The Record Newspaper 09 January 2013

10 things you need to know about Georg

Benedict XVI’s right-hand manArchbishop Georg Ganswein: Page 15

His birthplace still draws all to come and see

Pope tells Curia ‘false idea’ of human nature now a global threat to basis of the family

Crisis of human identity

By Francis rocca

POPE

BENEDICT

XVI said the family in Western society is undergoing a “crisis that threatens it to its foundations” owing to false ideas of human nature that equate freedom with selfishness and present Godgiven sexual identities as a matter of individual choice to the profound detriment of human dignity. But he said the Catholic Church, in its dialogue with states, secular society and other religions, can help restore a proper understanding of

human nature as a basis for justice and peace.

The Pope made his remarks on December 21, in his annual Christmas address to officials of the Roman Curia, the Catholic Church’s central administrative offices at the Vatican.

“The question of the family is not just about a particular social construct, but about man himself – about what he is and what it takes to be authentically human,” Pope Benedict said.

“Only in self-giving does man

find himself,” he said, “only by letting himself be changed through suffering does he discover the breadth of his humanity.”

As a consequence of an “increasingly widespread” refusal to make lifelong commitments to the family, the Pope said, “man remains closed in on himself” and “essential elements of the experience of being human are lost”.

Citing a study of same-sex marriage and parenting by Rabbi Gilles Bernheim, chief rabbi of France, Pope Benedict deplored what he

called a “new philosophy of sexuality” epitomised by the word “gender” which teaches that “sex is no longer a given element of nature” but a “social role we choose for ourselves.”

“Man and woman as created realities, as the nature of the human being, no longer exist,” he said. “Man calls his nature into question. From now on he is merely spirit and will.”

The consequences of this attitude, the Pope suggested, have included unethical biomedical

practices: “The manipulation of nature, which we deplore today where our environment is concerned, now becomes man’s fundamental choice where he himself is concerned.”

To reject the “pre-ordained duality of man and woman” is also to reject the family as a “reality established by creation”, he said, with particularly degrading consequences for children: “The child has become an object to which Please turn to Page 6 Pope’s speech - Pages 7-9

Muslim young women visit the grotto of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The grotto’s silver star – parts worn smooth by the veneration of pilgrims – marks the site of Christ’s birth. More coverage of Christmas in Perth parishes, Pages 4-5.

Joy the key to the new evangelisation

By Carol Glatz

EVEN WHEN the Catholic Church acknowledges its struggles and the sinfulness of some of its members, it must hold on to the joy that flows from God’s love and salvation in Christ, said the preacher of the papal household.

“When the world comes knocking at the Church’s doors – even when it does so violently and in anger – it does so because it is looking for joy,” Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa told Pope Benedict XVI and top Vatican officials.

Fr Cantalamessa, the preacher of the papal household, gave the last of his 2012 Advent reflections to the Pope and his closest aides just before Christmas on

Despite all the struggles of the Church in the modern world, joy is the secret ingredient to the success of the new evangelisation.

December 21, focusing on how joy is key to the new evangelisation.

“What the world seeks is joy,” he said. “This is that joy to which we must bear witness.”

The joy described in the Gospel stories of Jesus’ birth, he said, is not a matter of a “few scattered hints of gladness”, but rather “a rush of calm and profound joy”.

The task of the Church, he said, is to lead people to experience that same deep joy that comes from knowing Christ’s birth, death and resurrection have changed history forever.

Catholics connect with that joy by remembering the works God has accomplished and by being aware of God’s continuing presence and action.

“If the Church today wishes to rediscover paths of courage and joy amid all the anxieties and tribula-

tions that beset her, she must open her eyes to all that God is accomplishing in her this very day,” he said. God’s continuing presence is still seen in “marvelous stories of holiness,” stories so impressive that “one day – when all the negativity and sin have vanished into thin air

– perhaps future generations shall look upon our age with wonder and with holy envy”.

Fr Cantalamessa told the Pope and Vatican officials that he wasn’t suggesting “closing our eyes to the many evils that afflict the Church and to the betrayal of so many of

Two faiths celebrate one great event

her ministers”. However, he said, “at a time when the world and its media put nothing before us regarding the Church except these things, it is good every now and then to lift one’s gaze and look upon her luminous side, her sanctity.”

- CNS

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READINGS OF THE WEEK

Sunday 13th - White

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (FEAST)

1st Reading: Isa 40:1-5.9-11

Sin atoned for

Responsorial Ps 103:1-2.3-4.24-

Psalm: 25.27-30

How great you are

2nd Reading: Titus 2:1114.3:4-7

Water of rebirth

Gospel Reading: Lk 3:15-16.21-22

Jesus baptised

Monday 14th - Green

1st Reading: Heb 1:1-6

God has spoken

Responsorial Ps 96:1-2,6-7,9

Psalm: The Lord is King

Gospel Reading: Mk 1:14-20 Believe the Good News

Tuesday 15th - Green

Travel Dream

1st Reading: Heb 2:5-12 Glory and splendour

Responsorial Ps 8:2.5-9

Psalm: Glory and honour

Gospel Reading: Mk 1:21-28

Deep impression

Wednesday 16th - Green

1st Reading: Heb 2:14-18

Atone for sins

Responsorial Ps 104: 1-4.6-9

Psalm: Thank the Lord

Gospel Reading: Mk 1:29-39 Cast out devils

Thursday 17th - White

ST ANTHONY, ABBOT (MARTYR)

1st Reading: Heb 3:7-14

Listen today

Responsorial Ps 94:6-11

Psalms: Soften your heart

Gospel Reading: Mk 1:40-45

Be Cured

Friday 18th - Green

1st Reading: Heb 4:1-5.11

Place of rest

Responsorial Ps 77:3-4.6-8

Psalm: God’s deeds

Gospel Reading: Mk 2:1-12 Sins forgiven

Saturday 19th - Green

1st Reading: Heb 4:12-16

Alive and active

Responsorial Ps 18:8-10.15

Psalm: the Heart Gospel Reading: Mk 2:13-17

Come for sinners

Egyptian Muslims and Christians celebrate Coptic Christmas Eve in Cairo’s Tahrir Square on January 6.

PHOTO: MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY, REUTERS

God’s love leads us to discover our vocation

By Carol Glatz

GOD’S LOVE is unconditional yet demanding, asking all to choose how they will live their gift of life, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“The love of God sometimes follows paths one could never have imagined, but it always reaches those who are willing to be found,” the Pope said in his message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, to be observed April 21, 2013.

God’s “deep, demanding love ... gives us courage; it gives us hope in our life’s journey and in our future; it makes us trust in ourselves, in history and in other people,” the Pope wrote in the message released on December 15 The day’s theme for 2013 is “Vocations as a sign of hope founded in faith.”

The Pope said that God never abandons his creation and remains true to his word. His faithfulness is his love, which, “fully manifested in Jesus Christ, engages with our existence and demands a response in terms of what each individual wants to do with his or her life and what he or she is prepared to offer in order to live to the full.”

Accepting Jesus’ invitation to “Come, follow me”, means no longer choosing one’s own path, but rather “immersing our own will in the will of Jesus, truly giving him priority, giving him pride of place in every area of our lives: in the family, at work, in our personal interests, in ourselves”, he said.

Vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life “are born out of the experience of a personal encounter with Christ, out of sincere and confident dialogue with him” through prayer and the Sacraments, the Pope said.

Pope Benedict called on young people to bypass “superficial and ephemeral” pursuits and cultivate a real desire “for what it’s truly worthy, for lofty objectives, radical choices, service to others in imitation of Jesus.” He called on priests

“to accompany young people as ‘companions on the journey’, helping them on life’s often tortuous

and difficult path, to recognise Christ, the way, the truth and the life, telling them with Gospel cour-

age, how beautiful it is to serve God, the Christian community and one’s brothers and sisters”. - CNS

Tantur Ecumenical Institute

AN OASIS OF LEARNING, COMMUNITY, AND HOSPITALITY…

Tantur’s educational and renewal programs are designed for pastors, lay people and scholars looking for a spiritual and educational encounter with the Holy Land and its people. Our programs are ideal for those who seek a sabbatical or are looking for an extended program beyond the usual pilgrimage, while participating in an international and ecumenical Christian community. You are welcome at Tantur!

• The Scholars Program is for Junior and Senior Scholars to pursue independent research for several months in a residential community setting. Our library is one of the largest in the region.

• Continuing Education Programs are for those seeking spiritual, ecumenical, and educational sabbaticals. Various durations are made available to you: Three-Month (Sept.-Dec.), Six-Week (Feb.-March), and One-Month (June or July) programs.

• The Easter Encounter Program is for individuals wanting an extended and enhanced three-week pilgrimage centered around Holy Week.

T HE TANTUR Ex PERIENCE

What characterizes all Tantur programs is the context of the Holy Land—“the fifth gospel.” We take guided excursions (including Galilee) to encounter the land in its rich archaeological and historical context. We also focus on the local Christian communities and their experience as minorities in the Holy Land. Since they share land and life with Jewish and Muslim communities, Judaism and Islam are also an integral part of our study. All of our programs weave classroom instruction and communal prayer with the guided excursions, allowing participants to experience the fullness of the “fifth Gospel.”

For further details, please visit our website www.tantur.org or email tantur@netvision.net.il with inquiries.

…ON A HILL IN JERUSALEM NEAR BETHLEHEM

in brief

Vatican State Vatican vendors suspend credit card transactions

VATICAN City State vendors, including the Vatican Museums and supermarket, stopped accepting credit- and debit-card payments on January 1, citing technical difficulties amid unofficial reports of regulatory concerns by Italian financial authorities. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said late on January 2, “The arrangement between several Vatican City State offices and one of the POS (point of sale) providers, whose services were employed to facilitate payments by tourists and pilgrims inside the Vatican, is about to expire”. He said the Vatican already was in negotiations with other providers, and the no-plastic policy was expected to be short-lived. - CNS

Vatican State

2.3 million visited the Pope in last 12 months

MORE than 2.3 million pilgrims and visitors joined Pope Benedict XVI for an audience, liturgy or prayer at the Vatican or Castel Gandolfo in 2012, the Vatican said. The Prefecture of the Papal Household, the Vatican office that coordinates the audiences and distributes free tickets to papal audiences and liturgies, said its figures were calculations based on the number of tickets requested and estimates of crowd size. The total of 2,351,200 people at papal events included those attending the Pope’s 43 weekly general audiences at the Vatican or at the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo; special audiences for particular groups; Masses and other liturgies; and a rough estimate of the size of the crowds in St Peter’s Square or the courtyard of the papal villa for the Pope’s recitation of the Angelus or Regina Coeli prayer on Sundays and major feast days.

The 2012 total was down by about 200,000 from the number of visitors reported in 2011. The prefecture estimated that between Pope Benedict’s election in 2005 and the end of 2012, more than 20.5 million visitors and pilgrims had joined the Pope for an event at the Vatican or in Castel Gandolfo. - CNS

The famous Christ the Redeemer statue is seen in 2011 atop Corcovado Peak in Rio de Janeiro. Hundreds of thousands of young Catholics are expected to gather in Rio in July for a week of events whose highlight will be the presence of the Pope, encouraging them to cultivate their faith and religious identity.

PHOTO: BRUNO DOMINGOS, REUTERS

Bateman l St Thomas More

Woodvale l St Luke

Hilbert l St Francis Xavier

There were angels everywhere at St Thomas Moore, Bateman as the children performed the nativity for the parish. Inside the church, Christmas decorations brought cheer to all who attended Mass as they looked on to the scene of baby Jesus’ birth.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Christmas was celebrated at St Luke’s, Woodvale with a record number of people, especially at the 7pm Family Mass. Children proclaimed the “Good News” of the birth of Christ in song and action. At the end of the Mass, an acolyte (Joe Lynch) and his wife (Moira) were congratulated on their 50th Wedding Anniversary. A Papal Blessing was presented to them on this occasion by the parish priest.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

There was plenty of room for the nativity performance as kids took to the stage.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Immaculate Heart feast beats the great heatwave

IMMACULATE Heart College

(IHC) in Chittering celebrated its own brand of Christmas celebrations with camel rides and reptilian close encounters on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The special day is also the feast day of the college, making it one of the most important days of the year.

The college’s biggest fundraiser, this annual event provided a day of entertainment for the community including song and dance performances, even a visit from Santa Claus.

Fortunately, the event fell on one of the coolest days of December, just ahead of the heat wave which struck the state during Christmas celebrations.

Perth residents sweltered during the festive season with four consecutive days over 40oC, a trend that had not been seen since 1933.

The Shire of Chittering, about an hour’s drive northeast of Perth, is not unfamiliar with the dangers of summer after a bushfire broke out in the area in January 2012.

Luckily for the college, summer troubles did not ruin its event which featured Country Muay Thai performers, the St Andrew’s Greek Dance Group and the Bullsbrook Dance Academy.

IHC principal Angela Evangelinou-Yiannakis said all the performances were highly professional and very well received by those who attended.

She said the project’s success was thanks to the persistence and long-term commitment of the IHC P&F and enthusiastic efforts of its Executive Committee.

The little-parish-that-could turns 50

THE ROAD to becoming a recognised parish has not always been smooth for Pater Noster in Myaree, making the celebration for its 50th anniversary all the sweeter.

The small parish, flanked by the large parish of Applecross, applied several times for permission to build a church, only to be rejected by the diocesan planning committee on the grounds that the parish was not viable.

In 2002, Fr Larry Reitmeyer was appointed to test the parish’s viability and to recommend whether to build a church or suppress the parish.

At the time, Mass had been held in the homes of parishioners and school classrooms in the absence of a proper church, transforming two classrooms into a Mass centre.

Many parishioners longed for a worship space that could rightly be called a church.

The parish community responded to Fr Larry’s challenge with great enthusiasm, proving they could raise enough money and sustain the finances of the church.

After a long campaign of fundraising and organising, an official church of the parish was completed and consecrated in 2007.

A celebratory Mass was held at the church to celebrate its 50th anniversary last month.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe concelebrated the Mass with parish priest and chaplain to the Korean community, Fr Joseph Lee, and chaplain to the Indonesian community, Fr Siriakus Ndolu, while Deacon John Kiely assisted at the altar.

Three choirs – Indonesian, Korean and Pater Noster – were combined under the efforts of choir mistress Ann Chew to perform a combined showcase marking the celebration.

Fr Joseph’s sister, Sylvia, performed a traditional Korean dance,

adapted to express a Christian story, which depicted total commitment and devotion to Jesus and God.

In her homeland of Korea, Sylvia is a professional Christian liturgical dancer in the traditional Korean style.

An after-Mass morning tea was

Many parishioners longed for a worship space that could rightly be called a church.

attended by the principal and deputies of parish school Mel Maria as well as the Mayor of Melville, Janet Woollard.

Sister Eileen Johnson represented the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, who staffed the fledgling parish school in 1963, before they were replaced by the Sisters of Mercy Australia, represented by Sr Joan Smith and Marie Fitzgerald.

FLAME MUSIC MINISTRY

Craft stalls and camel rides were some of the highlights at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in Chittering.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Parish priest, chaplain and deacon concelebrate Mass with the Archbishop of Perth. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

IVF and abortion to stay under Abbott

FEDERAL opposition leader Tony Abbott announced last week he supports in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and never sought to restrict abortions as health minister.

In an opinion piece in The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Abbott said he never sought to restrict access to the morning-after-pill or sought to prevent the importation of RU486 – a drug that can terminate a pregnancy up to nine weeks.

He also praised his chief of staff, Peta Credlin, for speaking out about her difficult experience trying to conceive with IVF, saying he had never opposed IVF treatment.

“A minister’s job is to implement the policy of the government and to administer departmental pro-

grams,” he said in the article.

“It is not to make moral decisions for people.”

Ms Credlin, who recovered from a fifth “failed” IVF cycle late last year, told women’s magazine Marie Claire Mr Abbott was supportive of her decision to try IVF and offered to store her fertility drugs in his parliamentary fridge.

Labor responded to Mr Abbott’s opinion piece suggesting the Liberal Party was trying to improve female voters’ perception of him.

But Mr Abbott said it was important people understood where he stood on issues such as IVF.

The Catholic Church’s has officially stated it is opposed to IVF because it deliberately destroys and

experiments upon embryos.

Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne said Mr Abbott was extraordinarily supportive during the five years he and his wife went through IVF, which led to the birth of their twins Barnaby and Eleanor in 2000.

Catholics for his policies on asylum seekers and Aboriginal affairs.

Mr Abbott also defended comments he made in 2004 about abortion while he was the Minister for Health.

He described abortion as an “easy

“A minister’s job is to implement the policy ... it is not to make moral decisions for people.”

Mr Pyne said Mr Abbott felt the Catholic Church’s teachings on IVF were “misguided” and there was nothing more important or exciting than the birth of children.

Mr Abbott is well-known to be a practising Catholic and has, in the past, received the ire of some

way out” for people with unwanted pregnancies.

“What I said in 2004 was that abortion should be safe, legal and rare,” Mr Abbott said. “I think that’s the way it should be.”

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said Mr Abbott’s views on abortion

Graduation is gold for ex-Olympian

FORMER Hockeyroos gold medallist and Order of Australia Medal recipient, Rachel Dwyer OAM (nee Imison), says studying Medicine at The University of Notre Dame Australia has enhanced the ethical and professional skills she will require in her chosen profession of paediatrics.

Mrs Dwyer chose to study Medicine at Notre Dame for the support provided to mature-age students and students with families, and the reputation its graduates have in the medical industry.

The mother-of-one graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of Surgery from Notre Dame’s Fremantle Campus in December 2012.

After working for five years as a Paediatric Orthotist at Princess Margaret Hospital while playing professional hockey, Mrs Dwyer will begin at Royal Perth Hospital in 2013 with a keen interest in paediatrics and obstetrics.

“I previously studied a Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics with Honours at La Trobe University in Victoria which involved making artificial limbs and external body braces to help people function more normally,” Mrs Dwyer said.

“It’s a specialised area and there are only a handful of clinicians of this sort in Australia.

“I really enjoy this area as I want to do a bit more within paediatrics in the coming years.”

Mrs Dwyer began playing hockey at the age of six and represented Victoria in both under-age and open-age competitions.

She progressed to play 207 games of hockey for Australia as the country’s number one goalkeeper.

Since debuting as an 18-year-old against Korea in 1997, Mrs Dwyer has competed at three Olympic Games, three Commonwealth Games, two World Cups, and eight Champions Trophy tournaments.

Mrs Dwyer said her most memorable moment whilst playing for Australia was winning the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 in front of her family and friends.

As a result of this remarkable achievement, Mrs Dwyer received the Order of Australia Medal in 2001 for her service to sport.

“I was only 20 years old when I won gold in Sydney.

“It was pretty surreal and even today I don’t think I appreciate how significant it is,” Mrs Dwyer said.

“I felt blessed to be part of such a successful team back in the era of Doctor Ric Charlesworth who

shared his unparalleled hockey insight with me and the rest of the squad.

“It was also a very humbling experience to win the Order of Australia Medal at such a young age.”

“I was the youngest at the ceremony by far and all the medalists around me had achieved superhuman feats in the areas of science, social justice and benevolence.

“The best part about representing Australia was doing something that I loved and getting to travel the world with people with whom you have become really good friends.”

“The pride of representing your country – you can’t really compare that to anything.”

The Hockeyroos 2012 were knocked out of the London Olympics by Argentina before the semi-finals.

were on the record and if he had changed his mind he would have to convice the public.

Abortion is currently legal in every state in Australia, except New South Wales and Queensland where it is a crime unless doctors believe the woman’s health is in serious danger.

In Western Australia, an abortion is legal up to 20 weeks but some restrictions apply to girl under 16.

Further restrictions apply to abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Abortions after that time must be approved by a medical panel appointed by the Western Australian health minister.

Pope: global crisis facing basis of the family unit

Continued from Page 1 people have a right and which they have a right to obtain.”

Striking a more hopeful note, the Pope said that the Church can help secular society recover a true understanding of human nature.

“The Church represents the memory of what it means to be human in the face of a civilisation of forgetfulness,” he said.

Rather than prescribe specific remedies for social problems, the Church proposes certain “fundamental and non-negotiable” values as convincingly as possible, the Pope said, “and this then can stimulate political action”.

Dialogue with non-Christian religions, though it begins with a pragmatic search for peaceful coexistence, inevitably develops into an “ethical quest” for fundamental common values, hence a “quest for the right way to live as a human being”.

Properly understood as a search for the “oneness of the truth”, such dialogue does not entail compromise of religious convictions, he said.

A Christian “can venture freely into the open sea of the truth without having to fear for his Christian identity”, the Pope said, since “Christ, who is the truth, has taken us by the hand”.

The Pope’s speech included a brief summary of his activities in 2012, including his March trip to Mexico and Cuba.

While acknowledging increased freedom of worship under Cuba’s Communist regime, Pope Benedict warned that the “country’s search for a proper balancing of the relationship between obligations and freedom cannot succeed without reference to the basic criteria that mankind has discovered though encounter with the God of Jesus Christ.”

Fleet Street features Pope’s financial wisdom

By Francis X rocca Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY - In the Vatican’s latest move to expand its use of media, an article on the meaning of Christmas by Pope Benedict XVI appeared in Britain’s Financial Times newspaper on December 20.

“While Christmas is undoubtedly a time of great joy, it is also an occasion for deep reflection, even an examination of conscience,” the Pope wrote.

“At the end of a year that has meant economic hardship for many, what can we learn from the humility, the poverty, the simplicity of the crib scene?”

Writing in one of the business world’s most prominent publications, Pope Benedict stressed Christian duties to “fight poverty”, “work for more equitable sharing of the earth’s resources” and “oppose greed and exploitation”.

The Pope also emphasised that Christians’ “involvement in politics

and economics should transcend every form of ideology”.

Christians have historically opposed secular regimes that try “to take the place of God”, Pope Benedict wrote.

“When Christians refuse to bow down before the false gods proposed today ... it is because they are free from the constraints of ideology and inspired by such a noble vision of human destiny that they cannot collude with anything that undermines it.”

According to a statement from the Vatican press office, the article was solicited by the Financial Times and “despite the unusual nature of the request, the Holy Father accepted willingly”.

“This is just a great way to get to an audience that we don’t ordinarily reach,” said Greg Burke, media adviser to the Vatican’s Secretariat of State and a former correspondent for Fox News.

The article appeared only three weeks after Pope Benedict inaugu-

rated his personal Twitter accounts, which have attracted more than two million followers.

In accordance with Financial Times style, the Pope’s article appeared with a line identifying its author as “the bishop of Rome and the author of Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives, his latest bestselling book, which was published November 20.

The book is the third in a trilogy about the Pope’s meditation on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Rachel Dwyer holds her Olympic gold medal at her graduation with her husband and son.

PHOTO: UNDA

HUMAN BLUEPRINT

Pope Benedict XVI sounds a warning - the foundation of the family is being threatened, especially in the Western world, and we must closely examine the human blueprint to remain true to God.

Dear Cardinals, Brother Bishops and Priests, Dear Brothers and Sisters,

ONCE again we find ourselves at the end of a year that has seen all kinds of difficult situations, important questions and challenges, but also signs of hope, both in the Church and in the world.

I shall mention just a few key elements regarding the life of the Church and my Petrine ministry.

First of all, there were the journeys to Mexico and Cuba –unforgettable encounters with the power of faith, so deeply rooted in human hearts, and with the joie de vivre that issues from faith.

I recall how, on my arrival in Mexico, there were endless crowds of people lining the long route, cheering and waving flags and handkerchiefs.

I recall how, on the journey to the attractive provincial capital Guanajuato, there were young people respectfully kneeling by the side of the road to receive the blessing of Peter’s Successor.

I recall how the great liturgy beside the statue of Christ the King made Christ’s kingship present

among us – his peace, his justice, his truth.

All this took place against the backdrop of the country’s problems, afflicted as it is by many different forms of violence and the hardships of economic dependence.

While these problems cannot be solved simply by religious fervour, neither can they be solved without the inner purification of hearts that issues from the power of faith, from the encounter with Jesus Christ.

And then there was Cuba – here, too, there were great liturgical celebrations, in which the singing,

Families in Milan and the visit to Lebanon, where I consigned the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation that is intended to offer signposts for the life of churches and society in the Middle East along the difficult paths of unity and peace.

The last major event of the year was the Synod on the New Evangelisation, which also served as a collective inauguration of the Year of Faith, in which we commemorate the opening of the Second Vatican Council fifty years ago, seeking to understand it anew and appropriate it anew in the changed circum-

on the theme of the family and the nature of dialogue, and then to add a brief observation on the question of the new evangelisation.

The great joy with which families from all over the world congregated in Milan indicates that, despite all impressions to the contrary, the family is still strong and vibrant today.

But there is no denying the crisis that threatens it to its foundations – especially in the Western world.

It was noticeable that the Synod repeatedly emphasised the significance, for the transmission of the

The question of the family is not just about a particular social construct, but about man himself - about what it takes to be authentically human.

the praying and the silence made tangibly present the One that the country’s authorities had tried for so long to exclude.

That country’s search for a proper balancing of the relationship between obligations and freedom cannot succeed without reference to the basic criteria that mankind has discovered through encounter with the God of Jesus Christ.

As further key moments in the course of the year, I should like to single out the great Meeting of

stances of today.

All these occasions spoke to fundamental themes of this moment in history: the family (Milan), serving peace in the world and dialogue among religions (Lebanon) and proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ in our day to those who have yet to encounter him and to the many who know him only externally and hence do not actually recognise him.

Among these broad themes, I should like to focus particularly

faith, of the family as the authentic setting in which to hand on the blueprint of human existence.

This is something we learn by living it with others and suffering it with others.

So it became clear that the question of the family is not just about a particular social construct, but about man himself – about what he is and what it takes to be authentically human.

The challenges involved are manifold.

First of all there is the question of the human capacity to make a commitment or to avoid commitment.

Can one bind oneself for a lifetime?

Does this correspond to man’s nature?

Does it not contradict his freedom and the scope of his self-realisation?

Does man become himself by living for himself alone and only entering into relationships with others when he can break them off again at any time?

Is lifelong commitment antithetical to freedom?

Is commitment also worth suffering for?

Man’s refusal to make any commitment – which is becoming increasingly widespread as a result of a false understanding of freedom and self-realisation as well as the desire to escape suffering – means that man remains closed in on himself and keeps his “I” ultimately for himself, without really rising above it.

Yet only in self-giving does man find himself, and only by opening himself to the other, to others, to children, to the family, only by letting himself be changed through

Continued pages 8-9

Pope Benedict XVI meets with members of the Roman Curia to exchange Christmas wishes in Clementine Hall at the Vatican on December 21.

PHOTO: CNS/REUTERS

Continued from Page 7 suffering, does he discover the breadth of his humanity.

When such commitment is repudiated, the key figures of human existence likewise vanish: father, mother, child – essential elements of the experience of being human are lost.

The Chief Rabbi of France, Gilles Bernheim, has shown in a very detailed and profoundly moving study that the attack we are currently experiencing on the true structure of the family, made up of father, mother, and child, goes much deeper.

While up to now we regarded a false understanding of the nature of human freedom as one cause of the crisis of the family, it is now becoming clear that the very notion of being – of what being human really means – is being called into question.

He quotes the famous saying of Simone de Beauvoir: “one is not born a woman, one becomes so” (on ne naît pas femme, on le devient).

These words lay the foundation for what is put forward today under the term “gender” as a new philosophy of sexuality.

According to this philosophy, sex is no longer a given element of nature, that man has to accept and personally make sense of: it is a social role that we choose for ourselves, while in the past it was chosen for us by society.

The profound falsehood of this theory and of the anthropological revolution contained within it is obvious.

People dispute the idea that they have a nature, given by their bodily identity, that serves as a defining element of the human being.

They deny their nature and decide that it is not something previously given to them, but that they make it for themselves.

According to the biblical creation account, being created by God as male and female pertains to the essence of the human creature.

This duality is an essential aspect of what being human is all about, as ordained by God.

This very duality as something previously given is what is now disputed.

The words of the creation

account: “male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27) no longer apply.

No, what applies now is this: it was not God who created them male and female – hitherto society did this, now we decide for ourselves.

Man and woman as created realities, as the nature of the human being, no longer exist.

Man calls his nature into question.

From now on he is merely spirit and will.

The manipulation of nature, which we deplore today where our environment is concerned, now becomes man’s fundamental choice where he himself is concerned.

From now on there is only the abstract human being, who chooses for himself what his nature is to be.

Man and woman in their created state as complementary versions of what it means to be human are disputed.

But if there is no pre-ordained duality of man and woman in creation, then neither is the family any longer a reality established by creation.

Likewise, the child has lost the place he had occupied hitherto and the dignity pertaining to him.

Bernheim shows that now, perforce, from being a subject of rights, the child has become an object to which people have a right and which they have a right to obtain.

When the freedom to be creative becomes the freedom to create oneself, then necessarily the Maker himself is denied and ultimately man too is stripped of his dignity as a creature of God, as the image of God at the core of his being.

which runs through the whole of the past year from Assisi to the Synod on the New Evangelisation: the question of dialogue and proclamation.

Let us speak firstly of dialogue.

For the Church in our day I see three principal areas of dialogue in which she must be present in the struggle for man and his humanity: dialogue with states, dialogue with society – which includes dialogue with cultures and with science –and finally dialogue with religions.

about the human condition, she has experienced its boundaries and its grandeur, its opportunities and its limitations.

Human culture, of which she is a guarantee, has developed from the encounter between divine revelation and human existence.

The Church represents the memory of what it means to be human in the face of a civilisation of forgetfulness, which knows only itself and its own criteria.

In her dialogue with the state and with society, the Church does not, of course, have ready answers for individual questions.

Along with other forces in society, she will wrestle for the answers that best correspond to the truth of the human condition.

The values that she recognises as fundamental and non-negotiable for the human condition she must propose with all clarity.

When the freedom to be creative becomes the freedom to create oneself, then necessarily the Maker himself is denied ...

The defence of the family is about man himself.

And it becomes clear that when God is denied, human dignity also disappears.

Whoever defends God is defending man.

At this point I would like to address the second major theme,

In all these dialogues the Church speaks on the basis of the light given her by faith.

But at the same time she incorporates the memory of mankind, which is a memory of man’s experiences and sufferings from the beginnings and down the centuries, in which she has learned

Yet just as an individual without memory has lost his identity, so too a human race without memory would lose its identity.

What the Church has learned from the encounter between revelation and human experience does indeed extend beyond the realm of pure reason, but it is not a separate world that has nothing to say to unbelievers.

By entering into the thinking and understanding of mankind, this knowledge broadens the horizon of reason and thus it speaks also to those who are unable to share the faith of the Church.

She must do all she can to convince, and this can then stimulate political action.

In man’s present situation, the dialogue of religions is a necessary condition for peace in the world and it is therefore a duty for Christians as well as other religious communities.

This dialogue of religions has various dimensions.

In the first place it is simply a dialogue of life, a dialogue of being together.

This will not involve discussing the great themes of faith – whether God is Trinitarian or how the inspiration of the sacred Scriptures is to

Above: Chief Rabbi of France, Gilles Bernheim. Right: Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead his general audience in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican Bottom Left: Simone de Beauvoir, a French writer, who had a significant influence on both feminist existentialism and feminist theory.

PHOTO: CNS

be understood, and so on.

It is about the concrete problems of coexistence and shared responsibility for society, for the state, for humanity.

In the process, it is necessary to learn to accept the other in his otherness and the otherness of his thinking.

To this end, the shared responsibility for justice and peace must become the guiding principle of the conversation.

A dialogue about peace and justice is bound to move beyond the purely pragmatic to become an ethical struggle for the truth and for the human being: a dialogue concerning the values that come before everything.

In this way what began as a purely practical dialogue becomes a quest for the right way to live as a human being.

Even if the fundamental choices themselves are not under discussion, the search for an answer to a specific question becomes a process in which, through listening to the other, both sides can obtain purifi-

cation and enrichment.

Thus this search can also mean taking common steps towards the one truth, even if the fundamental choices remain unaltered.

If both sides set out from a hermeneutic of justice and peace, the fundamental difference will not disappear, but a deeper closeness will emerge nevertheless.

Two rules are generally regarded nowadays as fundamental for interreligious dialogue:

1. Dialogue does not aim at conversion, but at understanding. In this respect it differs from evangelisation, from mission;

2. Accordingly, both parties to the dialogue remain consciously within their identity, which the dialogue does not place in question either for themselves or for the other.

These rules are correct, but in the way they are formulated here I still find them too superficial.

True, dialogue does not aim at conversion, but at better mutual understanding – that is correct.

But all the same, the search

fundamentally certain that he can venture freely into the open sea of the truth, without having to fear for his Christian identity.

To be sure, we do not possess the truth, the truth possesses us: Christ, who is the truth, has taken us by the hand, and we know that his hand is holding us securely on the path of our quest for knowledge.

Being inwardly held by the hand of Christ makes us free and keeps us safe: free – because if we are held by him, we can enter openly and fearlessly into any dialogue; safe – because he does not let go of us, unless we cut ourselves off from him.

At one with him, we stand in the light of truth.

Finally, at least a brief word should be added on the subject of proclamation, or evangelisation, on which the post-synodal document will speak in depth, on the basis of the Synod Fathers’ propositions.

I find that the essential elements of the process of evangelising appear most eloquently in Saint John’s account of the calling of two of John the Baptist’s disciples, who become disciples of Jesus Christ (1:35-39).

tation of God – in the expectation that he exists and will reveal himself. Stimulated by the proclamation, their seeking becomes concrete.

They want to come to know better the man described as the Lamb of God by John the Baptist.

The third act is set in motion when Jesus turns round, approaches them and asks: “What do you seek?”

They respond with a further question, which demonstrates the openness of their expectation, their readiness to take new steps.

They ask: “Rabbi, where are you staying?”

Jesus’ answer “Come and see!” is an invitation to walk with him and thereby to have their eyes opened with him.

The word of proclamation is effective in situations where man is listening in readiness for God to draw near, where man is inwardly searching and thus on the way towards the Lord.

His heart is touched when Jesus turns towards him, and then his encounter with the proclamation becomes a holy curiosity to come to know Jesus better.

for knowledge and understanding always has to involve drawing closer to the truth.

Both sides in this piece-by-piece approach to truth are therefore on the path that leads forward and towards greater commonality, brought about by the oneness of the truth.

As far as preserving identity is concerned, it would be too little for the Christian, so to speak, to assert his identity in a such a way that he effectively blocks the path to truth.

First of all, we have the simple act of proclamation. John the Baptist points towards Jesus and says: “Behold the Lamb of God!” A similar act is recounted a few verses later.

This time it is Andrew, who says to his brother Simon “We have found the Messiah” (1:41).

The first and fundamental element is the straightforward proclamation, the kerygma, which draws its strength from the inner conviction of the one proclaiming.

As he walks with Jesus, he is led to the place where Jesus lives, to the community of the Church, which is his body.

That means entering into the journeying community of catechumen, a community of both learning and living, in which our eyes are opened as we walk.

“Come and see!”

This saying, addressed by Jesus to the two seeker-disciples, he also addresses to the seekers of today.

In man’s present situation, the dialogue of religions is a necessary condition for peace in the world and therefore is a duty for Christians ...

Then his Christianity would appear as something arbitrary, merely propositional.

He would seem not to reckon with the possibility that religion has to do with truth.

On the contrary, I would say that the Christian can afford to be supremely confident, yes,

In the account of the two disciples, the next stage is that of listening and following behind Jesus, which is not yet discipleship, but rather a holy curiosity, a movement of seeking.

Both of them, after all, are seekers, men who live over and above everyday affairs in the expec-

At the end of the year, we pray to the Lord that the Church, despite all her shortcomings, may be increasingly recognisable as his dwelling-place.

We ask him to open our eyes ever wider as we make our way to his house, so that we can say ever more clearly, ever more convincingly: “we have found him for whom the whole world is waiting, Jesus Christ, the true Son of God and true man”.

With these sentiments, I wish you all from my heart a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year.

Thank you.

Above: The family which presented the offertory gifts to Pope Benedict XVI at the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families in Milan. Bottom Right: Archbishop Costelloe, and Archbishop John Dew of Wellington leave a meeting of the Synod of Bishops on the new evangelisation.

PHOTO: CNS

Top End priest on a MISSION from GOD

Off the coast of Darwin on the remote Tiwi Islands, Record journalist Mark Reidy met with Vietnamese-born priest Peter Nguyen who, against all odds, joined the priesthood to fight the forces of secularism.

BEATING a crocodile on the head that dares disturb his day off or slicing a python with a machete pale in comparison to the sacrifices Bathurst Island priest Father Peter Nguyen has made for his faith.

Twice incarcerated in refugee camps and jailed for pursuing the priesthood, there was more to this softly spoken Vietnamese-born priest than I initially thought.

When he first picked me up in the sweltering conditions of the northern wet season, I learned Fr Peter does not use the airconditioning in his car, nor at his humble presbytery.

This 61-year-old man has had to adapt to change and overcome challenges all his life and his five year stint on the Tiwi Islands, 80km north of Darwin, has been no exception.

With the generous permission of Darwin Bishop Eugene Hurley, I shadowed the energetic, humble priest who is the latest link in the chain of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart which dates back to 1911 when Frenchman Fr Francis Gsell first arrived.

From our first stop at the open church in the main street of Wurrumiyanga, the largest settlement on Bathurst Island, the challenges of this once thriving Aboriginal mission become apparent.

While Fr Peter points out the latest broken windows - the latest slingshot victims - he is approached by a young couple wanting to baptise their four-year-old child.

Adopting a tactic of firm diplomacy, Fr Peter explains to the parents that it is important for them to see him beforehand so he can explain the significance of the choice they are making.

The challenges faced by most priests across the globe of drawing people into the Church without compromising the fullness of the Sacraments is particularly challenging for Fr Peter. He explains to me the Tiwi Islanders have only just begun to feel the impact of secularisation, as both the Church and the Aboriginal culture attempt to compete with the distractions of modern technology and the devastating repercussions of alcohol and drug abuse.

For a priest who did not arrive in Australia until he was almost thirty, with little understanding of the language or

culture, it is a fascinating journey from a village in northern Vietnam to the isolated Aboriginal community of the Tiwi Islands.

Four years after he was born in 1950, Fr Peter's family fled from the grasp of the Communist regime to southern Vietnam along with one million others, mostly Catholic.

Having already lost his father, the Nguyen family lived in a refugee camp near Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City, for several years before moving to Vungtau from 1956-63 in what Fr Peter describes as the "golden times".

The family's peaceful existence, however, was disturbed by the eruption of north/ south hostilities and the entry of US forces.

Amid the lingering presence of war, Fr Peter was able to complete and pass his secondary education - a fail would have resulted in him having to join the army.

He deferred from university for a year and spent that time working with an iso-

Father Peter Nguyen spent a year in a Vietnamese "re-education" camp for studying at a clandestine seminary, living in a small shed with 60 other men.

lated tribe of nomadic hunters, "High Mountain People", which sparked his passion for missionary work and ultimately led to becoming a missionary priest.

He began his studies as a seminarian in 1971; however, by 1975, Communism had taken hold and the seminary was forced to close.

Fr Peter discovered a clandestine seminary still operating in Saigon and was able to continue his studies there for three years until the illicit operation was discovered in 1978.

He was sent to a prison to be "re-educated" by communist hardliners. For the first six months he lived in a crowded shed, three by four metres, with 60 other men.

He was only allowed to leave the confines for 30 minutes each day for stretching and to use the toilet. It was during these breaks, squatting side by side, that the two

priests present would hear confessions.

"It was a very brutal time," Fr Peter recalled as he gazed into the distance. "I do not really like to talk too much about it."

In 1979, Fr Peter was released but was told he could not become a priest and could only live with his mother if he was going to marry.

Fr Peter remained in contact with the local Bishop through the "Veronicas"women who took great risks in running messages between bishops, seminarians and priests.

His bishop told him to make a five-year commitment as a single man and then to reassess his position after this time.

Father Peter began living as a lay person, taking whatever job he could before deciding he could not delay his calling any longer.

He left for Indonesia in 1979 where he spent a year in a refugee camp before accepting a place in Australia. He found himself in Melbourne and eventually at the Missionary of the Sacred Heart parish in Croydon. With his past studies in Vietnam not recognised, Fr Peter was sent to Sydney from 1981–1989 to repeat his priestly training.

Finally ordained in 1989, he returned to Melbourne and pleaded with his superiors to allow him to move north and work as a missionary.

Instead, he spent the next four years in Melbourne and Adelaide before his superior relented and relocated him to Daly River, a small Aboriginal community 200km south of Darwin.

For 10 years, Fr Peter developed an understanding of Aboriginal tradition and culture and gained an insight into the social struggles of the community. It was here he honed his "Crocodile Dundee" skills.

During my stay, I witnessed him use a machete to cut off the head of a snake he discovered outside his bedroom door. He later described how he would smash the head of any crocodile which attempted to steal his barracuda when he went fishing on his day off. In 2003, Fr Peter took a break from the harshness of the Australian outback and spent time at an overseas mission before returning to the Darwin diocese in 2007 where he located to the Tiwi Islands.

From his experience in Daly River, he

was well aware of the challenges before him; however, he was also aware of the struggles of the New Guinean priest who preceded him.

“I knew when I first joined the Missionaries that you can never let your brother struggle."

Despite the difficulties he has experienced during his time on the island, with the spiritual, cultural and social demise triggered by the recent invasion of secular influences, Fr Peter is adamant the deeply embedded influence of Catholicism on the islands has made it one of the Church's most successful missions in Australia.

Before the influx of welfare, alcohol, drugs and social media, at its peak there were three priests, four brothers and eight sisters living amongst the community.

Fr Peter believes that the impact of his predecessors is still strongly alive today.

The time I spent with older female locals confirmed the positive influence received through the spiritual and educational influences of past missionaries. These women make up the majority of the 60 or so parishioners attending weekly Mass and lament the falling away from the Church of the younger generations.

Similarly, Fr Peter lives in a different reality from those religious who have gone before him. He lives alone in his presbytery, with only his radio and his chihuahua, “Trouble” to keep him company. He does all his own cooking and maintenance and has to rely on support from the Diocese to supplement the $20 - $25 he receives in the collection plate each week. But this does not discourage him in any way. Despite the challenges and hurdles provided by his isolated and often lonely exist-

ence, Fr Peter remains positive and joyous. He celebrates Mass at the local retirement village each week, as well as daily Mass, even if there is only one other in attendance.

Catholicism on the islands has made it one of the Church's most successful missions in Australia.

On Sunday, I accompanied him to a smaller settlement on the other side of the island, a 150km round trip on a bumpy unpaved road - a commitment he fulfils every fortnight.

He is a man convinced that the presence of Christ he carries is the most important

Absolution comes only in Confession

A friend recently told me that you don’t really need to go to Confession since the penitential rite at the beginning of Mass forgives sins. Is this true?

THIS is a good question, and I suspect many people think the same way as your friend. But I also suspect that the underlying reason for the question in some people is a reluctance to go to Confession and that this, in turn, moves them to find theological reasons to justify their position.

Let us recall what we do in the penitential rite. The rite begins with the invitation from the priest to “acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries". It is only fitting at the beginning of any sacred ceremony, especially the Mass where we are in intimate communion with God, to begin by acknowledging our unworthiness and calling to mind our sins. This expression of humility makes us at least somewhat more worthy to enter into God’s presence.

This is followed by a short time of silence, where we can make a brief examination of conscience and call to mind our most recent sins or perhaps our most serious sins of the past. In this way our act of sorrow will be based on the awareness of particular sins. For this reason it is important that the celebrant leaves more than just a few perfunctory seconds for this time of silence and examination. It is not just a ritual but a real opportunity to call to mind our sins.

Then the whole congregation, including the priest, expresses its sorrow in one of a number of prescribed ways found in the missal. The most expressive is undoubtedly the Confiteor or “I confess”: “I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault ...”

gift he can offer to the Aboriginal people. He recalls how, during his pastoral training in Sydney, he developed his patience as well as his trust in God.

“There was an Aboriginal family I was asked to visit in Redfern,” he said.

“Each week, I would go to their house and knock on the door - I could hear them inside but they would never answer, so I would sit on their porch for an hour and then leave. I did this for three months before they finally opened up and invited me in”.

It is an understanding he has taken with him ever since. “I realised that my presence in their lives was important, even if I didn't say anything.”

As long as there are men and women of the virtue and character of Fr Peter, willing to carry the light of Christ to the furtherest corners of the globe, the darkness of this world shall never overcome.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal calls this a “general confession". It says that “the priest invites those present to take part in the Act of Penitence, which, after a brief pause for silence, the entire community carries out through a formula of general confession” (GIRM 51).

“General confession” means a generic confession of sins, both those of commission (“what I have done”) and those of omission (“what I have failed to do”), but without mentioning any particular sins, such as lying, showing impatience, etc. This confession should be sincere, as we express in the words: “I have greatly sinned ... through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault”. On saying these words we beat our breast, as the publican did in the tem-

Q & A

FR JOHN FLADER

ple. He “beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” (Lk 18:13).

The Confiteor concludes by asking for the prayers of the saints and of the Church on earth: “... therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.”

When we say “you, my brothers and sisters”, we are referring not just to those present in the Mass but to all our brothers and sisters throughout the world.

After the Confiteor the priest asks God to forgive everyone, including himself: “May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life”. Here the priest is acting not in the person of Christ the head, as he does in other parts of the Mass, but rather as leader of the congregation. He does not say “I absolve you” as he does in the Sacrament of Penance,

A reluctance to go to Confession in turn moves them to find theological reasons to justify their position.

but rather asks God to absolve everyone, including himself. Whether they are absolved will depend on their sorrow.

Does this prayer forgive sins, taking into account that the priest is asking God to have mercy on us and to forgive our sins? It is certain that the very expression of sorrow in the Confiteor accompanied by true interior repentance does forgive venial sins, as does any sincere act of contrition, or many other acts, including the reception of Communion in Mass.

But the rite of itself does not forgive mortal sins. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal makes this clear: “The rite concludes with the priest’s absolution, which, however, lacks the efficacy of the Sacrament of Penance” (GIRM 51). Therefore, before receiving Communion, a person in mortal sin must first receive absolution in the Sacrament of Penance (cf Catechism of the Catholic Church 1457).

As we can see, the penitential rite of the Mass is a powerful expression of sorrow, but it does not have the same efficacy as the Sacrament of Penance, which we should still receive regularly, especially if we have committed mortal sins.

Top: Fr Peter relaxes at his home. Right: Fr Peter celebrates the end of year school Mass; the Sanctuary, built in the 1940s, is decorated with local Tiwi painting. Above: Fr Peter celebrates Mass at a Catholic retirement village and defends his home from an intruding python. PHOTOS: MARK REIDY

There and Back AGAIN

Arguably the most anticipated film of the season, the wait for The Hobbit has paid off for most audience members as the film revisits Middle Earth, a decade after the release of the last Lord of the Rings film.

By John Mulderig

First published in 1937, Catholic author JRR Tolkien’s children’s novel The Hobbit, or There and Back Again has proved so popular in the decades since that it has never gone out of print.

With The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Warner Bros), director Peter Jackson provides movie audiences with an epic 3D screen version of the opening part of Tolkien’s widely loved work.

Not for the easily frightened nor - at well over two-and-a-half hours - for those with short attention spans, his sweeping journey across Tolkien’s imaginary world of Middle Earth is nonetheless an upbeat outing suitable for all others. In this first instalment of a trio of prequels to Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03)also, of course, based on Tolkien’s fiction - homebody hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) finds his contented existence within the safe confines of Middle Earth’s Shire region disturbed by the arrival on his doorstep of magisterial wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen).

Gandalf has seemingly unlikely plans for timid Bilbo: He wants him to accompany and aid a group of dwarfs on a dangerous quest.

Led by their sturdy chieftain Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), the dwarfs - a crude but spirited lot who descend on Bilbo’s house at Gandalf’s invitation - are out to recapture their ancient stronghold, Erebor.

Once a storehouse for the dwarfs’ fabulous wealth, Erebor was long ago conquered by Smaug, a rampaging dragon who coveted its vast horde of gold.

Tolkien’s tale can be viewed as a sort of prophecy, foretelling the courage with which his British compatriots confronted the Nazi war machine.

Though Bilbo initially wants nothing to do with the dwarfs’ perilous mission, in the face of Gandalf’s insistence, and perhaps sensing his own destiny, he eventually relents.

The heroism of ordinary people and the potential for everyday goodness to subdue evil are the primary themes of the long,

combat-heavy adventure that follows.

Tolkien’s tale can be viewed as a sort of prophecy, foretelling the down-to-earth courage with which his British compatriots would soon confront the onslaught of the Nazi war machine.

As Bilbo proves his mettle, the corrupting effects of power are also showcased through his encounter with Gollum (Andy Serkis), a cave dweller obsessed with - and spiritually enslaved by - a magical ring.

Gollum’s grasping character also may relate to the current events of the 1930s, given that the period between the world wars saw the rise of numerous dictators bent on aggression and acquisition.

But the endurance of the story in which he appears suggests that his traits may have a broader moral application as well.

The film contains much bloodless action violence and some mild gross-out humour. A-II - adults and adolescents.

Hollywood sings a song of faith

By Joseph McAleer

IF YOUR Christmas wish list includes a lavish, big-budget musical crafted in the classic Hollywood manner, then Les Miserables (Universal) is just the ticket.

This rousing entertainment offers something for everyone: soaring anthems, tear-jerking romance, thrilling drama - and a positive portrayal of the Catholic faith.

In fact, this faithful adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel, which was transformed into a worldwide stage sensation by impresario Cameron Mackintosh, is a deeply moral story. Characters rise and fall, calling on God for grace and mercy, seeking personal redemption while trying to better the lives of others.

As the central character, ex-convict Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), comes to realise, “To love another person is to see the face of God”.

Director Tom Hooper ( The King’s Speech) paints with an enormous brush and Les Miserables is staged on an epic scale, overstuffed with grand set pieces and hundreds of extras.

Les Miserables barrels along to a satisfying climax that is profound in its endorsement of the power of faith - more opera than musical.

Hooper’s fondness for extreme close-ups heightens the emotional wallop, and will likely send some viewers scrambling for tissues. The labyrinthine story spans two decades in post-revolutionary France and revolves around three characters: Valjean, who breaks his probation and seeks a fresh start; Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), obsessed with finding Valjean and bringing him to justice; and the doomed Fantine (Anne Hathaway) who sacrifices everything for the care of her out-of-wedlock daughter, Cosette (Isabelle Allen). The kindness of a Catholic

Martin Freeman stars in a scene from the movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey PHOTO: WARNER BROS/CNS

Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway star in a scene from Les Miserables the big-screen adaptation of the long-running stage show.

PHOTO: CNS/UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

and love

bishop (Colm Wilkinson) convinces Valjean to amend his life. Over time, he changes his identity, becoming the benevolent mayor of a village and a factory owner.

When Fantine is unjustly fired from his factory and forced into a life of prostitution, Valjean steps in, promising the now-dying woman that he will raise Cosette as his own.

Cosette has been living with the Thenardiers (Sacha Baron Cohen

and Helena Bonham Carter), wicked tavern owners and professional pickpockets. Their collusion with Javert makes for a narrow escape for Valjean.

Years pass, and Cosette has blossomed into a refined young woman (Amanda Seyfried).

On a Paris street she meets a young revolutionary, Marius (Eddie Redmayne).

It is love at first sight, much to the chagrin of fellow rebel Eponine (Samantha Barks), who happens to be the Thenardiers’ daughter.

While conflict after conflict keeps the audience in suspense, Les Miserables barrels along to a satisfying climax that is profound in its endorsement of the power of faith.

With little spoken dialogue and 50 songs from composer ClaudeMichel Shonberg, and lyricist Herbert Kretzmer, Les Miserables is more opera than musical.

Fortunately, the actors’ pipes are up to the challenge, especially Hathaway, whose heartbreaking rendition of the signature tune, I Dreamed a Dream, is sensational.

The film contains scenes of bloody violence, a prostitution theme, and non-graphic, nonmarital sexual activity.

Rating: A-III - adults. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Ratings war over violence: L v PG13

By Kurt Jensen

Jack Reacher (Paramount) begins with a sniper killing five people, including a woman holding a seven-year-old girl, and ends in a fusillade of semiautomatic rifle fire.

Between those disturbing visuals, it is a reasonably compelling detective story adapted for the screen by writer-director Christopher McQuarrie from the ninth in the Reacher series by Lee Child.

The hero of the movie, Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise), is a former

the help of Barr’s lawyer, Helen (Rosamund Pike), figures out the truth behind the shootings.

Helen is also the daughter of district attorney Rodin (Richard Jenkins) who has a more mysterious role to play in the murder plot than first appears.

Robert Duvall, as Ohio gun store owner, Cash, fills in the rest of the plot points and is Reacher’s backup in a nighttime quarry shootout.

“Who are you, mister, really?” asks Sandy (Alexia Fast), a young girl used by the bad guys to try to

military police officer who emerges from the shadows like a contemporary Shane, only by mass transit, not on horseback.

Reacher discerns the innocence of the falsely accused shooter James Barr (Joseph Sikora), uncovering an evil corporate plot and sets to deliver his own brand of rough justice.

The troublesome aspect of the character is that he’s an amoral avenger who prefers simply to kill rather than bring anyone before the justice system. Reacher knows Barr’s troubled history from Iraq and, with

lure Reacher to his death.

The audience never learns much more about the answer to that question than she does.

The film contains pervasive violence including gunplay, implied drug use and frequent profanity.

The Catholic News Service classification is L - limited adult audience, films with problematic content that many adults would find troubling.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG13parents strongly cautioned.

Gaming nostalgia picked to upload Oscar

This clever 3D animated adventure, directed by Rich Moore, ponders the meaning of life inside a video arcade machine once the “Game Over” message appears. Already rumoured to be a hot contendor for animated film of the year award, Wreck-It Ralph is the story of perennial bad guy and tit-

ular character Ralph (voice of John Reilly) who abandons his game on a quest to be “the good-guy” like his in-game opponent, Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer).

Ralph pairs up with racing game “glitch” Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) and a first-person shooter warrior (voice of Jane Lynch) to overcome preju-

dice, embrace their differences and save the gaming world, sharing a positive lesson about self esteem with young viewers. While paying homage to wellknown games, it also pays out in laughs for all members of the family. Mild cartoonish violence, some rude humour. Rating: A-II - adults and adolescents.

Ralph, voiced by John Reilly, is seen with other animated characters in the movie Wreck-It Ralph PHOTO: DISNEY/CNS

Actor Russell Crowe as the hardlined Inspector Javert who pursues Valjean.

PHOTO: ONLINE SOURCE

Tom Cruise plays the novel hero Jack Reacher who delivers his own brand of rough justice.

PHOTO: ONLINE SOURCE

FUN FAITHWith

JANUARY 13, 2013 •

LUKE 3: 15-16, 21-22 • THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Across

3. So John said, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, who is more ____ than me, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals.

4. Now it happened that when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy ____ descended on him in a physical form, like a dove.

GOSPEL READING

All the people gathered around John the Baptist started to look forward to what John was proclaiming and began to wonder whether John might be the Christ. So John said, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’ Now it happened that when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus, after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical form, like a dove.

And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son; the beloved; my favour rests on you’

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6. ‘He will ____ you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’

Down

1. The people began to ____ whether John might be the Christ.

2. All the people gathered around John the ____ started to look forward to what John was proclaiming.

5. And a voice came from ____, ‘You are my Son; the beloved; my favour rests on you.’

And the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical form, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son; today have I fathered you.’ - Lk 3: 22

SPIRIT BAPTIST POWERFUL HEAVEN WONDER BAPTISE

Luke 3: 15-16, 21-22

SPIRIT BAPTIST POWERFUL HEAVEN WONDER BAPTISE

The man behind the POPE

Pope Benedict XVI ordained his secretary an Archbishop on January 6, naming his closest aide prefect of the papal household, a job that involves organising the Pope’s daily round of audiences and meetings. Here is a list of ten things to know about Archbishop Georg Ganswein ...

1

Impervious to criticism:

When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope in 2005, his longtime secretary, Mgr Georg Ganswein, was propelled along with him onto the world stage. Catty gossip and jealous accusations of being power hungry dogged the monsignor but, after realising the Vatican is also “a courtly state” with petty “court chatter”, the Archbishop-designate said he learned how to handle the rumours and become immune to the poisoned arrows.

2

Super organised and precise: When he was called to take the stand during the “VatiLeaks” trial of papal butler Paolo Gabriele this summer, 56-year-old Archbishopdesignate Ganswein was asked by a Vatican judge whether he was wellorganised and would have noticed any missing documents. He replied, “I am a meticulous person, indeed, extremely meticulous”.

3

Well-trusted papal aide: Archbishop-designate Ganswein has been working with the Pope since 1996 when he went to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He became then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger’s personal secretary in 2003. A short time later, the Archbishop-designate proved his ability to handle PR for the future Pope when journalists overheard the Cardinal ask some visitors to pray for then-Pope John Paul II because he was “in a bad way”. The Cardinal’s secretary beat back the media frenzy which assumed the Pope’s immediate demise and said it was obvious the Pope wasn’t well, but there was no reason for alarm.

4

Sporty: Growing up, sports was one of his favourite hobbies, particularly soccer and skiing, and he worked at his local ski club as a ski instructor. Archbishopdesignate Ganswein is still quite fit and always accompanies the Holy Father on his afternoon walks in the Vatican Gardens each day, praying the Rosary and enjoying the fresh air.

5

Small-town boy: The Archbishop-designate was born in a tiny village in the Black Forest. He is the oldest of five children; their father was a blacksmith and mother a stay-athome mum. He’s credited growing up in the middle of nature with giving him “an instinct that helps tell the genuine from the fake”.

6

Typical teenager: Being a teenager during the 70s, his favourite musical artists were Pink Floyd, Cat Stevens and the Beatles, he has said. He also let his curly hair grow out “pretty long” back then, which led to clashes with his father about going to the barber. He said that rebel phase ended pret-

ty quickly, though he admits that giving in still isn’t a strong point. He saved up for college working as a mailman and dreamed of becoming a stockbroker.

7

Brainy with the brawn: Lots has been written or said – for example, in People magazine or by Italian designer Donatella Versace – about the Archbishop-designate’s good looks. But under the bello there is a brain. He knew he was bright and clever enough to work in the world of finance but deeper questions about life intrigued him more and he fell in love with philosophy and theology. He’s said the compliments and love letters are “flattering” but wishes people would “also acknowledge the substance”. He did remark that if all the attention he gets helped people “look at the faith I’m trying to convey, then it’s a good thing”.

8

Does nothing half-baked: His attraction to theology got to the point where he felt “I couldn’t drive at half speed” – either he had to pursue those studies completely or not at all. In his mind, doing “a little theology” wasn’t possible and he started considering the priesthood. As a priest, he was sent to Munich to study canon law – a subject he said he found at the time to be dry and boring even though he loved to study. He was ready to give up, but said he was grateful when his professor helped him gain a new perspective on the subject and finish his doctorate.

9

Papal gatekeeper: When the newly elected Pope Benedict moved into the papal apartments, his secretary got a crash course from predecessor Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow in what the new job would entail. The outgoing papal secretary told him the hardest part of the job would be to make sure the Pope isn’t “suffocated” by anything or anyone. The Archbishop-designate said requests for “just a minute” with the Pope were endless and he discovered he had to “put in a stronger filter”. The danger of “suffocation” and isolation also affects him, too, the secretary has said, and to counteract that he makes sure he gets out and spends time with friends.

10

Kid-friendly: It would be hard not to have your heart melt when you’re handed a cute baby during a papal audience but Archbishop-designate Ganswein displays a natural ease and radiant joy every time he’s passed an infant of any size or emotional state (bawling or gurgling, he shows no fear). One child described him as “like a very nice uncle” when he chatted with kids and townsfolk outside the Pope’s house in Pentling, Germany, in 2006. During his years as a young assistant pas-

tor in Germany, the Archbishopdesignate was in charge of children’s liturgies; he’s said kids are “unforgiving” if a priest is superficial or insincere. He’s co-authored a children’s book about the Pope titled, Why Does the Pope Wear Red Shoes? and wrote the preface to another children’s book about the Pope told from the point of view of an orange cat. - CNS

Moment of prayer: Pope Benedict XVI, wearing a baseball cap, walks with then-Mgr Georg Ganswein in the gardens of the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, in mid-2010.

PHOTO: L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO, VIA REUTERS

Mgr Ganswein, above, smiles during a book launch at the Vatican in 2010. One of the most powerful figures in the Church, he looks on with Pope Benedict XVI during a meeting in Zagreb in 2011, right.

PHOTOS: ALLESANDRO BIANCHI, REUTERS

Policy like this is no alternative at all

In an adversarial and, for the time being, underwhelming political culture like Australia’s, it might be tempting to throw one’s lot in with the side which seems least offensive.

In a roundabout way, Tony Abbott reminded his fellow faithtravellers this week that Catholics who cleave to conservative parties and believe that culture war warriors will be our salvation ought to unburden themselves of their credulity.

Salvation, as the Church has always taught, comes only through Jesus Christ, and life-affirming policies will only come from those who embrace the outlook of life’s author.

Mr Abbott’s position on the deliberate destruction of human life in the womb, under the hushed, euphemistic auspices of “termination”, was once again put on show this week in comments attributed to his chief of staff, Peta Credlin, in News Ltd publications.

In (the pro-choice) Ms Credlin’s verbal remonstrations with her boss, Mr Abbott definitively rejected outlawing the practice of abortion if the chance arose.

He forcefully restated the line he gave media prior to the last election, that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare”.

In this election year the move marks, perhaps, the beginning of a great Liberal Party re-branding exercise, to solve Mr Abbott’s apparent ‘problem’ with women (a problem of which we are constantly reminded by women and men in professions and income groups atypical of the wider Australian population).

Given its repetition, we could now conclude that Mr Abbott’s “safe, legal and rare” line wasn’t and isn’t an ‘anything-to-get-elected’ moment but a reflection of his genuine conviction.

Whether the totality of that remark will come to fruition remains, of course, to be seen. Those who have wielded that jingoistic creed the world over have a patchy record when it comes to making abortion’s “rarity”, a reality, much as advocates of “choice” are sadly silent when wives, partners and daughters are railed into decisions that, in the quietude of their hearts or even the pleading of their mouths, they never really wanted.

On both sides of politics we are in want of leaders with vision.

Soaring rates of Chlamydia infection among young, unmarried, sexually active Australians is testimony to the failure of the same, muchvaunted harm-minimisation strategies which were supposed to protect against ‘unwanted’ pregnancies.

It is no answer to the bi-partisan embrace of nihilism in Australian politics and culture for us to bleat about society’s ills. The Son of God offers our atomistic society a true vision of the joy that is possible in this world and the next - the connectedness for which all people yearn, which social media can only ever hope to ape.

Tel: (08) 9220 5900

Fax: (08) 9325 4580

Pope Benedict XVI says the antecedents for a happy community and a happy life are built into the world and the human subjects God has created. Addressing Curial officials just after Christmas, the Pope gave a searing analysis of the current state of the world in a discussion of gender difference and complementarity as the bedrock of the family, which is itself the primary society of human flourishing (his full address is featured on Pages 7-9).

In today’s valueless world, the Holy Father noted, “Man and woman as created realities, as the nature of the human being, no longer exist. Man calls his nature into question. From now on he is merely spirit and will.

“The manipulation of nature, which we deplore today where our environment is concerned, now becomes man’s fundamental choice where he himself is concerned. From now on there is only the abstract human being, who chooses for himself what his nature is to be.

“Man and woman in their created state as complementary versions of what it means to be human are disputed. But if there is no preordained duality of man and woman in creation, then neither is the family any longer a reality established by creation.

“Likewise, the child has lost the place he had occupied hitherto and the dignity pertaining to him … From being a subject of rights, the child has become an object to which people have a right and which they have a right to obtain.

“When the freedom to be creative becomes the freedom to create oneself, then necessarily the Maker himself is denied and ultimately man too is stripped of his dignity as a creature of God, as the image of God at the core of his being.

“The defence of the family is about man himself. And it becomes clear that when God is denied, human dignity also disappears,” Pope Benedict said.

What Tony Abbott’s office may wish to be a positive branding exercise – that he is pro-woman because he accepts abortion, contraception and in-vitro fertilisation is a sad excuse for what a great political leader, of any political persuasion, ought to be doing: providing a positive vision of what Australia could be, and not reinforcing the bleak realities which weigh it down.

We are not machines to be manipulated or cajoled at will. We are, even now, a people for whom true joy is possible.

But on both sides of the aisle, we are in want of leaders with vision.

LETTERS

Let

he who is without classist sin cast the first stone

I smell class distinction in your editorial of December 12: “Of the bogans. By bogans. For bogans.” As well, not everyone has the same understanding of the word “bogan”, so I think you are offending many people here, which presumably is not the intent of your article.

James says: “My brothers, do not let class distinction enter into your faith in Jesus Christ …. In making this distinction among yourselves have you not used a corrupt standard?....Whoever acts without mercy

will be judged without mercy.”

James 2:1, 4, 13.

Daniel Regnard RIVERTON WA

One people, one law?

CARITAS has started a campaign for indigenous communities around the world (Record 5/12/12). Sounds good, but I would sound a warning. If we strive to give to indigenous communities the same rights that the rest of us have, well and good. But if we foster indigenous communities and their cultures and laws and rights beyond that point, then we eventually run the risk of restricting the rights, laws and cul-

ture of the rest of the population and of setting up little no-go areas. We undermine the whole idea of a nation and, more importantly, we effectively disempowered the common man. Oligarchies like that sort of divide and conquer tactic. Democracies do not. They believe that we are One Nation.

Peter Gilet BELMONT, WA

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?

Send your letter to the editor to office@therecord.com.au.

Shiny veneer of gratification hides a whitewashed heart

The outward splendour of Ceausescu’s palace masked the black corruption within. It is an illusion similar to that which engulfs us, every day.

I Say, I Say

MARK REIDY

DURING my backpacking days of 1991 I found myself in Bucharest, the capital of Romania. It was only 18 months after the dramatic overthrow of the brutal dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu and the city was still in disarray. I was confronted with bread lines, a black market currency, roads in a state of disrepair and decaying, bulletriddled buildings.

However, in the centre of this grim and broken city stood a magnificent, gigantic structure intentionally created by Ceausescu to be the world’s largest palace – an ode to himself.

The 1,100 room building was constructed from the finest and most expensive materials. The promenade leading to this spectacular sight was lined with Parisianstyle shops, deliberately replicating the French Champs-Elysées.

To fund this self-styled kingdom, Ceausescu had literally starved the population of food and essential utilities, resulting in the explosion of public fury in 1989. As I stood within the deserted yet spectacular cobblestoned boulevard, staring at the excessive extravagance, I remember being overwhelmed by the powerful imagery of delusion.

As I wandered behind the grandiose façade I was confronted with crumbling housing, littered streets, stray dogs and urchin-like children peeking from doorways. Here was the truth behind the false veneerthe poverty and darkness epitomising the reality of this suffering city.

It is an imagery that resurfaced recently as I listened to one of the latest songs to rise up the charts –Live Like We’re Gunna Die Young

It is an upbeat tune with a distinct message – live as though today is your last day. On the surface it is a message portraying a sense of excitement and maximising our limited time on earth - don’t waste a moment - but sadly it is marketed toward a society that, like Ceausescu’s grandiose creation, has been built on a foundation of lies and deception. The façade is an attractive one – instant gratification – satisfy your desires while you can, but with no thought of the consequences.

In the eyes of a society that does not believe in a life after this earthly one, it is an attractive philosophy, but it masks the spiritual poverty that dwells beneath. Our focus can

so easily become entrapped by a desire for physical, sexual, chemical or financial gratification that the mindset of “living for the moment” blinds us from the truth of our spiritual eternity.

Despite the increasingly obvious ramifications of self-absorbed pleasures, such as addictions, violence, abortions, family breakdown and sexual disease, our society refuses to acknowledge the spiritual poverty on which these are

There is nothing wrong with the philosophy of living like you are going to die young. Jesus had already given us a similar message.

founded. We choose not to associate the veneer of immediate gratification with the ruins lying behind its walls.

Tragically, we have embraced a lie and succumbed to one of the very temptations Jesus resisted during his forty day desert experience. He was well aware of the fragility of human nature and chose to reject the riches of the world when they were offered. He knew that sensual pleasures would inevitably lead to spiritual erosion when the foundations are not built on God’s will.

He certainly recognised it in

others. One of his most cutting observations was directed at those holy men who had been corrupted by greed and power. “You are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of corruption” (Matt 23: 27).

Similarly, Ceausescu’s internal corrosion manifested itself in an external show of self-grandeur and inevitably collapsed. He placed all his hopes in a kingdom of this world, in direct contrast to Jesus’ wisdom of not storing riches and to sell everything in order to follow him and discover his Father’s heavenly kingdom.

There is nothing wrong with the philosophy of living like you’re going to die young. Jesus has already given us a similar message. “Be on your guard. Stay alert, because you never know when the time will come” (Mark 13:33). It is a reality that our days on this earth are indeed numbered and we are called to utilise them the best way we can. The only difference is in how we choose to surrender – to God’s will or our own.

If we choose to live as though this life is all we have, then inevitably we will build self-styled kingdoms that may look and feel externally glamorous but will essentially only serve to veil any underlying spiritual corrosion. Alternately, we can first set our hearts on the kingdom of God and trust that all else, both in this world and the next, will be given to us.

Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu spent billions building the Palace of the Parliament while deliberately starving his people.

PHOTO: ONLINE

Goodness is a gift of God, not of self

No wonder people are sick of Christmas, even on the afternoon of the 25th. They’ve dealt with its counterfeit for months.

IN SECULAR society, Christmas (if we’re still allowed to call it that—in North America, it seems to have morphed into ‘Winter Holiday’) officially ends at approximately 6.45am, December 25— or whatever time your children or grandchildren have torn the last shreds of gift-wrap off their Christmas … er, Winter Holiday presents.

Although people still gather later in the day for a grand dinner, complete with turkey and all the trimmings, sadly, some folks have already tossed out the tree. It is not unusual to see discarded Christmas trees lying forlornly in Canadian back alleys by noon on December 25. I suppose that, having put up and decorated their trees in early November or late October, people are tired of looking at (and dusting) the ornaments.

Meanwhile, stores and malls have moved on, cutting the carols from their Muzak playlists, and prepar-

ing merchandise for their Boxing Day (or, more ridiculously, Boxing Week) blowout sales. Consumers will respond: not having been vanquished (mentally or financially) by the previous ten weeks’ worth of shopping, droves will be lined up before 8am, waiting for the doors to open on December 26.

I’m glad the carol The Twelve Days of Christmas is still around, though it’s likely confusing to people on more than one level. Most folks seem to think that Christmas exists and lasts for only one day, December 25, while the “Christmas Season” begins the day after Halloween (or, for some ambitious retail outlets, immediately after Canadian Thanksgiving, which falls on the second Monday in October).

By my calculation, that makes for roughly Eighty Days of Christmas. No wonder people are tired of it by the 25th of December.

And yet, postmodern folk are not weary of every aspect of the (forgive me) Holiday Season, are they?

No matter what the most kindly of atheists says, goodness is ours only because of God.

With obesity taking over as a leading cause of illness and early death in the West, it’s obvious that people indulge in feasting all year long. Nor do they tire of the general revelry: people go on partying, drinking, clubbing and raving weekend after weekend. Nor, judging from the levels of personal and societal debt, do folks tire of the shopping (see Boxing Week, above). It’s ironic, therefore, to hear contemporary

poems or songs, ranging from sentimental to mawkish, wishing that Christmas could last all year long. “Oh, why can’t every day be like Christmas?” croons Elvis, “Why can’t that feeling go on endlessly?

/ For if every day could be just like Christmas, / What a wonderful world this would be.” Indeed. If the King says it, it’s got to be true. He speaks, of course, of the cheer, love, hope, joy, charity, goodwill that the ‘spirit of Christmas’ seems to call forth from so many people, who in turn try to share it with others, especially those less fortunate.

Whence comes that spirit? No matter what the most ardent, benevolent, and philanthropic atheist might argue, goodness and charity come from God. The ‘spirit’ of Christmas is engendered by the Holy Trinity, and enfleshed in Emmanuel, God-with-us.

The word Christmas is derived from “Christ’s Mass,” and – guess what, Elvis - it takes place on an hourly basis, somewhere in the

world, every day of the year. Here’s where the irony goes into high gear, of course, for postmodern society has not just turned its back on Christianity, but in many areas of life, seems to be on an all-out search and destroy mission.

Prayer is not allowed in schools; employees are forbidden to wear a cross or crucifix at work; we are discouraged, at Winter Holiday time, from saying “Merry Christmas”, substituting “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings”.

The Church in her wisdom gives us Advent as a time of contemplation, and celebrates the entire Christmas season, from the Vigil on December 24, to the feast of the Baptism of our Lord in January. Eastern Rite Christians extend the holiday (good on them!) a few more weeks. But Christians may, can and must carry the light of Christ in our hearts every day of the rolling year.

Although it is now officially at an end, here’s wishing you a belated Merry “Christ’s Mass”.

Onwards into oblivion friends

Every year, a bevy of brave, hardened anti-theist journalists complain about Christmas. Greg Craven is sick of their whingeing.

THIS is a great time of year for hack columnists. The opinion editor is hung over. The chief of staff is AWOL. The editor is still trapped in that leather Santa suit.

Now is the time to rage over a personal grievance so self-indulgent and intemperate that even Phillip Adams would not touch it.

You see, I’m not worried about things such as global warming. In fact, I rather like global warming.

The way I see it, global warming will ruin the world for my grandchildren, who will be the children of the children who euthanased me and took my superannuation. Bring it on.

I rejoice in the thought of the last CSIRO scientists huddled on the peak of Mount Kosciuszko bellowing to any empty world, “We told you so”.

No, what really peeves me is Christmas cooling. Yuletide just isn’t what it used to be.

It’s not that I realise (belatedly) that Father Christmas isn’t real. Bastard. Like Wayne Swan, he never delivered anyway.

It is, partly, that the balance of Christmas trade alters as you get older. As a kid, my parents gave me presents. Now I dole out largesse to sulky post-adolescents who should have grasping progeny of their own.

It’s not even the emotional trauma of living inside a 54-year-old body with a psyche that anticipates all the excitement of a six-year-old’s Christmas that never eventuates.

No, my real venom is directed towards the army of anti-Christmas refuseniks who spend their time bagging Christmas, its traditions and theological underpinnings while scoffing turkey, swilling champagne and resignedly accepting ideologically incorrect gifts.

Their beef is the same old whinge about moral conscription that opposes Bible classes in schools, Anzac day ceremonies and a perfectly normal obsession with cricket. Why should I be socially abducted by an institution - delicate sigh - in which I do not believe?

So doubtless, yet again, we will have some Mike Carlton telling us that Christmas coincides with a

pagan festival, and that Christ probably was not born on December 25. We know, Mike. It was on the back of ancient bubblegum wrappers excavated in the 1960s.

Fellow public atheist Peter FitzSimons will be anxiously counting the sales of his latest doorstopper, Eureka. Remarkably, publication was timed to coincide with the Christmas season, providing a literary stocking-filler to replace those bloody sugared almonds Nana used to give us.

Enlightened souls will be ingesting lobster and shrieking over titbits of jewellery, while talking vaguely about “a family occasion”, and sniggering that anyone could associate the day with a mythical birth in Judea in no-star accommodation. Bah. Humbug.

Isn’t it time these ideological freeloaders got a holiday of their own? I, for one, am over sharing the birthday of my deity with a group of gatecrashers who can’t even speak well of the host.

I’m not talking about people of other religions. Jews and Muslims,

- trading and ingestion opportunities excluded - wouldn’t it be better for you if, like the miserable father of George Costanza, you have your own festival? That way, you could celebrate family, love and intellectual superiority untainted by the rest of us troglodytes.

Isn’t it time these ideological freeloaders got their own holiday? I am over sharing with gatecrashers.

for example, who may not celebrate Christmas, certainly understand why Christians do. The same could be said for anyone with a belief in belief, including some atheists and agnostics with at least enough joy in their hearts to understand the human message of the Nativity. But for those who really hate Christmas

The date may be a problem, however. I did check the birthday of departed atheist messiah Christopher Hitchens, but April 13 is a little close to Easter, and I understand you have a problem with resurrections.

Logically, the correct day would be the one furthest from Christmas,

GRAPHIC: MAT DE SOUSA

which would be just about June 30. Admittedly, in much of Australia, this would be cold and miserable, but this does seem to reflect fairly accurately your festive outlook.

Better still, it is the end of the financial year, so you would be able to maintain your commercial focus and, as you keep telling us, roast turkey really is a winter dish. You could gather round a roaring fire, free of all taint of religion, and treasure each other.

You could toast departed friends and relatives, who had vaporised into the ether, without trace or hope. It sounds lovely.

All you need is a name. How about Nothingmas? It could offend no one.

Greg Craven is vice-chancellor of the Australian Catholic University.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12

St Padre Pio Prayer Day

8.30am St Jerome’s Church, cnr Rockingham Rd and Troode St, Munster. DVD in parish centre. 10am - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Divine Mercy, silent Adoration, Benediction. 11am – holy Mass, St Padre Pio Liturgy, Confessions available. 12pm – lunch (bring a plate to share). Tea/coffee supplied. Enq: Des 6278 1540.

Divine Mercy – Healing Mass

2.30pm at St Francis Xavier Church, Windsor St, East Perth. The main celebrant will be Fr Marcellinus Meilak OFM. Reconciliation in English and Italian will be offered. Divine Mercy prayers followed by veneration of first class relic of St Faustina Kowalska. Refreshments afterwards. Enq: John 9457 7771.

UPCOMING

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 AND JANUARY 27

Latin Masses

2pm at Good Shepherd Parish, Streich Ave, Kelmscott. Enq: John 9390 6646.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15

Spirituality and The Sunday Gospels

7-8pm at St Benedict’s school hall, Alness St, Applecross. Guest speaker Deacon Aaron Peters Everyone welcome. Cost: collection. Accreditation recognition by the CEO. Enq: 9487 1772 or www. normawoodcock.com.

MONDAY, JANUARY 21

Breakfast for Graduates of the Catherine McAuley Award (1999-2013)

7.30am in the Mercy Hospital Conference Centre, 1st floor above Ursula Frayne Unit, Thirlmere Rd, Mt Lawley. Cost $10, paid on arrival. RSVP lmason@mercycare.com.au by Wed, Jan 16, for catering purposes. Enq: jennid@iinet.net.au.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26 TO MONDAY, JANUARY 28

Youth Inner Healing Retreat (live-in)

7.30am at St Thomas More College, 48 Mounts Bay Rd, Crawley. Led by the Vincentian Fathers. Registration and Enq: Sonia 0410 596 520 or Sheldon 0415 841 737 or dmymau@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2

Day with Mary 9am-5pm at St Bernadette Parish, 49 Jugan St, Glendalough. Day of prayer and instruction based on the Fatima message. 9am Video; 10.10 holy Mass; Reconciliation, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons on Eucharist and Our Lady, Rosary, Divine Chaplet and Stations of the Cross. BYO lunch. Finish approx 5pm. Enq: Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Catholic Charismatic Renewal Opening Year Mass

7.30pm at the Holy Family Church, 45 Thelma St, Como. Evening includes Prayer and Praise, Mass and Prayer Team Ministry. Main celebrant is Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey, preaching on the theme of ‘Lay Empowerment’. Evening concludes with a light supper, and a plate to share would be most welcome. So come along and help us to start the year with enthusiasm and zeal. Enq: Dan 9398 4973.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Annual Torchlight Rosary Procession for Our Lady of Lourdes around Lake Monger 7pm departing from Dodd St carpark, Wembley. There will be an altar area set up for those unable to walk. Enq: 0421 580 783.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10

Our Lady of Lourdes 70th Anniversary Mass with Archbishop Costelloe

9.30am at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 207 Lesmurdie Rd, Lesmurdie. Enq: Fr Kenneth 9291 6282 or 9291 8952 or 0434 934 286.

St Louis Parish, Boyanup – Mass Celebrating 100th Year Anniversary 10am at St Louis Parish, cnr Bridge and Thomas Sts, Boyanup. Begins with Mass followed by lunch at Hugh Kilpatrick Hall. RSVP for catering purposes. RSVP and Enq: Frances 9731 5058.

SUNDAY, MARCH 17

St Joseph’s School Waroona70th Anniversary Celebration Mass 10am-3pm at St Joseph’s School, Millar St, Waroona. Is inviting all past students, staff and

families to help celebrate its 70th anniversary at the school. Begins with Mass celebrated by Fr Chiera, Vicar General of Bunbury Diocese, and will be followed by a day of fun, food and festivities. Please pass on this information to anyone you know from the school in the last 70 years. Enq: Admin 9782 6500 or www.stjoeswaroona.wa.edu. au.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5 – SUNDAY, APRIL 7

Catholic Charismatic Conference

7.30-9.30pm, 67 Howe St, Osborne Park. Jesus For All, “I will give you a new heart, and breathe a new spirit into you. Organised by CCR Perth and MSCCA. Enq: daniel.hewitt5@bigpond.com or stephen. subramaniam@gmail.com.

REGULAR EVENTS

EVERY SUNDAY

Gate of Heaven Catholic Radio

Join the Franciscans of the Immaculate from 7.309pm on Radio Fremantle 107.9FM for Catholic radio broadcast of EWTN and our own live shows. Enq: radio@ausmaria.com.

Immaculate Cafe

Immaculate Cafe is now open every Sunday

9.30am-1pm at St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Centre, downstairs after Mass. Coffee, tea, cakes, sweets, friendship with Cathedral parishioners. Further info: Tammy on smcperthwyd@yahoo.com.au or 0415 370 357.

Pilgrim Mass - Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation

2pm at Shrine, 36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook. Commencing with Rosary followed by Benediction. Reconciliation available before every celebration. Anointing of the sick administered during Mass every second Sunday of the month. Pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin of the Revelation last Sunday of the month. Side entrance to church and shrine open daily between 9am-5pm. Enq Sacri 9447 3292.

Praise and Worship

5.30pm at St Denis Parish, cnr Osborne St and Roberts Rd, Joondanna. Followed by 6pm Mass.

Enq: Admin admin@stdenis.com.au.

EVERY FIRST SUNDAY

Singles Prayer and Social Group

7pm at All Saints Chapel, Allendale Sq, 77 St Georges Tce, Perth. Begins with Holy Hour (Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary and teaching) followed by dinner at local restaurant. Meet new people, pray and socialise with other single men and women. Enq: Veronica 0403 841 202.

EVERY SECOND SUNDAY

Healing Hour

7-8pm at St Lawrence Parish, Balcatta. Songs of praise and worship, exposition of Blessed Sacrament and prayers for sick. Enq: Fr Irek Czech SDS or office Tue-Thu, 9am-2.30pm 9344 7066.

EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY

Shrine Time for Young Adults 18-35 Years

7.30-8.30pm in Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Dr, Mt Richon; Holy Hour with prayer, reflection, meditation, praise and worship; followed by a social gathering. Come and pray at a place of grace. Enq: Schoenstatt Sisters 9399 2349.

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life 2-3pm at Infant Jesus Parish, Wellington St, Morley. Includes exposition of Blessed Eucharist, silent prayer, Scripture, prayers of intercession. Come and pray those discerning vocations can hear clearly God’s call.

EVERY LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

Filipino Mass

3pm at Notre Dame Church, cnr Daley and Wright Sts, Cloverdale. Please bring a plate to share for socialisation after Mass. Enq: Fr Nelson Po 0410 843 412, Elsa 0404 038 483.

LAST MONDAY OF THE MONTH

Be Still in His Presence –Ecumenical Christian Program 7.30-8.45pm at St Swithun Anglican Church, 195 Lesmurdie St, Lesmurdie (hall behind church). Begins with songs of praise and worship, silent time, lectio divina, small group sharing and cuppa. Enq: Lynne 9293 3848 or 0435 252 941.

EVERY TUESDAY

Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal 6pm at Pater Noster Church, Marmion and

Evershed Sts, Myaree. Mass at 5.30pm followed by Benediction. Enq: John 0408 952 194.

Novena to God the Father

7.30pm at St Joachim’s parish hall, Vic Park. Novena followed by reflection and discussions on forthcoming Sunday Gospel. Enq: Jan 9284 1662.

EVERY FIRST TUESDAY

Short MMP Cenacle for Priests

2pm at Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. Enq: Fr Watt 9376 1734.

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Holy Spirit of Freedom Community

7.30pm at Church of Christ, 111 Stirling St, Perth. We welcome everyone to attend our praise meeting. Enq: 0423 907 869 or hsofperth@gmail.com.

Bible Study at Cathedral

6.15pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, 17 Victoria Sq, Perth. Deepen your faith through reading and reflecting on holy Scripture by Fr Jean-Noel Marie. Meeting room beneath Cathedral. Enq: 9223 1372.

Holy Hour - Catholic Youth Ministry Mass at 5.30pm and Holy Hour (Adoration) at 6.30pm at Catholic Pastoral Centre, 40A Mary St, Highgate. Enq: www.cym.com or 9422 7912.

EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY

Novena to St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

7-7.45pm at Blessed Mary MacKillop Parish, cnr Cassowary Dr and Pelican Pde, Ballajura. Begins with Mass, novena prayers and Benediction. Followed by healing prayers and anointing of the sick. Enq: Madi 9249 9093 or Gerry 0417 187 240.

EVERY SECOND WEDNESDAY

Chaplets of Divine Mercy

7.30pm St Thomas More Parish, Dean Rd, Bateman. Accompanied by Exposition, then Benediction. Enq: George 9310 9493 or 6242 0702 (w).

EVERY THURSDAY

Divine Mercy

11am at Sts John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. Pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy and for consecrated life, especially in our parish. Concludes with veneration of the first class relic of St Faustina. Enq: John 9457 7771.

St Mary’s Cathedral Praise Meeting

7.45pm every Thursday at the Legion of Mary’s Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. Includes praise, song and healing ministry. Enq: Kay 9382 3668 or fmi@flameministries.org.

Group Fifty - Charismatic Renewal Group

7.30pm at Redemptorist Monastery, 150 Vincent St, North Perth. Includes prayer, praise and Mass. Enq: Elaine 9440 3661.

EVERY FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

Prayer in Style of Taizé

7.30-8.30pm at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 3 Kitchener St, North Beach. Includes prayer, song and silence in candlelight – symbol of Christ the light of the world. Taizé info: www.taize.fr. Enq: secretary 9448 4888 or 9448 4457.

Holy Hour Prayer for Priests

7-8pm at Holy Spirit Parish, 2 Keaney Pl, City Beach. All welcome. Enq: Linda 9341 3079.

FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY

Young Adults (18 to 35) Dinner and Rosary Cenacle

6.30pm St Bernadette Parish, 49 Jugan St, Mt Hawthorn. Begins with dinner at a local restaurant. 8pm - Rosary Cenacle, short talk and refreshments at the parish. Enq: st.bernadettesyouth@gmail. com or 9444 6131.

EVERY THIRD THURSDAY

Auslan Café – Sign Language Workshop

12.30pm at St Francis Xavier Emmanuel Centre, 25 Windsor St, Perth. Its Australian Sign Language - Auslan Café is a social setting for anybody who would like to learn or practise Auslan in a relaxing and fun atmosphere. Light lunch provided. Enq: Emma emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.au.

EVERY FRIDAY

Eucharistic Adoration at Schoenstatt Shrine

10am at Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Drive, Mt Richon. Includes Holy Mass, exposition of Blessed Sacrament, silent adoration till 8.15pm. In this Year of Grace, join us in prayer at a place of grace. Enq: Sisters of Schoenstatt 9399 2349.

Healing Mass

6pm at Holy Family Parish, Lot 375, Alcock St, Maddington. Begins with Exposition of the

Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Healing Mass followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Enq: admin 9493 1703 or www.vpcp. org.au.

EVERY FIRST FRIDAY

Mass and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

11am-4pm at Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins St, Glendalough. Exposition of Blessed Sacrament after Mass until 4pm finishing with Rosary. Enq: Sr Marie MS.Perth@lsp.org.au.

Healing and Anointing Mass

8.45am Pater Noster Church, Evershed St, Myaree. Begins with Reconciliation, then 9am Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, anointing of the sick and prayers to St Peregrine. Enq: Joy 9337 7189.

Catholic Faith Renewal Evening

7.30pm at Sts John and Paul Parish, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. Songs of Praise and Prayer, sharing by a priest, then thanksgiving Mass and light refreshments. Enq: Kathy 9295 0913 or Ann 0412 166 164 or catholicfaithrenewal@gmail.com.

Communion of Reparation All Night Vigils

7pm-1.30am at Corpus Christi Church, Lochee St, Mosman Park or St Gerard Majella Church, cnr Ravenswood Dr/Majella Rd, Westminster (Mirrabooka). Vigils are two Masses, Adoration, Benediction, prayers, Confession in reparation for outrages committed against the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Enq: Vicky 0400 282 357; Fr Giosue 9349 2315; John/Joy 9344 2609.

Pro-life Witness – Mass and Procession

9.30am at St Brigid’s Parish, cnr Great Northern Hwy and Morrison Rd, Midland. Begins with Mass followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at nearby abortion clinic, led by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. Please join us to pray for an end to abortion and the conversion of hearts. Enq:

Helen 9402 0349.

EVERY SECOND FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

Discover Spirituality of St Francis of Assisi

12pm at St Brigid’s parish centre. The Secular Franciscans of Midland Fraternity have lunch, then 1-3pm meeting. Enq: Antoinette 9297 2314.

EVERY FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH

Healing Mass

12.35pm at St Thomas Parish, cnr Melville St and College Rd, Claremont. Spiritual leader Fr Waddell. Enq: Kim 9384 0598, claremont@perthcatholic.org.

Vigil for Life – Mass and Procession

8.30am at St Augustine’s Parish, Gladstone St, Rivervale. Begins with Mass celebrated by Fr Carey, followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at nearby abortion clinic. Please join us to pray for the conversion of hearts and an end to abortion. Enq. Helen 9402 0349.

EVERY FOURTH SATURDAY OF THE MONTH

Voice of the Voiceless Healing Mass

12pm at St Brigid’s Parish, 211 Aberdeen St, Northbridge. Bring a plate to share after Mass. Enq: Frank 9296 7591 or 0408 183 325.

EVERY LAST SATURDAY

Novena Devotions – Our Lady Vailankanni of Good Health

5pm at Holy Trinity Parish, 8 Burnett St, Embleton. Followed by Mass at 6pm. Enq: George 9272 1379.

GENERAL

Free Divine Mercy Image for Parishes

High quality oil painting and glossy print – Divine Mercy Promotions. Images of very high quality. For any parish willing to accept and place inside the church. Oil paintings: 160 x 90cm; glossy print - 100 x 60cm. Enq: Irene 9417 3267 (w).

Sacred Heart Pioneers

Would anyone like to know about the Sacred Heart pioneers? If so, please contact Spiritual Director Fr Doug Harris 9444 6131 or John 9457 7771.

St Philomena’s Chapel 3/24 Juna Dr, Malaga. Mass of the day: Mon 6.45am. Vigil Masses: Mon-Fri 4.45pm. Enq: Fr David 9376 1734.

Mary MacKillop Merchandise

Available for sale from Mary MacKillop Centre. Enq: Sr Maree 041 4683 926 or 08 9334 0933.

Financially Disadvantaged People Requiring

Low Care Aged Care Placement

The Little Sisters of the Poor community is set in beautiful gardens in the suburb of Glendalough. “Making the elderly happy, that is everything!” St Jeanne Jugan (foundress). Registration and enq: Sr Marie 9443 3155.

Is your son or daughter unsure of what to do this year?

Suggest a Cert IV course to discern God’s purpose. They will also learn more about the Catholic faith and develop skills in communication and leadership. Acts 2 College of Mission and Evangelisation (National Code 51452).Enq: Jane 9202 6859.

AA Alcoholics Anonymous Is alcohol costing you more than just money? Enq: AA 9523 3566.

Saints and Sacred Relics Apostolate Invite SSRA Perth invites interested parties, parish priests, leaders of religious communities, lay associations to organise relic visitations to parishes, communities, etc. We have available authenticated relics, mostly first-class, of Catholic saints and blesseds including Sts Mary MacKillop, Padre Pio, Anthony of Padua, Therese of Lisieux, Maximilian Kolbe, Simon Stock and Blessed Pope John Paul II. Free of charge and all welcome. Enq: Giovanny 0478 201 092 or ssra-perth@catholic.org

Enrolments, Year 7, 2014

La Salle College now accepting enrolments for Year 7, 2014. For prospectus and enrolment please contact college reception 9274 6266 or email lasalle@lasalle.wa.edu.au

Acts 2 College, Perth’s Catholic Bible College is now pleased to be able to offer tax deductibility for donations to the College. If you are looking for an opportunity to help grow the faith of young people and evangelise the next generation of apostles, please contact Jane Borg, Principal at Acts 2 College on 0401 692 690 or principal@ acts2come.wa.edu.au

Divine Mercy Church Pews

Would you like to assist, at the same time becoming part of the history of the new Divine Mercy Church in Lower Chittering, by donating a beautifully handcrafted jarrah pew currently under construction, costing only $1,000 each. A beautiful brass plaque with your inscription will be placed at the end of the pew. Please make cheques payable to Divine Mercy Church Building fund and send with inscription to PO Box 8, Bullsbrook WA 6084. Enq: Fr Paul 0427 085 093.

Abortion Grief Association Inc

A not-for-profit association is looking for premises to establish a Trauma Recovery Centre (pref SOR) in response to increasing demand for our services (ref.www.abortiongrief.asn.au). Enq: Julie (08) 9313 1784.

RESOURCE CENTRE FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT - 2013 COURSES

Resource Centre for Personal Development

Holistic Health Seminar The Instinct to Heal Tue 3-4.30pm; RCPD2 Internalise Principles of Successful Relationships and Use Emotional Intelligence and Communication Skills Tue 4.30-6.30pm, 197 High St, Fremantle - Tuesdays 3-4.30pm. Enq: Eva 0409 405 585. Bookings essential.

1) RCPD6 ‘The Cost of Discipleship’

This course combines theology with relationship education and personal/spiritual awareness by teaching self-analysis.

2) ‘The Wounded Heart’

Healing for emotional and sexual abuse promotes healing and understanding for the victim and the offender. Holistic counselling available - www. members.dodo.com.au/~evalenz/.

Religious item donations for Thailand Church

Fr Ferdinando Ronconi is the parish priest at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Phuket, Thailand. He is in need of religious items such as rosaries and holy medals for his local congregation and visitors. If you are able to help, please post items to: PO Box 35, Phuket 83000, Thailand or, if you are on holiday in Phuket, bring your donated items with you to church and stay for Mass! Fr Ferdinando can be contacted on tel: 076 212 266 or 089 912 899 or ronconi.css@gmail.com.

Good Shepherd Parish History

I am compiling the history of the Good Shepherd Parish and everyone who has been a part of building the Good Shepherd community is invited to write their story and include photos. An editor has been engaged and the deadline to receive your story is January 30, 2013. Please forward on email: goodshepherdparishhistory@gmail.com. Any enquiries ring Nick De Luca on 9378 2684 or 0419 938 481.

WANTED: Christmas Crib Figurines needed for New Parish Contact Fr Francis on 9296 7088 or hn1002004@ yahoo.com.au.

Focus on scripture each day of the year with Daily Prayer 2013. This easy-to-use resource for group and individual prayer centers on a Scripture reading each day, along with a reflection, a Psalm, intercessions, and closing prayer. The book provides an introduction to Catholic prayer for those involved in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and an easy-to-use format for Catholics of all ages. It draws on the long tradition of lectio divina, holy reading, providing a simple order of prayer for each day of the liturgical year from the First Sunday of Advent, December 2, 2012, through December 31, 2013. This is the perfect gift for parish volunteers, teachers, and catechists. It will aid each person in the parish to foster a practice of prayer.

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

CATHOLICS CORNER Retailer of Catholic products specialising in gifts, cards and apparel for Baptism, Communion and Confirmation. Ph 9456 1777. Shop 12, 64-66 Bannister Rd, Canning Vale. Open Mon-Sat.

RICH HARVEST - YOUR

CHRISTIAN SHOP Looking for Bibles, CDs, books, cards, gifts, statues, Baptism/Communion apparel, religious vestments, etc. Visit us at 39 Hulme Ct (off McCoy St), Myaree. Ph 9329 9889 (after 10.30am Mon to Sat). We are here to serve.

KINLAR VESTMENTS

www.kinlarvestments.com.au

Quality handmade and decorated vestments: albs, stoles, chasubles, altar linen, banners. Ph Vickii on 9402 1318, 0409 114 093 or kinlar.vestments@ gmail.com.

MEMENTO CANDLES

Personalised candles for Baptism, Wedding, Year 12 Graduations and Absence. Photo and design embedded into candle, creating a great keepsake! Please call Anna: 0402 961 901 or anna77luca@hotmail.com to order a candle or Facebook: Memento Candles.

ACCOMMODATION

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION

Esperance holiday accommodation, 3-bedroom house, fully furnished. Phone 08 9076 5083.

OLDER GENT, VOLUNTARY

DRIVER in Bayswater, requires accommodation for about one year. I am quiet, respectful, N/S and N/D. A room with access would be fine. 0457 393 904

NOVENA

Novena Prayer to St Jude. O Holy St Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart, and humbly beg to whom God has given such great power, to come my assistance. Help me in my present urgent petition, in return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. Say three Our Fathers, three Hail Mary’s and three Glory be’s. St Jude pray for us, and all who invoke your aid. Amen.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Home-based business. Wellness industry. Call 02 8230 0290 or www.dreamlife1.com.

Deadline: 11am Monday

BOOKBINDING

RESTORATION BOOKBINDING and Conservation; General Book Repairs, Bibles, Brevaries and Liturgical. Tel: 0401 941 577. Now servicing the South-West @ Myalup.

TAX SERVICE

QUALITY TAX RETURNS PREPARED by registered tax agent with over 35 years’ experience. Call Tony Marchei 0412 055 184 for appt. AXXO Accounting & Management, Unit 20/222 Walter Rd, Morley. Trade services.

SETTLEMENTS

ARE YOU BUYING OR SELLING real estate or a business? Why not ask Excel Settlements for a quote for your settlement. We offer reasonable fees, excellent service, no hidden costs. Ring 9481 4499 for a quote. Check our website on www. excelsettlements.com.au.

PILGRIMAGES

EXODUS PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND November 5-20, 2013. Are you interested in being part of our 16 DAYS OF EXODUS PILGRIMAGE (following the footstep of Moses) to the HOLY LAND (Egypt, Jordan and Holy Land) for just $4,100 from November 5-20, 2013? If interested, please for early reservation/booking and other inquiries, contact: Fr Emmanuel (Spiritual Director) on: 0417 999 553, fremmanueltv@hotmail.com. Trinidad on: 0420 643 949, dax_gatchi@ yahoo.com. Nancy on: 0430 025 774, rncarfrost@hotmail.com.

PILGRIMAGE OF MERCY - Departs May 11, 2013. Fatima/Poland/Czestochowa/ Auschwitz/Divine Mercy./ Vilnius Lithuania/Rome/ Gennazzano. Fra Elia (Stigmatist) Civitavecchia (miraculous Madonna shrine) Subiaco/Medjugorje five countries. Exceptional value all inclusive $6,890. Fr Bogoni (Spiritual Director) Yolanda 0413 707 707/Harvest toll free 1800 819 156 23 days.

FURNITURE REMOVAL

ALL AREAS. Competitive rates. Mike Murphy Ph 0416 226 434.

THANKSGIVING

THANK YOU ST JOSEPH, ST THERESE, ST RITA and all the saints, for prayers answered. Many thanks and love. Susanne.

HEALTH

LOSE WEIGHT SAFELY with good nutrition Free samples. Call or SMS Michael 0412 518 318.

CROHNS DISEASE. I have had major surgery to remove parts of my small and large intestines as I have Crohns Disease. Since using Herbalife’s Nutritional Program, my symptoms have gone and I lead a normal life. If you wish to try these wonderful products, please call Mark Norman 0448 443 348 or email wfhbusiness@bigpond.com.

SERVICES

RURI STUDIO FOR HAIR

Vincent and Miki welcome you to their newly opened, international, award-winning salon. Shop 2, 401 Oxford St, Leederville. 9444 3113. Ruri-studio-for-hair@ hotmail.com.

BRENDAN HANDYMAN SERVICES

Home, building maintenance, repairs and renovations. NOR. Ph 0427 539 588.

WRR LAWN MOWING AND WEED SPRAYING Garden clean ups and rubbish removal. Get rid of bindii, jojo and other unsightly weeds. Based in Tuart Hill. Enq: 6161 3264 or 0402 326 637.

BRICK RE-POINTING

Ph Nigel 9242 2952.

PERROTT PAINTING Pty Ltd

For all your residential, commercial painting requirements. Ph Tom Perrott 9444 1200.

PRIME ART FRAMERS

- CUSTOM FRAMING With 20 years’ experience, we offer unparalleled advice and service for all your custom framing requirements. We also have an extensive range of framed artwork and mirrors. Hurry in for our Christmas special 20% off all custom framing. Ends Jan 31. Quality guaranteed. PRIME ART FRAMERS, 2/240 MAIN STREET, OSBORNE PARK. 9344 8641 or www.primeart. vpweb.com.au.

ACROSS

3 Jordan, for one

9 The demons “Legion” begged Jesus not to command them here (Lk 8:31)

10 Diocese of Mobile is located in this American state

11 First of the four living creatures in Revelation 4

12 “…and a ___ for every matter under heaven” (Eccl 3:1)

13 The flight to here is one of the Sorrows of Our Lady

15 Father of David

16 Ravens fed him

17 The Seven Last ___ of Jesus

20 Lent markers

22 Juan’s clergyman

23 Second word in the name of a Parisian basilica

25 St John the Baptist is the patron saint of this country

26 Zechariah was the first person in the New Testament to see this (Lk 1:11)

29 Bathsheba’s first husband

31 Gennesaret, for one (Lk 5:1)

32 Diocese opening

35 St John ___ (Basilica)

36 Parable of the Lost ___

37 Patron saint of hermits

DOWN

1 Church divider

2 Meetings of bishops

3 Mercy Sisters letters

4 Our Sunday ___ newspaper

5 Pharaoh of the Exodus, perhaps

6 “___, eat; this is my body.” (Mt 26:26)

7 Catholic colony in America

8 Belief

14 The Chosen People

15 ___ of Arc

18 “Gloria in excelsis ___”

19 Satan’s realm

21 16th century saint with a flowery name

22 “___ for us”

23 Vocation

24 He saw the wheel

27 First place

28 Jesus said there was none of this in Nathanael (Jn 1:47)

30 Biblical instrument

33 One of the three theological virtues

34 Jesus entered Jerusalem this type of animal