Broken Bay News June 2016

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B R O K E N B AY N E W S P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E C AT H O L I C D I O C E S E O F B R O K E N B AY J U N E 2 0 1 6 I S S U E 1 8 2

Celebrating 30 years as a Diocese

New Divine Retreat Centre at Somersby WYD #Challenge

St John the Baptist, Woy Woy: Filled with activity and enthusiasm

HEART TO HEART

Pilgrims among sorrows and joys

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urrent events in the life of our local Church express a mix of joy and lamentation. On the one hand we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of our Diocese of Broken Bay on Tuesday 31 May, which will be a moment of joyful celebration. On the other hand, on Friday 3 June, we will hold a Liturgy of Lament and Hope for those who have experienced the wound of abuse in the Church. In both cases we bring our whole persons – all our sorrow and happiness, our grief and hope – before the Lord who is so utterly rich in mercy. In doing so we hold the whole of our local Church before God, who looks with love and gentleness upon us, in our mixture of wounds and health.

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This has always been the way of Christian faithfulness: giving ourselves afresh to Jesus Christ with each new morning. We are His blessed creation, and His prodigal sons and daughters. We are made in God’s image, and in need of his redemption. At every kneeling moment before the Blessed Sacrament; with every sign of the cross at the close of the day; at every splash of holy water as we enter a church; at every Baptism and at every Funeral Requiem; at every celebration and in the episodes of grief, in moments of quiet and time of noise we keep walking onwards in faith. That is the nature of our journey with Christ. That is as it should be.

Such journeying is often referred to as pilgrimage. ‘Pilgrimage’ is a word deeply embedded in our faith lexicon. From the old hymn To Be a Pilgrim by John Bunyan to the contemporary classic Companions on the Journey,

by Carey Landry the image of pilgrimage plays a critical part in defining our Christian life. In the New Testament, the Letter to the Hebrews describes the lives of true pilgrims from among God’s people: These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (Heb 11:13)

To be a pilgrim is to bring one’s whole self – in all our weaknesses and strengths, our blessings and struggles – onwards towards God. A Christian pilgrim “walks by faith, and not by sight” with Jesus…

To be a pilgrim is to bring one’s whole self – in all our weaknesses and strengths, our blessings and struggles – onwards towards God. A Christian pilgrim “walks by faith, and not by sight” with Jesus, taking on new beginnings with trust and hope. (2 Cor 5:7) To journey as a pilgrim does not mean leaving behind our regrets or joys but instead finding them embraced in the arms of Our Lord, who walks with us and carries them too. As a pilgrim, the objective is not just the destination, but also the closeness with the one who journeys with us. In other words, pilgrimage is about journeying with and closer to Jesus, even if we become something of a stranger and exile in the world.

HEART TO HEART In his remarkable new Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Pope Francis says this of married couples going through difficulties: “Each crisis has a lesson to teach us; we need to learn how to listen for it with the ear of the heart.” (Amoris Laetitia #232) Our Holy Father teaches us that the beautiful adventure of marriage has significant pressures and hardships, and that these “crises” are opportunities for husbands and wives to learn more deeply about love, about one another, and about the accompanying presence of God. Such a lesson is available to all of us on Christian pilgrimage.

Soon I will be journeying with our young pilgrims from Broken Bay to World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland (25 July-1 August 2016). Hello to all 230 of you! I invite all our people to join us spiritually on this pilgrimage of grace, so that we can be united as a local Church. Let us not hide anything from the Lord, but hold up to him all our sorrows and joys, our hopes and aspirations, allow them to be gently united with Christ whose Cross invites all of us on the adventure of walking with him, who died and rose again for us.

My own experience as a fellow Christian pilgrim has been one of joy and hope, but that does not overlook the sorrows and sins that have accompanied me. Yet, somehow God draws on these “bitter grapes,” and without putting them aside, he shows us a

way in which they mingle with his love to give expression to the Good News. Of course, each of the Saints has their difficulties, and even a few regrets. And any idea that Christianity is a way of life that ignores the troubles of the world or the Church is a lie. No: wonderfully, mysteriously and wholesomely, the Lord accompanies us in our pilgrimage through life with his Cross, and so the glories of resurrection are mingled with the signs of suffering in the world to produce a wine worth bottling. We walk with our crucified Christ.

This is our hope and faith.

Please join me in this way of pilgrimage, both with our World Youth Day pilgrims, and together as a Diocesan family, with all the complexities and the messiness of contemporary life. We have much to learn from those who have suffered in the Church, as well as those who have experienced great joy. I hope to be humble enough to learn from all who are our brothers and sisters in the Lord. In this way our Diocese can flourish with ever new life.

May we find a way to ensure each parish, each family, each member of our Church, vulnerable or strong, outspoken or quiet, contemplative or restless with energy, is accompanied with grace and mercy in our common pilgrimage to God. And let us always pray for one another, in the mercy of the Lord.

Pray for me, as I do for you!

Most Rev Peter A Comensoli Bishop of Broken Bay

To hear Bishop Peter’s reflections on World Youth Day pilgrimages, watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vLGFgxnz7o&feature=youtu.be

Soon I will be journeying with our young pilgrims from Broken Bay to World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland (25 July-1 August 2016). Hello to all 230 of you! I invite all our people to join us spiritually on this pilgrimage of grace, so that we can be united as a local Church.

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NEWS & ISSUES

DIOCESE OF BROKEN BAY Most Rev Peter A Comensoli Bishop of Broken Bay Diocesan Office: Tel (02) 9847 0000 Fax (02) 9847 0201 Caroline Chisholm Centre Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Rd Pennant Hills NSW 2120 (Access off City View Rd) PO Box 340 Pennant Hills NSW 1715 officeofthebishop@dbb.org.au

CHANCERY OFFICES Office of the Bishop Private Secretary: Nigel Zimmermann Vicar General: Very Rev Dr David Ranson VG Diocesan Financial Administrator, Director, Office for Stewardship: Emma McDonald Chancellor Director, Office for Chancery Services: Anne Walker Director, Office for Evangelisation: Daniel Ang Director, Office for Communications: Annie Carrett Director, Marriage Tribunal: Adrienne Connaghan Tel: (02) 9847 0458 Catholic Development Fund: Chris Field Tel: (02) 9847 0748

Sister Helen Prejean inspires us to achieve a “just mercy” On 7 May, more than 120 people gathered at the Light of Christ Centre to see the famous Sr Helen Prejean in the flesh (well, via Skype) talking to Fr David Ranson VG about her life and her work with prisoners on death row in the USA.

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r Helen is best known as the author of Dead Man Walking, which was subsequently made into a film, with Susan Sarandon playing the role of Sr Helen. When Fr David asked her why she wrote the book in the first place, she answered, “Books change hearts. I knew if we brought this story into the arena of the human heart, we could get people to understand. What the eye doesn’t see the heart cannot feel.”

In this Year of Mercy, Sr Helen believes we can shift the idea of justice as it stands now, punishment and pain, to restorative justice and reconciliation. A just mercy. Many of the prisoners on death row do not get the chance to say sorry to the victim’s families, there is no interaction.

“Often the first instinct for victim’s families is revenge,” said Sr Helen. “They think forgiveness is weak.” Sr Helen told of one case where the father of a 17 year old boy who was murdered didn’t want the perpetrator to be executed, but people in his community told him that if he didn’t push for the death penalty, it would look like he didn’t love his son.

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When Fr David asked Sr Helen about the Consistent Ethic of Life, she spoke about the time she met with Pope John Paul II. He talked about the dignity of innocent life, not necessarily about the death penalty. Sr Helen convinced him to think about all life. The Pope visited St Louis in 1999 and implored his audience to protect the dignity of life and proclaimed the death penalty was cruel and unnecessary. Pope John Paul II even saved the life of one man in Missouri, Darrell Mease, who was scheduled to be executed the day the Pope arrived in St Louis. His appeal for clemency was met by the Governor and his sentence changed to life without parole.

Regarding the current refugee crisis, Pope Francis has said that we should never lose sight of faces. If we lose sight of the personal stories it is easy to dismiss the suffering of others.

“When I walked through those gates, got past those locked doors, saw through the metal mesh, gazed into that face, everything changed for me,” said Sr Helen, about her first visit to a prison. “ The journey became very personal.”

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) Alison Newell

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE Director: Peter Hamill Tel (02) 9847 0000 PO Box 967 Pennant Hills NSW 1715

CATHOLICCARE Executive Director: Trish Devlin Tel: (02) 9481 2600 PO Box 966 Pennant Hills 1715 Children’s Services: Tel: (02) 9481 2660 Family Centres: Brookvale – Tel: (02) 8968 5100 Naremburn – Tel: (02) 8425 8700 Waitara – Tel: (02) 9488 2400 Warnervale – Tel: (02) 4356 2600 Foster and Residential Care: Tel: (02) 4340 0786 Mission, Hospital Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care (02) 9481 2658

BROKEN BAY NEWS Editor: Melissa Loughlin Tel: (02) 9847 0722 Fax: (02) 9847 0721 news@dbb.org.au PO Box 340 Pennant Hills, NSW, 1715 Design: Chris Murray

21,000 copies of the Broken Bay News are distributed monthly through 26 parishes and 44 schools in the Diocese of Broken Bay. The Broken Bay News is a member of the Australasian Catholic Press Association and the Australasian Religious Press Association. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply diocesan endorsement of products or services advertised. www.dbb.org.au

Our Neighbourhoods of Grace Exploring our missionary outreach

Woy Woy Peninsula Parish Filled with activity and enthusiasm

By Debra Vermeer

The days when Spike Milligan famously referred to Woy Woy as “the world’s only above-ground cemetery” are long gone, according to Fr Jack Robson, as young families continue to flock to the lower Central Coast in search of an affordable lifestyle.

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r Jack is the Parish Priest of the Catholic Parish of Woy Woy Peninsula, and says both the parish and the local community are filled with activity and enthusiasm.

“You can definitely no longer say that Woy Woy is God’s waiting room,” he laughs.

“We do have lots of retired people, but there are more and more young families coming in because it’s only a one hour commute to Central Station, but it’s much more affordable than living in Sydney.

“It’s a great place to live. We’re surrounded by water and beaches, and it’s beautiful.”

The Parish of St John the Baptist plays a big role in local life, through both its worshipping community and its social outreach through initiatives like Mary Mac’s Place.

A beautiful new church, opened in November 2007, stands in the centre of town and all are welcome to drop into the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for prayer anytime throughout the day.

The original parish church was built in 1914 as a Mass Centre for Gosford Parish. Until then, Mass had been celebrated from Sydney or Windsor, and then by boat from Kincumber or Gosford. The Parish of Woy Woy was established in 1946, and the church was also used as a school from 1922, under the care of the Sisters of St Joseph. Mass was celebrated in the cinemas at nearby Ettalong for 20 years until Sacred Heart Church was opened in

Umina in 1964 and in St Anthony’s Church Hall in Patonga. Nowadays, Woy Woy is the only Mass centre for the parish. The parish will celebrate its 70th birthday in November.

Fr Jack, who is supported by Assistant Priests Fr Timothy Raj and Fr Philip Thottam, says the parish would have anywhere between 800 and 1000 people at Mass on a Sunday.

“We have a mix of older people as well as

younger families, including some large families who have kids ranging from young adults to little ones. A lot of these families are active in the parish too, with their kids involved in youth ministry and that kind of thing,” he says.

“We are also thankful to have had a few vocations to the priesthood in this parish. We have one seminarian for the Diocese of Broken Bay at the moment at the Good Shepherd

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Our Neighbourhoods of Grace Exploring our missionary outreach

Seminary in Sydney and another parishioner will be ordained a Dominican Priest in July.

And of course, Fr Jim McKeon (Parish Priest at Kincumber) is from Woy Woy Parish.”

Fr Jack says the parish has one primary school, St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School, which is a feeder school to a range of local high schools, including St Edward’s College for boys and St Joseph’s College for girls. Some students also go further afield to St Peter’s College at Tuggerah or St Leo’s at Wahroonga.

“The relationship between the school and the parish is really important,” he says.

“I go up there every week on a Friday for Mass with the kids, followed by morning tea with the staff, and we bring the kids down to the Church for bigger occasions, like feast days and graduation Masses.”

Principal of St John the Baptist Catholic School, Nicole Cumming, says the school values its close relationship with the parish.

“We think it’s a strong relationship and that the school is a vital part of the parish,” she says.

“We are the face of the Church for many of the families in the school, that’s the reality.

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“We are lucky that Fr Jack comes every week to the school for Mass and Reconciliation and we strongly support the parish in its sacramental program. Once a month, the students and staff are responsible for the music and other aspects of the liturgy for one of the weekend Masses in the parish.”

Nicole says the school also supports the works of the parish, including having a Mini Vinnie’s group in association with the local St Vincent de Paul conference.

“We have food, blanket and clothing drives at the school to help Vinnies assist people in the local area,” she says. “We also support Mary Mac’s, by donating surplus food from school functions.”

Fr Jack says about 80 children received First Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Reconciliation last year, with a similar number for Confirmation.

Baptisms are held on two Sundays of the month, with up to 10 babies being baptised each month.

“With all the sacraments, we strongly encourage the parents to come along as well and

to play an active and integral role, and in that way we are reaching out beyond just the kids, but to parents as well,” Fr Jack says.

Mary Mac’s Place is the centrepiece of the parish’s social outreach activity and plays an important role in the Woy Woy community.

The Mary Mac’s Place Project is an initiative of the parish, which began in 1993, where parishioners and other volunteers provide homeless and transient people with a hot meal and a place to shower and wash their clothes on week days. It now caters for anywhere between 80 – 120 people daily for lunch. Since 2005, Mary Mac’s has been located in the Ethel Cox Parish Centre at St John the Baptist Parish and it now operates under the auspices of CatholicCare.

Kim McIntyre, CatholicCare’s Acting Family Centre Manager for the Central Coast, says that apart from a meal and a hot shower, Mary Mac’s has become a social hub for the people who go there, providing links and referrals for services including housing, health, drug and alcohol services, and assistance for those suffering problems like gambling addiction.

Our Neighbourhoods of Grace Exploring our missionary outreach

“We work with a range of social services agencies there to secure the appropriate help for people so that they can find a better situation of well-being for themselves. So Mary Mac’s is now providing a very holistic service,” she says.

Kim says that volunteers are the lifeblood of the Mary Mac’s operation, including people from the parish, as well as others from the broader community and various agencies.

“It’s amazing to go there and see and feel the atmosphere and to see how the community feels about Mary Mac’s – it’s a great collaboration between the parish, the welfare agencies and the local area.”

The St John the Baptist Parish reaches out to the community in a variety of other ways too, including visits by the priests and parishioners to two major local nursing homes,

Brisbane Waters Private Hospital and to the housebound. Fathers Timothy and Philip are also chaplains to Gosford Hospital. Mass is offered once a month at the nursing homes.

Devotional life in the parish includes a Rosary Group which meets every morning after Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Saturday after Mass and on Monday until 9am, and a Holy Hour with Exposition and Benediction every Thursday evening from 7.30pm.

Socially, the parish hosts Housie every Saturday night, with proceeds benefiting the parish.

Parishioners are active in St Vincent de Paul, and as Catechists, and a revitalised youth group is now underway, with two young people preparing to attend World Youth Day

in Poland. There are also regular opportunities for adult faith formation. The Live, Pray, Love project is a new initiative aimed at celebrating the vibrant and diverse community by reaching out to others through community events and responding to need.

Fr Jack says the people of the parish are active and involved in the liturgy, with a wonderful music ministry, and committed Altar Servers, Lectors, screen operators, welcomers and collectors.

“One of the things that people notice about the Central Coast in general and this parish in particular, is the friendliness,” he says. “People stop in the street to say hello to you. There is a special friendliness and courtesy that people give to each other here.

“It’s the best parish in the Diocese!”

The Live Pray Love Project

Motto: “Never See a need without doing something about it” – St Mary of the Cross The Live, Pray, Love project is an outcome through dialogue with some parishioners from St John the Baptist Woy Woy, members of the community and friends from other Catholic parishes from the Broken Bay Diocese.

As the above motto states, the Live Pray Love project has seen a need in our community and imitating Saint Mary of the Cross’ vision and motto is doing something about it.

The project aims to foster a sense of belonging to a community. Those attending and participating will have the opportunity for spiritual nourishment on topics such as; Mary and Prayer, Saints and Sacraments, The Environment (Laudato Si), Catholic Social Justice, as well as celebrate their cultural diversity on Cultural and Faith, Family and Fun days. The events will also encourage people to share their gifts and talents with one another as well as provide a safe place to nurture and develop new talents.

When Jesus met people who were in need, He met them where ‘they were’ in their lives, it is also the objective of the Live Pray Love

Project to meet people’s basic needs first for it is only when people begin to feel worthwhile that they begin to LIVE, and not just survive, they will learn to PRAY to know Jesus more and to have a personal relationship with Him which then leads to LOVE. At St John the Baptist Catholic Church Woy Woy we offer a warm, caring, friendly and inclusive community who loves to welcome newcomers… newcomers to the local area, newcomers to our Woy Woy Peninsula parish, and newcomers to our faith. The Live Pray Love Project nurtures an inclusive environment and promotes the importance of belonging to a community and being actively involved in the parish community. Ultimately, the goal is to build a community of people who share a common bond – faith in Jesus.

The first Live Pray Love Project event was a Faith Family Fun day on Sunday 3 April – such a joy-filled community event! The day started with some light showers in the morning and developed into a bright sunny day. The children had the opportunity to mix

with other children who share a common bond – their faith, but also and just as important to spend time together and have fun. Mums and Dads did not miss out challenging each other in games with the children such as musical chairs and the egg and spoon race. The talk on Divine Mercy was a timely reminder of the Resurrection of our Lord and the Father’s merciful love for us by sending his only son to die for our salvation and to look upon the cross as a beacon that leads us home.

Events are run on the first Sunday of every month from 2pm-5pm at the Walter Baker Hall across from St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Woy Woy (Cnr Victoria & Blackwall Rds, Woy Woy).

For more information about the Live Pray Love Project and upcoming events, contact Gladys Leger on 0421 312 362 or St John the Baptist Catholic Church Woy Woy on 4341 1073. You can also “Like” The Live Pray Love Project on Facebook for regular updates www.facebook.com/livepraylove BBN

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ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Blessing of the new Divine Retreat Centre at Somersby

By Fr Michael Payyappilly

“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalms 118:24)

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hat is precisely what the Divine Retreat Centre, Somersby did 23-24 April as the new premises of the Retreat Centre was blessed and inaugurated. A gathering of around a thousand people attended the blessing of the new premises of the Divine Retreat Centre at 160 Hensons Road, Somersby. The Saturday, concentrated on a retreat led by Fr Augustine Vallooran VC, Director of Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala, India, which was attended by over 500 people. The

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persistent rains couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of a set of people who wanted to be a part of the special day.

Over a 1000 people would come back on the Sunday for the remaining part of the retreat and for the blessing and inauguration of the Retreat Centre by Bishop Peter Comensoli. And the sun shone as everyone rejoiced in the day that the Lord had made. Fr Paul Puthuva VC, the Provincial Superior of the Vincentians blessed the Vincentian house. The

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blessing was attended by many priests and nuns, including people who had come from different cities across Australia and also included international participants.

To add to the joy, Fr Thomas Alackakunnel VC, Asst. priest at Ku-Ring-Gai Chase parish was congratulated for completing 25 years of his priesthood.

A little background: The Divine Retreat Centre, Somersby is run by the priests of the Vincentian Congregation from Kerala, India, who have 41 retreat centres and prayer centres throughout the world.

Every year, for the past 13 years, Vincentian priests would come during the January summer break to conduct retreats across different cities in Australia.

The retreats drew huge crowds.

The responses to the retreats prompted the desire to begin a retreat centre in Australia. The Diocese of Broken Bay invited the Vincentian Congregation to start a retreat centre within the Diocese on 7 April 2013. With the support of the Diocese, the Vincentians began by leasing the St Francis Assisi Centre at Somersby from the Diocese.

After three years of ministry

at the leased property, the Divine Retreat Centre shifted to a permanent property at 160 Hensons Road, Somersby to continue the retreat ministry.

Giving the centre his full support and prayers, Bishop Peter in his message spoke about reaching out to the other as our Christian mission. With the Biblical motto of “Come to me all you who labour and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28) the Centre, through the retreats, aims to do precisely that.

The Centre runs three-day residential retreats once a month from Friday to Sunday drawing numbers between 40 and 100. On the last Sunday of the month, a one day retreat is held from 9am to 5pm which brings in more than 300 people. During the one day retreats there is a children’s retreat conducted simultaneously. Night vigils are held periodically. The Vincentian priests go for regular outreach ministries to parishes in, and outside, NSW. In the Scriptures, the ones who were seeking God, would go to rest a while with God and they would come back rejuvenated and with a blessed mission.

Welcome to DRC Somersby and rest a while with Him.

EVANGELISATION

The Good News of Marriage and Family Life

By Daniel Ang “The joy of love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church” (AL 1). With this affirmation Pope Francis opens his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on love in the family, Amoris Laetitia.

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ecognising marriage and family as intrinsic to the future of the world and that of the Church, Pope Francis sets before us in this new document the beauty and grandeur of family life and the invaluable witness given by married couples to the love, fidelity, and forgiving character of God’s own love.

At the same time the Pontiff, together with his fellow bishops at the Synods of 2014 and 2015, recognise the many challenges and complexities of family life today. These difficulties represent the fundamental trials of human relationship that are as longstanding as salvation history itself (AL 19). As Pope Francis acknowledges, “no family drops down from heaven perfectly formed” (AL 325).

It follows that Amoris Laetitia is a powerful document that presents our Catholic communities with the task of reaching out to families, to encourage with great hope the married vocation and family life while exercising the compassion that characterises Jesus’ own response to those who experience division and loss (AL 21). In a moving and inclusive tone, Amoris Laetitia affirms that the evangelisation of families stands at the centre of the mission of the Church.

Among the challenges presented to us, Pope Francis calls for a renewal of accompaniment of couples preparing for marriage and living marriage. As a Church, “a family of families” (AL 87), this task does not fall only on a select few but is a common project that invites “a missionary conversion by everyone in the Church” (AL 201). Our clergy, lay men and women, dedicated singles, the young, and the elderly all have a role to play in nurturing a culture of self-giving love and commitment.

Together as a family of faith we have the project of ‘domesticating’ the world by taking loving responsibility for one another, including our couples and families who embark on this path of life (AL 183).

Amoris Laetitia exhorts us to encourage the young to aspire to marriage and family life all the while fostering realistic expectations that prepare them for mature relationships that inevitably experience change through time.

It speaks of the need for married couples to be open to the prospect of new life, to educate children in virtue and to foster their

natural inclination towards goodness (AL 264). It speaks of inclusion and affirms the Gospel as a word spoken to all people in every circumstance as a source of hope.

Pope Francis also offers practical ideas to encourage husbands and wives in their journey of constant growth. Chapter Four in particular recommends itself for reading by married couples, breaking open as it does the hymn of St Paul on the manifold dimensions of love (AL 89-119).

Parishes and faith communities will be greatly enriched and challenged by Chapter Six which calls them to be centres of evangelisation, outreach and sources of comfort and consolation for those who await mercy. The preparation of couples for marriage, pastoral accompaniment in the early years of married life and pastoral care in crises, worries and difficulties are addressed with an emphasis on schooling couples in the art of love (AL 199-258).

For Pope Francis, families are not a problem but indeed good news. They are not only the subject of pastoral care, catechesis and spiritual accompaniment but also active agents of God’s evangelising mission. By witnessing to love and fidelity, even amidst imperfections and struggle, the family brings hope to the world and inspires us to never stop seeking the fullness of love and communion which God holds out before us (AL 325).

In response to this remarkable document, and to encourage wide reading and reflection on Pope Francis’ vision of marriage and family life, the Office of Evangelisation will soon release a discussion guide on Amoris Laetitia, ‘The Joy of Love’, which can be used by families, parishes, schools and groups. For more information on this resource, please email lifemarriagefamily@dbb.org.au or call Colleen Smith on 9847 0502.

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CYBB

#Challenge on Pilgrimage Connecting Communities On 15 July 2016, our first World Youth Day group will be heading off towards Krakow, Poland.

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or close to three weeks over 230 people; youth, young adults, leaders, teachers, clergy, religious, and bishops from Broken Bay will be travelling together on pilgrimage – all on a life-making journey to the great gathering of young people from around the world in the homeland of Pope St John Paul II. Capturing the stories from our people is important. We all want to know what they are seeing, doing, and experiencing. But this journey of body and spirit is more than just the travelling to Poland. Our communities throughout Broken Bay have come together to support, fundraise and encourage our travellers. You are all part of the journey – and all part of the storytelling.

To capture our amazing Diocesan community spirit we will be running a Hashtag Challenge (#Challenge) throughout the pilgrimage dates. This is a WYD project, but not just for those travelling overseas – we want you all to be part of the fun… students, parents, teachers, religious, clergy. Yes, ALL OF YOU! To get things underway, make sure you have joined up with the participatory Social Media listed at the end of this article (don’t worry if you only use one – as long as you have a way to see the posted Challenges).

Each day throughout the pilgrimage a post will appear on Social Media with your Challenge; with the Hashtags you need to use

with your Challenge; and some reflections to inspire your spirit. Just read through and take a photo or choose a key-word throughout the day that really captures where, and how, you are on that day.

Then go for it!

Snap a pic or pen some words. You can then share your photo on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or all three! To share on Instagram or Twitter, just upload with the hashtags for the day and you’re done. To share on Facebook, upload to your personal page or share onto our Facebook Pages. Add some thoughts if you wish and any shout-outs to friends away or at home.

Really have some fun and put your heart into it.

You may have friends and family elsewhere in Australia or overseas who might like to see what everyone is doing, and to participate. Get them on board!

If you use Social Media – then this is for you. And even if you don’t… highlights from each day will be shared on the Diocesan website (www.dbb.org.au). Not only will we be able to step into the world of our pilgrims, but they will be able to see how we are travelling back home.

#dbbgoforit!

Further details will be sent out to Schools and Parishes during June.

WILL A NEW GOVERNMENT… PROTECT RELIGIOUS LIBERTY?

#dbbwyd_mercy www.dbb.org.au/wyd

FACEBOOK: Catholic Youth Broken Bay Catholic Diocese Broken Bay TWITTER: @CYBBAUS @BrokenBayDioc

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Religious Liberty is an important freedom that is increasingly under threat.

What is the fundamental importance of religious liberty, and why does it need to be protected?

The Ambrose Centre for Religious Liberty in conjunction with the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay Invites you to attend a free talk with…

AND

Most Rev Peter A Comensoli

WEDNESDAY 29 JUNE 20 16 Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Prim ary Hall 23 Yardley Av e, Waitara

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Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay

DATE:

Mr Rocco Mimmo LLM

Ambrose Centre Founder and Chairman

VENUE:

Wednesday 29 June 2016, 7.15pm for 7.30pm start Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary Hall (refreshments available – gold coin donation) 23 Yardley Ave, Waitara The Ambrose Centre has been established to defend religious freedom as one of the foundations of human rights. Religious liberty is a fundamental human right, second only to the right to life. The Centre is a non-profit organisation with a Chairman, Board of Advisors representing various faiths, and International Advisors. www.ambrosecentre.org.au

CYBB

Local Celebrations of WYD at Home After a week of catechesis, friendships, faith and celebration, World Youth Day Krakow concludes with the Final Mass, celebrated by Pope Francis.

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uring this Eucharist, Pope Francis sends the young people gathered out to the whole world to return to their homes and communities with the renewed joy of their faith.

With over 200 of our own

pilgrims participating in this extraordinary celebration, each local Parish community has been invited to join this event spiritually during Mass on the weekend of 30-31 July 2016.

Contact your local Parish for

more details and to offer support for this event.

For the schedule of WYD visit www.krakow2016.com/en/program-en

For pilgrim stories during our DBB WYD Pilgrimages visit www.dbb.org.au/wyd

Raffle winner!

DBB WYD EVENTS IN JUNE

Formation Session #2 Open to all pilgrims, their families, leaders and chaplains.

Tuesday 7 June at Terrigal Parish or

Congratulations to Ashleigh Bell, winner of the DBB WYD Raffle, who picked up her brand new Hyundai Accent in April. Big thanks to Avium for providing the car for the raffle.

The raffle managed to raise over $140,000 to support pilgrims heading to WYD in Krakow, Poland.

Wednesday 8 June at Chatswood Parish

Pilgrim Blessing Mass with Bishop Peter Open to all our DBB community, supporters and pilgrims Tuesday 28 June at our Cathedral from 7.30pm

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It’s insurance that is good for you and good for the Catholic community.

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Catholic Church Insurance Limited ABN 76 000 005 210, AFS Licence No. 235415 (CCI) arranges personal insurance as promoter of the underwriter Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFS Licence No. 234708 (Allianz). We do not provide any advice on this insurance based on any consideration of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply. Before deciding please consider individual product disclosure statements available by calling 1300 655 003; or from www.catholicinsurance.org.au. If you buy this insurance CCI may be paid a commission that is a percentage of the premium depending on the product. *Competition runs from 02/05/16 – 01/07/16. Prizes are drawn on 6/07/16 at Level 13, 2 Market St Sydney.

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ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Liturgy of Lament and Hope On Friday 3 June, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, a Liturgy of Lament and Hope to acknowledge publicly the pain and suffering of those who have been wounded by abuse in our Church, will be held in our Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, Waitara.

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ishop Peter Comensoli has called upon his brother priests and all of our people to join him for this sacred event in the life of our Diocese.

Opportunities for expressing lament such as this are important. This event, especially, is an occasion at which we can gather before the God of Grace and Mercy to give voice and shape to our feelings of sadness, regret, and solidarity for what has occurred in our own community. The Liturgy of Lament and Hope will be a time for us as a Diocese to pray for those who have been wounded and turn towards the Lord with hope for healing.

The Liturgy of Lament and Hope will begin a special weeklong focus in our Diocese during which local faith communities will be invited to become more

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aware of all those who have been impacted by the darkness of abuse within our Church.

All who care for the Church are invited to especially pray for those who carry the wounds of abuse, for the young and the vulnerable, and for those who care for them.

During this week we will also seek to become more conscious of our shared responsibility to build a culture of safeguarding for our children and those who are vulnerable. We will do this in a number of ways. There will be a dedicated space at our Cathedral in Waitara, and in our Diocesan Offices at Pennant Hills, where anyone who wishes can take time to pray for those who have been abused – those whom we know and those who we do not know – and for each of us, who are impacted by such evil.

The Diocese of Broken Bay invites all members of the community to join with us for a

A Liturgy of Lament and Hope Solemnity of the Sacred Heart 8pm, 3 June 2016 Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara For further information please contact news@dbb.org.au

To lament is to taste the tears of God * from the Cleveland Liturgy of Lament 2003

The staff of the Diocese will also have an opportunity to consider the impact of the Royal Commission on their professional

and personal lives, and the Clergy of the Diocese will have their own session of professional development later in the month.

May we learn profoundly in this ‘week of safeguarding’ what it is we are called to do, and to commit to all that the Liturgy of Lament and Hope invites us into. While formal responsibility for developing safeguarding and professional standards has been entrusted by Bishop Peter to the Office for Chancery Services, nonetheless all of us must assume responsibility for these actions in the course of our personal and professional lives, and especially in our ministries.

Everyone is most welcome to the Liturgy of Lament and Hope on 3 June at 8pm at the Cathedral and to bring the pain that we share to the foot of the Cross, along with our brothers and sisters. We pray that we will all grow in our shared responsibility to act truthfully, fairly, justly, and mercifully.

If you have any concerns about safeguarding or professional standards in our Diocese, please contact safeguarding@dbb.org.au or Anne Walker, Chancellor, on 9847 0430 or Jodie Crisafulli, Manager, SafeGuarding and Professional Standards on 9847 0212.

ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Epping celebrates 100 years Our Lady Help of Christians will be celebrating their 100 year centenary on 15 June 2016. Here is the story about how the parish was formed at Epping.

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he faith of the Barren Ridges convict establishment, at the suburb now called Epping, was an inspiration to all Christians, when it was founded in 1822.

Today the fruits of the 80 or so ironed prisoners are indisputable.

For the surrounding area of Epping, Eastwood, Carlingford and Ryde is without doubt the “Bible Belt” of Australia. There are more churches in these suburbs than elsewhere, at least 100.

Attending Mass was not an easy feat for the Epping Catholics, who were having to walk to and from (in all weather) St Charles Church, Ryde. Fr Gell, Parish Priest of Ryde, would also celebrate Mass in various halls in Epping and Eastwood in the early part of last century, he was very conscious of the hardships endured of the Epping Catholics.

The Epping Catholics, with Fr Gell’s help, decided to approach Cardinal Moran to see if they could build a church. The Cardinal backed them all the way and in 1907 the foundation stone was laid for a new church in Epping and completed in 1908.

The Mercy Nuns from Ryde used part of the church as school for 15 pupils. Although there was a church here at Epping, it was a station church of Ryde, with no resident priest, consequently Mass was only celebrated twice

a month. All the other times the parishioners had to make their way to Ryde.

So in 1913 the people of Epping, supported by Fr Gell, were sufficiently numerous to send the following petition to Archbishop Kelly: “Owing to the fact that the church at Ryde is some miles from the railway station and the inopportune times of Sunday trams to other churches, we are confined to two Masses in the month. “We would feel deeply grateful to your Grace if it were possible to grant the privilege of Mass more frequently.”

This petition bearing 137 signatures hastened the establishment of the Epping Parish in 1916. Church authorities granted the petition and placed Fr P J Moore, an Augustinian monk, as priest-incharge of the parish embracing Epping, Eastwood and Marsfield.

Eastwood then become a parish in 1929 and Marsfield in 1942.

So on the 15 June 1916 Our Lady Help of Christians was established as a parish in its own right, thus separating from Ryde.

The first Baptism was on 21 June 1916 and the first marriage on 15 August 1916.

The parish will celebrate the 100 Year Centenary on Sunday 29 May with Mass followed by a social event with food and fellowship.

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JUNE – AUGUST 2016

Office for Evangelisation PULLOUT EVENT CALENDAR

THE DIOCESE OF BROKEN BAY EXISTS TO EVANGELISE, TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST, GATHERED AS FRIENDS IN THE LORD AND SENT OUT TO BE MISSIONARY DISCIPLES. THE OFFICE FOR EVANGELISATION SERVES THIS MISSION AND PROMOTES THE GROWING MISSIONARY OUTLOOK OF PARISHES, FAITH COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS.

ENCOUNTER SHORT COURSES: Jesus the Christ Jesus is true God and true man, our Lord and Saviour. In this short course, Bishop Peter will lead us into a greater understanding of Jesus’ life and teachings, and what it means to be his disciple. He will explore the relationship between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith, and the significance of the incarnation, with a view to encouraging participants to discover Christ in a new and deeper way.

Presenter: Most Rev Dr Peter A Comensoli, Bishop of Broken Bay Course Duration: 1 x 2.5 hours Date: Thursday 7 July 2016 Time: 10:00am – 12:30pm Venue: Parish Centre, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, 239-243 The Entrance Road, The Entrance RSVP: registrations@dbb.org.au or 9847 0448 / 4332 9825 by Monday 4 July OR Date: Friday 8 July 2016 Time: 7:00pm – 9:30pm Venue: The Light of Christ Centre, end of Yardley Avenue, Waitara RSVP: registrations@dbb.org.au or 9847 0448 / 4332 9825 by Monday 4 July

The Christian Life: Morality, Relationships & Faith This course explores questions of morality such as: What is Christian morality?

What is an informed conscience, and how is it best formed? What is the relationship between divine, natural, and positive law?

Other topics include right relationships; the nature of sin, virtue and holiness; as well as issues of medical ethics. Learn how the church supports life and the innate dignity of the human person.

Presenters: Dr Dan Fleming, Dean of Studies and Senior Lecturer in Theology and Ethics, Broken Bay Institute & Dr Nigel Zimmermann, Lecturer University of Notre Dame and Private Secretary to Bishop Peter A Comensoli

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Course Duration: 1 x 2.5 hours Date: Wednesday 3 August 2016 Time: 10:00am – 12:30pm Venue: Parish Centre, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, 239-243 The Entrance Road, The Entrance RSVP: registrations@dbb.org.au or 9847 0448 / 4332 9825 by Monday 1 August OR Date: Wednesday 10 August 2016 Time: 7:00pm – 9:30pm Venue: Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School Library, 23 Yardley Avenue, Waitara RSVP: registrations@dbb.org.au or 9847 0448 / 4332 9825 by Monday 8 August

ABRAHAMIC SEMINAR:

The God of Mercy in Judaism, Christianity and Islam Judaism, Christianity and Islam share an intimate understanding of the merciful nature of God. Join us for a rich dialogue in this Jubilee Year of Mercy as we explore this common theme. Speakers include Rabbi Gary Robuck, Sheikh Wesam Charkawi and Dr Michele A. Connolly, rsj, facilitated by Rev Dr Patrick McInerney SSC. Date: Sunday 5 June 2016 Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm Venue: The Light of Christ Centre, end of Yardley Avenue, Waitara RSVP: www.trybooking.com/KMFB by Thursday 2 June, enquiries registrations@dbb.org.au 9847 0448 / 4332 9825

SAVE THE DATE:

Broken Bay Bible Conference 2016 The Acts of the Apostles: Taking the Gospel to a Wider World Presenters: Dr Michele A. Connolly, rsj and Dr Laurie Woods Date: Friday / Saturday 14 & 15 October 2016 Venue: Caroline Chisholm Centre, Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) CATHOLIC YOUTH BROKEN BAY

Diocesan World Youth Day Formation Session 2 These formation sessions are to provide spiritual and logistical formation to all WYD pilgrims while gathering them together as community prior to leaving. All pilgrims, leaders and parents/ families are invited to session 2 in June. These sessions will cover logistics, participation, safety and spiritual formation.

Date: Tuesday 7 June 2016 – Terrigal Catholic Parish OR Wednesday 8 June 2016 – Chatswood Catholic Parish Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm RSVP: wyd@dbb.org.au

World Youth Day Pilgrim Blessing Mass The WYD blessing Mass is to publicly acknowledge and formally bless the diocesan pilgrims prior to leaving on their WYD pilgrimage. At this Mass for all pilgrims, leaders, chaplains and supporters, pilgrims will receive their pilgrim pack and representative T-shirts for the event. We also invite all community leaders and pilgrim family members to join in this joyous event.

Date: Tuesday 28 June 2016 Venue: Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Yardley Avenue, Waitara Time: 7:30pm RSVP: youth@dbb.org.au for catering.

Clergy RSVP by 20 June if concelebrating Mass

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS

Sacramental Coordinators New editions of the Order of Confirmation and Order for Celebrating Matrimony came into use in Australia in February 2016. Professor Clare Johnson (Director, ACU Centre for Liturgy) will be presenting two seminars, for RECs and Sacramental Coordinators, to explore current official Church teaching on these Sacraments in theory and practice. These seminars are co-sponsored by the Catholic Dioceses of Broken Bay and Parramatta, the Archdiocese of Sydney, St Pauls, and the Australian Catholic University.

Dates: Order of Confirmation: 15 June 2016; Order of Celebrating Matrimony: 29 June 2016

CCD training and formation opportunities serve those involves in the mission of Special Religious Education in our State Schools but are also open to all those involved in catechesis and evangelising outreach in our Diocese. The Office for Evangelisation offers CCD Level 2 and Level 3 courses to all interested people, providing formation that enables the Gospel to be taken into the lives of others.

CCD Level 3: Faith in Ministry – |“Study of the Gospel According to John” CCDL3 – 01J CCDL3 – 02J CCDL3 – 03J CCDL3 – 04J CCDL3 – 05J CCDL3 – 06J CCDL3 – 07J CCDL3 – 08J CCDL3 – 09J CCDL3 – 10J CCDL3 – 11J CCDL3 – 12J

Development of the Child and Adolescent III A Method of Theological Reflection Study of the Gospel according to John Study of the Gospel according to John Study of the Gospel according to John Study of the Gospel according to John Study of the Gospel according to John Study of the Gospel according to John Study of the Gospel according to John Study of the Gospel according to John Spirituality of Leadership Identity and Integrity in Ministry

CC Region – Course Type: Level 3 Location: Leo Mahon Room, St John the Baptist,

Blackwall Road, Woy Woy Date: Friday 22 & 29 July, 5, 12, 19 & 26 August, 9, 16, 23 & 30 September 2016 Time: 11:00am – 1:30pm (22 July & 30 September will be 9:30am – 2:30pm) RSVP: registrations@dbb.org.au or 9847 0448 / 4332 9825

by Monday 18 July 2016

MWP & NSH Regions – Course Type: Level 3 Venue: ‘The Sunroom’, Holy Name Catholic Faith Community,

35 Billyard Avenue, Wahroonga Date: Friday 29 July, 5, 12, 19 & 26 August, 9, 16, 23 & 30 September, 7 October 2016 Time: 10:00am – 12:30pm (29 July & 7 October will be 9:30am – 2:30pm) RSVP: registrations@dbb.org.au or 9847 0448 / 4332 9825

by Monday 25 July 2016

Secondary Catechists Workshop #2 MWP Region Venue: Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish Centre,

9 Currie Road, Forestville Date: Tuesday 9 August 2016 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm RSVP: registrations@dbb.org.au or 9847 0448 / 4332 9825

by Wednesday 3 August 2016

OR Central Coast Region Venue: Lecture Room, OLR Parish,

239-243 The Entrance Road, The Entrance Date: Wednesday 10 August 2016 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm RSVP: registrations@dbb.org.au or 9847 0448 / 4332 9825

by Thursday 4 August 2016

OR NSH Region Venue: Caroline Chisholm Centre, 423 Pennant Hills Rd,

Pennant Hills (Vehicular entry via City View Road) Date: Monday 15 August 2016 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm RSVP: registrations@dbb.org.au or 9847 0448 / 4332 9825

by Thursday 11 August 2016

Venue: St Joseph’s Conference Centre, 4 Mackillop Drive, Baulkham Hills

Working with Children with Special Needs

Time: 10:30am – 2:30pm

239-243 The Entrance Road, The Entrance Date: Monday 29 August 2016 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm RSVP: registrations@dbb.org.au or 9847 0448 / 4332 9825

by Thursday 25 August 2016

Cost: $30 per person per session RSVP: To Mr Chris Ohlsen, Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, cohlsen@parra.catholic.org.au or 9701 4449

Presenter: Jo Karaolis Venue: Parish Centre, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish,

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NEWS & ISSUES

A Vote for the Voiceless A statement by the Catholic Bishops of Australia on the election Australians are again going to the polls.

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e do so, thankful that the electoral process will be free of the violence found elsewhere. Our political system may have its problems but we have a stable democracy, which is not to be taken for granted. Nor is the quality of those who put themselves forward for election to the Federal parliament. We are in their debt for their willingness to serve.

During the long election campaign there will be much talk about the economy and the need for good economic management at a time of some uncertainty. Both sides of politics will state their economic credentials in a bid to win power.

The economy of course is important and there does need to be sound management. But, as Pope Francis has pointed out, there is also a danger that the economy can become a kind of false god to which even human beings have to be sacrificed.

This leads to what the Pope has called a culture of over-consumption where all kinds of things are thrown away, wasted, even human beings. The voices of the thrown-away people will not be heard in the long and rowdy campaign. Their faces will not be seen in all the advertising. Yet unless their voices are somehow heard and their faces seen, we will not have a truly human society in which economic management serves human beings rather than the other way round.

That is why we bishops want to speak a word as part of this campaign – not in order to push an ideological line or simply to defend the Church’s interests but to give a voice to the voiceless and make their faces seen, however briefly in a statement such as this.

Among the people discarded in this throwaway culture are these: • Refugees and asylum seekers who are often seen as a problem to be solved rather than as human beings in need of our help.

• Indigenous peoples whose cry for recognition has barely been heard and who suffer injustice at the hands of our justice system.

• The survivors of sexual abuse who have emerged from the shadows and whose voice is now being heard, crying out for redress and healing.

• Those who suffer family violence who are often unseen and unheard, behind closed doors with nowhere to go and no-one to turn to.

• Those in the womb who are among the most defenceless, at risk of being deprived of the most basic of all human rights, the right to live.

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• The elderly who are seen at times as an economic burden now that they are unable to “produce” or consume in the way the economy demands.

• Those suffering mental illness who seem not to fit in with accepted patterns of social behaviour and are often presumed to contribute nothing to society, thus ending up in the too-hard basket.

• Those suffering addiction who can see no way out of the destructive grasp of alcohol or other drugs, gambling or pornography.

• Those entrapped in new forms of slavery who are the victims of sexual or workplace enslavement.

• The desperately poor beyond our shores who look to wealthy Australia for the help they need – often simply to survive – but find our nation less and less generous.

There are others in our community, near and far, whose voices are unheard, whose faces are unseen. They are seen as politically irrelevant.

They will not decide any marginal seats or determine the result of the election. Yet any society is ultimately judged not on how well it manages the economy but on how well it treats the thrown-away people.

Who then are the people unheard and unseen? What does it mean for Australia to care for them? If we fail to ask these questions and to try to answer them, then much that goes on in this or any other election campaign will be political theatre that does not address the real issues.

But it is not just individual people who are thrown away. The same can happen to the environment, both social and natural. At the heart of a healthy social environment there is marriage and the family. Yet political decisions can end up undermining marriage and providing less and less support for families despite a rhetoric that claims otherwise. The fact is that economic decisions have been less and less favourable to families in recent years; and it may be that political decisions in the future will undermine further the dignity and

uniqueness of marriage as a lifelong union of man and woman. Support for marriage and the family does not look a big vote-winner, so that even the most basic human institution, upon which the health of a society depends, can become part of the throwaway culture or at best an optional extra.

Pope Francis has said that the earth too cries out for justice at this time. The natural environment – the land we live on, the air we breathe, the water we drink – even this can become voiceless, so that the earth’s cry for justice can go unheard. Now is the time to act, so that the natural environment is able to meet human needs rather than be sacrificed to the god of the economy. We need an economy that is truly human, not falsely divinised. This does not mean divinising the natural world, but it does mean treating it with respect and seeing it as a gift to be received gratefully rather than as a resource to be plundered at will.

Neither can we as Christians afford to be voiceless through this campaign. On all kinds of issues we need to make our voices heard. But to do that we will have to listen first – not only to the voice of the voiceless, but even to the voice of God. That is why for Christians and others prayer is an essential part of this long journey to the election. By prayer, we mean first listening to God who has a word to speak in all this – the God who is neither voiceless nor faceless. If we can listen to God’s voice, then there is a chance that we might be able to speak with a voice that is not just our own.

To listen to God and to the voiceless is in the end the same thing. In hearing their voice, we can hear the voice of God. That is where the real God is; that is how the real God communicates.

We hope that this campaign – for Christians at least and especially for Christian politicians – will be a time not of spin and bombast but a time of wise and true speaking that comes from deep and humble listening. Then our vote may be a vote in favour of a community where no-one is thrown away, where all the voices are heard and all the faces seen.

Our Lady of Good Counsel ELC exceeding expectations In the month of March, the Our Lady of Good Counsel, Early Learning Centre Forestville was selected to undergo the National Quality Framework, Assessment and Ratings process.

Quality Framework (NQF) Tofheforlaws,National children’s services is comprised regulations, standards, guiding principles and curriculum for all children’s services across Australia.

On the two days of assessment, the staff were able to demonstrate the high level of care and education that is provided every day for children and their families. CatholicCare is thrilled to report that they achieved an overall result of ‘exceeding’ the National Quality Standard (NQS). This is a wonderful outcome for the centre and certainly a reflection of the high level of knowledge, skills, professionalism and

passion the educators have for early childhood education.

When Meredith Tomkins, Principal of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School, Forestville, learnt of this result she was thrilled.

“We are very proud of our ELC! The children who transition into Kindergarten are happy, well-adjusted and extremely well-prepared to continue their learning journey,” said Meredith.

“Congratulations to the teachers who nurture and develop the children as confident and engaged learners. The rating ‘exceeded’ is very well deserved.”

Where to from now? This result will

continue to inspire the educators to strive for excellence and continued growth, and not just on one day, but every day.

Congratulations to Susanna Peterson and her team for their tremendous efforts!

The Our Lady of Good Counsel Early Learning Centre, Forestville has recently reached its 5th Anniversary of providing high quality, early childhood education to the families of Forestville. The community is invited to join the team and its families to celebrate on Sunday 29 May from 10am – 2pm at their Family Fun Day.

FAMILY CENTRES: Central Coast • Naremburn • Waitara DISABILITY FUTURES: Central Coast • Northern Beaches • Northern Suburbs OUT OF HOME CARE: Foster Care • Therapeutic Group Care

EARLY LEARNING AND CARE: Forestville • Lake Munmorah • Terrigal • Waitara

OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE: Carlingford • Collaroy Plateau • Davidson • East Gosford • Forestville • Freshwater Lake Munmorah • Manly • Mona Vale • Narrabeen • Pymble • Waitara • West Pymble HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY: Gosford • Hornsby • Manly • Mona Vale • Royal North Shore • Wahroonga (SAN) • Wyong

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EDUCATION

Anzac Tribute Wins Award

Prouille Catholic School in Wahroonga scooped the pool at the RSL ANZAC Lifecare Art Awards this year.

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he school won the award for the five highest scoring entries.

Year Six student Sabrina Haaf came first in the Year 5-6 category with her stencil-inspired artwork.

Sabrina said that she chose a poppy from a range of stencils, then added a soldier constructed out of words from an article.

“I also used a spray bottle and put red dye in it and sprayed it on the page,” she said.

The students spent many weeks finessing their designs, which

Sabrina said was inspiring as she kept coming up with new ideas to include in her art. However, she said she was very surprised to have won the $250 in prize money.

“I did put a lot of effort in, but there were a lot of other great people from my school that were also competing,” she said.

The awards are supported by the Department of Education and are open at Primary, Secondary, and University levels, with students from across the country competing.

Central Coast Schools Rule the Air Waves Central Coast homes were filled with the sounds of Broken Bay school students’ laughter when the two local radio stations, Star 104.5 and SeaFM, held outside breakfast broadcasts on the same morning.

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t John’s Catholic School at Woy Woy had a wonderful breakfast of fruit salad, yogurt, hot cross buns and sausage sandwiches kindly organised by their P&F. Local club, Ettalong Diggers, gave away loads of goodies on the day and Newcastle Permanent presented the school a cheque for $500.

Further up the Coast St Peter’s Catholic College, Tuggerah saw

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secondary students get to school early to take part in the morning’s activities including watching their science teacher get a pie in the face all in the name of fun.

They too enjoyed a fresh fruit breakfast and local business, the Brian Hilton Motor Group, kindly donated $1,000 which was graciously shared between St Peter’s and its local Catholic primary school, St Cecilia’s.

EDUCATION

Learning in the Digital Age at St Patrick’s St Patrick’s Catholic School in Asquith has a focus on digital learning, with students taught to be discerning users of technology and to stay safe online.

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outh Liaison Officer from Hornsby Police, Senior Constable Stefanie Murray, works with both students and parents to educate them about cyber safety.

Stefanie spoke with the children

first, and then recently led an information session for parents.

Further to the introduction of the BYODD (bring your own designated device) program most students in Years 4-6

now have their own device and children in Years K-3 have access to iPads and other devices.

“We want the children to be thinkers within the 21st Century environment,” said Bernard

Cumming, the Principal. “We want them to have knowledge of different devices and tools, and to think to themselves ‘What is the best tool to use to complete this task?’”

Northern Beaches Schools Celebrate The Northern Beaches Year Six Cluster Mass was held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Forestville this year.

The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Peter A Comensoli and clergy from the local parishes.

The Year Six students had special roles during the Mass and at the end of Mass students participated in a Rite of Commitment to leadership roles in their respective schools.

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EDUCATION

Early Learning Statement Launched A partnership between the Catholic Schools Office and CatholicCare saw the recent launch of the Early Learning Statement for the Diocese of Broken Bay at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School in Terrigal.

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he launch included a visit to the Early Learning Centre (ELC) on site and key note speakers from Australian Catholic University and Macquarie University.

The Statement is informed by years of research on early education, in order to support

children as they begin their lifelong learning. There is a focus on play-based learning and the Statement advocates that teachers and parents work together to encourage children’s education.

The Statement will ensure a collaborative approach to early learning teaching is consistent

across the Diocese, inclusive of all schools and CatholicCare ELC’s.

Peter Hamill, Director of Schools, said, “We commend the statement, confident that it will support early learning and school communities in their work.”

The early years of schooling are vital, as this is the time that

children learn and develop most quickly. This time also provides the foundation for later academic and social success. Through their engagement with the world, their parents, families and teachers, young learners form the values and attitudes that will guide their life journeys.

Quite an Honour St Joseph’s Catholic College in East Gosford was one of just 213 schools to make it onto the Great School Libraries list, which honours school libraries across the country.

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ominations opened in October last year when FAIR (Freedom of Access to Information and Resources) joined with library associations to compile a list of the best school libraries across the country.

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School libraries are judged on a number of criteria, including the quality of their popular fiction and school resources, their opening hours, internet access, and the qualifications and skill of their librarian. The

libraries are also judged on their special activities such as Book Week and the Premier’s Reading Challenge.

Sue McKerracher, spokesperson for FAIR, said, “ The library has evolved from

a repository of books to an e-learning and technology centre where information resources are available via tablets and phones, as well as fulfilling roles as a study centre and a meeting place.”

EDUCATION

Swimmers of the Meet The Broken Bay Diocese Primary Swimming Championships were held at Mingara Swimming Centre at Tumbi Umbi.

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n award of ‘Swimmer of the Meet’ and runner up for boys and girls was introduced this year. The inaugural winners are pictured Sofia Saroukos, OLGC Catholic School, Forestville,

and Hyun Soo Hwang, OLOD Catholic School, Chatswood, and runners up Joshua Kerr, Maria Regina Catholic School, Avalon and Zara Good St Cecilia’s Catholic School, Wyong.

Do the Macarena!

Students from Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School at The Entrance recently helped run a daytime disco at a nursing home in Bateau Bay.

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he students led the residents of Uniting Nareen Gardens in a rousing rendition of a popular dance, the Macarena, to help raise awareness of dementia.

The disco was part of the Uniting Big Move Dance Against Dementia which was held at a number of locations across New South Wales.

More than a million Australians are living with dementia.

Helen Swift, Nareen Gardens’

diversional therapist, described it as Australia’s number-one debilitating condition.

“We know that one of the most proven ways to slow the onset of dementia is through exercise, movement and music,” Ms Swift said.

The residents loved dancing to Katy Perry and Taylor Swift, as well as participating in the Macarena. “We all had a ball, and didn’t want to stop,” said Ms Swift.

Sshhh… it’s a secret!

The new Secret Garden playground at St Cecilia’s Catholic School in Balgowlah has been officially opened.

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he Secret Garden has been designed to be a more interactive and challenging playground than a standard school playground.

Play has a vital role in children’s social and

emotional development and the provision of quality outdoor play opportunities form an integral part of a good learning environment.

The playground allows children to discover and test

ideas and theories. It has been designed so they can explore texture and shape through interactive play using naturally found items.

Each class visited the playground with their teacher

and talked about the importance of turn-taking, sharing and interaction with others.

The playground would not have been possible without the hard work of the St Cecilia’s Parent Network group.

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ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Men Alive at Kincumber Taking time to connect to God Nearly 50 men gathered at Kincumber Parish during March to take part in a Men Alive weekend.

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team of parish men led by Gerry Shields recruited, welcomed, set up and catered for the weekend, while a team of presenters headed by Robert Falzon led the process and gave the teaching and testimonies. Here is a reflection by one participant: “It’s early for me, a time of the day that I rarely experience, but it’s exceptionally beautiful and poignant. The sun is rising, the sky is full of colour and I am traveling north on my own for a weekend away at a Men Alive event in a parish I have never been to.

I have finally decided to take part in Men Alive, being staged at Kincumber Parish. It’s a men only event designed to help build relationships and find relevance with God in our daily lives.

For me, the decision to come has not been an easy one. Like many men, I have an exceptionally busy work and family life and, like

so many, I too have drifted away from God in my life.

The challenges of a committed faith have overwhelmed me and I am full of doubts. I know deep down that I should try to find a way back, but so much water has passed under the bridge it feels like God is a very distant connection.

I arrive with a feeling of relief that I have managed to escape from my usual busy life. Just to be on my own for a weekend gives me a sense of calm. The welcome at Kincumber is exceptionally generous and I am actually keen to begin.

Before I know it, I find myself singing with a group of men. An extraordinary event in itself because I never sing. But the sound of the male voices together is powerful.

It’s not long into the session and I can already feel God’s presence in the room and inside me.

The sessions are framed by personal stories and I realise that

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the men there, although they are all different, seem to share common problems in our everyday lives.

For the first time in my life a have a real feeling of male brotherhood.

At this point I’m feeling great.

As the morning progresses my mood starts to change. I hear that there will be a time for reconciliation later in the day. Ok that’s fine, but it’s not for me. I can talk to God on my own, I don’t need to confess to a priest.

Then we are asked to examine our lives and list the obstacles that are keeping us from God. This is very confronting. Even though it’s anonymous, I find it very hard to be honest with myself.

The day progresses and I am inspired by hearing more of people’s stories. The way they are told is compelling.

And then it’s time for reconciliation. I am still resolute that I am not taking part. But some words spoken by one of our presenters keep resonating in my head, “This is an amazing opportunity for you all, don’t waste it”.

I decide to go and pray in the church. I see the others going to reconciliation and I am staring at the crucifix. I am not enjoying this moment. But it’s time to be a man. And I decided to go to reconciliation face-to-face.

As I’m talking I suddenly realise that my obstacles have become an enormous burden in my life. Like carrying an extra ton of weight around with me everywhere I go.

I am aware of a change happening deep inside me. I remember going

to confession as a school boy and feeling great afterwards, but this was something else. This was an awakening, this was so powerful and empowering.

This was God. Afterwards as I walk out of the church I realise that this moment was a true gift.

Even though we are told to be observing silence and not communicate with anyone at this time. I find a quiet place outside and send a text to my wife to tell her how much I love her.

For the rest of the day and evening I am feeling like I have completed a marathon. I am really exhausted, but I feel such peace inside.

The next morning, I still feel the same. I am wondering if I’ll have any energy for the sessions that day. But this day is a new day.

It’s an important day because we discover the tools we’ll need to keep our connection with God strong. Men are practical problem solvers and Men Alive knows this.

The day comes to an end and after our goodbyes and reflections it’s time to come home.

I am not the same person that drove up the day before. But for the first time that I can remember I feel like I know who I am and what I want to do with my life.

My real story is just beginning now. My son has given me a new nickname “retreat man”. My wife has said that she has noticed a change in me and I have recruited my good friend to start planning projects that include God more in our lives.”

NEWS & ISSUES

Bishop Long appointed Bishop of Parramatta Pope Francis announced on 5 May the appointment as the fourth Bishop of Parramatta, the Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen, O.F.M. Conv., who has been until now an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. rchbishop Denis Hart, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference welcomed the appointment, ‘after distinguished leadership in the Conventual Franciscans, Bishop Vincent Long van Nguyen has been Auxiliary Bishop in Melbourne since 2011, working as a gifted and compassionate pastor, Episcopal Vicar and Chair of the Victorian Catholic Education Commission’.

‘We joyfully welcome his appointment as Bishop of Parramatta, knowing that his Christ-like gifts and simplicity will serve the people of his new diocese so well.’

‘I feel a sense of responsibility and honour to be appointed to the Diocese of Parramatta. I accepted the appointment by Pope Francis with humility,’ Bishop Long said following the announcement.

‘This appointment comes with great care for the people of Parramatta and for the Church locally. My immediate priority is to get to know the clergy and the people across the Diocese.

‘Coming to Australia by boat as a refugee from Vietnam, I found myself a newcomer in Melbourne.

I now consider myself a newcomer to the Diocese of Parramatta. I know I’ll be enriched by the many cultures that make up Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

Born on 3 December 1961 in Gia-Kiem, Vietnam, Bishop Long is the fourth in a family of five boys and two girls. In 1972, he joined the diocesan minor seminary which was later disbanded by the communist Government.

In 1980 he left Vietnam to begin a new life in Australia. In 1983, Bishop Long became a Conventual Franciscan friar.

Moved by the desperate plight of Christians throughout the Middle East, the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) calls on your support to help the region’s beleaguered Christian population.

Studying for the priesthood in Melbourne, Bishop Long was ordained on 30 December 1989. He was elected Superior of Conventual Franciscans in Australia in 2005 and appointed as Assistant General of the same Order and transferred to Rome in 2008.

Bishop Long was appointed an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne on 20 May 2011. Bishop Long’s Liturgical reception to Parramatta will be held in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta on Thursday 16 June.

The Diocese of Parramatta has been vacant since the transfer on 18 September 2014 of Bishop Anthony C. Fisher, O.P. to the Archdiocese of Sydney.

“Personally I am delighted at the appointment of Most Rev Vincent Long van Nguyen as the

fourth Bishop to our neighbouring Diocese of Parramatta and offer my heartfelt congratulations,” said Bishop Peter Comensoli.

“I echo my brother bishops’ sentiments in joyfully welcoming this news, and I look forward to working with Bishop Long here in NSW in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“Bishop Long and the people of Parramatta may be assured of the support, prayers and good wishes of all in Broken Bay as he begins his ministry of leadership and service.”

poverty and growing extremism threaten the survival of these ancient communities.

ACN is helping to keep faith and hope alive throughout the region by providing urgent aid to priests, religious and lay people, offering subsistence help to refugees and building and repairing Churches and convents.

Please help us strengthen and rebuild the Church in the land of Christ’s birth.

A mass exodus of Christians from the Middle East is now taking place. For some, like the Christians of Iraq and Syria, it is a question of their very survival as they flee the bloody persecution of the militants of the Islamic State (also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh).

An olive wood rosary handcrafted in the Holy Land, For others, in parts of the Holy Land that Our Lord will be sent to all those who give a donation of $20.00 Jesus Christ knew so well, the proportion of Christians or more to help this campaign. has plummeted from 20% to as little as 1.4% in the last Please tick the box below if you would like to receive forty years. The faithful now live in fear as increasing the olive wood rosary*.

Carole Al Farah

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Keeping hope alight in the Middle East

Send to: Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 7246 Baulkham Hills BC NSW 2153 Tel No: (02) 9679-1929 Email: info@aidtochurch.org Web: www.aidtochurch.org I enclose a cheque/money order payable to Aid to the Church in Need OR please debit my Visa or Mastercard: Made of olive wood from the Holy Land, the rosary is simple in design and yet profound in its symbolic significance.

The rosaries are lovingly handcrafted by families in need in Bethlehem and your donation enables the faithful to put food on the table for their families.

Yes please send me the olive wood rosary*

Broken Bay News

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AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED...a Catholic charity dependent on the Holy See, providing pastoral relief to needy and oppressed Churches

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ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Mothering Sunday The Anglican “Patrimony”, which has become part of the Catholic Church since its foundation, is expressed in various forms.

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uring Lent, the Central Coast congregation made its own contribution to MacKillop Parish at Warnervale by sharing a Mothering Sunday Simnel Cake on the Fourth Sunday of Lent and by making palm crosses for distribution on Palm Sunday.

Mothering Sunday, according to the English tradition, was a day for family gatherings.

A Simnel Cake was prepared as part of the celebration. It is a fruit cake with a filling of marzipan in the middle of the cake and topped by a marzipan covering – (recipe below). In many places a Simnel Cake is blessed during the Mass and distributed to the congregation, or taken home to the family.

Palm crosses were made by members of the Ordinariate community and made available to people attending a Palm Sunday Mass.

The congregation were encouraged to take the cross home and use it as a reminder of the events of Holy Week. Many people found this a new experience, having previously collected a few leaves of palm at the Church door, and some have since remarked that the cross fits well into their missal or books of prayers.

Simnel Cake Recipe • Use a recipe for a Dundee cake, without the decorations.

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• Make the marzipan (directions below) and cut into two rounds, one a little smaller than the diameter of the cake.

• Put half of the cake mixture into a tin and cover with the smaller round of marzipan.

Then add the remainder of the cake mixture.

• Bake as the recipe directs but leave a little longer in the oven because of the marzipan.

• When baked and cool, brush the top of the cake with either egg white or sieved apricot jam and cover with the other round of marzipan.

• Brush the marzipan with egg white and brown under a low grill.

If you would like more information on how to support the day through sponsorship or prizes, and for reserving tables, please contact Rhonda Andersen on (02) 9847 0726 or rhonda.andersen@dbb.org.au

Ingredients: 250 grams ground almonds. 65g icing sugar. 65g caster sugar. Few drops almond essence. Egg yolk to mix.

Method: Mix ingredients together and then roll until flat. Trim to the desired sizes.

ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

2016 Divine Mercy Celebrations at Pennant Hills

By Greg Williams

On 3 April, St Agatha’s Parish, Pennant Hills hosted a wonderful celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday with an afternoon of Liturgy and prayer, including Mass, Reconciliation, recitation of the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, readings from the Divine Mercy Novena, Veneration of the Divine Mercy Image and Benediction.

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his was enhanced by beautiful sacred music, and punctuated with a delicious afternoon tea! $2,000 was also raised for the charity, Aid to the Church in Need, an opportunity for all present to extend mercy to others.

Bishop Peter Comensoli concelebrated Mass with Parish Priest Fr Paul Durkin, and with a large gathering of parishioners and visitors present. In his sermon, Bishop Peter noted that it took time for the disciples to move from the ‘locked room’ out into the streets, but in doing so they moved from being fearful followers to true witnesses of Christ. He said the Church

had stood the test of time and persevered when much else had fallen away. He encouraged all present to “trust in Jesus, despite our personal fears, weaknesses and difficulties.”

Late last year, St Agatha’s Parish was presented with a beautiful limited edition image of Divine Mercy from the community of Sisters where St Faustina is buried in Krakow, Poland.

During the Mass, Bishop Peter blessed this Divine Mercy image – a most powerful image, painted on the instructions of Jesus to St Faustina – one to which many miracles

have been attributed when people have prayed before it.

After eighteen years of celebrations, St Agatha’s is now regarded as a Diocesan centre for Divine Mercy and this was especially evident this Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Parish Priest Fr Paul reflected that “Divine Mercy is at the heart of the Gospel and of the Paschal Mystery” and Divine Mercy Sunday, while honouring Jesus’ request to St Faustina (Diary, n 699), also re-claims the early Church practice of naming the Easter Octave as “the days of mercy and pardon”.

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CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

Diocese of Broken Bay

celebrates 30 years On the 28 May 1986, Cardinal Edward Clancy installed Bishop Patrick Murphy as the inaugural Bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Broken Bay. Previously part of the Archdiocese of Sydney, the new Diocese was created as a means of alleviating the difficulties of ministering to a burgeoning Catholic population throughout the Archdiocese.

The name Broken Bay was chosen for its central location in Sydney’s northern region, being the mouth of the Hawkesbury River, which divides the north and south of the Diocese.

1993: • Mary Mac’s Place Project begins

1986: • Pope John Paul II establishes the new Diocese of Broken Bay • Most Rev Patrick Murphy installed as first Bishop of Broken Bay • CSO formed and Centacare started

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1997: • First edition of Broken Bay News magazine

2001: • Diocesan Pastoral Plan: Going Forw 2002: • Diocese hosts Nationa

1996: • Bishop Murphy retires • Bishop David Walker installed as second Bishop of Broken Bay

2003: • New paris St Mary of t • Broken Ba

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

2006 • Pastoral Plan: Pastoral Care for Evangelisation

ward Together

al Pastoral Planning Conference

sh and K-12 school opens at Warnervale, the Cross MacKillop ay Institute opens

2007: • Bishop Patrick Murphy dies • New church at St John the Baptist, Woy Woy 2009: • First eConference held • New church at Holy Spirit, Kincumber

2013: • Bishop David Walker retires 2014: • St Brigid’s Catholic College opens at Lake Munmorah • Bishop Peter A Comensoli installed as third Bishop of Broken Bay

2008: 2011: • Relocation of Cathedral to Waitara • First Early Learning Centres open • Tri-Diocesan Covenant signed • 25th anniversary, Diocesan Synod begins • Broken Bay hosts WYD Days in the Diocese

2015: • Five Holy Doors opened for the Year of Mercy across the Diocese

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n at i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e o n t h e n e w e va n g e l i s at i o n

P R O C L A I M 2 0 1 6

 PROCLAIM 2016 will bring together over 500 Catholics over a period of three days in Sydney  A conference for people who are interested in the new evangelisation in parishes  Includes workshops for parish life, liturgies, panel discussions, social media, a night of praise and worship open to youth and young adults  For clergy, religious, diocesan and parish staff and volunteers in parish ministry, married and single people, young and old KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

cardinal Donald wuerl is the Archbishop of Washington and was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2010. He serves on a number of Vatican Congregations, Councils and Commissions including those for the Doctrine of the Faith and for Bishops.

Bishop nicholas hudson was ordained Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Westminster in 2014, with responsibility for the pastoral care of Central and East London. He has oversight of the Agency for Evangelisation.

Dr susan timoney is the Assistant Secretary for Pastoral Ministry and Social Concerns for the Archdiocese of Washington, USA. Dr Timoney’s visit to Australia is hosted and sponsored by the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Mr Daniel ang is the Director of Evangelisation, Diocese of Broken Bay, with responsibility for planning for mission and implementing strategies for evangelisation. He is Chair of the National Pastoral Planners Network and a member of the Australian Catholic Council for Pastoral Research.

PROCLAIM 2016 conference is organised on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference by the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay.

For more information proclaim2016@dbb.org.au

Natalie Moutia (02) 9847 0504

w w w. p r o c l a i m c o n f e r e n c e . c o m . a u

Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay