The Record Newspaper 15 August 1996 by The Record

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Perth: August 15, 1996

A company of rascals prepares to tal(e the town

Aiming for the dramatic stars in La Compagnia dei Mattacchione (The Company of Rascals) are Claudia Cicanese, left, Vicky Barth, Italia Zaffino, Caterina and Vittorio Antenucci, and Rosa Canosa, all in full dramatic flight.

to be performed on 20 September at St Brigid's Midland, is Carlo Italian housewives abandoning Goldoni's farce - A Servant of aprons and dressing up for the Two Masters. stage? This particular play may well Well yes, it's really happening have inspired Shakespeare's with some Midland parishioners Twelfth Night and A Comedy who have now swapped their Erro11 rs, David believes, and sugdaily household chores for gests Shakespeare himself would greasepaint and the roar of the have attended these Comedia crowd! dell' Arte performances as they With appetites whetted from the toured ELIMpe and England. successful St Francis of Assisi Ultimately the Comeandia dell' Christmas nativity play, these Arte settled in Paris d King ladies (and one husband) have Louis XIV built the Opera decided the stage is the place for Comique to accommodate them, them. from where other plays, the BalSo under the guidance of The let, and La Mime were born Therry Catholic Drama Society's it's all in great tradition!" convenor and director David Among audiences sought by the Crann, La Compagnia dei Matapart from Perth's first company, tacchione (The Company of Rascals), was formed about four Italian Festival due in February months ago and, according to 199Z will be schools with students David. they hope to give an exam- S f Italian. First off the mark was ple of "derring-do and prestige" to the Bayswater Primary School taking a peek preview of the play Midland's Italian community. i This is the Midland Italians' n the Bayswater library last week. For further informatio please response to Fremantle's Italian I; ladies choir. The first production. contact David Crann on 32

The settlement, which will cost the Brothers close to $5 million, comes after three years of litigation which started in WA courts and ended in Sydney. In Sydney, Brother Julian McDonald, on behalf of the trustees of the Christian Brothers, welcomed the settlement as a more constructive alternative to the !li confrontation and polarisation involved in the legal process. "This settlement flows from a recognition that many of the issues raised by these cases cannot be adequately dealt with through the legal system," he said. The details of final settlement, under which litigants agree to withdraw their claims against the Brothers and take no further legal action, are similar to details of the agreements already published. A $3.5 million trust fund known as the WA Institutions Reconciliation Trust will be established to assist the men. It will be independently administered and operate for the next three years. One third of the trust fund will be made available for cash payments to a gmup of plaintiffs described in a Christian Brothers' statement issued after the settle-

According to the Brothers, the Brothers' current schools and remainder of the Trust, about $2.5 ministries. million, will then be administered Br Shanahan said that while the to provide services to the men Brothers had always denied legal ranging from therapy, rehabilita- responsibility as an organisation tion and retraining to family for the instances of abuse that had reunificatiIn, emergency relief occurred, they had always and low interest loans. accepted a moral responsibility to "We acknowledge with sincere the men. regrret that instances of abuse did "Some people have described occur in our childcare institutions the settlement as 'compensation' in WA," Br N4cDonald said, "and but it is not compensation and accept our moral responsibility to does not attempt to be," he said. do what we can ot• eh•lp these men "Compensation irnplies an who were our students in these attempt to quantify damages and WA institutions." injury. Nothing can `compensate' hi addition to funds made avail- these men for the loss of a normal able to the men, the Brothers family and childhood and for the I S; agreed to the litigants' $1.5 other hardships they have sufmillion legal bill incurred with fered. This settlement attempts to their lawyers, Slater and Gordon. offer practical help and opportuThe Brothers will also pay nities for healing." approwdmately $750,000 in cost Bruce Blythe, director of the orders made against the men by VOICES organisation whic.h has the NSW Supreme Court. spoken on behalf of the men, and Br Shanahan said in a message from the Brothers to Catholics in who has been critical of the ChrisSA and WA that the Christian tian Brothers' offers of settlement, Brothers' four provinces in Aus- could not be contacted for comtralia had contributed the money ment at the time of going to press. Full text of the Christian for the settlement. Brothers letter to the He said the $5 million would be Catholics South and paid from Provincial reserves and Western Australia - Page 4 would not impact on any of the

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard

Brothers' lega cases s I ttled out of court By Peter Rosengren A multi-million dollar out of court settlement between the Christian Brothers and 260 men suing them in the Supreme Court of New South Wales over sexual abuses they suffered in Christian Brothersrun institutions was announced on Wednesday. However, Brother Tony Shanahan, head of the Cluistian Brothers' Holy Spirit Province covering South and Western Australia, told The Record that approximately a dozen men were still considering their position. He added that the settlement allowed for a period of grace whereby men who had refused to accept the settlement could still chIose to sign up and be covered by the agreement. But it was still possible those who had not signed could choose to continue with legal action. Nevertheless, the whole process had "come out of a legal dead end Br Shanahan said. "Now we're back on the road and going SOmewhere."

720 years of Irish Mercy honoured - Page 9

Br Tony Shanahan ment as having "particularly urgent needs." "Men who are alleging serious sexual assault and who have suffered continuing psychological j for payproblems will be ments of either $25,000 or $10,000, according to the severity of their situation," Br McDonald said. Each of the plaintiffs will also receive $2,000 for expenses they incurred in piusuing the litigation against the Brothers and will be able to claim for any additional expenses incurred.

III

Aust mission director's Afrkan diary - Page 8

Business ethics under scrutiny - Page 2

Can you help others discover The Record? 0

n Parish VisitationI often suspect most Catholic people Church overseas, including con- pages of The Record itself. Ills have the opportunity to who attend Mass are happy to do troversial matters, and provides a ike complaining to those who l observe people leaving only that. They listen to the homi- deal of devotional articles and already come to Mass about those Church after Mass. ly, they read the Bulletin and hear spiritual reading. who are not there. Nevertheless Some look around to greet peo- no more about the Church till the I have noticed that more people this appeal for wider distribution ple they know, and stand outside following week. are writing to The Record these of The Record may get somefor a chat. Others scurry off to That would have been enough days. That means that greater where if readers began sharing their cars intent on other matters. in the days of village life or small interest is being stirred among the their copy Only a few of all the people who towns, but today it is hardly suffi- readers about Church matters. It don't buy with neighbours who it. pass through the porch of the dent, given the speed of modern may also indicate a larger readNew features have been includChurch stop to buy The Record. communications and the rapid ership, although sales are only ed in The Record in recent Fewer still go to the pamphlet rack currents swirling around the increasing gradually. months, and the appearance has to see what's there and take home Church today. Of course there are plenty of been brightened up with the addisome Catholic reading material. If the only information people other Catholic publications apart tion of colour. In themselves these I often wonder how people get get about the Church today is from The Record Some are made improvements will not result in to know about the life of the from the public media, they available at the Church porch, greater sales because Church.Iexpect that the best and would come away with a very some are distributed through the walk past it at the those who back most Immediate source of infor- strange view indeed. Plenty of schools, and some are mailed to Church will not be aware of the of the mation is the Parish Bulletin negatives, very few positives. subscribers. Yet The Record has added features and its new look. which they can quietly glance I wish The Record were more continued to be the major source The Editor and his staff will do through at Mass. widely read. It is the best source of Church information in the West what they can to promote The paign by becoming active proThey would not hear much of information about the local since the early days, and contin- Record. So will priests at parish moters of the paper themselves, about the Church from radio or Church that we could possibly ues in its very valuable role. level,I am sure. in the interests of the unity and TV Perhaps their Catholic friends get. It is strange for me to urge more Perhaps the readers of The the faith of our Catholic commupass on some information, but I It also contains reports about the people to read The Record in the Record will also join the cam- nity.

Archbishop's

Perspective

Ethics 'good business'

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There is no real conflict between good business practice and ethics. In fact, the most successful and longlasting businesses are usually the ones which adhere to ethical treatment of employees, customers and the other businesses they deal with, visiting philosopher Manuel Velasquez told participants at a business ethics symposium held at Notre Dame University in Fremantle last week. Professor Velasquez, Charles J. Dirkson Professor of Business Ethics at Santa Clara University, San Francisco, was in Fremantle as a keynote speaker at the ethics symposium for business organised by the Christian Brothers as part of their celebration of the pending beatification of their founder and former businessman, Edmund Ignatius Rice. He spoke on how the globalisation of business in the twentieth century had confronted the global business executive with ethical quandaries as he or she traded in foreign cultures and which needed to be resolved. As business has expanded across the boundaries of nations and cultures practices regarded as immoral by the Western eye were found to be standard fare in other countries, he said. The moral absolutism of philosophies of the European Enlightenment were often incapable of providing a solution, or only supplied part of the answer to the ethical quandaries, Prof Velasquez told The Record. The answer, he said, lay in rediscover-

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Professor Manuel Velasquez

ing the moral approach of St Thomas Aquinas, the Dominican philosopher who died in the 14th century and is regarded by the Catholic Church as its greatest philosopher so fan Rather than being old and outdated, Aquinas had actually provided a moral approach to this often-perplexing problem which was surprisingly flexible while still providing a reliable guide to how to ethically conduct business with or in another culture, he said. In his talk, Professor Velasquez gave examples of some of the problems executives could face. "In Saudi Arabia a multinational construction company is told that women are not to be allowed to supervise men, nor must they travel anywhere unless accompanied by an adult male; also that Jewish workers are not to be hired," he said. "Should the company go along with this

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form of sexual and ethnic discrimination or should it try to induce reforms?" he asked his audience. Problems in other countries also included child labour and the paying of bribes or kickbacks. "Ithink the standard way of confronting foreign differences for Westerners has been to try and apply absolutist moral principles - human rights principles, for example - and then demand that everyone in the world live up to those human rights, standards of democracy, standards of human rights or whatever." he said in his interview. There was increasing resistance to these views from people of different cultures and rightly so, he said. Prof Velasquez said the natural law tradition of Aquinas, which recognised the basic ends or primary norms which people everywhere seek for themselves at all times - such as life, family, knowledge and social order - allowed for differences through a second class of moral norms which were not universal. This did not allow for an 'anything goes' relativist approach, he said, but did allow for a toleration of things which did not immediately appeal to the Western eye. Ethics specialist, Jesuit Father John Langan from Georgetown University in the United States told the seminar participants managers could not use shareholders interests as the sole benchmark for directing their companies because shareholders could be here today and gone tomorrow - they needed to listen to the voices of the less powerful and not fall for the quick and fashionable solutions of the day. Curtin University business school professor and former WA public service commissioner, Dr Michael Wood, said it took more than a code of ethics to create an ethical organisation. The chief executive officer had a responsibility to set the right example and establish structures and processes to ensure that ethical standards trickled all the way down through the organisation, he said. Ms Robyn Ahern, the chief operating officer for the Aherns chain of department stores, spoke on working with ethics in a family business.

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esearet for women in Church study launched By Peter Rosengren Catholics will be able to have their say in a major national research project into the participation of women in the Australian Catholic Church launched by Cardinal Edward Clancy in Sydney this week. Entitled The Participation of Women in the Catholic Church in Australia, the project will be designed to help find practical ways of expressing the Church's commitment to the Gospel vision of the dignity of women as outlined by Pope John Paul II in his letter to women. And although the project is aimed at uncovering information on women in the Church. information from men will also be sought. The project will utilise the National Church Life Survey to be conducted in Catholic churches later this year as one of the vehicles for gathering information on the attitudes and feelings of Australian Catholic women regarding Church life. • Cardinal Clancy also asked for written submissions from groups and individuals. And there will be a series of hearings conducted in all state and territorial capitals as well as regional centres starting In mid-1997 The information garnered from responses, submissions and hearings is intended to provide a solid basis for theological reflection, pastoral planning and dialogue with women and women's groups on particular issues. In looking at the perceptions and behaviour of both men and women regarding women's' participation in the Church, the project will also involve practising and non-practising Catholics and will examine four key questions: What are the ways in which women participate in the Catholic Church in Australia? What assistance and support are cur-

Schools' Performing Arts Festival highlights students' talent

rently offered to women to participate in the Church? What are the barriers to women's parPutting their best foot forward as vocalists in the Zenith Music Studio for the Catholic schools Perticipation in the Church? and, What are some of the ways in which forming Arts Festival recently were Anna-Rose Heenan of St Matthew's school; Peter Bertolini from women's participation in the Church can Our Lady of Grace; Brody-Ann Meredith, St John's, Scarborough; Tessa Hurst and Tunney Kerr from Ursula Frayne College; Daniel Geary, Christ the King School; Naomi Clare Johns, Holy Rosary; Justine be increased? Sandy Cornish, a member of the pro- Paparella and Kris Mitchell, Yidarra Primary; and Rebecca D'Costa from Orana Primary. ject's research management group and a staff member at the Bishops' Committee for Justice. Development and Peace in Sydney said the project was designed to help plan for the future. . Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome. bewildered by the stories told by those who "Once we know from the respondents plans to invite members of religious Congre- said they had suffered on the Missions. what issues are influencing people most, "The vast majority of these dedicated peogations involved in staffing missions in the [the bishops will be able to engage in Kimberley to join him in a spiritual retreat of ple acted in good conscience when they fuller dialogue on those issues so we can reflection on the Church's involvement with supervised those children separated from find a way of moving forward," she said. the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait their families and when they staffed dormiMs Cornish said the deadline for writ- Islander children from their families. tories, and taught school, and ran health clinten submissions, which would be taken He will also be discussing with them the ics and provided on-the-job training," he told from anyone who wished to make a state- best manner of making an appropriate the inquiry. "They suffered many of the same ment on the issue whether they were a response on the Church's part to the needs deprivations of the people they served practising Catholic or not, would be of those who were separated from their fam- including personal ill health." December 1 this year. • Bishop Saunders also defended the ilies. The research management group will The actions announced by Bishop Saun- Church's early efforts to protect Aboriginal report its findings • to the Australian ders came in his written submission to the people from exploitation by European setCatholic Bishops' Conference by the end Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Com- tlers, describing Bishop Gibney's horror at of 1998. mission's National Inquiry into the Separa- what he saw after a tour of the southern KimA set of guidelines, including some of tion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander berley. This had led him to establish Disasthe key questions to be asked as part of children from their Families which sat in ter Bay and Beagle Bay missions primarily as the project, and the form in which mate- Broome last week. protectorates for Aboriginal people, he said. rial may be submitted was also- made Among the exploitation by white people Bishop Saunders also told the inquiry that, available at the launch. apart from the provision of counselling, the was the practice known as `black-birding' The Bishops' Committee for Justice diocese of Broome was currently negotiating the capture of Aboriginal people who were Development and Peace under the over- with a tertiary education institute to offer pressed into service as divers by some of sight of Bishop Kevin Manning, chair- training courses in counselling to Aboriginal those involved in the early pearling industry man of the Australian Catholic Social people. and the regular abuse of aboriginal women. Justice Council, is responsible for the However, the Bishop also sought to place Bishop Saunders told the inquiry. project. The BCJDP, the Australian the issue in perspective, saying that while The Bishop also pointed out that it was well Catholic University based in Melbourne many people undoubtedly suffered from the known many Aboriginal people had had posand the Australian Conference of Lead- process of separation from their families, itive experiences of life on the Missions even ers of Religious Institutes will conduct many Church personnel would also be after "the cataclysm of separation." research for the project. The project's research management group, appointed by the BMW: will include representatives of each of these organisations and will be designed to represent women, men, laity, religious and clergy

Broome 'separation' retreat

The University of Notre Dame Australia

Papal honour for Tiwi women In a milestone for the Catholic Church in the Northern Tenitory, two Tiwi Aboriginal women will be awarded Papal Medals of Honour in a ceremony on Bathurst Island on 31 August. Acknowledging the significant work over many years done by Elizabeth Kelantumama and Beatrice Kerinaiva, Bishop Ted Collins will present Elizabeth and Beatrice with the cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, (for Church and Pontiff) which was instituted in 1888 to recognise significant work for the Church and the Papacy. Bishop Collins sees the awards as a further cementing of Aboriginal people into central Church life and praised the women for their lifelong energies given to their people and the Church. He describes their lives as 'ordinary living' with its attendant struggles, "but they

believed in their Tiwi dignity, have not doubted what their people could be, and have been people of hope." In particular he noted their good efforts to promote family life and in encouraging a younger generation of Tiwi Catholics. Although both have now retired from membership of community organisations, Elizabeth and Beatrice continue to pray with their grandchildren and increasing numbers of great grandchildren. In 1975 while travelling to Rome on pilgrimage with 36 Aboriginal people from Bathurst Island and Port Keats, for a special audience with Pope Paul V1, they were evacuated minutes before their 747 burst into flames in Bombay, and in 1986 Elizabeth presented Pope John Paul 11 with Tiwi gifts when he met with Aboriginal people at Alice Springs.

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OPEN DAY Sunday 25 August 1996 10.00am-4.00pm • Tours of the Campus • Student Activities • Special presentations regarding: our admission process planning for tertiary study postgraduate opportuniti s the Internet and more. • Staff available for consultations in: Literature Accounting Arts Marketing Business Management Communication Politics Education Psychology The Environment Sciences Languages Theology Law and many more. 19 MOUAT STREET, FREMANTLE The Record. August 15 1996 Page 3

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TOMORROW TODAY

Rockingham does it in style

On Sunday 4th August a happy bunch of Rockingham Antiochers decided to have a gathering of other Antiochers and Luke 18's to celebrate the joys of living. The agenda of the day was games and more games, a talk, prayer and music. The weather was extremely kind to the sporty Antiochers and Lukers. Word has it that the girls outshone the boys on the field. . . . Perhaps the thrill of seeing the Irish do so well in the Olympics gave the like of the Kennys and the Careys an added boost of energy and enthusiasm. Father lan Esmond also seemed to be as comfortable on the field as he was in his role as priest and pastor to the youth, celebrating Mass with them in the early evening, before the food and music. Left: Rockingham Antiochers and some of their visitors express a little high spirits. Right: Antiochers and Luke 18's enjoying the band, the music and the singing.

Brothers seek to meet moral responsibility Christian Brothers' organisation. These cases have now been withdrawn as part of a multimillion dollar out of court settlement. The point at issue in these cases was NUT whether or not abuse had occurred (this had been admitted in our public apology of 1993), although there is disagreement between the two sides about the extent and severity of that abuse. The issue was whether or not the Christian Brothers' Superiors and Administration had been negligent in their conduct of the orphanages. The Brothers defended themselves in this ost of you will be aware that over the legal action, knowing that there was abunlast three years the Christian Broth- dant evidence that their leaders and adminers have been defendants in court istrators in the 1940's, 1950's and 1960's acted actions in New South Wales and Victoria in with the care and responsibility expected of which more than 250 former students of the them at that time. This whole argument has been bedevilled childcare institutions which the Brothers used to run in Western Australia were seek- by the time factor. Thirty to fifty years after the events, it has ing damages for the alleged negligence of the been very difficult to establish conclusively what happened. The cases also involved very complex legal issues of jurisdictions, statutes of limitation, etc. Being dragged into this litigation inunediately imposed an "adversarial" approach to the problems. with two opposing sides battling in court in a win/lose situation. We have said all along that we did not believe that such legal processes were going to be heir' in solving the complex problems olved in this matter. One of the paramount concerns that we have had has been the welfare of those men who were former residents of these institutions. From personal contact with many, we knew of their hurt, pain and distress. with an all-night discussion between Many have had very difficult lives, Dominic and the barman. both those who were victims of abusive acts as well as many others. They argued about life's purpose, the Although we have denied that we have a legal liability as an organisagoodness of the world, freedom and tion, we have always accepted that we responsibility, the saving death had a moral responsibility to those of Jesus Christ. men who are former students of ours The outcome was Dorninic's vision of a and who are currently in great need. community of prayerful, scholarly and Given all this, we welcome the setpassionate communicators of the Gospel. tlement that has now been concluded Men at ease in the world but with their between most of the plaintiffs and the hearts set on Christ. Christian Brothers as a wel, ,me end The conversation goes on... to what has been a costly and unproductive legal process. If you re interested in taking part, This settlement represents a recogplease contact nition by both parties that continuing FATHER JOHN NEILL OP to deal with these issues in the legal St Dominic's Priory forum was going to be expensive, drawn out, and maybe inconclusive. 816 Riversdale Road, This settlement is not about winners Camberwell, Victoria 3124 and losers. Telephone: 03 9830 5144 It represents something of a comFax 03 9888 5943 promise on both sides, but also a willThe head of the Christian Brothers Holy Spirit Province which covers Western and South Australia. Br Tony Shanahan. this week issued a Message from the Christian Brothers to the Catholic Community of WA and SA, following the out of court settlement reached between the Brothers and the men who had sued them regarding sexual abuse in Brothersrun institutions over several decade& His message is reproduced in full for Record readers.

It all started in a pub

.e Record, August 15 1996 Page 4

ingness to make these compromises in the interests of finding a way forward. It also means that the two sides have put aside the confrontation of the legal process in order to seek a more cooperative approach to assisting these men. The details of the settlement are as follows: • The Christian Brothers' four Provinces in Australia have contributed $5m for the settlement. • $3.5m will be administered by a 'frust run by five trustees, including a legal representative from each side, plus three independent trustees including a chairman. • $1.5m goes to Slater & Gordon to pay for the legal and other costs of the plaintiffs. • One-third of the $3.5m will be available for direct cash payments to a number of individual plaintiffs who have claimed that they were seriously sexually assaulted and who have ongoing psychological difficulties. Some of these men will receive $25.000, others $10.000. • From the remaining of the $3.5m, a basic $2,000 wi. to each plaintiff as a reimbursement xpenses that they have incurred during ti 1 involvement in this legal process. • The remainder, about $1.8m, will fund various forms of assistance for the plaintiffs, including therapy and other treatment various forms of rehabilitation or retraining; fi 1ily reunification: accommodation needs; emergency relief and low interest loans, etc. • The Brothers will also waive $750,000 in outstanding cost orders against the plaintiffs. • In return for this, the plaintiffs have agreed to withdraw the cases filed in the New South Wales and Victorian Supreme Courts and not to take any further legal action against the Christian Brothers in regard to the WA child care institutions. • The payment of $5m will not impact on any of the Brothers' current schools and ministries, but will come from the Provinces' reserve. Some people have described the settlement as "compensation" but it is not compensation and does not attempt to be. ,mpensation implies an attempt to quanti. damages and injury. Nothing can "compensate" these men for the loss of a normal family and childhood and for the other hardships they have suffered. This settlement attempts to offer practical help and opportunities for healing. The settlement has also been criticised because it is not a straight cash payout of the plaintiffs. We have maintained all through this controversy that responding compassionately to individuals who have been hurt means a great deal more than simply handing over money, but demands responding to the needs of the men in a flexible and realistic way. It should be noted that the settlement does not bind any of the parties to silence or secre-

cy, nor does it limit anyone's freedom to lay complaints with the police or press for criminal charges against guilty individuals. People have asked me whether I will be relieved that this matter is over. I am relieved that the legal battle is over, but the story has much further to go. Our Province's initiatives in assisting former residents of our child care institutions predated the legal action, and they will continue. We continue to fund Christian Brothers' ExResidents' Services (CBERS) in Perth, which provides counselling, travel assistance for family reunification, and other services to any former students of these institutions. The use of this service is expanding and we will continue to fund it according to the advice given us by its independent management committee. We will continue to be involved in working the rest of '‘le Catholic Church in essing wide. thlems of sexual and abuse, includii participation in case si dies and in research into these problems and their prevention. We are also actively cooperating with the recently established WA Parliamentary Select Committee into child migration. The brothers and their friends have experienced a range of reactions to these unhappy events - initial shock and disbelief has given way to distress, anger at the offenders, compassion for the suffering of many men, and shame for our collective failings. We renew our apology to anyone who has suffered any kind of abuse in any institution or ministry conducted by the Christian Brothers. We renew our pledge to listen to the stories of anyone who has been a victim and to respond to each one's needs. We commit ourselves to continued action to protect children and to mairlf,lin the high professional standards in our schools alt.. ministries. We also acknowledge the courage and persistence of victims in speaking up about their experiences and bringing these matters to the notice of the Brothers and the wider public. The Christian Brothers thank those whose actions have led to the exposure of abuse and deficiencies in childcare systems, and to the action now being taken to address these problems. The Christian Brothers remain committed to their mission of caring for and educating young people worldwide. The painful experiences of recent years make us more than ever determined to keep working for the dignity and welfare of all, especially the young, the poor and the marginalised. Br Tony Shanahan, cfc Province Leader.

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overs role of cantor

Cantor Chris de Sitva - not throwing up his hands in horror but leading the way for those who think that singing is an important part of praising God.

Keys of the `Knightdom'

Answering a perceived need to will be able to work as cantors assist parishes with the develop- in their own parish over the next ment of their liturgical music, few months. Chris de Silva has just led a sesChris believes the earliest sion which is designed to give Christian communities had canpeople a general introduction to the ministry of cantor, and which tors to lead their services, but will create general awareness of that through time, the cantor was replaced by the choir "so they the ministry of the cantor. The session follows on from a have not been a feature of formation program for the intro- Catholic liturgy for several hunduction of cantors into parish dred years." musical life, which was run in He maintains the deacon of the May and June this year. Orthodox Church carries out the Chris, a member of the parish Liturgical Missions network corresponding role "having done committee sponsored by the so for the last thousand years," Archdiocesan Liturgy Office, and notes Melbourne has been which works in closely with Sr running courses for cantors for Kerry Willison, hopes to offer several years. another program in 1997. As for who should get involved, Having a cantor will encourage Chris maintains the ministry is people to participate in the one for people who believe that singing "which is an integral part of Catholic worship," Chris singing is an important part of asserts, stating that several praising God, and who are eager parishes sent people to the for- to share this belief with others. mation program who they hope - Colleen McGuiness-Howard

POPE'S GOLDEN JUBILEE

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Presenting Archbishop Barry Hickey with a commemorative key ring at the Cathedral last Tuesday is Knights of the Southern Cross (WA) chairman, Bradley Prentice. The Knights struck 1,000 membership key rings to mark their 75th anniversary in Western Australia, giving No. 0001 to Archbishop Hickey.

Centre Travel Pilgrimages 'Feast of the Holy Rosary' Medjugorje & Rome - Oct. 2 - 13, escorted by Fr Patto • 2 nights Rome • 7 nights Medjugorje • 4 tours • • most meals • local guides • Qantas $2.985.00

'All Saints & All Souls' Oct. 25 - Nov. 6 - "Perfect preparation for a pilgrimage to Medjugorje" says Fr Slavko Barbaric • 2 nights Assisi • 7 nights Medjugorje • 1 night Rome escorted by Fr Richard Shortall SI. $3,090.00

Pope John Paul 11 About the Card will celebrate the The card has been 50th anniversary of designed by Hein his ordination as a Walter, a contempriest on the first of porary religious November, 1996. artist. The artist's The Holy Father's interpretation is as Golden Jubilee will follows. Our attract world-wide attention. The inter- Church encomnational Catholic aid passes a great organisation Aid to the Church in Need variety of ethnic was established by the Holy See. It would cultures. scattered like to highlight this event by asking all over the world. Catholics in Australia to show their supfrom East to West port for the Pope by sending him a good - -.4, ,irLi measures 15cni wishes card. The card Is available from Aid and from North to to the Church in Need free of charge. South. As Catholics we are all unified in Christ. The Golden Jubilee of the Holy Father reminds in the Pope (the outstretched arms) and the us of the great importance of the priesthood symbols of this unification are the Cross and within our Church. Aid to the Church in Need the Eucharist. The Latin words "Servus servocurrently supports the training of 18.000 rum Der mean: Servant of the servants of God. seminarians each year in Eastern Europe, The back of the postcard contains the address Latin America. Africa and Asia. For the majorof the Holy Father in Rome and a space for ity of Catholics in these parts of the world your good wishes. there are never enough priests. In many cases the shortage is caused not by a lack of vocations but by lack of money and facilities For fifty yearsPope John Paul II needed to sustain students over the long has offered Holy Mass day in and years of formation. Many fine candidates must be turned away. It is vital to the day out for the needs of the Church future of the Church that not one single vocaand the world. This is your chance tion to the priesthood goes astray due to lack of finance. What better gift could we give the to let the Holy Father know of your Holy Father for his Golden Jubilee than to love, support, loyalty, prayer & support the training of our future priests.

thanks!

Rome, Holy Land & Medjugorje Oct. 17 - Nov. 7 - A very special 22 day pilgrimage suggested by the Franciscan Priests of the Holy Land • 4 nights Rome • 3 nights beside the Sea of Galilee • 5 nights in Jerusalem • 7 nights in Medjugorje fully escorted & with Catholic guides - $ 4,265.00 or $3,275.00 for Rome & the Holy Land

'Great Shrines of Mary' Oct. 3 - 17, a gently paced pilgrimage escorted by Fr Tony Fox OFM & with local guides • 4 nights in Fatima • 4 nights in Lourdes • 2 nights in Madrid •Inight in Burgos • 1 night in Salamanca AUSTRALIA WIDE FREE CALL 1 800 500 882

SYDNEY (02) 9231 2290 or MELBOURNE (03) 9882 9822 9 1 Auburn Road, Hawthorn East 3123 Licence No. 31877)

To: Aid to the Church In Need P.O. Box 11, Eastwood 2122 National Director: Mr Phillip Collignon Tel/Fax No. (02) 679 1929

Please send me/us free of charge — cards to congratulate the Holy Father on his Golden Jubilee

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The Record, August' 15 1996 Page 5

A faith tested is a faith which will always be rewarded by God Peter Dwan continues meditations on the readings for Sunday Mass. This week the readings for the 20h Sunday of Year A

A Layman's

Meditation

oday's readings tell us that salva- would be born. In today's second readtion is for all the nations. Howev- ing (Romans 11:13-15, 29-32), we hear er, the readings also show that if St Paul reflecting on the consequences a nation rejects God's offer of the Faith, of the Jews' rejection of the Christian it will have a long wait before it receives message. a second offer. The reading begins: "Let me tell you Although most Old Testament texts pagans this; I have been sent to the stress the superior rank of God's first pagans, [this could be translated "genchosen people, the Jews, today's first tiles,"J as their apostle, and I am proud reading (Isaiah 56:1, 6-7), states that for- of being sent, but the purpose of it is to eigners would be accepted into God's make my own people envious of you, house under certain conditions. and in this way save some of them: The reading says: "Foreigners who God gives people the Faith so that othhave attached themselves to the Lord to ers may see them, and realising that serve him and to love his name and be those with Faith have something they his servants, these I will bring to my lack, want to have Faith themselves. holy mountain. The former agnostic, the late Malcolm The Jews considered themselves Muggeridge, was so impressed with superior to other nations because they Mother Teresa's faith that he wished were God's chosen people. that he had more faith himself. After a They regarded the gentiles as little long and difficult journey. Malcolm better than dogs, because they failed to Muggeridge was received into the realise that God had not chosen them Church in 1982. instead of other nations, but rather had The Church's evangelising mission chosen them as his instrument for involves showing people that Catholireaching other nations. cism meets their hearts' deepest yearnIt was from one of their race, the Vir- ings. gin Mary, that the Saviour of the world However, today's gospel passage

To Jesus through Mary. . ... a column of Marian devotion By Colleen Mc Guiness-Howard

•

(Matt-hew 15:21-28), tells us that when Our Lord left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite woman came up to him and started shouting: "Sir, Son of David have pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil." That woman was a gentile, but her faith let her see in Jesus Someone who could help her. If we would only present Christ to others as Someone who can and will help them, then there would be far more takers for the RCIA. Our Lord tested the woman's faith, saying: "I was sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel." Finding her persistent after a polite refusal, Jesus gave her a rude one saying: "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the house-dogs." The woman retorted: "Ah yes, sir, but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master's table." The woman's faith eventually won out, and Our Lord said to her: "Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted." St Matthew tells us: "And from that moment, her daughter was well again." Knowing how anxious God is to help people of all nations may we pray often and fervently the response to today's responsorial psalm: "0 God, let all the nations praise you!"

he year 1996 is truly golden for Our Lady who is celebrating the 50th anniversary of her coronation as Our Lady of Fatima. Queen of the World (August 22). and simultaneously the Golden Anniversary of her Pilgrim Virgin of Our Lady of Fatima statue which began its first journeying from its Fatima home (to Lisbon) in 1946. Many countries have Pilgrim Virgin statues at a national, diocesan, and parish level while an International Pilgrim Virgin statue has been travelling the world for the last half a century being highly sought after and revered by Catholics, Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus. For Western Australians, their chance to be with and pray before the Pilgrim Virgin statue will be from 18 to 27 August (this month) when it arrives in Perth and moves on to Narrogin, Katanning, Kojonup, Mt Barker, Albany, Manjimup. Busselton, Bunbury, Harvey, Geraldton, Dongara, Leeming, Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Southern Cross, Merredin and Northam. Appropriately, the Pilgrim Virgin's arrival in Perth will coincide with the one day Marian Conference at Mercedes College on Sunday 18 August. This will be followed by the Solemn Celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Mary's Queenship on Thursday 22 August where the statue will be placed In St Mary's Cathedral.

• •-•

the most well known and obvious ones witnessed have been the tears coming from its eyes, documented by clergy and laity. Then there's the 'miracle of the doves' which occurred in Portugal, Brazil, and then Lourdes in 1979 where the doves remained for the two days of her visit, not leaving until her transfer to the airport. On these occasions, doves appear seemingly out of nowhere and nestle at the statue's feet where they remain undisturbed by any amount of noise, jostling by the thousands, or ongoing activity Referring to the spectacular signs associated with the Pilgrim Virgin from its earliest travels, Pope Pius XII remarked: "As she sets forth to claim her dominions, the miracles she performs along the way are such that we can scarcely believe our eyes at what we are seeing." And within a year the statue was attributed with evoking "the greatest Marian public demonstration Canada has ever seen, with four million people touching the image making four million acts of A statue of Ow Lady of Fat faith in the conversion of Russia," accordDuring this time there will be hourly ing to John Haffert, an initial and long Rosary, talks, private veneration, midday time associate of the statue. Mass, and in the evening a candle-lit proJust recently, the Pilgrim Virgin visited cession of priests, religious and lay the Philippines, during which more than groups preceding a concelebrated Mass two and a half million people greeted it with the Crowning of the statue by Arch- In a demonstration of faith and love. bishop Hickey. For further information on the Pilgrim Great miracles and healings have been Virgin's itinerary, please 'phone Kathy associated with the statue, and some of (09)457-3258.

"We thought that planning our funerals would be an uncomfortable business. But the Purslowe family made it very easy." PURSLOWE FUNERAL HOMES

Has the world really gone completely mad?

With Penny Ashcroft

s the world going crazy or does it just seem that way? During the past week there was a press report about the proposed abortion of a baby, one of two conceived by a young mother who felt that, because of financial reasons, she could not cope with twins. According to the news bulletin, people throughout Europe banded together to raise money and offered a substantial amount to the mother in the hope that it would give her the freedom to give birth to both babies. Too late it seems. According to the most recent reports the abortion was carried out some time ago. Whilst my heart goes out to a young Mum who perhaps felt so trapped that she made an incredibly sad and so totally irreversible decision, as a mother who has experience the devastation that comes with the loss of a baby, I find it almost incomprehensible that anyone could deliberately choose that their baby die. A choice not only taken, but fully endorsed by the woman's Doctor. How was the decision made as to which baby was to die? Can you even begin to imagine the trauma cause to the remaining twin? Did the Doctor feel a pang of conscience as he aborted a perfectly healthy baby? Did the mother feel great remorse after the event? What sort of physiological effect will this choice have on her in the years to come? I have read in recent months, reports of partial-birth abortions, performed between four and a half and six months of pregnancy The reports have been very graphic, so graphic that I have felt ill when reading them. The procedures so horrific that I don't want to repeat them. How do we stop this madness? Surely we haven't become so blase as to accept abortion readily as part of life today? Figures quoted in a 'Right to Life' Newsletter recently indicate that 30 to 40 million babies are aborted each year throughout the world. Can we possibly have become so deaf, so blind, that we continue to accept this overwhelming wrong against humanity? In Louise MacNeice's "Prayer Before Birth" she makes a poignant plea on behalf of all unborn children "I am not yet born, console me ... I am not yet born; 0 hear me: Let not the man who is beast or who thinks he is God come near me ....." What values are we passing on to our children by accepting practices that bring about the destruction of individuals and ultimately families? Abortion, genetic engineering, fertility treatments that create the possibility of a woman becoming pregnant with so many babies that their chance of survival is negligible. Often we read or hear of these events without even feeling moved enough to comment Pope John Paul, with his deep concern for families wrote: "Individuals, families, groups and associations, albeit for different reasons and in different ways, all have a responsibility for shaping society and developing cultural, economic, political and legislative projects which with respect for all and in keeping with democratic principles, will contribute to the building of a society in which the dignity of each person is recognised and protected and the lives of all are defended and enhance." We need to accept his challenge, to attempt to make a difference.

Our family serving .vour family, since /9(M North Perth 444 4835. Midland 274 3866, Victoria Park 361 1185, Wiumeroo 409 9119, Northam 1096) 22 1137 Mamena Purslowe and Associates. Suhiaco, '3881623.

reaches a

unique group of people! The Record. August 15 1996 Page 6

Mars 'life' claim undermines scientific credibility

The Record

famous front page of a satirical newspaper once carried a fabricated picture of a US Air Force B-29 bomber crashlanded on the moon under an appropriately sensational headline. Readers of The West Australian on Thursday morning, 8 August, who had ever read the B-29 spoof may have experienced a fleeting sense of deja vu when, over their Weeties, they were confronted with the headline: "Signs of life on Mars found." The thought could have occurred to them that perhaps a B-29 had been found again. Of course, The West Australian that day had little option but to report the news emanating from the United States that nine NASA space scientists claimed to have uncovered evidence in a meteorite from Mars that microscopic life existed on that planet billions of years ago. But the headline of the century, if not the millennium, was thoroughly misleading, to put it politely. Signs of life had not been found on Mars.

As other researchers pointed out in fol- ment and he was ready and waiting to lowing days, and as was referred to in the associate himself in an election year with scientists' own report, the chemical com- a story that filled people with historical pounds found in the meteorite could awe and a warm inner glow. And it is reasonable to suspect that the equally have been produced by strictly chemical means, rather than the biologi- nine scientists, or their administrators at cal processes claimed by the scientists. the very least, were well aware of the So why did scientists, politicians and money that would flow to their research journalists jump to the conclusion the if their preliminary findings were released chemicals pointed to life when they equal- as soon as possible. ly pointed to inanimate processes? It is precisely these desires that occaThe episode points to the way our pre- sionally leads researchers in the physical sumptions can warp reason and the truth. sciences, and often in social sciences, to The speed with which US President Bill unconsciously interpret evidence accordClinton jumped into the spotlight to back ing to their needs - either financial or plans for more research into life on Mars philosophical. When the bottle is hail full they see it as betrayed some very unscientific motives on the part of both the President and, per- half empty; when a cluster of chemicals could equally point to an inanimate chemhaps, the scientists. President Clinton's alacrity suggested he ical reaction, they assume the cluster had been tipped off before the announce- points to life on Mars.

97,z-vouno 1.,&

Change ABC management

eter Kennedy of the ABC (Letters, 8 August) has missed or avoided the main charge against the ABC in your editorial of 1 August. Apart from advocating some privatisation, you accused the ABC of broadcasting an "unrelenting diet of nearly 100 per cent of God-less transmission" and that "true Christian values have as much chance as a snowflake in hell of getting a reasonable airing at the government broadcaster". These were extraordinary accusations and beg the question: why did Peter Kennedy not challenge them? As a long time listener and viewer of the ABC,I believe the answer is that, in the main, such charges cannot be disputed and Peter Kennedy knows that to be so. My judgement is that the management of the ABC has been hijacked by people who employ program managers, producers, journalists and presenters who are prepared to adhere to secular policies and all their nuances which are opposed to the values and precepts of Christianity. There is substantial documentation that the ABC has promoted the causes of a network of militant minorities, especially homosexuals and feminists. The ABC philosophy is anti-family (and more precisely anti-marriage) and proabortion. For instance, in referring to married couples, the policy is not to use the term spouse or husband or wife, but to use partner so as not to discriminate against fornicatious relationships. Many examples can be given, but one is that ABC television in Perth has never given coverage to any major anti-abortion demonstrations held in dose proximity to its studio. On one notable occasion its camera crew passed a demonstration of hundreds on the causeway to film the discovery of a frog mouthed owl in the Darling Range. Whether the Government has decided to reduce funding to the ABC because of its obvious and blatant political bias or because money is not available is largely beside the point. The debate about the ABC should be on the fact that its staff are consistently broadcasting a manipulated "God-less" version of events and promote values that are contrary to the Christian code of values. If fund cutting is necessary for fiscal reasons so be it, but what is urgently required is a change of management and staff to achieve social balance. Brian A Peachey Woodlands

At a deeper religious and philosophical level, some scientists and journalists had already decided, well before the latest incident, that life exists beyond earth. Consciously or unconsciously, they want intelligent life to exist on other planets to prove somehow that the Christian belief that God created humans as unique beings of intelligence and will was false. And, if the Bible was wrong about the incidence of intelligent life then, in their minds, they have further reason not to believe in God. When people cut themselves off from God, their minds become even more fragile and susceptible to illusion. The rush to belief in life on Mars when the evidence points equally in the other direction is one more example of this ageold problem. • The opinions expressed in this editorial, and any other Record editorial, are not necessarily those of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth.

Leffers

/Ae Co6Yor

religious factors that influence Islamic fun- the teaching the more disjointed reality appears. damentalism. heartily agree with your 1 August ediDespite the disclaimer about opinions Fr O'Donovan quotes the martyred Traptorial and find that the ABC espousal of not necessarily being those of the Arch- pist as evidence of the purity of Islam. But deviant behaviour repugnant to the bishop, this paper does claim to be a future martyrdom does not necessarily ensure prudent judgement or dear thinkextreme. Catholic voice in this state. ing when dealing with your prospective Let us not adopt an attitude of complaI can't help but feel that this editorial will executioners. cency or act in such a way that the baby be the source of deep discomfort and con- And Fr Ross's reference to Vatican H does goes out with the bath water. The best way cern to Western Australian Catholics - not preclude the argument put in the edifor us to clean up the ABC (our ABC) is to those with personal experience torial. The council asks that dialogue especially write to the station managers and to the of Islam. assume a dean slate. ABC Board. Enough negative feedback will Geoff Donegan But it does not ask that once the dialogue take effect has begun. and one side fails to accept or Remember Sodom and Gomorrah? I Leederville tolerate the truth of Jesus Christ and his Imagine the complacency of the multitude Church, that those responsible for secular had a lot to do with that conflagration. society shouldnot be wary of the inevitably Ellen Morris hat made you agree to that poi- violent nature of Islam. Bayswater sonous title to your editorial last Even Islamic governments are wary of week: 'Bishop's assassination the inherently violent nature, for example, shows the nature of Islam'? of Hindu society when it is threatened, no That is exactly what it does not do. Near- matter how peacefulit appears on the surread your editorial on the privatisation of the ABC within a couple of days of er to our Catholic truth and belief, I sub- face or how many good individual Hindus reading a Letter to the Editor in The mit, are the words of the late Titular Bishop there may be. The establishment of Pakof the Tibhirine (Trappist) Community, istan and Bangladesh are testimony to this. Australian. That letter called for a complete ban on Frere Christian de Cherge, in his widely religion on the ABC and said that the Sun- circulated Spiritual Testament, written, one day morning program For the God who might say, with the ink of his own blood: '. . . . I know too the caricatures of Islam e are writing because we believe Sings should be the first one axed and Islamism. It is encourage a certain which that Fr Esmond's article (The asked the question "Do people think that Record, 25 July) on the interAmerican holy rollers, or Scientology, or too easy to give oneself a good conscience Jewish or Muslim or IRA Catholic fundain identifying this religious way with the parish basketball competition held at Batementalist should be given free air access?" fundamentalist ideology of its extremists. man requires some response. Initially, we decided to remain silent The writer called on all Australians to way which he He chose not to follow that about the whole affair, but the stern words purge these things and "our" ABC would save a mint of money as well as clear away saw as 'too easy'. So neither should The of Veritatis Splendor recalled us to our Record. duty: "But in this way the inescapable much of its entrenched bias. claims of truth disappear, yielding their Iwonder if the truth might be somewhere FT Dan O'Donovan place to a criterion of sincerity, authenticibetween your editorial and that letter to Broome ty and 'being at peace with oneself . . ." the editor. Muth makes a claim on us and calls us to Mick Sullivan act. Fr Esmond referred to the "consistentBrisbane and many other readers were very dis- ly high standard of play throughout the day appointed in your editorial about Islam. of the team from Rockingham which narWhen you put at the end the opinions rowly missed contesting the final." "Consistently high standard of play" and read with deep sadness the editorial on expressed are not necessarily those of the are an interesting choice of that), you for "narrowly" Archbishop (Thank God "the nature of Islam" in last week's not the ones we would have the Roman words, but are should have "nor added Record use. chosen to Catholic Church". Ascribing the sins of a few to the whole Fr Esmond appears to be arrogating to Is a standard propaganda technique which Read paragraph 3 of Vatican II's Declarahas no place in such an important journal. tion on Relation of the Church to Non- himself the right claimed first by 1-hunptyCertainly the Islamic fundamentalism Christian Religions. Your words are Dumpty - the right to define words as he that has risen 1500 years after the birth of directly contrary to the words of the Coun- chooses. Truth compels us to state that the three their religion is a major source of violence cil: "The sacred Council now pleads with teams on the courts were from the best all to forget the past, and urges that a sinand terrorism. Perhaps not coincidentally another world religion faced similar erup- cere effort be made to achieve mutual Whitford-Ocean Reef, Bateman and Wiltions one and a half millennia after its birth. understanding. For the benefit of all, let letton-Brentwood parishes. There is indeed splendour in truth! One wonders at the magnitude of atroci- them together preserve and promote ties that would have resulted if the Refor- peace, liberty social justice and moral val- Fr Steven Casey Fr Phillip Perreau mation and Counter-Reformation had ues". occurred in an era of aircraft, automatic Enough of such caricature of Islam and Fr Sean Fernandez weapons, Semtex and plutonium. identification of this great world religion Naturally, the use of the word "genetic" in with a minority of radicals. reference to the alleged violent nature of Remember, we Christians wouldn't stand hy is it that those members of a Islamic societies is deeply disturbing. The up too well either if they used the same political party - who seem to see usage is both foolish given the extremely approach to us. nothing wrong with a woman diverse racial makeup of Islam and funarranging to have her developing baby damentally racist andIhope those respon- Iii• Chris Ross Joondanna killed to avoid the inconvenience of having sible have the courage to apologise. May Ihumbly suggest that, in a complex Editor's note: the opening letter assumes to look after it - are referred to as "moderand fluid world, being "as wise as a ser- Islam is a race of people when it is a reli- ates" by the media, whereas those who pent" involves greater effort than just "fully gion, so no apology for racism is needed. oppose such abhorrent callousness are understanding . . . . the teachings of the And a full understanding of Magisterial called "extremists"? Bishop of Rome", especially in relation to teaching is the sure way of viewing reality M. J. Gonzalez the detailed economic, social, political and clearly; the more people misunderstand Willetton

Remember Sodom

Poisonous title

Where lies the truth?

Splendid claims

Caricature of Islam

Editorial 'disturbing'

Moderately murderous

The Record, August 15 1996 Page 7

11 Features

'Don't fear if you hear gunshots'

Every seat needed - Fr Brock, right, at the new Church at Kabwata that will hold 1000 people.

Fr Brian Brock, director of the Pontifical Missions Society in Australia, visited Zambia earlier this year to witness how money raised in this country helps the Church's work abroad. He recorded his highly interesting Impressions in his diary, excerpts of which are reprinted here.

ay 14 - Father Wojceich. a Polish priest, who is the procurator of the Archdiocese of Lusaka, met me at the airport and drove me to the Archbishop's residence. He warned me not to be afraid if I heard gunshots from time to time, explaining that the current political situation had left the country in a deprived state in regard to education, medicine, infrastructure and law and order. I got the message when I saw the walls of broken glass and razor wire. May 15 - Father drives me over a maze of tortuous tracks which masquerade as roads to Chipata. Sister Mary Brennan, an Irish Presentation Sister runs a school here for children who have not gone on from primary to secondary school. There are very few positions available in secondary schools and many can't afford the education in any case. The children have very few books or resources. In fact, almost 45per cent of the classes have no chalk or blackboards. One of the "classrooms" I entered was merely a piece of canvas at the end of a building. On to Father Mick Long's school which runs on the system of three shifts of three hours each for 1500 children. During the "tour" of his two schools - one building has been condemned - he tells me that he has finally been connected to the

Poverty is widespread in Zambia, but you can help faith grow and ordinary lives be happy.

telephone system by dint of a radio telephone. He couldn't use the normal system because the wires are always stolen. That afternoon we received a fantastic welcome at Kasisi orphanage, the children were wonderful. They sang almost endlessly and were all over me. I've got photographs of these children for our supporters of Children's Mission. You wouldn't guess that some have AIDS, one has been saved from blindness by a special operation but it's the love and care given to all which makes the work of Sister Maria so positive and beautiful.

tel which has the potential for self-sufficiency due to the large area for a variety of gardens, cropfields and chicken coops. Two Polish Sisters of the Holy Family Order hope to build a convent there soon but they live on almost nothing in an area which has the reputation of being one of the most violent and lawless. Sister Judith, the younger of the two nuns has had many battles with police and government corruption. She believes ills only her Faith that keeps her there. The new church at Kabwata will hold 1000 people and they will need every seat. The second grant from Rome means that the roof will be on soon and the old church can be used for pastoral work Met Sister Mary Frances Gould. an Australian Sister of Charity who is a teacher in the school. These dedicated hard-workers are so welcoming! May 17 - Never thought I would be riding in a maternity bus with Sister Maria Crucis and her team of nurses and midwives going out to meet mothers who had had difficult births. Their assistance has made a considerable difference to the families, all of whom had bundles of kids. But the living conditions in the Father Brian Brock homes were appalling. The housMay 16- St Dominic's Seminary es had no provision for water, Is growing too quickly for this for- hygiene or sanitation and are just mer girls' boarding school run by tiny shelters without electricity, the Dominicans. windows or even doors. It was a dry and windy day and The building is white-ant infested and the addition of 20 Rwan- the dust was everywhere. I dan students has increased the remember Mrs Verenna Daka who was home from hospital, problem of overcrowding. aged 44 with her ninth child. I thought back to my own semiShe also raises three grandchilnary days and how horrified I dren because of the death of the would have been if I had to phys- mother. ically manufacture my own bed. Children's Mission has helped Further on at Chawana. The her to start a simple "business" in Society for the Propagation of the which she buys a drum of cookFaith funds an aged person's hos- ing oil and re-sells it in small bat-

ties. When we visit, the children are out selling the product. May 18 - It seems that there are a million potholes on the long drive to Katondwe on the main Eastern road to the river and almost to Mozambique. Along the way we drop in at Kambuta, a place in the middle of nowhere. The people saw two priests and immediately presumed it must be time for Mass. At last we reach the Mission at Katondwe, which the Jesuits established in 1910. The hospital is impressive and copes with a variety of illnesses including, not necessarily in order of seriousness, burns, measles. crocodile and snake bites, T.B., and AIDS. Fifty per cent of the blood tests whenIwas there were HIV positive and maternity complications are common. The doctor, Sister Miroslavia Gora does most of the surgery including Caesarean section deliveries. Problems: A critical shortage of gloves, syringes and medicines. And Sister needs someone to replace her when she goes on leave next year. I visited the parish priest of Mpansha, Father Christopher, hospitalised, when he was shot by thieves invading his presbytery. This is a beautiful area overlooking the river valley, not unlike Kakadu. May 19 - After Katondwe I concelebrated Mass at Mpansha and the catechist preached in the Bemba language. Most impressed at the Collection when each person came out to give something in cash or kind. After MassI yarned with a Doctor-Professor who comes out from Lusaka every fortnight to relax and help in the hospital which is not as well-equipped as Katondwe. A common link is the shortage

of equipment. The Government pays 700 Kwacha a bed per day for 60 beds but at times there are another 51 beds in use. The hospital also processes 900 outpatients a month, not counting repeat visits.Iheard that the average life-span of a Zambian is now only in the mid 40's. AIDS and tuberculosis continue to lower the figure. In the male general ward of this hospital when I visited. 8 out of 9 patients were HIV positive. After lunchImet Cecilia Kasanda, whose son Cornelius is being assisted by Children's Mission to attend a school for the deaf in the Copper Belt ( the area which will be so badly affected by the drop in price of copper). He is doing so well that he has ambitions to be a helicopter pilot. His mother insisted on presenting me with a basket of sweet potatoes as a gift. Returned to the hospital with some of the children who brought back watermelons. The next nine days or so went by at the speed of light - so many of our projects to see. I'll have to update the diary and feature more of the highlights in our Mission Today newsletter - sometime. June - Back in the office comparing notes with Education officer, Peter Gates, who spent three years in Zambia as a lay missionary before joining the National Office here. We sent him back to Zambia last year and his videotape shows me what Ididn't see - like the colourful, exciting ceremony when the White Fathers hand over their local church and parish to the indigenous bishop. Also up on the screen are some of the Zambians who made such an impression on me. But I've just read the papers about the falling price of copper. The Zambians will need much more help. Perhaps these diary notes in our Catholic press will bring some.

Family the normal place to learn all about virtues Further excerpts from the Vatican's -Pontifical Council for the Family's guidelines for education within the family on human sexuality

he family environment is thus the normal and usual place for forming children and young people to consolidate and exercise the virtues of charity, temperance, fortitude and chastitY. As the domestic church, the family is the school of the richest humanity.

This is particularly true for the moral and spiritual education on such a delicate matter as chastity. Physical, psychological and spiritual aspects are involved in chastity as well as the first signs of freedom, the influence of social models, natural modesty and strong tendencies inherent in a human being's bodily nature. All of these aspects are connected to an awareness, albeit implicit, of the dignity of the human person, called to collaborate with God and at the same time marked by fragility.

The Record, August 15 1996 Page 8

In a Christian home parents have the strength to lead their children to a real Christian maturation of their personalities, according to the measure of Christ, in his mystical body, the Church. While the family is rich in these strengths, it also needs the support of the state and society, according to the principle of subsidiarity: it can happen ... that when a family does decide to live up fully to its vocation, it finds itself without the necessary support from the state and without

sufficient resources. It is urgent therefore to promote not only family policies, but also those social policies which have the family as their principal object, policies which assist the family by providing adequate resources and efficient means of support both for bringing up children and for looking after the elderly." Aware of this and of the real difficulties that exist for young people in many countries today, especially when social and moral deterioration is present, parents are urged to dare to ask for

more and to propose more. They cannot be satisfied with avoiding the worst - that their children do not take drugs or commit crimes. They will have to be committed to educating them in the true values of the person, renewed by the virtues of faith, hope and love: the values of freedom, responsibility, fatherhood and motherhood, service, professional work, solidarity, honesty, art, sport, the joy of knowing they are children of God, hence brothers and sisters of all human beings.

Features

Diamond jul3ilarians' peace an inspiration with ages ranging from young teenagers through to 20. They went straight to the mothhere's something wonderful about religious sisters. er house in West Perth where they In their younger years joined other novices and postuthey're busy with their students, lants and their three years relipatients, or whatever vocational gious training began. Their novice mistress, Sr Agatha, activity they're in, always on the proved "truly a mother* and a go and giving their best. But during their retirement boon to the homesick young girls, years they add another aura - that Joining in their fun, sharing their of peace; to be with them is rather highs and lows, and writing to like pulling your boat into a quiet, each of their mothers to reassure them about their daughters. protected harbour. The sisters were allowed to Protected, because it's imbued with their fortified spirituality that write home monthly, but it took a has been cultivated over the years month for mail to get there and a through the daily Sacraments and month to receive the reply in consistent prayer life; with their those days, but their bonding with daily walking and talking to the each other and the fact that they Lord and His Mother, and the found Australians "just like the tranquillity which comes from Irish", plus the hospitality they received from the people, made it that. I had the privilege recently of easier for them to settle in. In the following years, the young being with 12 of these very special ladies who have notched up women worked during the day 60 years of professed sisterhood and generally studied at night as with the Sisters of Mercy in the external students in order to obtain their teaching requireWest Perth Congregation. Sisters John, Celine, de Sales, ments. With these milestones Scholastica, Kevin, Angela, accomplished, the young sisters Raphael, Berchmans, Celestine, moved into various parts of WA. Time moved on for the sisters, Bernadette, Dympna and Brigid each received a card from Arch- and the remaining 13 celebrated bishop Barry Hickey for this their golden jubilee together, but superb occasion plus a message for their diamond jubilee early of congratulation for the 11 Irish- last month only 11 remained from born from Richard O'Brien Ire- their profession day of 2 July 1936. But joining their "diamond land's Ambassador to Australia, brought personally by Ireland's ranks" is WA-born Sister John Consul-General in Australia, Hales, who was professed on 29 March, 1936. Michael Nolan. Catherine McAuley founded the Now, having spent individually Mercy Sisters in Ireland in 1831; at least 40 years teaching our chilthe Mercys came to Western Aus- dren, these 12 outstanding examtralia in 1846, and the Mercy Sis- ples of tremendous commitment ters' West Perth congregation was to society and the Church, are offifounded in 1896. cially in retirement while still To join their ranks, a little band maintaining their interests in varof 16 came out from Ireland in ious outreaches, such as Sr Celine 1933, from the counties of Kerry, O'Farrell who works with Newry, Cork, Down, and Louth, migrants and refugees. By Colleen McGuiness-Howard

Celebrating their diamond jubilee are Sisters de Sales Clarke, left back, Scholastica Hartnett, Irish Consul-General Michael Nolan, Celine O'Farrell, and Kevin Murphy, with, left front, Srs Angela O'Connor, Raphael °Mahoney, Berchmans Murphy, Celestine O'Connell and Bernadette Sheehy. Two of the original band are not in the picture but are seen, below left, from top: Srs Brigid O'Sullivan and Dympna Kelly. Australian-born diamond jubilarian, Sr John Hales, with a gift presented by student Jake Gamble of Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, Nollamara, for her diamond jubilee.

Sr John's diamond jubilee was a parish celebration organised by Nollamara's parish priest Fr Walsh, while 'the Irish 11' had an 'in-house "hooleyr Looking back over the years, the sisters from Ireland said it was the parents who made the sacrifice when the girls volunteered for Australia - not them. Nevertheless, their families were fully supportive of what they did. In fact those same families contributed greatly in giving other children. Out of the ranks of the 12 sisters, they had nine sisters who became nuns, two religious brothers, two priests, and several cousins in religious life. Well having seen so much through the passage of time - what do these 12 ladies think about schools? Is their presence important today? Do they still have a place in Catholic schools? The sisters believe their presence is important and valued by principals and teachers who wish to maintain the Mercy ethos. As for respect, they agree they get as much respect today as they ever did, if not more. Society had changed dramatically during their lifetime but the difficulties they have faced were also faced by their foundress, Catherine McAuley, in her work for the poor and educating the young girls. Referring to vocations, their Congregational leader, Sr Kaye

Boswell, said that although people may not be "knocking on our door" to become Mercy sisters, the challenge for the sisters now was to see what role they had to play in changing religious life. Lay people now had the opportunity for greater participation in Church life, and the vocations they were now getting, although fewer, were "coming in at a more

mature, informed level," she said. And in relation to her own 12 "faith-filled, faithful women," Sr Kaye sees their example of growing older as a very positive experience. . . . "the little things such as the smile, kind word, the welcoming touch; these small gestures which have proven so significant in other people's lives."

Catholic Church in Cuba looks to a new evangelisation By Aracell M. Canter° in Havana

A boy sits on steps outside a Catht church in Santiago de Cuba earlier this month. Church workers on the island nation have been focusing on drawing youths back to their faith and to church. Photos CNS Martin Lueders

nce silent witnesses, Catholics in Cuba are no longer afraid. They have left behind the sacristies and are venturing out, determined to be yeast and salt within the very society in which they live. They want to do that by fostering reconciliation and dialogue at every level, through projects that proclaim Jesus and support human dignity. They plan to do it through lively and dynamic communities of believers, through lay people who are committed to the Church and to society Ten years ago, a national meeting of the Church in Cuha launched the Cuban church into a period of evangelization that

gave rise to an infinite number of ing. This points to a future when The 1986 meeting was able to programs in parishes and com- lay people will no longer move the church from a ministry munities. limit themselves to ministry with- of maintenance to greater service The Cross of the 500th Anniver- in their communities. to people, said Dagoberto Valdes, sary of thc arrival of Christianity Now, they are becoming aware a delegate to a February 1996 in the New World made its way of their lay vocation and getting meeting to mark the anniversary through every diocese, stirring the organised to transform their envi- of the 1986 meeting. nation's Catholic memory. Now, since February this year, ronment with the Gospel. A similar journey by the image Already, movements of factory evangelization seeks to be more of Our Lady of Charity, Cuba's workers and health care work- prophetic and more immersed in patroness, took on multitudinous ers have arisen. the world of family, work and culproportions. Students have formed commu- ture, Valdes added. Vatican statistics say the number nities within universities. In his opinion,it is more an evanof baptisms rose from 27,410 in People are receiving formation gelization of the culture than of 1986 to 70,081 in 1995. That is not on social and civic- political mat- individuals. counting the great number of bap- ters. It is a little more difficult tised people who had left the Diocesan publications are gain- because it implies denunciation Church and are returning. ing strength and readership. of anything that is not in accor"The Cuban population has Father Jose Conrad°, a pastor in dance with the kingdom of God, grown. hut the Church has also Palma Soriano, said after the 1986 he said. grown, seeing a multiplication of synod "the action took place priBut he notes that il ls not just a its dioceses and lay movements," marily through the churches. matter of denouncing, hut of Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino Now, the action must take place proposing alternative projects, of Havana said at the opening ses- in the neighbourhoods and "non-political ones," that pave the sion of this year's Church meet- in society." way toward hope. The Record, August 15 1996 Page 9

-r Book Reviews

Heavy going, but a rewarding search for the God of ages The Quest for God (A Personal Pilgrimage) by Paul Johnson, Weidenfeld & Nicholson 215 pages RRP $35.00 Reviewed by George Russo

his is a daunting book to review, as it is a personal account of the author, Paul Johnson's search for God. It is not only his scholarship that dazzles and compels, it is the sheer sweep of his knowledge and learning. For Johnson is a celebrated journalist whose articles in the prestigious Spectator and London Daily Telegraph appear regularly. Still it is quite a different thing to write a philosophical work. But he is also a serious historian and biographer. Among his many books are histories of contemporary Popes, Christianity and Jews, as well as such in-depth subjects as the civilisations of Ancient Egypt, the Holy Land, and England. Often his books are apologetic and challenging, like Wake Up Britain!but always he writes with authority; the authority of a scholar. And scholarship is always enlivened by perceptive pen portraits. There is Newman, used to portray the awesome journey of the soul after death: 1know of nothing which comes closer, in Imagination, to the moment of death, and to the conflicting feelings of pain and hope - and apprehension - than Newman's great poem, The Dream of Gerontius", he writes, insistently. Ills almost a primary source in the absence of literary evidence, and a significant breakthrough in

the use of poetic images in the interpretation of what happens after death. Another breakthrough is the way Johnson appeals to artists like Shakespeare, Coleridge, Jane Austen, George Eliot et al, to make clear the themes he discusses and how he and others have derived inspiration and enlargement of their understanding. When he treats the theme of Death, for example, he shows how Dickens moved his generation by the description of Little Nell's death (100,000 books were sold within 6 months of its publication), until Oscar Wilde outraged them by remarking: "One must have a heart of stone to read the death of Little Nell without laughing". The splendours of Gothic architecture illustrated the moral superiority of the Ages of Faith: To erect buildings and to adorn them with art specifically that God may be worshipped in them is a worthy occupation for a pope and his cardinals". He consideres that the art of the past reveals the shortcomings of the current secular age and its spiritual impoverishment. His chapters: Is there an alternative to God? What is God, then? He, or she or it.... Why Evil Exists, and Why We Can Distinguish it from Good, are heavy going and require, nay, demand, careful reading. His discussion of atheism includes such atheists as Bertrand Russell and Richard Dawkins, believing that even they had personal images of God, "just as we envisage what Dagon looked like or Thor or Jupiter. . . . if only to dismiss them."

Johnson castigates those who don't believe in a personal God. "For what is most remarkable", he states, "is not its castigation of Christianity but the absurdity of its own alternative explanations of life". Once historical resources exist for Christianity, it is to them that the working historian goes - `to exact date' for what happened in the past and what people believed; and they believed in God. Of course, he reiterates the moral superiority of the Ages of Faith. With thoroughness and honesty he explores the evidence of God's existence, His nature (and gender) the problems of good and evil, even the environment and other contemporary and popular topics, like fundamentalist beliefs, and pseudo-aesthetic theories. Nevertheless, he upholds the power of visual images to reveal of many 'extreme' movements something of the nature of God. today; animal rights liberationists, So he gives a grand expose of who 'get the argument all wrong' the paintings of the Renaissance, because 'they leave God out of it', implying that Artists have an intu- Environmentalists, 'the new itive grasp of the divinity that we pagans', who 'betray all signs of tend to overlook religious enthusiasm', secular libJohnson's honesty and 'old time' erationists, who make 'sex their Catholicism (morning and even- god', and homosexuals, who have ing prayers, daily Mass, confes- 'organised openly into a powerful sion) upset not a few reviewers. lobby' for harm to society and "Ihave never read such a biased their own souls. review", wrote one letter writer, He sees homosexuality as a who took the reviewer to task for 'great moral evil', but does not upholding the atheistic views of believe that its adherents should Dawkins; concluding that "The be sent to prison. probable opinion of R Dawkins, Rather, liberal laws have creatthe atheist... reduces the universe ed 'a monster in our midst, powto absurdity in his entire dismissal erful and clamouring, flexing its of a creator". And most people muscles, threatening, vengeful would agree. and vindictive towards anyone Johnson shows us the fallacies who challenges its outrageous

claims'. What is worse, their 'reckless promiscuity' has spread the 'fearful scourge of AIDS, a killer disease of a peculiarly horrible nature, for which there is no cure'. And he blames them for contaminating others not of their persuasion. Journalists of Johnson's talents make excellent contemporary historians while the opposite is not always true. There is much subjectivity in his personal 'Quest for God', but he also achieves objectivity from his deep learning and scholarship. He has the rarest of gifts, that of making difficult ideas simple, in a style that we can all understand. But, be careful, this is still a book that demands diligent reading.

Useful introduction to matters of life and death / Hepburn, Elizabeth. Of Life and Death: An Australian Guide to Catholic Bioethics. Dove, 1996, 234pp. RRP $22.95

Reviewed by Fr Peter Black

An Australian Otii(IC to Catholic biouthic:

The Record, August,15 1996 Page 10

n the midst of complex and controver- not an analysis of the counter-arguments. that his distinction necessarily leads to sial issues surrounding life and death, The author refers to Australian legisla- such conclusions. in the light of new medical technolo- tion, policies and surveys that are very Having spoken to both Ford and Hepburn gies and in the wake of sometimes confus- informative and perhaps not well known it is clear that the former (Ford) does not ing public debate, Sister Elizabeth by the general public. agree with such commentators and the latHepburn's book OfLife andDeath: An AusThere are references to the Medical Treat- ter (Hepburn) does not mean to imply that tralian Guide to Catholic filoethics offers a ment Act 1988 and 1989, The Victorian he does. Making a biological distinction is straightforward and clear introduction to Human Tissue Act 1982, surveys of Aus- one thing (Ford) drawing faulty concluthe world of contemporary bioethical tralian medical practitioners and in Appen- sions concerning the moral status of the issues considered from the perspective of dix 11 we find the Northern Territory of realities distinguished is another (certain Catholic teaching. Australia Rights of the Terminal 1Y ill Act commentators). As Dr Hepburn states in her introduction, 1995. Of Life and Death is an introduction to a the aim of her work is to discuss fundaIn chapter 12 on abortion, Norman Ford's host of complex philosophical, theological, mental questions about the meaning, value book When DidIBegin? is mentioned in legal and medical matters. and purposes of human life and health. relation to the question of the moral sigOne cannot expect a single work of this Such a discussion leads the reader into nificance of the early embryo. nature to exhaust all the arguments surthe realms of euthanasia, organ transplanFord argues that we need to make a dis- rounding complex ethical dilemmas. tation, manipulation of genes, embryo tinction between "zygote" and "embryo." As in the case of anencephaly (a condiexperimentation, reproductive technoloHe suggests that the term "embryo" tion in which the unborn foetus has formed gies, surrogacy, contraception, abortion should be reserved for the period follow- only the lower brain stem which controls and HIV/AIDS. ing the development of the primitive streak, automatic functions like respiration and The format of the chapters indicates that which occurs at about fourteen days after circulation, but lacks all, or nearly all, the all the above areas are considered in the fertilisation, and the term "zygote" should higher brain which controls conscious light of the Roman Catholic tradition. be used for the period before the develop- activities) Hepburn, on the question of Each chapter begins with a quotation ment of the primitive streak, i.e. when the early induction of the anencephalus, refers from The Catechism of the Catholic possibility of twinning (the development of the reader to a selection of Australian Church, and there generally follows two distinct individuals from the one publications whose authors have differing Church statements on the particular issue zygote) is past. views. under discussion, comment on the teachHepburn comments that certain comThe list of resources and suggestions for ing, common counter arguments against mentators have used this distinction to sup- further reading as well as the glossary of the position of the Church and an analysis port early abortion and experimentation terms and the timelines will enable the of these counter-arguments. on zygotes. reader to embrace with interest and reaI say "generally" because in chapter 11, This could be read as suggesting that sonable ease matters that are at the heart which deals with contraception, there is Ford agrees with these commentators or of life and death.

International News

US Cardinals clash on initiative CHICAGO (CNS) - Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago has launched a major new initiative by 24 US Catholic leaders to overcome the "distrust, acrimony and deadlock" they see as threatening the future of US Catholicism. At a press conference on August 12, the Cardinal released the guiding statement for the new project. It warned that "ideological litmus tests" of the left and right and intramural bickering have increasingly drained Catholic energies. creating a "dynamic of fear and polarisation" that obstructs candid dialogue. "Unless we examine our situation with fresh eyes, open minds and changed hearts," it says, "within a few decades a vital Catholic legacy may be squandered, to the loss of both the Church and the nation." But the Cardinal's plea was immediately frustrated when Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston described the framework statement as flawed and "not very helpful." He said the -pastoral crisis" Cardinal Bernardin is attempting to address cannot be resolved by making "truth and dissent from truth. . . .equal partners in ecclesial dialogue." "It is, I think, unfortunate that the Cardinal's initiative has tied itself to this statement," Cardinal Law said just hours after Cardinal Bernardin announced his initiative. 'The statement is not very helpful," he added. "Throughout there are gratuitous assumptions, and at significant points it breathes an ideological bias which it elsewhere decries in others. The fundamental flaw in this document is its appeal for 'dialogue' as a path to 'common ground." Cardinal Law noted that about two-thirds of the way through the framework statement is -the thought that 'Jesus Christ, present in Scripture and sacrament, is central to all we do; he must always be the measure and not what is measured." "I would have preferred to have the statement begin at that point. The crisis the Church is facing can only be adequately addressed by a clarion call to conversion." "Dialogue as applied to this pastoral crisis must be clearly understood," Cardinal Law said. "Dissent from revealed truth or the authoritative teaching of the Church cannot be 'dialogued' away. Truth and dissent from truth are not equal partners in ecclesial dialogue," he added. The statement itself said American Catholics have to work together from "a common ground centred on faith in Jesus, marked by accountability to the living Catholic tradition and ruled by a renewed spirit of civility, dialogue, generosity and broad and serious consultation," it says. It added that even the liturgy, which ought to be "drawing the Christian community into its MINI MEM 111•1111 MIMI IMO

Cardinal Bernardin announces the Catholic Common Ground Project in Chicago as Sister Doris Gottemoeller, president of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, looks on. Photos CIVS.Jack Spratt

mystery and power," had become a partisan battleground. "No effort to assess the state of worship or develop new translations or refresh liturgical skills escapes suspicion of moving to one extreme or the other or pressure to move in the opposite direction as a safeguard," it said. The 3,000-word statement is titled. "Called to be Catholic: Church in a Time of Peril." It was prepared by the National Pastoral Life Centre in New York in consultation with Cardinal Bernardin and the leaders who have joined him in the ini-

• -The organisation and effectiveness of religious education." • -The eucharistic liturgy as most Catholics experience it." • 'The meaning of human sexuality and the gap between Church teachings and the convictions of many faithful. . . ." • "The image and morale of

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The initiative itself, called the Catholic Common Ground Project, will be staffed by the National Pastoral Life Centre, a research and consultation centre devoted to improving Catholic leadership and parish life. The project is to sponsor conferences and papers which deal with critical issues in the Church in a way that exemplifies and promotes the kind of dialogue called for in the statement. The statement urged Catholics to refocus on the central, common ground they share. "Jesus Christ, present in Scripture and sacrament, is central to all that we do: he must always be the measure and not what is measured," it said. "Around this central conviction." it said, "the Church's leadership, both clerical and lay, must reaffirm and promote the full range and demands of authentic unity, acceptable diversity and respectful dialogue, not just to dampen conflict but as a way to make our conflicts constructive." But it warned that a hardening of party lines within the Church has made such constructive dialogue difficult "Candid discussion is inhibited. Across the whole spectrum of views within the Church, proposals are subject to ideological litmus tests," it said. "Ideas, journals and leaders are pressed to align themselves with pre-existing camps and are viewed warily when they depart from those expectations." Among "urgent questions" to be addressed it cited: • -The changing roles of women."

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ical of the emphasis on dialogue. "Dialogue as a pastoral effort to assist in a fuller appropriation of the truth is laudable. Dialogue as a way to mediate between the truth and dissent is mutual deception." He said that the -common ground" for Catholics "is found in sacred Scripture and tradition, and it is mediated to us through the authoritative and binding teaching of the magisterium." However, Bishop Anthony Pilla, president of the US National Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he hoped the Catholic unity initiative by Cardinal Bernardin will achieve its goal. "I pray for this effort and hope the cardinal's stated purpose and goal of better understanding and reconciliation can be achieved." he said in a brief statement on August 13. 'The cardinal has indicated that this effort will be made in the context of Church teaching and tradition." Bishop Pilla said.

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priests and the declining ratios of priests and vowed religious to people in the pews." • 'The ways in which the church is present in political life...." • -The survival of Catholic school systems, colleges and universities, health care facilities and social services" with their distinct mission and identity. • 'The dwindling financial support from parishioners." • 'The manner of decision-making and consultation in Church governance." • -The responsibility of theology to authoritative Church teachings." • 'The place of collegiality and subsidiarity in the relations between Rome and the American episcopacy." The statement cited the widely reported religious illiteracy of young adult Catholics as a key example of the challenges facing the Church. However Cardinal Law was crit-

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International News

U to kill the 'cancer of bigotry'

Cardinal calls for fasting to halt se Gospel US partial birth abortions NEW YORK (CNS) - Cardinal John O'Connor of New York has asked Catholics to wage a spiritual struggle against partialbirth abortions by committing themselves to abstain from meat on Fridays for the next year. He also urged Catholics and others to write to President Clinton and to their members of Congress urging that partial-birth abortions be outlawed. He made the requests in his weekly column, "From My Viewpoint," in the August 8 issue of Catholic New York his archdiocesan newspaper. Cardinal O'Connor described Cardinal John O'Connor the "barbaric procedure" of partial-birth abortion as "infanti- Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, prohibiting the procedure unless cide." "Partial-birth abortion is the the mother's life was at stake. President Clinton vetoed the legdirect killing of an innocent human person. No subtleties islation on April 8. A veto override effort is expecthere. No room for manoeuvre," ed shortly after Congress re-conhe wrote. "A baby can be all but delivered venes from its August recess. "Why a year (of abstinence) if from its mother's womb, its feet, legs and entire body out of the the partial-birth abortion vote is womb, with only the head inside," taken in early September?" Carhe said. "In some cases the doctor dinal O'Connor asked. "One, if the presidential veto is has to hold the baby by the neck so that the head doesn't slip out not overridden we will continue before he can puncture it with a to abstain while continuing our efforts to change minds and knife and suck the brain out. "If the baby should slip to the hearts." "Even more we will abstain as floor before he can do this, and he then kills it, he is charged with compensation for the sins of murder. If he kills it with the head a nation that has permitted this in the womb, he is within the law." horror. If the veto is overridden, This spring Congress passed the we will abstain in gratitude to

God." He said he first suggested a restoration of regular Friday abstinence to overcome partial-birth abortion at the noon Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral on July 11, as Catholics nationwide were fasting and praying for that purpose. "Many people have since encouraged the idea," he said. Bishop Anthony Pilla of Cleveland, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, declared the July 11 fast and prayer day with the unanimous backing of his fellow bishops during their national meeting in June. Abstinence from meat, a traditional form of penance for Catholics on Fridays throughout the year, was once required under Church law. After Pope Paul VI revised the laws on penitential practices in 1968 to make room for adaptations based on local culture and conditions, many bishops' conferences including the US conference adopted policies per. mitting Catholics to substitute an alternative form of penance. Church leaders have often expressed regrets that many Catholics who quit abstaining from meat did not replace it with any other form of penance as they were supposed to do. Pope Paul's reform and subsequent Church law have continued to emphasise the triple Christian duty of prayer, penance and acts of charity.

area of Londonderry so the parade went through another part DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS) - The of the city. An August 9 march by the Cath"chemotherapy of the Gospel" and "the radium treatment of olic Bogside Residents Group God's Word" are needed to near a Protestant social hall in rid Northern Ireland of the can- Londonderry was cancelled. "Good men and good women on cer of bigotry, said Bishop Seamus Hegarty of Londonderry, both sides of the religious and political divide worked for, Northern Ireland. Preaching on August 12, after and achieved, success," BishLondonderry escaped wide- op Hegarty said. "The calm, the restraint, the spread rioting, the bishop said: "Over the past days we have moderation shown by the public lived through a difficult and generally contributed to the crepotentially dangerous situation. ation of a climate where good Our worst fears did not materi- sense and considered responses alise. Our first duty is to thank prevailed. May it continue." "When people use their heads God for taking us safely through what could otherwise have been instead of their feet, when they dialogue rationally rather a very unpleasant few days." A tense weekend ended rela- than hurl derogatory or offentively peacefully after Protestant sive slogans from a distance, marchers chose not to parade everything is possible." he added. through Catholic areas. Bishop Hegarty said the NorthThe Apprentice Boys, a Protes- ern Ireland peace process was tant fraternity, decided not to try "now entering another stage." to force their way past blockades But, he added, just as "radical at Londonderry's city walls on methods are required to eradicate Urban Development under August 10. cancer in the medical sense, so By Nancy Frazier O'Brien George Bush, has been honoured Police and British army troops also are radical methods required SAN DIEGO (CNS) -Jack French with Boston College's Ignatius had sealed off part of the walls to eradicate the equivalent of Kemp, a Presbyterian chosen Medal. overlooking the Catholic Bogside moral or social cancer. . . ." as Bob Dole's vice-presidential Ills the Jesuit-run school's highrunning mate, has strong Catholic est award next to an honourary ties and a record many Catholic degree and is given for "uncompoliticians would admire. mon achievement in human The National Right to Life Com- affairs." mittee praised Kemp on August He also distinguished himself in 11 for his "100 percent pro-life vot- some Catholic circles, especially ing record" during the 18 years in his native California. by opposhe served in the House of Repre- ing the state's Proposition 187 to sentatives. cut off all but emergency medical And Thomas Melady, former US services, education and other govambassador to the Vatican and ernment-funded programs to anycurrent chairman of the Catholic one who is in the country illegally. Campaign for America's nationThe California Catholic bishops Jack Kemp, left, with presidential al committee, called the 61-year- had been among the most vocal candidate Bob Dole on August 10. old Kemp "a man of great virtue opponents of Proposition 187 as anti-immigrant if they want to and distinction" who will repreAt a 1994 conference on immi- be the dominant party. sent the Republican Party well. gration in Washington. Kemp Dole campaign advisers hope Protestant Apprentice Boys march into Londonderry on August 10 across the Kemp, who also served four and William Bennett, the former that the addition of Kemp to Craigavon Bridge to be greeted by a sculpture depicting Protestant and years as secretary of the US education secretary, said Repub- the ticket will help the campaign Catholic faiths shaking hands. Photo. CNS/Reuters Department of Housing and licans must avoid being labelled in California and New York. By Clan Molloy

US Vice-presidential candidate will appeal to pro-life Catholics

Praying to any god not the same as praying to God, expert warns By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) - In times of distress and in times of joy, people want to pray together. From the Vatican's point of view, that's obviously good. But how Catholics should pray - especially with members of other religions - is a persistent pastoral question for Church leaders. The Vatican's concern is not that people of different religions are praying together - but that they might begin to think praying to any god is as good as praying to God. In the 10 years since Pope John Paul II invited representatives of all the world's religious and spiritual traditions to meet and pray in Assisi, Church leaders have seen a growing desire for inter-religious prayer, but also a growing need for guidance. "Prayer is the deepest cry of the human The Record, August 15 1996 Page 12

heart," said Father Felix Machado, an official at the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue. "Prayer is not simply words and noise," the Indian priest said. "It is an attitude which emerges from one's own life whether it's a Christian life, a Buddhist life or a Hindu life." The dialogue council sponsored a meeting in India this summer to discuss questions related to inter-religious prayer. Around the world, neighbourhoods that once were all Christian, all Muslim or all Sikh are becoming integrated. When a neighbour is married or dies, or when tragedy strikes the community, more and more people are seeing a need to gather for prayer, Father Machado said. 'The danger is relativism, creating a cocktail or salad by taking a little from here and there and creating a so-called 'super prayer' not rooted in any religious tradition," he said.

The basic guideline for inter-religious prayer, like for inter-religious dialogue, is that participants can truly share only when they offer the fullness of their own tradition and show respect for the traditions of others. The danger of relativism or "syncretism" - mixing conflicting elements from various traditions - was just about the only criticism voiced about Pope John Paul's 1986 Assisi meeting. And the Pope knew it. While he welcomed all of the leaders to the Basilica of St Francis in the saint's hometown, he stressed they were gathered together to pray - not that they gathered to pray together. He joined Christian leaders in praying for peace while Native Americans, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims and the other representatives went to separate places in the small town to conduct their services. When all came together again, each

offered a prayer from his or her own tradition while the others sat in respectful silence. The Assisi meeting sparked a variety of annual international, inter-religious prayer and dialogue meetings held in places from Japan to Italy. While praising and even participating in the initiatives, Catholic Church officials still have theological and pastoral questions about what is and should be happening when various believers gather to pray. Father Machado said action followed by theological reflection is a tradition as old as the Old Testament. "There are prophets who act or proclaim, then later the theologians try to explain it," The Church cannot be content simply to say that praying with others is good, because how one prays goes to the heart of who they are and what they believe, he said.

International News

Mars life chances raises theological questions

Scientists say they have discovered evidence on this meteorite that primitive microscopic life could have existed on Mars. Photo CNS,Reuters

WASHINGFON (CNS) - The recent dis- trines like original sin and salvation. Nor it covery that primitive life may have existed is likely to do so in the future, according on Mars long ago has theological as well to Father Ernan McMullin, author of sevas scientific implications, according to eral books on the relationship between scithose who study such questions. ence and religion and professor emeritus "Personally I have always suspected that of philosophy at the University of Notre there are forms of life elsewhere in this Dame. immense universe, in which planet Earth "In fact,I would say that the possibility of is almost infinitesimally small compared to a pronouncement of that sort by the Vatithe whole cosmos," said Benedictine can is out of the question," Father McMullFather James Wiseman, chairman of the in told The Tidings, the Los Angeles theology department at The Catholic Uni- arc.hdiocesan newspaper. versity of America in Washington. "Imean, you can speculate in either direcSome parts of the cosmos are "beyond tion but there's no way of giving any kind the reach of our most powerful telescopes," of secure answer." he noted. The debate about extraterrestrial life The Vatican has never issued any official forms was fuelled by the announcement in pronouncement about the existence of life January by California astronomers that on other planets or what its possibility they had discovered two new worlds orbitmight mean for our understanding of doc- ing Sun-like stars in a galaxy 35 light years

away from Earth. The planets, they said, seemed to be warm enough for water to exist in liquid form, raising the possibility that conditions on both were conducive to producing life. Because of the enormity of the universe - estimated to contain about 100 billion galaxies - scientists had long speculated that sheer statistics made it virtually certain that there exist planets similar to Earth "The statistical argument leads you inevitably to say that the physical conditions for life elsewhere in the universe do exist," said US Father George Coyne, Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory. "But it is a different thing altogether to talk about having the physical conditions present for life and the probability that life will come to be." Editorial - Page 7

Cardinal calls his Memphis Church for peace over Indonesian riots Parish priest torches

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNS) - husbands, wives, children, parThe team said it received hunCardinal Julius Darmaatmadja ents and properties in the inci- dreds of calls from people reportof Jakarta has expressed concern dent." ing relatives missing since the over recent rioting and called on He called on people of various violence. all parties to work for a peaceful faiths to pray for those who perThe team includes activists from solution. ished in the incident and to six nongovernmental organisaIn an August 1 letter read in all relieve the suffering of famitions, among them the Jesuit-run parishes in Jakarta two days later. lies who lost family members in Cardinal Darmaatmadja said he the violence, regardless of Jakarta Social Institute, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation was concerned over the riots. their backgrounds. which occurred in late July fol"In the depth of our hearts, our and the women's rights group lowing the forced takeover of conscience says that the incident Kalyanamitra. the Indonesian Democratic Party Is not in line with our sense of Jesuit Father Ignatius Sandyaheadquarters by one party faction national solidarity, against the wan Sumardi, executive directhat ousted another at a disputed humanity and social solidarity tor of the Jakarta Social Institute congress. that we mark every year, and and a team member, told "While a peaceful solution was against the teachings of all reli- reporters that in addition to probeing sought, physical vio- gions," he said. viding a hotline for people to lence occurred, injuring and even The cardinal, who is also chair- report missing family members endangering the lives of fell- man of the Indonesian bishops' and friends, the team will also ow compatriots," Cardinal Dar- conference, said Indonesian peo- provide legal aid for those who maatmadja said in his letter. ple are challenged "to dare were arrested. The cardinal said the rioting account to God for every step we According to official govern"has tainted our identity as peo- have taken on the basis of what ple who uphold solidarity and we have already agreed on in ment reports on August 6, three people died in the riots and some stirs our religious awareness building this nation." that we belong to the family of He praised the efforts of the 20 buildings were destroyed. one almighty God," reported UCA national commission on human Authorities have said that the News, an Asian Church news rights and several Jakarta-based rioting was masterminded by agency based in Thailand. rights organisations, leading the Democratic People's Party, The cardinal said he shares the members of which have formed a which President Suharto called sorrow of fellow compatriots fact-finding team to provide infor- synonymous with the outlawed "who lost brothers, sisters, frif mation about riot victims. Indonesian Communist Party.

Tree-planting priest invades wastelands KUPANG, Indonesia (CNS) Wherever Divine Word Father Herman Embuiru has lived and worked he has always planted trees, because he thinks a green environment brings humans closer to God. "When you plant a tree, you build a haven for birds, butterflies, and various insects which are all God's creatures. In other words, you recreate the lost Eden," the 77-year-old priest told UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. While rector of Kupang-based Widya Mandira Catholic University, he turned the previously barren campus into a green city garden. Residents of Kupang, the capital of Nusa Tenggara Timur province, can take advantage of the shade from trees Father Embuiru plant-

ed around a bus station near the Widya Mandira campus. His initiatives earned him two trophies from two governors of the province, who cited his exemplary efforts as an individual citizen in helping the rocky city of Kupang turn over a new leaf. The priest said he hopes others will follow his lead. "Iwant Kupang people not to be submissive to nature. Beneath the rock there is fertile soil. So you just turn over the rock and plant various kinds of plants," Father Embuiru said. People in the province should not blame God for their arid land, he added. "I think God really loves NTT people. He wants us to be strongwilled to turn the barren land into a green environment so we can

enjoy living as in the garden of Eden," the priest said. When he lived at Wisma Maria Immaculata, a guest house for Kupang's diocesan priests, he planted various fruit trees and flowers in the 2,000 squaremeter complex, which currently looks like a small botanical garden. The same green fate befell the Divine Word community house near the Widya Mandira campus, to which Father Embuiru retired in 1990 after being rector of the university for 10 years. The former military chaplain with the rank of colonel led an invading army of fruit trees and flowers to which barren patches of land around the community house could offer no resistance.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (CNS) - A Because of a recent rash of Catholic priest has admitted Church burnings in Tennessee that he set a fire which caused and elsewhere - many of them $30,000 in damage to his own directed against worship sites Church in Memphis. used by black or racially mixed Father Fred Sauer pleaded congregations - a federal task guilty in the US District Court force joined state officials inveson August 5 to one count of tigating the blaze, although arson for the early-morning Church of the Nativity's congreblaze on June 29 that burned gation is mainly white. the sanctuary curtains behind A tour of Father Sauer's the altar at Church of the Nativ- Church was added to the itinerity. ary of a visit to several burned Bishop Terry Steib of Memphis black churches in Tennessee said he had accepted Father and Mississippi in early July by Sauer's resignation as pastor the Interreligious Committee of and appointed Father Robert Concern, an interfaith clergy Ponticello, diocesan chancellor, group from Boston. as parish administrator until The committee, which includa new pastor is appointed. ed Boston's Cardinal Bernard In a statement on August 6 Law, pledged financial support Bishop Steib expressed "sad- for rebuilding all the Churchness and grief' at the news of es. including Church of the Father Sauer's actions but urged Nativity. parishioners to look for healing Arson investigators focused on and "move forward to a betFather Sauer from the start as a ter tomorrow." likely suspect for the fire in his Father Sauer, 46, was released Church and questioned him pending sentencing and was several times. sent to a treatment facility for The evidence indicated the fire troubled priests following processing by the US Marshall's was started inside the church, but there were no signs of forced Office. His lawyer, William Massey, entry. A crucifix hanging in front of told The Commercial Appeal, Memphis daily newspaper, that the curtains was missing, apparthe recent death of Father ently removed before the fire. Sauer's mother and the serious Massey told The Commercial illness of his father contributed Appeal that the priest had also to a state of depression in which sprayed fire retardant from a fire he apparently set fire to the cur- extinguisher around the area tains as a symbolic way of vent- to limit the damage caused by ing anger at himself and God. the blaze.

Don't 'overlook' the East CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy - S) - As Catholics and Orthodox study developments in each other's theology, they recognise "how much the Holy Spirit is working in their respective traditions in view of a new springtime of Christianity" Pope John Paul II said. Greeting visitors gathered in the courtyard of his summer residence on August. 11, Pope John Paul continued his series of Angelus talks about the theology and spirituality of the Christian East and Orthodoxy, in particular. Even after the split between the churches of the East and West, he said, Orthodox theologians "elaborated profound and stimulating ideas which the entire Church looks upon with interest" "If, on one point or another, differences remain, one nevertheless must not forget that that which unites us is much more than that which divides us," Pope

John Paul said. Among the areas of theology in which Orthodox developments can benefit all Christians, he cited their reflections on the mystery of Christ's incarnation. The theological studies arose out of a defence of the veneration of icons, he said, but in the last analysis they were affirmations of the fact that in Jesus of Nazareth, God became human. In the Orthodox tradition, the Pope told his visitors, one who paints icons relies not only on his or her artistic talents, but also on the assistance of the Holy Spirit so that the divine presence will shine forth from the icon. Pope John Paul also highlighted Orthodox theological investigations into prayer and meditation, "underlining the concrete possibility offered to men and women of uniting themselves to the one and triune God in the intimacy of the heart."

The Record, August 15 1996 Page 13

WELCOME Catholic Migrant Centre Ne‘ssietter

Issue Number One

August. 1990

Welcome to the first ever newsletter of the Catholic Migrant Centre. Welcome as a reader and hopefidly, member andfriend

REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS CENTRE I N THE HEART OF THE CITY

Since then. it has quietly been welcoming and settling new mi2rants and refugees to WA. So much has been done, by so few. with very. little resources.

MISSION The Catholic Migrant Centre's mission is to provide culturally. sensitive services to facilitate the settlement of mi2rants and refusiees irrespective of ethnic and rel ous back2round.

BELIEF

Catholic Migrant Centre Premises is located at 25 Victoria Square Perth serving the Migrant and Refugee Community of Perth irrespective of their religion.

THE C.M.C. The Catholic Migrant Centre is a community organisation in the heart of the City of Perth. founded in 1972. under the auspices of Centrecare, it became an independent service in 1984.

We believe in a just and harmonious multicultural society, in which all individuals and cultures are equal in dignity. and worthy of respect and understanding.

WHATSINA NAME The Catholic Mi2rant Centre (C.M.C.) is considering a change of name to express more clearly its belief and mission. Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

C.M.C. LOGO Catholic Centre

Migrant

The refugee family. Mary and Joseph and their new born baby Jesus flee from Judaea. and the tyranny of Herod. leaving behind family. friends, possessions. employment. The silhouette depicts a journey under cover of darkness. and on a donkey over rugged and dangerous terrain. A small bundle of belongings is visible on Joseph's back. They flee to Egypt. a different culture. language. customs. They eventually return when Herod dies, but still it is not safe, so they do not return to their home town. but go to Galilee and Jesus grows up in the non-de-script town of Nazareth.

STAFF The 10 Multicultural Staff come from 10 different countries of origin, and are multilingual, speaking 17 different languages. The Staff are supported with a host of volunteers.

STAFF PROFILE Gerald W Searle. Director of the Catholic Migrant Centre since 1984 was born in Cape Town. South Africa on 13th December. 1936. He grew up as a so called "coloured- person under the old South African Apartheid regime. He is a staunch catholic. He studied in Rome for seven years graduating in Philosophy and

Theology and served as a Minister of Religion from 1963 to 1970. He married Elizabeth Lorraine De Villiers in 1971 and has two sons and two daughters. For 10 years he worked in Management and Personnel Training and Development. In 1979 he graduated through the Universit of South Africa in Social Science and Social Work and migrated to Australia a year later. He worked as a social worker/counsellor/group worker at Centrecare, Bunbury for four years. During his time in Bunbury he graduated in counselling and group facilitation at the Institute of Human Development. He has been the Director of Catholic Migrant Centre since September. 1984.

SERVICES Future issues of Welcome will elaborate further on individual services. Below is a list of Catholic Migrant Centre services: I.

General information, advice. assistance and referral: 2. Social casework: 3. Advocacy; 4. Counselling for individuals. couples. families. 5. Immigration advice. Catholic Migrant Centre is a registered Migration Agency: 6. Refugee advice and assistance with immigration matters: / . Community Refugee Assistance -CN1C is registered as a Community Refugee Support Scheme (CRSS) group with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural A ffairs(DIN1A). It assists with the settlement o f newly arrived refugees: 8. English classes: 9. Employment, self employment and training assistance; 1 0. Emergency Relief; I . Tax return assistance for migrants and r efugees: 1 2. Former child migrants information, assistance and referral; 1 3. Community work;

14. Communit Education Program for migrants and refugees: 1 5. Community Education on migrants and refugee issues: 16. Visitation of the Elderly in Nursing Homes: 1 7. Support to Migrant Chaplains and Pastoral Workers: 1 8. Support to organisations working at policy level.

FORMER CHILD MIGRANTS

education and development of our youth in general is so easily overlooked and forgotten. The Christian Brothers fund a service the Catholic Migrant by provided 700 personal tiles holds over which Centre of former child migrants. Former Child Migrants are most welcome to approach for the Catholic Migrant Centre information and assistance. The Catholic Migrant Centre has over the years provided an avenue of reconciliation between the former child migrants and the Church. Reconciliation appears to be overlooked by some Independent Agencies who serve these men. Reconciliation is vital if the men are to pass beyond their anger. and move on to fulfilment in their lives. The Legislative Assembly of Parliament of WA has established a select committee into Child Migration. The ('MC which has been serving former child migrants for more than a decade will lodge a submission.

CASTLEDARF. residence of former Child Migrants. From left. Gerald Searle. Br Pat O'Doughert and Sr Tania de Jong. RGS.

Between 1939 and 1965 over 1000 children were sent to Australia. Their immigration from Britain to Australia was the plan of both governments. The governments sought the cooperation of the voluntary child care sector. and that is how the Christian Brothers became involved. There has been a lot of publicity about the ill treatment of some child migrants at the hand of some Christian Brothers. It is sad that the magnificent contribution the Christians Brothers have made to the

CATHOLIC MIGRANT CENTRE TRAINING CENTRE For a long time the Catholic Migrant Centre was hampered in not having a venue for the presentation of training and cultural programmes. Hiring of venues were both costly and difficult to get at the Thanks to the times we wanted. conveniently premises Archdiocese located at 459 Hay Street (1 Floor) have been given. The first program will be a Job Club commencing 26'1' August and running for 3 weeks.

News Views andInterviews

A USTCARE Office Shuts down in WA AUSTCARE, Australians Care for Refugees. is Australia's specialist refugee assistance organisation. Formed in 1967, AUSTCARE is a non-government, nonprofit organisation with 16 member organ isations. It aims to develop awareness amongst Australians of the causes of refugee problems and raise funds to assist refugees through both development projects and emergency assistance. The closure of AUSTCARE.S Office in WA due to a decrease in revenue leaves a huge gap in this vital area. Organisations like the Catholic Migrant Centre will have to carry the torch and make sure those noble aims are not extinguished.

hnmigration Changes by: Gerald W Searle

The new federal government has come down heavy on migrants and drastically cut both the migrant and refugee intake. The migrant intake has been cut by 9000 places to 74000. The refugee intake has been cut by 1.000 to 12000. and for the first time the on-shore refugee intake will further reduce the off-shore numbers. It is a clear cut broken pre-election promise.

The proposed two year wait for new migrants to access Department of Social Security (D.S.S.) payments is divisive. As an egalitatian Society migrants need to enjoy the same fiats as other residents. Migration can be likened to uprooting a tree from one place and transporting and planting it in another. For that tree to survive and flourish its initial care and nurture is vital. An average family already needs about $20,000 to migrate(including $8.000 in Bond money $900 for a medicare levy $2,200 per person for English classes). To expect them or their family to support them financially for two years if they are unable to find employment shows an appalling lack of awareness and sensitivity of the migration process. The government continues to add burden upon burden to new arrivals. And in all this there is not a whimper of the tremendous contribution migrants have made and continue to make to this lucky country. No mention that research has consistently found that migration does not impact negatively on employment or the economy. And that migrants do help to create jobs and do the work no one else wants to do. Add to this the fact that almost 30.000 mostly young professionals and entrepreneurs formerly from the UK. New Zealand and Australian born are leaving our shores permanently each year. Why such harsh measures against migrants?

Immigration Sunday

with peace of mind trusting in her support family to care for her children.

Each year Immigration Sunday is celebrated worldwide among the Catholic In Australia it will be Community. celebrated on Sunday 25th August 1996.

PARISH REFUGEE CARE GROUPS (P.R.C.)

Pope John Paul's Message for Immigration Sunday is available from the Catholic Migrant Centre. Man particularly when weak. defenceless, driven to the margins of society, is a sacrament of Christ's presence (cf Mt 25:40, 45) "But this crowd, who do not know the law are accused- (in 7:49), was how the Pharisee's judged those whom Jesus had helped even beyond the limits established by their precepts. Indeed he came to seek and to save the lost (cf Lk 19: 10), to bring back the excluded, the abandoned, those rejected by Society. ( From Pope John Paul's Message).

SOMALIAN SINGLE MUM'S DILEMMA SOLVED

It was a cold miserable winter night when Vilma Palacios, our social worker got a desperate call from a Somalian friend. She was quite ill and needed to be hospitalised. She was frantic with worry about who would care for her 3 children, all under 7 years of age. She was very nervous about leaving her children in the foster care of strangers. Her support family a CRSS group from Willeton Parish offered to care for her three children. The teenage daughters of the family cancelled their engagements to stay and help. This was beyond the call of duty. It was a joy to see the anguish drain away from the Somalian lady's face when she saw the girls hold her children. She could face her own sickness

Every year Catholic Migrant Centre with the help of volunteer and church groups settle more than fifty refugee families.

A PR(' group can offer

Welcome to a new Refugee or Refugee family Time and friendship Learning about the Refugee's culture and an opportunity to inform them about the Australian culture and way of life. Practical assistance in helping them to settle. If you or your Parish group are interested to be involved in this work contact Vilma Palacios at the Catholic Migrant Centre on 221 1727.

AN APPEAL For the first time in more than twenty years the Catholic Migrant Centre has it's back to the wall in trying to balance its budget. The severe cuts from our funding, bodies has finally taken its toll. We estimate a budget deficit of $47681 for the financial year ending June 1997. While we are doing all we can to cut our deficit your financial support will be greatly appreciated. This is our first ever appeal for support.

FRIENDS OF C.M.C.

PLEASE CONSIDER How you can assist the Catholic Migrant Centre

Please consider becoming our friends. Our clients, migrants and retUgees are ()lien easy scapegoats to be blamed for all our social and economic woes. We need your friendship and encouragement to do our w ork and help create a just and harmonious societ\. t o he a friend ‘‘,e ask for an annual donation of $50.00 or S100.00 and \\,e promise to keep in touch through our Newsletter and invitations to our Social functions and other activities.

If ott ish to support the v.ork of the Catholic Migrant Centre then till in this slip and return it to the address belo‘‘.

Yes. 1 wish to help with a donation

Y es. 1 ish to become a member of Catholic Migrant Centre and receike its quarterl newsletter:

CI CI

Organisations Indi 'duals Concession

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 1 do not \\Nit to he a member

Yes. I would like to ‘olonteer my assistance: Clerical Refugee settlement support kkork In I eaching English as a second language Assist with org.anisation of Refugee Week A ssist with Ethnic Youth w ork Provide computer training for Staff Provide general light maintenance %%ork Be part of a committee: Newsletter Prod•n

but please send me the newsletter

S 1 I)

Yes. I want to become a friend o f the Catholic \ligrant Centre t.) giving an Annual Donation of

Yes. I want to ad'ertise business or function in the Catholic Migrant Centre Newsletter: 2.5cm \ 5cin 5cm \ 5cm 5cm \ I oem

525 S50 S ion

Finance \Ianagement Board

cheque for S

is enclosed

Social Communit training Centre Mgt Fundraising

•

( If receipt is required for I ax Deduction. make out cheque u) 1.11:ELIN K-C.N1 C.. other" ise simpl make cheque payable to Catholic Migrant Centre. 25 Victoria Square. PER I II W.\ 6000).

COMMUNITY EDUCATIONPROGRAM All Sessions are held at Catholic Migrant Centre on Wednesdays at 10:30am at C atholic Migrant Centre, 25 Victoria Square, Perth WA 6000.

COURSES

DATE

DESCRIPTION

Wednesday, 10:30am 7 August '96

Employment information: Your resume your telephone request and your job interview.

Wednesday, 10:30am 21 August '96

Health Information 1 . General Information ' about health, How the health system and , services operate and Women's health matters such as papsmears, breast examination etc.

W ednesday, 10:30am 1 1 September, 1996

Health Information 2. Coping, with migration. homesickness, loneliness, isolation. cultural differences.

Wednesday, 10:30am 25 September '96

Learning to relax. Handling stress. Relaxation techniques and self-care.

Fees: Attendance at all courses are free of charge. A donation of S5.00 is highly appreciated. ATTENDANCE LIMITED TO 20 PERSONS PER SESSION Registration:

Phone: Fax: Mail:

(09) 221 1727 (09) 221 3793 25 Victoria Square, PERTH WA 6000

CATHOLIC MIGRANT CENTRE A SOCiAL WELFAPE C OUNSELLING ANC SUPPOP r SEP1PCE

25 VICTORIA SQUARE. PERTH, W.A. 6000. TELEPHONE. (09) 221, 1727 FAX: (09) 221 3793

International. News

In Brief Knights urged on CHICAGO (CNS) - The 2,000 people attending the Knights of Columbus international convention from August 6-8 were praised and encouraged in their work to fight today's many "threats to marriage and family life." Among the speakers who encouraged the Knights in their efforts were US cardinals Joseph Bernardin of Chicago, Detroit Cardinal Adam Maida, Baltimore Cardinal William Keeler and Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston, chairman of the bishops' pro-life committee.

Priests killed PUEBW, Colombia. (CNS) Police have arrested Douglas Comiskey, 20, as a suspect in the brutal slaying on August 7 of two Catholic priests at 'St Leander's rectory in Pueblo. Dead with multiple stab wounds were Father Thomas Scheets, 65, pastor of St Leander's since 1990, and Father Louis Stovik. 78, former director of the Pueblo Diocesan Development Fund, who was retired and living at the rectorY•

Sulpician head BALTIMORE (CNS) - US Sulpician Father Lawrence Terrien was elected superior general of the Sulpician Fathers during the society's general assembly in Paris in mid-July. It is the first time in the Sulpicians' history that the superior general has not been a member of the society's French province. Founded in 1641 in Paris, the Sulpicians are an international community of diocesan priests on permanent leave from their dioceses to work in clergy and seminary formation.

Statue cancelled WARSAW, Poland (CNS) Bulgaria's Catholic minority has abandoned plans to,install a 40-foot statue of Christ labbve the southern city of Plovdiv after objections from the city council. The statue, modelled on a similar sculpture at St Philip Neri Church in Rome, was to have been set up on Dzendem Hill overlooking the SofiaIstanbul highway, on a site previously used for pagan festivals and currently occupied by a Soviet Army memorial.

Burundi bans BALTIMORE (CNS) - It is too early to tell how sanctions imposed by some African countries will affect aid to Burundi, said a spokesman for Catholic Relief Services. "While we are concerned because sanctions might end up hurting the poorest of the poor, Ills too early to tell what impact (sanctions) will have," said CRS spokesman Tom Garofalo. He said Catholic Relief Services, the US bishops' overseas relief and development agency, is "traditionally opposed" to any sanctions that would harm people in need.

Steppe Catholics wait By Jonathan Luxmoore WARSAW, Poland (CNS) When Turkmenistan became the last of 16 former Soviet republics to establish diplomatic relations with the Vatican on July 10, a fiveyear-old diplomatic rebuilding process was complete. Although neighbouring Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have tied the knot with the Holy See since becoming independent in 1991, the fate of Central Asia's small Catholic minorities remains uncertain. All five Central Asian republics are home to scattered Catholic groups, mostly descended from Polish and German families deported to the region by czarist and Soviet rulers. "Of course, the situation of minorities differs in particular republics," said the Jesuit provincial, Father Stanislaw Opiela, whose order maintains the only Catholic priests in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Rome has formal ties with 28 post-communist East European and former Soviet states, "but diplomatic contacts by themselves, however prestigious, won't do much to help the Church in

this region or reinforce the reallife position of local Catholic cornmurales," Father Opiela said. In January. the Catholic Church had 52 parishes and 30. pastoral centres in Central Asia for a Catholic population estimated by the Vatican at 366,000. It also had 43 foreign priests, 52 nuns and 26 locally recruited sindents training for the priesthood at seminaries in Poland, Belarus and France. Besides Bishop Jan Lenga - the 47-year-old ethnic Ukrainian bishop who ministers to Central Asia's Catholics from Karaganda. Kazakhstan - a Polish-born Vatican nuncio, Archbishop Marian Oles, has handled relations with all five states from the Kazakh capital, Alma Ata, since 1994. "However, since it's difficult to ascertain the real number of Catholics even in Russia, it's harder still to number them here," said Father Opiela. -The Soviet government kept no records, while many of those who held onto their faith during the communist period have since left for a better life elsewhere," he said. The Catholic Church in some former Soviet republics has shown signs of life and growth in

recent years. In Kazakhstan, where most Catholics are situated, a pre-seminary college opened;at Karaganda in 1994, While a Marian sanctuary at Oziorne has hosted Catholic pilgrimages for the past three years. All Catholic places of worship were destroyed under Soviet rule and now 10 Churches are being built in various parts of the country. The 16 million-strong traditionally Muslim population includes Russian, Polish, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Latvian and Czech minorities. In other former Soviet republics, however, the Catholic presence seems to be diminishing. Church sources say most of Tajikistan's estimated 100 Catholics have left in the past year, leaving fewer than 10. In Kyrgyzstan, where more than 1,000 mosques have been built since 1991, mostly with Middle Eastern funding, the Catholic Church's single parish is one of 23 registered non-Muslim reitgious associations. In neighbouring Uzbekistan, seen as the most tolerant regional state, the government of President' Islam Karomov became the first to be sued for religious dis-

Japanese cardinal who saw the effects of atomic bomb dies at 92 years of age VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Cardinal Joseph Asajiro Satowaki, retired archbishop of Nagasaki, Japan, died on August 8 at age 92. The cardinal had suffered from a brain tumour. In a telegram of condolence to the current archbishop, Pope John Paul II said he remembered with deep gratitude the profound spirituality, the generous pastoral commitment and the evangelising efforts which distinguished his episcopal ministry." The Pope prayed that God would welcome Cardinal Satowaki "into eternal joy as a good and faithful servant who spent his life in continual dedication to the glory of God and the service of souls." Ordained to the priesthood in 1932 after studies in Rome, the future cardinal was named the first apostolic administrator of Taiwan. Taking up the office in 1941. he

assignment in Taiwan, he was pastor of the Nagasaki catheciral, later destroyed by the atom" ic bomb. Born February 1, 1904, in Shittsu, a rural village outside of NagasaId. Joseph Satowaki studied at the loCal seminary before being sent to Rome to get a degree in theology. After the war, he served as director of Nagasaki's minor seminary, vicar general of the archdiocese and director of the Catholic newspaper. He left Japan in 1949 to study sociology for two years at The I Catholic University of America, Washington. Cardinal Joseph Asajiro Satowaki He was named the first bishop spent all of World War II on the of Kagoshima in 1955, and it island, then known as Formosa, was as head of that diocese that which the Japanese had occupied he attended all of the sessions of since 1895. He returned to the Second Vatican Council. Nagasaki shortly after the war In 1968 he was named archended following the bombing of bishop of Nagasaki, Japan's oldthe city on August 9, 1945. est and - at that time For the four years before his numerically largest diocese.

CASFEL GANDOLFO. Italy (CNS) - Even though he was on vacation, Pope John Paul spent several days in mid-August pondering philosophical questions, An international group of philosophers and historians met from August 8-10 at the Pope's summer residence to discuss "Enlightenment Today." Pope John Paul, as host of the meeting, listened to the presentations and discussions and offered closing remarks. The Pope called the three-day scholarly offering "a true feast for the spirit." "In a certain sense," he said, the Enlightenment, emphasising human freedom and human reason, and its 18th-century political repercussions "became a movement of dissent from the ChristIan faith, a dissent based on rationalistic premises." But "enlightenment" also could be understood as meaning '"illumination, the gift of light from

above." the Pope said. "To speak of 'enlightenment' in this sense is to acknowledge that, alongside the knowledge of a reality open to man by the exercise of reason alone, there also exists a know!edge which man - as a reasonable and free being - is capable of receiving from God," the Pope said. Through the Holy Spirit, he said, God can give the believer the gifts of wisdom, understanding, cormsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. Some three dozen philosophers and historians - most of whom were from Germany, the United States and Poland - participated in the meeting, sponsored by the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, Austria. Among those in attendance was American philosopher Paul Ricoeur. Rocco Buttiglione. an Italian philosopher and politician, told Vatican Radio the Pope's partici-

crimination in December 1994, after a Protestant group had its license withdrawn for alleged filegal missionary activity. In early July, the chairman of Kyrg,yzstan's State Committee for Religion, Emil Kaptagayev, said "Christianisation tendencies" had been most marked in northern parts of the country, where Protestant groups had begun distributing Kyrgyz-language Bibles. Among other measures, the committee had proposed tighter regulations on Church-building and other religious activities, the official said. "The situation is leading to interreligious tension, since the Kyrgyz people traditionally consider themselves Muslims and treat those who take up other faiths as religious apostates," Kaptagayev said, "More and more newly baptised citizens are becoming the target of threats. Many have been warned they face expulsion and even physical liquidation," said Kaptagayev. Several Franciscan priests are currently working in the capital, Ashchabad. where the world's largest mosque is under construction.

'No' to vote rigging NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) The Kenyan bishops and a Christian church council have called for inunediate constitutional review and for all-party dialogue on the composition of Kenya's next electoral commission. The bishops and the National Christian Council of Churches of Kenya said in separate news conferences on August 7 that change must come before the next general election, due to be held by the end of 1997 The bishops said that time for constitutional review was now and asked Catholics to use their small Christian communities to work for peaceful change and to refuse vote-buying and vote-rigging.

Singapore Philosophers reconsider Enlightenment numbers up

The Record, August 15 1996 Page 14

pation in the meeting was part of his continuing efforts to foster a dialogue between faith and cullure. "Enlightenment is man's attempt to take his own destiny into his own hands," Buttiglione said. "This attitude brought many into conflict with the Christian faith. 'Today we are asking ourselves if this conflict was necessary and inevitable," he said. Buttiglione said philosophers are re-examining some aspects of the philosophy of the Enlightenment, for example: "Does becomtug an adult impede persisting in faith as an infantile phenomenon? Or, perhaps, do adults need faith more than others?" Many philosophers today are responding that children think adults have complete control over everything. A truly mature adult, on the other hand, realises that many things are beyond individual control and that faith in God sustains the individual, he said.

SINGAPORE (CNS) - One year into a governmentimposed enrolment plan for Catholic primary schools, principals say the percentage of Catholic students has increased rather than decreased as they had feared. The enrollment plan gives priority to children living within an approximate onemile radius of a school and specifies three categories of applicants: children of alumni, children of Catholic parents and others. Under the Ministry of Education plan, the number of Catholic children enrolled cannot exceed 50 percent. Although some Catholics were turned away, most schools have been able to accommodate all Catholics who applied, reported UCA News a Catholic news agency based in Thailand.

TrOfficial Engagements AUGUST Debutantes Ball and Dinner, Waneroo Bishop Healy Confirmation, Innaloo Mgr M Keating 16/17 Reception of Most Rev G Pell as Archbishop of Melbourne Archbishop Hickey Confirmation, Kelmscott 18 Mgr J O'Shea Confirmation, KenwickfThornlie R ev Fr G Carroll Mass and Procession for Feast of A ssumption - Rev Fr A Pittarello CS Ecumenical Service of Life. Hope and New Beginnings, St George's Cathedral - Rev Fr S Bredin OSCam St Vincent de Paul Society, Mass for 19 Beatification of Frederic Ozanam/ R eception for President General, City Beach - Archbishop Hickey. Bishop Healy Inaugural Board Meeting ANAWIM 21 A rchbishop Hickey Confirmation. John XXIII College 21 Mgr M Keating Procession and Mass for Queenship 22 of Mary/Crowning of Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima, St Mary's Cathedral A rchbishop Hickey 23-25 Visitation and Confirmation. R ockingham - Archbishop Hickey Visitation and Confirmation, Armadale Bishop Healy Confirmation. Toodyay 24 R ev Fr G Carroll Confirmation. Northam 25 R ev Fr G Carroll Confirmation, Midland R ev Fr G Holohan Blessing and opening of Centrecare 26 premises. Mirrabooka Archbishop Hickey Heads of Churches Meeting 27 A rchbishop Hickey Mass to mark Beatification of 29 Edmund Ignatius Rice A rchbishop Hickey. Bishop Healy AGM Archdiocesan Catholic Women's League. Highgate R ev Fr P Fogarty

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The Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be visiting Holy Cross Church. 27 Ommaney St, Hamilton Hill on Wednesday 21 August from 2 to 5 pm (with Rosary and Mass). Carl Malburg will tell the story of the pilgrim statue. All welcome. (Tel: 337 9668). VIDEO SERIES ON HEALING

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The Bethel Friday Night Catholic Charismatic Prayer Meeting continues with the presentation of John and Paula Sanford's Healing Ministry though a unique video series being held each Friday night at 8 pm at Bethel Centre. 236 Railway Pde, West Leederville. Enq: (09) 388 1333. All welcome.

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The Chinese Catholic Community invites you to attend a Chinese Mass and Spiritual Gathering, Main Celebrant Fr Chan of Hong Kong. Sunday 25 August 2.30 to 5.00 pm spiritual sharing, 5.30 to 6.30 pm Mass. St Anne's Church, 11 Hehir St, Belmont. For further info please contact Sr Margaret Ng. Tel: (09) 478 1038. IONA REUNION MASS AND DINNER lona Presentation College Past Pupils' Association invite all past students, especially those who graduated in 1966, 1976 or 1986 to the Annual Reunion Mass and Dinner, to be held on Friday 13 September . Mass at Corpus Christi Church, Mosman Park 6.30 pm. Dinner at Royal Perth Yacht Club. Cost $30 per person. RSVP: Wednesday 28 August, Monica Petersen, Tel: 386 7572. CELTIC SPIRITUALITY On Thursday 22 AugusT 7.30 - 9.00 PM AT THE John Paul Parish Centre, Willetton, Sr Elizabeth Devine will give a talk on the contribution made by the Celts to Catholic spiritual life. All welcome. Small donation appreciated. Contact Parish Office, Tel: (09) 332 5992.

The Record, August 15 1996 Page 15

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P ' ictris

Bridges between past, present . . . By Bob Fimmel, Parish Archivist

Without the choir, Fr Ahern's strong and clear voice would lead the singers. The first choir mistress played a pedal-type harmonium in the church school in the early 1950's. Earlier this month, after wearing out a Hammond organ and an American Conn organ, the parish has received a new organ to help carry on the choir tradition. St Pius X has been very fortunate to have a wealth of talent to retain its rich musical Liturgy over the past forty years. Some present members of the choir have been with it for more than 33 years. The convent school of St Pius X opened its doors in February 195Z staffed by Sisters of St Joseph who, at first, travelled by taxi from their home at South Perth Many good friends cared for the teachers' temporal needs, preparing midday meals - a nice hot dinner in winter was appreciated. The children in the early days were able to buy lunch from a tiny shop near the school - but this was short-lived. Parents soon took on the task of making rolls, toffee apples and pies. The tuck shop was under way. The school grew rapidly in the first three years. It now has 234 students, including preschoolers.

here are parishioners at St Pius X parish, Maiming, for whom the recent demolition of the Hall at Mt Henry Hospital brings feelings of both sadness and comfort. For three years from 1951, the Hall was "Church" for Sunday Masses celebrated for the parishioners and the old people of Mt Henry Home, even before the parish started in 1953. Ills comforting, however, that ever since the time when Aquinas College chaplains Father Ernest Rogers and Father A Scully provided for their spiritual needs, there has always been a priest and a church here for the . Catholics of Manning. In earlier years, from 1937, home Masses for the locals were celebrated in the late George Gurney's Lockhart Street home just south of Canning Highway and at the Howards' home where the Manning Hotel was later to stand. With small numbers also attending Sunday Mass at both Clontarf and Aquinas College, this continued until Fr Rogers was given the official task of sharing his duties between the college and the pea pie of South Como.and Manning. In 1954, the year of Pope Pius X's canonisation, the Parish of St Pius X, Manning, was formed, in the care of Father Thomas Ahern. who was also the State's RAAF chaplain at that time. In line with the then education policy of Archbishop Prendiville whereby the school was to be built before presbytery and church, the completion of a school, within six months of the parish's formation, was achieved, to cater for the rapidly growing young population of the area. The portrait of Pope St Pius X, 1835People worked closely together 1914, in the Manning church. He was to raise finance and help out with born into a poor peasant family in busy bees to develop the school northern Italy but was able to get the building and grounds. But there education to become a priest. He is was disappointment when, due to most remembered for allowing chillack of Sisters, the school could dren to receive Our Lord Jesus Christ not be opened until 1957. in Holy Communion at the age of The school became the central seven, and for silencing Catholics venue for all functions - Mass, who wished to change the nature of Benediction, meetings of young the Church. That he was God's serpeople, socials, the choir and the vant and not the servant of intellecsodalities. tual fashion could be seen in his The sodalities in the 1950s and simple holiness and that God worked 1960s, Children of Mary, Holy miracles through him, even when he Angels, Sacred Heart Ladies and was alive. the Holy Name Men, were well Faith and trust in their school patronised. They continued until has been the parishioners' highearly in the 1970s. Throughout these times, the light. Many families have sent all their Parish could always depend on a children to the school - one large choir for special occasions. Here was a strand, like God's family was there continuously providing of a priest to minister to over twenty-one years. Many parthe area before the parish was ents, themselves previous stuerected, that was unbroken since dents, have sent their children, often from outside the parish. early days. PILGRIM VIRGIN STATUE OF FATIMA The Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima will be at the following venues for all day celebrations: St Mary's Church, Leederville, Tuesday 20 August 9.30 am to 3.30 pm including Mass and international speakers. St Mary's Cathedral, Perth Thursday 22 August: Statue arrival and enshrinement 9.30 to 10.30 am, with Rosary and talk (focusing on youth) by Carl Marlburg, Statue Custodian. Talks throughout day, hourly Rosary, midday Mass, confession available. 7.30 pm Procession and crowning of statue followed by Mass (Archbishop Hickey, Chief Celebrant). ALAN AMES AT WEMBLEY Alan will speak at our Lady of Victories Church, 364 Cambridge St Wembley on Friday 6 September after 7.30pm Rosary

Parishioners at weekday Maas at St Mus X earlier this month

Here again, is a strong, unbroken thread from the beginning, knitting the community around the school through early sharing of facilities between church and school, secure education of parish children and the shared achievement of the whole parish community. The school has seen two of its students enter the Church as priests: Fr Paul Fogarty and Fr. Ian Esmond; and two women enter religious life: Sr Cathy Kettle (Mercy) and Sr Nuala Fogarty (Carmelite). The parish has readily received people joining the Church. In the past six years, 57 have "crossed the bridge" to our Faith from diverse backgrounds, including Islamic and Buddhist. Good fortune has given us the spiritual care of older Catholic people in Mt Henry Hospital, The Lesley A. Watson Nursing Home, McDougall Park Nursing Home, Murlali Lodge and the T.P.I. Memorial Hostel. In early times occupants were brought to Mass by parishioners but as Acolytes and Special Ministers were more able to take them Holy Communion, less and less made the trip. For three years now, parish priest Fr Michael Gall has run the "Christmas Helpline" to reach out to the lonely and disturbed while others are celebrating the festivities. Last Christmas, Fr Gaft attended 40 calls. Fr Gat is also a chaplain to the RAAF, like founding priest Father Ahern. Resident in the parish are a number of religious communities: the French order of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition, the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Mercy. Fourteen parishioners and the late Fr Patrick Carmody were installed as the first Parish Pas-

toral Council in December 1969, to be succeeded by strong parishioner representation from then to this day. In August 1993, the council, recognising the need to document some fast-disappearing spiritual history, compiled and published a book: "The First Forty Years" -A Brief History of St Pius X Parish Manning. In response to peoples' needs a Parish Centre for Manning will hopefully be built within a year as finances allow. The centre will cater for the web of workers: Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul and our youth, giving more freedom to operate than has been possible. Transition from the early Hall at Mt Henry, to the long awaited Centre is about to be made, bridging decades of vision, steady work and love.

Archdiocesan Panorama

G.K CHESTERTON SOCIETY The riddle of "The Man Who Was Thursday" - a talk illustrated with dramatised excerpts presented by President, Tony Evans, on Chesterton's finest and most famous novel. After the talk, wine, cheese

Parish: St Pius X, Manning. Parish Priest: Fr Michael Gall. Address: 23 Paterson Street, Manning, WA, 6152. Tel: 4504171; fax: 09- 450 4137.

Weekday Masses: Monday. Wednesday & Friday 6.30 am Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 8.00 am. Sunday: Saturday (Vigil) 6.30 pm, Sunday 730am & 9.00am Holy How: Every First Thursday of the Month at 730 pm. Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturday: Noon - 1.00pm and 6.00pm - 6.20 pm.

School: St Pius X Primary School. Tel: 09 - 450 2797 Principal: Brendan Spillane.

A parish of bridges both physical and spiritual: the church in morning sunlight, above, and a map of Manning on the Canning River in Perth showing the bridges that link the suburb to Perth's southern suburbs.

tRWRiMeitERPAR , "k,,,

recitation. He will share about experiences that brought him back to the Church and some "messages" that inspired him. The evening will conclude with prayers for spiritual and physical healings. Refreshments in hall (please bring plate). All welcome. Encr Sr Claude McNamara 387 3987 or Russel 274 6018.

At a Glance

and Chestertonian laughter. Notre Dame University (`The Chesterton Room'), Henry St, Fremantle, Wednesday 21 August at 7.30 pm. All welcome. BROTHER ANDREW RETREATS Mother Teresa's co-founder of the Missionary of Charity Brothers, Brother Andrew will be giving Springtime Retreats at Gracewood-God's Farm, 40 km south of Busselton on: 13 - 15 September, 20 - 22 September and 27 - 29 September (suggested donation $75); and two mid-week retreats on 16 - 19 September and 23 - 26 September (suggested donation $110,

(includes all meals and coffee breaks). Contact Betty Peaker for bus details, etc. PO Box 24, Cowaramup 6284, Phone/fax (097) 556 212. EUCHARIST WORKSHOP The Liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed. At the same time it is the fount from which all the Church's power flows. What does this mean for us today? Presented by Fr Vincent Glynn. Tuesday 20 August 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm, Leederville Parish Centre, 40 Franklin St, Leederville, OR Thursday 22 August, 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm, Woodvale Parish Centre, 29 Duffy Tce, Woodvale. Cost $5. For further info and registration please contact Kylie, Archdiocesan Liturgy Office (09) 221 1548. Continued page 15