn peoproviding evidence of criminal ple who might otherwise I.urn to violence in society. Shopkeepers. the illusory solace of drug-, ways bank staff and service station of ensuring stable employment employees are often traumatised for those who need and seek it, by real or threatened violence by and ways of restoring respect for people who are desperate to all persons, male or female, of have money, very frequently for whatever ethnic or socio-ecothe purchase of drugs. nomic background.

This alerts us to some of the The Church, with its beautiful problems that beset this lucky Gospel message and the power country. One could continue to of the Holy Spirit at its heart, has list other forms of violence in a vocation to bring peace and society which trample on human reconciliation to our world. dignity and basic rights.

While the tragedy of Port As people who try to follow Arthur defied our understanding, Jesus, we must eliminate vio- the message of Christ needs to be lence from our own lives heard above the clamour of viobecause it is against the spirit of lence on our television screens, the Gospel. in our homes and on our streets.

Something big happened

Archbishop's

Perspective

Christians and Jews to hear talk

with a look of absolute ecstasy on his face: his face alight with Some wheelchair-bound peo- supreme joy.

Then suddenly what he was ple got up at the priest's comA member of the Victorian mand: "In the name of Jesus get doing dawned on him when he churches committee who drew paused in his steps, rather like St up and walk!" and pushing their up guidelines for understanding wheelchairs in front of them, Peter who walked on the water the Christian Scriptures will talk slowly, gingerly, and almost in with confidence towards Jesus to an audience of Christians and disbelief and shock, walked and then realised what he was Jews on the guidelines document doing. He too started to sink. away.

"Rightly Understanding the Word As Fr Rookey told the assembly Huge queues filled the aisles in of Truth" at Christ Church St Mary's cathedral and waited however, healings of all kinds, College Chapel in Claremont this and miracles may or may not their turn to join the large semihappen instantly, but can take month. circle around the altar.

The talk, planned for 21 May at place over perhaps a month or so Others formed a long line in "to curb our 8pm, will be given by the impatience!" he front of the sanctuary steps, all to joked.

Reverend David Wood on the sigbe anointed with holy oil by one The Eucharist in the mon- nificance of the document for of the 11 assisting priests at the strance was meanwhile raised work in Christian institutions, Healing Mass last Monday night aloft by another priest continual- reading and preaching in church. while waiting for the laying on of ly blessing The guidelines were developed the people, because hands by the chief celebrant. as Fr Rookey stated with the co-operation of the in his preAmerican born Servite, Father Mass talk to the large crowds, heads of the Anglican. Catholic.

Peter Mary Rookey OSM. "The Lord in the Eucharist is the Lutheran and Uniting Churches in Victoria.

He then moved to each inca- greatest healer.

The talk has been organised by pacitated person rubbing their "It is Our Lord who is laying on seemingly useless legs with his hands - whereas I am only a big the WA Council of Christians and Jews. hands and the crucifix containing sinner."

There will be an attendance the relics of the Servite saints, Fr Rookey was alluding to his Including St Peregrine the cancer healing ministry which began in charge of $5 for non-members of saint...and then for some, an 1948, and is world famous the Council of Christians and instantaneous physical miracle, through the miracles which have Jews and $2 for members. while apparently for all, some taken place through his laying on healing had taken place. of hands.

One young man who had obviWhatever happened for whomous physical and some mental soever at the cathedral last disabilities, was helped to his feet Monday night, something of

by Fr Rookey's blessing and took great spiritual magnitude undefaltering steps as he slowly niably did happen for a large American Servite Father Rookey healing the sick in St Mary's Cathedral pushed his wheelchair away, number of people.

Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation from the office of Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane, presented for reasons of health by the Most Reverend Eugene The AFA this week called for a serious The decision by the police to unilaterally Cuskelly, in conformity with consideration of prostitution law reform by abandon the `containment' policy, com- canon 411 and canon 401, #2 of the Government. bined with an expected legalisation, was the Code of Canon Law. The present debate on prostitution is con- leading to a rapid proliferation of new prosThe news was released this trasting ineffective 'containment': with titution establishments, it said. The AFA week in legalisation or decriminalisation as if these called on the Court Government to signal it Franco Canberra by Archbishop Brambilla, Apostolic Prowere the only options, it said. would not legalise prostitution.

Nuncio to Australia.

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard

Brisbane resignation

C HARISMATIC

Prostitution policy options 'too limited'

MASS,

FOR H EALING 6pm Sunday May 1 2th.

The evening will consist of Praise ESI Worship, Holy Mass, Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Prayers for Healing.

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MEDJUGORJE

Message from our Lady, Queen of Peace, given to Marija, on April 25th, 1996

Dear Children!

Today I invite you again to put prayer in the first place in you families. Little children, when God is in the first place then you will, in all that you do. seek the will of God. In. this way your daily conversion will become easier.

Little children, seek with humility that which is not in order in your hearts, and you shall understand what you have to do. Conversion will become a daily duty that you will do with joy.

Little children, I am with you. bless you all and I invite you to become my witnesses by prayer and Personal conversion.

Thank you for having responded to my call.

It is accepted the final authority regaiTlinm apparitions of Om lady Se!' of Rome.)

it Medingoriii rests with Ow

Schools' chief urges Howard to keep promise

By Peter flosengren The fourth National Catholic Education Conference began on Monday evening with a strong call from retiring chairman Gerry Gleeson to the new Howard Government to commit itself to the funding policies of the former Keating Labor Government.

The conference, held every eight years, opened with a spectacular ceremony featuring an Aboriginal welcome from the Ngunnawal people of the Canberra region and performances by a massed choir of some 300 students and teachers from Catholic schools in the Canberra-Goulbum diocese.

Mr Gleeson said the Coalition had promised capital funding to Catholic schools of $95 million but were willing to discuss an increase to Labor's figure of $120 million.

He said stability and long-term predictability Catholic schools had experienced under Labor were now under threat and rejected State Governments' views that the administration and funding of education be handed over to their care.

Mr Gleeson acknowledged his closeness to the Labor cause on account of his former role as a senior public servant under NSW Labor governments.

That perception is accurate but as chairman of the NCEC my duty has been to achieve the best possible outcomes for Catholic schools," he said.

The NCEC is the national lobby group for Catholic education in Australia.

Tannock's new post University of Notre Dame Australia vice-chancellor Peter Tannock has been appointed chairman of the National Catholic Education Commission.

The NCEC represents about 1800 schools and two Catholic universities with a combined enrolment of approximately 608,000 students - nearly onefifth of all students in Australia.

Dr Tannock has a long career in Catholic education.

Since 1993 he has been NDA vice-chancellor. The university has an enrolment of approximately 1.000 students.

Dr Tannock was previously chairman of the Catholic Education Commission of WA and director of the Catholic Education Office.

He has also been chairman of the Commonwealth Schools Commission and a professor of education at the University of Western Australia.

He is also currently chairman of the WA Football Commission.

NSW Catholic Education Commission director Brian Croke told

the conference Catholic education must be actively involved in process reconciliation the between indigenous and nonindigenous Australians.

Dr Croke said that building on the Pope's visit to Alice Springs in

1986 the Catholic education community should encourage an occasionally hesitant community and government opinion. it will only be with the achievements of reconciliation that we will be able to proceed to a more revitalised relationship with our indigenous brothers and sisters, and more fully value and promote their contribution to the Australian Church," he said.

Outlining 10 key elements for the success of Catholic education in the next eight years, he said it was necessary to publicise the reason for the existence of Catholic education, to develop the school as a faith community and effect the integration of the curriculum with Catholic values.

The development of religious education curricula, adult and theological education were important factors, as were supporting the on-going development of Catholic universities, research, strategic management and a coordinated policy for Catholic schools, he said.

With more than 500 Catholic educators attending the NCEC conference this week, the size of the conference, held once every eight years, reflects the importance the Catholic system has gained in the Australian educational scene.

The existence of Catholic schools save State and Federal Governments significant sums of money while, in return, Catholic schools now educate nearly one fifth of the nation's students.

The conference is due to be addressed by Cardinal Pio Laghi. head of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education.

ADF joins National Bank to offer new services

Des Dwyer, right, presents Archbishop Hickey with his new cheque book The National Australia Bank erninent taxes, will be accessible and the Archdiocesan Develop- to Church schools, parishes, ment Fund presented Archbish- priests and institutions through op Barry Hickey earlier this week the ADF office in Victoria Square, with the first cheque book to be the extensive NAB branch netissued under a joint initiative work, or through the post. between the two institutions that ADF manager Des Dwyer said will enable Catholic organisa- the ADF could now to virtually tions to benefit from National anything a bank could do.

Bank facilities.

Religious orders and other The new cheque account. which does not incur transaction institutions will be able to transfees, account keeping fees or gov- fer funds overseas, he added.

Jesuit returns to serve

Yes, he's back and still going strong. Father Ferdinand Marlow SJ, who turns 88 this year, second from right, was recently seen returning serve at the Royal Kings Park Tennis Club where a special morning round of invitation games had been held to honour the back-handing Jesuit's birthday.

Fr Marlow was caught on court with Perth archdiocesan Vicar-General, Monsignor Michael Keating as his partner right, together with tennis club president Dan Carney,left, and partner Ancel Bedell. Coincidentally, Mr Bedell was a student 70 years ago this year at the same school that the young Fr Marlow was teaching at, St Xavier's in Calcutta, India.

The final scores of the Marlow/Keating vs Carney/Bedell match were suppressed by order of the Vatican.

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The Record, May 2 1996 Page 3

TOMORROW TODAY

Superdrome gearing up to turn big beat around Rehearsals are in full swing for the "Turn the beat around" Youth Rally to be held at the superdrome on 25 May. The Catholic Youth and Young Adult's performing arts ministry team, including band, choir and drama team, are locking forward with great anticipation to performing at Perth's Superdrome.

TURN THE BEM AROUND YOUTH RALLY PRESENTED BY CATHOLIC YOUTH MINISTRY Tickets are available through RedTickets - group discounts available!

Saturday 25 May 1996, 7pm, at Perth's Superdrome.

Phone 328 9622 for details.

Catholic Youth Information Centre

EAGLE'S NEST

Uni students are 'indispensable'

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) Catholic university students have an indispensable role in finding new ways to make Christianity known, understood and accepted in the modern world, Pope John Paul II said.

I n a complex society which is losing a sense of the sacred, it is up to Catholic university students to witness to God's truth revealed in Jesus Christ and to the joy of believing in him and following him on the Gospel path," the Pope said.

Marking the 100th anniversary of the Italian Federation of Catholic University Students, the Pope met with 800 members representing their peers at a national congress on April 29.

The Pope said the group, founded 70 years before the Second Vatican Council, anticipated many of the council's teachings: The concept of the Church as the People of God and as a communion, the role of the laity and dialogue between the Church and the world."

The federation, he said, continues "to gather together lay people who are deeply aware of the obligations arising from the sacraments of baptism and confirmation and of their membership in the Church. the mystical body of Christ living and working in history" One of the major challenges facing the Church today, the Pope said, is to help people realise that their faith in Christ has implications for the way they live and act.

"I want to encourage you, dear young adults, to offer the contribution that only you can make, living among university students and being in their midst like a leaven: Work to connect the Gospel and culture through lively contacts with your peers and your professors," he said.

WA school children farewell John Paul II at the end of his 1986 trip Young people must be the ones to present the faith to their peers with language and methods that make sense to modern ears, the Pope said.

"In this field your role is indispensable," he said. "Without your contribution there cannot

be an effective pastoral program in the universities."

The Pope asked federation members to make a special commitment to being "apostles among the young adults who live outside or on the borders of the Church."

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The Record, May 2 1996 Page 4

The Catholic Youth Ministry presents another

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Rural missioners meet Iti-(1):ftgirte°

By Peter Rosengren The shortage of priests and the impact of distance and isolation on faith education in remote and outlying areas of Western Australia were high on the list of discussion matters at the Rural Australian Western Mission Conference, last week at the Leederville Parish Centre in Perth.

Adult faith educators from remote and rural areas of WA came to update themselves and exchange information on efforts in their field of work.

Geraldton diocese catechist coordinator Anne Fairhead said the 35 faith educators attending the conference, mainly lay people, had come from as far afield as Mt Tom Price and Newman.

1300km north of Perth, and from Albany In the south of the state.

She said the annual conference was an invaluable resource for those engaged in faith education in remote areas.

"We need to know that we're all thinking along the same lines and have got the same goals in having the conference," she said.

However, she said that because

Anne Fairhead, right, and Sr Verna Holyhead at the WARM conference.

with celebrations of the Word," she said.

Sister Robyn Brady SGS, based in Mt Magnet, said the Catholics of Mt Magnet had found themselves faced with the question of what to do on alternate Sundays as Mass was celebrated there now only twice a month. She said a Liturgy of the Word run by Religious and lay people would now be held on those Sundays when a priest was not available.

Sister Verna Holyhead SGS. who presently works at Santa Maria Centre, a centre for adult faith formation in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote, helped at the conference.

She said the main things which had struck her about the position of Catholics in rural and isolated areas had been the enabling of lay people in the Church and the role of collaborative ministry "that is becoming more and more essential, and seeking for ways in which they can do that."

The WARM conference was previously known as the "Motor Mission Meeting", an initiative of Blessed Mary of the Cross MacKillop's Sisters of St Joseph. and was first held in Tambellup in 1959.

Sam O'Sullivan next to a bronze casting of a boy depicted reaching with a poppy of peace towards the new war memorial in Joondalup, Perth. Sam was the model for the statue which is part of the memorial. The memorial is the work of Irish born, WA sculptors Joan and Charles Smith.

Sam is the grandson of retired Group Captain Joe O'Sullivan, who laid a wreath on Anzac Day on behalf of the Australian-Irish Heritage Association, in memory of Anzacs of Irish . descent.

of the enormous distances some had to travel to get to the conference held in Perth, regional conferences could be a future option. it would appear that we need to look at having 'mini' rural conferences in not just dioceses but regions within (each) diocese," she said.

The two main topics covered at the conference were 'Breaking open the Scriptures,' looking at how to make them accessible to

people, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Issues such as celebrations of the Word and knowing what the Church's practices for these ceremonies were important, especially in places that were only visited by priests once or twice a month.

Anne said.

"We have situations whereby the priests' numbers are dwindling and there are more opportunities for the people to grow

enable them to participate in the life and work of the local parish community.

Parishioners get involved as advocates or as members of the core leadership team and are matched up with an intellectually disabled person who becomes their 'friend'.

Always working on a one-toone basis with their friend, the advocates put in two hours preparation for their two-hour meeting or outing.

Generally, the advocates pick up their friends and meet (in the case of Morley parish), at their centre at 28 Holdhurst Way for various activities and fraternity.

Ursula Thompson of Embleton volunteered because she felt with her healthy children and grandchildren, it was good to

Thornlie parish for the last two years and two weeks ago Girrawheen started its own PAS outreach. Morley is the training and resources base, and the goal is to establish the PAS in other parishes. On-going support and faith development for advocates and their friends is provided through small network groups.

PAS coordinator Leonie Reid said there were two facilitators or leaders for each network group and, when the networks come together. a spirituality program was provided.

Advocate Ursula Thompson, right, with PAS friend Trevor Olsen at their fastA monthly Mass was also celenightly meeting. brated. Advocates and their to give the handicapped a hand. well worthwhile "and makes you friends were encouraged community wider other explore There's satisfaction for the advo- value how people have to live cates in this generous giving of and struggle. and to appreciate activities.

For further information ring themselves, she says, and the little things." on (09) 275 5388 in PAS operated also has PAS effort involves, she believes is

The Good Samaritan comes to life in advocacy service

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard Life, it seems, often deals an unfair and sometimes savage blow to some human beings who acquire mental or physical disabilities - and in some instances, both.

These people are indeed precious pearls who need extra help to achieve what those without disabilities take for granted as they race through life unencumbered.

In an attempt to assist those with intellectual disabilities Sister Eileen Casey set up the Personal Advocacy Service - an arm of the Catholic Church - in May 1991. Its parish based programs are designed to promote the value and dignity of people with intellectual disabilities and

Matthew Kelly returns to Perth Catholic International speaker.

Author of "Words from God- and "Our Father" Speaking at

St Anthony's Catholic Church 96 Innamincka Rd, Greenmount Thursday June 6, 1996, 8pm (Mass 7.30pm)

9 June 1993: "My children, return to the sacraments and return to living lives of prayer."

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TO MEDJUGORJE ANNIVERSARY

Departing 1 3 ;une tor 1 days s 'th Fr Brian Ahearn • Medieval Assisi stay • Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano • Monte Sant Angelo • San Giovanni Rotondo, home of Padre Pin • Medjugorje 15th Anniversary celebrations with lose Carreras live in concert • Rome at $4,095

WAY OF CHRIST * If God really speakes to this 22 year old man from Sydney, why would God use this extraordinary way of communicating with his people? * If Matthew truly is God's mouthpiece in our times, what is it that God wants to say to us?

• What brought about this profound change in the direction of Matthew's life in 1993 while Matthew was a university student? * Matthew speaks with an eloquence far beyond his years.

Come and listen to what he has to say.

Books and Videos available.

All enquiries welcomed.

Cathy Forrester 09 255 2024

"Together In One Accord"

:fie footsteps of Jesus throlieh the Holy Land With Fr. John McSweeney Dep.-1r, 'ert tor 1 4 cla‘s

• Rome • Mt Carmel • Sea of Galilee • Jerusalem at $3,895

15TH ANNIVERSARY OF MEDJUGORJE

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Experience the miracle of Pentecost.

The Bethel Centre 236 Railway Road, Subiaco.

Friday 24th May - 7.30pm Saturday 25th May - 7.30pm Sponsored by The State Service Committee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal The Record. May 2 1996 Page 5

Brothers take up their Cross The third challenge is the international work of the congregaThere are challenges every- tion and the move away from a where for the Christian Brothers. purely Irish identity "(Its) true our roots are in Brother Tony Shanahan, the I reland, there's no doubt about new leader of the Christian Brothers for the Holy Spirit that. But it was very obvious lookProvince that covers both ing around the chapter room Western and South Australia says where we had guys who were four main challenges for the native New Guineans, (from) province emerged from the Sierra Leone, Peruvian, South Christian Brothers' General Africans and Indians too - one of Chapter held recently in South our strongest provinces in terms of growth - that the penny Africa. dropped for the first time perOne is the call to serve the marhaps that we are really internaginalised, hearkening back to Edmund Rice's mission to serve tional," he said.

"And having realised that, there children most in need. was the question of how do we "A second direction for the use that and put that to our whole congregation is what I call advantage." the Edmund Rice family," Br He said there was the possibiliShanahan told The Record this ty of an international volunteer week program, along the same lines as The number of people doing that operated by the Jesuits, for Edmund Rice's work is growing, young people willing to give a bringing what he calls "tremen- year or two of their lives to serdous energy and vitality" to the vice in Edmund Rice-Inspired Rice ideal. These are the many work people taking up the vocation to The other challenge was that of do Edmund Rice's work as vol- growing through fragility. unteers and associates of the The fragility of the congregaorder willing to commit them- tion, like so many others, was its selves to charitable works under ageing membership, with fewer Christian Brothers' auspices. vocations as each year goes by All this follows a renaissance of resulting in uncertainty over its Interest in Edmund Rice's life future. and work Added to that have been the

By Peter Rosengren

Br Tony Shanahan

recent agonising difficulties associated with child abuse which hangs over the Christian Brothers. Recent revelations have shown that a small number of Brothers violated the trust of boys put in their care and sexually abused them, sometimes in horrific circumstances.

"We need to come to terms with that sometimes we are tempted to shrug our shoulders and dismiss the abuse thing as a media beat-up."

While there were elements of a media beat-up, there was an uncomfortable truth that had to be faced, he said.

"The brothers will be living with the consequences for a long

work is mainly carried out in the time to come yet," he added.

The Brothers have established a Congregation's eight schools and service for former students who other systemic schools where were abused. And there is the they are members of staff. long-running court case in New It also occurs in the less formal South Wales which is still only in educational setting. Girrawheen its preliminary stages..

High School has an off-campus It is through these difficulties unit for kids that can't be manthat Brother Shanahan and his aged in the classroom, kids usuleadership team must steer the ally described as having 'special Christian Brothers' Holy Spirit needs' either in educational or province for the next six years emotional areas. and it is the resolution of such In other words, problem stuproblems that he sees as one of dents who need the patient his main challenges. approach that the Brothers are "We find that whole situation is willing to employ in order to help very unsatisfactory. It drains them climb over their problems. away not only time and energy It is clear therefore that while but a lot of money in terms of the future is far from clear, paying lawyers to go through this Brother Shanahan and his leadslow-notion process when we'd ership team will have their work much rather be putting the cut out to steer a new direction resources into people who need for the congregation.

It. 1 think the challenge is for us "So we've been trying to work not to just try and keep our heads our way towards whatever con- down, adopt a low profile, go quistructive outcome that we can etly and hope nobody will notice from that litigation as is possible, us. That's an understandable but obviously we can only go so reaction in the (current) climate." far. It takes two to tango: so he said. whether the other side are pre"The real challenge is to hold pared to look at a more construc- our heads up and get on with tive way of resolving it . . . . doing we what we've got to do." remains to be seen."

If the Brothers do that, he is Despite the difficulties of the confident, it is when they engage sexual abuse scandal, there is in new vistas of work inspired by much work for the Brothers to the Rice ideal that the new carry out. The Brothers' main growth and vitality will come.

Family violence paper A fertile mind at the service of God Obituary: sister launched in Perth Mary Sebastian (Alice) Maher RNDM

Sister Mary Sebastian (Alice) Maher, who died unexpectedly at Sacred Heart Convent in Highgate on 18 April. had spent almost 50 years of her life teaching in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Perth, notably at Sacred Heart school in Highgate and at Our Lady of the Missions school in Fremantle.

Sister Sebastian was born in 1911, the second of four children born to Patrick and Laura Maher, and entered the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in 1933 after attending Sacred Sister Mary Sebastian Maher Heart primary and secondary at Sacred Heart Convent, was MLA Judith Watson lent moral support to the launch of the Catholic Social schools in Highgate.

She celebrated her 80th looking forward to her 85th Justice Commission report on domestic violence last week held at All Saints in June. Sister Chapel in St George's Terrace by talking of the significance of the quilt draped jubilee of profession in the con- birthday over the attar. Each patch represented a woman who had tragically died as gregation in January this year Sebastian's fertile mind ardently a result of domestic violence, she said. and, when she died in her sleep espoused the teachings of

Vatican II with the breadth of vision they offered.

She had a great love of literature, languages and history and after retiring from teaching did a librarian's diploma.

Sister Mary Sebastian then set up the archives of her congregation in Australia and wrote five books, three of them on the early history of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in the Perth and Bunbury diocese.

Whilst still in Fremantle she taught in the prison there and later her missionary heart and love of teaching found an outlet at the Migrant Centre in Perth.

"We thank God for a life lived so fully in the service of God's Kingdom here in the Perth archdiocese," Our Lady of the Missions provincial Sr Marie Therese Ryder said this week Sister Mary Sebastian is survived by her two sisters, Bernadette and Josephine.

Urban hermit Bunnings helps St Joseph's A gathering of the men takes vows Thomas Eslam took private vows of poverty, chastity and obedience as an urban hermit monk at Sacred Heart church, Highgate on March 30, in the presence of Archbishop Barry Hickey Brother Eslam comes from an Iranian background. and was a Buddhist monk between 1989 to 1991, living in India.

Upon his return, he converted to Catholicism in 1994 as a result of contact with a Catholic hermit monk, and was also greatly influenced by Marian videos.

He has composed and published a book of hymns entitled 'Mary' and, as a Brother, he is continuing with his music ministry as well as doing door-to- door evangelising.

The Record,

An historic event occurred at St Joseph's, Yarloop. on 11 April 1996 when Yarloop timber mill owners, Bunnings Forests Products, handed ownership of the land on which the local Catholic church stands to the Diocese of Bunbury.

A church has been on the site

for almost 90 years in a region in which the timber industry was a major industry and Yarloop its biggest centre.

St Joseph's is one of the sites on the Yarloop Heritage Trail and in that part of the town which is to be declared a heritage precinct.

A t the gathering: Eric Pearce, left front, Fr Tarrant, Bob Boylen and Derrick Flynn. Rear: Peter McEvoy and Pat Kirwan There was a good turn out of men from the Woodlands/ Doubleview Parish on Friday, 19 April when 73 attended the first

Runnings manager Joe Yozzi, centre left, and church coordinator Dom Anzellino hold the plaque created to mark the handing over of the land to the Bunbury Diocese. With them are Jim Scacchia, left, Waroona parish priest Father Ian Johnson, Bunnings public relations officer Shandell Lee, Peter Brown, mill manager Bill Smith.

gathering of "Men of the Parish" It was a meeting which provided an opportunity for old friends to reminisce about the earlier days of the parish, and other others to get to know each other on a first name basis.

The evening began with Mass celebrated by Parish Priest Father Tarrant who, after the end of the

Mass, spoke of the humorous and the challenging incidents during almost 40 years as a Dominican Priest stationed in the Solomon Islands, New South Wales, South Australia and Canberra.

The gathering, ably helped lady parishioners at the social which followed Mass, was a first attempt to bring men of the parish together in a relaxed atmosphere of goodwill and friendship.

L'ellers 10 11e Coll/or Babies without brains have human rights too T

he Australian Magazine. April 2021, in its feature article on bioethicists canvasses views on abortion of anencephalic babies "whose brain is mainly missing and which is almost certain to die shortly after birth".

Father John Fleming of the Southern Cross Bioethics Centre in Adelaide is reported as answering with an unequivocal "Na".

However. Loreto Sister Elizabeth Iiepburn, director of the Queensland Bioethics Centre, is reported by paraphrase to be 'debating this issue with her superiors' and to 'be not so sure'.

She is quoted directly as saying "If the baby is going to die on delivery, it seems to me not of great consequence when that delivery occurs - 16 weeks or 23. For that infant birth is going to be the fatal event."

Dr Hepburn is not the only Catholic bioethicist or moral theologian to support abortion of anencephalic babies.

Fr Jean deBlois, CSJ concludes "once the diagnosis of anencephaly has been made the pregnancy may be terminated at any

time" because "anencephaly makes integrated human development impossible".

The late Fr William Daniel SJ, wrote that "the woman who is bearing an anencephalus is no more obliged to go on providing the help of gestation to such a foetus than the paediatrician is obliged to institute artificial life-support measures after it is born".

Fr Michael Prieur writes that over 85 per cent of Roman Catholic moral theologians he consulted support the early induction of "a foetus diagnosed as having a lethal abnormality where the mother may be presently in no medical danger".

Among considerations in favour of early induction is "the psychological pain of carrying a foetus with a hopeless prognosis".

Fr Prieur recommends though that "D&E procedures (which involve dismembering the baby and crushing the skull) are not normally offered in handling lethal foetal abnormalities".

Thomas J. Bole, III argues that the pro-

well. It does this in a thoroughly professional manner and its reputation for excellence is second to none.

The agency is lead by a man whose integrity, sense of justice and balanced approach to this ministry is a model to the rest of us in the Centacare Australia he letter from Anne Pike. The national network of some 120-plus service Record. 11 April, was a sad reflec- centres throughout Australia.

The healing voice of the Church through tion on the growing attitude of services such as Centacare is desperately exclusiveness in the Church.

Her observations of the research may needed. Moreover, it is a prophetic voice. well be valid, however the judgemental calling us to lay aside our exclusiveness. integrity and challenges that Jesus modtone of the letter was manifest.

It was particularly sad in the fact that it elled for us.

We are concerned that our churches are appeared in the edition devoted to reports on how the Church celebrated the death emptying. Many young people (who have and resurrection of a Man whose life was been given the best Catholic eduction) no one of openness and inclusiveness and longer want to be involved in their parishnon-judgement - except for the times of es. I wonder if it's because of our lack of hard rebuke for the elite Church rulers of love, of affirmation, and our judgmental His time who laid burdens on peoples attitudes, our eliteness. our indifference to the plight of those who suffer, and of the backs and did nothing to lift them!

I believe that Centrecare Marriage and marginalised.

Family Service represents the human, Sister Glenys Yeoman, SIG compassionate face of Jesus extremely Director, Centacare - Bunbury

Judgmental letter divisive

T

hibition on abortion doesn't apply to anencephalics because "the facts of anencephaly show that the anencephalic does not have the biological substrate to be a potential person".

These views are being applied in many Catholic hospitals today.

For example, Fr Prieur's views are official guidelines for St Joseph's Health Centre in London, Ontario, in Canada.

What is most disturbing is the language used to justify these abortions and its striking similarity to that used by advocates for free access to abortion.

The issue is presented in terms of foetal viability, the foetuses lack of humanity or personhood, the psychological well-being of the woman, or the absence of a moral obligation on the woman to continue gestating a foetus.

Reflecting on the clear teaching in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (paras 364, 365, 2270, 2273, 2274) and Pope John Paul ll's encyclical The Gospel of Life (58-63) I draw the following propositions regarding anencephalics:

1. An anencephalic baby must be considered human, and therefore to possess an immortal, rational human soul.

2. An anencephalic baby enjoys the same inviolable right to life from conception onwards as every other innocent human being. It should be protected the civil law.

3. An anencephalic baby could only be induced in the same circumstances as any baby without this defect (that is, near to or after term for the usual medical reasons).

4. Prenatal diagnosis for anencephaly is immoral if it is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion.

It is a most regrettable betrayal of Pope John ll's call for a new struggle to proclaim in all its fullness the Gospel of Life. that one category of human babies are so readily abandoned by some Catholic ethicists and moral theologians.

Teaching the measure

Centrecare to conduct research which demands that Catholic teaching be ignored so that same sex groups can be called family?

Ray Studhani Mt Lawley

I

t is not Anne Pike who "displays a lack of awareness" but Tony Pietropiccolo, The Record, 25 April.

Centrecare as an arm of the charitable activities of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth relies for its existence on the goodwill of the Archbishop and the generosity of the Catholic community.

The only measure of Centrecare's work is its adherence to Catholic teaching.

Centrecare's research project is based on a definition of family which is contrary to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

2207: "The family is the original cell of social life. It is the natural society in which husband and wife are called to give themselves in love and in the gift of life."

This section of Catholic teaching leaves no room for same sex groups yet the Centrecare director concludes by encouraging community groups, individuals and schools (presumably Catholic) to use this anti-family material.

Do Catholic alms givers really expect

Richard Egan Ferndale

The question of criteria

S

o hvo homosexuals living together

"fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the study of families" (The Record.

25 April) conducted by Centrecare.

If so. wasn't there something wrong with the criteria?

Whoever decided on these guidelines should purchase and read the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

No-one has the right, let alone the obligation, to acknowledge such "intrinsically disordered" couplings as "families".

As the Catechism says: "Under no circumstances can they be approved" (para 2357).

Admiral Philip Kennedy, RAN (Rtd) Dalkeith

A society focussed on self inevitably becomes paranoid Melbourne daily Herald-Sun columnist and father of three Paul Gray continues The Record's new weekly column of opinion that will shine a Catholic light on events and opinions in the Church and the wider society.

0

ne morning recently I was walking down a city street, writing notes for an article in my diary.

Now walking while writing can be a dangerous practice, as I was reminded this day when I nearly bumped into two swaggering drunks coming the opposite way.

The first, a man, barely noticed me. But the second, a woman aged about 40 and clutching a beer can, stopped to assail me with cheerful, drunken conversation.

By her clothes and voice, she seemed a person used to life on the street. At first, she seemed to welcome the chance to strike up conversation with a tall man in a suit on a fine, sunny morning.

I just smiled at her and kept going. But as I walked away, she suddenly seemed to notice for the first time that I was writing.

Instantly, her friendly manner changed to anger. "Am you writing down what I'm saying?" she demanded accusingly. This was followed by various violent threats - threats that rolled off her tongue so easily I suspected

4ç4y! 1454 Y1 pv;t4

tiiC 97.4

she may have used them once or ever seen was written many years ago by the famous Catholic twice before.

This outburst shocked me. My journalist and author G. K first impulse was to turn and Chesterton.

In his book, Orthodoxy, explain politely that what I was writing in my diary had nothing Chesterton noted how the nonreligious mentality of the modern at all to do with her.

But as her abuse grew louder,I world, far from representing a quickly realised all explanations liberation of the mind, was very would be pointless. For this was a much akin to a form of mental sickness. seriously paranoid person.

But a very deceptive kind of Paranoia - it's that crazy idea that the world is a gigantic con- mental sickness - one that often spiracy against the sufferer. My seems, on the surface, to be perrun-in with the lady on the street fectly lucid and rational.

As Chesterton put it: "The madthat day came as a reminder just man's explanation of a thing is how common this problem is.

Around the world, we see even always complete, and often in a purely rational sense, satisfactory. more brutal reminders too.

The recent Dunblane massacre Or to speak more strictly, the in Scotland, where a highly para- insane explanation, if not conclunoid man took a pile of guns and sive, is at least unanswerable."

For example, if a man says there killed 16 children and himself is a conspiracy against him, you was one example.

Who knows, that maybe last cannot dispute it by simply denySunday's tragedy in Tasmania, ing it - "for that is exactly what where even more died at the conspirators would do".

In other words, the paranoid hands of a gunman, may yet person has you foxed. Chesterton prove another.

The most powerful description says. "His explanation covers the of the delusional paranoia I have facts as much as yours."

Insane people frequently have their conspiracy theories worked out in the most extraordinary detail. Chesterton noted.

He described it as "a connecting of one thing with another in a map more elaborate than a maze."

However, all the detail in the world cannot make a madman's conspiracy theories true. For always, deep in the heart of the insane world view, lies a fundamental fallacy.

Usually, that fallacy is an exaggerated kind of egotism - an inability to see anything beyond the self.

When this egotistical madness grows very bad, it leads the sufferer to view the world as nothing more than a theatre, where his or her personal drama is endlessly played out.

This is the exact opposite of mental health.

For good mental health requires being able to see there are realities that lie beyond ourselves.

These days, it seems to me, it is all too common for religious people to forget that they are the ones in the world who are mentally healthy - not those who dismiss the religious world view as irrelevant superstition.

Because it is the people who dismiss traditional Christianity as outdated nonsense who are themselves often most prey to fads and fantasies much weirder

than they imagine the Catholic church to be.

We all know cases of New Age sects, and mad, bad cults that draw in people made unhappy by the absence of sensible, rational religion from their lives.

Taking Chesterton's insight. it is important to remember today that Catholicism teaches a view of reality in which the individual is given due importance - as a child of God - but whose limits lie far beyond the self.

It is a universe in which God is an objective reality - a reality into which we can extend ourselves through prayer and the sacramental life.

But at the same time, it is a universe that does not impose the back-breaking, or mind-breaking, strain of believing we are the beall and end-all of life.

Such a belief, it seems to me, poses the greatest peril of all in today's world.

That was shown recently in that terrible tragedy at Dunblane in Scotland, where a gunman named Thomas Hamilton went mad thinking he, and he alone, was the object of the world's concern, and killed all those young children to prove how right he was.

Yet all he really proved was how wrong he was. For Thomas Hamilton will be remembered by the world as one thing only totally, insufferably mad.

The Record. May 2 1996 Page 7

Feature

Little things change lives Big achievements can start in the ordinary duties of living needs to be heard. We might be asked about Catholic beliefs by a co-worker or a neighbour.

66 elieve what you read, teach what Someone might come to us seeking you believe, and practice what advice in dealing with a problem. you teach."

We might be involved in a conversation That is what a bishop says to deacons during their ordination. And while no sim- in which it is up to us to speak the truth ilar line is addressed to all the rest of us, a about God. Or perhaps the Spirit prompts us to similar obligation falls on each of us.

That's why I think these exhortations for write a letter to the editor on an important deacons are a good "place" to begin a dis- values' issue.

In a wide variety of ways, we employ our cussion that concerns all of us: our responsibility to believe, to teach and to practice words in order to share God's word.

However, God's word also is communicatwhat we teach.

In the end, it all has a lot to do with being ed through our actions.

Remember that the Word of God people who proclaim the word of God. When the word of God is proclaimed to us became flesh and lived among us. The during the liturgy, we recognise the voice incarnate (enfleshed) Word taught us of Christ speaking to us today. It is a word about God by the way he lived and died as well as by the words he spoke. that may: The point is that often the enfleshed • Comfort us in times of difficulty.

• Strengthen us to be faithful to the Lord. word - our action - is the one that speaks most powerfully.

• Or challenge us to change our lives.

• When we do an act of kindness, we Whatever the case, God's word comes to us as a gift. It invites us to enter more make the word of God's love visible and tangible. deeply into the love of God. • When we put in an honest day's work But the word we receive also is meant to be shared with others. All baptised people or pay a just wage to workers, we speak are called to spread the word of God volumes about justice and fairness.

• When we share with the needy, we throughout the world.

How is God's word shared? By our words speak of the bonds that unite us.

• When we vote for candidates who proand by our actions. Every member of the Church is entrusted with a ministry of the mote Gospel values, we make our voice word. heard on behalf of justice, and peace, and Sometimes this ministry takes a formal life. shape. We might be called to teach the •When we care for our families and nurfaith in a religion class for children. ture our children, we speak of the care of We might he chosen as a leader of a a God. Bible study group. We might share our In a thousand ways, we spread the word faith in adult religious education programs of God. This is what it means to evangeor as catechists in the catechumenate pro- lise. gram for those preparing to join the Pope john Paul II is calling for a "new Church. evangelisation" as we approach the year But often, too, we are challenged to 2000 and the start of the third millennium. speak our faith to others in less structured That evangelisation is needed not only in ways. There are many situations in the foreign lands and cultures, but in our own course of daily life where the word of God society.

Full-time missionaries will never change the world. That will only happen when each one of us is doing what God wants us to do, in the place where we should - our daily life and workplace.

Too often we make the mistake of thinking it is the place of the priest, and the priest only, to be the one who evangelises.

In fact, all along, if is our responsibility, at home, with people we meet and in the workplace. Only then will we really be missionaries.

By Father Lawrence Mick

B

But this won't happen if we leave the task solely to full-time missionaries. It can only be accomplished if each member of the Church takes responsibility for spreading the word of God. Of course, if we are going to spread the true word of God, and not just our own opinions, we must make sure that we are well nourished by that word.

Along with regular reading and study of the Bible, the premier place for hearing God's word is during the liturgy.

One reason we need to gather each week for worship is to allow God's word to speak to us again and form us.

The more we open our ears and our hearts to the word proclaimed to us, the

more likely it is that it will take root in us.

That's what is needed if we are to become people who share God's word through our own words and our actions.

The unspoken Word reverberates in hearts

By Father John Castelot

I

t is no small thing to be a channel of God's word, to be a prophet of that word that has a unique power.

"For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth. . . . .

So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth: it shall not

return to me void" (Isaiah 55:1011). But powerful and creative though this word is, it is not magic.

Like all words, it is a means of communication, and there is no communication without understanding.

People need to accept the word and interiorise it if it is to be truly creative and to transform them.

That's why proclaiming the word of God is not only a privilege but a responsibility. It must be presented with obvious sincerity.

For 50 years I have been formally teaching God's word. What have I discovered?

That I must realise its importance. If il ls not important for me, it will not be for my hearers.

I must reflect on it, pray it, interiorise it.

It is always deeply gratifying to

feel the resultant attentiveness "enfleshed" in a special way and response, that spark of rap- through the ministry of the word port between me and those carried on by flesh-and-blood whose hearts God is trying to people. reach.

Every Sunday people come to My students themselves are hear and be empowered by preparing for the ministry of the God's "living and effective" word word.

(Hebrews 4:12).

Whether they have been aspiThe homilist is not primarily a rants to the priesthood or parish- teacher. But he must bring the ioners eager to enrich their own word to life for people, applying lives and the lives of others, their It to their everyday situations, response has been heartening. enlightening and inspiring them Although my classes are not to reach for ideals that will lift overwhelmingly large, it is excit- them above the humdrum and ing to know that each student encourage them to become what will eventually touch hundreds, they truly are: Christians. even thousands, of minds and To accomplish such a lofty goal, hearts with the beauty and I've come to believe that we who power of God's word. share the word with others - and Preaching, too, has been in my that, in some form, is all of us life an extension of Christ's min- must be empowered. Who istry. It is no accident that Christ empowers us? The living Word, is called the Word of God, the who promised to be with us Word made flesh. He is always (Matthew 28:20).

Who can you trust in these hard days?

By David Gibson

Christ is the Word of God and, from day to day, the Word of our Hires

The Record, May 2 1996 Page 8

There is a small problem for those of us living on the eve of the year 2000 when it comes to speaking about anything involving words.

For "the word" in our society -

spoken word, printed word, televised word - often cannot be trusted.

But when Pope John Paul II speaks up yet again, calling us to participate in a "new evangelisation" for the year 2000 - and evangelisation is all about shar-

ing the word - we'll be ready.

We'll know he's talking about tearing down walls between people. He's talking about a word that is not deceptive, that doesn't manipulate or oppress.

The word to be shared replaces fear with hope.

Feature

God shines out of Multiple Sclerosis test name.

Shaking with fear. Gloria prayed very 'll dance again, said the petite, pretty, hard before the Eucharist, to the Holy still-young woman looking me defiant- Spirit, asking him for courage to help her through the coming ordeal. ly straight in the eye.

"Then I saw this bright, bright, blinding And I knew she truly meant it. white 'envelope shape' on my chest.

But at present she can barely struggle "So I put my hands on it and said 'I've around - only by hanging onto staircase railings and walking unsteadily with a got you now!' and from that moment I came out of the church as calm as could walking stick. be."

But that's Gloria Cattini of Duncraig - and She described the tests as "effortless and that's Multiple Sclerosis. without fear", and finally MS was conMS is a disease affecting the brain and firmed. spinal chord.

Back to work. Gloria was greeted with It is the most common chronic neurolog'm so sorry!" but she'd reply (for some ical condition among young Australian I bizarre reason, she conceded) - "I couldn't adults and the cooler the climate, the highbe happier!" er the Incidence of MS. But MS started exacting a price for its There are no particular drugs used for presence with firstly her hand becoming the disease and people affected have a almost useless during an eight week MS normal life expectancy. attack, so she couldn't write; her son had Gloria is the stuff that success stories are to teach her again. made of and visitors are left in no doubt Early in 1991 her walking was affected that this gutsy, most attractive little lady and then, in hope. she travelled to will overcome very real obstacles and Adelaide to be taught how to self-inject why not - walk again. multi-Vitamin B into her stomach, someIf she does it will very definitely be with thing she does daily.

God's help in whom she believes totally.

Despite MS. Gloria received a promotion Within that faith lies the secret of to marketing manager, responsible for the Gloria's success. She has found the right well being of the clients "which pushed combination resilience, power, tenacity, me into meeting other people" - and she and fight within her small frame, through was feted by her "very special boss" who a faith in God that must make Him mighty proudly took her out to lunch on proud, and rather the envy of many other Secretaries' Day and who has proved to be Catholics. "the backbone of my support."

Having married in England, Gloria Her boss, Joe D'Alessandro never let her migrated to Australia with husband use MS as an excuse and always urged George in 1988 with their son (now 14) her on. Gloria emphasised, and never and twin daughters (now 12). penalised or denied her an opportunity to After a spot of retraining. Gloria landed a continue with her work. job with a big Perth law corporation, When Mr DAlessandro left his corporawhich grew and grew until she was on the tion in September 1995 and changed management team with her own staff, direction, he took Gloria with him as his "meetings galore, in constant demand," personal assistant to work out of his famiand was thriving on the stress and the cut ly home, a move which has real advanand thrust of the busy scene with smart tages, she said, with a more relaxed Minosbusiness suits, business lunches, representing the company, malcing speeches at clubs, staff announcements, living it up at staff functions, and all the razzmatazz which goes with a career in the fast lane. It was everything an ambitious phere, and with work providing "the necyoung woman could have asked for - until essary mental stimulus to reinforce my life took a new twist. lack of physical ability."

It was a February 1990 morning when Enjoying her position, she delights in Gloria woke up with the feeling of a being of "some use to someone - apart restrictive sock on her ankle and recurring from my family." muscle spasms, but subsequent consultaOn that subject, Gloria's dedicated famition with three doctors failed to reveal the ly are a real team of support, and she cause. admits she doesn't know how she'd cope Almost always healthy, Gloria had anoth- without them. er incident whereby her leg gave way and MS moves rapidly in some people, and she fell in the street, unable (until assisted in others, such as Gloria, more slowly; it by her daughter) to lift her leg. incapacitates some very rapidly while othAfter a week she recovered, until later in ers may have it for years without gross the year when, with a painful back which intrusion. tingled all over, she again sought medical When Gloria walks her problems start, attention. so it may mean walking in public with a With fears raised and questions to be wobble, leaning on a daughter "and when answered, a professor suggested she may people look and wonder, you'd think you have MS, but would first run a week of would be more acceptable with a cast on tests in hospital. your leg!"

It's a depressing disease, describes At first fear struck at the thought of MS and the effect such a diagnosis would Gloria, and without medication, she deals with it as best she can. have on her family.

She has a tightness in the calf muscle, Then after the initial shock. typically Gloria thought "I'd better get it all togeth- with the sinews pulling tightly inside the leg above the knee, and when she stands er!" and returned to work until the tests.

The hospital entry day came with Gloria on her feet which are always cold, "I have praying first with her friends at City pockets of feelings missing inside my feet."

Beach's Holy Spirit church - for what was Although she can feel a fly on her foot, to take place, it was quite a prophetic she can't feel the nerve endings, "so I lose

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard

I

my balance and wobble." She survives today because of her family, says Gloria gratefully, so when she "hobbles inside the door,I bless them."

Her daughters will do anything to help her, as will her son and "my dear husband, George," but many things have to be taken into consideration with MS such as avoiding the heat of the day in which to shop, and not stopping once you start driving, because your courage may fail you to continue.

that here and there, "although I'm not anyone special," He does give her little signs.

Such as when she and George during praise and worship at the Disciples of Jesus one Sunday, were praying with friends, and "while I was praying very hard, asking God not for healing, but just telling Him how much I loved Him, all of a sudden I saw Jesus, this figure in the back of my mind.

"I told him how much I loved Him and urged Him to bless all the people in the room who loved Him too.

"And then I could feel the rays, and saw this white ray coming from His heart, mixing with my heart, and going back again as a transference of our mutual love."

During the Consecration at Mass, Gloria has become so immersed in the truth and authenticity of the transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ, that sometimes when the Host is raised, she feels the pain that Mary went through looking at Jesus on the Cross "and it was a common occurrence for me to cry during the Consecration, and feel the spear going into His side."

Completely convinced God will heal her, when he's ready and if he so wishes, Gloria accepts God's will in perfect faith and trust through the grace of God. "AndIreally mean that in every sense of the word, because if I had not received the Holy Spirit that day (before the tests), hey!

I wouldn't be happy about this MS!" She is certain she will dance again, and believes she is getting better, and the little messages God gives her, "touches me to give me hope and perfect trust."

Life begins with MS! exclaims Gloria. "because I have had more experiences with God since I got it and have achieved more with my career - and most importantly, I have a greater understanding and closeness with my dear family."

Above all, the unshakeable belief Gloria has that "God is with me" . . . . makes one world of difference.

'Shaking with fear, Gloria prayed very hard before the Eucharist; to the Holy Spirit; asking for courage' And then there's the time and patience factor, whereby it takes Gloria five minutes to get from her front door to her car.

You have to continuously stop this negative tendency and temptation not to do something. "which is a destruction of the body through a negative attitude," she explains.

But family support she certainly does have, and one daughter will cook and another unload the dishwasher, with a general sharing of chores throughout the family which Gloria acknowledges with "They're wonderful, wonderful loved ones, and I couldn't do without them."

When she has a bad day, like when she falls over because she isn't concentrating, one has to laugh about it, she admits, "so I look up to God and offer it up to Him." You've got no time to worry, look for scapegoats, or feel sorry for yourself, this plucky little lady advises, who says she has a life to live and one has a choice to either go into a corner and hide, or get on with it - "otherwise you give up!"

She admits that sometimes it's a fight but "you have to trust in God because through Him all things are achieved."

God in his goodness forgives all of us. says Gloria adamantly. and she maintains a strong dialogue with Him, conceding

The Record, May 2 1996 Page 9

Book Reviews

Mary's man of miracles and faith Father Peter Rookey - Man of Miracles, by Heather Parsons, pub. Centre for Peace, 91 Auburn Road, Auburn, Vic 3123 ($12 plus $4 postage and packing) Reviewed by Colleen McGuiness-Howard.

T

his book is an exciting, easy to read and digest book, written in simple language with good type and the message it gives is powerful enough to totally immerse you in the 18 chapters.

American born, Servants of Mary (Servite) Father Peter Mary Rookey is a powerful witness with his Charismatic healing through God's power.

He also has a great love for Our Lady.

It is she whom he involves constantly in his healing ministry "by asking Our Beautiful Lady to touch Jesus to obtain this healing, whatever it is. " Her word is command for Him you know: His association with her goes back a long way when, at the age of eight. he was medically considered blinded for life when a firecracker exploded in his face and damaged his eyesight.

Father Rookey's mother was determined however, that going through Our Lady, God alone would decide that.

And so this very devout family led by their fervent, faith-filled mother, prayed the Rosary every night.

Devotions increased in Our Lady's month of May as the fam-

ily prayed for the return of eight year old Peter's sight.

His mother was one of 18 children who'd actually survived childhood and had been raised in America, on Irish Catholic values.

She married another devout Catholic, who was one of 11 children.

Together they had 13 children with Peter being the ninth.

Catholic faith and practice was an integral part of the home with Sunday and weekday Mass, devotions, and the evening Rosary So when Peter was tragically blinded and his case medically hopeless, the family knew he would be healed with their prayers and faith, if that is what God wills."

Within 18 months young Peter's sight was fully restored and he then proceeded on the path to priesthood to assist in God's work.

Ordained, and finding himself In Ireland in 1948 to help set up the Servite Order in County Tyrone, the full extent of God's ministry for Fr Rookey became • apparent.

Miracles of healing - physical and spiritual - took place, from the fully restored sight of a blind baby, the formerly dumb saying the name of Jesus, to people pushing their wheelchairs aside and walking away with fully restored health.

Exorcisms have also taken place in the name of Jesus and many, many conversions back to God.

Father Rookey is a remarkable man because his life is largely one of travel around his American homeland and to various parts of the world with his healing ministry which would be tiring enough. All the time he is laying his hands individually on the thousands who flock to be healed.

Nevertheless, he fasts every day when he is scheduled for a Healing Mass, which is the large part of his life, and normally only eats one meal a day - generally around midnight - before retiring for the night.

Within its chapters this book covers many testimonies which constantly reinforce the real Jesus, alive today, healing so many people who in this case, go to Fr Rookey in faith, hope and trust.

Large numbers 'rest in the Spirit' when he prays over them.

Many too feel the 'hot warmth' of being healed by the Holy Spirit through their bodies and then walk away completely cured.

This book is 'real' - filled with the facts and truth of the power of Jesus in healing a sick and ailing humanity.

But it also lets you see you can ask for healing.

This can be done by either personally going to Fr Rookey's Healing Mass, by standing in for someone who is unable to attend. or by praying Fr Rookey's The Miracle Prayer.

If one approaches in sincerity and love God does listen and act In one way or another.

A Presentation history: from Titanic struggles for Ireland to the world's corners control of the Empire From Cork to Capricorn - A History of the Presentation Sisters in Western Australia 1891 - 1991 by Ruth Marchant James, published by the Congregation of the Presentation Sisters 1996, $40.

Reviewed by Clement Mulcahy

T

his is a major work that places the story of the Presentation nuns within the context of the local and regional histories of the communities served by these women across the State.

Printed by Frank Daniels Pty Ltd, the standards achieved in this 876 page, illustrated volume, complete with a comprehensive bibliography, index, list of contents, appendices, tables and maps, reflect well upon both the author and the printer.

The maps are of particular relevance as the volume is targeted at an international readership as well as a national one.

Even today many Western Australians would not be familiar with the localities where the Presentation Sisters once lived and taught - a number of these places now are but ghost towns of the Murchison goldfields.

The decision to print one large book comprising two volumes, each of which is dedicated to distinct aspects of the Presentation history does mean, though, that the reader needs a table upon which to rest this fascinating story.

The title of the book provides a link between the foundress of the Presentation Sisters, Nano Nagle of Cork, and the far flung con, ,, , • - - .

• P •

vents in the southern hemisphere.

In Western Australia they are to be found from throughout the south west to beyond the twenty sixth parallel.

Professor Bolton's foreword gives a strong sense of the main thrust of the research, analysis and interpretation provided by the author in this study of "the important, but insufficiently recognised role (of nuns) in Australian history".

Ruth Marchant James has brought her material together in a compelling narrative.

In this instance her story enables the reader to meet both the women who were the nuns, and the men who had been appointed priests or bishops, rather than offering the reader an analysis of the institutional convent, parish or diocese without regard for the human frailties, strengths or social attitudes relevant to the times.

The authoritarianism, unacceptable now, that permeated the Catholic hierarchy in Ireland and Australia in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, impacted upon the management of the convents according to the strictures of Canon Law and each Congregation's Constitution, and is placed in context.

The pressure for adaptation to better meet the needs of Australian conditions faced both by local bishops and the Irish and Australian women as Presentation Sisters, is well examined by the author, and the narrative loses none of it's pace in meeting this test Archival material is used very

The Atie'cird,-Maii1494 hoe 10

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effectively and the author's research unearthed several documents pivotal to a more complete understanding of several issues within the Presentation Sisters' history, both in Ireland and in Western Australia.

In drawing on public and private archives and collections for photographic material, Ruth Marchant James has provided an engaging pictorial record of the era, including many previously unpublished photographs and sketches.

As a long standing member of the Royal Western Australian Historical Society, current member of the State Council of the RWAHS and a valued contributor to the Society's Journal, Early Days, Historicus, the Australian Dictionary of Biography and The West Australian, Ruth Marchant James is well known for the accuracy of her research, her love of literature and her command of language.

All of these traits are much in evidence in this book as in her works, published earlier Heritage of Pines, Meath Story and Untamed by Time.

From Cork to Capricorn which is available at the RWAHS Stirling House Bookshop, 49 Broadway, Nedlands (telephone 386 3841) or through the Presentation Sisters.

At a cost of $40 it will not disappoint Ruth's established readership and will delight those others who are now introduced to the author through the pages of this study of the Presentation Sisters in Western Australia over the hundred years from 1891 to 1991.

T

Charlemagne was regarded by all subsequent emperors as their model and forebear.

Even Napoleon, who finally liquidated the Empire at the close of the 18th century, declared: 'I am indeed Charlemagne, the sword of the church and its emperor.'

The Holy Roman Empire remains of unique importance and interest.

The Holy Roman Emperor stood in a line of succession almost a temporal counterpart to the apostolic succession of the Popes.

The Holy Roman Empire, by Friedrich Heer, pub. Phoenix Giants, RRP $29.95 pbk Reviewed by Karl G. Schmude he present-day search for a European community has inevitably aroused interest in earlier expressions of cultural coherence.

It lasted for over a thousand years, emerging at a time of darkness and disunity in Europe.

On Christmas Day 800, Charlemagne was crowned Roman Emperor by the Pope, thereby establishing an alliance of the temporal and spiritual orders that was to form the special mark and monument of medieval culture.

The Holy Roman Empire was not a secular entity in the modem sense: it was the temporal organ of a spiritual sodety.

As the German historian Friedrich Heer makes clear in the present book, it 'was not a territorial expression but first and foremost a union of persons on the basis of fellowship.'

Thus a common religious faith merged with a common sense of citizenship.

The ultimate badge of identity was to be a citizen of Christendom.

Titanic struggles took place between Popes and Emperors for mastery over the Empire.

Heer describes the Church as 'the prop and stay of the Holy Roman Empire' throughout its existence; and, when ecclesiastical foundations were secularised at the beginning of the 19th century, the Empire received its death blow.

In a final chapter, 'The Unfinished Symphony,' the author draws a crucial distinction between 'unity' and 'uniformity'.

The Holy Roman Empire offered Europe an underlying unity and a 'colourful diversity of life,' which has now withered under the force of wars and revolutions.

Europe - and the whole world - has suffered grievously for the loss of a political order that transcends individual nations, and can hold at bay the destructive impulses that have marked our own century's his-' tory of nation-states.

Simply Sharing Week

When a meal is never guaranteed H

OW many times a day do

Food, water, electricity: we take all the luxuries of life for granted.

you flush the toilet? How frequently do you make yourselves a cup of tea or coffee or just get yourself a glass of water to drink?

Do you ever stop to think about your clean water supply, or the fact that you have electricity to boil the kettle and put on the light to read as it gets dark outside?

While we in Australia are able to take many of these facilities for granted, there are many millions of people around the world who do not have access to these basic things in life.

Force Ten, the education and fund-raising aid program of the National Council of Churches in Australia and Australian Catholic Relief, is again organising its annual Simply Sharing Week for 12-19 May in the week before the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Christians and people of goodwill are asked to contribute the cost of food or luxuries forgone to Force Ten or pay a tax on what they do not give up.

Force Ten education officer Leonie Walker said there were 14 million people who went to sleep hungry each night.

One hundred million people were without a home. "There are 1.2 billion people who live in absolute poverty - so poor that their lives are threatened

For some, their next meal is the one they grow no certainty it will suceed, no nice wrapping either.

because they cannot afford food, average Australian consumes shelter and medicine," Mrs about 20 times the amount of Walker said. resources consumed by a person But she said the challenge was in the developing world. not to be overwhelmed by the "For the sake of those who go to figures. bed hungry each night and for "Numbers are stark, cold," Mrs our own survival we need to start Walker said. changing our lifestyle - Simply "Behind each number is a per- Sharing is a way to start 'sharing' son whose life is under threat. the world's resources more fair"But what the numbers do not ly." tell us is that people are working In 1996, money raised from Simply Sharing Week will benefit communities in the Pacific, and South Africa. Mrs Walker suggested that people call Force Ten's national office on (02) 299 2215 or the Council of Churches in Western Australia on (09) 221 hard where they live to maintain 1732 for a kit. and improve life.

Kits Include: worship resources; "Behind each of those statistics more recipes: games and activiIs a human being - a father who ties; and teaching ideas for prileaves home in the rural area to mary and secondary students. seek work in the city, a mother There are brochures to be given who struggles to feed her family to each person participating in a and grow extra to raise money Simply Sharing Week activity." for the children's education, chilMrs Walker said Jesus prayed dren who work in the vegetable that Christians all be one that the gardens before and after school. world may believe. "Unfortuna"And that is where we in tely the world often sees Australia can help."

Christians divided." she said.

She said Force len challenged "But there are many examples Australians to 'Live Simply' for at of Christians working together to least one week each year so that they can better appreciate the bring God's love and compassion things they too often take for to those who are suffering. granted.

At the same time they can save money to send to assist people in their work to improve life for themselves and their communities.

"Simply Sharing Week is usually held from the 12th May to the 19th but people can do it at whatever period suits them best - even for a lifetime", Mrs Walker said.

• Organise a Simply Sharing "It's also an activity that people Celebration for your Church or can do together - as a family or a group Ideas for Fellowship church group is probably the food, games, discussions and most frequent, but it is also an activities are in the Kit. activity that you can take to work.

• Try the simple recipes in the "Explain to your workmates kit and contribute the money that you are raising funds to help saved to Force Ten. and garsupply water to homes •Invite friends around to your dens in South Africa and 'tax' house for a simple meal and people for each toilet flush, glass games night. of water or cup of tea or coffee."

• Ask your friends to con"A ten cents 'tax' collected in tribute the cost of a night out at jars around the office soon adds the movies. up - and people can see that we • Instead of buying lunch at in Australia can help make a difwork each day make up a ference to the lives of others in sandwich or salad for a week. need." and drink water. Contribute Mrs Walker pointed out that the money you have saved.

Australians were learning to • Involve your school in carry their own shopping bags Simply Sharing by asking the and buy environmentally friendtuck shop not to open for a day. ly products - mainly as a Each child can receive a basic response to environmental conrice meal, or a bread roll, cerns. while contributing the cost of a "But we still consume far more normal lunch. than we actually need. In fact, the

JAW -

How you can help the poor

Almost impossible to find education substitute for parents More excerpts from the Pontifical

Council for the Family's guidelines for sex education. children for chastity strives E(a)duc.ating to achieve three objectives: to maintain in the family a positive

atmosphere of love, virtue and respect for the gifts of God. in particular the gift of life; (Evangelium Vitae, 97) (b) to help children to understand the value of sexuality and chastity in stages,

sustaining their growth through magisterium of the church has enlightening word, example and expressed itself clearly (Familiaris prayer; Consortia 36-37) in relation to the (c) to help them understand and dis- whole educative process of children: cover their own vocation to marriage or -The role of parents in education is of to consecrated virginity for the sake of such importance that it is almost the kingdom of heaven in harmony impossible to find an adequate substiwith and respecting their attitudes and tute. inclinations and the gifts of the Spirit.

"It is therefore the duty of parents to Other educators can assist in this task. create a family atmosphere inspired by but they can only take the place of par- love and devotion to God and their felents for serious reasons of physical or low men which will promote an intemoral incapacity. On this point the grated, personal and social education of

their children. The family is therefore the principal school of the social virtues which are necessary to every society."

(Vatican II Declaration on Christian Education, 3) In fact, education is the parents' domain insofar as their educational task continues the generation of life: moreover it is an offering of their humanity (Gratissimum Sane, 16) to their children to which they are solemnly bound in the very moment of celebrating their marriage.

Die Recorct,May, 2 199 Page 11 . 174.1i 1am,a1 J

To Jesus through Mary. . .

I

t was a hot and dusty day back in 1927. Father Alipius Dempsey, an Augustinian priest, was making his way on horseback to his presbytery at Mareeba in far north Queensland.

Behind him jogged his pack horse carrying a blanket and his ration of water, plus his vestments and everything else needed for Mass.

Father had come from celebrating Mass in Mossman for the scattered Catholics there. Now he was on his way home through the jullaten district.

Distances were long in his tropical parish and there were few roads, just tracks through the bush.

He would have to reach a Catholic home by nightfall.

When riding, Father Dempsey wore khaki trousers and a khaki shirt. Days in the saddle over dusty tracks and sweating under a tropical sun made it impossible to wear a black clerical suit.

As he rode along, the rhythmic swaying of the horse and the hot day made Fr. Dempsey drowsy.

Suddenly, he was awakened from a reverie: UWoo, Dolly," he almost shouted at his mare and tugged at the rein as Dolly started off along a side track Fr Dempsey was a good bushman, he knew every inch of his vast parish and long hours in the saddle had made him an accomplished horseman.

"What's wrong with ye?" The mare was off to the side track once more. Again Father set the horse's head for home and again the horse made along the side track Father urged the mare along the well worn track for home. She just reared up on her hind legs.

The priest tried to calm her she reared again and started off at a gallop along the side track.

Efforts to rein her in were useless.

After going some distance the track wound down to a creek Before long Fr Dempsey heard the barking of a dog. He immediately wondered, "What's up, no one lives down here. What's a dog doing here?" A prospector's tent

shack came in sight - He called again but there was only the silence of the bush.

The priest went up to the shack and pushed the door open. In the half light he saw a form lying on the bed.

It was a young man - and one glance told the priest that he was seriously ill.

"Thank God you have come, Father," the man gasped. The priest looked down at the dying man - he was a complete stranger. "Not too well?" A shake of the head, "No, Father."

"Have we met before?" asked Fr Dempsey. "No Father. I am new in these parts. - been here only a few weeks."

The priest looked down at the khaki trousers and shirt he was wearing.

There was no sign to indicate that he was a priest. They had never seen each other before!

Yet this young fellow kept calling him "Father".

"You are a Catholic?" the priest said, eyeing the Rosary beads on the bed. "Yes, Father."

"Why do you call me 'Father?" asked the priest in curiosity.

US bishops urge caution on genetic testing Another could have been, "US "Genetic testing is an important tool, but many will suffer if wis- military restricts DNA use to WASHINGTON (GNS) - dom and sound morality do not dead body identification and Genetic testing has legitimate guide its use," the statement said. criminal justice."

"Clearly, the scientific commuThat was what the Defence uses but poses an 'enormous nity cannot shoulder the Department decided in new, regpotential for abuse," said the US bishops' Committee on Science whole burden of bringing ethics ulations issued as a result of the to bear." it said. controversy surrounding the two and Human Values.

It urged Church collaboration Marines.

"Genetic testing raises and will "Genetic testing can assist continue to raise moral issues for with scientists "to harmonise sciadvance with religious entific decision-making in a sound the individual, for the family, for range of situations.... Testing has racial or ethnic groups and for insight."

Titled "Critical Decisions: legitimate uses even in the delisociety as a whole." it said in a 1,500-word statement released Genetic Testing and Its Implicat- cate area of human reproducions," the statement is to be pub- tion," the committee said. on April 23. lished later this year.

But it warned that without Just one week earlier two US It opened with a series of "ficMarines were court-martialled tional ... (but) not fanciful" sce- appropriate legal and ethical in Hawaii for refusing to provide narios illustrating the kinds of safeguards, such testing can lead against discrimination blood and tissue samples for things that could happen now or to certain genes. people with the Defence Department's four- soon with genetic testing.

"A predisposition to colon canyear-old DNA databank.

"Optimum Among them: Their headline-making case Insurance asks all applicants cer is already detectable," it said. brought national attention to for individual health care poli- "If someone tests positive, should some of the moral and legal cies to undergo testing for the this information be available to insurance companies, whose issues that genetic testing poses. gene which predisposes to financial success depends on The Committee on Science and hypertension.... The state of Human Values, headed by Maryland denies a marriage minimising risk? Potential empBishop Francis DiLorenzo of license to two people with mild loyers? Potential marriage partners? What if the existence of a Honolulu, convenes yearly meet- mental retardation." gene predisposing to homosexuings of bishops and scientists.

Had the statement been written ality is confirmed? Who should The new statement grew out of a few months later, a not-at-all have access to test results?" their September 1995 meeting fictional scenario could have "Current therapies, by and and was approved for publica- been, "Marines court-martialarge, manipulate a single gene tion by the bishops' Administr- lled for refusing to give DNA to or gene product.... Nevertheless. ative Committee. military databank." the rate of discovery for genes that cause disease or influence physical and mental traits is accelerating rapidly. Within one or two generations, human beings may be able both to change significantly the individual's genetic makeup through somatic cell therapy and to affect heredity through germ-line therapy," it said.

It said the Church supports toward research "directed respect for personal dignity and support of human life" but opposes the use of such research for decisions 'not in accord with Marines John Mayfield (left) and Joseph Ifiacovskr court-martialled.

Round morality. '

. . . a column of Marian devotion "Well - I have always prayed to Our Lady not to let me die without a priest - I am dying now.

"Our Lady would not refuse my prayer. Besides, nobody ever comes down the track you took; so you must be a priest sent here

by Our Lady to help me."

The priest felt the young man's pulse and smoothed his brow. He then introduced himself.

Fr Dempsey heard the man's confession and anointed him.

The man's story was quite simple.

On leaving home to make his fortune as a gold prospector he had promised his mother to say the daily Rosary.

He had been faithful each day to that promise, faithful to his earthly mother and to his Heavenly Mother. His earthly mother was far away, his heavenly Mother must have been close by.

Father tried to make the man comfortable, but noticed he seemed to be sinking rapidly.

He whispered prayers in his ear and afterwards began the Rosary.

Talking was difficult but the young man gasped a few words.

. . . "Holy Mary.. . . . pray for us. . . . now . . . . and at the hour of our death."

It was in the arms of the priest the man breathed his last.

As he rode on to Jullaten late that afternoon, it dawned on Fr Dempsey that Mary had used him as Her messenger in a miracle of motherly love.

There, dying in a shack miles and miles from any human being was a man who in the eyes of men was just a prospector, but in Mary's eyes was her child in need.

Alone in the bush he called on his Mother for help and she heard.

She led a priest's horse miles off his course to give the last Sacraments to Her son. His Heavenly Mother had been with him in his last hour.

And Fr. Dempsey felt sure She had taken Her son to his Heavenly home.

Reprinted in Ave Maria magazine of the WA Garabandal Centre from the Oct-Dec 1994 isue of Contact, magazine of the Confraternity of Christ The Priest.

Caftheurrchirldignation Brazil massacre

By Jerry Fitteau

The Record, May 2 1996 Page 12

Workers in Maraba in northern Brazil load up coffins of 19 landless farmers on April 19, killed by police during demonstrations two days earlier.

WASHINGTON (CNS) - US and Brazilian Church officials reacted with indignation following a Brazilian massacre that left more than 20 landless people dead.

Bishop Daniel Reilly of Worcester, Massachusetts, head of the US bishops' Committee on International Policy, joined the Brazilians "in the prayerful hope that this sad episode will motivate all who want peace to pursue the peace that is the fruit of justice, especially for the millions of displaced rural workers seeking only the right to work the land and raise their families with dignity."

The Brazilian bishops urged an immediate investigation after police killed more than 20 people - including a 3-year-old among 2,500 landless farmers blocking a highway to demand land near Maraba, 430 miles south of the Para state capital Belem, April 17 Officials said police "lost control" and opened fire with machine guns on the protesters.

Tests showed many of the dead were killed with execution-style shots to the head and neck A noted campaigner for land reform, Bishop Pedro Casaldaliga Pla of the Prelature of Sao Felix, Brazil. said his country "is becoming the country of massacres - in the streets, in prisons, in hospitals and now in the fields."

In an April 18 statement issued in Raid. Brazil, the Brazilian bishops' conference said that "the solution to these conflicts will -me only through an immediate

and effective land reform, accompanied by an adequate agricultural policy, the postponement of which the nation can no longer tolerate."

They also said they hoped the incident would mobilise Brazilians who seek peace.

Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso said he was shocked by the massacre.

Speaking after the massacre he added that measures to speed up land reform and punish human rights abuses would change the nation.

But the bishops' Pastoral Land Commission, known by its Portuguese initials as the CPT criticised Cardoso for not heeding warnings that violence was brewing in southern Para state.

"Now, after the burial of the victims. President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. with his impeccable rhetoric, promises many things," the commission said.

"What the CPT asks is how many similar tragedies will be needed for agrarian reform?"

Brazil's Landless Movement says 1 percent of Brazil's landowners hold 46 percent of the nation's farmland, while onefifth of the nation's arable land is not being farmed.

Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Pontifical Council for justice and Peace. also wrote to the Brazilian bishops about the incident. letter, Cardinal In his Etchegaray said the justice and peace council would soon issue a document on issues of land illstrihution.

International News

More than 2000 confirmed in one US session ORLANDO, Florida. (CNS) They came by the busload and the carload from every corner of the Diocese of Orlando, almost filling Orlando Arena to capacity.

Approximately 15,000 Catholics came to the "Diocesan Day of Rededication and Confirmation in the Faith" on April 21, with more than 2,200 people from 50 parishes receiving the sacrament of confirmation.

It was the largest gathering of Catholics in the 27-year history of the diocese.

Diocesan organisers and arena staffers started early - at around 3 am that morning - to transform the arena from an ice hockey rink into what Orlando Bishop Norbert Dorsey called the diocese's -temporary Jerusalem."

"Our gracious God gave us a miracle." the bishop said following the confirmation.

-Considering the complexities involved and the coordination needed for a reverent and inspiring ceremony that lasted only two hours and five minutes, I am just filled with praise and thanks to all the wonderful people from

The young wail to receive confirmation from Bishop Dorsey on April 21.

our diocese and our parishes who worked together so hard...."

Red streamers extended from the arena scoreboard where the celebration was projected on screens.

A large simple wooden cross hung above the altar. A gray car-

Abortion 'opens the way' to euthanasia

By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) - Building a culture of life must go beyond protecting the unborn and the infirm to restoring a view of human life as a great good. said speakers at a Rome conference.

The need to rediscover the value of all life is seen in the contradictory positions of some governments which, while promoting human rights and protection of the environment, legalise taking the lives of the weak and defenceless, Pope John Paul II said in a written message to the conference.

A year after publishing his encyclical "The Gospel of Life," the Pope said that "the denial of life - consolidated and ratified as a culture of death in legal abortion - continues to take root in modern society with the intention of legalising euthanasia as well."

The April 22-24 conference, marking the first anniversary of the encyclical's publication, was sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Family.

The notion of -quality of life," which is often used as an excuse to support the death of the weak or disabled, ignores the fact that life is a gift of God with a transcendent. eternal dimension that goes beyond the earthly conditions of the person, he said.

Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, secretary of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

told the conference that building a civilisation of life means marshalling forces to educate everyone about the value of theirs and others' lives.

While the Church must pay attention to the situation of individual women who decide to have an abortion, it also must "analyse the social, cultural and environmental conditions in which the phenomenon of abortion arises." he said.

Retired Italian Cardinal Ersilio Tonini told the conference, "We must not reduce the safeguarding of life to just opposing abortion; abortion is a symptom of a much wider problem."

"The future of the world is balanced on the dignity of the human person and the prospects that any man and woman in any part of the world have to be recognised as human no matter where they settle."

Cardinal Tonini said.

A Polish senator told the conference that people must be helped to see that just because abortion, euthanasia or the death penalty have been legalised by a majority vote does not make them right.

"If the killing of a certain category of persons is permitted, one cannot say the democracy recognises and safeguards the dignity of every human person," said Alicja Grzeskowiak a member of the Polish senate and a professor of law at the Catholic University of Lublin.

pet covered the floor dotted with red squares to mark where those to be confirmed, dressed in white robes with red bands, would receive the anointing with chrism.

As he began his homily, the bishop said the event was

planned for two reasons. First, he said, it was to gather Catholics from throughout the nine-county diocese to rededicate themselves and confirm themselves in the Catholic faith.

Second, he said, it was to prepare for the new millennium as the Pope has urged.

He urged the crowd to consider the day's events "a jump start" for that preparation "as we come here to ask a favour of our young people and adults, to say we do believe and we are moving toward you, our Father in heaven."

Bishop Dorsey reflected on the Gospel story about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who were joined by Jesus but did not realise it was him until they ate together and recognised him.

The disciples then rushed back to Jerusalem to tell everyone.

By gathering for the diocesan confirmation, Orlando Catholics were joining "the disciples of old - because now we are the disciples.- Bishop Dorsey said.

-Remembering the promise of Jesus and firmly believing by our

baptismal faith in his resurrection, we come to this temporary Jerusalem to await the coming of his spirit."

Although "we may be sometimes weak, or worried, or imperfect disciples, we come together to give strength to one another and to join in faith and to proclaim that Jesus Christ lives, is truly risen from the dead!"

He told those being confirmed that the church asked three responses from them: to be people of prayer, to be proud of their faith, and to be "disciples of tomorrow."

Sixteen bishops from across Florida and from around the United States attended the confirmation ceremony.

About 60 priests from the 50 parishes in the diocese and from various diocesan offices were also present.

The event gave -the young people the opportunity to see the big picture," Fonda Nobles told The Florida Catholic, diocesan newspaper. "I think it's important for them to see that they're not alone in their faith."

Archbishop faces tough audience at sex abuse apology service

By Art Babych CIITAWA (CNS) - Angry outbursts from abuse victims of two Catholic-operated training schools in Ontario disrupted the apology of Archbishop Marcel Gervais of Ottawa at a special Mass on April 21.

"I don't want an apology from you, I want an apology from the (Christian) brothers that raped me," shouted abuse victim Paul Gagnon from a front pew of Notre Dame Cathedral-Basilica.

"They ruined my life, those dogs." and Gervais Archbishop Toronto Archbishop Aloysius Ambrozic had agreed earlier to issue the public apologies and invited the victims to attend special Masses in the two cities.

About 500 former students were abused at either St

Joseph's Training School in Alfred, east of Ottawa. or at St John's training school in Uxbridge, near Toronto.

The abuses occurred between the 1950s and 1970s. Both schools were operated by the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

A $16 million compensation package was reached in 1992.

More than two dozen Christian Brothers have been convicted of physical or sexual offenses in the scandal.

Archbishop Gervais described his first meeting several years ago with several victims.

"What I heard. what I saw and what I felt was the anger and the rage of years of helplessness, of voicelessness, without power to defend yourselves, without the means to obtain justice."

He was then interrupted by a

victim who called out that it was the abusers who should apologise. Archbishop Gervais replied. "Well, we will look into that later, if we can."

As the shouting persisted. gave Gervais Archbishop his assurance that "if we can obtain an apology, we will."

The archbishop went on to praise the victims and their families for having "the courage to come forward to have their claims validated in a legal process."

As he concluded his homily, another man, identified only as Joseph. shouted to him, "If I accept your apology, would you see to it that the kids that were buried in Alfred training school the cemetery - would be dug up and put someplace else?"

Archbishop Gervais replied. "I'll put that on the agenda. Yes."

'Consult laity' on new bishops

By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) - While Church members cannot vote on questions of faith and morals, expanded participation in other Church decisions, such as choosing bishops. makes sense, an Italian theologian said.

Debates over how decisions should be made in the Catholic Church cannot be reduced to a simple "democracy - yes or democracy - no," said Father Severino Dianich.

But Archbishop Jorge Mejia, secretary of the Congregation for Bishops, told newspaper reporters the Vatican has never considered the possibility of changing Church practice to allow bishops' conferences to nominate bishops for their countries.

Such decisions are reserved for the Pope, he said.

However, Vatican representatives in various countries sometimes seek the opinions of local bishops.

Fr Dianich, a past president of the Association of Italian Theologians, said that when

dealing with questions of faith and morals, the Catholic Church believed the wisdom and grace needed for decision-making was given to the Apostles and their successors, the bishops.

But on other matters, such as the selection of bishops or decisions regarding how money: should be spent, there is no reason to ignore the opinion and expertise of the laity, he said.

Father Dianich, a pastor in Pisa, wrote in the 1 May issue of Famiglia Cristiana.

"The question of democracy in the Church is ancient, and not only because of the desire of dissidents, heretics or unbelievers," he said.

Councils and popes of the fourth and fifth centuries supported the democratic election of bishops, the priest said.

-The life of the Church is carried out through an infinity of commitments and works that require continual deliberation and decisions." he said.

"These go from questions of great importance - such as the naming of bishops in various local churches - to ordinary.

even banal questions - like those involved when a parish wants to buy a new organ or organise a trip.

"It doesn't seem right." he said, to invoke the Pope's or the bishop's apostolic character to resolve such questions.

"In fact, the principle of charism could attribute greater authority in individual fields of action to those who have greater specific competence" in knowing the community involved and its needs, he said.

"For example, it would seem more logical for the bishops' conference of japan to nominate Japanese bishops rather than some organism of the Roman Curia working 12,000 kilometers away," he said.

Father Dianich said he absolutely did not believe that the Church was similar to a State in which all of the people should have a vote on every decision.

"However, it is also true that there are many and vast areas in which decisions could be turned over to groups representing the people of God." he said.

The Record. May 2 1996 Page 13

••••••"3.1.

International News

mine land nounce e Catechism in Latin 'instruments of death' In Brief

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The official Latin text of the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" is expected to be published by mid-199Z said Archbishop Crescenzio Sepe, secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Clergy.

The Latin text will be the "editio typica," or the standard for other translations of the catechism.

Vatican officials have said the Latin text will include corrections and some changes to the various existing versions of the catechism, which were translated from a French text.

Death-fast threat WASHINGTON (CNS) Ursuline Sister Dianna Ortiz said she would "place my life in the hands of the US government" by beginning a breadand-water fast until she hears the truth about the US role in her 1989 abduction, rape and torture in Guatemala.

Sister Ortiz, a native of New Mexico, announced the fast at an emotional press conference on April 22 in Washington.

She said the fast was designed to discover the truth about her own 1989 abduction and those of other Guatemalans who she says have suffered and died at the hands of the officially sponsored death squads, supported with US tax dollars.

Theologian dies VATICAN CITY (CNS) Italian Cardinal Mario Luigi Clapp', a Dominican theologian who advised five popes, died at age 86 in Rome.

Cardinal Ciappi was appointed in 1955, by Pope Pius XII to the main theological advisory post in the papal household.

He held the office, which was later titled, "theologian of the papal household," under Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, John PaulI and John Paul II, until his retirement in 1989.

Monks ransom VATICAN CITY (CNS) - A month after seven French monks were kidnapped in Algeria, an Islamic rebel group has offered to release them in exchange for Algerian prisoners held by France.

"We leave the choice to you: If the prisoners of the GIA are released, we will free the monks," said the communique published in the Algerian newspaper Al Hayat It added, "If there is no negotiation, then the monks' throats will be cut."

The was communique addressed to French President Jacques Chirac. and signed by the Armed Islamic Group, known as the GIA.

Rome 2000 fund ROME (CNS) - In a bid to give Rome a face-lift for the year 2000, Italy has approved funding of $2.2 billion for 68 urban renewal projects.

The move in late April relieved Vatican and Rome officials, who were concerned that bureaucratic foot-dragging might force cancellation of some of the major construction initiatives.

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope John Paul II urged government representatives attending a UN meeting on land mines to . 'renounce such instruments of death."

The Pope spoke the day before the UN conference opened on April 22 in Geneva.

The Vatican's representative told participants that placing stricter conditions on land mines was not enough.

"The only solution is to ban them," said Msgr. Andres Carrascosa, head of the Holy See delegation to the conference reviewing an international treaty on "conventional weapons which may be deemed to be excessively

for example, shortening their life span - would serve only to create new markets and motivations for manufacturing the weapons.

"Our world needs courageous decisions in this area, as was the case with chemical weapons or those with blinding lasers," he said.

Political as well as military decisions are needed, Mgr. Carrascosa said.

Governments must "weigh carefully their responsibility toward the millions of innocent human beings - often those who are most vulnerable - who are the victims of these weapons," he said.

"The requirements of national defense can be met in other ways." he said.

Vatican weighs up Nebraska Bruskewitz stays put on excommunication stand diocesan ban

By John Travis VATICAN CITY (CNS) - A month after a US bishop threatened automatic excommunication to Catholics belonging to 12 organisations, Vatican officials studying the still were pastoral and legal ramifications of the action.

While generally defending the bishop's motives and his right to invoke excommunication, the officials cited potential problems In applying the penalty to individuals and said the lack of consultation with other bishops raised questions of collegiality.

The officials, who asked not to be named, spoke in interviews with Catholic News Service in late April.

In March, Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska, said Catholics in his diocese would face automatic interdict from April 15 if they continued their membership in any of 12 organisations he termed "perilous to the Catholic faith."

If they persisted, a month later they would be excommunicated, he said.

The groups included those supporting legal abortion or euthanasia, some that are opposed to church reforms since Vatican II and some affiliated with the

No dissenters allowed: bishop OMAHA. Nebraska (CNS) Archbishop Elden Curtiss of Omaha has barred Catholics of his archdiocese from Church ministries and offices if they publicly support abortion or euthanasia or publicly dissent from Church teaching on women's ordination.

He did not, however, legislate penalties of interdict and excommunication for Catholics belonging to certain Masonic and other groups, as Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz did a month earlier in a neighboring Diocese.

In a three-page letter to be read at all weekend Masses on April Curtiss Archbishop 27-28, warned that "any Catholics in this archdiocese who publicly support abortion or euthanasia may not be in any teaching, ministerial or liturgical ministry or be a member of any parish or archdiocesan council."

Freemasons. The Vatican has had no official reaction to the controversial action.

But in interviews, officials expressed moral support for

Bishop Bruskewitz and caution about the wider effects of his move.

Those wider effects were receiving careful study.

Among the material being examined by Vatican doctrinal officials was an unsolicited report by several US civil lawyers, including Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, one informed source said.

In Washington, a spokeswoman for Scalia said he had no comment on the report.

Bishop Anthony Pilla of Cleveland, president of the US bishops' conference. discussed Bishop Bruskewitz's action in meetings with Vatican officials in late April.

He said he shared the US conference position that it had no competency or authority over a decision of the local bishop in his own diocese.

One highly placed Vatican official said he considered Bishop Bruskewitz's action a "first warning" to his faithful.

In effect, he said, the bishop was not setting new conditions for automatic excommunication, but simply pointing out conditions that already exist: that Catholics who persist in apostasy, heresy or schism place themselves outside the Church.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The mid-May. The 85-year-old CardVatican "has become a real inal Oddi, who has a reputation saint factory," churning out too for sometimes inopportune opemany saints, accepting miracles nness with the press, reviewed too readily and overlooking the his long curial career in a bookneed for modern models of holi- length interview recently.

Beatifications and canonisaness. said retired Italian Cardinal tions must offer the faithful Silvio Oddi.

"I would say that they are mak- an example of holiness, but if ing too many saints," said those being canonised or beatiCardinal Oddi, a former member fied lived hundreds of years ago, of the Congregation for Saint- much of the impact is lost, he said in the book; "II Tenero hood Causes.

Pope John Paul II has canonised Mastino di Dia" ("God's Gentle more than 250 saints and beati- Bulldog.")

"It's not that I have ever doubtfied more than 700 individuals during the 18 years of his pontif- ed the holiness of the candidates for the honors of the altar, on the icate.

Five more priests and religious contrary," Cardinal Oddi said.

"But since a miracle is required are scheduled to be beatified in

Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz

WASHINGTON (CNS) - Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska, has denied an appeal by 16 members of Call to Action Nebraska to withdraw or change legislation by which he placed them under interdict.

He said they could appeal to Rome.

"I regret to tell you that nothing that you or any others have written or said inclines me in any way to rescind or amend that legislation," he said in a letter on April 24 to Call to Action Nebraska member James McShane.

"I would gladly do so, however," he added, "if so ordered by our Holy Father, to whom you have every right to appeal. In the meanwhile, I urge you and your colleagues to obey and to make amends for your and their defiance."

In the three-page letter he accused the group, which formed in February, of conducting "an illicit Mass ... which was not only nonrubrical but anti-rubrical" and of "secrecy concerning your group's activities and plots."

Call to Action Nebraska and the Chicago-based national Call to Action were two of 12 groups that Bishop Bruskewitz named in diocesan legislation in March.

Call to Action, most of whose 15,000 members nationally are priests, nuns or lay Catholics seeks to promote elements of Catholic social teaching and advocates changes in church qtvlinal Silvio OM teaching or practice in areas of as a witness on the part of God, priestly celibacy, women's ordiperhaps a major severity" in nation, artificial birth control and judging unexplained cures and lay involvement in church decihealings is called for, he said. sions.

Cardinal Oddi finds saint rate odd

The Record, May 2 1996 Page 14

IMP

injurious or to have indiscrimi- remarks in his speech to the conference and said the Church's nate effects."

Speaking to pilgrims gathered position is based on years of in St Peter's Square on April experience with innocent civil21, the Pope said the meeting ians, especially children, who are would focus on land mines killed or maimed by land mines, "which are sown by the tens of often years after a formal peace millions in many parts of the has been proclaimed. world, particularly in Cambodia, The UN-sponsored review of Angola, Afghanistan and Bosnia- conventional weapons with Herzegovina." indiscriminate effects met in the Land mines, the Pope said, fall of 1995 and again in "have devastating consequences January 1996, agreeing to ban the on the civilian population and, transport and use of blinding laser weapons, but finding it difespecially, on children."

He told the pilgrims he would ficult to reach an agreement on appeal to representatives at land mines, which are cheap to the Geneva meeting to "renounce manufacture and deploy.

The Vatican representative said such instruments of death and adopt a definitive ban on their an effort by some countries production, sale and use." Msgr. to forge an agreement on placing Carrascosa quoted the Pope's new conditions on land mines -

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church The Resurrection - Work of the Holy Trinity

648 Christ's Resurrection is an object of

faith in that it is a transcendent intervention of God himself in creation and history. In it the three divine persons act together as one, and manifest their own proper characteristics. The Father's power "raised up" Christ his Son and by doing so perfectly introduced his Son's humanity, including his body, into the Trinity. Jesus is conclusively revealed as "Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his Resurrection from the dead.- St. Paul insists on the manifestation of God's power through the working of the Spirit who gave life to Jesus' dead humanity and called it to the glorious state of Lordship.

649 As for

the Son, he effects his own Resurrection by virtue of his divine power.

Jesus announces that the Son of man will have to suffer much, die, and then rise.

Elsewhere he affirms explicitly: "I lay down my life, that I may take it again.... I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." "We believe that Jesus died and TOSO again."

650 The Fathers contemplate the Resurrection from the perspective of the divine person of Christ who remained united his soul and body, even when these were separated from each other by death: "By the unity of the divine nature, which remains present in each of the two components of man, these are reunited. For as death is produced by the separation of the human components, so Resurrection is achieved by the union of the two."

The meaning and saving significance of the resurrection if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain." The Resurrection above all constitutes the confirmation of all Christ's works and teachings. All truths, even those most inaccessible to human reason, find their justification if Christ by his Resurrection has given the definitive proof of his divine authority, which he had promised.

652 Christ's Resurrection is the fulfilment of the promises both of the Old Testament 651

and of Jesus himself during his earthly life.

The phrase "in accordance with the Scriptures" indicates that Christ's Resurrection fulfilled these predictions.

653 The truth of Jesus' divinity is con-

firmed by his Resurrection. He had said: "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he." The Resurrection of the crucified one shows that he was truly "I Am," the Son of God and God himself.

So St. Paul could declare to the Jews: "What God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus: as also it is written in the second psalm. 'You are my Son. today I have begotten you."' Christ's Resurrection is closely linked to the Incarnation of God's Son and is its fulfilment in accordance with God's eternal plan.

654 The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death. Christ liberates us from sin: by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life.

This new life is above all justification that reinstates us in God's grace, "so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the

glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Justification consists in both victory over the death caused by sin and a new participation in grace. It brings about filial adoption so that men become Christ's brethren, as Jesus himself called his disciples after his Resurrection: "Go and tell my brethren."

We are brethren not by nature, but by the gift of grace. because that adoptive filiation gains us a real share in the life of the only Son, which was fully revealed in his Resurrection.

Finally, Christ's Resurrection - and the risen Christ himself - is the principle and source of our future resurrection: "Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.... For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." The risen Christ lives in the hearts of his faithful while they await that fulfilment. In Christ.

Christians "have tasted . . . the powers of the age to come" and their lives are swept up by Christ into the heart of divine life, so that they may "live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."

655

The Record, May 2 1996, Page 15

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* Restraint Orders * Family Law Matters

* Harrassment Inquiry

* Missing Person Inquiry * Surveillance Discretion and confidentiality assured, no inquiry too small or too large, personalised service guaranteed, choice of female or male operators.

• Free Initial Consultation • Contracts Undertaken • Senior Citizen Discounts

46 Kellar Way, Thornlie 6108 Perth, Western Australia

(09) 459 9049 (09) 015 446 161

CAPUCHIN a franciscan lifestyle with a challenge A FRATERNITY PRIESTS AND BROTIIERS PRAYING AND WORKING TOG ETI IER

TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE! Write to: Fr. John Cooper National Vocation Director St. Anthony's Shrine 182 Power Street HAWTHORN v1C 3122

FRANCISCAN FRIARS

TRINITY COLLEGE Following the appointment of Mr Bruno Celedin to a consultant's position in the Catholic Education Office, applications are invited for the position of

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL. (Administration) of Trinity College, East Perth to commence duties from 1 January 1997

Trinity College, conducted by the Christian Brothers, is a Catholic day school for boys with an enrolment of 930 students from year 4-12.

Ills expected that the successful applicant will be a practising Catholic with a clear understanding of the Catholic ethos of the school and a deep commitment to it; will have or will develop a knowledge and appreciation of the vision and ethos of a Christian Brothers' school; will be an experienced administrator who has the educational, pastoral, theological and managerial competencies for the position; will have a proven capacity for educational leadership.

Application forms are available from The Principal's Secretary, Tel. 325 3655 Applications for the position close on Monday 27 May 1996

ELLIOTT & ELLIOTT

Optometrists Contact Lens Consultants 4 Cantonment Street, FREMANTLE Phone 335 2602 The Record, May 2 1996 Page 16

THE CATHOLIC EDUCATION COMMISSION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

THE PARISH S CENE DIVINE MERCY St Mary's Cathedral, Victoria Square on Sunday, 5 May, 1.30pm. Programme: Rosary, Divine Mercy prayers, Benediction. Sermon by Fr G. Dickenson: 'Role of Our Lady in the Holy Church'. Film: "Message of Garabandal".

Information: Adam 448 0002, John 457 7771.

OUR LADY OF FATIMA The apparition of Our Lady of Fatima will be celebrated at the Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation on Monday, May 13. There will be Holy Rosary at 10.30am, followed by Holy Mass at 11.00 Public transport is available from Midland station. For further information please phone the SACRI Association on 447 3292. All are welcome.

FATHER ATTAR D MEMORIAL MASS A Memorial Mass for the late Fr Laurence Joseph Attard R.I.P. will be celebrated on Wednesday, 8 May at St Mary's Church, Guildford at 7.15pm, concluding with Benediction. The Holy Mass will be concelebrated by several priests but others wishing to participate are very welcome. The Mass is in thanksgiving from the Attard family in Malta to everyone associated with Fr Laurence and/or contributed to the Memorial Fund in any way.

Tea/coffee will be provided in the hall afterwards. Please bring a plate. Further enquiries John Murphy 457 7771, mobile 015 385 209.

MALE MYTH A RESIDENTIAL RETREAT WEEKEND FOR MEN What's happening to a man when he comes to midlife?

How can the feminine energy from within himself lead on an alternative route?. Friday 24 - Sunday 26 May at St John's, Safety Bay. Enquiries: Upper Room 298 9690.

Bookings: Upper Room, Lot 2230 Barham St, Glen Forrest 6071. Cost $200.

invites applications for the position of

Principal SCHOENSTATT FAIR ARMADALE The Schoenstatt May Fair is to be held on Sunday 5 May from 11am to 3pm in the kindergarten grounds at the Schoenstatt site, 9 Talus Drive, Armadale.There will be plenty of gifts for mothers Day, camel rides, face painting, chocolate wheel, food stalls, fairy floss, basketball competition, lots of white elephant etc. Schoenstatt is a movement within the Catholic Church which supports family values through youth activities, including camps, formation for parents, kindergarten mothers' groups, reflection mornings for women, and an annual weekend retreat for families.

SPECIAL EDUCATION MEETING C.A.S.E.S. (Catholic Association for Special Education Support) will meet at 7.30pm 8 at Wednesday May Emmanuel Centre, 25 Windsor St, East Perth.

The meeting will discuss the status of the recommendations of the Survey on the Educational Requirements of Children with Catholic Special Needs and provide the opportunity for parents and others to discuss any current issues or concerns.

For further information and to advise of attendance please phone Anne at Emmanuel on 328 8113.

EUCHARISTIC REPARATION The next Holy Hour for the World Apostolate of Fatima will be held on Sunday, May 12, at 3pm, in St Mary, Star of the Sea Church, Cottesloe.

Mons. P. McCrann will officiate.

MASS IN THE WILDERNESS Saturday 4 May. Departing St Joachim 9am, Perth Railway station 9.30am, Infant Jesus Morley 10am, St Brigid's Midland 10.30am. All welcome.

Official Engagements MAY 2

3 5

6 7 12 13

Mass and Opening of Hostel at Catherine McAuley Centre - Archbishop Hickey Aboriginal Medical Service 'The Evictions Summit', Alexander Library Theatre - Angela Devereaux, Catholic Social Justice Commission Visit to St Charles' Seminary - Archbishop Hickey 25th Anniversary Celebration of Friends of Saligao Association, Riverton - Archbishop Hickey University of Notre Dame Australia Students' Mass Archbishop Hickey Association San Leone, Solemn Mass - Bishop Healy Visit to Seminaries in USA - Archbishop Hickey Blessing of extensions at St Pius X School, Manning - Bishop Healy RCIA Thanksgiving Mass, St Mary's Cathedral Bishop Healy Portugese Mass for Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, Fremantle - Bishop Healy

MERCY COLLEGE Mercy College, Koondoola, is a Catholic coeducational College catering for students from Years 8 to 12 with a current enrolment of approximately 724.

Mercy College is well established with extensive modern buildings and facilities and serves a multi-cultural community. The College consciously strives to maintain a "Mercy ethos" where emphasis is placed on pastoral care, especially of the disadvantaged.

URSULA FRAYNE C ATHOLIC COLLEGE Ursula Frayne Catholic College. Victoria Park is a Catholic co-educational College catering for students from Pre-primary to Year 12 with a current enrolment of 1,040. There is a rich blend of cultures with over 50 different nationalities represented in the student and staff population.

The College is located on two campuses approximately 4 kms apart. The primary component is double-stream and the secondary is four-stream.

Additional information will be available with requests for applications.

The successful applicant will be expected to take up the position at the beginning of Term 1, 1997.

Applicants need to be actively involved in the Catholic Church and be experienced educators committed to the objectives and ethos of Catholic education. They will have the requisite theological, pastoral and managerial cornpetencies together with an appropriate four year minimum tertiary qualification and will have, or be prepared to complete, appropriate Accreditation requirements.

Further information and official application forms are available from Sr Clare Rafferty.

Consultant, School Personnel Team, Ph. (09) 388 4268.

Official application forms should be addressed to the Director, Catholic Education Office, PO Box 198. Leederville WA 6903 and be lodged no later than Wednesday, 15 May 1996.

All Catholic schools are smoke-free workplaces

MANNING 8, ASSOCIATES

OPTOMETRISTS CONTACT LENS CONSULTANTS MARK KALNENAS (B. OPTOM)

Grove Plaza, Cottesloe 384 6633 or 384 6720

(ctuintiallanD YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT

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

SOUTH OF THE RIVER

474 1533 WE CARE!

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

Optometrist and Contact Lens Practitioner

453 2344

Mead Medical Centre Salix Way Forrestfield 6058

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