The Record Newspaper 19 December 1996

WA's only Catholic weekly newspaper

cfC1 `0

11. 1 f3

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS wishing you joy and peace during this holy season from THE ARCHMOCESAIN DEVELOPMENT FUND . s .

01

t..

#

•

1 Z. i.f

The new Good Shepherd Parish Church, Lockridge. Fr Daniel Foley PP

What happens with your savings and investment funds with the ADF? 1 First and foremost - all deposits are guaranteed.

2 Loans are only made to parishes, schools and Archdiocesan agencies such as aged care and health care facilities.

Why not form a partnership with your Archdiocese and ADF?

ADF Contact # ak .

l iv4

41' *

Des Dwyer Fund Manager 0,cip The Record,December,19 1996 Page 2

21 Victoria Square Perth Tel. 325 5950, GPO Box M962 Perth 6000 Mike Papineau Accounts Manager

Brian Bonser Accounts Manager calf 0,0

Behold the Child

Christmas 1996

Two priests, two deacons ordained

** *4 g hristmas

**

*

*

******************

** ** fan* Oracc ** * * * * * * * * * * * *

Archbishop Barry Hickey wishes the Catholics of the Archdiocese of Perth a holy and happy Christmas and suggests the families of the archdiocese use the following grace at their Christmas meals: Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

* * * * * * * *

Reader: (a child if possible) "Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of David' s House and line, in order to be registered together with Mary, his wife, who was with child.

And she gave birth to a son, her first born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn." (Luke 24-7)

The proud parents of the two newly ordained priests, Kate and Ivan Separovich, left, and Vung 77ri Nguyen and Vat Duc Dong, right, dress their sons in their vestments as Archbishop Hickey looks on last Friday night.

By Colleen McGuiness-Howard Bishop Robert Healy, 90 priests and 1,400 laity and religious came in solidarity from various parts of WA and other states last Friday to witness Archbishop Barry Hickey ordain Michael Separovich and Joseph Dong Van Vinh to the priesthood at St Mary's Cathedral.

Archbishop Hickey also ordained Neo Catechumenate members John Hogan with Joseph Pelle to the Diaconate.

Archbishop Hickey said in his homily the fact that the four candidates represented Australia. Croatia, Vietnam, and Italy showed the universal nature of the Church.

While their national beginnings were different, they all believed in the one Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, he said.

Archbishop Hickey said Michael Separovich was raised in Spearwood and Joseph Dong Van Vinh had come out on a boat from Vietnam and, through his ordeals, was well aware of the realities of life.

Priests were called to serve in the special sharing of the priesthood of Jesus Christ, Archbishop Hickey pointed out, and quoted the words of the gospel: "You have not chosen Christ, but He has chosen you."

Christ called men through their friends, parish, community and seminary, urging them to "Go forth and bear fruit," Archbishop Hickey said, "and commanded them to love one another.

"So your priesthood has to be based on that call, to love your fellow priests, and others, to bear fruit, and assist the poor."

Theirs was a spiritual and sacramental role, one of leadership, he stated, with the role of preaching the Good News.

"So make sure your voice is heard," he enjoined them, "because the world needs the Good News you bring."

Archbishop Hickey reminded the two deacons the diaconate was a significant milestone as they would be entering the priesthood in about six months time.

John Hogan who comes from Canberra, began his priesthood studies six years ago and for the last two years has studied at Morley's Neo-Catechumenate Redemptoris Mater Seminary, along with Joseph Pelle who came to WA when he was eight.

The two readings were proclaimed in Croatian and Vietnamese, while the responsorial psalm was sung superbly in English by Redemptoris Mater seminarian Giosue Marini. Musical backing for the night was the beautiful cathedral choir with the Vietnamese choir later making a delightful contribution.

All(Sing) "0 Come let us adore him. 0 come let us adore him, 0 come let us adore him.

Christ the Lord."

Leader We praise and thank you. God of all creation, for your Son. Jesus Christ. born for us at Bethlehem.

By his coming may the hungry be filled with good things.

May your blessing come down upon us and on the food prepared for us. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

All(Sing) "0 come let us adore him. 0 come let us adore him, 0 come let us adore him.

Christ the Lord."

Leader In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit Amen.

*** * At*** *** John Hogan, right, and Joseph Pelle watt for ordination to the diaconate.

One of the most moving moments of the evening was the vesting of the newly ordained priests by their parents.

It was reminiscent of Mary's handing over of her son Jesus for his three year ministry - and ultimate death on the Cross.

Pope John Paul sends blessings, thanks to Perth The power of prayer has touched and impressed Catholic individuals and groups in Perth during the last few weeks as Pope John, through his Vatican assistants, has sent letters thanking and blessing for the prayers and Masses offered on his behalf on the occasion of his 50 years as a priest.

The Pope has also sent his blessings to the whole archdiocese through Archbishop Hickey after the archbishop presented the Masses and prayers of the archdiocese to the Pope personally in Rome last month.

Here is the letter of Archbishop Re, the Substitute of the Vatican Secretary of State, to Archbishop Hickey: Your Grace, The Holy Father was pleased to receive the messages of good wishes which you and the faithful of the Archdiocese of Perth sent to him on the Fiftieth Anniversary of his Priestly Ordination.

He deeply appreciates this expression of your spiritual closeness, as well as the assurance of your prayers for the continued fruitfulness of his ministry in the Church.

Commending you and all the clergy, Religious and laity of your Archdiocese to the loving care of Mary, Mother of the Church, His Holiness cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing.

Yours sincerely in Christ, Photo L Osservatore Romano Re G.B. Archbishop Hickey presents to Pope John Paul last month the letters conveySubstitute ing the prayers and Mass intentions of Perth Catholics.

*****

Perth clergy appointments Archbishop Hickey this week announced more clergy appointments for the Archdiocese of Perth.

Father Philip Perreau, assistant priest at Bateman, has been appointed as the Archbishop's Representative for Vocations while Fr Paul Raj, currently Assistant Priest at Highgate, will become Assistant Priest at Spearwood, beginning Saturday, 18 January 1997. Fr Raj will also serve as a part-time chaplain to the Navy.

Fr Wayne Davis, currently Assistant Priest at Spearwood, has been appointed Parish Priest of Wongan Hills, starting on Saturday, 4 January 1997 Fr Ian Esmond, Assistant Priest at Rockingham will move to be full-time chaplain to Aquinas College in Manning beginning 27 January 1997; he will also serve as part-time chaplain to the Catholic Youth and Young Adult Ministry Continued on Page 19

Front page portrait Mary offers grapes to the Christ child in an oil painting by Gerard David from 1510. The painting titled, The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, is a holding of the National Gallery of Art, Andrew W. Mellon Collection, on display in Washington in the United States.

Photo: CNSiNational Gallery of Art

The Record,December 19 1996 Page 3

PI LGRIMAGES

HARVEST

Australians are travelling on pilgrimage for an ever increasing number of reasons & Harvest has met the demandfor a wide variety ofpilgrimage themes. Here are just some of our exciting 1997 departures:

(,Easter with St Tau!

Villages of6race

Departing 15th March 1997for 23 days Personally escorted by Fr Bernard Maxwell OP Rome • Istanbul • Gallipoli (Anzac Cove) Cannakale • Troy • Pergamum • Izmir • Kusadasi Ephesus • Jerusalem • Sea of Galilee •Tel Aviv A fascinating walk in the footsteps of St Paul 499 • Holy Week celebrations in Jerusalem •

Departing 6th September 1997for 19 days with Fr Philip Negley MS Lyon • Taize • Lourdes • Rome • Assisi • Medjugorje A reflective journey to some of themost acclaimed villages of grace. Through the holy towns ofFrance, along the paths of St Francis in Assisi, ending with a retreat in the annointed hamlet of Medjugorje.

ong ofSongs___L

Other departure dates: 17 May • 14 June • 16 Oct

11112' Tour

Departing 26th April 1997for 19 days Personally escorted by Fr Kevin Walsh and musically renowned Trisha Watts Rome 'Florence • Santo Domingo De Silos - chanting monks • Zaragoza • Monterrat Lourdes • Rodez • Taize • Paray le Monial Nevers • Chartres • Paris A magnificently designed musical pilgrimage through a mosaic of religious experience.

Departing 1st January 1998.for 22 days with Biblical Studies lecturer Fr John McSweeney STB SSL Rome • Bethlehem • Dead Sea • Mt Sinai • Aqaba Madaba • Sea of Galilee • Mt Carmel •Jerusalem Optional extension to Turkey and Greece This Study. Tour attracts 18 credit points at Foundational Level in Biblical Studies for the Bachelor of Theology Degree offered by the Sydney College of Divinity.

Excellent value at 4.tiari.

A unique opportunity for young Australians to unite with the youth of the world.

Join with the Holy Father in Paris to celebrate life, youth and Christ.

Personally escorted by Bishop Philip Wilson, Fr Brian Lucas & Fr John Rate MSC.

gj'apaWathering

world youth day '97

Departing 29th September 1997 with Ron and Mavis Pirola • Los Angeles • Buenos Aires Iguasu Falls • Rio de Janeiro Optional Lima & Cuzco extension .4 unique opportunity to join with the Holy Father and with families from all over the world in Rio de Janeiro.

• Departing 10th August • Rome • Choice of Taize or Paray le Monial Chartres • Paris for the World Youth Day Celebrations • Fully inclusive at

$2890

WYD DIRECT

op

52390

Journey °fa saint

'"Master, where are you staying?' Come and see...'.'

Departing 26st July /997 with Fr Paul Gardiner SJ Dublin •Waterford • Glasgow • Oban • Drimnen Fort William • Edinburgh • Rome ...In the footsteps of Australia's first saint through scenic Ireland. historic Scotland and the Eternal City of Rome.

MEDJUGORJE - $1,995!

A one-off invitation of a lifetime

• 7 nights Medjugorje • 1 night Rome OR • Optional Free Europe Flight Includes: • Airfares, Homestay rooms with ensuite, most meals, transfers & guide.

Optional extensions available.

H cayilysubsidiscd to promotc thc mossagc of Mary.

Philip Ryall, Managing Director of Harvest Pilgrimages invites you to join him for this most remarkable opportunity to encounter the treasured graces of Medjugorje...

Departing Thursday 27th February 1997

Departing 19th June 1997 with Sr Benedict Mansfield • 1 or 2 nights Rome • 7 or 10 nights Medjugorje Celebrate the 16th Anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions to the children of Medjugorje. Experience a peaceful retreat in this most remarkable village of grace.

Cl/Ve- are a pilgrim people...

DOMINICAN

HEALING

*nds- of (Dominic

1 -leaf1n11 on glofy &round

Departing 15th May for 22 days

with Sr Dianna Woods OP & Fr John Neill OP Madrid • Caleruega • Lourdes Fanjeaux • Toulouse • Bologna Florence • Siena • Assisi • Rome A pilgrimage in the footsteps of this great saint. fully inclusive

497

Departing 8th May for 15 days with Sr Margaret Scully Rome • Bethlehem Sea of Galilee • Jerusalem Optional Medjugorje extension A pilgrimage offaith and healing in the land of 3975 Christ's many miracles.

[3 ANZAC REMEMBRANCE

MARIAN

Tathways ofSt Taut

Visitations ofcitary

Athens • Corinth • Meteora Thessaloniki • Philippi Samos • Ephesus 'Troy Canakkale • Gallipoli (Anzac Day) • Istanbul • Rome Depart • 13 Apr (Anzac Day Special) • 7 Sept • 23 Oct fully inclusive

Rome • Fatima 80th Anniversary Avila • Santo Domingo de Silos chanting monks • Garabanal Lourdes • Rome Depart • 10 May • 8 June • 9 Oct A ustralia's most popular Marian

departure. Book early to avoid disappointment!

4890

Harvest Rignmages The Record.December 19 1996 Page 4

great value 4. 3595

a CHRISTIAN ART

EASTER

Drush with Italy

ourney to Taster

Departing 1st March for 22 days

Departing 22nd March for 15 days

Rome • Assisi • Siena • Florence Ravenna • Padua • Venice A Christian art pilgrimage and study tour through historic Italy where some of the world's most cherished artists have found their inspiration.

Optional brush as you go! fully inclusive

D

Rome • Jerusalem Sea of Galilee

Celebrate Easter in the Holy Land of Christ's life, death and resurrection - the summit of all earthly pilgrimages for the Christian.

3890

4495

HOLY LAND

gourney ofChrist Rome • Bethlehem Nazareth • Sea of Galilee Jerusalem

Ask Harvest for our full colour brochure detailing these departures and many more in our exciting 1997 program.

Depart • 2 Jan • 13 Feb •10 Apr 1 7 Apr (Anglican) • 8 May (Healing) 8 June • 26 June (Italian) • 18 Sep 19 Oct • 30 Oct (Anglican) 13 Feb with Fr Adrian Van Klooster best value

$3395

Lic no. 21A003632

Unit 10, 14 Dellamarta Rd, Wangara Estate, Waneroo WA 6065 • ph: (09) 409 1080

A USTRALIA WIDE FREE CALL

1800 819 156

0 4III 4tI vet II er a .. e..\ \\

/ +4 * It OA a • 0. • 4,61 •116.11-r. -

•

we 2:

*tit

...it'.1AO.' it .2 airs(

fie Ar Arillraital• of

.

1, de .1.7 oaf ill% a: t

Behold the Child

Frayne history WANTED: WORKERS - VOLUNTEERS Perth launch DIOCESE OF BROOME WA

The Diocese of Broome has immediate vacancies for VOLUNTEERS to serve on remote Missions and communities in the Kimberley as: Catechists, farm labourers, handymen, housekeepers, teachers, nurses, domestic staff, mechanics, plumbers, carpenters, administrators, book-keepers, secretaries, general hands, electricians, tutors. For a period in excess of six months up to two years.

Those who apply as LAY VOLUNTEERS will be practising Catholics committed in service to the Faith and the work of Church in the Kimberley. The isolated circumstances of the various remote communities require the talents of people able to work as part of a team.

ATTRIBUTES: Good health, a sound faith, a joyful attitude to life, resourcefulness, a desire to share talents and faith with others, a willingness for self-sacrifice and a dedication to prayer and the Eucharist. These are all part and parcel of the calling. Single people and married couples considered.

Please contact: Bishop Christopher Saunders, fax for application form Fax 091 922 136 or write to: Catholic Lay Volunteers, Diocesan Office, PO Box 76, Broome WA 6725 Please include in your fax or letter a recent reference from a parish priest, or name a person involved in the work of the apostolate as a referee for you.

Archbishop Barry Hickey last week with a copy of the biography of the first leader of the Mercy Sisters in Australia, Mother Ursula Frayne, and the biographer Notre Dame academic and historian, Catherine Kovesi Killerby. Archbishop Hickey launched the biography at the Sisters of Mercy Conference Centre in Victoria Square, Perth. The launch was held on behaff of the Sisters of Mercy Perth and Melbourne congregations, who co-sponsored the writing of the biography. The book launch marked the last official celebration for the Perth congregation after a year long celebration of the 150th anniversary of the coming of Ursula Frayne and her sisters to Perth in 1846, the first landing of the Mercy Sisters in Australia.

- Colleen McGuiness-Howard

Thank you for your travel support in 1996 Please remember

Interwrld Travel Michael Deering

for your 1997 travel plans

t

The g 'atest you can give

this Christmas is to someone voz on't know.

CHRISTMAS IS A 1-4

:VING. BECAUSE GIVING BRINGS JOY.

HOPE AND DIGNITY T.

v ,...!•40 GIVE AND TH9SE.WHO,RE,CEIVE.

THIS YEAR. THE SOCIET ..•

T. VIN

WILL DISTRIBUTE THousAt4;1;br,. C.H PERS. FOOD PARCELS AND GIFTS ,TO

Sfr

NEED OF LOVE AND HOPE. THAT WAY. MANY MORE WEST ,A' us AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL .SHAPE CHRISTMAS. THANKS TO YOUR IDONIATc,)N GIFTS AND OTHER ITEMS. DONATIONS MAY BE SENT TO: C AMILLUS HOUSE. 15 BRONTE ST. E

RTH. 6004

OR BY CREDIT CARD. PH:

(09) 221 8888 ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL

The Management & Staff of

Intennzgrld Travel extend to all

the peace and joy of Christmas and with the New Year: health, happiness and prosperity

( /‘iii

the Ypiri ol ,irope

SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL

BOOKSHOP For business & leisure travel call Michael Deering at

Interwlzrld Travel

184 St George's Terrace, Perth WA 6000 Tel: 61+9+322 2914 Fax: 61+9+322 2915 kcN 061 625 027. licence No. 9TA 796

The Bookshop Committee wishes all its customers a Happy and Holy Christmas and look forward to meeting you again in 1997.

The Bookshop will be closed from 20 December until 20 January 1997.

15 Bronte Street, East Perth

Tel. 325 3474 Fax 325 6917 Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm

The Record,December 19 1996 Page 5

Behold the Child

This mystery has changed the whole world 1 11y Dear People,Iwish you The birth of any child is a wonall the special blessings der and a joy, but not a mystery. of Christmas.

The birth of Jesus was a great I hope that it will be a time for mystery; how the Son of the God relaxing with friends and family Most High, the Second Person of and a chance to set aside your the Blessed Trinity, the Eternal worries and problems at least for Word of God, could be born into a day. the human race.

Enjoy the spirit of peace and joy "And the Word was made flesh that is so much part of the cele- and dwelt among us", as the bration of Christmas.

Creed says.

Everyone deserves a little oasis This mystery has changed the of peace especially at this time of history of the world and the the year. understanding of the human race Although Christmas is celebrat- itself. ed by Christians and non-ChrisFrom the day of Christ's birth, tians alike, it is most important we count the years of our history. that our celebrations affirm our 1996 means nearly two thousand belief in the central mystery of years since Christ was born.

Christmas, which is, of course, the Soon we will celebrate the birth of the Son of God at Bethle- 2009th anniversary of that event. hem.

Our self-understanding has also The birth of a child is not a mys- changed. tery.

We see that sinful humanity now

numbers among its members the Son of God Himself, although He was without sin. The divine and human come together in the person of Jesus Christ.

No more can we allow ourselves to be pessimistic about our race.

Despite the first calamitous sin of Adam and Eve, and the history of sinfulness since then, there is now great hope because Jesus became one of us.

In His humanity He died on the cross, and He was raised from the dead to gain for the whole human race forgiveness and eternal life.

These thoughts must be in our minds and our prayers as we pause to remember why we celebrate Christ's birth.

They will give hope to people struggling with the difficulties of life, to those whose families are in crisis, to those who suffer physi-

cally or mentally, to those who have fallen into poverty and to those whose lives are in the grip of sin or addiction.

To all these people the baby Jesus appears as a sign of hope and of goodness, a sign of God's love in times of trouble, a clear shining light to those who "sit in darkness and in the shadow of death". (Luke 1:79) Let the joy and peace we feel on Christmas day extend beyond that one day.

Each one of us is called to carry the Light of Bethlehem into the lives of others throughout the whole year.

That is to be our response in thanksgiving to God for the gift of the new-born child of Bethlehem.

Barry James Hickey Archbishop of Perth

Receive the riches offered us Our lives should be

hristmas, the Incarnation, Our God taking flesh, has thEso much to it that we can never stop drawing from its riches.

Ills truly a great Mystery.

Mystery implies not only that we cannot fathom what it all means, but also that we can keep discovering and drawing more and more from its depths.

At different times and in different circumstances it speaks more to us.

Rather than focusing on the central event, that is, the Word of God dwelling among us, I would like briefly in this message to consider the difficulties involved in this marvellous event and see what implications they have for us.

As if emptying Himself wasn't enough, God's Son was born into poverty and away from his home town.

He was not accepted and had to take shelter in a stable.

He was persecuted right from the beginning of His life and knew what it was like with his family to be a refugee.

Most of the details of all this have not been recorded for us, but each of us would be able to Imagine quite a few.

Could God have carried out his plan of salvation in some other way?

Humanly it looks so senseless.

Yet in hindsight it was so wise.

In this way Jesus did so much more for us than if he became a human being who everyone immediately accepted and respected.

Because God's Son took on the extreme poverty and vulnerability of our human condition, he

weak. He inspired people to lift the burdens of others who were heavily laden with sorrow and sickness.

He inspired some to give heart to refugees and others to give the young people without means a start in life and a future through a good education.

Because of Jesus, some people work for peace in war torn countries.

Others help give aid to people dispossessed by the ravages of war.

There are others who help develop the people of the Third World, held down by those who hold power in the First World.

Others have found the courage to stand up for people whose rights have been denied and in so doing show respect for human life.

All this has been happening down through the centuries and It continues around the world today.

Surely it was God's Son, born in a stable or shed that gave heart to Blessed Mary MacKillop to begin gave so much hope and courage her first school in the outback to people who are poor, excluded, town of Penola in a shed. marginalised, persecuted, treated Similarly, Blessed Edmund Rice unjustly and who suffer for vari- would have been inspired to first ous reasons. offer free education to the street Jesus inspired so many to take kids and poor children of Wateron the challenge to work amongst ford in a stable. the poor, the outcast and the Continued on Page 9

We need to remember heroes too

3

write to wish you all the joy and blessings of Christmas and to encourage you in your faithful commitment to the Christ our Way, Truth and Life.

There are many good things in life that can be forgotten or unappreciated that we need at times to make a positive STOP, LOOK, LISTEN lest the unfortunate things, the bad things or the sad things overpower us.

So much effort has been put into strengthening our lay involvement in the Church's ministry in the Diocese that we may fail to realise how much has already been achieved.

In the parish reviews recently conducted it was eye-opening to discover the large and enthusiastic number already committed to parish ministry.

In some parishes we were looking at hundreds.

In the wider Church, this year

began with the Pope beatifying Mary MacKillop for her heroic service to the poor and illiterate.

Just recently Edmund Ignatius Rice the Irish father who founded the Christian Brothers was likewise beatified as were many other women and men from all over the globe.

We need to keep these heroes in

The Record,December 19 1996 Page 6

mind if we are to be fruitfully confident and encouraged by demonstrations of the Gospel in practice.

And the same witness is going on around us in many small ways in the lives of ordinary suburban mums and dads, labourers and professional people.

It is good to identify the good that is happening and not let the sensationalised evil overpower us.

For every drug runner there is a Mother Teresa, for every violent criminal there is a Fred Hollows, for the greedy embezzler there is the charity of the St Vincent de Paul Conferences.

But we need to give them our attention and recognition so as to experience the encouragement of Christ in the Gospels, in his people and in ourselves.

Peter Quinn Bishop of Bunbury

like 'Kneeling Santa'

a

reminder of the meaning of Christmas Is the popular statuette wonderful known as The Kneeling Santa.

Ray Gauer's figurine shows Santa Claus. cap in hand, kneeling at the crib of the child Jesus in an attitude of homage and prayer.

For me. it speaks of the worth of putting the most important things first and setting in order our life, our obligations and all our wants.

No-one would disagree that what the great majority of people want for themselves and others is happiness and peace and a sense of purpose in life.

And yet, the spiritual emptiness exhibited in the lives of so many people contributes to anything but happiness and contentment.

The great shame of it all is that too many of us think that happiness is found in things, in accumulating wealth and in consuming goods.

Such self-centred behaviour devours those who have too much in this world and sometimes also those who have too little. Greed knows no economic or religious or ethnic barriers.

It is at the centre of almost all injustice in the world.

The kneeling Santa is a statement that says; let us get our priorities straight.

For the clear thinking, deep believing Santa of this story, it is a question of living out the belief of God-first.

With head bowed down he is bound up in the worship of The Lord Most High.

For our adoring Santa, the creatures, the created things of this world come later in an order of importance.

For him, those spurious things we long for too much, clearly belong to a lower order.

The contemplative Santa we see in the figurine places prayer before the mindless craze expressed in our own busy, stress-laden lives; he raises the worship of God above the idolatry of trinkets, baubles and soulless pleasure; and he situates care for the other person before selfishness.

Many families look to Christmas as a season of peace, of joy and good will to others. These

are noble sentiments. But, they are much more than that, espedally if they are translated into a lifestyle that is reflected in the manner of our Kneeling Santa.

The challenge before each of us is to keep our lives ordered to the priority of true believers.

These priorities must be fashioned in the conviction that the

birth of the child Jesus is of such importance to all humanity, and to us personally, that the useless distractions that bombard us daily may be quietly ignored, or put to one side, as we pursue a relationship with the Christchild.

Our country is a Nation in need of a spiritual healing that will bind up the wounds of sin and division that presently threaten the fabric of our commonwealth.

And the healing must begin with us individually, down on our knees, humbled yet joyfilled, prayer driven, in an attitude of selflessness, worship and praise.

In this manner we struggle with life's important matters.

For us all - this should be a time, not of me first, but People First.

This Christmas why not give ourselves a precious gift to hold dearly in our hearts?

May we discover the priorities of a Christian life, seek healing as individuals, commit ourselves to change and renewal, dedicate ourselves to a conversion of heart, and find peace in worship and prayer, bound with our sisters and brothers.

Then, finally, with great joy may we fervently wish everyone a happy, holy Christmas, abundantly adorned with God's choicest blessings.

Christopher Saunders Bishop of Broome

Behold the Child

There is a Santa . . . . and it is St Nicholas Christian zeal. In one legend, St ton for Harper's Weekly magaNicholas anonymously threw a zine depicting St Nick as a jolly es, Virginia, there is a bag of gold into the open win- Dutch farmer who rode through Santa Claus. But he's dow of a young woman who the sky in a wagon, dropping premuch more than the couldn't marry because she did- sents down chimneys. n't have a dowry.

More than 150 years ago m' TTh1 figure described in In another legend, he saved Clement Clarke Moore penned the Christmas editorial that three children from death. his famous poem, originally appeared in the New York One item reported as fact, not titled "A Visit from St Nicholas."

Sun more than a century ago. legend, is that St Nick was the Today, most of us know it as In response to a question by first to initiate programs to teach "The Night Before Christmas." eight-year-old Virginia Hanlon, a mentally handicapped children.

"The stockings were hung by New York Sun editor wrote: Today, more than 2,000 church- the chimney with care, in hopes "How dreary would be the es are dedicated to St. Nicholas that St Nicholas soon would be world if there were no Santa in France and Germany, and there," he wrote. about 400 in England.

Claus!

How did we go from the true He's honoured as the patron "It would be as dreary as if image of a generous saint to the there were no Virginias. false icon of a business tycoon?

"There would be no child-like We have the multi-million-dolfaith then, nopoetly, no romance lar advertisement industry to to make tolerable this existence. thank, for that.

The secular Santa has become "Not believe in Santa Claus! the patron saint of merchandisYou might as well not believe in ing and materialism. fairies!"

Indeed, the toy moguls are It's true that it would be a dreahappy, but the real St Nick ry world without old St Nick wouldn't want it that way.

But Francis Church, the Sun Be wary of what you tell kids editor, missed the most imporabout Santa Claus. tant point: there really is a Santa Be worthy of their "child-like Claus. faith."

It has nothing to do with fairies Instead of compiling a demand or romance, and everything to list for a secular Santa, have do with child-like faith. them write a letter or a prayer to Santa Claus, a derivative of the the real Santa Claus.

Dutch name, Saint Nikolaus, or It's an opportunity for them to St Nicholas, exists today as surelearn about intercessory prayer. ly as you and I exist.

And, if you're wondering how Catholics invoke his intercesyou're going to pay for all those sion in the Litany of Saints. Santa toys, you could get on your knees Claus is on the list. after St. Marthem. and join tin.

On Christmas morning, let We even have a picture of the your children know that the prereal St Nick sents under the tree are meant A famous fifteenth-century icon to celebrate the birthday of Jesus. depicts him as a rotund bishop saint of Russia, Greece, Sicily, Tell them about St Nicholas. with a white beard. and the Lorraine region of and how he loved to bring smiles As befits his office, he is France. to the faces of children. dressed in ecclesiastical red, a In addition, he's known as the It's just as easy to tell the truth colour meant to evoke memo- patron saint of children and about St Nick as it is to indulge ries of the martyrs. brides. ourselves by weaving secular And, although the great saint His feast day is celebrated by tales. now lives forever with God in Roman Catholics on December When it comes to Santa, truth heaven, we also know where his 6. is better than fiction. earthly remains are buried.

Devotions to St Nicholas were Kids know that what they see In 1087 Italian soldiers stole brought to America by Dutch on TV is make-believe, like Big the saint's body from Myra. Asia settlers in colonial days.

Bird in Sesame Street.

Minor, and carried it to a church The saint became airborne in They depend upon us to relate in southern Italy, where it rests 1866 when cartoonist Thomas the story of Santa Claus in a way to this day.

Nast, creator of the United States' that is based, if only loosely, on St Nicholas, a 4th-century Democratic and Republican the facts.

Catholic bishop, was known far political party symbols of a donThere is something drastically and wide for his charity and his key and an elephant, drew a car- wrong with the fact that a secuBy Kathleen Howley

'Instead of children compiling a demand list of presents for a secular Santa, have them write a letter or a prayer to the real Santa Claus, St Nicholas.'

larised version of Santa has become more popular than Jesus.

Many kids look forward to his "coming down the chimney" more than they look forward to the celebration of the birth of Jesus - the real reason for the season.

It's our fault, not the kids, because if we spoke the truth about the real St Nick in the same glowing way we speak untruths about the Santa invented by advertising moguls on New York's Madison Avenue, maybe kids would be excited about Jesus, too.

They might even decide to dedicate their lives to Him - just as Saint Nicholas did.

- Eternal Word Television Network Online Services.

A secular Santa Claus dances with a young child during a street show in the very non-European winter setting of Tegucigalpa, Honduras in tropical Photo CMS Reuter, Central America.

As seen in The Record last week, Elais Fares, 4, of Willeton, Christina Farinaccio, 4, of Thomlie and Veronica O'Brien, 5, of Willeton were all agog recently when they got to meet a representative of St Nicholas who dropped in for a visit at the Schoenstatf Kindergarten in Riverton.

Advertisement

Alan Ames of Perth It is reported that a Family man, resident in Perth, has for the past few years been receiving messages from Our Lord, Our Blessed Mother, the Angels and Saints.

The messages, revealing God's Love and Mercy, have helped him and many others who have read them, come back to the Church and the Sacraments.

He has been encouraged to tell his story and spread the messages to as many around the world. Permission has been received from His Grace, Archbishop of Perth, Barry Hickey.

On Friday 17 January 1997, following Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (Benediction) at 730pm in St Brigid's Church, Morrison Rd, Midland, Alan will speak about these conversion experiences that have changed him.

At the end of the Talk you are invited to join in for prayers for Healing (Spiritual, Emotional or Physical). Reports from the various Churches in the Eastern States, New Zealand, UK, Ireland and the United States attest to the working of the Holy Spirit in the Parishes where Alan has spoken.

These reports have changed the views of many who were hesitant and sceptical about the events that brought about the amazing conversion.

There is no charge and you are encouraged to bring your Family and Friends for a rewarding experience.

Enq. Russel 274 6018, Richard 450 2749, PO Box 85, Wembley 6014

Christmas Greetings The Management & Staff of

Gatto Christian Shop Suppliers of Religious Gifts, Churchware and Books would like to wish all our Customers and Friends who have supported us throughout the Year a safe and Happy Christmas.

We look forward to your support M 1997.

5/108 Wanneroo Road, Tuart Hill WA 6060 Ph: (09) 345 5700 Fax (09) 344 6260

We are open for business as normal over the Christmas and New Year break The Record,December 19 1996 Page 7

I I titijs*, p4 pa pa4A.6

Behold the Child

. , Let us spice Christmas with tne Year of Jesus y The Record es, it is another Christmas, another celebration of the birth of Our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ - as if the readers of The Record and many in Western countries need to be reminded.

Each year we celebrate and give thanks for this most heart-warming manifestation of God's love for us in the sight of the Babe of Bethlehem resting in a manger under the gaze of a simple yet extraordinary carpenter and his wife, Mary, the mother of the Child Jesus, in other words, the Mother of God. The presence of local shepherds representing the rest of the human race, rather than politicians or theologians, further emphasises the amazing ordinariness of the scene, truly a sight for sore eyes after a WA state election.

Unfortunately, given our human limitations, the yearly repetition of Christmas can lead to a certain "ho-hum" creeping into our celebration.

But one of the great characteristics of the one true complete Church, the Roman Catholic Church. is its ability to find opportunities to refresh our joy, thanksgiving and celebration at our salvation in Jesus Christ.

And there is none better at reading what

the Second Vatican Council called the "signs of the times" in this respect than the current pontiff, Pope John Paul.

Given a fine appreciation of art and theatre by God, Pope John Paul sees that people, no matter how darkened by sin and confusion, will recognise the landmark of 2000 years of Christianity and be encouraged to reflect on Who gave them life, Who redeemed them, and Who will meet them at the end of their life.

Just as the young actor, poet and future Pope, Karol Wojtyla, knew the value of a prologue to a theatrical play, he still sees today that the human race needs a prologue, or Advent if you like, to the celebration of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.

To this end he has proclaimed 1997 the Year of Jesus, a year which began liturgically on the First Sunday of Advent four weeks ago, to be followed in 1998 with the Year of the Holy Spirit and with the Year of the Father in 1999.

If our Christmas remembrance has

become a bit jaded, it is the Year of Jesus that can add spice and reflection to our celebration of the birth of Christ this year.

Pope John Paul calls all Christians and men and women of good will in the Year of Jesus to see that the Babe of Bethlehem is Jesus Christ, Our Saviour.

He wants us to remember especially in the next 12 months that this child is Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of man, the centre of the universe and history.

This last clause is, in fact, the first sentence of the young Pope's rust encyclical penned shortly after being elected Redemptor Hominis or The Redeemer of Man. A reading or re-reading of this encyclical would make an excellent preparation and celebration for the Year of Jesus.

The encyclical is, in fact, with an eye for the coming turn of the Millennium, one long prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God for Jesus Christ and our salvation.

Archbishop Barry Hickey has already asked the Catholics of the Archdiocese of

,(5grounof

Perth to reflect on the theme of Jesus in Scripture during the Year of Jesus.

He is also encouraging other events designed to help us understand Jesus Christ in His Incarnation and birth in the stable more deeply, and to commit ourselves more closely to Him and his plan for humanity.

Jesus as a child and as an adult waits for us, not just at Christmas but every day of the year, whether it is the Year of Jesus or any other year.

And we can find him many days of the year in most parishes through daily Mass and Communion, and monthly or weekly through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

What better way to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the Year of Jesus each day by meeting Jesus at Mass and in Communion?

With this, and a return to monthly or weekly Confession, we will begin to become babes of Bethlehem ourselves and help - in Christ and by following His Mother, Mary - to redeem the world.

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

&Pliers fo dle J)cluor

Judged on how we treat worst

cases are very rare, if not practically nonexistent" (Evangelium Vitae, No. 56).

Clearly, in a modern technologic.al society such as Australia, the safety of persons can be achieved without recourse to Statesanctioned killing in the form of the death penalty (Evangelium Vitae. No. 27). he views expressed by Paul Gray When a person is ("Great evils make death penalty a onment, without sentenced to life imprisparole, the society can be plausible option for society", The confident that the person can commit no Record. 28 November) require some clari- further violent crime. fication, particularly as they are apparentThe teaching of the Catholic Church, ly supported by the summary of Church however selectively quoted therefore proteaching under the heading "Death Penal- vides no support for the imposition of the ty" on Page 11 of the same edition. death penalty in our society.

Both articles refer to the statement in the Of course, the victims of violent crime, Catechism of the Catholic Church (No their friends and family, must remain at the 2266), that "in cases of extreme gravity" a forefront of the concern of the Catholic legitimate public authority may be justified community. in the use of the death penalty Such persons have a right to expect the Mr Gray contrasts this with "today's lib- compassion and support of that communieral minded Catholic culture." ty, which is diminished when they do not Both articles refer to the Catechism's receive it. statement that the primary effect of punIt should not be forgotten however, that, ishment is to "redress the disorder caused ultimately, we are judged not by how we by the offence," and Mr Gray concludes treat the best among us and those who love "Redress is a formal acknowledgment that us, but by how we treat the worst among an evil has been done. In cases of great evil, us and those who hate us. like mass murder or child murder, it is difficult to see how it can be achieved with- Sr Lucy Van Kessel PSVM Secretary out the death penalty".

However, this conclusion distorts the pas- Catholic Social Justice Commission sages in the Catechism.

The reference to the need for redress is made in relation to punishment generally, wish to draw to the attention of your and not as a justification of the death penalreaders the urgent needs of Bishop tY. Josephus Zemaitis, the Bishop of the Indeed, the Catechism deals specifically diocese of Vilkaviskensis in Lithuania, who with the death penalty in the very next pas- like myself, is a Lithuanian by race. sage (No 2267); a passage which Mr Gray In the wake of the Soviet occupation of and the author of the summary on Page 11 his country, Bishop Zemaitis is faced with have ignored. the enormous task of rebuilding the church It states: "If bloodless means are sufficient in Lithuania. to defend human lives against an aggresIn particular, he hopes to rebuild the sor and to protect public order and the cathedral church of Vilkaviskis which is in safety of persons, public authority should Kazlu Ruda. limit itself to such means because they betMasses will be offered in Kazlu Ruda for ter correspond to the concrete conditions the deceased relatives and friends and of the common good and are more in con- intentions of all making sacrifices for this formity with the dignity of the human per- project. son."

Any donation sent to me at "Manresa" That is, the only justification for the tak- P.O. Box 216, Hawthorn, Vic. 3122, will be ing of human life is that of self-defence. promptly forwarded.

This teaching was re-affirmed by Pope Please indicate the names of those you John Paul II in his 1995 encyclical letter would like to have remembered.

Evangelium Vitae and by Archbishop Hick- Fr Stan Gaidelis, ST ey in his "Reflection of the Death Penalty" Hawthorn of July 1995.

In Evangelium Vitae his Holiness stated that the civil authority may only take human life where it would not otherwise was happy to read your short report on be possible to defend society and that "as the recent "Call to Action" meeting in a result of steady improvements in the Detroit in the United States (The Record organisation of the penal system. such 28 November). At this conference, Bishop

T

Help Lithuania

I

Call to Action

I

Thwfteecott,Dedember 191996 Page 8

Gumbleton, Bishop of Detroit, reminded the group that he was present at the first Call to Action conference in 1976.

He pointed out that the Call to Action was an initiative of the American Bishops' after a two year consultation, during which 800,000 American Catholics testified at hearings.

The delegates, including more than 100 bishops, came up with 30 resolutions addressing poverty, male only clergy, racism, homosexuality, lay involvement in Church decisions and celibacy for priests.

Although the bishops had initiated the gathering, Bishop Gumbleton said they "panicked" when they received the resolutions and then "bureaucratised and longrange planned them into oblivion".

The problems discussed at that meeting have not gone away and many Catholics throughout the world are insisting they be addressed.

Some traditional Catholics, fearing the "Call to Action" Movement to be subversive, held a rival conference nearby in November called "Call to Holiness."

Bishop Gumbleton pointed out that "each of these Calls ( to Action and to Holiness) come to us from the same Jesus. So as we respond to the Call to Action let us renew our commitment to the Call to Holiness".

This call for unity was particularly significant to delegates from the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, who were recently excommunicated for joining the "Call to Action" Movement.

Surely the Church can reform itself without another "Reformation"!

Daniel Coughlin Falcon Editor's note: the current US Call to Action group argues, among other things, for women to be ordained priests in the Catholic Church, something Pope John Paul II, speaking as Jesus Christ's teaching authority on earth and on behalf of popes before and after himself, has ruled is not possible. He has declared that the truth of a male ministerial priesthood is to be held definitely. That Call to Action in the US persists in its belief in women priests explains, among other things, the excommunication of Call to Action members in the Nebraska Diocese.

Carnarvon charity

I

n The Record, 5 December, we read about the praiseworthy efforts of the students at Carnarvon in raising funds for missionary projects, while alongside, in stark contrast, was the report of the acceptance of $15m for funding the Sydney Cathedral spires.

May the example of the Carnarvon students 'inspire' us all to channel whatever resources we have into deserving community projects both here and overseas.

Ken Lawrence Duncraig

Youth convention praise

I

would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Bruce Downes on his recent article to The Record(12 December).

It is about time somebody told it as it is and we started focusing on how we as the people of the Church are going to encourage our young adults to feel part of the Church of today.

I myself, a parent of teenage children, know the struggle it is to get them to weekly Mass and I am sure that I am not alone in this regard.

Are we going to sit around and hope that our children have had the grounding and "come back" to Church when they have children of their own?

I have found through first hand experience that the Catholic Youth Convention was beneficial in my own family's faith development.

They experienced a real renewal of their faith through the convention. Here they were able to mix with young adults of their own age and share their faith journey without feeling as if they were "different".

Iwould like to encourage parents to send their young adults on the next convention In January as I am sure they will find that it is money very well spent.

Patty Powell Rockingham

Mastering English

W

hat binds people into a stable. civilised community that welcomes diversity is an underlying philosophy all share, a common attitude towards life that can be clearly expressed in a more or less sophisticated language that all the community knows well.

This is why we should do all we can to help immigrants to master English.

Even native speakers need something better than 'bazaar language' to talk seriously about matters such as racism, multiculturism, and multinationism.

Informed discussion of topics such as these is so necessary that schools and universities might now regard mastery of English as a most urgent immediate objective.

John W. Doyle Kew, Victoria

I I fror \, wa411t4

Behold the Child

Bethlehem Babe urges charity

By Peter Dwan B.A.

D

ifferent people have different ways of celebrating Christmas. It is for each one of us to choose the way in which we shall spend December

•• •

25.

PNCIO CNSVS Nat

If we buy expensive presents for our young relations, while neglecting Christ in the poor children in developing countries, then our Christmas celebration is merely a sentimental celebration, which will have little or no real effect in our lives or the lives of others.

How then are we to celebrate Christmas?

Whom shall we take as our model and helper?

Surely we can do no better than to spend Christmas with Our Lady, who had an integral part in the first Christmas.

Much has been written about Our Lady, but her role in the first Christmas, and in her whole life for that matter, was essentially one of co-operating in God's plan to give Christ to the world.

At the Annunciation, Mary said: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

Be it done to me according to thy word: Hers was a life of loving obedience, being ready to respond to needs; the needs of the aged St Elizabeth, who was carrying the unborn St John the Baptist in her womb; the needs of the bridal couple at the marriage feast at Cana, who needed more wine; and more importantly, the needs of the disciples who needed to

Receive the riches God offers us in Jesus Christ Continued from Page Just as those humble beginnings in Bethlehem were to have good outcomes for the whole of the world, so too those humble beginnings at Penola and Waterford produced untold good for so many young people and others in something like thirty countries around the world.

May this Christmas Miracle give courage and hope to many

al Gallery ot Al

This depiction of the nativity titled The Adoration of the Shepherds" was painted on wood in the 15th century by an anonymous Italian artist

people in difficulty at the present time.

May it also inspire many other people of means to bring courage, hope and practical help to other in a variety of needs.

May you also, both receive and be inspired to share, the riches Jesus offers as we celebrate Christmas 1996.

Justin Bianchini Bishop of Geraidton

witness a miracle to strengthen their faith.

Mary also responded to the needs of the Apostles while they were awaiting the coming of the

Help plant a Christmas tree that lasts more than 12 days.

Every tree a family plants in Ethiopia makes a vital contribution to their livelihood - sowing the seeds of self-sufficiency for the future.

The fruit can be eaten or sold and the timber can be used for construction. And the trees themselves prevent soil erosion and provide essential protection from the wind.

Caritas Australia helps people in developing countries to help themselves. A program of tree planting is just one of the ways this is achieved.

Please give what you can this Christmas it will make a difference

Caritas Australia turning faith into action.

CARI FAS/SPRAGUE

The first form of celebration could be called the secular Christmas.

There is plenty of partying and feasting, giving and receiving presents.

There are Christmas cards and Christmas carols, but neither the cards nor carols have any reference to a certain Birth in Bethlehem.

The Christmas dinner becomes a time of over-indulgence in food and alcohol.

This is becoming int reasingly common among our fellow Australians, and there have been reports that the Christian Churches have even been criticised for bringing religion into Christmas celebrations!

The churchless, who celebrate Christmas thus, need our prayers rather than our condemnation.

I felt sorry for the teenager who said: "Christmas doesn't mean anything to me since I stopped believing in Santa Claus: The second form of celebration is the sentimental Christmas.

This is a more respectable way of celebrating Christmas.

Remembering their childhood. people go to Church on Christmas Day, although they seldom go to Sunday Mass.

The Christmas crib and Christmas carols can foster sentimentality and emotionalism.

The nativity scene glarnotuises the filthy. smelly stable of Bethlehem, where Our Lord was born.

Christmas is a time of goodwill for such people, but it doesn't seem to affect their living for the rest of the year.

We can all be nice to people at Christmas, but the test as to whether our Christmas is a time of grace or a mere sentimental celebration is how we act during the following year.

Christmas seems to bring out the best in people.

While many lament the commercialisation of Christmas, it has been pointed out that Christmas is the one time of the year when some people give gifts to others.

What is needed is to find some way to try to make people show goodwill during the rest of the year.

There is a sense in which it can be claimed that Christmas is for children.

We should try to help those missionaries who are trying to feed and educate children in Third World countries.

Holy Spirit; praying with and for sion so that we might be pliable those priests, and helping them instruments in her hands for leadby her example to prepare for the ing souls to her Divine Son. coming of the Holy Spirit.

Missionaries in Africa have If our Christmas is to be one that been leading many souls to is influenced by her example, it Christ. Africans today are hunwill be one when we try to gering for Christ. respond to needs.

However, because of a lack of The aged need our loving con- spiritual and financial help, cern at Christmas.

Catholic missionaries in Africa Even when old people are well- see 4,000,000 of the Z000,000 off financially, they still appreci- annual adult converts join Protesate others to show concern for tant Churches. them, whether it be by a letter, a Unless we Catholics make a far visit or a telephone call. greater effort to help missionaries Those who have been widowed evangelise in Africa, we shall be during the year especially need failing Christ, and selling ourour prayers and practical charity. selves short.

A practical act of Christian charIf Christ and the Mass are the ity is to invite a person living central realities of our Christmas alone to Christmas dinner. celebrations, how can we refuse Migrants are often homesick at to make an effort to help misChristmas, and need our practical sionaries in Africa be instrumental in leading souls to Our concern.

Our thoughts, prayers and dona- Eucharistic Lord? tions should be with homesick Those wishing to help evangelimissionaries, who are struggling sation in Africa may send their donations, marked "for evangeliagainst many difficulties.

When the Angels appeared to sation." to the Sisters of St Peter the shepherds on the first Christ- Claver, 154 Cotham Road. Kew mas night, they said: "I bring you 3101. Victoria. news of great joy which is to be May Our Lady inspire us to for all the people." spend Christmas 1996 well, and We need to remember that the to co-operate in her mission of Christian message is for all peo- giving Christ to the world. ple.

Unless we are prepared to do Maybe we could help spread something practical along these our Faith by inviting someone lines then our realisation of the who doesn't practice any religion true nature of Christmas Day is little better than that of the lad, in to Mass at Christmas.

One non-Catholic who had been one of John O'Brien's poems, who, invited to Midnight Mass, after- when asked by the Bishop. "And wards sought instructions and what is Christmas Day?" replied: was received into the Church.

"It's the day before the races out Let us ask Our Lady's interces- at Tangmalangmaloo."

MI MEM NNE NEN

11•11111 11=Il

moo Nom

I want to help make a difference and enclose my cheque E money order for Please make cheques payable to Australian Catholic

I L Please send me: Information about Caritas Australia and its work

Relief Overseas Aid Fund trading as Caritas Australia

Phone 1800 024 413

Name Address Postcode from my Please debit Bankcard III Mastercard Visa : II Credit card number:

EiiL EL_EILI DLI1E1 En=

Please send to: Caritas Australia GPO Box 9830 in your state capital city

Caritas Australia THE CATHOLIC AGENCY FOR OVERSEAS AID AND DEVELOPMENT

Expiry date

Signature MIEN

COMPLETE YOUR ADDRESS DETAILS ABOVE

MIMI MN

I 296Rmill

MI=1 =IR IMMO EMI =11111 NOM

INIMI NEM IMRE MINN 11

The Record,December 19 1996 Page 9

Behold the Child HEARS-TORY

Personal History Recording and Transcription Service

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

YOUR LIFE STORY Immortalised on tape

because not everyone has time to write an autobiography.

Your story is too important to be lost! Don't leave it to secondhand recollection - tell it "In your very own words".

Go a step further, have it transcribed and hound.

Christmas Gift Vouchers available.

Do it now - Call Lorraine Williams BA (History)

364 2617

May you have a joyful Christmas season CHIPPERS

NERA I

"My Faith is my Strength... and Chippers respected that."

wr1 ;:to

Pc1 —3

"When my husband died, I wanted his funeral conducted according to Catholic rites.

Chippers respected that - as well as our personal wishes and all the little things that mean so much to my family.

Their staff were caring and the service was flexible. Pat could not have been given a more perfect funeral. Thank you Chippers...for everything."

cf)

rr C HIPPERS

"11

(09) 381 5888 24 hours • All suburbs Flexible • Affordable • Dependable

r-.

AIBM:13N1

Foundation member of the Australian Funeral Directors' Association

'71

Yes, please send me a copy of Chippers Prepaid brochure.

Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms

r-

Address

Postcode Telephone

rTI

Post to: Freepost 128, PO Box 88, Subiaco 6008.

(No stamp needed.)

RECLI st

e are preparing ourselves for And Jesus Himself is the Son of God. Christmas and as the feast Our celebration of Christmas should comes closer, our preparation bear a resemblance to the first Christbecomes more urgent. mas.

We have a model in the person of John We should join in praising God as the the Baptist as he prepared himself and angels did. others for the birth of Jesus Christ.

We should be conscious of the poor We have the help of the Holy Spirit in and needy who were represented by our efforts to level the hills and straightMary and Joseph and by the poor shepen the paths that indicate the difficulherds.

With Bishop Healy ties we face in living the Christian life.

We should endeavour to have the However the responsibility rests on commitment and generosity of the Wise the new born King whose star they had our own shoulders as we strive to come Men. to repentance from sin and renewal of seen in the East.

They journeyed so far that it may have They came to represent their own peoour lives. taken them nearly two years to reach Of course directing, guiding it all, is ple at what was to be a world-shaking Bethlehem and the Child Jesus.

God Himself and God is supremely free event.

So our objective has to be to translate Indeed it was not a surprise but a all in making and carrying out his plans for this into our times, our lives, our whole series of surprises that indicated Christmas. us.

Of all ways in which He could have the good news breaking on the world.

God will be in our Christmas if we recSuch is the real Christmas. For many oncile ourselves to Him in His Sacrabrought about our reconciliation with Himself. He chose one way which was people Christmas has lost its meaning ment of Reconciliation - Confession.

Perhaps a little surprising, but then God and it is no longer the sacred feast of God will be with us if we give Him the birth of Jesus. is the God of surprises. praise and thanksgiving in the Christ'Ilrue, people celebrate it but not in the mas Mass.

He chose Mary, a young girl from the town of Nazareth to be the mother of a way God would want.

God will be with us if we receive Jesus It is for this reason that we have to pre- in the Blessed Eucharist.

Redeemer, the son of God, Jesus Christ.

He chose that Jesus would be born, pare ourselves for the celebration durAnd the poor and needy will be with not in a house but in a stable sur- ing Advent - so that we may see us if we have shared our possessions Christmas as God does. rounded by animals. with them, and if we will renew our God himself must be very much a part commitment and generosity to God. He chose as the first visitors to the stable a group of shepherds with their of Christmas festivities.

This Christmas may the grace of God sheep, shepherds being the poorest of After all it is to Him alone that we owe restore within us all our good intenall groups in the society of the time. the origin of the feast. tions, aspirations and desires.

Later, much later, would come the It is to His love of us that we owe the Happy and Holy Christmas to every Wise Men with their precious gifts for birth of Jesus. person, every family, every Parish.

Keeping our goal fixed on Baby Jesus in the madness of the festive rush and preparation tri r-

The Family Funeral Director

See Christmas as God does

CHIPPERS

The Recorpecember.19 1996 Page 10

ti

o, ho, ho, and what is your name little girl?" "Sally." "Ho, ho, ho. well now Sally, have you been a good girl this year?"

Surreptitious glance at Mummy, "yes". "Wonderful, wonderful, so what would you like Santa to bring you for Christmas?"

Eyes full of wonder, "a swing and a fwower dwess pwease".

Sound familiar? One magic moment in the life of a little girl; its Christmas time again.

The very word Christmas conjures up a hundred conflicting images.

For children it means weeks of anticipation, whereas for parents it may mean weeks of worrying about the contents of their wallets.

For many of us it means family reunions, and for the lucky one whose turn it is to host the family Christmas dinner, it may mean a nervous breakdown at the thought of the sheer enormity of the event.

Preparations for Christmas start earlier and earlier these days (for those of us who are organised that is, I still haven't done my Christmas shopping).

By the final week the pressure is enormous, "Have I sent them a card? Who have I forgotten? What on earth canI gef for John?"

Late on Christmas Day most of us collapse with nervous exhaustion, not to

41, C/68*%e

With Penny Ashcroft

mention an excess of traditional Christmas fare.

Despite all the conflicting emotions, the party hats, crackers and festive spirit usually win the day, leaving people little the wiser about the true meaning of Christmas.

Baby Jesus can be easily forgotten in a sea of tinsel and Christmas wrapping paper.

It can sometimes take concentrated effort on the behalf of families who want to keep Christ in Christmas to combat the Christmas rush and make time to celebrate the true meaning of this wonderful season.

Over the years we have developed a few 'traditions' that have given our family a magic moment or two during the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Our Christmas preparations begin on the first Sunday of Advent, when we make our wreath, set out the nativity scene, dust off the Christmas tree, and argue about which bit of the tree goes where and whether it should be pointing up or down.

Why nor include a When all of our children were Pilgrimage at home, we would all go to the in your itinerary?

9pm Youth Mass on Christmas 4,5 and 8 day Pilgrimages starting & ending In London.

LOURDES FATIMA - ROME - HOLY 'AND For details Contact: St Peters Pilgrims 87a Rushey Green, London, SE6 4AE ENGLAND Tel 0011 44 181 244 8844, Fax 0011 44 181 697 2466

Eve, come home, listen to Carols by Candlelight, hang up the stockings, and for the benefit of the youngest, put out Christmas cake and milk for Santa.

From our earliest childhood, all of us have experienced those magical moments on Christmas Eve. For our family, Mass, Carols, and fairy lights all help to conjure up a sense of anticipation.

For everyone who is celebrating the birth of Christ, that special sense of expectation on Christmas Eve can be touched here and there with wonder and awe.

One of the nicest experiences we have had occurred a few years ago, when a group of young people from our Parish visited our home and sang Christmas Carols.

Our neighbours joined us and it was a very simple, but very special, event.

Christmas morning at our home brings with it yet another established tradition started by my Parents.

Thank goodness, now that the girls are older, the time of rising is more moderate, but whatever time ills, we always gather around the tree with cups of tea and fruit mince pies and listen to carols while Dad, adorned with a Father Christmas cap, hands out the gifts.

For all of us, whatever our family traditions, wherever we celebrate the coming of the Light of the World, may the true meaning of Christmas prevail in our hearts and may our Christmas be peacefilled and joyful.

MANNING & ASSOCIATES

OPTOMETRISTS Contact Lens Consultants Mark 1Kalenas (B. optom)

Grove Plaza, Cottesloe 384 6633 or 384 6720

Why not try a

Record Classified?

227 7778 24 hours

WA Sunday Mass Timetable 1997

ME ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH: METROPOLITAN PARISHES Applecross: 730, 9.30am, 6pm; Sat. 7pm.

Armadale: 730, 9.30am, 6pm; Sat. 6.30pm.

Attadale: 7.30, 9.30am; Sat. 6.30pm.

Balcatta: 7.30, 9, 10.30 (It) am, 12 noon (Croat) 6pm, Sats. 6pm (See also Gwelup.)

Balga: 8, 9.30am, 6pm; Sat 6pm. North Balga: (Majella): 9am.

BallaJura: 8, 9.30am, 5pm; Sat 6pm.

Bassendean: 7, 9, 10.30am.

Bateman: 8, 9.30, 11am; Sat 6.30pm.

Bayswater 7.30, 9.30am Sat. 6pm.

Beaconsfield: 7, 8.30, 10ani. 7pm; Sat. 6.30pm.

Bedford: 10.15am. 5pm; Sat. 6.30pm.

Belmont 10am.

Bentley: 7.30, 9.30am; Sat 6.30pm.

Brentwood: 9, 11am (see Willetton) Carina: 8.15am.

Carlisle: 8, 9.30am; Sat. 6.30pm.

Carmelites Nedlands: 11am.

Chidlow: 730am.

City Beach: 8, 9.30am, 5.30pm; Sat. 6.30pm.

Claremont: 730. 9.30am., 7pm.

Clarkson: 8.30am.

Cloverdale: 8, 9.30am.

7pm; Sat. 7pm.

Coolbellup: 10am.

Como: 8.30am; Sat. 6pm.

Cottesloe: 10am, 5pm.

Crawley: (St. Thom. More) 10.30am, 5.45pm; Sat 5.45pm.

Dianella: 730, 9.30,

10.45am; Sat. 7pm.

Kwinana: 730, 9.30am; Doubleview: 8, 10am, Sat 6.30pm.

5.30pm; Sat. 6.30pm.

Leederville: 8, 9.15 (It), East Cannington: 9.30am.

10.30am; Sat 6.30pm.

East Fremantle: 730, Lesmurdie: 8, 9.30am, 9.30am, 730pm; Sat 7pm 5.30pm; Sat. 7pm.

East Perth: 9.30am.

Lockridge: 8, 9.30am; Sat. East Victoria Park 730, 6.30pm.

9.30am; Sat. 6.30pm.

Lynwood: 9am, 5.30pm; Embleton: 9am; Sat. 7pm.

Sat. 6.30pm.

Floreat: 8.30am; Sat. Maddington: 7.30, 9am; 6.30pm.

Sat. 6.30pm.

Fremantle: Z 8.30, 9.45 (It), Maida Vale: 8, 9.30am, 11am, 5pm; Sat. 6.30pm.

6pm: Sat. 6.30pm.

Glendalough: 8, 9am; Sat. Manning: 7.30, 9am; Sat. 6.30pm.

6.30pm.

Girrawheen: 8, 9.30am; Maylands: 8.30, 10am; Sat Sat. 6.30pm.

6.30pm.

Gosnells: 730, 9.30am; Sat. Melville: 11am; Sat 6.30pin 6.30pm Midland. 9 30am. 6pm, Greenmount: 730, 9, Sat. 6.30pm.

10.30am (Pol), 6pm: Sat. Mirrabooka: (See Balga.)

6.30pm.

Morley: 7.30, 8.45, Greenwood: 730, 9, 10.15am, 11.30am (It).

10.30am; Sat. 6.30pm.

6pm: Sat. 6.30pm.

Mosman Park 8.30am; Guildford: 730, 9.30am; Sat. 6.30pm Sat. 6.30pm.

Gwelup: 11am Mt Lawley: 8, 9.30am; Sat. Hamilton Hill: 8am (Port), 6pm.

9.30am (Eng); Mundaring: 9.15am; Sat Sat. 6.30pm (Eng).

6.30pm Herne Hill: 8am.

Highgate: 8.30, 10am (It), 5.30pm (Viet); Sat. 6pm.

Hilton: 730, 9am, 5.30pm; Sat 6.30pm.

Hollywood Repat 8am.

Inglewood: 8.30am.

Innaloo: 730, 9.30am, 6.30pm.

Joondanna: 7.30. 9am; Sat 6.30pm.

Kalamunda: 7.30. 9am; Sat. 6.30pm.

Karragullen: 9.30am.

Karrinyup: 730, 9.30am; Sat. 6.30pm.

Kelmscott: 8, 10am, 6pm; Sat 7pm.

Kensington: 10am.

St Mary's Cathedral at night

Merriwa: 8.30am; Sat 6pm Nedlands: 8, 9.30am; Sat. 6.30pm.

North Beach: 8, 10am, 5.30pm; Sat. 6pm.

North Fremantle: 8am (Eng), 10am (Croat), 1pm (Spanish) North Perth Redemptor.

Monastery: 7, 9, 10.30am.

6pm.

Nollamara: 8, 10am; Sat. 6pm Ocean Reef: 8, 10am; Sat. 6.30pm.

Osborne Park 8.30, 10am (It); Sat. 6.30pm.

Palmyra: 7.30, 9.45am. Sat. 6.30pm.

Perth (Cathedral): 730. 9, 10 (Solemn Mass, Choir) 11.30am, 5pm; Sat 6.30pm Pickering Brook 8.30am Port Kennedy: 9am; Sat 6.30pm.

Queens Park 730, 9.30am; Sat. 6.30pm Reddiffe: Ham; Sat. 6.30pm Riverton: 730, 9am, 7pm; Sat. 6.30pm

: COUNTRY PARISHES

THE ARCHDIOCESE F SUNDAY OF THE MONTH Badgingarra Bakers Hill Ballidu Beacon Bencubbin Beverley Bindi Bindi Bindoon (Keaney) Bolgart Boulder Brookton Brucerock Bullfinch Bullsbrook Calingiri Coolgardie Corrigin Cunderdin Dalwallinu Dandaragan Dowerin Dudinin Gillingarra Gingin Goomalling Guilderton Herne Hill Hyden Jennacubbine jurien Cervantes Kalannie (Ang. di) Kalgoorlie

2nd 1st Sat 6.30pm 10am 11am 9.30am 6pm 8am 7pm Sat 7pm Sundays 8am

3rd 8.30am

4th

5th

11am Sat 6pm 10.30am

9.30am 10.30am 7pm

llam 8am 7pm

Odd months only 8am Saturdays 7pm 8am Sat. 7pm 8am 10am 7pm Sundays 9am, Saturdays 6.30pm Sat 6.30pm Sat 6.30pm 10am 10am 8am 8am 8am 7pm 7pm 7pm Sundays 9.00am 9.30am Sundays 9am 8am 8am 10.30am Sat 7pm 8am * Sat 6pm in Winter 9am C/S 8am 10am 6pm 10am 11am 11am 8am Sat 6.30pm 10am 8am Sat 6.30pm 10am 10.15am 8am 8.30am Sunday 7pm on alternate weeks to Lancelin 8am 10am 10am 8am Sat 6.30pm Sundays 12 noon Sundays 8am 8am 10.30am 10am 10am 9am Sat. 6pm llam 9am 9am 9am Sundays 8am, 9am, 5.30pm

MALTESE Mass: Rivervale: 730, 9.30am, Bassendean: (2nd) 6pm.

Sat. 7pm Rockingham: 8, 9.30am, ITALIAN Mass: 7pm: Sat. 7pm Balcatta: 10.30am.

Rossmoyne: 9am; Sat. Morley: 11.30am.

7pm Fremantle:9.45am.

Rottnest 11.30am West Perth: 10am.

Scarborough: 730, 9.30am; Highgate: 10am.

Sat. 6.30pm.

Leederville: 9.15am.

St Cath. Laboure: 8.30am.

Bassendean: (1st Sun) Serpentine: 9am.

730pm.

Shenton Park 10.30am: Park: 10am.

Osborne Sat. 6.30pm Victoria Park: 9am.

South Perth: 7.30, 9.30am; Midland: 11am (1st).

Sat. 7pm Bunbury: (St Mary's) Spezu-wood: 8. 10am: Sat. 8am.

6.30pm St Mary's Cathedral: (See UKRAINIAN Mass: Maylands Ukrainian Perth).

Catholic Church: 9.30am Subiaco: 8, 10am; Sat. 6.30pm.

SPANISH Mass: Swanbourne: 8.30am Tuart Hill: 12 noon (1 Jan.-31 March 8am) West Perth: Sat. 6.30pm Thornlie: 7.30, 9.30am, North Fremantle: 1pm 5pm: Sat. 6.30pm POLISH Mass: Victoria Park 7.45, 9 (It), Maylands Polish Church: 10.15am, 6pm; Sat. 7pm.

8,9.30am. 7pm.

Wanneroo: 7.30, 9am; Sat West Perth: 11.30am.

6.30pm Fremantle: (1st) 12 noon Wembley 730, 9.30am; Northam: (2nd) 11am.

5.30pm.

West Perth: 8.30. 10am Collie: (3rd) 11am.

(It), 11.30am (Pop; Sat. Bunbury: (3rd) 4.30pm.

6.30pm (Sp) PORTUGUESE Mass: Whitfords: 8, 9.30, 11am; Hamilton Hill: 8am.

Sat. 6.30pm VIETNAMESE Mass: Willagee: 7, 9am; 7.15pm: Mt 5.30pm.

Highgate: Sat. 6.30pm Lawley: 8am. 10am.

Willetton: 7.30, 9, 10.30am; Girrawheen: Sat. 8pm.

Sat. 6.30pm.

Wilson: 9.30am: Sat 7pm CROATIAN Mass: Woodvale: 8. 9.30am; Sat. North Fremantle: 10am.

6pm Bassendean: (1st) 4pm.

Yanc.hep: 11am.

Balcatta: 12 noon.

Yangebub: 8. 10am; Sat. Midland: (2nd & 3rd) 6pm 8am DEAF Mass: St Andraous Church Joondanna: Sat. 6.30pm; (Arab Community) Fremantle: 5pm Highgate: 10am Sunday

SUNDAY OF THE MONTH Kambalda Karlgarin Kellerberrin Kondinin Koorda Kulin Lancelin Leonora/Laverton Merredin Miling Moora Mt Walker Mukinbudin Muntadgin Narembeen New Norcia Abbey Northam Nungarin Pingelly Quairaiding Southern Cross Tanunin Toodyay Trayning Westonia Wongan Hills Wundowle Wyallcatchem Yealering Yerecoin York

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Sun's 9am, Sat's 6.30pm; Norseman Sun's 5.30pm 10.15am 2nd Sat's: Jan 7pm, May & Sept 6pm 10am Sat 6.30pm 6.30pm 8am 8am 2nd Sat's: Feb 7pm, July & Oct 6pm; 5th Sat: 7pm Summer (6pm Winter) 7pm Sat 7pm Sat 7pm 10.30am 8am Sat 7pm* 10.15am Sat 7pm* (summer) (* 6pm Winter) 5pm Sundays on alternate week to Ging-in Every 3rd Sunday. Notices posted.

Sundays 8am, Saturdays 7pm 8am 10am Sat 6.30pm 6.30pm Sat 6.30pm 6.30pm 6.30pm Children's Mass 10 am (4th Sunday only) 6pm 10.30am 7pm 8am 10.30am Sat 7pm 7pm Sat 7pm* Sat 7pm* 10am Sat 7pm* 8am (*Saturday Vigil at 6pm in Winter) Sundays 9am Sundays 8am, 6.30pm. Polish Mass 10am (2nd Sun only) 10.15am Sat 6.30pm Sat 6.30pm 8am Sat 6pm 10am Sat 6pm 10am Sundays 8.30am, Saturdays 6.30pm Sat 7pm 10am 8am 9am C/S 7pm Saturdays 6.30pm 8am 8am C/S Sat 6.30pm 10am Sat6.30pm 10.45am 10.45am 10.45am Sat 6pm 8am Sat 6pm 8am Sat 6pm 10am 10am 8am Sat 6pm Sat 6pm 8am Sat 6pm 2nd Sat: 6pm winter, 7pm summer 9.30am Sundays 10am The Record,Decembet 19 1996 Page 11

Behold the Child

. . . . Christmas overseas

Where Catholicism colours society at all levels

By Fr Jess Navarra, Bunbury

p

asko na nama, 0 kay tulin ng araw..." (It's Christmas time once again, time goes quickly) as the Christmas carol goes.

It's four more weeks before Christmas and this would be my second Christmas away from home.

How willI celebrate Christmas?

For all the Filipinos living here, how do you celebrate Christmas?

Ican't help myself except to look back at memories and enjoyment brought about by the many festivities we have had during Christmas time in the Philippines.

As early as September, Christmas Carols are on the air over the radio, in the shopping malls and even at homes.

We start to decorate our homes with Christmas lights, lanterns and Christmas trees which are usually made from tree branches.

Boys and girls are on the streets selling lanterns. They organise themselves for Carollings through houses, stores and public places playing their improvised musical instruments like bamboo sticks, cans and 4 string guitars.

After being entertained, people enthusiastically give them some amount for lollies.

At night time, you can hear PAX! PAK! BOOM! BOOM! Its the

sound of canons made of bamboo fuelled by kerosene oil. These canons will continue to dominate the atmosphere at night as children engage in a competition to see who can make the loudest explosion.

The Misa de Gallo (Dawn Mass) is one of the most cherished traditions of our Christmas preparations.

From December 16 to 26, Church bells begin to ring early in the morning. Most people rise to the sound of the bells and go to the Church for Mass at 4 o'clock.

If there is a likelihood of having a new dress or shirt as a gift, it is left to such an occasion for the excitement of dressing-up for the feast.

At school, everyone is excited to look forward to the Christmas party.

Besides enjoying the food, games and dancing, we look forward to the Christmas break and holidays.

During that party, we exchange gifts and cards and wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a Blessed Filipino worker Eddie Consente molds vines for home decorations in the shape of angels on Decemberl 1 in Manila.

New Year. involved in preparing the Noc.he After the Mass, we greet each within the family and the whole Godparents prepare their gifts Buena (food to be served at mid- other and invite our friends to community. for their godchildren, who they night. I remember, I always loved have a Noche Buena" with us. expect to come anytime.

To one and all, let me greet you: to be in charge of rotating the We have this unique celebration Mali Gayang Pasko at Manigong Godchildren in turn show their roasted pig). of Christmas because it is an Bagong Taon (or, in English: appreciation, gratitude and At midnight Mass, the children opportune occasion to delve respect by kissing the hand of enjoy the re-enactment of the deeper into the meaning of the Merry Christmas and a Happy their godparents.

Nativity Scene, fascinated by the Lord's coming in the flesh and its New Year).

At Christmas Eve, the whole nativity figures that give them the vital implications for us.lt brings - Courtesy of the Catholic family gathers and everyone is impression of a realistic setting. unity, love and belongingness Migrant Centre Newsletter

Symbols of home help Pope taste joy of Christmas past

By Lynne Well

T

his time of year, many a household makes a small ceremony out of finding and raising the Christmas tree.

But only the papal household had its main tree delivered from Slovenia on a flatbed truck It's also common to invite a few people over for holiday festivities before the big day itself.

Pope John Paul II will play host to as many as 4,000 at once.

And while the night before Christmas leaves visions of sugarplums dancing in some heads, for his own part the Pope will be looking at a lot of fish.

Pope John Paul's list of official events during this season brings new meaning to the phrase, "busy holiday schedule."

However, amid the speeches, Masses and meetings, some events are likely to have a more personal meaning for the Polish Pope.

One of them is the singing of "koledy," traditional Polish songs about Christmas, Advent, Epiphany and related themes.

'The Holy Father sings very well, and he particularly likes the koledy," said Father Konrad Helm, director of the centre for Polish pilgrims visiting Rome.

Father Helm is one of the few who have spent Christmas Eve at the Pope's table.

Usually Pope John Paul invites between 10 and 20 people friends from Krakow, prominent Poles in Rome, and a Polish cardinal or two. It is never the same group, and there might be several years' separation between invi-

tations - for those who are invited more than once.

'The Holy Father has a gift for making friends," Father Hejmo explained.

The table is arranged inside the papal apartments, which are decorated with up to a dozen trees that have been brought in fresh from the forests of Poland.

"The mountains of Northern Italy do not provide the right kind of trees. And it makes the Holy Father feel more at home. You know how he likes nature," Father Hejmo said.

The Pope's personal nativity scene offers another uniquely Polish touch.

The figures of Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus are all dressed in Polish folk costumes, as is done in many Polish homes.

Christmas Eve in a Polish household usually involves a dinner with 12 courses, up to half of them fish, as no meat is to be eaten on that occasion.

Pope John Paul is unlikely to subject himself to all 12 dishes, observers say, but he customarily does have more than one fish course.

Father Hejmo said these items also grace the Christmas Eve table at his pastoral centre.

Christmas is an important family holiday in Poland, he noted, so he tries to make it as homey as possible for the staff members, nuns and pilgrims who find themselves so far from home this lime of year.

On the afternoon of the 24th, they have the unique opportunity to sing "koledy" with the Pope at an audience in the Vatican.

The more than 12,000 Poles liv-

The Record,December 19 1996 Page 12

ing in Rome and the surrounding area are all welcome, and as many as one third of them show up.

In addition to the songs, at the audience Pope John Paul performs the Polish Christmas custom of dividing a special wafer called an "oplatek."

Two people grasp the large, rectangular wafer and pull, breaking it together as a sign of friendship.

"We always break the oplatek together in my family," said Sister Rita Partyka, a Polish-American nun who has been in Rome for five years.

"So it is a real special event to be there when the Pope does it."

Sister Partyka, originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania, now lives with her order, the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Founded by a Polish woman, the order ran the nursery school that Pope John Paul attended as a child.

Often, the nuns from this order At a past Chrisbnas Eve midnight Mass, a young boy in Polish costume offers Photo: CNS/Arturo Man who are based in Rome are the eucharistic gifts to the Pope. offered front-row seats at the pre- devotion to his country's customs who has been living in Rome for Christmas audience. is apparent to all visitors to St 32 years. "They represent a life Sister Partyka says she once Peter's Square this time of year. that has survived despite years of gave up her front-row seat to a "In Poland, we prolong Christ- oppression, and a people who nun from Poland, "becauseIknew mas as much as possible," Father have survived occupation by how much it would mean to her." Hejmo said, adding that celebra- other nations."

The Christmas-time folk cus- tions continue until February.

For this reason, it could be that toms also are important to the "Sometimes on the Holy Father's the Christmas tree that also decPope, according to Father Adam Insistence, the nativity scene has orates St Peter's Square will have Boniecld, one of his first biogra- stayed in the square long past additional significance in 1997 phers and the former editor of the when the strict liturgists would Each year the tree is sent from a Polish edition of the Vatican news- like to see it taken down. different country. paper L'Osservatore Romano.

This year's came on an extraThey get uncomfortable about "These are sentimental things," it, but there's nothing they can long flatbed truck from Slovenia, Father Boniecki said. do." with a white banner declaring its "But why not? After all, even the "These celebrations also have a • origin and destination in two lanPope can be sentimental some- patriotic significance," said Jerzy guages. times."

Hurdynski, a writer from the Next year, the tree is to come Father Hejmo said the Pope's Pope's home Diocese of Krakow from Poland.

Behold the Chile

. . . . Christmas overseas

Let the drums beat and the dance begin for an Ethiopian remembrance t

etty Durkin's Ethiopian birthplace is a far cry from Australia where she now lives, so she was eager to share with Australians, how the Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas in her former part of the world.

Her experience is from Tigray, in the north of Ethiopia where the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has perhaps three or four churches to a region for its Christian followers.

The celebration of Christmas, Primarily for children, starts on Christmas Eve. Young children go from house to house singing hymns, to which the expected response of the householder is to promise food or drink which would be collected on Epiphany Eve. The Ethiopian (Coptic) Orthodox use the Old Calendar and celebrate Christmas on January Z with the Epiphany falling 13 days later.

After singing at the various houses, the children then join their parents in the Church where the adults take part in the liturgy and the young watch a drama on the Lett), Durkin - an Ethiopian Christmas birth of Christ.

The service finishes at midnight is colourful and exciting.

Christmas is celebrated by different Christian rites and denominations in a variety of ways. Journalist, Colleen McGuinese-Howard spoke to Lefty Durkin to learn how the Ethiopian Orthodox Church marks the birth of Christ.

Celebrating in the place it happened

'

CNS k4,rram Sushman

The owner of an olive wood factory in Bethlehem cleans creche figures at Christmas time last year.

tbE

hristmas in Bethlehem before she converted to Islam in eF this year will have a order to marry the Palestinian innish twist with the offi- leader.

Festivities this year will follow cial Christmas tree being shipped from Finland and the traditional celebrations, accompanied by a Finnish including the procession of the Latin-rite patriarch of Jerusalem Santa Claus bearing gifts.

According to Bethlehem City into Bethlehem for midnight Clerk Jamal Suleiman, the Mass on December 24.

Arafat has been invited to parFinnish Lutheran Church and the Finnish Foreign Ministry- ticipate in the celebration as he sponsored tree will arrive in did last year.

This is the second year the Bethlehem in mid-December, complete with decorations, and Palestinian Authority will be in was be placed in Manger charge of the Christmas observance in Bethlehem.

Square.

While the Latin-rite Catholic Last year a tree in the courtyard of a building next to Church celebrates Christmas on Manger Square was used and December 25, Orthodox churchwas lighted officially by Suha es throughout the world comArafat, Yasser Arafat's wife, who memorate the birth of Jesus in used to be Greek Orthodox January.

with adults returning home. But the children, aged from about 12 to late teens, gather in a house to sing and dance until early morning.

Back home, children may receive practical presents of clothing "but nothing very much," said Lefty, and then they play special games together.

For this purpose, prior to Christmas they make black and white sticks.

After a family lunch, "which may be a special meal, but nothing big deal." Lefty explained, children resume games which continue to Epiphany Eve. At that point, all the three or four churches in the region assemble in a tent cluster around the river preparing for Mass the next day.

The children meanwhile gather up the promised food or drink for their evening meal, taking whatever is left over to the priests the next day down by the river.

After the liturgy the priests bless the food and everyone is given a portion, no matter how small.

For the liturgy, however, traditional clothes are worn by the parishioners.

After having the river blessed by the priests they will wash their

A Christmas liturgy takes place beneath the cover of the tent.

The overflow crowd of men waits outside the tent for the liturgy to end.

hands, feet, and faces in it. If there are children ready to be baptised (40 days after birth for boys, and 80 for girls), they are baptised on that day.

Hymns are sung and drums beaten, possibly by the deacon,

and perhaps a church dance.

With services over, all tent churches pack up and leave, except if there is a St Michael's church - it remains by the river to celebrate its feast day which occurs the day after the Epiphany.

The warm glow of an Irish feast emehe green isle of Ireland is cold around Christmas time, with maybe some snow upon the peaks.

But the whitewashed walls and thatched or slate roofs of the cottages which dotted the countryside, had fires of turf, log or coal, as did the city dwellers, to warm and make cosy their homes.

Inside excitement mounted in the large families, as they prepared for the coming of Christ.

Parish priest of City Beach, Father Tom Phelan, and Lena Costello of Leederville, both came from rural Ireland and give us their recollections of the great feast of Christmas as they were growing up.

Fr Phelan recalls how they didn't have midnight Mass in the country, only in the city cathedral, and remembers what a thrill it was "getting up in the dark and going off to Mass."

There was no electricity in those days, at least in rural Ireland, so the churches had their own little plants.

The major emphasis was on the religious aspect of Christmas, he says, "because the faith was so much part of our lives."

He tells how his family with four children, would say the rosary every night and the picture of the Holy Family was a permanent fixture in the house.

And part of the Christmas preparation was the reception of Reconciliation in order to be worthy enough to receive Holy Communion at Mass.

The setting up of the crib was a cause of much excitement too for the Phelan family, with the candles near the crib and in the win-

dow. On Christmas Day there was the traditional and very sumptuous fare of the roast dinner with turkey, and all the trimmings, "and then people would go for a walk" As everyone knew everybody else, remarked Fr Phelan, it was a great time to catch up with those who'd left the area or gone to Dublin or England to work, and returned home for Christmas.

Christmas cheer in Gaelic

"So there was much rejoicing from every point of view!" Lena, a wife and grandmother, remembers all the domestic preparations that took place for Christmas Day and how her family refrained from eating meat on Christmas Eve. Once again, the emphasis was on the religious significance of Christmas, "and although you believed in Santa Claus, it was

Jesus' birth which made it the greatest day of the year!" she emphasised.

There was the lovely crib "with each household crib surpassing the other for beauty," said Lena.

"We'd place baby Jesus in the crib at midnight on Christmas Eve, and the three Wise Men on the Eve of the Epiphany."

Large candles were lit in the window "which was to show people the way to the stable, and made such a picture as you saw all the other window candles of the thickly populated area lighting up the darkness," she said.

Inside, Lena's home was decorated with dark green, serrated holly leaves and red berries and preparation was made for the stuffing of the goose with potato, and with bread stuffing in the turkey.

Attending Mass meant the children piled into the pony-drawn sulky to take part in the magic and mystery of the Christmas Day Mass. Returning home, the cooking would start, and finally Lena's family would sit down to the turkey, goose, ham, and roast vegetables "with the cold outside and the warmth of the big fire inside."

Life in the country was generally good, according to Lena, who said they never went hungry as they grew their own produce such as pigs, geese and turkeys, and would invite others to join them at Christmas if they never had any family; "but generally each house had a big family of their own."

Presents were not given, but if a new dress or p,-.1 of shoes were needed, Christmas was generally the time they'd be purchased.

Colleen McGuinness-Howard

The Record,December 19 1996 Page 13

WA Sunday Mass Timetable 1997 THE DIOCESE OF BUNBURY Sunday of the month Albany (H/Family) Albany (St Joseph) Augusta Australind Balingup Boddington Boyanup Boyup Brook Bremer Bay (c/s) Bridgetown Broomehill Brunswick Millbury (St Patrick's) Bunbury (St Mary's) Bunbury (Carey Park) Busselton Cape!

Cascades Collie Condingup Cranbrook Dardanup Darkan Denmark Donnybrook Dumbleyung Dunsborough Dwellingup Esperance Frarildand Gnowangerup Grasspatch Greenbushes Harvey

1st

2nd 3rd 4th 5th Sundays 9.30am, Saturdays 6pm, Sun 7.30pm Taize Mass Dec/Jan Sundays 730am Sun 8am Saturdays 6pm, Sundays 9am 10.30am Sat 6pm 9.30am 9.30am 7.45am 745am C/S Sundays 730am Sundays 9am 10am 10am 10.30am 10am 10am Communion Services only Sundays 8.30am Sundays Barn 10.30am 8.30am 10.30am 8.30am 10.30am Sundays 730am, 6 pm; Sat 6pm Sundays 8am (Italian), 9.30am Sundays 8.30am Sundays 10am, Saturdays 7pm 10am 8.30am 8.30am 8.30am 8.30am 11.30am (may change in 1997) Sun 8, 10am, (Nov-Mar Z 9am); Saturdays 7pm 1 lam (*may change) 6.30pm Sundays 9am; Saturdays 7pm 8am 8am 8am 10am 8am 10am 8am 8.30am 10am 10am 10am 10am Sat 6.30pm Sat 6.30pm Sundays 8am 8.30am C/S 8.30am Sundays 9am; Saturdays 6.30pm 5pm 5pm Ilam Sat 6pm llam (*may change in 1997) Sat 6pm 9.30am 8.30am 10am 8.30am lOarn 8.30am Saturday's: 7pm

St Mary's in Ara Coe, Northampton

Sunday of the month

1st

3rd

4th

5th

GERALDTON: Cathedral: 730, 9.30am; 6pm; Sat 7pm. Rangeway: 8.30am; 5.45pm.

Bluff Point: 9am, 5.30pm; Sat. 6.30pm.

Wonthella: 730am.

Beachlands: 10.30am.

Coorow:

6pm 8am C/S

8.30am C/S 8am C/S

6pm

6pm

8am

8am

8.30amc/s 8am C/S

Dongara: 9.30am.

Enneabba: 6.30pm.

Exmouth: 9 am; Sat. 6pm (Communion Services only on 2nd 4th &5th weekend) Greenough 8.00am ICalbarri: 5pm.

THE DIOCESE OF BROOME Broome Cathedral: Sat. Vigil 6pm, Sunday 7am, 9am (January Sundays 8am only) Derby: Sat. Vigil 6pm, Sunday 9am Kununurra: Sat. Vigil 6pm, Sunday 8.30am

The riecord,toecimbeit1

Lake Grace Lake King Lake Varley Leschenault Mandurah Manjimup Margret River Mount Barker Munglinup Nannup Narrogin Newdegate Northcliffe Nyabing Ongerup Pemberton Pingrup Pinjarra Ravensthorpe Salmon Gums South Stirlings Tambellup Wagin Walpole Waroona Wellstead Williams Yarloop

Sat 6.30pm 2pm 11.15am 10.30am C/Service 8.30am 10.30am 10am 6pm

9am

9.30am C/Service 8.30am 10.30am 8.30am Fri 7pm 1 - 0am 9am 9am Sat 6pm 11.30am (may change in 1997)

5pm 5pm 9am Sat 6pm 9am Sat 6pm 10.45am Sat 6.30pm Sat 6.30pm Sundays 11.45am (Communion service 1st, 3rd & 5th week) 8.30am 10am 8.30am 10am 8.30am 8.30am C/S 8.30am C/S Thur 6pm 8am 8am 10am 8.30am 10am 8.30am 10am

199d rPe 14

Sunday of the month 1st ICarratha: 9.30am; Sat. 7pm.

Laverton: Sat. 6pm

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

Sat. 6pm Leeman: 10am (5.30pm Mass only 1st Sundays of Nov-June)

11.30am

Cue: Dampier: Sat. 5.30pm.

Kukerin

1st 3rd 2nd 4th 5th Mon 6.30pm Sat 9am Tues 7pm Fri 7pm Sundays Barn summer (9am in winter) Sundays 9am, Sat 6pm (1st & 5th Sat's only) Saturdays 7.30pm (7pm June - August) 9am Sat 6pm Sat 6pm 9am 8.30am 10.30am Sat 7pm* Sat 7pm* 8am Sat 7pm* (*6pm Winter), 3rd Sat - Communion service 9am 6pm 8am 10.30am 9am 10.45am 8.30am 8.30am 10.45am Sat 6pm Sun 9am Sun's 8, 9.30am; Sat's 7pm (Christmas hols - add Sun 7pm) 10.30am 8.30am Sat 7.30pm 8.30am 10.30am Sundays 10am; Saturdays 5pm Saturdays 5pm, Sundays 10am (except 2nd & 4th Sun's: 8am) Home Mass (may change in 1997) Thurs 7pm Saturdays 6pm Sundays 9.30am

Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Dongara

2nd

Carnarvon: 8, 10am; Sat. 7pm.

Carnamah:

Sunday of the month Houptoun Jerdacuttup Karridale Katarming Kirup Kojonup

Leinster: 4.30pm 4.30pm Leonora: 9am 9am Meekatharra: Sat. 6pm (Communion Service 1st, 2nd & 5th weekend).

Mingenew: 6pm Sat. 6pm 6pm Sat. 6pm Mt Magnet: 10am (1st, 2nd & 5th Sun's).

Morawa: 8am.

Mullewa: 8am.

Murchison: 6pm Nanson: Sat. 6pm Newman: 8am; Sat. 6.30pm Northampton: 8.00am; Sat. 6.30pm.

Paraburdoo: 10.30am.

Perenjori: Sat. 6pm.

Port Hedland: 8.30am; Sat. 6pm.

Shark Bay: Sun 5pm(last Sunday of month only) South Hedland:8.30, 10am; Sat. 7pm.

Three Springs: 10am 8.30am C/S 10am 10am Tom Price: 8am; Sat.5pm.

Wickham: loam.

Yalgoo: Yana: Sat. 7.30pm.

10.30am

10.30am

6pm

10am

Behold- the Child

Thanks dinner a feast of love

By Father W. Thomas Faucher

3

t was a cold but clear day in 1953, about December 14 or 15, when John Rose went to see Ed O'Connell.

(In this true story I've changed the people's names because they feel strongly about their privacy) Rose was a jeweller, an eastern European who had come to America after the war.

He and his wife Naomi were among the few Jewish families in the area.

O'Connell was a Catholic, a former seminarian, who was one of a new breed of peace officer with some new ideas about how justice should be served.

Rose wasn't sure how Sheriff O'Connell would understand what he wanted.

Rose had thought of having someone come with him who spoke better English.

But his Jewish friends disagreed with him; even the rabbi who came to the area four times a year did not think he was right.

Rose explained to the sheriff that just 10 years before, at the height of the war, he and his family had escaped deportation to the death camps by being taken in by their Christian neighbours.

His younger brother and sister were actually posing as the children of one family, Rose's older sister was with another family, and Rose and his parents lived with yet another as distant cousins.

For almost a year, Rose's family had not been together.

So plans were made for all the families to join together for Christmas dinner.

They felt the Germans would never expect Jews to be eating Christmas dinner with Christians.

For the Roses, all the Christmas rituals

^

ce"

were new and strange. To help make them feel at home, their hosts used a few Jewish prayers and stressed that Mary, Joseph and Jesus were all homeless Jews, taken in by someone else that first Christmas.

Balcatta villas get a blessing

Now 10 years later Rose had come up with an idea to return the kindness of that Christmas dinner.

He wanted to invite five prisoners who would be in jail on Christmas Day to come

to his home for dinner. Sheriff O'Connell decided to allow it as long as a guard went along.

Thus began a continuing tradition of having several prisoners come to Christmas dinner.

With each new sheriff, Rose went down and asked again.

Even after Rose died in 1979, Naomi and then her son Matt continued the tradition most years.

In the early days most who carne were in jail for petty theft or drunkenness.

Over time the Roses noticed that the prisoners were gradually getting younger. Most of their offenses were drug related.

In the early years, too, all the men who came had experienced Christmas dinner when growing up.

But later, most who came had never had any kind of Christmas dinner before.

Rose insisted from the beginning that the dinner never be publicised.

His first Christmas dinner had to be secret, and he felt that if the prisoners dinner became famous it would distract from their enjoyment of it.

Matt Rose's son did a little project on the dinner as part of a college assignment.

He noted that none of the prisoners invited to dinner ever was arrested for a crime after his release.

Naomi Rose has a framed note on her kitchen wall from a man who had dinner with them about 1960. It says: "It was the only time in my life I had ever been invited anywhere. Thank you for dinner. You people are what God wants all of us to be."

A safe Christmas - is an even happier Christmas With the festive season upon us, we all need to be aware of accidents and unfortunate situations that can happen over this period. Granted, holidays are a time to relax and forget about all the worries of everyday life, but being too relaxed about your security can often bring more trouble than enjoyment. Catholic Church Insurances would like to take this opportunity to remind you of some simple tips to make this Christmas - a safe, happy Christmas!

I f you are going away - protect your home:

A $1.15 million complex of 20 villas, the second stage of a joint project between St Lawrence's parish in Balcatta and Homeswest, was officially opened by Housing Minister Graham Kierath and blessed by archdiocesan vicar-general Monsignor Michael Keating before a crowd of residents and Their relatives recently. As he blessed each of the Majella Villas, Monsignor Keating was able to meet and chat with residents, many of whom had moved in in September. Pictured here with the Monsignor as their own villa is blessed are residents Lawrence and Maisie Valles.

God bless us and the Blessed Virgin protect us

SOLEMNITY OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD

NEW YEAR'S EVE

• Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your home. If they have a second car ask them to park it in your driveway.

• Cancel all your deliveries, eg: newspapers; have the post office hold your mail or collected by a trusted neighbour; and ask your neighbour to collect unsolicited mail and local newspapers • Arrange to have your lawns mowed, • Inform a trusted neighbour of your absence, leave an itinerary, a contact number, a return date - give them a key if necessary.

• Don't advertise your absence. Request neighbours not to inform callers that you're absent on holidays. Don't leave an "away on holiday" message on your answering machine • Lock away all garden tools, ladders and the like which may be used for gaining entry to your residence.

• Install an automatic timing device that can turn on and off selected lights, TV and radios.

• Leave shades or blinds as you normally do. Remember closed blinds make an effective screen for burglars.

• Hide your garbage bins. An empty bin is a sure sign you're away.

• Leave some washing on the line.

• Disconnect your radio controlled garage door and put on a normal lock.

• Before leaving remember to lock all doors and windows - in most domestic burglaries the offender gains entry via an unlocked door or window.

At the Shrine of the"Virgin of Revelation"36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook.

And with this in mind...

His Grace, Archbishop Hickey will celebrate Midnight Mass and preach the homily to welcome 1997, the Year of Jesus

Catholic Church Insurances Ltd wish you a safe Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Candlelight procession and Rosary at 11.30pm.

All clergy, religious and laity are warmly invited to attend.

For further enquiries please phone the SACRI Association 447 3292 or 444 2285

If you like any further information about how CCI can assist you with your insurance needs, please call toll free: 1 800 011 028.

MCatholic Church 111 Insurances Limited

The Recorl,pecembe!% 19,1996 ,Pag 15,

et

e

(AIM 4U'

No

Behold the Chile

ore pudding, thank you

By Monsignor Michael Keating i E r hristmas in Rome is memorable and in the 1960's was quite wonderful. From 1959 I spent seven Christmases there, four at Propaganda College and three at the post graduate College of St Peters.

Looking back, we did have a tinge of sadness at Christmas.

But we were young, and all in the same boat being away from home, and one Roman Christmas at Propaganda College was always special.

Of course the Roman Christmas is cold, but rarely is there snow only in the distant hills can snow be seen and a freezing breeze hits the city in wintertime.

Following the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, the nine days preceding Christmas were special.

The novena included the beautiful Advent verses put to music

by Praglia.

A young Monsignor Keating, left, helps make the Christmas Pudding at Propaganda Fide College in the 1960's.

One of the memorable features He propounded the then almost beautiful cribs. Another feature of the College was the liturgy even Basilica would ring heralding the revolutionary method of auto-for- of our Christmases was the prior to the reforms of the Second birth of our Saviour.

Gifts were not exchanged, as I mation.

Christmas pudding.

Vatican Council. remember, by the students but we If we didn't spiritually form ourSome Australians would be surThe College Choir had a full time Priest/Conductor, and the did receive from the College a selves, he argued, how could we prised to know that many fellow pair of shoes. sustain our priesthood outside Australians, for example those of singing was splendid.

The college was divided into the College?

Italian extraction, have none of Imagine more than two hundred Therefore, in contrast to the Aus- turkeys and ham and Christmas and fifty male voices alternating "Cameratas" - groups of about between the Choir and the stu- twenty or so students occupying tralian seminaries of the time, a puddings at Christmas. Some dent body singing Refice's "Missa a wing of the College - one would happy, tolerant atmosphere pre- good pasta and meat might be sit at table with this group and vailed, not bound by regulation at eaten.

Choralis". recreate with them except on Sun- every turn.

So it was in Rome - Christmas I was a member of the choir as days.

At Christmas, each Camerata lunch was pasta and possibly beef were many Australians. Well It was the ingenious method would have a crib.

- but we did have Christmas pudremembered for his singing as the used to help us all mix with the One national group would also ding. baritone soloist was my immedi- other nationalities - most being undertake to construct the ColIam not sure when the tradition ate predecessor in the College, from Asia and Africa and Ocea- lege Crib annually. started but in the fifties and sixBarry James Hickey. nia, none of us being Italian.

Generally we were not permit- ties, at least in Propaganda, the The liturgy besides the singing, We had a Prefect and Vice-Pre- ted to visit other Cameratas, but Australian students provided the was prepared meticulously and fect and a student called the on Christmas Day we were able Christmas puddings for all the many outside the College came "Zelatore" whose job it was to find to visit their cribs.

College - much to the amazement just to be part of our liturgical cel- out our birthdays and Feastdays Then, in the days following of many of the Asians and ebrations. and arrange to have them remem- Christmas, we could visit the won- Africans who had never seen or The College Choir was asked to bered. derful cribs in the various Roman tasted anything like it (either, to sing for the Pope occasionally, and There was also the "Prefetto dei Churches. be honest, had we).

In my time there we also sang for Gabinetti" - the Prefect of the toiKnowing that Assisi, and St FranWe provided Australian dried visitors to the College who includ- lets, whose job it was to collect cis, is credited with being the fruits and donned aprons mixed ed Irish President Eamon de money monthly to pay for the toi- place of the first crib, one can the pudding batter, put the mixValera and his wife, and Julius let paper. imagine that many of these cribs ture in cloth and cooked them.

Nyere of Tanzania.

The old Cardinal Prefect of Pro- were splendid indeed.

Imust sayIthink they never realIn Propaganda preparations for paganda somehow thought of toiOne I remember was in the ly looked brown or tasted quite Christmas were thorough. let paper as a luxury, not to be Church of St Mary of the Angels like Christmas puddings.

A marathon Midnight Mass with supplied by the College.

- it had eighty moving figures - the But it was a good moment as we the Divine Office had us in the Heading the College in those whole village surrounding the annually carried them in and we Chapel, according to my diary days as Rector was the remark- Bethlehem cave - figures milking had great fun making them. one year, for four hours. able Monsignor Felice Cenci, cows, chopping wood and so on.

The Sisters brought in to cook At Midnight with the Dome of St whose cause for beatification is The Italian children's eyes lit up for us were from Bergamo and Peter's floodlit the bells of the being promoted. with delight as they saw these were brought in by Pope John

XXIII when he was in charge of the Missions in Italy.

They were wonderful people but had little idea of mass catering.

In contrast the food at St Peters College, cooked by a group of Sisters from Venice was wonderful.

We would try to be back for Christmas lunch from the various parishes in which we were supplying over the Christmas period, just to partake of their tastily prepared food.

Christmas 1962 was very special for me - with my parents and sister Pauline present for my Ordination on December 22.

I was just so happy and immediately after we left Rome by car for Lourdes and other places of pilgrimage.

On Christmas day we would listen to the Pope's Christmas message and have a film in the College at night.

My diary records Christmas one year as a young priest of Formello about 35 kilometres from Rome to which I travelled on my scooter.

Many student priests in Rome had scooters and though we never wore helmets, there were no serious accidents that I remembered: others like myself had frequent enough falls on an oil slick or in the wet I record hearing hours and hours of Confessions.

As I attempted to leave to celebrate Midnight Mass those who had been waiting around for ages objected loudly and literally pushed me back.

The Italian priests had a wonderful way - as you were on the way to the Altar, whispering in your ear that you had to say "Due Parole" - their way of saying that you were to preach the sermon.

I wrote in my diary that I had Christmas lunch with the Parish Priest and it consisted of soup, goat and beef and, for sweets, "Panettone" with some Italian Spumante.

In a multi-cultural Australia, people will be celebrating Christmas in many different ways - customs-wise, presents-wise and food-wise, with an ache in their hearts for Christmases that have been long ago and far away.

There are many different ways in which people around the world celebrate the Birth of our Saviour.

The girl who just wanted a friend for her Christmas

By Janaan Manternach arah reread her essay. It wasn't bad but she hated the assignment because h s e didn't want to share with her new class what she wanted for Christmas.

What did writing an essay like this have to do with social studies anyway?

If she had written what she really wanted for Christmas - like being back at her old school with her friends in her old neighbourhood - then she was sure she wouldn't be feeling so lonely and unhappy.

Another thing she hated was that the teacher told them they would be reading their essays aloud during class.

What if no one else wanted a "My Fair Lady" Barbie doll? What If all of them had outgrown the "Goosebump" stories and would

make fun of her for still liking them? What if she got the Anza bike she wanted and had no friends to ride with?

As she reread her essay, her heart ached with more 'What if?" questions.

The next morning when she boarded the bus she was still worried about sharing her Christmas wishes.

However, she made herself feel better by remembering that soon there would be almost 10 days when she wouldn't have to go to school.

Sarah took her seat in the class and kept her eyes down.

When she looked up, Miss Brown smiled at her before she directed all in the class to arrange their chairs into a circle.

This got noisy, but somehow it made Sarah feel more relaxed.

When they were seated again, Miss Brown announced that this

The Record,December 19 1996 Page 16

was a special class because they would be sharing their Christmas wishes with each other.

"And when we share like this," she said, "we can get to know each other better. Getting to know each other can help us to become more caring. That's what

Ihope happens today in this class Angela had written she decided because Christmas is a caring that when her turn came she season - a time to celebrate the would share what she really birth of Jesus who is remem- wanted for Christmas. bered for how much he cared."

Finally, her turn came. She Miss Brown then called on turned her page over and looked Annie to read her essay and it at Miss Brown. wasn't all that different from "Iwrote an essay whichIdecidSarah's. ed not to read because as I was Sarah felt better immediately. listening to each of yours I Then Jeff read his followed by realised that the essay I wrote Miguel and Erin. When Angela didn't really tell whatIwant most started to read hers everybody for Christmas this year. became very quiet. She began: "I want a friend.I found it hard "My Christmas essay is differ- to leave my old school and ent I'm afraid, because when I friends but my dad is starting a tried to name things that I would new company in this city and we like for Christmas Iknew my dad had to move. wouldn't be able to buy them for "Angela,Ihave another wish for me. He has been out of a job for Christmas - that your dad will three months now and is unsure apply for a job in my dad's comwhen he will find another one.

"So, whatIwant more than any- pany."

As Sarah finished her essay, thing else this Christmas is a job everyone clapped. Miss Brown for my dad."

As Sarah thought about what wiped a tear from her eyes.

Behold the Child

push Building begins on Union wage new Hilton Church 'understandable'

By Peter Rosengren The ACTU's Living Wage claim is an "understandable reaction" from the union movement to threats to the living standards of low-income workers and the probability of increasing inequality in Australia. the head of the Australian Catholic social Welfare Commission has said.

ACSWC director Toby O'Connor was speaking last week on the release of the Commission's latest publication, A Just Wage or Just a Wage, which he said argued the need for a link between adequate wages and income support.

He warned that the Government's expansion of the enterprise bargaining system and its proposed $8 wage increase for low-paid workers Would probably leave them worse off than they currently were.

"With inflation running at around 2.5 per cent, the Government's proposal of an $8 pay rise will deliver a fall in real wages to many workers," he said.

But the office of the Federal Industrial Relations Minister Peter Reith rejected Mr O'Connor's comments..

A spokesman for Mr Reith told The Record a major flaw in the ACTU claim was that it would actually deliver disproportionately higher in-creases to higher paid workers instead of helping those at the lower end of the scale.

"The Living Wage claim would

provide an overall increase in all account the connection between, award rates and, ironically, deliv- on the one hand, the rates of pay ers by far the largest increases to which reflect the industrial relapeople who are already higher tions environment in Australia at paid and who by no means could the moment, and the incomebe considered to be the low paid," support system - what we've he said. termed the social wage compo"So under the guise of an nent of income - which goes to attempt to assist the low paid the those people that are at the lower Living Wage claim is really an end of the wages market or who attempt to 'jack up' the whole of are unemployed." he told The the award system." he added.

Record Speaking from Canberra, Mr An ACTU spokeswoman told O'Connor said the ACSWC feared The Record the thrust of the Livthat under the new industrial rela- ing Wage claim was to persuade tions legislation wages would be the Commission not just to "much more out in the market" increase minimum rates of pay, and it was likely lower paid work- particularly for blue-collar and ers, disadvantaged in enterprise low-paid workers, but to consider negotiations, would take lower socially-related factors such as the pay or surrender conditions, equal distribution of economic putting extra pressures on their growth and workers' career needs family budgets. as well.

But Mr Reith's spokesman Apart from industrial relations. rejected the fear of loss by lower Mr O'Connor also criticised Govpaid workers through enterprise ernment changes to social securibargaining. "I can't see how that ty measures. criticism could be levelled at the He said changes to the eligibiliGovernment's new system ty requirements for social securibecause awards will remain in ty benefits and the introduction of place - simplified, but they'll higher user-pays fees for public remain in place - and they'll be services meant many battlers overseen by the Australian Indus- would be worse off, even if eligitrial Relations system," he said. ble for the Family Tax Initiative.

Mr O'Connor said A Just Wage And the Government should not argued that the ACTU case need- leave charitable organisations to ed to consider the connection pick up the tab, he added. between wage rates and income "The charitable sector should support through social security not be made to bear the burden measures. of the shortcomings of the indus"What we're saying is that the trial relations and social security case also needs to take into systems." Mr O'Connor said.

Parishioners at Our Lady of Mount Cannel, Hilton, visited the site of their nev Church and blessed it after attending 9am Mass on December 8.

Among those present were representatives from planning committees and Fr Frank Shortis, OCarm, centre, who planted a cross on the spoi were the new Church will stand. They were assisted by Bill and Carmel Lawry, who helped to build the first Church in 1954. Construction on the site commenced the following day. The new Church, which will hold a congregation of 400, will take six months to build. Adele Highet, president of the parish Council, said "This is an exciting day for all of us. We've planned and saved and waited. Ws hard to believe we're really starting".

Strong Lifelink result The Archbishop's Christmas Appeal for Lifelink has raised more than $214,000 and should have no problems reaching its target of $225,000, Lifelink representative Brett Mendez said this week.

Mr Mendez announced the progress in the campaign, launched in early November to raise money for the welfare agencies run under archdiocesan auspices, as he thanked Perth's Catholic community.

"I would, on behalf of Lifelink

and the Lifelink welfare agencies, like to extend our sincerest thanks for the generosity and compassion shown by our Catholic community." he said.

"Their strong support ensures that the vital work of our welfare agencies is maintained for the benefit of all West Australians."

He said that Perth's Catholics had "undoubtedly" answered Archbishop Barry Hickey's call to support the appeal.

The Appeal will conclude after Christmas.

Pilgrimages

WA FUNERAL Co.

Medjugorje Prayer Retreat

crir James and Banks Sts, Guildford 24 hours, 7 days per week

QANTAS - THE AUSTRALIAN AIRLINE Imagine Fr. Slavko as your Spiritual Director!

Experience the meaning of the Medjugorje message on these 5 day retreats • 'Lenten Retreat' • 'Our Lady's Retreat in May' • 'Anniversary Retreat' • 'Holy Rosary'

377 0477 affiliated with

: •

Easter in the Holy Land • Palm Sunday in Rome (reserved tickets for Pope's mass) • Nazareth • Galilee • Jerusalem • Rome with Fr. Michael Quigley 1 5 days departs March 20 $3,575.00

WA family owned and operated

* Dignity, Excellence and Respect * Affordable Prices * Disabled and Private Parking Facilities * Pre-Paid Funeral Plan

Pilgrimage to Rome & Medjugorje 1997 pilgrimages begin with the 3rd Annual—.

February pilgrimage to Rome &gifediugorle 1 5 - 27 February for 13 days.

• 3 nights in Rome Q2,790.0) • 7 nights in Medjugorje • Breakfast & dinner daily • Airfares & accommodation GREAT VALUE!

Catholic Cremations and Funerals

PERTH MONUMENTAL WORKS 483 Great Eastern Highway, Redc.liffe WA 6104

Arthur Jones Proprietor

•

, '

Centre Travel

phone Perth: (09) 481 4877 Melb: (03) 9882 9822 Country Australia wide: 1800 500 882

Serving all cemeteries statewide Competitive rates Customised memorial specialist

478 2633 after hours 279 1528

Lic. No.31877 91 Auburn Road, Hawthorn E ast, VIE 3 1 2 3

The Record,December,19,19%. Page.1V.

0fro54 4—.,41

Behold the Child

Goodies, baddies come to life in a festive treat The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder, published by Phoenix House, London. RRP $24.95 Reviewed by George Russo

t

hose of us who smugly thought that the only good reads were to be found in adult fiction (or biography), working our way through convoluted plots and moral mazes are in for a shock Here is a children's book of fiction based on the Gospel story that is an intelligent and cheerfully rewarding book for Christmas.

It is always difficult to know whether to give a book, especially a Christmas story book, for Christmas.

The problem is that by the time this review is published and the book is read, the Christmas season will be over.

And we spend too much time and energy celebrating in the 12 days before Christmas than in the 12 days after it.

Besides, there is something rather depressing reading a book about Father Christmas in February, and even Nativity stories such as this would be better presented in November to be read before the day itself.

Norwegian writer, Jostein Gaarder, presents the flavour of Christmas in The Christmas Mystery, a handsome book, on good paper and beautifully illustrated by Rosemary Wells.

Before each chapter there is the date, the First of December - it begins - then - a quotation ('God's kingdom is open to everyone, even people who travel without a ticker); the story, now, and in the past ('that's when the long journey through time and space began').

Christmas history is evoked in mesmerising tones.

Nor should we be surprised by all this as the author has already won a prestigious literary prize with his former book, Sophie's World, an international best-seller.

The story begins in Oslo, with characters who travel throughout Europe until they reach Bethlehem for the birth of the Christ child.

The narrative device is a magic Advent calender that has turned up, and takes them back in time.

For instance, you may find yourself in Venice in the ninth century: or Damascus in the second; or Split ('a complete town. . . . inside an old palace') in Croatia; or Dal-

matia in the year 659 at 'that little town called Ragusa', later to be known as Dubrovnik Fascinating!

And you meet some pretty unusual characters: a young boy called Joachim who opens the 24 pages of the calendar that unravel the Christmas mystery for us; Old Testament figures like Daniel and Joshua; Casper and Balthazar, and even Mary and Joseph.

There's even a weird woman called Hansen, but a Norwegian!

Among the baddies are the Emperor Diocletian who 'closed the Christian churches and started to persecute the Christians cruelly': the Emperor Augustus (prominent at the time of Christ's birth) and even the Governor Quirinius.

And there are animals galore - all part of the story that culminates at Bethlehem and concerns the fate of the lady Hansen (Note: the spelling is different).

And there are Angels, so alive ('we never have to catch a bus to get to work on time') and helpful ('I am here as God's messenger').

It seems that a 100 years is a day to them, so easily do they run 'backwards in time'.

So the book takes us throughout 2,000 years of Christian history, unravelling a

Sign of hope on a cold winter's night for a young traveller of life

CHRISTMAS M YSTERY

- -71.:171 I

)11Ill •- Weal" 'mystery', and enthralling us with the adventures of the characters we meet on the way. It's just another way - a very pleasing way - of looking at the wonderful story of Christmas.

Happy to beat the odds for His sake

By Stan Konieczny

t

he city's bright lights lured Josh away from his rural home. Now those same lights, with an added Christmas twinkle, almost kept Josh from a holiday homecoming.

Last fall. Josh left the family farm to begin his college career on the downtown campus of a major university.

As a fledgling writer, Josh was convinced that he would only be able to express himself after escaping the confines of soybean fields and growing seasons.

He soon discovered that freshman term papers and book reports were hardly the opening chapters of the novel he dreamed of writing.

In fact, he felt most energised by his part-time job as a holiday sales clerk at a mall near campus. which was a holiday fantasyland of shimmering lights and taped carols.

Josh even toyed with the idea of staying in this wonderland throughout the holidays.

But a nagging sense of family duty and a bit of homesickness led Josh south for one more family Christmas.

After hitting the road, Josh was surprised how quickly the lights faded as he drove down city boulevards, interstate highways, county roads.

Josh began to feel a dark brooding until he finally turned down the familiar gravel lane that led home.

Halfway down the drive, Josh stopped his truck to bask in the gentle glow of the most beautiful Christmas display that he had ever seen.

He stood in awe of the single lighted star that shone atop the farm's three-story silo.

There was no comparison of wattage between this five-pointed star of white lights and the milelong strands of multicoloured bulbs which had dispelled the darkness of Josh's recent nights.

This one star illuminated his innermost heart.

Josh recalled how his grandfather worked for weeks, soldering

J OSTEIN1 G AARDER i.

T he

By Stephen Botos

thE

• the star's six-foot frame and stringing the frosted white lights.

The freshman also remembered how he felt like the greatest kid in the county because he had a star all his own.

"Now Josh," Grandpa cautioned decades ago, "that star isn't just for you or any of us. The star is our gift to everyone who passes by our place. It is our sign of hope to friends, known and unknown."

Josh never really understood Grandpa's words until he found himself a passerby of sorts.

And looking back at the country road, Josh could better understand how the silo star might be a gift to fellow travellers.

Josh saw cars headed into town.

The drivers were probably headed for visiting hours at St Vincent's Hospital, where josh worked two summers washing

The Record,December 19 1996 Page 18

Nril

v 112211',3 !le1' a11,11 11 .1.:ji1 ' :041 7 111

11

dishes. Maybe the silo star would bring hope to folks whose holidays were altered by accidents or illness.

Getting back in his truck, Josh noticed how starlit the barn was, where Grandpa could make chores go quickly with Christmas stories.

While feeding the livestock, Grandpa would recount tales of animals speaking on Christmas Eve. Josh smiled remembering those stories.

He mused that maybe a magazine article lurked behind them or maybe even the chapter of a book Grandpa was right: The soft white light of the star, high atop the silo, was a sign of hope for friends known and unknown.

hristmas Eve brought snow to northeastern Ohio. It blanketed Lake Erie's southern shore.

Pine limbs drooped with the burden, cardinals filled the bird feeder.

And the radio announced closings: Church after church cancelled Christmas celebrations.

But it was Christmas Eve, and our family was to gather 45 minutes away to the south.

"We can't go!" Chris said. "We have five little children. babies.

We cannot go."

It was true. Our oldest was 8, then Z 4, 2, and a new one. We couldn't go.

But it was Christmas Eve. The family was gathering, and we never missed! We were never even late.

We called. "Just a trace here," they said.

"We'll go."

"You're crazy!"

Ifilled large buckets with sand, clearing snow to find it, and loaded them in the back of the station wagon, added blankets and mufflers, extra mittens.

We hunted for thermoses, stowed shovels and chains, snacks and flashlights.

Even my snowshoes found mom.

The kids were double and triple-wrapped, so stiff from extra clothes that we weren't sure they'd bend enough for us to fasten seat belts around them.

We barely had room for the gifts, but bundled and stuffed we started down the driveway.

Fifty-feet and the car baulked, tires spun, and Chris, to her eternal credit, didn't say, "See!" "Daddy said a bad word, Mommy."

"He's sorry Sometimes those slip out from old, foolish people."

I shovelled a path to the road.

No plow was foolish enough to be out when all of life was cancelled.

The road had no tracks. The

station wagon pushed through drifts, silently and steadily.

Even the children were quiet as snow pelted the windshield.

This is dumb. I knew it was true. Foolish. Stupid. Crazy to take the chance.

But it was Christmas Eve, and a holy family gathered.

The why of it is elusive now.

We are a farm family, knowing challenge and adversity in an intimate relationship with nature.

We cut wood in winter, often shovelling paths to get the tractor and wagon into the woodlot.

"Struggle" was part of our name.

But the mystery of the snowbelt proved itself again, for when we reached Interstate 90 the snow was almost gone. We'd make it safe and sound.

Reading my thoughts, Chris said, 'We have to come back, you know."

The holy family gathered, joyous in each other's company.

The Christ-children found older cousins to hold them.

There was laughing and talking, eating and eating more.

On our return trip, we got back to Interstate 90 without any problem. Even though the snow had gotten worse, we made 11 10 the turnoff to our road. Then the car stalled.

We sat there awhile and said our evening prayers.

Then, when I started the car again it worked!

We got stuck one final time, but it was at the end of our driveway.

One by one we carried our children inside.

I left the work of shovelling a path until the next morning, since Christmas Day Mass was cancelled too.

How satisfying to have beaten the odds that year in order to give and receive the gift of each other's presence at our family gathering.

Jesus was born, hallelujah! To die, to rise, to come again and again in the hearts of the people who love.

41,

Behold the Child

Go for your goals, Luke 18 urged

Only one community was not represented at the the annual Luke 18 Family Mass for 1996 held at Sts John and Paul Church, Willetton, recently, due to the recent Parish Mission in their area.

Celebrant Father Steve Casey of Willetton, assisted by Fr Bronek, encouraged the youth in the congregation to live each day as if it were the last in order to achieve their now potential, whatever that might be.

He illustrated this using David Dicks as an example.

David, he said, could have waited to take his epic voyage until he was "older", "more mature", or "more experienced" but he knew the boat was capable, he knew how to handle it because he had spent time learning, and so he

made the decision to go for his goal and sail round the world at seventeen.

Father Steve encouraged the young Luke 18 groups to eagerly learn how to live their lives, to resist the modern cultural values and go for the goals they set themselves whether that be at twelve, sixteen, twenty, or at any age.

At the conclusion of Mass the Willetton community presented everyone with a small card as a memorial of the day.

The celebrations continued after Mass with a sausage sizzle and a series of competitions between the various parish groups in which golfing, soccer and running skills were put to the test.

The overall sports award was won by Ballajura with Lesmurdie

Fathers Bronek, left, and Casey celebrate the annual Luke 18 Mass.

as runners up (although Willetton were heard to whisper to a number of people that they allowed other teams to win

because they are polite hosts) Any enquiries about the Luke 18 programme can be made to Mike and Liz Foley on 375 9081.

Sausages were served afterwards.

Support sought for First anniversary for couples' group anti-torture drive The Couples for Christ, Christian family prayer group authorised by Archbishop Barry Hickey, and under the guidance of Fr Peter Bianchini, celebrated its first anniversary on 16th November.

Thanksgiving Mass was offered

by CFC Spiritual Director, Fr Telesforo Neri, and concelebrated

by Fr Adrian Pittarello. Coordinator of the Multicultural Apostolate, CFC was founded in Perth by Ramon Daomilas, a Philippine government scholar, who came to study for a Masters degree in Law at UWA in early 1995 and his wife, Carmencita.

CFC is also active in Adelaide, Darwin, Melbourne and Sydney.

L

roTt`It 'l yte

hill ois:29ea.te6.

1.0 1

New members for Priests' Council

A petition and attention-grabbing display protesting against the widespread use of torture in Turkey, set up in Holy Family parish Church in Como, are the first public activity carried out by the newly-formed Como and East Victoria Park Social Justice Group.

According to Amnesty International more than 400 people have been tortured to death in Turkey since 1980 while hundreds more have disappeared or been assassinated since 1991.

Last weekend the justice group set up their display together with petition forms as part of an overall Amnesty International campaign at the Como Church.

The petitions and display will move to East Victoria Par* next weekend.

Group representative, Mark Zirnsack, said he was hoping a large number of parishioners at the two churches would sign the petitions.

Priest celebrates 40 years Hundreds of parishioners joined in celebrations earlier this month to mark the 40th anniversary of the ordination of Fr Stephen Tarrant OP, parish priest of Our Lady of the Rosary Church, in the Perth suburb of Doubleview.

Father Tarrant concelebrated 10am Mass on Sunday 1 December.

It was exactly 40 years since his ordination in Holy Rosary Church in the Adelaide suburb of Prospect.

He recalled his feelings at the

Fathers Neri, lefty and Pittarello concelebrate Mass for Couples for Christ.

time of his ordination and gave a light-hearted rendering of his adherence to his vows.

Father Frank Brown OP paid tribute on behalf of the Dominican community and Mr Bob Boylen spoke on behalf of the parishioners.

In attendance at Mass and morning tea was Fr Tarrant's aunt, Monica Ford, who had also been present at his ordination.

Other members of the family also attended while Fr Tarrant's mother, in Adelaide, supplied a giant cake for the celebrations.

The new chairman of the Council of Priests for the archdiocese of Perth is Father Peter Bianchini following elections for Executive and Council positions held earlier this month.

The results were released this week by Archbishop Barry Hickey, who is also President of the Council, as new members took up their positions at the meeting of 12 December.

Also joining Fr Bianchini on the Executive for the 1996-98 period are Fr Tony Pires as Vice-Chairman, Fr Sean Fernandez as Secretary and Fathers Michael McShane SJ and Brian Rosling as Executive members.

The Council includes a number of ex-officio positions held by auxiliary bishop Robert Healy; Perth

Vicar General, Monsignor Michael Keating; Clergy Vicar, Fr Tim Corcoran and Fr Gerry Holohan as Vicar for Faith Education.

Explaining the Council's function Father Corcoran told The Record it acts as an advisory body to the Archbishop and meets every two months.

Some priests become ex-officio members by reason of the office they already hold in the archdiocese, such as the auxiliary Bishop, the vicars-general and the vicars for priests and education, he said.

"The majority of members are elected by the priests themselves with the statutes ensuring a representation of both diocesan and religious priests," Fr Corcoran said.

"After the ballot others are

appointed by the Archbishop because of the special contribution they can make to the Council," he added.

Continuing for a further two years from the elections are Fathers Robert Carden OFM, James Corcoran, Greg Donovan; Dan Foley, Frank Shortis 0.Carm, Ossie Lewis and Maurice Toop Elected for the next four years are Fathers Peter Bianchini. Walter Black MSC. Greg Carroll, Pat Cunningham, Ian Esmond, Des Hughes OMI and Anthony Pires.

Also appointed by the Archbishop for four-year terms are Fathers Steven Casey, Sean Fernandez, Michael McShane SJ, Francis Ly, Brian Rosling and Monsignor Peter McCrarm.

Gaff help line open again Clergy postings

With the birth of Christ imminent, Father Michael Gat is preparing to set up two telephones on his Christmas Help Line, for anyone wishing to contact him during Christmas week, on Monday 23 to December 28.

This for some can be the loneliest period of the year, so Fr Gall makes himself available to be there for those who wish to unburden (or even donate to the

poor) and topics cover such things as anger, bankruptcy, bereavement, Christmas hampers, congratulations, complexity of life, constructive criticism, poverty, prisoners, loneliness, isolation, and the sick in hospitals (to name just a few).

Happy to give up his Christmas socialising to help others, Fr Gall's numbers are 450-4171 or 4504137

Popular tourist spot Mass times Christmas Mass times for the popular tourist resorts of Margaret River and Augusta in the State's south-west are: St Thomas More, Margaret River: Family Mass at 7pm;

Christmas Morning Mass 10am.

Lumen Christi, Augusta: Christmas Eve mass at 11pm; Christmas Morning at 8am.

Karridale: Christmas Morning Mass at 8am.

Continued from Page 3 Fr Michael Separovich, ordained last Friday evening, is to be Assistant Priest at Spearwood, commencing 27 January 1997 Fr Joseph Dong Van Vinh. also ordained last Friday, will become Assistant Priest at Highgate from the same date.

Fr Tim Foster will become the spiritual director of the Perth Senatus of the Legion of Mary next year while Fr Lionel Henry SDB will become Priest-in-Charge at Goomalling from early March.

Fr Alphonse Savickas has been appointed Chaplain of Corpus Christi.

The Record,December 19 1996 Page 19

PS* PAPPA. -

In Brief Operation successful CALCUTTA, India (CNS) Doctors have successfully stabilised Mother Teresa's heartbeat by administering a mild electric shock treatment, said one of her doctors at the B.M. Birla Heart Research Centre in Calcutta.

"At this point she is stable and it is hoped that the sinus (regular) rhythm will remain," said Dr Patricia Abunel, a member of the eight-member team treating Mother Teresa.

The cardioversion procedure was performed on the morning of December 11.

Papal Brazil trip VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope John Paul II told Latin American bishops he would travel to Brazil next October to help strengthen Catholic families.

The Pope met on December 12 wtth the Latin American bishops who head their episcopal conference's family life commissions and with Latin American couples who are members of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

Invite to Pope WARSAW, Poland (CNS) The three-man presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina has renewed an invitation to the Pope to visit Sarajevo, according to the Polish Catholic information agency.

In an early December report, Poland's KAI said a communique confirming the invitation had been issued in the Bosnian capital, signed by Alia Izetbegovic, Momcilo !Crapsnic and Kresimir Zubalc, the war-torn Balkan republic's respective Muslim, Serbian and Croat leaders.

Churches agree VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope John Paul II and Catholicos KarelcinI of Etchmiadzin, spiritual leader of the world's Armenian Orthodox Christians, signed a declaration ending 1,500 years of disagreement over Christ's identity.

The common declaration signed on December 13 at the Vatican marked the completion of a series of agreements with the independent Oriental Orthodox churches, expressing a common understanding of the humanity and divinity of Christ

Lectionary move VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The cardinals Who head US archdioceses have personally asked Vatican officials to conclude the process for approving the proposed new English-language Lectionary based on the revised New American Bible.

Vatican and US Church leaders had met in July to discuss the ongoing review of the revised New American Bible texts, which raised Vatican concerns because of their use of what is termed 'inclusive' language.

Behold the Child - InternationalNews

Vatican in mercy plea

By John Thavis VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope John Paul II has instructed his nuncio in the United States to ask authorities to spare a death row inmate scheduled for execution in Virginia, the Vatican said.

The pontiff sent a personal message to Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan in Washington asking him to intercede in the Pope's name to request clemency for Joseph Roger O'Dell III, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a statement on December 13.

No further details about the message were made available.

The Pope explained his stance on the death penalty in the encyclical 'The Gospel of Life" in March 1995, describing execution as an extreme form of punishment that cannot be used "except in cases of absolute necessity."

Such cases are "very rare, if not practically nonexistent," he said.

The Vatican newspaper said O'Dell's case illustrated the injus-

tice of the death penalty. The planned execution was an example of "legalism prevailing over justice," the newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, said in an editorial on December 11.

O'Dell, who was to be put to death on December 18, was convicted of the 1985 rape and murder of a Virginia woman.

According to Amnesty International, a DNA test supported O'Dell's claims of innocence, but the results were ruled inadmissible because they were presented after a 21-day maximum period imposed by state law.

This type of procedural ruling raises serious questions about the fairness of the justice system, the Vatican newspaper said, suggesting a reopening of the case.

But it added that the arguments against the death penalty apply whether O'Dell is guilty or innocent of the crime.

Not only does capital punishment fail to prevent criminal acts, but it violates human dignity, especially the "universally proclaimed inviolable right to life," it

Joseph Roger O'Dell

• •-• Flouters

said. While the death penalty may have popular support in the United States, "wisdom is not found in supporting the demands of public opinion, which is easily subject to immediate and emotional reactions," it said.

Instead, justice officials and lawmakers should know how to uphold justice without "committing an injustice or turning to evil methods," it said.

The editorial said that one of the moral arguments against the death penalty - that it precludes the possibility of expiation for wrongs committed and reinsertion of the criminal into society also applies to life imprisonment.

It said society should choose an alternative punishment to both the death penalty and life in prison.

O'Dell appealed to the Italian people to assist him.

In a telephone interview on December 8 with the station Radio Radicale which was rebroadcast on the Italian service of Vatican Radio on December 13, O'Dell said he was "totally innocent."

"Ihave been in the arms of death for 11 years," he said, referring to his term on death row.

"And the only chance that Ihave is if the governor grants me clemency. I ask the Italian people to let the world know that an innocent man is about to be killed and that the only thing he asks is to be able to demonstrate his innocence."

Priest claims miraculaous cure through Vatican, Divine Mercy founder's intercession Vietnam tension BALTIMORE (CNS) - Eighteen months ago, even after heart surgery to save his life, Father Ronald Pytel had an irreversibly damaged left ventricle.

He faced restricted activity and the likelihood of early retirement and a shortened life, but on December 9 the 49-year-old pastor of Holy Rosary Parish in Baltimore headed off to Rome with a completely healthy heart.

He also had reams of documentation to convince top Church officials that his medically inexplicable cure was due to the intercession of Blessed Faustina Kowalska, a visionary Polish nun and originator of the Divine Mercy devotion, who died in 1938.

"I truly believe that God in his mercy has healed me and that Blessed Faustina has interceded Father RonaldPytel stands with a porfor me," Father Pytel told The trait of Blessed Faustina Kowalska Catholic Review, Baltimore archdiocesan newspaper, before he ing Blessed Faustina a saint. For departed for Rome.

Father Pytel and his parishioners, He hopes the Vatican Congrega- the idea of asking Blessed Faustition for Sainthood Causes will na for help when he had heart judge his cure a miracle and use surgery came naturally. it as a basis,for officially declarThe priest, who is of Polish

descent, has long been devoted to Blessed Faustina and carries with him at all times a first-class relic of her.

Father Pytel's physician, Dr. Nicholas Fortuin, a nationally renowned cardiologist at Johns llopkins Hospital, said the priest was "on the brink of disaster" in June 1995, when he implanted a mechanical valve in his heart.

Because the left ventricle was so damaged, Fortuin said he was "not at all optimistic" about Father Pytel's long-term prospects.

Because of his illness, the priest was unable to lead a planned 10day pilgrimage that August to Poland.

Dorothy Olszewski, a co-chair of the parish's Divine Mercy committee, was one of the pilgrims and said throughout their stay in Poland everyone on the pilgrimage prayed to Belssed Faustina for his recovery every day at Mass, she said.

Fr Pytel's doctor told The Catholic Review that there was no medical explanation for his complete recovery.

Hume responds to dissident group LONDON (CNS) - Cardinal George Basil Hume of Westminster has criticised points in a declaration calling for widespread Church change that was issued in England.

The "Jubilee People" organisation launched its declaration, titled We are Church, on December 7 The group's statement called for a Church "in which decision making is shared by all - in parish, diocese and synod."

The declaration also urged that women have access to ministerial priesthood.

It also said that the Church should re-evaluate priesthood, to make celibacy and marriage optional for priests.

Among the groups supporting the alliance are the Catholic caucus of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement; Advent, a group

The Record,December 19 1996 Page 20

for former priests who have married; the Catholic Women's Network; and Catholic Women's Ordination, a group set up to campaign for the ordination of women to the priesthood.

Cardinal Hume issued a fourpage statement of observations on the declaration following a meeting with representatives of the alliance.

He urged caution regarding the declaration's assertion that a person's individual conscience should be foremost in making moral decisions.

"Conscience is not a teacher of doctrine and must be properly formed if it is to be a sure guide," he said. "The teaching of the Church on moral questions must be known and accepted."

He also referred to the declaration's statement that the church should affirm "everyone, their

human rights, sexual orientation, marital status and those who leave the priesthood or religious life."

To "affirm" a person, he warned, must not include condoning "actions contrary to the teaching of the church."

"I would have hoped," the cardinal added, "that prominence would have been given to that most fundamental right of all the right to life ... which is particularly under such threat in our society through the legalised destruction of the unborn."

In response to the group's call for a new attitude toward women, the cardinal said in his statement, that the proposition that women should have access to the ministerial priesthood had been clearly ruled out by the Holy Father, and should therefore have no place in a Catholic document.

•

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope John Paul II hinted at tensions between the Church and government authorities in Vietnam but stopped short of criticising Hanoi when he met with Vietnamese bishops on December 14.

Fourteen of the country's 30 bishops made their "ad limina" visits during the week of December 8-14.

The Pope noted that some of the Vietnamese bishops "were not able" to come, but he did not say why.

Vatican Radio's Vietnamese service reported the remaining bishops were denied permission to leave, as had happened to some on previous "ad limina" visits.

The Pope commented that the ability of a "complete" bishops' conference to visit the Vatican is "a sign that religious liberty is respected in a country." There are 6 million Catholics in Vietnam.

Tensions between the Vatican and the Vietnamese government been have exacerbated by the nationalisation of Church property and the government's insistence on holding veto over papal appointments of bishops.

In his statement, Pope John Paul said historic misunderstandings between Church and state make it necessary to reiterate that Catholics in Vietnam have participated in its social development to the same degree as other citizens.

"The Church is in step with all members of the nation because it shares the same history, the communal advances and trials," he added.

"It does not act in a spirit of rivalry or in the pursuit of its own interests, but wishes to live in communion and in harmony with everyone."

Behold- the Child - In

News

Heroic nurse shows what love is all about

By Darci Smith ANN ARBOR, Michigan. (CNS) - Like most mothers, Margaret Harris talks to her son, Donny, about God, heaven and angels.

And she reassures the 9-yearold of God's unconditional love when he admits to angrily saying he didn't believe in angels.

"Now God doesn't want me because I said that," he told her, as she held him tenderly in her arms and mocked him in his room during a seven-week stay at the University of Michigan's Mott Children's Hospital.

"Donny, God loves you no matter what you say," Harris said.

"God knows how you really feel, you don't have to tell him. He already knows what's in your heart."

Pretty strong stuff for a boy of 9, but then, Donny has been dealing with such heavy matter most of

"They said they were having trouble placing him, and I said I would take him home if they bundled him up," she said in an interview with The Michigan Catholic, newspaper of the Detroit Archdiocese.

"I never expected to hear anything more about it, and then the next day they called me and asked if I was sure if I really wanted to do it," added Harris, a member of St Daniel Parish in suburban Clarkston.

And so Harris, the single mother of three grown children, took Donny home.

She had earned the reputation long before of "AIDS nurse" for her compassion toward those Margaret Harris rocks her 9-year-old son Donny, an AIDS sufferer. afflicted with what at the time was his young life. Donny, born HIV eyes on him. She was a nurse in a relatively new disease. positive to a drug addicted moth- the intensive care unit where he Two of Harris' daughters were er in Detroit, is in the final stages had been transferred. still living at home, and the famiof AIDS. Harris recalled wondering why ly readily accepted their foster Donny was an unresponsive 2- such "a big, healthy baby" was brother. month-old when Harris first laid there.

Harris began working part time

Sri Lanka priest facing censure appeals to Pope The Vatican Congregation for questions posed to him by the the Doctrine of the Faith began doctrinal congregation, the VATICAN CITY (CNS) - A Sri investigating Father Balasuriya's Oblate spokesman said.

"The congregation said it was Lanlcan theologian facing excom- writing in 1994, according to Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the Vatinot satisfied with his responses munication because of his refusal and asked him to sign a profesto sign a "profession of faith" can spokesman.

"After a dense dialogue and con- sion of faith, composed of teachdrafted by the Vatican's doctrinal frontation, the religious reaf- ings from the (various church) congregation has appealed to firmed his doctrinal positions," councils and other recent statePope John Paul II for help.

In his 1990 book, Mary and Navarro-Valls said in a December ments of the magisterium on the points found in his book," the Human Liberation, Oblate Father 12 statement. priest said.

1996, he was December Z "On Tissa Balasuriya questioned traAccording to news reports, the ditional Catholic teachings offered another possibility of regarding original sin, Christ's signing a profession of faith cen- profession includes sections on role as the only source of salva- tred on definitions made by the Christ as saviour of the world, the tion for humanity, the need for magisterium relative to the truths necessity of baptism for salvation.

Mary's immaculate conception he denied or interpreted erro- Mary's Immaculate Conception neously; once again, he refused to and Assumption, and original sin. and the ordination of women.

Father Balasuriya's book was The central point of the book is sign it," he said.

"Because Father Tissa Bala- published before Pope John Paul to show how the Blessed Virgin Mary as presented in the Bible, is suriya has, in the meantime, issued his 1995 Ordinatio Sacera strong woman pressing for the resorted to the superior authority, dotalis letter on the ordination of liberation of her people and no action has been taken against women. announcing the overthrow of him while awaiting the outcome," The superior general of the Navarro-Valls said. powerful oppressors.

Oblates, Father Marcel Zago, "has Father Balasuriya said the • An Oblate spokesman said the expressed his feeling that Father Church has allowed Mary's true "superior authority" is, in fact, Balasuriya should conform with importance and identity to be Pope John Paul. the wishes of the doctrinal conoverridden by images focusing on Father Balasuriya "was asked to gregation, but the final decision her humility, passivity and docili- give a clearer position" on a long must be Father Balasuriya's," the ty. list of points, observations and Oblate spokesman said.

to care for him, which included teaching him to swallow and to eat.

Not only have St Daniel's parishioners regularly visited Donny and brought him Communion, they have also helped financially, since Harris was terminated from her nursing job while on a Florida trip with Donny last spring.

Still, the vacation provided memories to last a lifetime. "(Donny) was running on the beach in the moonlight," she said.

"It was a wonderful two weeks."

The two have passed time with little things - including reading Donny's beginner Bible from cover to cover.

And her faith has been important in helping her deal with Donny's illness.

"I have to believe that we're all - well, some of us anyway - going to be together later on somewhere," Harris added. 'That's the only way I can do this."

Timor's Bishop Belo urges prisoner release

By Cindy Wooden

Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo of Dili, East Timor, and Jose RamosHorta display their Nobel Peace Prize medals and certificates on Dec.10.

OSLO, Norway (CNS) - In a New York Times op-ed piece published the same day that he received the Nobel Peace prize.

Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo urged the release of political prisoners in East Timor before Christmas.

He wrote that such action would be a modest rust step in UN-sponsored talks between Portugal and Indonesia over East Timor's future.

The 1996 Nobel Peace Prize was presented to Bishop Belo of Dili, East Timor, and his cowinner, Jose Ramos-Horta, in Oslo City Hall on December 10.

Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, represented Pope John Paul II at the

presentation ceremony and celebrated Mass with Bishop Belo.

In a statement Cardinal Etchegaray said the "courageous bishop ... pursued unceasing dialogue open to all without distinction of religion or culture.

Dialogue is the only option, but profoundly human and a most effective way."

In a press conference the day before the ceremony, Bishop Belo called the Nobel Peace Prize "a precious gift" to all who desire and work for peace and justice in East Timor, and called for assistance in "defending the dignity and fundamental rights of the ordinary people" of his homeland. Bishop Belo has been apostolic administrator of Dili since 1983.

Nathanson, former US abortionist, baptised a Catholic in New York NEW YORK (CNS) - The transition in the life of Bernard Nathanson had been gradually developing until baptism into the Catholic Church was "just inevitable," he says.

Nathanson, the former leading advocate and performer of abortions in the US who became a key figure in the pro-life movement, was baptised on December 9 by Cardinal John O'Connor in an early morning ceremony at St Patrick's Cathedral in New York.

The sacrament "formalised what I had been feeling," he said in an interview on December 13 in his office.

"My transition has been so smooth and seamless thatIhave not felt any major jolt," Nathanson said.

"It has been soft and comforting and peaceful."

He noted he has been attending Mass regularly for a couple of years.

'The only thing was that I didn't receive Communion, and the one major change is that now I will be a communicant," he added.

In contrast to the many people who commit themselves to the pro-life cause because of their belief in God, Nathanson became convinced of the cause first, then

gradually came to his religious faith, he said.

He wrote about his conversion in a book called The Hand of God, published in May

by Regnery.

Nathanson said Alfred S. Regnery, president of the publishing company and one of the 30 to 40 friends present for his baptism, told him that the book was selling well enough to require a new printing.

It is a combination of autobiography and pro-life argumentation and includes frank accounts of difficulties with his father and others.

"I have had three failed marriages and

have fathered a son who is sullen, suspicious, but brilliant in computer science," he writes.

He also tells of getting two other women pregnant and of their abortions, one he performed himself without feeling "a flicker of regret" about ending the life of his own child.

"Ihave such heavy moral baggage to drag into the next world that failing to believe would condemn me to an eternity perhaps more terrifying than anything Dante envisioned in his celebration of the redemptive fall and rise of Easter," he writes in the book.

The Record,December 19 1996 Page 21

Behold the Child - Asian Catholic News

No Ramos second term: Sin MANILA (UCAN) - Cardinal lords who "built up local dynasJaime Sin of Manila has warned ties, terrorised the people and that dictatorship could return to effectively killed democracy in the Philippines if renewed moves local areas." to alter its constitution succeed in He explained that the authors of lifting term limits on elected offi- the 1987 Philippine's Constitution cials, notably that of President included term limits on officials Fidel Ramos. to prevent a reoccurrence of the "Have we forgotten that the county's "dark past" such as that whole point of not allowing a sec- which occurred under the 21-year ond term was to avoid (forcing) regime of the late former presian incumbent president and oth- dent Ferdinand Marcos. ers to engage in destructive poliA group called People's Initiaticking" to stay in power? Cardinal tive for Reform, Modernisation Sin asked. and Action has announced a 12Speaking at the anniversary of million-signature campaign to the foundation of the Philippine amend the constitution so that Columbian Association in Manila President Ramos can run again in on 11 December, the cardinal 1998. PIRMA wants a plebiscite recalled that unlimited terms of during local elections on 12 May office in the past gave rise to war- next year.

Relief work as cyclones hit India HYDERABAD, India (UCAN) - Church groups have joined in relief work in Andhra Pradesh, hit hard by two cyclones in less than two months.

The first cyclone hit the region on October 19, killing 350 people and devastating areas in Cuddapah and Nellore dioceses. Among those helping the survivors rebuild their lives are Catholic and Protestant groups.

Eluru diocese pooled people and material from its institutions and other dioceses.

It closed its major seminary and sent all 210 seminarians to Amalapuram, an affected area that was turned into a base camp.

After winding up interim relief by November's end, they began rehabilitation in some villages, said Jesuit Father Joe Sebastian, who coordinated the work. He said they plan to build houses in 120 villages.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh cyclone relief coordination committee headed by Archbishop Samineni Arulappa of Hyderabad plans to build 20,000 houses in the worst-hit East and West Godavari districts.

Caritas India and US-based Catholic Relief Services gave 2.2 million (US$61,970) rupees to Visakhapatnam diocese for relief work in 356 villages, and allotted 8.4 million rupees to Eluru diocese for work in 350 villages.

Cardinal Sin said that though he believed Mr Ramos' repeated denials of any intention to run for another term, the President could reconsider.

"The President is putting statesmanship over personal ambition, constitutional stability over an extension of personal power. . . .

He ought not be pressured to do the wrong thing," Cardinal Sin said.

The cardinal added that people should not put the interests of one sector, such as the military or business, over the interests of the common good.

At the PIRMA launching, convener Alberto Pedrosa said Mr Ramos was "the best president we have ever had," and cited the

November Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting as an example of his achievements.

Corazon Aquino, Mr Ramos' predecessor and the first president under the current constitution, reiterated her opposition to removing term limits.

Last January, Mrs Aquino told VGA News she would do everything in her power to prevent a return to dictatorship.

At the Columbian gathering, Mrs Aquino said she believed Mr Ramos would step down in 1998 and agreed with Cardinal Sin that a "people power" uprising like the one they led in 1986 was not necessary.

Calling people to the streets to protest should be done "only dur-

ing the time when people are suffering," the cardinal said, noting that the Philippines is rising as one of Asia's economic "tigers."

With elections only a few months away, he stressed the need to clean up voters' registration lists, modernise the election process and revamp the Commission on Elections to prevent election fraud.

Modernisation could help eliminate problems in tallying votes, Cardinal Sin said, citing reports of fraud during the May 1995 senatorial elections.

Earlier in June, the cardinal criticised the vote-padding that the COMELEC confirmed took place during the polls.

New bishops ordained for Hong Kong HONG KONG (UCAN) - Hong Kong's new coadjutor bishop says he hopes to help foster normalisation of ties between China and the Vatican and to see the Catholic Church in China restored to full communion with the universal Church.

Cardinal John Baptist Wu Cheng-chung of Hong Kong ordained Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and Auxiliary Bishop John Tong Hon together on December 9, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, the patroness of the diocese.

Eight bishops from Asia, Europe and the Vatican co-ordained, and more than 200 priests concelebrated at the bishops' ordination, the first episcopal ordination held here since 1975.

Bishop Zen told the press at the ordination reception that he hoped China-Vatican relations would be normalised as soon as possible and that he would be delighted if he could play a part in making it happen.

Archbishop Charles Schlecic, undersecretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peo-

ples, said Cardinal Wu had been asking the Vatican to name assistants for the vast diocese, with 270,000 Catholics, since 1987, a year before he was installed as cardinal.

The archbishop denied that the timing of the bishops' appointments was related to Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997.

Bishop Tong thanked the Vatican and the bishops for their trust and asked for prayers that both new bishops could take up the challenge of serving the Church.

Bishop Zen said there should have been a seat in the ceremony for a bishop from mainland China.

"We are sorry that we cannot invite him for this occasion," he told the congregation.

He expressed the hope that as Hong Kong reverts to China in 199Z the Church in China can be in full communion with the universal Church and that the Gospel can be spread throughout China.

Leaders from the Orthodox Church and Protestant Churches, and Hong Kong Governor Chris

Cardinal John Baptist Wu Chengchung ordains his successor, Bishop Joseph Zen, and consecrates Bishop John Tong auxiliary for Hong Kong.

Patten, a Catholic, were present at the ceremony.

Bishop Zen, 64, born in Shanghai, China, moved to Hong Kong in 1948 and joined the Salesians.

He was ordained a priest in 1961

in Turin, Italy. He has spent six months of each of the past seven years teaching in various seminaries in mainland China.

Hong Kong native Bishop Tong, 57, was ordained in Rome in 1966.

Meanwhile, newly ordained Auxiliary Bishop Chen Xilu of Hengshui, in mainland China, a medical doctor, said Catholics in China can be reconciled only through cooperation and understanding.

However, there is no chance for him to communicate with the Catholics from the non-affiliated side, said the 68-year-old government-recognised bishop.

The bishop's comments referred to the 'underground Church' which remained loyal to Rome after the communist takeover of China.

Ordained a priest in 1955, he was jailed for his religious belief three years later.

In 1979 he was released and returned to Hengshui diocese.

The doctor priest was ordained a bishop by Bishop Petrus Fan Wenxing of Hengshui, in Hebei province, on October 28.

Korean Catholic farmers, consumers form new movement

INCHON, Korea (UCAN) - A grassroots rural-urban community movement has been organised in Inchon diocese to help strengthen the rural community and build up a healthy relationship between rural producers and urban consumers.

Some 500 people, including priests, lay people and environmental activists, attended the Inauguration of the City-Farm Community movement at the Inchon headquarters of the Church-run Save Our Farm movement on November 8.

"It is very urgent to raise Korean farm products' international competing power from the perspective of national food security" Father

John Chrysostom Cho Sung-kyo of Kajwadong parish told UCA News.

Father Cho was elected chairperson of the new movement during its general meeting at the Catholic Centre in Inchon, Korea's second largest port city.

In a sermon during a Mass for the occasion at Tap-dong Cathedral Maryknoll Bishop William McNaughton of Inchon urged Catholics to buy local produce.

The movement said it plans to broaden local farmers' food production, establish a consumer cooperative in urban parishes and build up a reliable contract-based production system between rural producers and urban

consumers. Participants concluded the celebration with a free lunch including rice and "kimchi" (spicy pickled vegetables) provided by farmers from Kanghwa and Kimpo, two main agricultural areas in the diocese.

Meanwhile, the Korean Catholic Farmers' Movement (KCFM), which runs the Save Our Farm movement, marked 30 years of promoting rural-urban harmony on November 18.

Some 200 people attended a celebration and thanksgiving Mass at KCFM headquarters in Taejon, 160 kilometres south of Seoul.

During the day they evaluated the movement's activities and confirming its mission in the Church and society.

St Francis of Assissi's vision at Greccio leads to the first crib at Christmas

Continued from Page 24 to look and pray at this, the first This was the answer Francis replica of the Nativity scene.

Within days people had come had been seeking.

If he could recreate the images to worship at the Crib from the that he had shared with the shep- surrounding towns of Spoletto, herds that night then he could Tern!, Norcia, Foligone, from share those same images and Assisi and the towns of Tuscany and even Rome itself. feelings with all people.

There was no more talk of war.

The next day Francis and his Prisoners were released to their friends made and clothed figures families. of straw depicting the nativity Neighbour started to help with baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, neighbour. The poor were looked the three wise men, the shep- after and at Christmas all famiherds paying homage, the don- lies had shelter and boxes of food key the ox and the sheep. and clothes were given to those All the people of Greccio came In need.

The Record,December 19 1996 Page 22

On that Christmas Eve an altar was set up in the fteld outside Greccio and at the vigil Mass the Nativity story was mimed for the first time.

People from all the surrounding towns came together, irrespective of their race or beliefs and worshipped as one.

Old enemies stood alongside each other with heads bowed and all truly felt that they had the privilege of sharing together the Incarnation of Jesus. Son of God. Candles and lanterns lit up the whole field and all the people joined in songs of praise.

"Oh come all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, Come ye, 0 come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him, Born the King of angels.

0 come let us adore Him Christ the Lord."

Since then the nativity scenes have become the catalyst, joining all nations, all colours, most beliefs and all that pray for peace throughout the world.

The Nativity scenes have been adopted by every country and are on display in all Christmas displays and pageantry

Schools have them in their classrooms and children take part in plays of the birth of Jesus.

Most homes have them and parents tell their young children the story of the birth of Jesus and the message it gives of peace and goodwill to all the world.

Francis Bernadone, better known as St Francis of Assisi died three years later on October 3, 1226. He was only 44.

The religious order he started took his name after his death and is called the Franciscans and is world wide.

Behold- the Child

-\•Mi

EYE11OCATCHER

1Record Classified ads: $3 per line

Deadline for ads: 5pm Monday

Official Engagements DECEMBER 20

21 22 24

Phone 227 7778 25

BUILDING TRADES

BUILDING TRADES

PAINTING by professional.

R egistration No. 3248.

Domestic or commercial.

No job too small. Available immediately.

Telephone Dominic 354 9442.

PLUMBING and gas, ring Steve Platt 337 2938, Mob: 041 904 5792.

PROFESSIONAL property maintenance, carpentry, fences, roofs, gutters, down pipes, paving. Ph Paul 309 4751, mob 041-895 4771.

PAINTING & Decorating reg. no. 3622. For all your painting needs, all work professionally done and guaranteed, references available. Call Carlo 444 6797.

SWIMMING POOLS, service, maintenance, equipment, painting (free quotes) KAVANAGH'S POOL SERVICE, ph 349 0223.

Since 1974.

WILSON'S Garden Clean Up Company. Tree lopping, hedging. pruning. cleanups, fully yard insured. Call Graham or Patrick Wilson, Tel. 276 4617. Mobile 041 993 0790.

PLUMBER Ring Desmond 3505223. mob. 019 684322.

LIC. PLUMBER/gas fitter, Contact John on 457 7771 Mobile 015 385 209.

PERROTT PAINTING Pty Ltd for all your residential, painting commercial requirements. Phone Tom Perrott 444 1200.

CARPENTER/Handyman Qual tradesman. All jobs, pergolas. Ph 041 991 6548.

MORTAR + brick restoration, tuckpointing, call Steve 0412 942 753, Masterhand.

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION K ALBARRI 2 b/r, s/c home Pat (09) 572 3297

DRIVING SCHOOL L2P DRIVING ACADEMY 20 years exper. Call 304 0101 for a great service.

THANKS MAY the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus pray for us: St Jude the worker of miracles pray for us. St Jude helper of the hopeless pray for us. Say this prayers 9 times a day.

Say for 9 days. For thanks publish this prayer. J.R.

ACCOMMODATION WANTED WE HAVE many young people from overseas looking for shared accommodation. If you have a room to let please phone Nichigo Centre ph: 325 4441.

d

IRISH CHRISTMAS GREETINGS CHRISTMAS Greetings from Ireland.

Sincere thanks to friends who have sent cards. A Novena of Masses will be celebrated f or your intentions commencing on Christmas Eve. From Rev. Gerard Cusack, 0.Praem., Kilnacrott Abbey.

PUBUC NOTICE FURNITURE REMOVALS All areas. Mike Murphy.

008 807 929.

VIETNAMESE young lady seeks casual work $10 per hour, Belmont area. Interpreter, office work, general duties. Ring Peter 447 3527

HOLY SPIRIT who makes me see everything and shows me the way to reach my ideals. You who gives me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances in my life with me. I. in this short dialogue want to thank you for everything and confirm once more that I never want to be separated from you no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory.

Amen. Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days. S.M.

DEATH NOTICE CANNING, David. A sincere tribute to a fine charitable gentleman and friend of Fr McKenna, Margaret.

Veronica. Bruno, Bill. Kevin and John. Deepest sympathy to Barbara and family.

May he rest in peace.

THANKS 0 SACRED Heart of Jesus I have asked You for so many favours, but this one I earnestly employ. Take it and place in Your open broken wounded heart and present it to the Eternal Father, so that when He sees it covered with the cloak of Your precious blood. He will not refuse it.

It will no longer be my prayer but Yours. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus I place my trust in You Repeat 3 times. Sheila.

l e

ISSN: 1327 - 3531

David Kehoe PO Box 75, Leederville, WA. 6902 587 Newcastle Street, West Perth, WA, 6005.

(09) 227 7080. Fax (09) 227 7087 cathrec©iinetnet.au Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth.

The Record, established in 1874, is distributed to Catholic churches, presbyteries and religious houses throughout the Archdiocese of Perth and the Dioceses of Geraldton, Bunbury and Broome.

Advertising rates Display: $6 colcm.

Classifieds: $3 a line Deadlines: Editorial: Tuesday, first mail.

Advertising: Booking: Monday midday.

Copy: Tuesday midday.

Member: Aust Catholic Press Association; Aust Religious Press Association.

The Record follows the Holy Spirit's teaching at the Second Vatican Council on the role of the Catholic print media.

The Record will not return copy or photographs submitted for publication unless specifically requested in writing upon submission.

The editor reserves the right to accept or reject any material submitted and to edit such material for clarity and brevity without recourse to the author.

28

29 31

Archliocesan Panorama ALONE ON CHRISTMAS DAY? Then why not share with others at the St Gerard's Parish Christmas Dinner to be held in the Hall between 12 noon and 3pm on Christmas Day. Food and entertainment provided. Phone Janet on 249 6738 or the Parish House on 349 2315.

NEEDED for young people/students from overseas. Short/long term stays. Contact Nichigo Centre ph: 325 4441.

Relecow

Phone: e-mail: Publisher:

THANKS

HOST FAMILIES

No: 3028

Managing Editor: Postal address: Street address:

WORK WANTED

Mass for Sisters of Mercy, Tuart Hill - Archbishop Hickey Mass at Claremont - Bishop Healy Blessing of Extensions, Attadale Parish - Archbishop Hickey Midnight Mass St Mary's Cathedral - Archbishop Hickey, Bishop Healy. Bishop Jobst Christmas Day Mass, St Mary's Cathedral - Archbishop Hickey Feast of the Holy Innocents, Vigil Mass St Mary's Cathedral offered in Reparation for Abortion Archbishop Hickey Induction Ceremony for Fr Benedict Quadros at Maddington Parish Archbishop Hickey Procession and Midnight Mass, Bullsbrook - Archbishop Hickey

The staff and Board of

The Record would like to wish its readers, advertisers, suppliers and printer - Vanguard Press - a holy and happy Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

COUNTRY SUBSCRIBERS We would like to inform you that the New Year edition of The Record, published on Thursday 26 December, may arrive before Christmas due to altered Australia Post mailing schedules over the Christmas period.

Please do not confuse this edition with the Christmas issue.

ALAN AT MIDLAND PARISH Healing of the Sick will follow a talk to be given by Alan Ames at St Brigid's Church, Cnr Morrison Rd & Gt Northern Hwy on Fri 17th Jan '97.

A lan will speak about his conversion experiences that brought him back to the Church. The evening commences with Benediction at 7.30pm and concludes with the Healing. Refreshments available in the hall afterwards. Please bring a plate to share. Enq: Russel 274 6018 or Richard 450 2749.

BULLSBROOK PILGRIMAGE The next pilgrimage at the Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation, Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook will be held on 29 December, 2pm. Rosary, benediction, homily by Fr Noel Tobin. The pilgrimage concludes with blessing of the sick. All welcome.

Please phone 444 7565 for bookings of the bus from Marangeroo, Tuart Hill, Perth, Highgate and Midland. For Fremantle bus phone 339 4015. For further information please contact Sacri Association, PO Box 311, Tuart Hill WA 6060 or phone 447 3292.

FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS Saturday 28 December is the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Archbishop Hickey will offer the 6.30pm Vigil Mass at St Mary's Cathedral in reparation for abortion. Donations of baby clothes to help mothers of the unborn can be left inside main entrance. The Rosary will be prayed at 6.05pm amidst the white crosses in the Cathedral grounds. Eng. to Catholic Pro-Life: 446 9682.

EMBLETON PARISH Novena devotions to Our Lady of Good Health -Vailankanni, are held on the last Saturday of every month at Holy Trinity Church, Embleton. The devotions commence at 6pm, followed by the 7pm Vigil Mass. The next Novena Devotion will be held on Sat. 28 December. Enq: 271 5528, 370 1516 or 272 4180.

The Record,December 49 1996 Page 23

*****************************************************************************************

.„„

44**********4g**************

Behold the Chiid - Christmas 1996

Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the three magi are depicted In the -Adoration of the Magi" by Italian painter Andrea Mantegna, completed in the late 15th or early 16th century.

St Francis' Greccio vision gives birth to the crib

By Ian Asphar

0

nce upon a time, around the year

1223, a man, dressed poorly in an

old tunic, girdle, staff and sandals, was walking through the hills of Umbria outside Greccio in Italy.

-X* Christmas was approaching and it had * taken Francis days to walk from Rome * visiting the various towns in the Rieti Val* ley on his way to Assisi. * Everywhere he went he had been * encouraged to stop and talk with the * * townspeople.

He had been disturbed to find that * * many towns and villages were still fight• ing each other. * When, however, he talked to them with * disarming simplicity and earnestness on * * peace, having regard for each other and * encouraging them to look after the sick. * the needy and the homeless, their * response had been very good. * * The food and clothing he had been * given he had quietly passed on to Broth* er Bernard, his companion, who had then * handed them to the needy. * Francis Bernadone had been born in * y Assisi in 1182 and in his younger days • had fought both with and against these people.

In the war with Perugia he had once been held prisoner of war for nearly two years. * When hostilities ceased he returned to * Assisi but soon afterwards fell seriously * ill for some months. * Now Francis was welcome in all the * towns and villages he visited. * * When he spoke in the village square * people would leave their shops and the * fields to listen to him. * His message was always the same. *

4

Peace to all, treat each other as brother and sister, and to do unto others as you would that they would do to you. Always be willing to help those in need and to offer kindness, understanding and help for those in sickness or sorrow.

Francis always reminded them that it was in giving that they would receive, in forgiving that they obtained forgiveness and that in dying they would rise to eternal life.

One of his ex comrades in arms, whom Francis had given his armour to many years ago, offered him clothes, food and accommodation, Francis thanked him but said "If you would give it to me why won't you give it also to your neighbour who is in need of help? My needs are few. There are children here who are starving and widows from these endless wars who are homeless. Give your help to them."

Francis often pondered why it was that in each town he visited people were always willing to give him help and offer him clothes and shelter when their neighbours and other people in the town needed their help more?

He kept thinking and looking for an answer that would bring everyone together.

He hoped that instead of war there would be peace, that those who were able would look after those who needed help, that those who were homeless be given roofs over their heads, that the children would not go hungry.

Francis was looking for an idea that would bring all these people together to share in the great love he had for Jesus.

It was on this special evening that Francis left Greccio on his way home to Assisi, It had been a long, hot day. The sun had

started to set over the undulating hills.

The precipitous slopes overlooking the beautiful valley of Rieti and the rocks seemed to glow and change.

It was the time of day that Francis loved, for it was at this time that he felt very close to Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Sister Water. Brother Wind as he liked to call them, and to Mother Earth and all nature and God's creatures.

When dusk fell he looked onto a field where an old, crumbling Roman stone building stood, As he entered the field and made his way to the clump of stones an ox softly bellowed a welcome, Inside the ruin a donkey brayed contentedly as Francis gently stroked behind his ears.

The floor was strewn with hay and as the night closed in Francis knelt in prayer thanking God again for finding him shelter for the night.

As Francis prayed his thoughts were only of Jesus and the great feast that was coming to celebrate His birth.

Francis asked Him to show him a way so that all people could share this momentous occasion.

In other spiritual travails he had followed the messages he had received.

One of the first was when he had heard a voice speaking from a wooden crucifix telling him "Go, Francis, repair my church which, as you see, falls in ruin."

He had later formed the Order of the Friars Minor, later called the Franciscans, and had then assisted in the forming of the Poor Sisters of St Claire.

He had visited the Pope on numerous occasions receiving, as well as giving, help in the spread of Christianity.

His was one of the first Orders to tray-

el abroad preaching Christianity. The smell of the hay and the soft breathing of the animals reminded Francis that possihly it was in a stable like that Jesus was born.

Filled with his humbleness he tried to imagine what it would have been like those 1200 odd years ago.

The animals stirred restlessly. Somehow a soft candle like glow seemed to fill the stable and in the flickering darkness the figure of Joseph appeared looking down on Mary holding the baby Jesus in her arms.

In the shadows were the three wise men bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

A startled gasp escaped Francis's mouth as he felt the eyes of the Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph looking and smiling at him.

As tears of happiness rolled down his face his revelry was disturbed by the sound of the shepherds bringing their sheep home.

"Hush" he whispered "Can't you see Him? Look and listen!"

Then they heard the words of the angel spoken to the shepherds some 1200 years ago. "Do not be afraid; behold I bring you good news of a great rejoicing.

This day, in the city of David, a saviour has been born for you all, the Lord Christ Himself. This is the sign by which you will know him. You will find a child, still in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

And as they knelt down in adoration from above came the voice of angels singing... "Glory to God on high and peace to all men of good will..."

All the men knelt in deep adoration captured by the mystic spell that filled the ruin on that special night.

Continued on Page 22

4:-

*****************************************************************************************