The Record Newspaper 26 September 1996

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WA's only Catholic weekly newspaper

Perth: September 26, 1996

Mercy for the love of God and His people

Incense symbolises the Mercy Sisters dispersing among the pew* as it ascends; students from Mercy colleges open the celebration last Sunday

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard The Mass celebrating 150 years of the Sisters of Mercy's presence in Australia saw a coming together of almost 6.000 people at the Perth Entertainment Centre. who came to express their affection and thanks to the Sisters for their service to the people of Western Australia.

Archbishop Hickey concelebrated Mass with Bishops Robert Healy. john jobst. Peter Quinn. Justin Bianchini.

Chris Saunders and 46 priests in what was the focal point of the whole year's celebration for the Mercy Sisters.

In a brief talk just prior to commencement of the Mass. Archbishop Hickey expressed gratitude to the Sisters for their "150 years of apostolic work and strong witness of religious life they've given."

All have known at first hand the "strength. and energy of faith of this band of women who came to Western Australian with hope in their hearts and zeal, and who have laboured so well over the years." Archbishop Hickey said.

Noting the Sisters of Mercy had particularly served children, the sick and the poor he said they had worked 'all over the state in the tropical and steamy areas of the north to the wintry areas of the south."

"Along the west coast with the roaring

winds which lash our coasts, and the arid. dusty interior - all for the love of God and His people." Archbishop Hickey said.

Preaching the sermon. Bishop Healy pointed to the work of mercy as carried out by the Sisters since their founding. and asked what relevance the word 'mercy' had to people today.

He described their work as highlighted by their consideration to people and their service to others in need, and said the possibility of following their example is "out there for us too."

Our lives must also be about servitude to others and of love and charity to the needy Bishop Healy urged. "in a time of self-centredness and selfishness.

"And this is not only a chance for the Sisters to renew their commitment to the ideals of Catherine McAuley - but also one for all to do the same."

Bishop Healy drew attention to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. the foundress of the Missionaries of Charity, who had achieved so much through compassion and mercy and pointed to the "teeming millions of people out there, but with so few who practiced this Divine attribute."

He encouraged families to show mercy to each other and individuals to do the same. while urging young people to concentrate on "establishing the dignity of the people of the world around them."

Bishop Healy said the people of Dublin referred to Catherine and her sister corn-

Women do suffer after abortion - Page 8

Pltais: &tax Caw

panions as "The Walking Women," and wildflowers. Ten colourful sanctuary backsaid we must all become walking women drop banners were painted mainly by the and men for the Kingdom of God. Sisters, on which were written all the Sr Leonie O'Brien. congregational leader names of the 800 women who have joined of the Perth Congregation of the Mercy Sis- the Western Australian congregations. ters, said the Sisters had planned for the Students from Santa Maria. Mel Maria.

Mass to be the highlight of their 1996 cel- Aranmore. St Luke's, Whitford Primary. ebrations.

Ursula Frayne and Mercy Colleges wearTestimony of how their congregation and ing blue. given and gold depicted in the good works mushroomed and spread to wattle banners danced to the opening song. other parts of Australia and then ultimateThe choir and orchestra were made up of ly to every part of the world, was demon- students, parents and teachers of St Brigid's strated by those who came in their Lesmurdie. thousands.

The closing ceremony of incensing was Tiers upon tiers of people. who've either been taught. nursed, or cared for by them. also impressive. During a Litany of Mercy. or simply come to love them because of five wheelchair-bound Sisters, at each septheir enormous contribution - synonymous arate invocation, placed incense into a with the history of WA - witnessed impres- bowl. The invocations were interspersed sive ceremonies woven into the structure with the reading out of a selection of the names of Sisters deceased and alive, repof the Mass.

Foundress Catherine McAuley's profes- resenting all Sisters.

As the Sisters' names were read, an sion ring was laid on the altar by the Superior of the Irish Sisters, Sr DerviIla Byrne Incense bowl was held aloft with the waftwhose present of a Celtic Cross was a sym- ing incense dispersing. symbolising the Sisters and their work moving among the bol of unity with Australia.

Sister Kath Kettle placed a Papal Blessing people.

Then the near 200 Sisters present joined organised by the Mercy Sisters in Leeds, England as a gift to the WA Mercies in front those in wheelchairs and sang the suscipe of a 10 foot high Mercy Cross dominating - Catherine McAuley's own prayer of offerthe sanctuary. ing to the people. after which they received Twelve banners (including two small a standing ovation from the thousands preones on the lectern) were painted by Mercy sent. secondary school art students.

Catherine McAuley's ring; They depicted WA:s profuse and varied More pictures - Page 9

Melkite Archbishop visits Perth - Page 3

Delivery of The Record In recent weeks some deliveries of The Record by Australia Post have not been on time, particularly in country areas. Australia Post are in the process of re-organising their system of distribution and this has led to delays in normal delivery, something which is beyond the control of The Record at present.

People in the country should not be forgotten I bumped into Mr Graham Campbell the Federal Member of Kalgoorlie last week when I attended the centenary celebrations in Wiluna.

"Wiluna", people always say to me, "where on earth is Wiluna"?

It is about 180 kilometres east of Meekatharra, on the edge of the desert. In its hey day, the thirties and forties, it was a thriving Inland goldmining town with a Church, Presentation Convent and Catholic Primary School.

I went to school there for five years, and it was there that I first became aware of my vocation to the priesthood.

So what about Mr Graham Campbell? He did not talk about his recently well-publicised views that have caused a storm around Australia nor about his rollercoaster political career.

What he talked about was the city bias of politicians that led

them to spend millions on a pro- Kondinin, Corrigin and Yealering. ject like Northbridge Tunnel, The hospitality of the people when just a fraction of that money was overwhelming. spent in the country would create At the same time they made jobs and spread black top roads their anxieties felt. They are anxaround the interior. ious about the continuing supply Having just travelled over the of priests to their areas. tough dirt road from MeekatharHaving seen the closing of many ra to Wiluna, I thought he had a schools and the inevitable withpoint. It is easy for politicians to drawal of the Religious, they have think first about the voters in the also seen a reduction, albeit small city than about the needs of the at this stage, in the number of country. priests in the country.

What made me take notice is They wonder what lies in the that the same thinking can also future. Will they be without affect the Church. priests? What then?

Given that the vast majority of They also worry about the next Catholics live in the parishes of generation. Some of their young the metropolitan area, one's time people do not want to settle back Is understandably taken up by In the country, and many who do them and their concerns. return are not very active in How easy it is to forget the coun- parish life. try people. I have just returned They know that, short of a mirfrom a ten-day visit to the country acle, their numbers will not parishes that took me to Southern increase, and that they face the Cross, Westonia, Hyden, Kuhn, forbidding prospect of small

Catholic communities served by a dwindling number of priests.

Not even this year's marvellous season, nor the startling show of wildflowers could settle their anxieties.

Our country areas need to be given high priority in the distribution of Diocesan resources, in personnel and practical support.

They can so easily be forgotten.

Some of our Diocesan agencies have already gone to country regions, without expecting payment, to conduct seminars in spirituality, liturgy and catechetics.

We need to do more to help small communities to hold together and nourish the faith-life of the local people.

There are people of great ability who could be strong leaders of faith, given the right training and support.

Priests will continue to be available for as long as possible.

Caritas Aust begins i aid cutback climate

By Peter Rosengren The agency known for the last 30 years as Australian Catholic' Relief was officially re-launched under its new name as Caritas Australia in Sydney this week by its chairman. Archbishop George Pell of Melbourne.

Archbishop Pell used the opportunity of the launch to not only highlight an increased need for the agency's work but also to criticise first cuts to Australia's own overseas commitment and then the burden of debt suffered by Third world countries.

Speaking in Parramatta in Sydney last Monday. Archbishop Pell said recent Australian Government cuts to overseas aid increased Australia's moral responsibility to work for solutions to the debt crisis crippling the world's poorest countries.

He added that foreign debt remained one of the most significant impediments to social and economic progress in Africa. Asia. the Pacific and Latin America.

"Solutions to the life-threatening poverty faced by many of the world's citizens cannot be found

Archbishop George Pell without dealing with the appalling levels of debt their nations face." Archbishop Pell said.

"While Australia and other western nations have cut back their overseas aid allocations over the past decade, the debt burdens faced by the traditional recipients of aid have increased significantly," Archbishop Pell said.

'Now that Australia's overseas aid budget has reached its lowest level yet, our nation has an even greater moral responsibility to increase the pressure for a solu-

Archbishop's

Prayer for more vocations and the active encouragement of potential vocations must be stepped up, because it is unthinkable that our Catholic people, wherever they are, would be deprived of the Blessed Eucharist.

Death of theologian, author

tion to the developing world's The Archbishop also said that debt crisis."

Caritas Australia would ask the Archbishop Pell also hit out at Australian Government to push trading relationships between for a generous revision of interfirst world and developing coun- national debt arrangements next week in Washington at the annutries. meetings of the World Bank al "At a time when we and other Western nations are enjoying the and the International Monetary highest standard of living in the Fund.

"Australia can play a construchistory of humanity. we cannot tive advocacy role, in the same ignore the fact that the world's poorest nations are subsidising way that it has done in recent our lifestyles through their debt times on the nuclear weapons repayments and through lopsided issue." he said.

"If there is sufficient political trading arrangements," he said. will, the goal of a resolution of the Just returned from Zambia debt question by the year 2000 is where he had attended a meeting not unattainable." of the heads of Catholic aid agenRepresentatives of the Caritas cies across eastern and southern organisation from around AusAfrica. Archbishop Pell said that tralia attended the launch. while some nations were worse Originally established in 1964 off, the issues facing Zambia illus- as Australian Catholic Relief, the trated the nature of the develop- new name of Caritas Australia ing world's international debt was adopted earlier this year to problem. link it more closely with the He said Zambia's total national Catholic Church's international debt is currently $US7 billion, humanitarian network. Caritas twice the level of its annual gross Internationalis. Caritas Internanational product. tionalis is made up of 146 He said the nation's debt grows autonomous agencies operating each year because it does not In 194 nations and states. have the resources to even keep Cardinal Edward Clancy of Sydup with interest payments. ney officiated at the launch.

TORONTO (CNS) - Father Henri Nouwen, an internationally known theologian and author, died on September 21 in the Netherlands at age 64.

The cause of death was a heart attack the priest suffered in Hilversum, Netherlands, according to Carl MacMillan from the CArche Daybreak Community in the Toronto suburb of Richmond Hill.

Father Nouwen had been pastor of the community since 1986.

CArche is a nondenominational organisation that operates residences worldwide for people with mental disabilities.

Father Nouwen was one of the most prolific and best known spiritual writers in the world.

He wrote more than 30 books, including "The Wounded Healer,- "Our Greatest Gift." and "Can You Drink the Cup?" The priest's newest book, "The Inner Voice of Love." was released

by Doubleday the same day he died. According to a statement from MacMillan, Father Nouwen sufMANNING 81 ASSOCIATES fered a heart attack a week earlier.

He was hospitalised and appeared to be Contact Lens Consultants making a good recovery Mark Kalenas (B. optom) but suffered a second attack on September 21 Grove Plaza, Cottesloe and died.

384 6633 or 384 6720 MacMillan said two funeral services were planned.

The first was to be in Utrecht, Netherlands, on September 25, followed Optometrists by a funeral Mass on Contact Lens Consultants September 28 at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Toronto.

4 Cantonment Street, FREMANT1I He will be buried at a Phone 335 2602 in Richmond Hill.

Read

The Diocesan Director of the Catholic Mission Office l000tecl in turn of the century cottages in Vicioria Square, Perth, requires a talented alrounder to provide administrative, clerical and secretarial stport.

This fulltime permanent position will utilise yaur general bookkeeping, data envy and typing skills, using Word For Windows 6 and MYOB. WdE develcced interpersonal and organisationd skills are essential, together with good oral and written oceirrunicaticri skills. Your mature apprwch and abikty to work as an integr6 part of a small team is essentid.

The successful applicant must have a strong commitment and understanding of the Catholic ethos and referees must include a Parish Priest For a confidential discussion regarding this position, please phone Di Tompsett on 322 3344 or alternatively fax yourr CV to 321 9869. close 5.00prn Wednesday 9th October 1996.

If you are Spiritual or a Churchgoer arul wouldLike imprcraedspirituallife,I advise you to get in touch with St. Francis Secular Order, Victoria Park (especially if you live South of the river).

We meet every 3rdSunday of the month at 3pm at Marie Isaiah Place, backof St. Joachim Church, Victoria Park, Phone 361 5060 Doug Williams •

The.Fietorc,, SeptectAier 28 -198

2'

Father Henri Naffilfile

The Record

OPTOMETRISTS

ELLIOTT & ELLIOTT

Archbishop explains homosexual law veto Legislatively removing discrimination against homosexuals could actually constitute discrimination in other areas such as a child's right to have a mother and father.

Archbishop Barry Hickey said last week shortly before efforts in Western Australia's Parliament to amend the Equal Opportunity Act failed.

If passed. the Equal Opportunity Amendments Bill would have made it illegal to take homosexuality into account in a wide variety of areas such as employment or the selection of tenants.

However, the Archbishop said that not all discriniination was wrong.

"While it is wrong to discriminate against a person. not all discrimination is unjust," Archbishop Hickey said. in fact discrimination, in a posHive sense, is an exercise in discernment. One must discern whose rights are being served in legislative change," he said.

Archbishop Hickey questioned who would benefit from the legislation.

-My biggest fear is that this legislation is more than it seems. While it may appear to be removing discrimination against those who live a homosexual lifestyle, it is obviously making it easier to introduce more radical reforms such as changes in adoption practices: the lowering of the age of consent for males, access to IVF by lesbians: and parity between a homosexual couple and the marital union of a man and a woman." he said.

He added that many people who

would reject discrimination would find such changes unacceptable and said the same "gradual process" had occurred in relation to abortion. it is being used now in regard to euthanasia. I have no doubt it is being used to promote the legitimacy of homosexual activities and lifestyle," he said.

The Archbishop pointed out that the Catholic Church's position was that whatever the origin of homosexual tendencies in individuals, homosexuals were called to live a chaste lifestyle.

He said that while homosexuals should he respected and should not suffer unjust discrimination they did not have the rights of married couples.

He warned the complete legitimisation of homosexuality in the community would -render self-restraint almost impossible and alter the traditional understanding of sexuality in its relationship to love, procreation and the marriage of a man and a woman."

The Bill could also he seen as advancing future unacceptable social changes in the name of antidiscrimination, Archbishop Hickey said.

The pro-family lobby organisation. the Australian Family Association, in statements on the defeated WA legislation and in Senate committee hearings on the proposed Federal Equal Opportunity Amendments Bill held in Perth this week made similar criticisms of moves to ban all discrimination against homosexuals.

INAUGURAL URSULA FRAYNE MEMORIAL LECTURE Will be presented by Dr Peter Tannock, Vice Chancellor of The University of Notre Dame Australia on Thursday, 3 October 1996 at 7:30pm Mercedes College, Victoria Square, Perth To commemorate and celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Mercy and their ministries in Education, Health and Welfare in WA the Sisters have established an Annual Lecture ALL WELCOME....

RSVP: By 27 September 1996 Tel: 381 8074; Fax: 388 2978

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Perth's Melkite Catholics joyfully welcome their new Archbishop

By Peter Rosengren An enthusiastic reception from parishioners met Archbishop Essam Darwish on his first visit to Perth as Eparch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand last weekend.

Among those greeting Archbishop Darwish were local Melkite parish priest, Fr Andrew Nahhas from the Melkite parish church of St Andraous, located in Glendower Street Highgate, and over two hundred parishioners.

Also present at the special Mass at St Andraous' Church on Sunday was Archimandrite Melkite parish priest, Fr Andrew Plahhas, right, welcomes Archbishop DarBoutros Toma from the Syrian wish, centre, and Archimandrite Toma to Sunday morning's receptioa Orthodox Church in Perth.

Archbishop Darwish was on bishops in approaching the bishop Darwish told The his first visit to Perth to meet Antiochan Greek Orthodox Record following the liturgy on parishioners of the Melkite Church to unite the two Church- Sunday morning.

Greek Catholic Church since his es.

The Damascus-born bishop election as Bishop of Australia Archbishop Darwish said the had previously worked in eduand New Zealand in 1995. initiative from the Melkite cation, and set up programs.

St Andraous* parish is West- synod complied with Christ's homes and orphanages for chilern Australia's only Melkite commandment for unity, the dren in Syria's Bekaa Valley.

Greek Catholic parish and Church's wishes and Pope John mainly serves the Arab Paul II's call for all Christian Catholics of Perth. churches to participate in a diaThere are about 55,000 logue of love searching for the Melkite Catholics in Australia.

Due to an editorial producfulfillment of East-West fellowSunday morning's Mass - a ship. tion error the caption under liturgy of St John Chrysostom in a picture of the Minister for The 1995 initiative from the the Eastern rite of the Church - Melkite bishops had been delivFamily and Children's Serwas followed by a reception in ered to the Antiochan Orthodox vices. Cheryl Edwarcles. on the parish hall. page 11 of last week's issue Patriarch, His Beatitude Ignatius Archimandrite Toma attended Hazeem. Archbishop Darwish of The Record failed to give the liturgy and was a guest of said, adding it was believed the Mrs Edwardes her proper honour at the reception for the Melkite proposal would be distitle. Mrs Edvirardes' office Archbishop which followed. was informed as soon as the cussed at the Antiochan OrthoDuring his sermon to parish- dox Synod to be convened in error was spotted. The ioners. Archbishop Darwish Lebanon in October this year.

Record apologises for the referred to the 1995 initiative of error.

"We have started to lay the the Melkite Catholic Church's basis for one Church," Arch-

Correction

Are you graduating this year?

Is teaching an optionfor you?

The Notre Dame Dip Ed can open the door to an exciting career.

"My Dip Ed year was magnificent — hard work but challenging and reward*.Iwas (*red a teaching position on graduation as were all my friends in the course" — Manse

Dip Ed Information Evening will be held at the University, 19 Mouat Street, Fremantle 5.30 to 7.00 pm, Monday 30th September 1996.

For further information check the Web http://www.nd.edu.au or ring Mandy or Patrick 239 5555 The Record, September 26 1996 Page 3

Team has touched thousands

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard A young man who's given much of his youth to introducing God to other young folk, is Stephen lbohey of Sydney, National Director of the Disciples of Jesus Youth Mission Team (DYMT).

Evangelised himself by the newly born Sydney DYMT in 1986, Stephen decided he wanted to be part of it, and ultimately helped set up the team here in Perth in 1990, working with it through 1991.

Back in Perth to liaise with the Perth team and its coordinator.

Chris Brennan. Stephen spoke to gatherings of mixed ages, telling them of his own conversion "which wasn't dramatic!" but certainly was effective - hence his commitment to the DYMT for the past ten years.

Married to a former team member and now with a young baby.

Stephen, as with Chris also married to a team member, sees both sides from the youth and parental aspect.

He believes one can evangelise by a holy life and sees this generation of young people struggling under the weight of tremendous social pressures," and expectations directed at them from many areas.

Stephen applauds the "incredibly high standards" they've set for themselves although he thinks that sometimes they're unrealistic.

Perceiving a widespread lack of appreciation of their own potential and dignity, the objective of the DYNTE he states, is to create an environment where young people can appreciate "the dignity and goodness inherent in each of them."

And the way they go about that.

Stephen explains, is focussing on the fact that our value is based on who we are created to be by God and not the attitude and philosophy of the world!"

Not how well they achieve, or "how good looking I am - and if I fail to meet that criteria, is my worth any less?"

The objective of the DYMT is to give witness to the Gospel and continually love God, embracing his love for each one of us, said Stephen. "drawing on the scriptures and making our home in Him as He makes His in us, and remembering that without God we can do nothing - but with Him. everything!"

The DYMT on a numbers basis, certainly has had a large effect, having met with around Wont) young people Australia-wide through their work in schools and parishes.

Currently there are only two teams in Australia. in Perth and Sydney, but the ultimate objective is to set up the TWINIT In Whetstates.

Stephen Toohey - was evangelised himseff and now directs a national evangelisadon effort through DYMT. For the young people involved Who frequently put aside univer- ing that the role the DYMT plays fun and an enjoyable time," they need for young role models (such sity studies and their own busi- in the lives of the young is -just come away with a very positive as the team members) who ness pursuits to give a year to the one part of the evangelisation feeling that they identify with faith encourage other young people to team, while living on scant self- process." that part is extremely and the Church. The second thing take their faith more seriously. is to challenge young people and older role models. generated income and support- significant in Stephen's view. ing themselves totally, their sole Having received many positive through the witness of the team Although parents and teachers objective is to bring the Word of testimonies as to how meeting the to reflect on how they perceive often feel they have very little to God and His love into the lives of DYMT has changed their lives. themselves, others, and God, and offer young people. Stephen said secondary students.

Stephen said the team is sowing through reflection consider the from his experience this is not so.

This constitutes a year of sacri- and nurturing a seed of faith part God would play in their lives.

Struck by the team's witness of Conversion and evangelisation. fice for the team members and a which for some we see clearly at love and acceptance of themyear of receiving for the young the time, but which for others we Stephen added, is not a matter of selves and others - "people I could are convinced will mature and convincing argument to which recipients who've experienced young people assent to particular look up to and who reflected what life changing contact as a result of grow (later on in their lives)." the DYMTs testimonies, retreats, The two simple objectives of the values. "but rather that it is a work I understood I wanted to be as I and drama presentations. team. Stephen asserted, is to give of the Holy Spirit gently revealing grew up." Stephen says he knows only too well, how important people a positive experience of his presence and love."

Es.sentially it is youth ministering to youth, and while recognis- retreat, during which. -with some Stephen believes there is a great these people are in our lives.

Aranmore students show how its done - with style. . .

Above (Ito r): Beauties and the Beast? Principal Val Murphy with students, on the catwalk at Aranmore College's first ever fashion parade; Cool dudes Alfie Cifelli and Nathan Coleman strut their stuff; Aranmore grooming and deportment graduate, Christina Kalanzatis; (below) fellow graduate Noi De Carvallo; one of the hits of the evening - the bridal display. The fashion parade, a big success, raised funds for improvements to Aranmore College.

YCS River Cruise

Saturday 28 September, 8pm - 11.30pm (please note the return time, no supervision will be provided on the jetty after this time).

Venue: Barrack Street Jetty Tickets available from the YCS Office. 459 Hay St. Perth.

Cost S10. Tickets will be $15 if purchased late so be in fast.

Phone 325 7208. After 6pm phone 041 147 7840 or 401 8927 No alcohol or drugs allowed and we reserve the right to scrutinise people and bags. We also reserve the right to turn away patrons who do not abide by the above rules.

The cruise will be strictly supervised to ensure the enjoyment and safety of all

The Record, September 26 1996 Page 4

Family tax initiative welcome: commission 111. 11 111, 1. V/ lb

The Family Tax Initiative system of family income support announced in the recent Federal Budget has been welcomed as providing an improvement in the way singleincome families are treated compared to their double-income counterparts, the national director of the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission. Mr Toby O'Connor. said recently.

Mr O'Connor was speaking following the release of a new discussion paper released by the commiwilkm which says the overall system of family income support from the Government must recognise the diversity of family life in Australia and not favour one partic',tar choice.

Mr O'Connor said the paper.

Financial Assistance to Families: Does the current system support choices about how parent share their workforce and caring roles? was an attempt to inform the debate which had been generated by the Federal Budget over appropriate levels of family income support.

He said the family tax initiatives announced in the Budget. together with changes to child care subsidies had been interpreted by some commentators as favouring the traditional role of women as full time carers.

"Yet these changes must be seen in the overall context of the whole system of support to families, especially for those families who have both parents working and children in childcare." he said. in that context. the Family Tax Initiative must he seen as going some way to achieving a better balance in the way single-income families are treated by this system."

He said the reality was that parents entered and left the workforce for varying periods of time depending on the needs and ages of their children.

The discussion paper also recommends policy options to correct anomalies in family income support.

These included the amalgamation of the basic parenting allowance and the childcare cash rebate into a means-tested payment of $80 per week to families with children under 6 years of age, irrespective of their work and caring balance.

Mr O'Connor also warned that Australia was in danger of isolating public housing tenants in areas removed from job opportunities and adequate community services in a separate statement on a recent meeting of Commonwealth and State public housing ministers in Darwin.

Saying that for most of the last 50 years Commonwealth-State housing agreements had ensured society's Poorer members had access to lowcost housing in areas where employment and social infrastructure were available. Mr O'Connor warned the reforms being considered by the Ministers would jeopardise that policy.

"Despite the level of funding for capital stock being kept constant in recent years, the expansion of public housing has been declining." he said. He said the Commonwealth's proposed move away from funding capital stock carried the danger that States could only expand stock by selling off high-value inner city houses and concentrating public housing in poorly serviced areas.

"This will simply compound the social and economic disadvantages of many public tenants." he said.

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$5.7n' for new cathedral

Church Catholic Insurances have paid $5.7 million to Bishop Bede Heather's Parramatta Diocese to enable plans for the new diocesan cathedral to go forward.

Devastated through arson. St Patrick's his5 toric cathedral, was rated as one of Sydney's most important buildings, was reduced to ruins in February this year.

Originally built in 1836, the first church was demolished to make way for the Gothic style building in 1853. partially re-built in 1935.

Fire tore through the building completely destroying stained glass and historical fixtures.

The spire survived hut D, has been removed for o safety reasons.

5

Iona debaters the best Prayer for

priests opportunity

Pauline Tantiprasut Natalie Tahmiciore, Irma Cattalini and Peta Millard

The Iona Presentation College senior debating team earned the title of best school debaters when they won the grand final of the WA Debating League schools competition on Wednesday night, 18 September at the Cottesloe Civic Centre.

The Iona team of Irma Cattalini. Natalie Tatasciore, Paulene Tantiprasut and Peta Millard, all In Year 12. defeated St Mary's

when they successfully argued the negative of the topic, -That we should give more foreign aid."

The four students have all had successful debating careers.

This year Irina was selected as Captain of the WA State Debating Team which came third in the Australian championships and was ranked in the top ten school debaters in Australia.

City Beach parish priest Father Phelan is arranging a day of Prayer for Priests on Our Lady of the Rosary's Feast day, Monday. 7 October. at Holy Spirit Church.

City Beach.

The day has been arranged at Archbishop Barry Hickey's requ-est and all are welcome.

By doing so they will be making an expression of faith and solidarity "for our priests, through prayer. Adoration, and linking our prayers to the powerful ones of Our Lady of the Rosary on her Feast day," coordinator Margaret Bowen said.

Tea and coffee will be provided - but please bring your own lunch. Further enquiries please ring Margaret on (09) 448-1935 or Carolyn (09) 2451029.

POPE'S GOLDEN JUBILEE

SEND A CARD AND HELP TRAIN OUR FUTURE PRIESTS Pope John Paul 1 I About the Card celebrate the will 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 world-wide follows. Our attract 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 and from North to wishes card. The card Is available from Aid South. As Catholics we are all unified in Christ. to the Church in Need free of charge.

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 Del mean: Servant of the servants of God. seminarians each year in Eastern Europe. of the postcard contains the address Latin America. Africa and Asia. For the major- The back of 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 yea rsPope John Paul 11 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!

To: Aid to the Church in Need P.O. Box 11, Eastwood 2121 National Director: Mr Phillip Collignon Tel/Fax No. (02) 679 1929

0

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

Optional

to help with the training of I/We enclose S Africa 0 seminarians in Eastern Europe 0 Asia C Latin America 0

Mr/Mrs/Miss/Rev/Sr Address

Postcode •treer A Universal Pubic Association within the Catholic Church. cieoendent on the Holy See. provicring pastoral rehef Aid to the Ln,ro, wee, and oopresced Churches and aiding refugees

The Record, September 26 1996 Page 5

True humility: obedience to God's will Peter Divan continues meditations on the readings for Sunday Mass.

This week, the readings for the 26th Sunday of Year A

tainly live." These words should assure us of God's mercy and forgiveness.

What does God expect of us? In these days of postconciliar division within the Church, today's second reading, (Philippians 2: 1-11), has a pertinent message.

St Paul addressed his message to the unjust? Is it not what you do that is Christians of Phillip!, who were divided unjust? When the upright man by factions, vainglory and egoism. renounces his integrity to commit sin, To them as to us, St Paul proposes the and dies because of this, he dies because humility of Jesus. of the evil that he himself has commitThere are many mistaken notions of ted." humility, but true humility always shows We need to remember that we are itself in loving obedience to God's will. responsible for our actions.

In the reading, St Paul says: If we choose to disobey God's law, the "His state was divine, yet he didn't cling responsibility for the choice is ours, and to his equality with God but emptied we must take the consequences. himself to assume the condition of a On the other hand, the reading assures slave, and became as men are: and being us: When the sinner renounces sin and as all men are, he was humbler yet, even becomes law-abiding and honest, he accepting death, death on a cross." deserves to live. He has chosen to The gospel passage, (Matthew 21: 28renounce his previous sins: he shall cer- 32) shows that disobedience may he

A Layman's

Meditation

•

I

t is by our behaviour that we show whether we love God, words count for little unless they are matched by deeds. lbday's readings give us a chance to further explore this point.

The first reading, (Ezekiel 18: 25-28), assures us that God judges us on the basis of our present behaviour.

God does not dwell on our past, or on the faults of our ancestors, He is always ready to offer the gift of life to one who renounces sin.

Ezekiel tells us: The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: "You object" "What the Lord does is unjust."

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C HIPPERS The Record, September 26 1996 Page 6

/

A ast week i ,nd brought with it the achievement of yet another milestone in our family's history.

1,1,e celebrated the 101st birthday of our Grandmother. Emma Downes.

This incredible lady presided over a family luncheon for 35 adorned with a multi-coloured macaroni necklace which had been laboured over by her first great. great-grandchild. who to the delight of the whole family, was horn on Nanna's 98th birthday, three years ago.

Nanna now has four great, great-grandchildren and it is with a sense of joy and anticipation that she looks forward to the birth of another two within the next few months.

Although not as mobile as she would like to be, Nanna still has the gift of great conversation, and takes an avid interest in the lives of us all.

It is fascinating to see the depth of love and respect she commands from all ages, and equally as fascinating that she is always the first to hear special news.

The discovery that another baby is expected. the winning of a swimming medal or a change in career, the travel arrangements of one of the great grandchildren. etc.

Part of the love and concern that is shown all of us by Nanna is her ability to gently chide us when the necessity arises!

T

The Family Funeral Director

Foundation member of the Australian

A rock of steady goodness inspires family

With Penny Ashcroft Comments such as "dear. isn't that skirt a little too short?", or "do you think. dear that you might have gone about that differently?", are accepted in the vein that they are offered, and although we might squirm on our seats once in a while. it is never without just cause!

Nanna has demonstrated the capacity to "move with the times", and as can be imagined, has seen a lot of changes in her lifetime.

Being with her challenges us to appreciate what life has to offer in the here and now, from the good condition of our roads to the opportunities that present themselves to anyone who has the vision to avail themselves of them.

We have often been told stories from her girlhood and young married life, a life of considerable hardship that would really test our ability to come through as she has done.

Her strong spirit, sense of humour and

To Jesus through Mary. . .

C HIPPERS

fT:

either deep-seated or just apparent. In a short parable, Our Lord contrasted two sons.

The father said to the first: "My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today."

He answered: "I will not go," but afterwards thought better of it and went.

By contrast, the father said the same to the second son who answered: "Certainly sir,* but did not go.

When Our Lord asked the chief priests and the elders: "Which of the two did the father's will?" they replied: "The first."

Jesus then said to them: "I tell you solemnly, tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of It and believe in him."

Are our words matched by our deeds?

faith 11! a living testimony to a life which has bel qi pervaded by the qualities of resilience and tenacity.

She is a marvellous role model for us all. When asked by her son how she would like to celebrate her birthday this year, Nanna's first thought was to attend church.

Being confined to a wheelchair for outings for some time now, her recent experience of church services has been limited to watching ''Songs of Praise" on Sunday mornings, a ritual she will not miss. The effort involved in getting her to her Church was obviously well worth It. not only did her son and daughter-inlaw feel uplifted. but the welcome given Nanna by the congregation and the Pastor has added a treasured memory of the day for her to ponder over in her quiet times.

Simon. the man Jesus chose to lead His church, was called Peter by Jesus. a name that was given to him meaning 'rock'.

I think about Nanna in those terms . . . strong, safe, firm and dependable, like a rock. Some might think a 101 year old lady is an unlikely leader, but in terms of being a beacon of light for her family, she has been a great one.

Someone. I'm sure. whom God will recognise as being very loving and wise and who has lived a life of steady goodness.

a column of Marian devotion

he Columbia Gorge Interpretive Centre near Stevenson claims the world's largest rosary collection with nearly 4.000 sets of beads.

Stevenson is on the north side of the Columbia River about 35 miles east of Vancouver. Wash., and Portland, Oregon.

The rosary collection, featured as a centrepiece of the centre's "Spiritual Quest" exhibit, was assembled by a local historian. Donald Brown.

Brown was a convert to Catholicism and became a member of the Third Order of St Dominic, a lay association of the Dominicans in which one of the recommended spiritual activities was daily recitation of the rosary.

He founded the Skamania County Historical Society in 1926 and in 1973 donated his personal collection of religious artifacts to help establish a county museum.

Among prayer beads featured in the display is a rosary of John F Kennedy, the United States' first Catholic president, Plvolo CNS which has a medallion with an image of The rosary collection includes these beads from around the world. the president attached. tures and was used to represent the cross west. Sharon Tiffany, the centre's foundSome of the rosaries have odd, even In early Christian and Byzantine art. ing executive director, described the startling, features.

When used as a Christian symbol it rosary collection as "a living collection, A rosary from China features ivory was known as the gammadion cross or one that grows as we receive new beads carved in the shape of tiny rabbits. crux gammata. rosaries."

A set of beads shaped like human skulls Also featured in the interpretive cenThe Rosary Room is not maintained as is a reminder of how fleeting life is. tre's Rosary Room are hundreds of other a place of worship but as a display of an The cross on one rosary is a swastika. religious items. Among them are antique almost universal form of worship includAlthough overwhelmingly linked now to altar cruets and the prie-dieu and fami- ing not only Roman Catholics. but Musthe horrors of Hitler's genocidal cam- ly Bible of Archbishop Francis Blanchet lims. Buddhists and other religious paign against the Jews, the swastika is an of Oregon City. pioneer leader of the groups who use prayer beads in their ancient religious symbol of several cul- Catholic Church in the Pacific North- devotions," she said.

A fundamentalist approach to speaking freely p

rime Minister John Howard this week sparked renewed debate on freedom of speech in Australia by saying Australians feel they are able to speak a little more freely and openly since the Coalition came to power federally.

This is not a new-found interest on the part of the Prime Minister. In Parliament in the years before becoming Prime Minister, he has referred to the difficulties of raising challenging ideas in Australian debate without the mindless labels of political correctness being used to misinterpret his statements. Not that his colleagues were blameless in their characterisations of the then Prime Minister Paul Keating.

Of course, the reaction to the 1987 statement on immigration policy has seared into Mr Howard's memory the political dangers of raising controversial issues for debate.

Mr Howard is not alone. There are more than a few Australians - sonic who have dared to think an issue through thoroughly as well as those who think according to prejudice - who have suffered the labels of racism, chauvini.sm, sexism, fundamentalism and others for daring to go

The Record against the tide of the new establishment thinking of the last 25 years. Whether the climate of public opinion under the Howard Government is any freer is a very moot point. It could easily be argued that those with truly bigoted opinions on the political right-wing, ones which Mr Howard would deplore, now have the courage to speak out in a way that they feared to do when confronted with the withering scorn of Mr Keating.

Nevertheless, whatever the reasons for his remark. Mr Howard's intervention is welcome if it focuses public attention on the way in which public debate occurs in Australian society.

It could also be helpful in the religious society of the Catholic and other Churches when words are sometimes used thoughtlessly and with no attempt to understand thoroughly what argument means, whether one's own or another's.

Words such as fundamentalist. pre-Vatican II, heretic, schismatic, patriarchal and

evokes.

When not only Catholics, but all other Christians and citizens, realise that words can accurately capture the essence of things both physical and spiritual, and that all human minds can know these essences according to the same logic, then agreement on truth will be possible.

Only then will a truly free discussion take place because it will be able to grasp the truth and then be in a position to undertake united action to bring about a just and peaceful society.

Then a discussion on women priests will end in seeing the truth of what Jesus Christ teaches unwaveringly through Pope John Paul II and his predecessors and successors about this matter.

Then more light rather than heat will be shone on public discussion of appropriate immigration levels, how our first Australians are to be truly helped to take their proper place in Australian society, and

feminist are some of the terms flung around not just in private discussion, but also in public teaching, in an attempt to silence discussion.

To take one example, anyone who dares to question, either from commonsense faith or from the perspective of academic criticism, popular methods of scriptural analysis will almost certainly be accused of being a fundamentalist.

In one swipe, a Catholic can be tarnished by association with every stereotype of a stump preacher in the Calvinist tradition that a Catholic can imagine.

On another issue, those who defend the properly devout offering and participation in the New Order Mass can be looked upon as virtual heretics by some supporters of the Tridentine Mass in Latin.

This intellectual civil war can only be resolved, with the help of God's grace. when participants address their minds to the realities that words describe and not the feelings that the sound of the word

• The opinions expressed in this editorial. and any other Record editorial, are not necessarily those of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth.

Tirouno i& Pendal explains vote on Bill

y

ou may be aware that the West Australian Parliament has been debating a Private Member's Bill to outlaw discrimination against homosexuals in matters of employment and accommodation.

On the two occasions on which Bills to decriminalise homosexual acts have come before Parliament I have opposed, and voted against, such moves. I have not altered my mind on this issue.

However.I have always made it very clear that homosexuals should not be harassed. demeaned, ridiculed or discriminated against because of their homosexuality.

Thus it is that I can remain opposed to homosexuality, while voting in favour of a Bill to end discrimination against homosexual& This is what Idid in the Parliament last week.

In reaching my decision I consulted a number of people, including the parents of gay children. Prior to the vote Ispoke to my own archbishop. the Most Rev Barry Hickey. I also had access to Archbishop's Hickey's statement of September 18.

I know that Archbishop Hickey is concerned to ensure that legislation of this kind is not seen as paving the way for other more radical, unacceptable reforms.

For example.Iagree entirely with his cautionary approach to ensure that we do not legislate to change adoption practices to allow homosexuals to adopt children or giving parity between a homosexual couple and the marital union of a man and a woman.

Iwould not vote for measures of this kind.

Like the Archbishop I believe we do need to be vigilant to ensure that legislation of this kind does not have unintended outcomes.

I do not believe the above mentioned Bill has these implications and in good conscience been able to support it, given its limited scope.

Phillip Pendal MLA for South Perth

Living metaphors

T

he various letters in The Record (5 and 12 September) commenting on the appointment of Fr Andrew McGowan to the Faculty of Theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia indicated three related sources of contention on which I would like to comment: 1. The actual appointment of an Anglican priest to teach Early Church and New Testament Studies to Notre Dame students, Including some seminarians; 2. The nature of a university and the type of education it should provide: 3. The validity of ecumenism and the relationship of the Catholic Church to other Christian Churches.

The third issue is the most important and the other two are related to it.

Fr McGowan's appointment and the cooperation of the Archbishops of the Catholic and Anglican churches in Western Australia with the University of Notre Dame Australia to facilitate this appointment are encouraging signs of commitment at the highest level in WA of both Churches to the practical application of Inter-faith action.

This at a level where lay and clerical students can he exposed to a diversity of scholarly perspectives in the particular disciplinary area of Fl• McGowan's expertise which, done responsibly, can only enrich their scholastic and faith developments.

Such and appointment also demonstrates a highly commendable endorsement by the Vice-Chancellor and the Board of Theology of Notre Dame Australia to what should be the basic principles of any university: to provide a scholarly environment in which staff and students can engage in on-going dialogue in a free, equitable and ethical manner which encourages the development of critical discernment and respect of different viewpoints which are the products of careful and responsible scholarship and reflection.

Provision of such a learning environment within the Faculty of Theology of Notre Dame Australia can only enrich Catholicism and enable Catholic and other students of the university to be responsive to a more holistic and integrated approach to issues of religion and spirituality which, in turn, will generated an appropriate atmosphere in which ecumenism can be pursued in a morally accountable manner.

What is tragic in the letters which oppose Fr McGowan's appointment and the principles underlying it is the evidence that for many Catholics ecumenism is still unacceptable and viewed as a threat to the Catholic religion, despite the Holy Father's commitment to it so clearly expressed in Ut Unum Sint For those of us who have come to Catholicism as adults from other Christian backgrounds and who do not wish to, indeed cannot, reject those backgrounds, such hostile and fearful rejection of an inter faith approach to Christianity means a denial of our very identities as Catholics.

Our previous Anglican or Protestant experiences have shaped us as Christians and provided the foundations for the spiritual journey which led us into the Catholic Church.

Thus they are integral to the quality of our Catholicism and cannot be rejected.

Indeed they help us to be living metaphors of ecumenism within the Catholic Church.

Therefore for such new Catholics as myself, the appointment of Fr McGowan is an affirmation of my Christian and Catholic identity.

Ms Judith M. Woodward Department of History. University of Western Australia. Nedlands.

Lefiers /0 fi2e Colifor

An airbrushed religion

T

he issue at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia is should a Protestant minister take part in the formation of Catholic seminarians.

Dr Killerby (The Reconi. 12 September) agrees that it would not be permissible in a Catholic Seminary but it's OK in a Catholic Uni. Marshall NicLuhans famous quote applies here: the medium is the message" - the Anglican minister is the medium in this case and therefore the message is Anglican. QED. The underlying problem here is that of one of the heresies doing the rounds at the present time: that all religions/denominations are the same.

This has had the effect of decimating the congregations in the Church.

In WA about 90 percent of Catholics no longer go to Mass: Confession is in a parlous state: the majority of marriages are not celebrated with a Mass, because the people are given signals that these things are no longer necessary Catholic culture and Tradition have been airbrushed out of our religion, so now we are left with "sola scriptum." Thomas More pray for us.

Appointments such as Fr McGowan's only serve to reinforce this state of affairs.

I would like to remind correspondents, before they reply, that St Charles Seminary is located within this parish's boundaries (not under my jurisdiction) and appointments such as these cause unease and distrust in the parish.

I would also like to remind them this concern is not only from me but also from the Parish Council, a properly authorised forum of the Catholic Church - a forum that is entitled to be heard and respected.

I would also like to keep this debate at a Christian level and should any of the correspondents care to call at this presbytery, they are more than welcome on a one to one basis.

Fr T Smith St Mary's Catholic Church, Guildford.

Academic detachment

T

.have some Anglican lecturers in a Catholic university seems to me entirely appropriate: I think it very unlikely that Dr McGowan will preach the Thirty-nine Articles in an effort to turn his Catholic students into Anglicans.

With academic freedom must go a corresponding academic detachment.

A Catholic or other lecturer who cannot see that his job is solely to inform and to clarify, and that ills none of his business whether his student share his post-conciliar religious opinions or not, has failed to understand something very important

about universities. An Anglican lecturer. who stands outside of the unedifying Catholic partisanship of the past few decades, may well find it easier to maintain an appropriate academic detachment.

E.D. Watt Claremont

Culture essential

W

hat a week! After two days of meetings in Broome earlier this month with Aboriginal people of the "Last Generations". I picked up The Record on 5 September (we get it a week late up here) to be shocked by the comments of Ms Kathleen Brosnan about Alioriginal people.

I will not answer her rhetoric. I find the language inflammatory (the same word used of Bishop Saunders and Br Mundine), hard facts scarce and innuendo rife.

However.I cannot resist briefly taking up one comment. that 'culture is not going to ensure the survival of the Aboriginal race No matter who we are, without culture we are nobody with no history or collective wisdom to draw on.

This is exactly the issue we were facing In Broome this week Many of the problems among Aboriginal people today can be linked to the former view that they could be transplanted into a European culture.

Thankfully it didn't work, but the ramifications of the attempt have been enormous.

It is generally acknowledged that faith. cultural expression and identity are closely linked.

This is probably the reason that for much of its history the Church was considered to be the guardian of European culture.

It is probably why a wise and holy man, speaking to a large group of Aboriginal people in Alice Springs almost ten years ago said: Your 'Dreaming'. which influences your lives so strongly that, no matter what happens, you remain for ever people of your culture, is your own way of touching the mystery of God's Spirit in you and in creation."

He went on to say: "Your culture, which shows the lasting genius and dignity of your race, must not be allowed to disappear."

Working in a remote community for some years has verified the Holy Father's comments for me.

Supporting Aboriginal culture against the onslaught of an aggressive American culture is vital to human dignity and therefore evangelisation.

The recent cuts to funding for aborigines will make the job harder for many and justice one step further away.

Fr Matt iligges Bidyadanga The Kimberley

More Letters - Page 11

The Record, September 26 1996 Page 7

Features

Please forgive me,I love you but nowI have to kill you An appeal case in the High Court of Australia has reignited the debate on abortion. The case, involving a woman who sued a medical clinic for not diagnosing her pregnancy, and therefore causing her to miss her chance to end it, will he the first time the High Court has considered the points of law on abortion. Record journalist Colleen McGuiness-Howard reports on the work of one Perth woman to warn other women of how the horror of an abortion could haunt them.

Julie Cook, working to warn women about Post Abortion Syndrome.

T

regardless of research, "we are mating a problem'. Women also definitely seeing that clinically." pressured to abort are rape vicWhen the Australian Council for tims and those who've been Women (the channel for the Aus- advised that their baby may be tralian Government's official con- physically or mentally disabled. tributions to the Beijing However, regardless of the conference) announced a Perth cause, many women frequently public consultation on 26 August do not want to abort their child.

1994, WHBAs Julie and Gail Mar- but feel driven to it because of tin suggested: recognition of the outside pressure, Julie explained. suffering that abortion has And it is then that these women caused: proper therapy and sup- are glaringly open to be manipuport for aborted women: better lated and exploited by 'health alternatives to be offered to preg- professionals', abortion referral nant women in crisis situations: agencies, and the abortion clinics and a public and professional themselves: some women having awareness program on PAS. gone there with the thought they However WHBAs input was would receive counselling, only edited out and WHBA was even to come out aborted, she related. listed among organisations that Abortion industry staff are there did not take part in consultations. to ensure the abortion takes place, The PAS awareness program not to explore any contrary was omitted from the list of prac- thoughts indecisive women may tical programs, and requests for have, asserted Julie. "and having support for women in crisis preg- listened to many women, you nancies, while therapy for suffer- begin to really appreciate how ing aborted women was distorted much they are victims and aborby suggesting 'appropriate pre tion is one of the worst things you and post-abortion counselling.' can to do a mother.

This is the precise phrase used "Because for many women, by abortion referral agencies such abortion like miscarriage and as the Family Planning Associa- stillbirth, is a death experience" tion. WHBA notes, "whose pre- (to which they have contributed). abortion 'counselling' fails to Prevention is obviously the best.

wo of the great lies told to Sometimes aborted women may women today are the delib- deliberately become pregnant erate concealing of the true again in order to have an "atonefacts of abortion, and the undeni- ment child." able reality of Post Abortion SynIn an effort to unveil the truth so drome (PAS).

PAS is recognised and dealt with The reason for promoting The professionally, Julie Cook, a regisGreat Lies is money for the tered nurse and liaison officer for Dealers in Death.

Women Hurt By Abortion Abortion is a big and lucrative (WHBA) is spreading this inforindustry to the tune of at least mation as far and wide as possi10.000 (undisputed figures) West- ble. ern Australian abortions carried Julie, a mother of five, was conout last year and 100.000 Aus- fronted during her nursing traintralia-wide. ing with a young girl of 22 who'd With Medicare funding, those in been brought in for an abortion. the industry make big dollars, largely sourced through taxpayers' money.

So covering up the truth is essential to dupe women into believing the abortion is designed by compassionate people to help them get rid of a 'problem'.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Her fiance had been killed, she warn women of what abortion she said, "but PAS is really dreadIf women knew that by assent- was four months pregnant, had does to them, and whose post- ful (and on-going) suffering and ing to this "tragically irreversible" no family support, was grief abortion 'counselling' ignores and the women needing proper therdeed, they would, in a large pro- stricken, in shock - *and I'll never trivialises what has happened to apy are not getting it - but should portion of cases, suffer enormous forget the fear in her eyes." an aborted woman." not be seeking it from the aborgrief they would never do it.

She was aborted, and subseAs a result of her research, Julie tion providers and promoters."

PAS has been defined as a quently suicided. realised that abortion trauma was Quoting a study of 500 aborted delayed or slow developing, proIn another instance, a young serious and became fully longed and sometimes chronic woman attempted suicide after involved in her fight to promote women, Julie said that 10% developed serious psychiatric compligrief syndrome, of which the car- an abortion and was left perma- general awareness of PAS. cations and revealed that in a 1994 dinal features are denial and sup- nently brain damaged.

Armed with statistics, facts and UK Commission of Enquiry, 87% pression.

What Julie couldn't understand a vast background of personal Frequently, especially with was that some women had abor- dealings with aborted women suffered long-term emotional teenagers, suicidal tendencies tions who didn't want them. through WHBA. Julie is doing her effects. and self-destructive behaviour, So for two years she delved into dynamic best to 'lift the lid' on the Despite the pm-abortion lobby, manifest themselves. abortion and its ramifications and politically unpalatable reality of and abortionists stating that it is a Other symptoms can include found a wealth of material abortion and its aftermath. surgically safe procedure, there frequent weeping (which can through research which had neiCommunity thinking is that are well recognised serious comcontinue for years), chronic rela- ther surfaced nor been circulated abortion is there to help women. plications of abortion. tionship problems, depression, among women. stated Julie, but women in a crisis Julie detailed: infection. haemloss of concentration, guilt, grief, Many professionals refuse to pregnancy are at their most vulorrhage, perforated uterus, pelvic remorse, isolation, alienation. vic- acknowledge the existence of nerable. inflammatory disease, infertility timisation and hopelessness, eat- PAS. While in this state of shock, fear, ing disorders, alcohol and/or drug And even when a woman has indecision, defencelessnes.s, and due to scar tissue forming from abuse, extreme or chronic anger, pinpointed abortion as the cause, the need to make a fast decision, infection, ectopic or tubal pregnancies, miscarriages, neonatal sadness, anxiety attacks, and she's often told she's mistaken. they are forced back on the supemotional numbness.

During a 1994 Perth Postnatal port and 'guidance' of significant deaths, premature infants with They may also be withdrawn, Depression (PND) seminar organ- figures around them, who usual- possible resultant disabilities, cerhave inappropriate emotional ised by the Postnatal Depression ly do not have the baby's interest vical damage, placenta praevia. and PAS - unresolved grief synresponses, loss of self-esteem, Professionals Association of WA, at heart. drome. sleep disorders, nightmares, sex- Julie noted that despite abortion This may be the father of the ual dysfunction, memory loss, being such a major part of mater- child, her family, or other 'well Parents of teenagers also often dramatic personality changes, nal health care, the association of meaning friends.' disregard the girl's statement that anxiety attacks, tendency towards abortion with PND was never disIn the case of incest, it would he she doesn't wnat an abortion as violence, flashbacks, and anniver- cussed. the 'right thing to do' to cover up juvenile fancy, and don't treat her sary reactions (linked to the abortIn response to her questioning, the crime, or in an endeavour to seriously said Julie. "but tragicaled baby). a health professional said that keep a relationship intact by elim- ly, they'll find themselves in a

worse position than the one they were trying to prevent.

"Because adolescents don't have the defenses in place for abortion and can become very self destructive."

Aborted women may initially be in denial (the first stage of grief) and suppress any negative feelings they have about the abortion. with some women blocking out the abortion completely.

But you can't process the grief until you get past denial. said Julie, and when they do they are vulnerable and can't easily talk about their abortion pain.

The severity and incidence of PAS frequently depends upon how well affirmed the person is or how integrated their personality is, she said. "so women from emotionally unstable or dysfunctional backgrounds are much more likely to suffer severe psychological and emotional trauma."

While researchers may differ as to the incidence of severe psychological trauma following abortion. Julie pointed out, there is a remarkable consensus regarding who in fact are the high risk women.

It is never acceptable professional behaviour to support self destructive behaviour, and abortion is inherently self destructive, Julie emphasised.

She said this was brought home when you hear women screaming "I want my baby back! I want my baby back!"

Some girls and women do realise it isn't 'merely a blob of cells' Julie observed.

But they bow to pressure to have the abortion and have written in their diaries: "Today I am going to kill my baby."

"And one poor girl was sitting on the bench talking to her baby in the womb, telling it why she was going to kill it."

Acknowledging abortion prevention is non-existent, this young and very busy mother who so generously gives of her truly Christian compassion. urges the training of skilled professionals including at the spiritual level, to help these aborted women "in their agony, knowing their grief cannot be cured by pills."

She also asks Catholics to be more aware, to have more compassion for aborted women in their "intense pain" and would like them to help pregnant women in crisis.

"There is so much more to be done for them.

"Because with the pressure of outside coercion into having an abortion. they are made to feel socially unacceptable..and left alone to struggle."

You hear women screamingIwant my baby back! Iwant my baby back!'

The Record, September 26 1996 Page 8

Sister of Mercy 150 years of service

Colour, music, celebration!

Some of the Mercy Sisters gathered in sisterhood and pride at the Entertainment Centre for the thanksgiving Mass last Sunday, above left, and, right clockwise, Mrs Maureen Colgan giving the introduction with some of the 46 assisting priests in the background; WA wildflower banners painted by art students at Mercy secondary schools; 200 Mercy Sisters singing the suscipe at the end of Mass to the people and then receiving a standing ovation; Bishop Healy giving the homily; Archbishop Hickey, third left, and the bevy of WA bishops present.

Catherine McAuley's profession ring a link to the past

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard

W

ith great excitement mounting for the 150 Years celebration Mass of thanksgiving, held last Sunday, Sisters of Mercy Congregational Leader of the Perth congregation, Sr Leonie O'Brien paused in the hectic preparations to admire foundress Catherine McAuley's 1831 profession ring.

The ring - "strictly on loan!"

Joked Sr Leonie - was brought out for the Mass by the Irish Sisters' Superior, Sr Dervilla Byrne, showing the link between the two continents.

Another gift (this one to keep) from the Irish Sisters was a Celtic Cross.

Known as the Cross of Muiredach it is considered to be the finest cross of its type in Ireland.

The cross originates at Monasterboice, a monastery in County Louth. and was named

after Abbot Muiredach. the son of Domnall who died in 922 AD. This famous cross, made circa 922 AD, has an amazing amount of intricate carved detail depicting hermit saints, the last judgement. the Epiphany, Moses smiting the rock. David and Goliath. Adam and Eve. Cain and Abel, and other symbols at the base.

Mercy Sisters from Leeds in England arranged for a surprise Papal Blessing gift for the Western Australian Mercies.

The Sisters were enthusiastically welcoming the chance to celebrate their past and present heritage with the people they've worked with down the years. said Sr Leonie, commending the sisters who'd gone before.

"Because if they were not faithful to their call, we would not be here today," she said.

Sr Leonie described how the people had always supported the

sisters, right from the time of their early hardships when they were given food. "and the incredible years when a car was not part of a convent!"

She recalled how people in the parishes with cars were constantly called upon to pick up sisters for appointments and other places, "which is something we shall be forever grateful for."

This partnership with the people was part of Catherine McAuley's vision. said Sr Leonie, and she spoke with gratitude of the "magnificent support and advice from people in our WA community who have helped us on finance and advisory boards for various institutions, or in education, health and welfare."

Referring to the Mercy Sisters of today. Sr Leonie said there were 22.000 Mercies worldwide with Just over 2,200 in Australia.

In WA they worked in their own Mercy institutions such as Mer-

Sr Joan Smith, left, with the papal blessing, congregational leader, Sr Leonie O'Brien with Catherine McAuley's ring, and Sr Eileen McVtttie with the Celtic Crass.

Photo: Winn AllanIness-ilewarT1

cedes. Santa Maria College, the Catherine McAuley Centre. the Mercy Hospital. Mt Lawley, as well as in numerous other endeavours such as being prin-

cipals of schools, pastoral care. chaplaincy, with the Kimberley Aboriginal people. and with refugees in Thailand, Malaysia and Nepal.

The Record, September 26 1996 Page 9

-

More WA news

Celebrations for Southern Cross A year of planning for centenary celebrations was brought to fruition on the feast of Our Lady's Birthday, Sunday 8 September, in the Parish of Our Lady of Montserrat, Southern Cross.

Many had returned for the occasion.

During Mass that evening, the Sacrament of Confirmation was conferred on thirteen young parishioners and two adults by Archbishop Hickey.

A concelebrated Centenary Mass of Thanksgiving, which symbolised in places those who have contributed to the parish, was concelebrated on the Sunday morning.

Representatives of the Presentation Sisters, the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and the Benedictines participated.

A special commentary, in the form of a ceremonial handing of the Book of Gospels down the centre aisle of the Church, reflected their contributions to the parish of Montserrat.

A hymn to Our Lady, composed

by Dom Mareno OSB was also sung during Communion as a tribute to the work of the Benedictine hithers.

Meanwhile. the Offertory, prouossion W parishioners present

Above: Archbishop Hickey receives an icon depicting the Annunciation, a gilt to the parish from the Southern Cross-Westonia Anglican Church, and, right the Archbishop with clergy from the Merredin zone who also attended the centenary celebrations.

symbols representing aspects ot parish life - wool, wheat, gold and an old chasuble which had been lovingly restored for the occasion.

Archbishop Hickey addressed parish concern at the shortage of

priests and its impact on parishes within the Archdiocese, with a reminder to all to pray for vocations within the families of Southern Cross. Mass concluded with the blessing of a commemorative

plaque and the presentation to the Church, of a beautiful icon painting depicting The Annunciation, a gift from the Anglican Community of Southern CrossWestonia. Later that afternoon,

Archbishop Hickey and the current parish priest, Fr Robert Carilk), journeyed to Westonia to celebrate Mass and confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on parishioners.

Public welcome at Evening Prayer to mark week-long seminary visit Members of the public will be welcome at an Evening Prayer service marking the beginning of a week-long visit to Perth's two seminaries by apostolic visitor, auxiliary bishop Geoffrey Robinson of Sydney. Father Paul Fogarty said this week.

The beginning of the visit would be marked by Evening Prayer at Good Shepherd Church in Lockridge at 730pm on Thesday 1 October, Father Fogarty, rector of St Charles seminary in Guildford. added.

"It will he open to the public and it would be good to see people there," he said.

Staff and students at Perth's St Charles and Redemptoris Mater seminaries will be visited by Bishop Robinson and a team of specialists in the formation of priests next week as part of a national apostolic visitation of seminaries around Australia over the next 12 months.

On the team with Bishop Robinson will be Father John Reilly SJ, the Canberra-based director of

the National Centre for the Continuing Education of Priests; Fr Doug Smith MSC from Sydney and Sister Evelyn Woodward, a psychologist and Black Josephite, also from Sydney.

Father Paul Fogarty told The Record the visit was designed to help seminaries concentrate better on their goals.

"It will assist seminaries to reflect on their mission and how best to achieve their mission which is the formation of priests - and will be helping us to look at

THE GOSPEL MEETS THE 90's Confrontation or Conversation?

our strengths and weaknesses," he said.

St Charles would he the first seminary in Australia to be visited by the team, he added.

After visitations to Australia's seminaries Bishop Robinson would report back to the Bishops' Conference and to Rome, he said.

Bishop Robinson and the team would meet individually and collectively with seminarians, staff. the College of Theology at Notre Dame University and the Centre for Seminary Studies, a group of

priests acting under the chairmanship of Bishop Healy which liaises with NDA over the academic formation of students in the seminary, he said.

St Charles currently has 8 students, 5 of whom are in their preseminary year. Another student for the archdiocese is based at St Paul's late-vocations seminary in Sydney and another five are studying in Rome.

Approximately 30 students are based at the Redemptoris Mater missionary seminary in Morley.

Priest returns to preach at Anglican cathedral

Fr Tom Ryan S.M. will present this lecture series for

Teachers, Parents, Pastoral Carers and interested individuals where:

The University of Notre Dame Australia 19 Mouat Street, Fremantle when:

5 Days intensive: 7-11 October, 9.30am - 1pm + 6 weeks, Tuesday evenings 4.30pm - 8pm = Total: 40 his This program can be taken for audit or for credit

Cost: For Audit: $250

For Credit: $690**

* *CANDIDATES WISHING TO TAKE THE UNIT FOR CREDIT ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE A UNIVERSITY APPUCATION FORM.

R EGISTRATION FORM: Name:

Phone:

Address: Post code • IWISH TO APPLY FOR: Audit j and enclose payment of $250 Crediti:11 and request a University application form Return to: The Registrar's Office The University of Notre Dame Australia PO Box 1225, Fremantle WA 6160 Telephone: (09) 239 5555 Facsimile: (09) 239 5544 Email: awheeler@nd.cdu.au The Record, September 26 1996 Page 10

Reverend Phyllis Genge, left, Cathedral Chaplain; Reverend Dr John Shepherd, Dean of St George's; Reverend Peter Kurti, Precentor and Fr Kevin Ong. Father Kevin Long, chairman of the Anglicans this century, Fr Long said.

Catholic Ecumenical Affairs com- Pope John Paul II marked the mittee, has returned to St George's anniversary of the talks by sending Anglican cathedral in Perth to a letter to a gathering of church reppreach at the Solemn Eucharist. resentatives at Malines, he said.

Father Long's visit was in response Fr Long told the congregation at St to an invitation from Dr John Shep- George's cathedral that the Pope's herd, Dean of the Cathedral. letter noted the Malines ConversaDuring his homily Fr Kevin reflect- tions were "marked by a sincere ed on the significance of the 75th desire for reconciliation and were Anniversary of the Anglican- conducted in a spirit of genuine Catholic Conversations held at humility, shared conversion to the Malines in Belgium between 1921 Gospel, love for the truth and fraterand 1925. nal charity."

These meetings marked the first These principles are reflected in tentative beginnings of theological John Paul s Encyclical Letter Ut dialogue between Catholics and Unum Sint, Fr Long said

:AroundIATeh .6effers lo Parishioners thanked Ultimate question answers over penance survey T

C011YOr

A

questionnaire concerning the Sacrament of Penance was distributed recently in many parishes on behalf of the Council of Priests.

Some 2,800 replies have been received and are now in the process of being collated so that a report may be made to the Council of Priests.

We would like to thank those many people who gave careful thought to this survey and whose honest appraisal of what the Sacrament of Penance is for them should be of great help to Priests in their ministry of forgiveness and, we hope, to the Church in trying to address the difficulties and problems many people experience with the Sacrament.

Fr Maurice Toop Highgate

Direct quote

B

We humans love what we know, what we are comfortable with. It's a bit frightening for part of us to die, in order to become something new.

Fr Richard Doyle Warnbro

Women's survey

I

t is important that women who share the views of E Craze, (The Record, 9 September), "Why survey women?" ensure that their voices are heard by the Australian Bishops Conference.

The Conference should be made aware that there are many Catholic women who are quite comfortable with their role in the Church.

They feel neither alienated, discriminated against nor marginalised.

On the contrary, there is the feeling that the Church acknowledges and affirms women and provides a bulwark against a society where women are often demeaned and their role as wife and mother is often derided.

Gillian Gonzalez Willetton

% claiming that Abraham Linamn was justifying war in his House Divided speech (The Record. 12 September) Hugh Ryan seems to have misunderstood what Lincoln was saying.

In that speech. Lincoln said: 'A House Divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this governam writing in support of the ment cannot endure permanently Bishops' Project on the Particihalf slave and half free. pation of Women in the Church.

"I do not expect the Union to be dissolved - I do not expect the house and in response to Florence Craze. to fall • but I do expect it will cease The Record 12 September.

I am pleased to hear that Mrs to be divided. it will become all one thing, or all Craze is happy with her position in the other. Either the opponents of the Church and with her life. It is slavery will arrest the further spread always good to affirm the positives of it. and place it where the public In any situation.

However, it is time to acknowledge mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; that some members of the Catholic or its advocates will push it forward community, both women and men, till it should become alike lawful in experience great difficulty and are all the States, old as well as new, In a lot of pain over this issue.

We do not know how many North as well as South."

Lincoln's speech was made in Catholics are as content as Mrs Springfield on 17 June 1858. The Craze, nor how many are willing to Civil War did not commence until express their concerns.

It would be nice to know what the shots were fired at Fort Sumter on full range of opinions and experi12 April 1861. ences really is.

Rob O'Connor The Bishops' project is an attempt Bar Chambers to be pastorally responsible to hear Allendale Square, Perth the concerns of their flock.

It at least allows the Church the opportunity to explore the various n listening to Aussie rules foot- experiences of its people.

I am sure that the Bishops would hall commentators I'm amazed how much we Catholics have in welcome a submission by Mrs Craze, along with those who wish to common with that game.

Both footballers and Catholics go express other views.

Hopefully, as a result of this proaway on camps and retreats and draw up mission statements to put ject. we as the Church will be able to examine options within the In clear focus what our gaols are.

Church for a fuller participation of We both use the same words like commitment, sacrifice, doing the those women who desire it. I for one would welcome more hard things. and working as a team accessible roles for women, as an and not as a mob of individuals.

When we come to this tricky topic expression of faith, and the opporof team mergers, the similarity con- tunity for everyone to explore their God given ministry for the benefit of tinues.

Malcolm Blight was saying the the whole body of the Church. other week that when Fitzroy was Elizabeth Conti first thinking about merging with Waterford.

Brisbane he was all for it. But when the talk turned around to the possibility of Fitzroy merging with North ifty years ago The Record was Melbourne it was a different story. a vehicle of communication North Melbourne was one of his between Catholics and their old clubs. He has memories and associations that he didn't want to parishes. It was solidly supported see die. The thought stirred his emo- and widely read. Its correspondence columns were a powerful means of tions.

Ills the same with us and parish expression.

Iand others used it to promote the mergers. A fairly detached committee can think of many good reasons cause of Educational Justice for why this or that parish should merge Catholics in their schools.

The outcome and success is into a bigger and more vital parish.

But when the committee consults evinced by the healthy state of the those directly affected by the merg- Catholic school system today.

Thus my advice across a wide gener, it's a different story.

As with the football mergers, emo- eration gap is to support and use tion begin to run high. Parishioners our own Catholic Press to influence who haven't attended a parish meet- society ing for years come along in big num- Paul Donnelly bers. God only knows what is best. Claremont.

Contributions urged

I

Football and parish

I

Justice instrument

F

he space allowed will not permit anything but a brief reply to the all embracing nature of Marie J O'Leary's letter of 22 August with her basic questions about what one must do to reach Eternal Life.

In my opinion a "good Christian " is a person who follows the teaching of Jesus Christ and endeavours to put it into practice in his or her own way of life.

Jesus said' If you wish to be one of my disciples you must take up your cross daily and follow me" and again if you love me, keep my commandments".

To follow Jesus challenges us to be loving people, caring, compassionate, understanding, forgiving, non-judgemental and everything else that love embraces.

Jesus is the second person of the Blessed Thnity who, by the power of the Holy Spirit took flesh of the Virgin Mary and became man.

He was sent to us by his Father in heaven to live amongst us as one of ourselves "like us in all things but sin".

His purpose was to reveal his Father to us in a very personal way by his own life and teaching. In Jesus of Nazareth. God became human.

During his short life on earth teaching and healing, he gathered to himself a small group of men (apostles) to whom he taught everything that the Father asked of him.

Before He ascended into heaven He commissioned them to take his teaching to the whole world.

He placed Peter at their head. This little group was to be his teaching authority, his Church.

He promised them that he would send his Holy Spirit to be with them until the end of time.

He obviously meant them to pass on their teaching authority to their successors who are our bishops with the Pope as their leader and successor to Peter.

The fact that Christ is in his Church and that it embraces all peoples and nations and will last to the end of time, makes the Church catholic, and its members Catholics.

From the foregoing it follows that a good Catholic is a person who tries his or her best to live according to the teaching of Christ which has been faithfully passed on to them by the holy Catholic Church.

Likewise it follows that if a person is not a good Christian he or she could not be a good Catholic Every Christian is commissioned to pass on the good news of Christ especially by their example and way of life.

Any person who tries in a heartfelt way to live their life in accordance with Christ's teaching are assured of eternal salvation.

Jesus abounds in mercy and his love for us is unconditional.

He is lovingly aware of our

human frailty and will be there to pick us up every time we stumble; if only we will put out our hand.

When we die he will not quiz us on our areas of confusion but he will ask us "How much have you loved"?.

C.K.Chesterton once said "For us there is only the trying, what happens after that is not our business".

Having said all that I am equally confident that in some way unknown to us the spirit of Jesus lives in the heart of all humankind and that all the graces won for us

by His life, death and resurrection are in some mysterious way available to all who seek God with a pure heart: whoever they see Him to be.

George Collopy Rossmoyne

A

nswers to to the question (The Record, 22 Nugust) "What must I do to reach Eternal Lifer Question I. What is a good Catholic?

Answer One who follows the teachings of the Catholic Church.

2. What is a good Christian?

A. One who practises Charity, at home and abroad.

3. Can one be a good Catholic if one is not also a good Christian?

A. No. 4. What must I do to reach Eternal "Life"?

A. Be faithful to the Catholic Church.

William Rao Stirling

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International News

Bishop sells story to tabloid

By Paulinus Barnes MANCHESTER, England (CNS) - As priests across Britain prepared homilies in light of Scottish Bishop Roderick Wright's admitted affairs with women, it emerged that he had sold his story to a Sunday tabloid.

The London-based News of the World, with weekly sales across Britain in excess of 4.5 million, specialises in tales of adulterous soap actors and pop stars and salacious stories of love triangles itnd mistresses.

The paper's front-page headline on September 22 said, "Runaway Bishop Confesses All "lb News of The World."

Catholic officials expressed surprise at the article.

In a radio interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation on September 22. Archbishop Keith O'Brien of St Andrews and Edinburgh said. "There is deep regret that he (Bishop Wright) went to the media, especially with the offer of money from a tabloid newspaper" He added. -This isn't the end of the world for the Catholic Church

Bishop Roderick Wright

because one man has gone wrong."

In a September 21 statement.

Cardinal Thomas Winning of Glasgow. Scotland. and Archbishop O'Brien called the move "deplorable."

Archbishop O'Brien has assumed responsibility for the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles until a successor to Bishop Wright is

appointed. In a pastoral letter that the bishop was also the father read in churches on September of a 15-year-old son by another 21 and September 22, Archbish- woman. op O'Brien called on Catholics to The next day senior members of begin a "fresh chapter." the Scottish hierarchy denounced "Our Church has been sad- Bishop Wright for betraying them. dened by the events of the last During an inquiry three years few days - and in particular you, ago he was said to have categorithe Church in Argyll and the Isles, cally denied rumours about his are experiencing understandable personal life. feelings of hurt, loss and abanBishop Wright and divorcee donment.

Kathleen MacPhee were tracked "Your commitment to the by News of the World to a small Catholic faith is centuries old and house in Kendal, in northern Enghighly prized.I am confident that land. you will now call on your The bishop told the paper resources and on all your courage 'There has been no sexual relato begin a fresh chapter in the his- tionship between us. Kathleen tory of the Church in these parts," insisted on that. We have not even the pastoral letter said. shared the same bed or slept For more than a week the together." unfolding story of Bishop Wright Bishop Wright said his feelings dominated the British media. for MacPhee developed when she The first reports. on September was battling cervical cancer.

14. centred on his disappearance -I was thinking of Kathleen all a few days earlier. the time. She was ill but this was The following day the missing more than just a genuine concern. bishop was linked by press It was on my mind and my conreports to a 41-year-old divorced science andIprayed for guidance. mother of three.

I prayed an awful lot."

Then came the news that he had The bishop said the relationship asked the Pope to relieve him of with Joanna Whibley, which led his duties. to the birth of their son. Kevin,

By September 19 it had emerged was totally different.

Prisoners executed despite plea from the Pope GRANIA CANADA. Guatemala (CNS) - Despite a papal plea for pardon, two men charged with the rape and murder of a 4-yearold girl were executed by a firing squad at dawn on September 13.

Blindfolded with green, polkadot scarves, farm workers Pedm Castillo Mendoza. 39. and Roberto Giron. 48, were tied with thin ropes to wooden stakes mounted on a grassy knoll near the main prison facility, 31 miles south of the capital, Guatemala City.

As roosters on nearby farms began to announce the dawn, ludge Gustavo Gaitan Lam read a court order sentencing both men to death by firing squad.

Despite a plea from Pope John Paul II that the condemned men's lives be spared. repeated appeals from local Catholic authorities and entreaties from the InterAmerican Commission of Human Rights. Guatemalan courts refused to reverse the sentence.

Twenty-one gunshots rang out, cutting through the humid, tropical air.

Castillo and Giron lurched forward and twisted for minutes after the first execution attempt but did not die. Moments later.

pm( t Iiings or issue a pardon.

Public clamour to execute the men peaked in September when defence lawyers repeatedly tried to challenge and block the court's decision to apply capital punishment.

Most Guatemalans blame government authorities for escalating crime and violence.

Between January and June, according to human rights groups. 35 alleged criminals were lynched and in several cases set afire by angry mobs because the people believed authorities would fail to punish offenders.

Meanwhile, as officials move to bring back the death penalty in Pedro Castillo Mendoza, left, and Roberto Giron are executed by firing squad nearby El Salvador. Archbishop on September 13 in Guatemala.

Ptido CNSReuters Fernando Saenz Lacalle of San Gaitan ordered a prison warden Castillo told journalists,"! am con- Salvador has said that it could he to shoot both men in the head fident that God will touch the employed in some cases. because the four live rounds of president's heart, and he will parThe archbishop said on Sepammunition failed to kill the pris- don us from capital punishment tember 15 that "it could be right oners outright. because we are innocent." and legal for the state to use it (the Castillo and Giron earlier told Orders to execute Castillo and death penalty) in extraordinarily journalists they did not rape or Giron had been delayed by legal necessary cases when it is the last hack 4-year-old Sonia Marisol action but a late court decision on possibility available."

Alvarez to death on April 18, 1993. September 12 sealed their fate.

But he added. "all other means Forensic doctors matched body President Alvaro Arzu, who must be sought so as not to have hair and semen taken from the pledged to crack down on the to resort to this extreme measure." dead girl's body with samples nation's soaring crime rate, Guatemala peace accord from both of the accused. But refused to intervene in judicial - Page 14

East Timor atrocities weren't policy: ambassador NEW YORK (CNS) - Indonesia's Because of the UN position, the ambassador to the United East Timor question is taken up Nations acknowledged in an each year by the UN decolonisainterview that Indonesian forces tion committee, and that becomes had committed some abuses an occasion for a large number of against the people of East Timor, nongovernmental organisations but said such acts went against and other critics to publicise allegovernment policy and the per- gations, often harsh. regarding petrators had been brought to jus- Indonesia's behaviour. tice.

Wisnumurti said Indonesia did Ambassador Nugroho Wisnu- not think the committee should murti said Indonesia was willing continue to deal with East Timor, to accept some compromise set- but should leave the dispute to tlement of the East Timor dispute. talks that the foreign ministers of But he said the question of East Indonesia and Portugal have Timor's integration as a part of under the auspices of UN SecreIndonesia had been settled, and tary General Boutros Boutroshis government would not allow Ghali. the East Timorese to vote now on Wisnurnurti noted that the UN independence.

General Assembly stopped taking Interviewed at his office near up East Timor as a separate item the UN on September 19, the in 1983, deferring to those talks. ambassador placed much of the The eighth round was held in :)lame for the conflict on the way Geneva lune 2Z and the ninth is Portugal, the colonial power, set for December 21 in New York 'abandoned" East Timor in 1975.

Wisnumurti. a Muslim, told The Record. September 26 1996 Page 12

Catholic News Service it was a some instances of torture and bru"big lie" that Indonesia, a country tality," Wisnumurti said. that is 90 percent Muslim, was But he said it was comparable to hostile to Catholicism, the pre- problems of police brutality in dominant faith in East Timor. many other countries.

And he noted that he had "It is not the policy of the govCatholics, including one from East ernment."

Timor, serving on his staff.

Wisnumurti directly disputed He said he had visited the East several of the common charges.

Timor capital of Dili several times, He said Indonesia conducted a and as recently as this past Feb- family planning program that ruary talked with Bishop Carlos won recognition by the UN, but Filipe Ximenes Belo, who is apos- that the program was voluntary, tolic administrator. and did not include forced steril"He is a very nice person and is isation or pressures on Catholics on friendly terms with Indone- to violate their moral beliefs. sian officials," Wisnumurti said.

He said a common charge that "At the same time, he is under Indonesian forces had killed pressure by those outside who 200.000 East Timorese was a want him to be their champion." "myth" created by "an antiWisnumurti admitted that some Indonesian lobby in London." accusations of human rights vioHe put the number killed at lations came from established 8,000 to 7.000 and said some of organisations such as Amnesty them had died as a result of facInternational. tional fighting, famine or other "I do not deny that there are causes.

And he denied that there were any other mistresses.

Speaking of his son, the bishop said: "I must say I'm sorry for the hurt and neglect I've caused him in his life."

The bishop, whose resignation has been accepted by the Vatican, told News of the World that one day he hoped to marry MacPhee.

"Ihave resigned as a bishop and can no longer practice as a priest.

But Kathleen and I will practice the Catholic faith and we shall go to Church and pray together for forgiveness."

Meanwhile Cardinal George Basil Hume of Westminster said despite its difficulty celibacy was Important to the Church.

"I believe celibacy is the right answer for the Church." the primate of England told The Daily Telegraph in a September 18 Interview distributed by the bishops' Catholic Media Office.

"It brings important value, and In a society which is preoccupied by sex, it serves as a fine witness to love. It is a value we have to preserve," the cardinal told the London daily newspaper.

Cardinal Hume urged compassion for Bishop Wright.

New head for world's Benedictines

Abbot Marcel Rooney

ROME (CNS) - Benedictine abbots from around the world have chosen the leader of Missouri's Conception Abbey as abbot primate of the Benedictine Confederation.

Abbot Marcel Rooney was elected on September 18, two days before his 59th birthday, by 250 abbots who represent almost 9.000 Benedictine monks around the world.

He succeeds another US Benedictine, Abbot Jerome Theisen of St John's Abbey in Collegeville. Minnesota. who died in September 1995.

Abbot Marcel was a professor of sacraments and prior of the St Anselm Benedictine community in Rome, the headquarters of the confederation, until April 1993, when the monks of Conception Abbey elected him abbot.

Benedictine Father Richard Cleary, also a monk of Conception Abbey working at St Anselm's, said Abbot Marcel "was probably the most appreciated professor, the best teacher" at the order's Pontifical Liturgical Institute.

The new abbot primate entered the Benedictines at Conception Abbey in 1957 and professed his religious vows a year later.

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1963 and holds a doctorate on church architecture from St Anselm's.

International News

Large crowds welcome Pope to France

By Lynne Weil TOURS, France (CNS) - Pop. J ohn Paul II worked to bridge French past with the future of Catholicism during his September 19-22 visit to France.

The Pope spoke several times to groups of young people. and at practically every public occasion he referred to French religious roots.

"I come as a pilgrim," he said on arrival. "in order to meet the Catholics of France and to join with them in prayer in those places that are important to the religious history of their country and of Europe itself. In order to strengthen their faith and their Christian life."

He also emphasised the treatment of the poor. the ill and those on the margins of French society. repeatedly reminding his listeners of France's commitment to tolerance and fairness and connecting that commitment to secular and nonsecular activities.

Before the trip. the French were widely reported to he indifferent to the Pope. and several incidents of dissent indicated there might be large protests throughout his stay.

These factors may have served to stimulate others to show their support: people turned out in force at most occasions and were effusive in their enthusiasm.

At an outdoor mass in Reims attended by an estimated 200.000 people on September 21 Pope John Paul urged fidelity to Church teachings by recalling the analogy Jesus drew between his disciples and the salt of the earth.

"You. baptised Christians. you Catholics of France. as a community. you can keep the flavour of the Gospel message, or you can lose it," the Pope said.

Pope John Paul used the same biblical reference to inspire young couples and their children at a September 20 ceremony in Sainte-Anne-d'Auray. near the Brittany coast.

"Like many parents," he said. "you are faced with the question of human and moral education of the young, while all around you awareness of the spiritual grows

selves be impressed by those who reject the demands of our Christian faith or who pour scorn on it."

On September 21 Pope John Paul met with the down and out - AIDS sufferers, former prostitutes and people who have been unemployed for long periods - at a church in Tours dedicated to St Martin, who according to legend shared his cloak with a beggar.

-Like St Martin, we are invited to open our eyes and to recognise In the poor person dying of cold at the gates of the city. in the stranger who knocks at our door, a brother to be welcomed and loved." the Pope said.

-A society is judged on how it treats those afflicted by life and the attitude adopted toward them."

Throughout the trip. the Pope urged the French to buck the A nun holds a cross with the slogan trend of disinterest in the regular One heart" during a Mass celebrat- practice of their faith.

France is 83 percent Catholic. A ed by the Pope in Reims Sept. 22. recent survey by the bishops' conweaker, and many essential val- ference shows that just 15 percent ues are being questioned. such as of French Catholics attend Mass the indissolubility of marriage or each week. respect for life."

At a meeting in Reims with He told parents and children to members of the French bishops' maintain their faith rather than the Pope urged them letting it lose its flavour and to conference. not to be dissuaded by the downmake themselves shining examturn in participation in the ples of Christian principles.

Church.

The previous day. the Pope "Successor of Peter. I come to spoke to a youth gathering in tell you of my confidence in you Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevre in the Vendee region. where tens of and to encourage you." he said.

"With your leadership, may thousands of Catholics were deacons, men and women priests. killed during an uprising against the fledgling revolutionary gov- religious and the faithful laity conernment in the late 18th century. cur to build an edifice of living Many were later declared mar- stones that is, in truth, the Church." tyrs.

Attendance at most of the Pope's -You are the heirs of men and women who were courageous public events exceeded projecenough to remain faithful to the tions, while turnout at demonChurch of Jesus Christ at a time strations against the papal visit when its freedom and indepen- was lower than anticipated.

Thousands of buses took people dence were threatened." the Pope to Reims for the Mass on the last told the crowd of about 3.000.

"They did not keep themselves morning of the Pope's trip: across apart from the movements of the town. 1.000 showed up for a shorttime." lived protest against commemoThe Pope looked out over a sea rating the 1.500th anniversary of of teenagers waving flags and the conversion to Catholicism of handkerchiefs, and said, "Coura- Clovis. the Frankish king credited ge! Do not let yourselves be over- with uniting various tribes and come by the indifference spread establishing the basis for modern all around you! Do not let your- France.

Speculation on likely Sister to succeed Mother Teresa CALCUTTA. India (CNS) Mother Teresa's ill health has increased speculation about her possible successor as head of the Missionaries of Charity.

Mother Teresa has declared that she will not be a contender for the post.

She expressed a similar wish before the last election, but agreed to stay on as head of the order after an appeal by Pope John Paul II. Sources who declined to be identified said Missionaries of Charity nuns still want Mother Teresa to head the congregation she founded in 1950 and has led ever since.

The congregation's headquarters confirmed that the chapter and the election of a superior general, originally set for October 7, will take place at year-end or next year. reported UCA News.

Meanwhile, Mother Teresa was under observation at a Calcutta hospital after she fell and suffered head injuries on September 16.

She underwent a CT scan September 17, and a medical bulletin said she suffered no neurological damage or brain abnormality.

However, doctors wanted to keep the 86-year-old nun under observation for two more days to determine the extent of her injuries.

Saint of his youth still inspires ageing pontiff

By Lynne Weil SAINT-LAURENT-SUR-SEVRE, France (CNS) - During his clandestine religious studies at the end of Wold War II. the young Karol Wojtyla - the future Pope John Paul II - took particular inspiration from an 18th-century French missionary.

That man, Louis-Marie Grignon de Montfort, was canonised in 194Z the year after Wojtyla became a priest.

Half a century later. Pope John Paul fulfilled a long-held wish and knelt before the tomb of the saint who had so inspired him (luring his secretive hours of study.

He visited the Basilica of SaintLouis-Marie after an active day and had just delivered a speech to a group of French youth, outdoors, on a cold and rainy day If he was tired or if the dampness discouraged him, it did not show.

Now, kneeling in the warm basilica, he spoke not a word.

Silent, too, were the roughly 700 religious and faithful who had come to share this moment.

After he prayed, Pope John Paul was ushered into a room where he exchanged his cloak for a more formal, embroidered robe and a gold and white striped mitre.

He emerged, ascended to the altar and conducted evening vespers, no longer introspected.

He devoted part of his homily to the saint who had brought him to Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevre, a small town in the midst of an agricultural area in northwestern France.

"From age to age." he said. "the successors of the apostles and countless disciples have worked to fulfil the mission entrusted to them by the Lord. In this region St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort was one of the Lord's most remarkable disciples. I am happy to begin my pilgrimage on French soil under the patronage of this outstanding saint."

It was the last public event on the first day of the pope's September 19-22 trip to France.

The day before, he had told an audience at the Vatican that he was happy to be visiting -this France that I love."

Some Parisians protest

Demonstrators march through the streets of Paris protesting Pope John Paul ll's visit to France on September 22.

REIMS. France (CNS) Although media predicted widespread protests during Pope John Paul ll's September 19-22 visit to France. turnout at demonstrations against the papal visit was lower than anticipated.

In Reims. about 1,000 people showed up for a short protest against the commemoration of the 1.500th anniversary of the conversion to Catholicism of Clovis, the Frankish king credited with uniting various tribes and establishing the basis for modern France.

About 200.000 people attended

the papal commemoration acros.s town the same day. September 22 Meanwhile. Paris was the scene of an afternoon demonstration of an estimated 5.000 people from a variety of groups objecting to the pope's views on birth control. homosexuality and other issues.

Smaller rallies were organised at other spots throughout the trip.

There was no incident on September 19 when the pope knelt to pray at the tomb of St. Louis-Marie Grignon de Montfort. where two weeks earlier an undetonated bomb and anti-pope graffiti had been discovered.

Victory in US vote on abortion Bill WASHINGIUN (CNS) - Bishops and other pro-lifers praised the House vote to override President Clinton's veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act and called on the Senate to follow the House example.

"I am very pleased," said a statement from Cardinal Anthony Bervilacqua of Philadelphia.

"This vote is a significant step toward replacing our culture of death with one which values life."

He expressed "my sincere appreciation to the legislators who supported the override effort" and urged senators "to follow the lead of their colleagues in the House and the will of the people and vote to ban this procedure which is so close to

infanticide." "I congratulate the House of Representatives for its moral and civic leadership today by voting to overturn President Clinton's veto." said a statement from Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston. chairman of the US bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities.

Meanwhile the Food and Drug Administration's tentative approval of the RU-486 abortion pill on September 18 drew denunciations from abortion opponents for its fast-track review -This is a sad occasion for American women when the agency they trust to screen drugs acts on the administration's directive to put approval of RU-486 on a fast track," said a statement from Gail

Quinn. director of the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the Catholic Bishops Conference.

-This track is one reserved for new drugs that are needed in lifethreatening situations, such as a drug that might cure AIDS," he said.

Catholics who attend church weekly are more likely than those who attend church less frequently to vote for candidates who oppose abortion. according to ,i national survey re;eased by the Catholic Campaign for America Results of the survey by the Mrrance Group found that 55 per cent of weekly Catholic churchgoers said they were more likelx to vote for a candidate who opposed abortion.

The Record, September 26 1996 Page 13

F International News

In Brief Military alliances CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) - A peace guaranteed by permanent military alliances will not give people the fullness of security they seek, Pope John Paul II said.

"What is required is genuine solidarity," he told participants on September 17 in a course sponsored by the Centre for Higher Studies of Defence and the Western European Union, a joint defence initiative.

In a later meeting with International Atomic Energy agency members, a Vatican representative also called for tough international safety measures for nuclear power plants and nuclear waste management facilitIes.

Schools to close CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) - About one-quarter of the Catholic schools in the South African province of Gauteng are in danger of closing after a decrease in Government subsidies.

About 15 schools - all in disadvantaged black areas - vili have to close in the next two years unless a solution is found soon, said Marist Brother Michael Burke. a member of Gauteng's Catholic Education Negotiating Team.

Riverboat vote TOLEDO. Ohio (CNS) - Passage of a state constitutional amendment allowing riverboat gambling casinos in Ohio 'would not be in the best moral, social, and economic interest of the citizens of our state." Ohio's Catholic bishops said in a statement issued on September 16.

The bishops did not directly condemn riverboat gambling. but urged voters to consider the issue from economic and ethical perspectives.

Food document VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The Vatican will publish a major document on hunger in time for a UN-sponsored World Food Summit planned for midNovember in Rome.

Vatican officials said on September 20 that the lengthy document will he unveiled in late October.

Sources said it proposes moral arguments for a more just and equitable world food market, while urging greater charity and sharing by the world's Christians.

'Stop the killing' GITEGA, Burundi (CNS) Representing Pope John Paul II at a Mass for slain archbishop Ruhuna of Gitega, Cardinal Jozef Tomko Stop has told the people of Burundi to stop the massacres.

Cardinal Tomko, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, was presiding in the Pope's name at the September 17 service in the Gitega cathedral.

Burundians must have the common sense to reject hatred and power-seekers who try to convince them that ethnic diversity is something which divides, he said.

Ecumenis

By Patricia Lefevere GENEVA (CNS) - The ecumenical movement is at a crossroads requiring dialogues to "be lifted to a new level," said the Reverend Konrad Raiser, general secretary of the World Council of Churches.

However, the Catholic Church seems to be backing away from ecumenical opportunities and is reaffirming its uniqueness, he told CNS. In an effort to lift interchurch cooperation to a new level. Reverend Raiser, a German Lutheran, earlier this year proposed a universal church council, to begin in the year 2000, aimed at resolving issues dividing Christendom.

Reverend Raiser has invited all of the Christian churches to begin what he termed "a binding, conciliar process" to prepare for such a gathering.

Vatican officials have been Calltious about the proposal.

The World Council of Churches, founded in 1948, is a fellowship of 330 Protestant and Orthodox churches with some 400 million members in more than 100 nations.

While the Catholic Church has never joined the council, it is a full member of its Faith and Order Commission, where theologians from various Christian traditions meet regularly on issues affecting church unity.

The Catholic Church also accounts for half the theologians on the joint Working Group.

During an interview in his office at WCC headquarters on September 14, Reverend Raiser said he took his idea for a universal church council from a recent ini-

Pope John Paul!! tiative among Orthodox churches to invoke a "great Holy Synod" of all the Orthodox family before the end of the century.

The proposed council's agenda would probably feature questions that have already been raised in the bilateral talks, but about which there has been no universal Christian agreement.

Chief among them might be the celebration of the Eucharist and confession of one faith, papal primacy, apostolic succession and sacramental issues.

Resolution of these questions "needs to grow out of a c.onversalion between all Christian communities," Reverend Raiser said, not simply out of bilateral accords, which other churches are then "invited to buy into."

In his 1994 apostolic letter, "Terti Millennio Adveniente." Pope John Paul II called for ecumenical Initiatives that would leave the churches "if not completely united, at least much closer to overcoming the divisions of the second millennium."

Last year the Pope issued the

'slowing' Invitation to other churches to help him formulate a way in which papal primacy could be exercised in a manner suitable to all.

Reverend Raiser noted that the "discovery of the ecumenical movement by the Catholic Church during Vatican II," even though the movement was already more than a half-century old, "produced major hope of a breakthrough."

But, he added, "since then the Roman Catholic Church has unfortunately moved back rapidly from that stance that was at the origin of this new ecumenical opening in the late '60s."

However, "despite colleagues in the Vatican with much imagination, persistent commitment and persuasion," Reverend Raiser said that the range of ecumenical cooperation and communication has narrowed.

He blamed this on "the reaffirmation of the uniqueness of the Roman Catholic Church as a world church incompatible with any other church structure."

Where Reverend Raiser expects progress is over the proposed bilateral agreement on justification between Rome and the Lutheran World Federation.

Its signing would mark the first time "since Ti•ent that the Roman Catholic Church enters into a formal doctrinal agreement with a church with which it has been separated for centuries."

Reverend Raiser indicated that he has met several Catholic priests who practice "eucharistic sharing ... eucharistic hospitality is very widely accepted in some areas" with silent approval by many Catholic bishops, he said.

WCC Zimbabwe meeting questioned GENEVA (CNS) - Some delegates to the World Council of Churches Central Committee have expressed concern over plans to celebrate the council's 50th anniversary in Zimbabwe.

A WCC world assembly is scheduled in Harare. Zimbabwe, in September 1998.

The council was invited in 1994 by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and the Zimbabwe

Catholic Bishops' Conference. But several delegates to the meeting expressed fear that the Zimbabwe government's stated opposition to homosexuals could lead to conflict or protests by some of the thousands of Christians expected to attend the two-week religious jubilee.

Father Leonid Kiskovsky of the Orthodox Church in America said he felt the homosexuality issue

could explode" the assembly.

He said the issue might prove to be "a rather limited part of the assembly," but could overtake it depending on how the press reported it.

"It could he very embarrassing to church leaders when they return home if all that was reported (of the assembly). . . . were these volatile and extremely divisive issues," he said.

Evangelical talks ) important NEW YORK (CNS) - The Australian president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity said in a 16 September New York lecture that Catholics and evangelicals in the US were carrying out dialogue of considerable importance.

Cardinal Edward Cassidy said dialogue with evangelicals could not be conducted in the same way it had been with the mainline churches.

Those evangelicals who have taken part in dialogue with Catholics so far "have not normally been representatives of any international body, nor have they always had the support of their communities." he said.

However, he said Catholics and evangelicals were "the two largest Christian communities in the world." and the development of their relationship would he significant for Christian unity.

The cardinal said at the Institute on Religion and Public life the vision of the Church differed from a proposal of the Reverend Konrad Raiser, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, to turn from past differences, and give all energy to working on peace, justice and environmental issues.

A focus on intermediate objectives was valid, he said. But he said the Catholic goal "remains clearly the restoration of full visible unity in faith, ministry and sacramental life."

Meanwhile, Catholic and Southern Baptist theologians and church leaders engaged in what participants called a frank exchange of views on the Bible and faith when they met in Washington from September 12-14.

It was the second meeting of the recently reconstituted Southern Baptist Convention-National Conference of Catholic Bishops Conversation.

'Underground' bishop calls Guatemala peace closer for unity for Chinese Church HONG KONG (CNS) - A clan- He also proposed that a national destinely ordained Catholic bish- Catholic bishops' meeting be held op has circulated a letter urging to discuss the implementation of unification of the "open" and post-Second Vatican Council deci"underground" Churches, but sions. both sides see major obstacles.

No bishops have responded so Bishop Andrew Han jingtao told far, he said. a Catholic source he had sent a Meanwhile, the governmentletter to the bishops in the underapproved bishops' conference in ground and the governmentChina is preparing a system to approved, or open, Churches callImprove Church management in ing for unification.

Bishop Han spoke with the modern Chinese society.

The proposed system is based source on August 15 in Changon the "traditional management chun, capital of Jilin province.

His remarks were reported on of the Church, the spirit of the September 18 by UCA News.

Second Vatican Council and the In a letter dated May 26, Pente- characteristics of the Catholic cost Sunday, Bishop Han urged Church in China," according to all bishops in China not to review the July 30 issue of the bimonthrights and wrongs but to act "to ly, Catholic Church in China. be one flock with one shepherd."

• The funeral of the apostolic Bishop Han said both Churches prefect of Yangzhou, China was should discuss major Church issues, look to the future, and pub- held in Taiwan on August 30, licly announce their unity as loyal where he devoted most of his missionary life.

Catholics and Chinese citizens.

Msgr. Eugene Fahy, who would He said the Churches should not participate in the Chinese have turned 85 the next day, was Catholic Patriotic Association, the a Jesuit who served in China and Government-controlled Church. Taiwan for the past 55 years.

The Record, September 26 1996 Page 14

Government officials and rebel representatives embrace at the signing of the first of three Guatemalan peace accords on September 19 vsR.(4.1 GUATEMALA CITY (CNS) Church authorities commended government and rebel representatives for signing an agreement that brings Guatemala a step closer to ending the last and longest 36 years long - war in Central America.

"This accord is extremely important, possibly the most important that has been signed yet, because it represents moving from a structured military vision to a civilian one," said Carlos Aldana of the archdiocesan information office. l'he accord, signed in Mexico's

Foreign Ministry on September 19, agrees to reduce Guatemala's 46,000-strong army by 33 percent, to eliminate military counterinsurgency intelligence units and to increase civilian power.

Mexico has been host to peace negotiations for more than three years and has supported some 45.000 Guatemalan exiles living there who fled from government troops some 15 years ago.

"The accord will act as a lever to enable civilian society to govern without military interference," Aldana said.

Official Engagements

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SEPTEMBER 27 40th Anniversary Parish of Kwinana - Bishop Healy Remembrance Day - Deaths in Custody. Fremantle - Rev Fr B Tiernan 28/29 Leonora Centenary - Archbishop Hickey Commissioning Mass for members 29 of Catholic Social Justice Commission WA. St Mary's Cathedral Bishop Healy Procession. San Michele Archangelo Association. Highgate - Bishop Healy Confirmation, Pickering Brook Mgr M Keating Ecumenical Service. Junior School Heads Association of Australia National Conference. Fremantle -

Archdiocesan Panorama

out on 30 September - please advise your friends. All retreats at God's farm will continue a s planned. Contact Betty Peaker. GracewoodGod's Farm. Box 24 P.O. Cowaramup, 6284.

Phone/Fax (097) 556 212.

SPRING IN THE VALLEY MASS 1996

St Michael's Church, Herne Hill . located cenM ASS IN GERMAN Every first Sunday of every month. at St Francis' Church, Windsor St, East Perth, at 11am. celebrations afterwards. ' Octoberf est Enquiries 274 6959.

PARISH MUSIC EVENING Br Michael Herry will be presenting a 2 hour session which promises to be a most enjoyable and productive evening, as well as a deep experience of faith. Wednesday 2 October, 7.30 to 9.30 pm at Sts John & Paul Church, 5 Ingham Court, Willetton.

For further information and registration please c ontact Kylie, Archdiocesan Liturgy Office, phone (09) 221 1548.

PERPETUAL ADORATION CHAPEL 4TH ANNIVERSARY The Perpetual Adoration chapel beside St Brigid's Church, Midland, has just passed its forth year of loving devotion to Jesus. In recognition of this anniversary, organisers f rom the Midland and Greenmount parishes are holding a Holy Hour on Sunday 6 October at 2:30 pm at St Brigid's, followed by afternoon tea. You are invited to attend this special occasion. Enquiries: Gail 274 4887, Mary 250 3389 or Shellda 294 2340.

TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS A Traditional sung Latin Mass will be celebrated on the feast of The Holy Rosary at St John's Pro Cathedral, Victoria Ave, Perth on Monday 7 October at 7:30 pm. Mass is celebrated here every Sunday at 11:15 am and at Corpus Christi Parish Church. Evershed St. Myaree at 11:00 am. All welcome. Enq: 457 5860.

DIVINE MERCY St Mary's Cathedral, Victoria Square on Sunday 6 October at 1.30 pm. Programme: Rosary, Divine Mercy prayers, and Benediction. Sermon

by Fr Marcelinus: "Our Lady". Film (Fr M J Fox): "Fatima". For information: Adam 448 0002 or John 457 7771.

SUSAN DAILY, IBVM RELIGIOUS ART WORKSHOP This workshop will introduce you to the art of Susan Daily. who is working towards developing genuine Australian religious art.

Susan is an experienced teacher and artist, currently Artist-in-Residence at Aquinas Academy,

Sydney.

The workshop is limited to 20 participants, 1 per parish. Sunday 13 October, St Jerome's Parish hall, 24 Troode St, Munster, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.

Cost S10.

For further information and registration please contact Kylie, Archdiocesan Liturgy Office. phone (09) 221 1548.

BROTHER ANDREW PERTH WORKSHOPS CANCELLED Perth Workshops at Infant Jesus Parish, Morley. have been CANCELLED as Brother Andrew flies

trally in the Valley along Great Northern Highway will, for the second year. give the opportunity to parishioners/visitors to celebrate Sunday Mass prior to visiting Wineries and other Valley attractions during the Spring in the Valley Festival over the weekend 12 - 13 October.

Open air Mass under marquee shelter commences on Sunday at 9.00am, the liturgy reflecting Spring in the Valley themes. Mass hymns w ill be accompanied by a quality string quartet.

Morning tea will be served afterwards with musical entertainment provided by the string quartet. Visitors are most welcome.

COUNTRY DAY OF REFLECTION The next country day of reflection will be held at Sacred Heart Church, Goomalling, on Monday 11 November, commencing at 9:30 am, with R osary/Cenacle. concluding 2:00 pm with Holy Mass.

In union with the Holy Family of Jesus. Mary and Joseph, families are invited to take part in this

day of prayer in preparation for the Birth of Jesus. Praying for unity in families and that all families will focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Contact Carmel: (096) 291 044.

OUR LADY OF LOURDES LESMURDIE INTERNATIONAL 21ST DINNER Our Lady of Lourdes, Lesmurdie are celebrating the 21st Anniversary of the "new" Church with an international dinner on Saturday 21 October at 7 pm in the Parish Hall. Tickets are S5 per head (16 & over). We would like to invite all exparishioners who would like to catch up with old friends. For bookings and information please contract Mrs Leigh May (Parish Secretary) 291 6282.

FATIMA PRIEST Fr Robert J Fox. founder and Spiritual Director of the Fatima Family Apostolate. and editor of its "Immaculate Heart Messenger" magazine will be in Perth on Thurs 17 October. He will speak at 7.30 pm in James Nestor Hall. Catholic Education Centre, Ruislip St, Leederville. He will also speak at Divine Mercy College Surrey Rd. Rivervale at 1.30 pm and celebrate Mass there afterwards. The Fatima Family Apostolate is endorsed by the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family. Enquiries: 337 1970.

GUILD OF ST STEPHEN - 1997 NATIONAL CONFERENCE The 14th National Conference of the Australian Guild of St Stephen for Altar Servers is to be held at Xavier College, Kew, Victoria from Thursday 16 January 1997 until Wednesday 22 January 1997.

The cost will be $200 per participant (includes all accommodation, meals, excursions, and conference costs). Travel costs are to be individually met but discounts are currently being negotiated with major airlines. For further details contact Michael Peters on 388 2863 or 041 115 4383.

The Record; Septenibet 21541996 Page 15

1

P4ris4

i9rtriett

t ,ti es, 11?oc4wtee

A young and growing parish in Woodvale St Luke's, opened in 1995 and, located in the midst of the rapidly expanding northern suburban corridor.

By Frank Pimm

W

uodvale is a suburb in the fast growing northern corridor of Perth. St Luke's is a relatively new parish created in 1987.

Fr Nicholas McSweeney became the first parish Priest and after his sudden death in 1991 Fr Laurence Murphy SDS became our Parish Priest.

The Parish has developed quickly. The most obvious sign of this growth is our new church which was opened on 2nd April 1995.

Our church is very modern. seats 500. and has a large Community Centre included in the complex.

A feature is the highly visible church spire, made of 'Copper Penny'-coloured material, while a bell tower, over the covered portico. holds a bell (donated by the Sisters of St lohn of God).

The end result is a place of worship that we are all proud of.

The attached Community Centre is in constant use by a variety of parish groups.

our local Catholic Primary School and is let out for private functions.

The commercial-style kitchen facilities. and dance floor, make the Centre attractive for weddings and other functions.

Another feature is the cloister area which architecturally balances the opposite side to the Community Centre. These two areas accommodate overflow from the church on special occasions.

An eye-catching aspect of the church is the twelve stained glass windows, each window depicting one of the twelve apostles.

The stained glass used to produce these windows was also donated by the Sisters of St John of God. St Luke's Catholic Primary School and its relationship to the church were important considerations in the planning to blend the school and the church buildings on the site.

Seating 500 worshippers, the church lends Itself to centimplaiki and peaceful reflection.

This was carried out very well by our A recently produced Parish Handbook concentrate on. We are now up to Issue 19 Architects, Oldham Boas Ednie Brown. lists fifty activities that the community can of our bi-monthly Parish magazine The Sr Mary O'Connor RSM has been Princi- be involved in. Many of these activities are Mustard Seed. pal of our school since it opened in 1989. of a "caring" nature.

St Luke's is a young vibrant parish and Prior to the opening of our church, the The parish Pastoral Council recently pro- we look forward to the future with keen school library was used as a Mass Centre duced a "Parish vision", after lengthy con- anticipation. St Luke, Pray for us. for a couple of years. sultation and discussion, which says: Before that the local Woodvale High "We the parish community of St Luke's School gymnasium was the venue for our wish to realise more fully God's Kingdom weekend masses. by deepening our commitment to Jesus A small chapel in the Parish House and his Church We hope to worship togethName of parish: St Luke's Woodvale. catered for weekday masses and baptisms. er in a spirit of Joy and reconciliation. We Address: 29 Duffy Terrace, Woodvale The Parish of St Luke's takes in the sub- pledge to work for Justice, and to care for 6026. urbs of Kingsley, Woodvale and Edgewater. all in our midst. May our parish reflect the Telephone: 409 6291.

Our three weekend masses are well comment about the early Christians: 'See Parish priest: Fr Laurence Murphy attended. We have an active music min- how they love one another'".

SDS. Fundraising and social activities play an istry, with several groups on roster, and a Pastoral assistant Frank Pinun. talented choir to lead the congregation in important role in the community.

We have a dedicated and enthusiastic singing.

Parish secretary Tan Elliott. team who come up with many social activThere is an active Liturgy Committee Office hours: Tuesday & Thursday which works very hard to make our litur- ities that also double as fundraisers.

9.30 am. to 12.30 pm.

Though generally a young parish, we gical celebrations meaningful and spirituMasses: Saturday 6 pm Sunday 8am have a large group of Seniors who meet ally uplifting. and 9.30am.

Part of this group is the Children's Litur- regularly for activities and outings.

Reconciliation: Saturday 4.30pm to A Youth Group has recently commenced gy team which prepares and conducts our 5pm. and is proving very popular. children's "own special liturgy" every SunExposition of Blessed Eucharist: This important section of our communiday. As in most parishes, St Luke's has First Tuesday of month 7pm to 8pm. many people involved in various aspects ty has been very patient, as it has taken some time to arrive at a suitable format to of parish life.

At a Glance

The altar of St Luke's - centre of worship.

GOLDEN JUBILEE OF FR PETER O'REILLY, 0.PRAEM A Mass to mark the Golden Jubilee of Fr Peter Reilly 0.Praem, parish priest of St Patrick's Church, York, will be said on Tuesday 8 October at 6.30pm. This will be followed by dinner in the town hall.

Tickets S25 each. Inquiries to Lorna (096) 411 477.

A separate Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated by Fr O'Reilly at St Joseph's Priory Church, Treasure Rd, Queens Park, on Friday 4 October 1996 at 6:30 pm. All are welcome to participate in this Mass of Thanksgiving. Enquiries: 458 2729.

PREGNANCY ASSISTANCE DAY OF REFLECTION AND MASS Pregnancy Assistance is holding a Day of Reflection for its counsellors. All

Archdiocesan Panorama Parishioners are invited to attend the concluding Mass at 2:30 pm on Saturday 5 October at St John's Pro Cathedral, Victoria Ave, Perth (opposite the Catholic Church Offices).

Please join us to pray for the success of this work in our city.

PUBLIC LECTURE - COUNCIL OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS Topic: 'Jesus the Jew', presented by Rev Dr Bill Loader, Head of Theology Dept at Murdoch Uni. Monday 14 October at 8:00 pm, at the new Worship Centre (near Amphitheatre and no. 5 car park) at Murdoch University, South St, Murdoch.

The Record, September 26 1996 Page 16

Free to members of WA Council of Christians & Jews, non-members $5.

Enquiries: Trevor 291 9441(H) or Fr Pat Ahearn 447 6225.

BREAK FREE WEEKEND A weekend for young men and women (aged 18 to 35) to rediscover or deepen their Catholic faith.

Run by the Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community on 11 - 13 October, Friday 7.30 pm to Sunday 1.30pm, at the Bickley Sport & Recreation Centre. Cost $35.

For more info phone: Erica & Annabelle 341 3157, Kevin 041 846 6674 or Matthew 299 7320.

DAY OF PRAYER FOR PRIESTS Laity are invited to a Day of Prayer for Priests at Holy Spirit Church, Keaney Rd, City Beach, on Monday 7 October, Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, commencing 10am with Exposition and Rosary, Holy Mass at 11:00 am.

BYO lunch, supplied. tea/coffee Enquiries: Margaret (09) 446 1935 or Carolyn (09) 245 1029.

MENTAL HEALTH WEEK MASS The Annual Mass will be celebrated at St Francis Xavier Church, 25 Windsor St, East Perth at 3:00 pm Sunday 27 October.

Afternoon tea will be served at Emmanuel Centre (next door) afterwards.

All Welcome.

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