Broken Bay News October 2020 Issue 207

CELEBRATING BISHOP ANTHONY’S FIRST YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN BROKEN BAY BISHOP ANTHONY RANDAZZO: MY FIRST YEAR AS YOUR BISHOP / PAGE 2

A SURVIVOR’S STORY / PAGE 4 RICH IN VOCATIONS / PAGE 7 A CATHOLIC RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE / PAGE 25

FRATELLI TUTTI: POPE FRANCIS’ NEW ENCYCLICAL / PAGE 30

# 207 OCTOBER 2020

BISHOP’S MESSAGE

DIOCESE OF BROKEN BAY Diocesan Office: Tel (02) 8379 1600 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 bishop@bbcatholic.org.au CHANCERY OFFICES Bishop: Most Rev Anthony Randazzo Vicar General: Very Rev Dr David Ranson Chancellor: Jo Robertson Executive Officer: Kelly Paget Diocesan Financial Administrator, Director, Office for Stewardship: Emma McDonald Director, Diocesan Office for Safeguarding: Jodie Crisafulli Tel: (02) 8379 1605 Director, Marriage Tribunal: Adrienne Connaghan Tel: (02) 8379 1680 Director, Office for Communications: Selina Hasham Director, Office for Evangelisation: Tomasz Juszczak Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD): Alison Newell CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE Director: Danny Casey Tel (02) 9847 0000 PO Box 967 Pennant Hills NSW 1715

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

My first year as your Bishop

By Bishop Anthony Randazzo

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, On Monday, 30 September 2019 at 12.15pm, I was in my car on the Hume Highway heading to Mittagong. While driving, I received a telephone call from the Apostolic Nuncio who informed me that the Holy Father Francis had transferred me from Sydney to Broken Bay as the fourth bishop of the Diocese.

The appointment would take effect on Monday, 7 October, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

They say that it is quite common to remember where you were when significant events cross your path.

My appointment to Broken Bay is one that I will remember vividly for the rest of my life. At the conclusion of my first year in the Diocese, I am filled with

gratitude to God for calling me here to be among the Lord’s flock as shepherd.

It certainly has been an eventful year, even if the boundaries of day-to-day life have shifted and ordinary is often now viewed as extraordinary.

In a somewhat destabilised world, it seems to me that the one constant in our lives is the love of God, made visible in Jesus Christ (cf. 1 John 4:7-12). Saint Paul reminds us that while we might be in shadow, “faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love” (1Cor 13:13).

We love, because God first loved us (1John 4:19), which means that our identity and belief are always a response to being called into life and

CATHOLICCARE Executive Director: Tim Curran Tel: (02) 9481 2600 Family Centres: Brookvale - Tel: (02) 8043 2600 Naremburn - Tel: (02) 8425 8700 Tuggerah - Tel: (02) 4356 2600 Waitara - Tel: (02) 9488 2400 Hospital Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care: (02) 9481 2600 Children’s Services: (02) 9481 2600 Disability Futures: (02) 9488 2500 Services for Seniors: (02) 9488 2500 Permanency Support Program (Foster Care): (02) 4320 7700 BROKEN BAY NEWS Editor: Melissa Loughlin Tel: (02) 8379 1618 news@bbcatholic.org.au Design: Edward Baricevic 10,500 copies of Broken Bay News are distributed bi-monthly to 26 parishes and 44 schools in the Diocese of Broken Bay. The Broken Bay News is a member of the Australasian Catholic Press Association. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply diocesan endorsement of products or services advertised.

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Bishop Anthony at OLOR Cathedral after Mass for the St Therese relics in early March.

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mission by God. I would like for us, as a community of the Church, to look forward rather than backward. While our history is important, it is significant because it helps us discern how we will progress as the anointed people of the New Testament.

With this in mind, I would like to share with you six priorities for our Diocese as we look forward to our life of holiness and our mission of evangelisation.

It is my hope that these priorities will be points of departure for robust prayer, discernment, and encounter as brothers and sisters of the Lord and as his disciples in the world.

Six priorities for our community of the Church: 1. The person of Jesus Christ, and his message of Good News forms our prayers, thoughts, and works (1 John 1:1-4)

BISHOP’S MESSAGE

2. The Holy Spirit will lead us in the way of discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20) 3. As one people in the body of Christ, we will build together a culture of vocation for all the baptised (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1877) 4. Together, priests and people, we will be united with the bishop in service of all (2 Colossians 2:3) 5. In all areas of life, ministry, and mission, we will promote authentic Catholic education for the flourishing of human and faith development (Lumen gentium, 25)

6. In the Spirit of Jesus, we embrace justice and mercy to place the poor at the heart of the Church.

for the Diocese, beginning in Advent 2020. At that time, I hope to prepare a Pastoral Letter which might serve as a guide to deeper reflection within the Diocese as well as a stimulus to community engagement beyond.

Might I commend this endeavour to your prayer, because I believe that it will only be effective if we first invoke the power of the Holy Spirit who purifies and sanctifies our work and guides us in the way of the Lord.

I place the Diocese under the protection of Mary, Star of the Sea, and invoke upon our community the blessing of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

I would like to locate these six priorities at the centre of mission

Video messages by the Bishop replaced personal visits during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020.

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NEWS AND ISSUES

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

Liturgy of Lament: A Survivor’s Story in turn she explained, silenced God’s voice in her – the voice of life and truth.

The gradual regaining of her voice has seen her become an advocate for the restoration and recovery of other survivors of abuse. In a powerful address to fellow survivors, Nadia spoke of the encouragement they give her to keep going.

The Liturgy of Lament held in Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral on Tuesday 1 September marked the beginning of Safeguarding Month.

Bishop Anthony Randazzo invited people across the Diocese of Broken Bay to attend in person and participate online to pray together in acknowledging the suffering caused to our most vulnerable and to give public expression to our sorrow.

“This evening as the community of the Church of Broken Bay, we express our grief and sorrow for the abuse of innocent people within our community,” Bishop Anthony said in his homily.

“We ask God, who is mercy and compassion, to forgive us and to give us the humility and the courage to ask forgiveness of the women and men who are survivors.”

Bishop Anthony’s homily was followed by a liturgical action inviting the congregation to express their lament. Following this, Nadia a survivor, stepped forward to tell her story.

The Liturgy of Lament has been held in the Diocese of Broken Bay for the past several years, but it was the first time the voice of a survivor had been heard.

“My name is Nadia and through the grace of God, I am a survivor of child sexual abuse,” began Nadia. She continued to give an account of the suffering she endured throughout her childhood. Whilst a harrowing story of sexual abuse and betrayal of trust, it was also a story about hope and faith.

“I cannot speak about my experience of sexual abuse without speaking about my faith: the two are deeply entwined,” said Nadia. She explained the damage done to her image of God but also the redemption she encountered through meaningful encounters with Christ and the scriptures that have helped her heal and grow stronger over the years.

The theme for Safeguarding Month was “Promoting Rights of the Child” which includes respecting and listening to the voice of the child.

“The greatest tragedy of my childhood sexual abuse was the silencing of my voice by my perpetrators,” said Nadia, which 4/

“Your worth inspires me to keep coming forward. You are not invisible.

I see you, and speak my truth for you, and your life and survival has given meaning to my own.”

Under the pen-name of Jane N. Dowling, Nadia has published two books, one of them award winning, and both spiritual handbooks for survivors of sexual abuse offering resources drawing from her own experience, scripture, visualisation and art therapy.

Very Rev Dr David Ranson, Vicar General of the Diocese of Broken Bay, noted in his foreword to the first book Child Arise!

The Courage to Stand that the challenge to the Church today is to adopt a listening heart. He said “…it is the voice of those who have suffered abuse within the Church who thus bear the retelling of the story of Jesus for us… We can only hear that story of redemption again, for our own time and in our own circumstances, if we are first prepared to listen to another’s struggle to make meaning in the midst of such pain.”

Nadia’s voice was heard clearly at the Liturgy of Lament and it was a privileged moment to receive it.

“The Spirit keeps urging me not to be silent but to keep speaking my truth,” said Nadia.

“Tonight’s Liturgy of Lament is a sign of hope for survivors because… it enables both survivors and the Church to deal with the wounds of trauma.”

Bishop Anthony thanked Nadia for her presence and story, shared with such dignity, courage and trust, and he offered her an apology.

“I am sorry for the pain you have experienced as a result of your abuse,” said Bishop Anthony.

“Nadia, your testimony tonight, gives us great hope. Your witness is a reflection of the light of Christ dispelling the darkness.”

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SAFEGUARDING

Broken Bay launches Rights of the Child Framework The theme for this year’s Safeguarding Awareness Month was “Promoting Rights of the Child”. It has been 30 years since Australia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The purpose of Safeguarding Month 2020 is to raise awareness about the Rights of the Child. An initiative the Diocese has undertaken in 2020 to celebrate this milestone is the production of a Diocesan Rights of the Child Framework.

The Framework was launched on 15 September 2020, the Tuesday after Catholic Church Child Protection Sunday.

The launch of the Framework online was accompanied by a link to a video https://youtu.be/-U8dWeKYStk The Framework details Rights of the Child under the United Nations and extends to include the Spiritual Rights of a Child.

Bishop Anthony had made it a priority that the Spiritual Rights of a child be expressed clearly within the Framework.

“As members of God’s family, children also have spiritual rights that need to be identified and nurtured,” said Bishop Anthony. “The right to know their identity as children of God, to grow in knowledge of faith, to exercise the spiritual gifts of understanding, joy, courage, wisdom, discernment and other gifts given by the Holy Spirit.”

The Diocesan agencies of Chancery and Parish, Catholic Schools Office and CatholicCare will endeavour to utilise the Framework as a platform for developing child-related programs relevant to each agency. This approach will ensure the needs of children are addressed and programs are implemented that take into account what is in the best interest for the child. It is hoped programs will be meaningful and relevant to a child’s own life story including their families, carers, friends and wider communities.

Child Safe Organisation and the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards when considering the development and implementation of child related programs, associated resources and applicable policies and processes.

The Diocese is committed to fostering communities of safety and care for all people, especially for children and others in the community who are vulnerable. Our commitment is underscored by our faith in Jesus Christ who teaches the fundamental sanctity of each human person, and by our dedication to sustained education, practice, and conversation about our moral, legal and spiritual obligation to safeguard all those within our community.

“The Framework is one of the many ways in which we are living out our commitment to forming communities of safety and care, especially for our children,” said Bishop Anthony.

The Framework and a supporting poster for children and young people are available from the Diocesan webpage bbcatholic.org.au. If you require further information about the Framework, please email the Office for Safeguarding safeguarding@bbcatholic.org.au

Many current programs delivered by the agencies of the Diocese address the Rights of the Child. This can be seen by CatholicCare and its Foster Care Program; the Catholic Schools Office providing educational opportunities for children and young people and the ministries and sacraments offered by parishes. However, more can always be done to ensure children have a voice when engaging with these programs.

It is the responsibility of all adults to let children know and make possible their right to be happy, healthy, safe in online and real-life interactions, access to information, to play, to learn, a voice, a home, a faith and to be treated with dignity.

This is achieved by a community that advocates the best interest for the child and promotes children as active agents of their families and communities.

All members of the Diocese are encouraged to reference the Framework, along with the National Principles of a 5/

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Bishop Anthony Randazzo and the Clergy and seminarians present at the Chrism Mass. Photo by Tom Croll

Chrism Mass 2020: Healing in our time On the evening of Thursday 17 September, Bishop Anthony Randazzo celebrated the annual Chrism Mass, breaking with tradition that normally sees it being held during Holy Week in the presence of all the clergy and many of the faithful from across the Diocese of Broken Bay. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there were just a few representatives of clergy and lay people present for the celebration held in Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara. The clergy present included the Dean and one priest representative of each of the five deaneries in Broken Bay, as well as two lay representatives from each parish.

This enabled the attendance at the Cathedral to be within the Covid-safe government restrictions for places of worship.

Bishop Randazzo noted the extraordinary circumstances that marked Chrism Mass 2020.

“Without a doubt, no one could have imagined that we would be celebrating the Chrism Mass in September,” he said. “And yet, these are the uncertain and troubling times in which we live.”

At the annual Chrism Mass, the Holy Oils are blessed by the Bishop for ministering of the Sacraments in the year ahead.

The Chrism Mass is a time to reflect upon the unity of all the baptised who are anointed in the power of the Holy Spirit and form one Body in Christ. It is also a time to reflect upon the gift of the ministerial priesthood which has been entrusted to our priests who have been anointed to teach, lead and sanctify the one Body of Christ – the Church.

In his homily, Bishop Randazzo focused upon the need for physical and spiritual healing in the community of the Church and the society in which we live.

“In a time of pandemic, it is obvious that there is need for physical healing,” said Bishop Anthony. “Members of the community are burdened by the virus that plagues our world and many have died or are gravely ill. Globally, the sharpest scientific minds are racing to develop a vaccine or to find a cure.

“The sometimes ignored or less obvious need is that of spiritual healing. I suspect spiritual sickness, often seen most clearly in people who suffer abandonment, division, despair, and darkness, is the greater challenge for our time.

“The COVID environment in which we live has exposed many challenges for us, and yet it has also provided us with opportunities to seek a deeper healing for our world.

One might say that there is a great demand for the healing balm of the Spirit.”

The Chrism Mass was live streamed for the participation of clergy and laity who were unable to attend in person.

Bishop Anthony pours and blesses the Holy Oils. Photo by Tom Croll.

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VOCATIONS

Rich in Vocations October has seen a bounty of vocational activity as Bishop Anthony Randazzo marks a number of significant steps in the journey of several young men toward the priesthood.

On Sunday 4 October at Solemn Vespers at the Cathedral, Bishop Anthony received the Profession of Faith, Oath of Fidelity and Personal Declarations of Freedom from three ordinands, Rogelio (Roger) Delmonte, Aldrin Valdehueza and Samuel French.

On Wednesday 7 October at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara, Bishop Anthony ordained Rogelio Delmonte to the Order of Deacons. Following this Bishop Anthony also ordained to the Order of Deacons Aldrin Valdehueza on Wednesday 14 October at Our Lady of

Dolours Church, Chatswood, and Samuel French on Thursday 22 October at St Agatha’s Church, Pennant Hills.

On Saturday 7 November at the Cathedral, Bishop Anthony will institute into the Ministry of Lector Huy Quang Tran, Tân Nguyen, Shayne D’Cunha, Richard Houwing and Eric Leahy.

The blessing of vocation and ministry in the Church is a sign of great encouragement and we are grateful to God for the way in which the Spirit moves in our community bringing forth generous men to serve and lead our people.

Following are the testimonies of some of those men who, supported by the community of the Church in Broken Bay have been preparing for these milestone events.

Sam French, Bishop Anthony Randazzo, Aldrin Valdehueza and Roger Delmonte after the Solemn Vespers celebration on Sunday 4 October. Photo by Tom Croll.

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Aldrin Valdehueza: It is hard to believe that I am about to be ordained on 14 October 2020 at Our Lady of Dolours Parish, Chatswood on the Feast of Saint Callistus I. I still remember that night when Bishop Anthony Randazzo called to personally inform me of his decision for my ordination. Suddenly, I just felt an astounding silence cover me. I was speechless. Then, I heard Bishop Anthony asking me why I was not saying anything at all. I just responded, “What you just said greatly overwhelmed me. Thank you for the trust, Bishop.”

Sam French, Aldrin Valdehueza and Roger Delmonte.

Our Testimonies Candidates – Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate Samuel French: My diaconate ordination date is set for 22 October - the feast of St Pope John Paul II. Two days prior, on 20 October, 1993, the same Pope John Paul II said of deacons: “The sacramental grace of the diaconate... deeply affects the deacon’s heart, spurring him to offer, to give his whole self to serving the kingdom of God in the Church.”

After meditating with these words, I feel both nervous and excited leading up to my ordination day. Nervous because of my acute awareness of how far I fall short of this incredible calling, but also excited by the knowledge of God’s grace to make up for where I lack. It is with immense gratitude that I thank my family (especially Mum and Dad), my friends (especially ‘the boys’ and my seminary brothers), and the untold number of faithful parishioners whose prayers have sustained me to this point on my vocational journey.

It is my hope and prayer that the sacramental grace of the diaconate may increase in me and my diocesan brothers what we have gained in formation, more closely conforming our hearts to the servant heart of Jesus in the service of God and His holy people. Please pray for Roger, Aldrin and I during this important time.

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It is unfortunate that my family and closest friends from overseas will not be able to join me for this momentous occasion. Also, there will be a small crowd at my ordination.

Only a handful of new-found family and friends, priests, deacons, seminarians, and parishioners will be there.

However, I look at this situation in a perspective of hope and in solidarity with the millions of suffering people throughout the world who have fallen ill, lost loved ones, been retrenched from their job, and suffered from loneliness and isolation in this time of pandemic.

Please pray for me and with me that just like Saint Callistus I and Saint Paul, the Apostle whose name I bear, I will become a willing “servant of Christ Jesus” (Rom 1:1).

Roger Delmonte: As my final weeks of preparation intensifies leading to Diaconate Ordination, I have never felt so at peace, joyful and excited. The great privilege to share in the one sacrament of Holy Orders and participate in the ministry that Jesus gave to his apostles some 2000 years ago, brings me deep joy and boundless gratitude. It will certainly be one of the greatest gifts I will unworthily receive in exchange of my life as a gift back to God and His people.

Whether or not it is like getting married, I am excited to say “I do” to God through my Bishop. I cannot wait to commit myself more fully to the Church, just as Christ loved the Church and laid His life down for her. With my profession of faith, oath of fidelity, and personal declaration of freedom prior to receiving the gift of Sacred Ordination, I will vow to devote myself completely to Jesus and imitate his celibacy for the sake of others. I will promise to pray always with and for God’s people and render obedience to our Bishop of Broken Bay and his successors.

In saying “I do”, may God’s will be accomplished in my life.

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Installation to the ministry of Lector Huy Quang Tran: God is always new. I have experienced this notion many times. Every day, I wake up and realise another aspect of him which always surprises me. The more I discover God, whether it is in my daily life activities, in my relationships with others, or in the classes, the more I recognise how amazing God is.

However, one aspect of God which always touches me deeply is that God loves and understands. Recently, this aspect of God was made clear to me while I was in pastoral work at a school. God always helps me to bear his face to the children and teachers despite how sinful I am.

Now I have been accepted to be a Lector in the Church, which again reminds me of God’s love. Please keep me in your prayers so that I may fulfil my purpose as a Lector.

Tân Nguyen: To be committed to the Ministry of Lector is a great privilege, since the task of proclaiming the Word of God lies in the heart of Christian vocation. This Ministry is even more special and encouraging particularly for my journey of discerning the priesthood.

To be well prepared before being installed as a Lector, prayer and lectio divina are those very important elements which cannot be neglected. In prayer and silence, putting myself before God helps me to be humble and aware of my unworthiness, so that I can accept the Word myself in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

VOCATIONS

Every day lectio divina helps the root of the Word deeply penetrate my heart, and makes God’s word truly become my spiritual food. For me the best way to proclaim the Word is by living it in sincerity and fidelity.

Shayne D’Cunha: Since joining the seminary my sense of call and desire to be a priest has most certainly increased. The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius definitely helped in discerning the voice of God and I learned much about myself in my first year by undergoing the Spiritual Year program.

Throughout this second year of formation, I have started to receive insights from our Lord about how this call might look practically. I have felt a strong call to be with the people of God, and to journey with them, especially in their suffering.

Being placed in Holy Name Parish at Wahroonga for eight weeks, while the seminary was closed, certainly helped bring this out of me.

God has shown me that when I resign myself to the Holy Spirit, he can do great things through me. Consequently, I believe that I want to keep on this journey of both coming closer to Our Lord and also helping others come closer to him: bringing souls to God was one of my first initial answers to the question, “Why do you want to be a priest?”

Therefore, being installed as a lector would most certainly be a blessed step toward fulfilling this desire. For the lector proclaims the Word of God, the lector brings Christ into the lives of the congregation present. The Word is alive and active, He is a person! In this sense, it is a great responsibility and blessing to be a Lector.

Huy Quang Tran, Tân Nguyen and Shayne D’Cunha

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NEWS AND ISSUES

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Bishops’ annual Social Justice Statement focuses on mental health The Catholic bishops of Australia have released the Social Justice Statement 2020-21, on the critical subject of mental health.

The Social Justice Statement, To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today, encourages faith communities, governments and individuals to make mental health a priority.

Bishop Terry Brady, Bishop Delegate for Social Justice on the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, has called on all Catholics to take up the message and challenges of the Statement.

“This is a timely message in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic is affecting many members of our parishes, schools and communities,” said Bishop Brady.

“The personal feelings of anxiety and despair we all share at this time provide an opportunity to become more aware and active in fostering the mental health of all. Understanding mental health will help us to be aware of those who most need our support.”

The Statement encourages parishes and local communities to be places of welcome and inclusion, overcoming the barriers and stigma often faced by people experiencing mental ill-health. It demands the commitment of governments and policymakers to prevent so many people falling through the cracks of the mental health system.

It also calls for the nation’s commitment to address those policies that exacerbate the already precarious circumstances of First Australians and refugees and asylum-seekers.

“Our society tends to push away or draw away from those who confront us with our frailties and limitations.

This is not the way of Jesus,” Bishop Brady said.

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“Let us follow him in drawing near to those who are experiencing mental ill-health and acknowledge that they are members of the Body of Christ – ‘they’ are part of ‘us’.

Only then can we say ‘we are all in this together’. Only then can we ‘live life to the full’.”

In addition to the written statement, which is free to download, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Office for Social Justice has also produced an audio recording of the Statement and prayer cards are available to download.

“I commend this Statement to every parish, school and Church network and invite you to promote it as widely as possible,” said Bishop Brady.

The 2020-2021 Social Justice Statement, To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today, can be downloaded from the Office for Social Justice website: https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/2020/07/03/ social-justice-statement-2020-21/

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NEWS AND ISSUES

Bishop Anthony says Holy Spirit at work in Social Justice Statement In the past, the topic of mental health and wellbeing tended to have a negative label attached to it. That is an unfortunate situation and hopefully one that is consigned to the history books.

This year, the Australian Catholic Bishops have chosen mental health as our theme for the 2020-2021 Social Justice Statement. The theme was chosen long before COVID-19 took hold of the world and few could have predicted that along with threats to our physical wellbeing, the pandemic would profoundly impact the mental health of many people.

There have been many instances where people experience anxiety and even despair. Anxiety has certainly become a widespread consequence of the manifold changes our Church and society has undergone in just a few months, particularly bearing heavily on the most vulnerable.

I believe that the Holy Spirit was at work, guiding the bishops to encourage our communities to understand mental health better, overcome some of the barriers and stigma from the past that may still be attached to mental ill-health and be more aware of those who most need our support.

Our challenge and our mission is to recognise Jesus Christ in the most vulnerable people in our community of the Church and in society. Often, they are the people who are ill in body, mind, or spirit. This time provides us with the opportunity to ensure that they do not slip between the gaps in our works of mercy and in our systems of care.

Jesus sought out the ones who were lost and forgotten and healed them of their ailments, but he did not stop there. He welcomed them back into the community of the Church to live a life of fulfilment and hope (John 10:10). Let us imitate Jesus in our passionate and relentless seeking of those who need our attention and welcome them into our parishes and communities with tender care (Romans 15:7).

I highly recommend the 2020-2021 Social Justice Statement: To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today. I believe that the Statement will be of great use for ongoing education and formation in our community of the Church as we engage with others in mercy and love.

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CATHOLICCARE

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A young boy entering emergency motel style accommodation with a Case Worker

Can you open your heart and your home to a child in need?

By Sean Cashin, General Manager, CatholicCare Permanency Support Program It has been a hard couple of years. On the back of the worst drought the country has experienced in living memory, we entered a catastrophic bushfire season. We managed, helped where we could, sent money (even water) and eventually the fires went out and we began to rebuild. Then a pandemic hit!

The frail and old started to suffer and fear gripped our communities. Social isolation and financial uncertainty became a reality for many of us as the country began to shut down.

How did we respond? We helped where we could. We socially distanced, we checked in on our friends and family over video link and visited our grandparents through glass windows to keep them safe. Even the banks helped. The banks!

This is what we do in the face of hardship, when we learn that our neighbours are struggling. We step in. Time and time again.

tucking him back under his blankets before swallowing her fear and leaving the faux safety of her bedroom in search of her mother. She finds her, bruised and weeping on the kitchen floor, a victim of domestic violence. While she is doing her best to help her mother, Police and Child Protection Workers arrive and she is taken to an emergency carer’s house with her brother. Unbeknownst to her, this will be the last she sees of her mother for two years.

This scenario describes a typical entry of a child into the Statutory Out of Home Care system. The children enter care after suffering, often for many years, from abuse and neglect and the impact from this trauma can be lifelong.

These children and young people are more likely to end up in the youth justice system and have far poorer education and health outcomes. They will likely enter a cycle of social disadvantage that is difficult to escape.

We need to help. So, what can we do?

A struggle that rarely makes news headlines is that of children and young people in our community who are suffering. Many have been through experiences few of us could begin to fathom and who, without our help, will go through childhood without the love and support of a family.

At any given time, there are dozens of children across our Diocese who require foster care. At times these children are housed in emergency motel style accommodation due to the shortage of foster carers. CatholicCare and our amazing foster carers provide essential support, care and stability for these children and young people affected by abuse and neglect, to enable them to recover and thrive.

Consider this scenario… a 12-year-old girl wakes in the night to sound of her mother crying. She is tense and alert. There is shouting and the noise of violence. She comforts her younger brother who is trembling at the foot of his bed,

We are looking for everyday families who might consider taking a child or young person into their home – to love and support them – whether for one or two nights, a few weeks, months or long-term.

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CATHOLICCARE

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Is this easy? No it’s not. Caring for those in need requires you to give of yourself but CatholicCare will be there with you each step of the way.

CatholicCare foster carers receive: • A financial allowance to assist with the day-to-day needs of the child/young person which covers day-to-day expenses for the child such as food, clothing and education.

• Participation in the process to match children with families.

• Comprehensive on-going training and counselling.

• A dedicated Case Manager and 24/7 support.

• Social functions and events, and more.

Our team would be happy to meet with you to talk more about the needs of children in care.

Call (02) 4320 7777 or visit www.fostering.org.au

CatholicCare’s Permanency Support Program has been providing care and protection of children and young people who are unable to live with their own family for over 20 years.

Partnering with our amazing community of dedicated foster carers and our therapeutic support teams, we care for up to 90 children and young people across the Diocese at any given time.

We guide victims toward healing from the legacy of abuse and neglect. We offer life choices to those who have previously had none. We see children and young people restored to family, transition into the permanent guardianship of carers who love them and count them as their own, move into full-time employment, independence and graduate from school. We help restore dignity to parents and family members who have lost connection with their children and help re-establish the foundation of families.

We are the difference in the life of a child. And you can be too.

Please reach out if you can help.

I was blessed to grow up in a stable and functional family with parents who built for me and my sisters a loving and caring environment. No family is perfect, but in my family, I knew where I belonged, and I am grateful for all my parents did to provide me with a safe and happy home.

The family is a community of love because it models something of the love embodied in the Holy Trinity. The family unit is part of the community of the Church and is richly enhanced by extended relationships, including grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts.

The family offers unique opportunities and challenges for a child to grow in faith and humanity, and flourish as a member of the community.

Every child has a right to this even though some families through circumstance and misfortune become places of abuse and neglect. Without the security and support of a stable, loving family, some children are in urgent need of foster care. This could be for a few nights, weeks, months or even long-term.

CatholicCare does the vital work of meeting the needs of children in grave situations with the generous families that can provide them with a safe place to recover and thrive. I am confident there are everyday Catholic families who hear the call of God to care for our most vulnerable children.

Why not pray and ask God whether your family might be able to offer a child the refuge and support they need in a time of great distress?

I thank and ask God’s blessing on all the families who are opening up their homes and hearts to our precious children, so much in need of love and care.

Bishop Anthony Randazzo

“We have this little boy living in our home who has fit in really well and is absolutely thriving. It’s great to see him experiencing what it’s like to be part of a big, loving family.

We have been wanting to do this for a long time. CatholicCare have been fantastic to deal with.”

Adriana & Nathan, foster carers

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NEWS & ISSUES

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

Charmaine and James Collins

CatholicCare during COVID-19: A blessing for people with disability

By Debra Vermeer

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unique challenges for many people with disability, but for James Collins and his family, the dedication and responsiveness of CatholicCare Broken Bay staff throughout the crisis has been a lifesaver.

Eighteen-year-old James was born with an intellectual disability which means he has both the physical and intellectual capacity of a baby. He had just made the big transition from school to post-school day programs when the pandemic hit.

“James can’t walk far and he’s non-verbal and can’t toilet himself, but he’s a beautiful boy, a really beautiful boy,” his mum, Charmaine Collins says.

“He’s classified as requiring a one-on-one carer because he’s a bit unbalanced on his feet and has high needs. For instance, he couldn’t give himself a drink if he needed one.

“He operates on a very strict routine so that he knows what is coming next in his day, and we know as well.”

Charmaine says it was a big step to go from his schooling environment, where he was familiar and comfortable, to the new world of day programs with disability care services.

At the beginning of the year he started with CatholicCare at Brookvale for three days and another provider for two days.

But when the pandemic arrived, and schools, training facilities, hospitality venues and other parts of the community began to shut down, so too did some disability care providers.

Charmaine received a phone call one day from their second 14 /

provider saying they would be closing their centre from the following day and the family would have to make new arrangements for James.

“We basically just got a message saying don’t come in tomorrow,” Charmaine recalls. “We’ve got two other teenagers – one in Year 12 and one in Year 10 – and they were learning at home. My husband was suddenly working from home and I work two days a week. It was crazy and when this happened with James, I honestly did not know how we’d manage.”

In desperation, Charmaine rang CatholicCare, with whom the family has had a relationship since James was five, and asked for their help.

“They were fantastic,” she says. “They stepped in right away and took James on for the extra two days. They didn’t ever really shut down and it was such a relief.

“They told me that nobody was allowed to come into the centre during the lockdown, so they would come to us instead and provide one-on-one care. For us, it worked out perfectly. It was a lifesaver.

“Someone from CatholicCare came each day and picked him up from home and dropped him back in the afternoon. They took him out into the community, going for walks and doing activities. James loves listening to children’s books, so I would pack his lunch and his audio books and a drink and off they’d go.

“It really helped our family and it helped James, because he gets really bored at home.”

CATHOLICCARE

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

As the restrictions eased, they were allowed to have four people in the car for outings and James would go out with his carer and another young man and his carer.

While it was a testing period, Lynn says many lessons learned during the COVID experience can be carried into the future.

“It was nice because it was someone other than us to socialise with,” Charmaine says.

“We do feel more comfortable now that if we go into lockdown again for any reason, we can mobilise quickly to keep our services running,” she says.

“I give Simone and Lynn at CatholicCare great credit for really understanding the needs of our family and other families and knowing how important it is for James and other people with intellectual disability to keep their structure and their day going, because it’s all they have really.

“I think that without the help from CatholicCare during this period we would not have managed quite frankly.”

CatholicCare Disability Futures Area Coordinator Lynn Murphy says it became obvious as the pandemic gained speed in March that with more families pulling their family members out of attending CatholicCare’s centre, they would need to find different ways of continuing to offer support.

“But it was challenging. With our one-on-one visits we had to be very aware of infection controls and sanitising,” she says. “Our staff would come in and clean the CatholicCare car before setting off and then while they were out they’d clean the playground equipment, toilets, seats, anything they came into contact with.

“In the early days our staff were also questioned by police or council officers, so we had to get certificates showing that we were classed as an essential service to provide care if we were asked.”

AUDIO

CatholicCare Broken Bay’s General Manager for Children’s Services, Disability Futures and Seniors, Monique Beange, says at the outset of the crisis, CatholicCare had two main aims: to maintain and support their valued client base and to keep staff working.

“So we did everything we could for our clients to keep them engaged and connected,” she says.

“Apart from the one-on-one visits we also provided a lot of online activities. We did art classes online, dance, living skills, personal skills and communication. One of our staff members, Simone, would read books, play music and hold discussion groups online.

“The lockdown gave our staff the opportunity to do more training or catch up with programs. I’m very grateful that we have a team of people who are very agile and adaptable.

“The challenge now is to keep that energy going, particularly in the area of infection control, sanitisation and helping our clients with these additional hygiene needs. It’s been a big learning experience, but in lots of ways a really positive experience too.”

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ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

A Parish on the Move. A Decision for Mission

By Pina Bernard, Team Leader, Catholic Life & Faith Formation Our God is a God on the move. God is not a distant passive observer, just watching over the earth with judgement and ready to condemn when we mess up. Rather, God looks at the earth with compassion; he felt our pain when we stumbled, and came to us in person through Jesus. God, in total self-giving, did not stay stationary but found a way to bridge the gap with us in a radical and bold plan to take on our humanity.

On Earth, Jesus, too, was always on the move. He would proclaim his message in one place, and then move onto the next. He travelled the length and breadth of Israel, through Samaria, to towns to the north of Galilee and across the lake to pagan places, where he started to plant the seeds of the Gospel. The Church today shares in this ‘going’ that gives us our identity as Christians, as ones who are sent. Jesus says, ‘As the Father has sent me, so I send you’ (John 20:21).

This missionary orientation is the subject of a document released in July 2020 from the Congregation for the Clergy.

‘The pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of the evangelising mission of the Church’, is a call to reclaim the missionary identity of our parish communities with a new creativity, and to ensure that our structures support our mission. This recognises that one of the main reasons for coming to our parishes is for us to become equipped to be sent out. The word ‘mission’ comes from the Latin word ‘mittere’ which means ‘to send’, and at the centre 16 /

of what it means to be a Church, a parish or a Christian, is an understanding that fundamentally we are missionary; we are sent.

The sending of God’s Word in flesh to renew the earth continues in us as we are tasked with further extending the Kingdom. This document challenges us with the situation whereby this propagation of the Gospel, which is incomplete, could potentially slow down or disappear altogether. It calls the Christian community to make a ‘determined missionary decision’ to go out, to all, with the Good News of Jesus Christ. This is our evangelising mission. Without an intentionality about this, our parish communities are likely to default to remaining more inward-focused and not live out their true identity with the greatest impact.

While it seems challenging, our parishes are perfectly designed for this role. The parish can be malleable and respond by realigning itself with its missionary purpose.

As Pope Francis reminds us, “the parish is not an outdated institution; precisely because it possesses great flexibility, it can assume quite different contours depending on the openness and missionary creativity of the pastor and the community” (Evangelii Gaudium, #28).

Today, in our understanding of what makes up a ‘parish community’, we need to be aware of the effects of greater

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

mobility and of the digital culture, which places our parish focus not just on a geographical place, but more broadly reaches out into the associated areas where people are living their daily lives. An emphasis on real and authentic community is essential, where the Gospel is carried through relationships such that it can have a real impact in people’s lives.

The document highlights the urgency of this call to mission, as well as the need for the contribution of all the Baptised. It calls on all the lay faithful to “make a generous commitment to the service of the mission of evangelisation, first of all through the general witness of their daily lives…”

and commissioned by him to bring his Gospel to the world and I go to the parish to get equipped; I go to the parish to get sanctified. I go to feed on the Bread of Life, to receive Jesus, to receive the Holy Spirit, so that I can then overflow to the other people around me in my workplace, out there in public, in the supermarket, in my family, my extended family, wherever I am.”

Dr Healy explains that in all the ordinary tasks of our day, doing them in a missionary way means that we are consciously aware of communicating the love of Christ in everything we do; through our words, gestures such as praying with people, and in many other ways by using the gifts that we have been given.

As more and more people intentionally take up the call to be missionary, the culture of our parishes can start to shift.

Parishes can facilitate this reorientation by having in place opportunities for people to encounter Christ for the first time or in a renewed way.

Dr Mary Healy, professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, can help us clarify what this looks like. She says that a missionary parish is where the fundamental vision for each parishioner is not “I come to the parish to get my pastoral care ... and then I go back to my life” but rather “I’m a disciple of the Master. I am called

Additionally, they can develop pathways that allow each parishioner to grow in discipleship and discern their giftedness so that they, too, can contribute towards the building up of the Kingdom. In this way, our parishes will become parishes ‘on the move’, so that at the end of Mass, when the Celebrant says, “go and announce the Gospel of the Lord”, we actually do. So many people are living without the lifegiving hope that the Gospel brings. As soon as we walk out of the church or drive out of the car park, our mission field starts there.

1 Conversations Beyond the Parish w/ Dr. Mary Healy, Divine Renovation YouTube channel

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CATHOLIC YOUTH BROKEN BAY

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

Spiritually connected

By PJ Almendras, Team Leader, Catholic Youth Broken Bay

I think it is safe to make the assumption that everyone has felt the changes that this global pandemic has brought into our lives. One guideline everyone is quite familiar with would be to practice social/physical distancing. As a result, in our work, study, ministry, church or social lives, many people have had to meet virtually through video conferencing services like the now ever so popular “Zoom.”

It still surprises me how many people have hopped onto the video conferencing band wagon to join online gatherings and participate through their screens. In my ministry with Catholic Youth Broken Bay, I am seeing some people who do not usually join in face to face meetings come out of the woodwork and join meetings online. Possibly to avoid the effort of the travel, or perhaps avoiding the anxiety of being physically present and dealing with social expectations due to being too shy or too energetic, or too reserved, or too spiritual or not spiritual enough?

It could also be that there is a certain comfort that comes with virtually joining in from home – being able to recline in your living room or bedroom, wear clothes you are comfortable in, behind a webcam that you can black out or microphone you can mute if you don’t want to be seen or heard, without having to travel 40 minutes to join the crew for an hour-long program you can only hope would be worthwhile.

It has been especially amazing to see how eager people have been to engage with things we have been hosting online. Essentially the same things we have been trying to host for years in a face-to-face setting have now received greater interest since we have moved them online. We are

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seeing more young people signing up for online retreats like “Youth Alpha”, young leaders joining formation sessions and catch-ups, people tuning into talks, worship music, prayer services, adoration nights, and liturgies.

So, what is the deal? Could it be that virtual meetings are now the way to go? Is ‘online’ the location where our talks and services need to be to reach people more effectively?

I don’t think the answer is as simple as a “yes” or a “no.”

There seems to be some undeniable fruit with doing things online. However, there is also an undeniable natural longing to get back to the way things were and meet face-to-face without restriction.

What does this mean for us moving forward? Perhaps we can ask ourselves, ‘What good things have come out of this?’, ‘What have we learnt?’, ‘What things can we continue to do even when people are allowed to meet face-to-face again without restriction?’

The reality is that at the end of the day, God is good – always was and always will be. As it says in Romans 8:28, He works everything together for the good of those who love Him. So, if I may, I would like to propose that throughout this pandemic and beyond that we, in faith, align ourselves with the grand plan He is orchestrating, practically taking the good He has done in the past and is doing in the present, and consider how we move forward – both online and in-person. Remembering all the while that what matters is not so much what connects us socially and physically, but what connects our hearts and our spirit to Christ and His people.

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Honouring St Mary MacKillop at OLOR, The Entrance

By Fr Bill Stevens, Parish Priest, Our Lady of the Rosary, The Entrance

Fr Bill Stevens blesses the new St Mary MacKillop statue at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School, The Entrance.

One of the beautiful things about our faith is our sense of belonging: not only in our local community but in the wider community of all the faithful. In that community, the Saints are strong role models who can inspire us and lead us in practical ways in our journey of faith.

Our local saint, St Mary MacKillop, has taken her place in the history of Australia as a strong model of faith and action.

Her story is well known. The Sisters of St Joseph followed Mary MacKillop’s footsteps and gave to us a living reminder of Mary’s motto “never see a need without doing something about it.”

The Sisters of St Joseph travelled throughout Australia and New Zealand establishing local parish schools, including remote areas where there was a real need not only for secular education, but faith formation as well.

Mary MacKillop’s legacy is a truly Australian success story.

Our Parish School at The Entrance was founded by the “Brown Joeys” in 1951: just four years after the official separation of our parish from Wyong.

On 7 August 2020, a special statue of St Mary MacKillop was blessed at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School, The Entrance as a permanent reminder of our heritage and gratitude to this great Australian pioneer.

Miss Kay Taylor was a much-loved teacher at Our Lady of the Rosary. She embodied the Spirit of Mary MacKillop and shared her devotion with students and parents; indeed with all who came in contact with her. Sadly, Kay succumbed to cancer in 2019.

In her will she made a bequest for a permanent memorial to St Mary MacKillop be placed in the school grounds. This memorial was intended to remind us of the contribution St Mary and her Sisters have made to the Australian Church.

After much research, a marble Statue of Mary, carved in the Sculpture Studios in Hahn Quoc Hiep in Vietnam, was found.

The rooster sitting at her feet is a symbol of the remote country areas the Sisters of St Joseph so often served.

The statue was formally installed and blessed on the Friday before St Mary MacKillop’s feast day on 8 August.

We, as a parish family, are grateful to Miss Taylor in giving us such a beautiful reminder of our Australian heritage and the contribution St Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph have made in our local community. It is also a challenge to us to follow Mary’s motto of “never see a need without doing something about it.”

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EDUCATION

Starting the journey Towards 2025 Following on from the Towards 2025 strategy launch in July, we have started implementing the vision for authentic, professional Catholic education delivered with care and compassion.

The strategy encompasses six workstreams: • • • • • •

Evangelisation & Catechesis Student Achievement Governance Capability & Enablement of Our People Financial Viability Infrastructure & Facilities

Over the next two issues of Broken Bay News, we would like to introduce you to these workstreams as we strive to be at least as good as the very best.

A New Way of Recruiting Catholic Schools in Broken Bay are trialling a new recruitment process for leadership and teaching positions.

“We’ve revised our processes across the board to make it easier to come and work with us,” said Danny Casey, the Director of Schools. “We are actively seeking fresh new leaders to invigorate the Diocese and bring vision and innovation to our classrooms”.

Previously recruitment often occurred through internal channels. The new strategy is to streamline the process for applicants and broaden the options for roles in schools.

External applicants were encouraged to apply alongside internal staff, particularly for senior leadership roles.

“If you are passionate, aspirational, tech-savvy, future focused and inspired, we’d love to hear from you,” said Mr Casey within the recently launched ‘Why Work with Us’ video. Link to the video - https://vimeo.com/447020031 The Capability and Enablement of Our People workstream has as its focus a move towards capable, faith-filled leaders with a focus on student-centred leadership.

The strategy aims to attract, develop and retain highperforming personnel, embed a performance-growth and coaching culture and also unleash the potential of others including staff, students and parents.

“We want innovative educators with a strong vision for quality learning opportunities who can unlock potential, transform lives and celebrate the growth of their students, themselves and their colleagues,” said Mr Casey.

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BBN / OCTOBER 2020

Adrian Pulley, the Principal at St Martin’s Catholic School, Davidson who began in January 2019, said, “Our Primary families across the Diocese rate us highly. We want to continue to exceed their expectations and one of the ways we do that is by being a community of learners as well as educators.”

Mr Pulley added that, “As leaders, we are constantly seeking out professional learning opportunities to build on our knowledge and expertise”.

Mr Casey said that this was an exciting time of transformation as the Diocese goes about appointing high-calibre Catholic educators in positions of senior leadership in our schools under the leadership of himself and Bishop Anthony Randazzo.

“We’re looking for professionals who treasure the gifts that an authentic Catholic educational community can bring to the lives of young people,” said Mr Casey. “We’re building something amazing here”.

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

EDUCATION

Combining technology with flexible learning spaces Students at schools across the Diocese will benefit from the strategic focus on Infrastructure & Facilities as one of the Towards 2025 strategic workstreams.

At St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School, Lake Munmorah, the construction of a new building is close to completion, with six demountable classrooms replaced with eight state-of-the-art learning areas in a two-storey building.

An image of the finished building, proposed completion by end of 2020

A modern and neutral colour palette was chosen to promote feelings of calmness, relaxation, happiness and comfort which is experienced by all who enter the building.

The space has been designed to allow the flexible arrangement of furniture so that each room can be adapted for different subjects and learning experiences. The most recent research was included to make sure the learning areas promote student agency and student-centred learning.

“We have large collaboration spaces on each floor which have been designed to facilitate gatherings for prayer, liturgy and curriculum integration,” said Mr McNee.

“Our new building reflects a school that is focused on a 21st century education, preparing our students for a world that requires the skills of collaboration, critical thinking, communication, citizenship, creativity and character,” said Craig McNee, Principal.

“The project responded to educational needs with contemporary flexible facilities to support a range of student centred activities,” said Leanne Caldwell, Infrastructure and Facilities Workstream.

Chairs and tables can be moved to allow for open areas for whole-class activities, as well as soft furnishings for smaller group work where needed. The most recent technology has also been embedded in the classroom spaces.

“The combination of technology and flexible learning spaces will foster richer learning experiences.”

“The new spaces also have capacity to link students and staff for large group activities. In addition to this, small group activities can be supported in standard class configurations and in break out spaces,” added Leanne.

The school received a sought-after State Government grant of $1.3 million to complete the building, which will cater to rising enrolments.

“The community is very excited about what the future holds!” said Mr McNee.

Craig McNee with Kindy students when foundations were being laid Jacqui Fletcher (Acting Assistant Principal) checks out the building progress with students

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EDUCATION

LEAPing into school in 2021 As the effects of COVID-19 are felt across our economy, the Towards 2025 Financial Viability workstream could not have been formed at a more pressing time. Teaching and learning across the Catholic education spectrum has been adapted in light of the new challenges posed by social distancing and home based learning.

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

in 2021. The program is supported with resources for the child to engage with at home, including the L.E.A.P. booklet.

With the “Learning Together” playgroups now on hold, children who would have been able to go on-site and meet their prospective teachers no longer have that opportunity.

L.E.A.P. has now been adapted as an online program, allowing parents to work with their children to familiarise them with the expectations of school. If COVID restrictions are lifted we may well be able to offer the sessions back on school sites again.

The L.E.A.P. (Learning Exploring Active Play) program for pre-schoolers who will begin Kindergarten in 2021 is just one program which has been developed to meet this challenge.

“These programs are a response to COVID,” said Sally Harrison, Student Achievement Workstream, who developed the program.

“Pre-schoolers might be vulnerable in some areas because they’ve had limited access to familiarise themselves with the school environment and begin to understand what school might look like.”

“We developed L.E.A.P. around ten different themed units with specific skills highlighted for parents, such as literacy, numeracy or fine motor skills,” Sally explained.

Schools across the Diocese offer this free L.E.A.P. program to all parents considering that school as an option for kindergarten enrolment

Parent and child engagement at L.E.A.P.

In the program, teachers read stories online and parents are provided with activities by the school, with the opportunity for children to share their learning with the school.

“The L.E.A.P. session was wonderful,” said Amber Nolan, whose son Harley is beginning Kindergarten at St Joseph’s Catholic School, Narrabeen in 2021. “Harley really can’t wait to go to school now. He has already finished the activity book and has asked for more ‘homework’ - I will take that while it lasts!”

Sally Harrison, Student Achievement Workstream Paul McGuire, Principal St Mary’s Catholic School Manly entertaining the preschoolers

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BBN / OCTOBER 2020

EDUCATION

The power is in their hands

“This has opened up the eyes of our girls in understanding career opportunities in the construction industry whilst building up their self-esteem at the same time,” she said.

Sixty girls in Year 8 at St Leo’s Catholic College, Wahroonga got to grips with power tools recently when they participated in a Girls in Trade workshop.

“It was great fun, especially learning all the different power tools,” said Tara, one of the students. “Now I can use these skills at home and help my dad around the house.”

The workshop was arranged by Mel Timmerman, Leader of Community Partnerships at St Leo’s, in conjunction with Supporting And Linking Tradeswomen (SALT) Australia to give girls an understanding of the construction industry and give them confidence in handling power tools.

Annalise agreed. “I loved the workshop, especially using the power tools.” It definitely has opened up my eyes when it comes to job opportunities in the construction and engineering industry.”

The day kicked off with an overview of the different roles available in the construction and engineering industry, a safety talk and demonstration, before the girls were given the chance to try out the tools for themselves.

“Our parents told the College they were very proud of their daughters and enjoyed listening to the enthusiastic stories they took home,” said Mel.

Link to video: https://www.facebook.com/stleoswahroonga/ videos/703826903529461/ Individual photo is Augustine, all the students doing the workshop were in Year 8 (shown above).

“Some doubted their daughter would participate due to high anxiety levels regarding the use of power tools but saw a different girl coming home that afternoon”.

As part of the workshop, each girl constructed her own timber caddy so that they had a practical reminder of the day.

“Not only did the girls thoroughly enjoy the experience, we have received an overwhelming positive response from our teachers, parents and external stakeholders as well,” said Mel. “Many teachers wished they had access to a program like this when they were younger, enjoyed the buzz around the College and commented on the happy and proud vibe shown by the girls who participated in the workshop.”

Mel said that the girls were quickly transformed from apprehension about handling power tools to feeling powerful and competent using these tools while building their caddies.

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NEWS & ISSUES

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

Domestic and family violence rife across our Diocese

By Kathleen Godfrey & Danielle Habib, Coordinators Central Coast Family Centre Domestic Violence Programs

Wyong (in the Diocese of Broken Bay) is the second highest suburb for police callouts in NSW due to domestic and family violence. And we know that 66 per cent of domestic and family violence incidences go unreported (BOCSAR, 2020).

Many think of domestic and family violence as only physical violence. We hear many women say, “but he didn’t hit me so it’s not domestic violence”. Domestic violence is when one person uses their power and control over another. It includes yelling, throwing things, using finances to control the other person, restricting someone from seeing their friends and/or family, telling someone where they can and cannot go, making someone feel that the abuse is their fault, checking their partners phone messages and social media, using tracking devices, hidden cameras and microphones to monitor and stalk their partner, using children as pawns during separation, telling their partner they can’t live without them and threatening to take their own life, sexual assault and physical abuse. It can be one, two … or all the above.

During the COVID-19 pandemic we have seen an increase in domestic and family violence. Our clients have told us their 24 /

partner is now working from home or lost their job and the usual “reprieve” they would have is no longer available to them. Abuse is increasing behind closed doors bringing safety challenges to workers unable to visit women at home due to the perpetrator being at home. Men that have been jailed for abuse are being released early due to COVID-19, increasing the risk to families. There has been a dramatic increase in alcohol and drug consumption and gambling which exacerbates the abuse particularly since the introduction of COVID-19 payments such as JobSeeker, JobKeeper and other payments.

If you suspect someone is experiencing such violence, the first thing you can do to support them is to listen - without judgement. Validate their concerns. We hear many women say, “I didn’t think anyone would believe me because they are a great person to everyone else” and “They tell me it’s my fault and I’m the crazy one”. Assure them that what is happening is not acceptable and the perpetrator has a choice in how they treat them and their children. Power and control over another person is a choice. Let them know there are confidential support services that can help which are detailed below.

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

CatholicCare’s Central Coast Family Centre in Tuggerah have two domestic violence programs available – Safe Homes and the Staying Home Leaving Violence program.

Safe Homes is short-term crisis support for high risk men, women and their children who have experienced domestic violence. This team also runs Caring Dads which works with men who choose to use violence assisting them to recognise the negative impact of their behaviour on their children. This support can be coupled with one-on-one counselling and/or the Caring Dads group sessions. We also have a child trauma specialist onboard.

Staying Home Leaving Violence is a longer-term support program for women and their children wanting to live free from violence in a safe home of their choice. This program offers a therapeutic group both face-to-face or via Zoom enabling women to take back control of their lives and regain their sense of self-worth and self-esteem. Support can include safety planning, home safety audits and advocating with housing, Centrelink, police and the courts.

We can arrange referrals to key services such as mental health, drug and alcohol, culturally specific services, counselling, family support, Victims’ Services applications, the Department of Communities and Justice (formerly FACS) and Housing Start Safely.

NEWS AND ISSUES

A Catholic Response to Domestic Violence In 2018, the Diocese of Broken Bay created a resource for our community to help with the issue of domestic violence.

In 2020, with the issue now requiring even more attention, A Catholic Response to Domestic Violence has been relaunched and refreshed.

The resource has also been translated into three different languages, Chinese, Korean and Tagalog (for the Filipino community).

The resource is available to download on the Diocesan website: https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/parish-community/ catholic-life-faith-formation/social-justice/ domestic-violence

Call (02) 4356 2600 Our Domestic Violence Response Enhancement (DVRE) team provide after-hours crisis support to women and children who have left, or are wanting to leave, a violent relationship. This team, located at our Family Centre in Waitara is available 365 evenings a year for assistance which can include emergency accommodation, practical items, safety planning and access to specialist domestic violence, visa and immigration services.

Call (02) 9488 2400 (business hours) or 9488 2588 (after hours and weekends) Our Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service is run out of our Naremburn Family Centre. It provides women and their children with information on how to get protection from the court. This service covers the Upper and Lower North Shore of Sydney and the Northern Beaches.

Call (02) 8425 8700 Please don’t suffer in silence. If you or someone you know needs help, please call us or visit www.catholiccaredbb.org. au/dvsupport There is also a 24/7 free Domestic & Family Violence phone counselling service 1800RESPECT available on 1800 737 732.

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NEWS AND ISSUES

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

Celebrate World Mission Month

illnesses such as polio or cancer.

World Mission Month is a time when Catholics all over the world join to support and celebrate global missionary work.

Catholic Mission, as the Australian arm of the Pontifical Mission Societies, plays a vital role.

Dara is an amazing example of how this support can be lifechanging. When he was 11, Dara lost his right hand and most of his sight following a landmine accident. Unexploded landmines still litter the countryside where he lives, in the rural village of Koh Kralar.

“What Catholic Mission and the international network of Pontifical Mission Societies can do, is to help some of the most vulnerable people in the world,” says Catholic Mission National Director, Fr Brian Lucas.

For the past two years, Dara has been living at the Arrupe Centre. He has learnt Braille, continued his schooling and made many friends.

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, this support can be life changing,” says Fr Brian.

Chen, also a landmine survivor, lost both his legs when he was 16. Unable to help his parents on the family farm, his prospects were low. The accident caused Chen to face the reality that his life will never be the same. His parents, who already struggled for money, suddenly faced new challenges in caring for their son.

“But thanks to the Arrupe Centre and Outreach program, Dara and Chen can lead a fulfilling and dignified life,” says Fr Brian.

“World Mission Month in October provides an impetus for the work of mission, for our supporters, parishioners, teachers, students and parents. It promotes the awareness of the rights of people with a disability and empowering those in need.”

Chen lost his legs in a landmine accident at 16. Catholic Mission is helping him rebuild his life

“This year World Mission Month in October focuses on the essential work of priests, religious and lay missionaries in Cambodia, supporting people with disability and their families.”

The Arrupe Centre and Outreach Program, run by Bishop Enrique ‘Kike’ Figaredo Alvargonzalez in the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang in the north-west Cambodia is critical in providing learning and growth opportunities.

“For over 20 years, Bishop ‘Kike’ and his team have been working to advocate for people with disability,” says Fr Brian.

“This program is just one of the many examples of the global work supported by Catholic Mission.”

Started in 2001 by Bishop ‘Kike’, the Centre provides education, healthcare and support for children and young adults with disability due to landmine incidents or other 26 /

This year Catholic Mission’s Socktober program encourages schools to support the Arrupe Centre through learning about mission and social justice.

Soccer, the world game, is used to encourage students to learn more about the reality of living in other parts of the world. The six-week Socktober Challenge ties in with the core values of the Catholic curriculum: of mission and social justice.

“Over 200 schools have already signed up for Socktober, kicking goals for people in need like Dara and Chen,” says Matt Poynting, Catholic Mission’s National Community Engagement Officer.

“One of the most important things to do when we look to support people in need around the world is to first learn their reality. Socktober helps students and their families to do that, while having fun and making a difference.”

To make a donation, visit www.catholicmission.org.au

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

NEWS AND ISSUES

A new place to call home at McQuoin Park The first residents of McQuoin Park Retirement Living Village in Wahroonga are moving in, excited to start enjoying everything the Village has to offer, making new friends and taking advantage of a new relaxed lifestyle.

Stage One of the Village features 88 new apartments. The stylish one, two and three-bedroom residences are spacious and light, ideal for open-plan living and entertaining. The Village features a range of shared amenities that will be enjoyed by residents, their families and the broader community.

This includes a community centre to host events, an on-site café and Chapel, a billiards and games room, a library, cinema and wellness hub with a fully-equipped gym and indoor pool.

General Manager, Residential Care, Andrew Kinkade said, “We are committed and focused on creating much needed additional services on Sydney’s upper North Shore. We are excited to welcome our first residents with half of our apartments already sold.”

Tony and Maryanne have moved from Bonnet Bay in Southern Sydney to McQuoin Park to be closer to their daughter and her family.

“We are thrilled to be moving in,” says Maryanne. “We have been planning our move to retirement living for a while, so we are so excited to settle into our new apartment, enjoy the wonderful facilities and start making new friends. We have a three-bedroom apartment so there is a lot of space to entertain and have the family come and stay.”

Sales Manager, Jenny Thomas said, “The Village is designed to bring people together. Maintaining a sense of community is important and at McQuoin Park you can be as active and social as you want. You can meet up for book clubs, go out with other residents, enjoy a variety of social activities and more.”

For more information, call Jenny Thomas on 1300 221 271, email retire@chcs.com.au or visit www.mcquoinpark.com.au

Like locals Frank and Jill who have moved from their family home in Asquith to McQuoin Park.

“We wanted to downsize but stay in the Hornsby area,” says Jill. “When we saw McQuoin Park it ticked all our boxes. It’s safe and secure, with lots of modern features. It’s also close to our friends, church, shops and the train station. Our old home was getting too much so we are looking forward to settling in and enjoying the good life.”

VILLAGE NOW OPEN

Live a holiday lifestyle without leaving home

1300 221 271 mcquoinpark.com.au 35 Pacific Highway, Wahroonga.

Tony and Maryanne are amongst the first residents to move in

McQuoin Park offers stunning yet relaxed retirement living on the upper north shore. Move in immediately and enjoy superb facilities, fun activities, a fabulous social life and all kinds of recreational pursuits. Unwind by the indoor pool, drop into the gym, play billiards, catch a movie in the 42 seat cinema or take up a new hobby. Meet friends at the residents’ bar or share a meal in the dining room. And every time you walk into your beautiful new apartment with Miele appliances and gorgeous finishes, that holiday feeling is brought home.

Now selling from just $595,000. You may have to pay a departure fee when you leave this village.

Please call us for a personal appointment and to discuss your retirement plans.

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NEWS AND ISSUES

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

Arete Centre launches 2021 program The Arete Centre for Missionary Leadership has launched its 2021 program and is open for enrolments.

After a successful inaugural year with a cohort of enthusiastic participants, the Arete Centre is presenting opportunities in 2021 for study that couples theological knowledge with dynamic and life changing encounters with the living God. The Arete Centre aspires to form and equip pastoral and ministry leaders in servant leadership, to live up to their God-given potential to participate in the Church’s mission in the world today.

Rev Dr Chris Ryan MGL, the Centre’s Director identified the key market for potential students. “A missionary Church needs visionaries who can be key influencers in their fields,” said Fr Chris, “catalysts for change who can offer witness to true leadership, inspiring others to do the same.”

Participants this year included youth ministers, parish missionary workers, professionals, and diocesan employees, all with a common desire to advance the mission of the Church

Fr Chris Ryan leads a workshop on youth ministry, photo by Katherine Ng.

in Australia with innovation and efficiency.

Hazel Lim, Mission Support Officer in the Diocese of Broken Bay’s Office for Evangelisation, shared how her Arete experience has given her a clearer purpose and greater motivation in her mission work. “I have a deeper love and trust in God,” said Hazel, “a bolder attitude in sharing Jesus to others and a more open heart to serve.”

In an effort to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre has designed an online structure for lectures in 2021, with provision to provide person-to-

person encounters intrinsic to its program, through a number of intensives throughout the year.

“The blend of online learning and face-to-face intensives (COVID permitting) make it possible for students to undertake the Arete program from anywhere in the country,” explained Fr Chris. “The 2020 cohort includes students from Melbourne, Adelaide and Nowra, as well as metropolitan Sydney.”

The course is comprised of four units: the Spirituality of Missionary Leadership, the Theological Foundations of Mission in the Australian Context, the Theory and Practice of Missionary Leadership, and a practicum unit that allows students to specialise in youth ministry, adult evangelisation, or music ministry, as well as engage upon theological reflection in the light of their experience in ministry.

Arete is a work of the Missionaries of God’s Love (MGL) priests and brothers, a new religious congregation.

The MGLs share in the work of evangelisation in a collaborative way with lay people. They seek to empower people in their call to holiness and mission.

For more information see www.aretecentre.org

Fr Chris Ryan with Arete Centre participants, including Hazel Lim from Broken Bay (2nd from left). Photo by Katherine Ng

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BBN / OCTOBER 2020

ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Thank you for your contribution to the CWF This has been an extraordinary year, full of challenges, but even at the peak of COVID-19 pandemic our ministries have continued to serve.

Every day, those who are disabled, deaf or with special needs, are given opportunity to achieve their potential, through St Lucy’s School, St Edmund’s College and the Ephpheta Centre.

Each year, more than $1,050,000 is provided by the Charitable Works Fund to support good works, thanks to the generosity of Broken Bay parishes.

Because of you, Hospital Chaplains and Pastoral Care workers are at the forefront of reaching those who experience the loneliness and vulnerability of being in hospital.

I am grateful for your generosity over the last year toward the Charitable Works Fund, and humbled that we, as a Diocese, can provide such life-affirming ministries to the Broken Bay community.

Yours in Christ Most Rev Anthony Randazzo

Catechists are taking the Gospel to young people in our community.

$266K

$740K

Where does your contribution go?

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine 1,000 volunteer catechists, 16,500 students, 180 State Schools Hospital Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Practitioners 3,500 patients, 6,000 visits, 7 Hospital Centres

“Our behalf of our family, we appreciate the services. We’d love to say a big, big thank you.” Sonia, beneficiary of Hospital Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care program

“It’s immeasurable the amount of impact this has had on so many children throughout our Diocese.” Mary O’Byrne, Catechist “Giving to CWF is a wonderful expression of our faith in action.” Jacinta Corpuz, parishioner

$30K

at Chatswood Parish

St Lucy’s School 140 students with disabilities

How to donate!

$20K

St Edmund’s College 120 students with disabilities

$20K

Charitable Works Fund relies on parish donations.

Ephpheta Centre for deaf and hard of hearing 1 in 6 Australians are affected by hearing loss

All gifts over $2 are tax-deductible.

Visit www.bbcatholic.org.au/give/ charitable-works-fund or complete your parish envelope.

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NEWS AND ISSUES

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

Pope Francis’ new encyclical Fratelli Tutti: On fraternity and social friendship The encyclical begins with a dramatic image of shadows gathering over a closed world, a gathering shadow that neglects and discards people and plunges humanity into confusion, loneliness and despair. The response, Pope Francis maintains is to stop and help the injured stranger on the road. He calls for a more open world in which “there are no ‘others’, no ‘them’, there is only ‘us’”.

The Holy Father suggests a number of remedies to the threat and ills of our time that leave people isolated and alone and unaware of their identity as children of God. In a series of chapters dedicated to these, Pope Francis explains how an open world, an open heart, a better kind of politics, dialogue, social friendship and paths of re-encounter can heal the wounds of a hurting world and rebuild a culture worthy of the human family.

Pope Francis

On 4 October, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis launched the third encyclical of his pontificate entitled Fratelli Tutti (On fraternity and social friendship).

The Holy Father drew inspiration from “the poor man of Assisi” in writing the encyclical to encourage humanity, during this particularly challenging time in the world, to not lose sight of the dignity of all persons and the need for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be ever more proclaimed and lived.

The document is being described as a “social encyclical” which places Christian theology and doctrine in both a personal and social context which are inseparable from the Gospel and together constitute the love of God. Pope Francis writes early in the encyclical: “It is my desire that, in this our time, by acknowledging the dignity of each human person, we can contribute to the rebirth of a universal aspiration to fraternity.

“Let us dream, then, as a single human family, as fellow travellers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all.”

The Pope started work on the encyclical before COVID-19 struck. But he says that the need for local, national and international solidarity has become even more important now. The pandemic has created in many people a sense of the interdependence of communities and the fragility of human beings left to themselves.

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Pope Francis also dedicates time to inter-religious dialogue and harmony and explains that religions are called to service of fraternity in the world. Such friendship and fraternity between all peoples can help us recognise our universal condition as brothers and sisters.

Whilst the literal translation of “fratelli tutti” is “brothers all”, Pope Francis explains that the phrase is taken from a quotation of St Francis of Assisi who “addressed his brothers and sisters and proposed to them a way of life marked by the flavour of the Gospel.”

“I think that what will be important for us as the community of the Church of Broken Bay, is to reflect prayerfully, not just on the thoughts and words of the encyclical, but also upon our own circumstances in the Diocese and in the society in which we live,” said Bishop Anthony Randazzo.

“It is the reminder that for us Christians, the source of human dignity and fraternity is the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our inspiration to be faithful, active, and committed is always the joy of the Gospel. Pope Francis invites us to make our own the world’s desire for fraternity, beginning with the recognition that we are all brothers and sisters – Fratelli tutti.”

Read Fratelli Tutti and access other material at: catholic.org.au/fratellitutti

BBN / OCTOBER 2020

NEWS AND ISSUES

Vale Margot Beckett – Education Officer, Catholic Schools Office

By Sallyanne Butel, Administrative Assistant, Catholic Schools Office Our good friend and colleague Margot died peacefully on 13 August after a 5-year battle with melanoma. Margot was a fantastic teacher, a passionate REC and an accomplished member of the Mission team. She was graced with excellent communication skills and a capacity to engage students and colleagues in all aspects of Mission and education.

Margot Beckett

Margot fulfilled a lifelong dream to go to university and in her late 30s she completed a teaching degree, followed by a MA in Theology in 1998.

She started work in our Diocese in 1990 in several schools on the Northern Beaches, Forestville and St Joseph’s, Narrabeen, Margot was a woman of great faith and soon became the Religious Education Coordinator at Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Around 2006 Margot came to work in at the Catholic Schools Office as a Religious Education Officer supporting the Northern Beaches area. She excelled in this role and became the mentor to many young teachers who have since gone on to become RECs, APs and Principals.

affection, “Well done, good and faithful servant - woman, wife, mother, nurse, student, teacher, educational leader, parishioner, performer….” What a rich life she led and we were privileged to know her and serve with her.

Margot held a very special spot down at Narrabeen and the staff reflected at morning tea about her loving nature, her guidance and support for all staff. They remembered her famous lolly jar on her desk.

I am very sorry to hear the news of Margot’s death.

She was an absolutely delightful woman and a pleasure to work with. I will miss her and will continue to pray for her and her family.

My condolences go out to Margot’s family and friends. Margot was a woman of courage and had great faith. We are all fortunate to have the opportunity to know her and to work with her.

The “3 sisters” Mary Connor, Margot Beckett & Virginia Ryan at centenary celebrations at St Joseph’s Narrabeen

We watched in admiration as Margot faced the uncertainty and difficulties of her illness with grace and courage. She was ever grateful and always hopeful. In our own way, each of us, will miss her hope, her faith and deep generosity of spirit.

We received some beautiful messages from her colleagues at her passing:

I know personally I wouldn’t be where I am today without her initial stepping stone help, as she introduced me to so many people in the office which allowed me to further develop my career.

The three sisters were a Godsend for me at Narrabeen that year! As you say Margot was a REC’s lifeline, a truly special lady. May she rest in peace.

I can only imagine Margot now beaming with pride as the Lord says to her with great 31 /

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BBN / OCTOBER 2020