Catholic life april 2017

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Catholic Life Publication of the Diocese of Sale

ISSUE 198

April 2017

An Easter welcome

THE Diocese of Sale welcomed a large group of newcomers into the Catholic Church during Easter vigils across the diocese. There were 22 catechumens who were baptised, confirmed and received first communion and 10 candidates who had previously been baptised and were then confirmed and received first communion. Those welcomed into the Church came from parishes at Berwick, Clyde North, Cranbourne, Leongatha, Iona-Maryknoll, Pakenham, Traralgon, Sale and Warragul. Here Bishop Pat O’Regan, Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral Fr Peter Bickley (right) and Deacon Mark Kelly are with catechumens and candidates at the rite of election at the cathedral.

Bishops speak out on euthansia push THE Bishops of Victoria last week issued a Pastoral Letter, directed to the Catholics of Victoria, on the subject of euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Noting that there is a renewed push in Victoria for the legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide, the four Bishops, have called on the Catholic community to continue to commit to care for the frail, elderly, sick and dying at every stage of their life journey, and to ensure that they have ‘appropriate care, support and pain management’ at all times.

The letter continues by urging all Victorians not to abandon their loved ones but to continue to love and care for them.

The bishops, including

Trinity FAMILIES

Bishop of Sale Pat O’Regan, have reminded Catholics of Pope Francis’ comments recently, when he said, ‘The predominant school of thought sometimes leads to a ‘false compassion’ which holds that it is … an act of dignity to perform euthanasia. Instead, the compassion of the Gospel is what accompanies us in times of need, that compassion of the Good Samaritan, who ‘sees’, ‘has compassion’, draws near and provides concrete help.’

The Pastoral Letter states bluntly that ‘euthanasia and assisted suicide are the opposite of care and represent the abandonment of the sick and the suffering, of older and dying persons.’

• Read the letter, Page 13

BISHOP Pat O’Regan baptises catechumen Stella Denis during the Easter Vigil ceremonies at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale.

Dig deep to help struggling families

You can assist families in the Greater Gippsland region for years to come by supporting Trinity Families. We direct funds to programs where there is the greatest need. Please give generously.

To donate visit www.trinityfamilies.org.au or phone (03) 5622 6688 for a credit card deduction form.

Page 2 - Catholic Life, April 2017

Chicken Little or the Risen Christ? - Easter LENT! What! That’s way past surely!. It’s not until next year again now, you might say as we have now begun the great Season of Easter. This is true.

Yet ‘having a good Lent’ is an important part of living the Christian life.

Peppered throughout Lent is an insistent message, “A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn” (Ps 50). It is a basic recognition of what Lent is all about turning to God with an open heart.

Lent is about 10 percent of the year, and there is great wisdom in having a longer rather than a shorter time for Lent. For you see, Lent takes a while to work its way into us to do its work within where true conversion can take place.

I was particularly struck this year by the Responsorial Psalm of the 5th Sunday of Lent, yes it took that long for me, which said “With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.”

Sometimes we can see Lent simply as something about ‘me’ and there is a certain sense in which this is true.

However more importantly it is also about what God is and has done because of our Baptism.

So the response of the Responsorial Psalm on that day was both a wake up call to

make sure that I look to no-one but God and also a reassurance of the ever present mercy of God when we do look toward God. Above all a ‘good Lent’ allows us to experience a ‘good Easter’. Not only is Easter longer, 50 days, it builds on the experience of Lent and completes it.

So Lent can’t stand by itself; like John the Baptist, it always points to something or someone else, in this case Easter and the Risen Christ.

The two go together.

We repent and believe in the Good News that we might be ready to receive the new life of Easter first given us in Baptism.

This is one of the most important lessons to learn about the twins “Lent-Easter”.

This lesson is important because it teaches us about the Christian life and in what way we are to live it.

This is why the “twins” are repeated each year, for we are prone to forget. “Lent-Easter’ makes us remember.

So a Blessed Easter to all.

May we always walk in the newness of life given to us in Christ and always remember that only, “With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.”

Fatima ONE hundred years ago World War One had reached a stalemate, and Europe was locked into an horrendous war of attrition.

How often does it occur then that God sends the right messengers, with the right message at the right time?

Each time I believe.

In 1917, Easter Day was the April 8. On Sunday, the Lord’s Day, May 13 that year the apparitions of Fatima began.

Commenting on the meaning of Fatima some 65 years later, again during the Easter season, Pope St John Paul II said on May 13, 1982 that the “The message of Fatima

New book of Papal quotes A NEW book featuring 250 inspirational quotes made by Pope Francis during the Year of Mercy has been released this month by William Collins Books.

Titled Pope Francis’ Little Book of Compassion, it has a sub-title The Essential Teachings.

This is is only 13cm by 1cm in size but is almost 3cm thick so it can hardly be described as a pocket book.

However, it would slip neatly into a handbag or be ideal to sit on a bedside table where it can be readily available for inspiration.

The book is divided into

Catholic Life PO Box 1410, Warragul Vic. 3820 Phone: (03) 5622 6688

catholiclife@sale.catholic.org.au www.sale.catholic.org.au

nine parts, the final one being a series of blank pages where the reader can make their own journal notes or perhaps add clippings of future quotes from the Pope.

The book which has been compiled by Andrea Kirk Assaf is $19.99 from bookstores.

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Three more things 1. Do not forget to do something to celebrate our Diocese’s foundation Day, on Wednesday May 10 this year when we give thanks to God for 130 years of the Sale Diocese; 2. Please be aware of the Pastoral Letter on Euthanasia that the Bishops of Victoria have issued, each parish will have copies of the letter and will enable ways by which we can respond in a hopeful manner; 3. Know that the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has concluded its public hearings. The Commission will hand its report to the Governor General on December 15 this year, who in turn will hand that report to the Government which will then reflect on the recommendations of the Royal Commission and decide which of those to implement.

Since 1995 and especially more recently as a diocese and as a Church we have been doing two things:first, and most importantly, working with the victims and survivors and victims and their families to seek to do all we can to bring healing and some resolution to their lives and second, to ensure that we create childsafe parishes and schools and indeed that they be safe for all members of the church community. We stand ready to continue to do whatever we can and must do to ensure that victims and survivors are respected with dignity and justice and that our parishes and schools are communities of safety and trust. The exact nature of what that will look like will become plain as we continue with our own initiatives; the initiative of Catholic Professional Standards and the recommendations that arise from the Royal Commission.

After just over two years, by God’s grace, I am still happy to say, “God is good, God is good indeed”. +Bishop Pat O’Regan Bishop of Sale

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is, in its basic nucleus, a call to conversion and repentance, as in the Gospel. This call was uttered at the beginning of the 20th Century, and it was thus addressed particularly to this present century. The Lady of the message should be said to have read with special insight ‘the signs of the times,’ the signs our own time.”

What are we to make of Fatima 100 years later? Like Lent it echoes the biblical call to conversion which is a basic call in the Christian life and we need to hear that often.

What we also have to hear is the fact that Christ, by being raised from the dead by his Father, has shown us in Christ that “… there is mercy and fullness of redemption.”

We began Lent and with the words “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel” so that we might live out more completely our Baptismal calling to witness to the power of the resurrection, and we begin Easter by renewing our own Baptismal promises with the simple answer “I do.”

One of the most ancient names given by the Church to Mary of Nazareth is, Mary Mother of God, Theotokos, the God-bearer.

So Fatima and such events cannot be anything but another manifestation of God speaking a word of hope to us, and offering us in Mary, the Godbearer, a guarantee of what that hope looks like.

If God can do what he did do for Mary, so too he can and desires to do so for us. Fatima and all apparitions of Mary seek to remind us of this.

There are some that take and overdo the message of repentance too far, forgetting that every Lent has its Easter, forgetting that ultimately Mary is the one who shows forth to us Jesus Christ with whom “… there is mercy and fullness of redemption.”.

Those who do take this message of repentance too far can appear at times like Chicken Little who went around hysterically in a mistaken belief that disaster is imminent yelling “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!.”

Yes conversion, like Lent and the prophetic voice is important but only because it always points us to Jesus Christ the Risen One, whose life we share through Baptism.

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Catholic Life, April 2017 - Page 3

Trinity Families calls for generous donations SALE Diocese charity Trinity Families expects a heavy demand this year as communities struggle to cope with massive changes.

The closure of Hazelwood Power Station last month and the planned closure of Australian Sustainable Hardwood mill in Heyfield later this year will mean hundreds of families will be financially destitute.

Job losses in Gippsland will be several thousand when the flow-on effect is felt in other firms sub-contracting or supplying those industries.

These massive economic changes have only added to the dire financial and mental conditions which have plagued the dairying community since major milk processing factories savaged incomes last year.

Trinity Families is the only charity which exists to specifically aid families in the Greater Gippsland area which encompasses the cities of Casey and Latrobe and Shires of Cardinia, Baw Baw, Bass Coast, South Gippsland, Wellington and East Gippsland.

Its annual appeal in Catholic communities will take place next month and Trinity Families is asking people to dig deep in their financial support.

Executive officer Colin Coomber said the demands on Trinity Families’ resources had been growing for several years but with a depressed Gippsland economy it was expecting many more charities to apply for financial aid.

Trinity Families does not help individuals but provides funding to other charities running programs to assist families.

He said that the demand

Region’s economic downturn cuts deep was expected to skyrocket for subsidised counselling services, self-help programs, drug and alcohol dependency courses and problem gambling.

“Last year we had just under $130,000 available to distribute but we had demands for almost $400,000 in funding.

“If we had the resources to have met all those demands, vital programs worth over $1 million would have been able to be extended to the community.”

Mr Coomber said that as Trinity Families was a philanthropic trust, it only allocated the earnings from its investments each year.

Low interest rates available for investments also meant

that returns had been down for several years.

He said the predicted rise in home loan interest rates which was expected to begin later this year would also put many more families in financial distress as they may have over-extended themselves by taking advantage of historic low interest loans.

“Families are being hit hard this year by job losses but in coming years, rising interest rates will be a telling factor.”

Mr Coomber said the time had come where the community should be more strongly supporting charities such as Trinity Families which operated entirely for the benefit of locals.

Marist prayer app

National and international charities took millions of dollars a year out of the economy but gave little back in return.

He said these large charities, some of which were household names, often had up to 80 per cent of donated funds chewed up in overheads such as staffing and promotion.

Trinity Families was proud that every dollar ever donated to it was held in investments.

“We have received just over $2 million, have given away over $1.2 million but still have the $2 million invested. Those donations can keep giving year after year.

“We need people to respond to our appeal in parishes and to donate generously.”

Appeal envelopes will be available at all parishes in the Sale Diocese. These can be used to make credit card payments, or if donating with cash they can be put on the collection plate.

Details for making direct debits is available on the website www.trinityfamilies. org.au.

All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

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John Lania & Associates Protection for parish schools and churches MEMBERS of Marist Youth Ministry (from left) Nicola Broeren, Zach Pizzingrilli and Georgia Martin give the Prayer App the thumbs up! Nicola is a former Marist Sion College student, who comes from St Kieran’s Parish, Moe, and joined the youth team this year.

A NEW online resource for daily prayer has been launched

by Australia’s Marists.

Deputy Leader of the Marist

Association of St Marcellin Champagnat, Joe McCarthy, said that he expects the free app will have wide appeal both for Marists themselves and more widely to all people who are attracted to a Marian way of praying.

“We think that this app will complement other excellent daily online prayer resources by offering something that is distinctively Marian,” said Mr McCarthy.

“As Marists, we look to Mary to be the model both for our spiritual lives and for the way of doing ministry and community,” said Mr McCarthy. “We seek to be contemplatives in the heart of the world.”

Mr McCarthy, who leads a team that provides pastoral care and spiritual formation for Marists, believes that the primary users of the app will be the 700 Australian members of the Marist Association, but he expects that it will be taken up by many others both here and internationally.

“The original Marist dream was that the Church would be re-vitalised by its turning to Mary,” explained Mr McCarthy.

“As modern-day Marists, we want to find new expression for that, and to share it with all in the Church.”

The app is freely available to download on Android and Apple devices at GooglePlay and the Apple App Store.

Search for “Marist Daily Prayer.”

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Page 4 - Catholic Life, April 2017

Prayer for Hazelwood Hair today, gone tomorrow CRANBOURNE - A teacher and a student at St Agatha’s Primary School have both had their heads shaved as part of the World’s Greatest Shave to raise money for leukaemia research.

Teacher Narelle Snowden and Grade 5 student Olivia Wilkins did it independently of one another.

Olivia’s shoulder length hair was cut off by her mother Desserae in front of all staff, students and some parents at the school.

Olivia raised $3860 in donations and by selling cupcakes the day before the shave.

Mrs Snowden said the World’s Greatest Shave was a way to give back to the community to raise money for cancer research and aiding patients.

She said she made the ANGLICAN Bishop of Gippsland Kay Goldsworthy (centre) and decision four years ago to have Catholic Bishop of Sale Pat O’Regan pray for the people of the her hair cut off after watching Latrobe Valley affected by the power station closure. a television program with THE Catholic and Anglican The short service her eldest daughter where a bishops held a short prayer acknowledged the upheaval representative of the Australian service in Morwell to express caused by the closure of the Alopecia Areata Fund was solidarity with the community power station and was intended talking about the need for hair affected by the closure of to give comfort to those donations to make wigs.

The hair needed to be natural Hazelwood Power Station. affected, not only by the loss Catholic Bishop of Sale Pat of jobs but also by the flow-on with no dyes and the ponytail or braid had to be 30cm or more O’Regan and Anglican Bishop effect in the local economy. of Gippsland Kay Goldworthy The bishops asked for God’s in length.

From then on she started were joined by representatives strength and assistance at this of several other Latrobe Valley difficult and uncertain time growing out the hair dye and churches for the service at the before everyone joined hands letting the hair grow long enough to be able to be used Gippsland Immigration Park. to recite the Lord’s Prayer.

Of all the decisions we make in our lifetime, making a valid will is among the most important.

NARELLE Snowdon displays her hair which has been donated to make wigs. to make a wig for an alopecia colleagues, students and parents areata sufferer who typically who had suffered cancer. had lost their hair.

Mrs Snowden raised $2000 She said being able to link for the Leukemia Foundation this with the World’s Greatest and her hair has been donated Shave was also a great way to to the AAAF which will then donate and give something back sell it to a wig manufacturer to for the cause. Over the years be made into wigs for medical she had experienced many purposes. family members, friends, work

This final testament speaks loudly of the values, causes and possessions we hold most dear. We bequest personal treasures and mementos to special friends and loved ones and ask them to care for them after our passing.

If you hold the Church dear, you may consider leaving a percentage of your estate or a specific amount to the Diocese of Sale.

The Diocese is grateful for the support of its benefactors, who have enabled the Church to grow in its service of its people, and invite you to share in this rich heritage.

OLIVIA Wilkins raised $3860 by having her shoulder-length hair cut in the World’s Greatest Shave.

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Catholic Life, April 2017 - Page 5

Memorial statue recognises forced adoptions A MEMORIAL has been unveiled in Sale, commemorating the National and Victorian Parliamentary Apologies to mothers, who, due to ‘forced adoption’ practices, were separated from their babies at birth, causing a lifelong legacy of pain and suffering.

In a small ceremony Gippsland MHR Darren Chester and Independent Regional Mothers of Victoria spokesperson Brenda Coughlan unveiled the sculpture to a tearful crowd in Victoria Park, Sale.

The unveiling coincided with the anniversary of former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s national apology in March 2013, to the victims of ‘forced adoption’ practices in Australia from the late 1950s to the 1970s.

The sculpture also marks the apologies made on behalf of the State of Victoria by former Premier Ted Baillieu and former Deputy Premier Peter Ryan in October 2012, who both attended the ceremony, along with local clergy including Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral Fr Peter Bickley.

Cherished Mother and Child, sculpted by Andrew Poppleton and cast by Meridian Sculptures, depicts a mother looking lovingly upon her newborn.

Ms Coughlan said the sculpture represented the everlasting bond of mother and child, and was deliberately placed in a setting of peaceful contemplation, healing and solace.

“The mother’s face of unconditional love - a reflection of what should have been, instead of the empty arms, the broken hearts and spirits and shattered lives.”

Ms Coughlan said the apologies acknowledged and accepted full responsibility for the crimes that were committed, denying mothers their fundamental rights to love and care for their children.

“This civilised nation and Victoria engaged in one of the most criminal practices humankind knows without legal authority, beyond the power of the criminal law and legislation . . . by criminal abduction,” Ms Coughlan said. “It caused a lifetime of inconsolable grief, pain and loss.

“They never saw the beauty of their baby asleep, never heard their first words, or saw their first steps.”

Ms Coughlan detailed how the new mothers were treated as “a lower form of life, with disdain, as worthless and beneath consideration.”

“It destroyed the physical existence of their motherhood, to create a perfect society of approved family structures,” she said.

Mr Chester said the sculpture recognised a tragic part in the nation’s history.

“I think it’s very significant that our town, our region is going to host this quiet place of contemplation and reflection for families,” Mr Chester said.

“It sends a very strong

message to the mothers in particular, they did nothing wrong, it was the practices at the time, and it’s a very poignant day for our community.”

Mr Chester said the apologies didn’t signal the end of the story or suffering for the people impacted by these inhumane policies.

“We cannot pretend the apologies and this memorial will take away the pain or suffering they have endured, but we can resolve to ensure such tragedies are never repeated and to support those broken-hearted souls during the remainder of their lives,” he said.

“I do hope most sincerely that the national and state apologies

FEDERAL Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, who is the MHR for Gippsland, unveils the statue with Brenda Coghlan who lobbied strongly for its creation. and other public gestures of acknowledgement, such as this memorial, will give those who are suffering some comfort as they continue on their life’s journey.”

In 2012, a Senate inquiry found forced adoptions were widespread in Australia during the 1950s to the 1970s, with up to 250,000 babies taken from their mothers.

A small garden bed has been created around the plinth on which the sculpture sits and Wellington Shire Council as replanted the nearby rose garden with several rose varieties which support the theme of mother and child Golden Child, Remember Me, Mother’s Love, and Children’s Rose.

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Page 6 - Catholic Life, April 2017

Fatima statue visits Finding the right voice

A STATUE of Our Lady of Fatima made a one hour visit to Shanagolden aged care facility at Pakenham on March 16. About 118 people attended including Grade 6 students from St Patricks Pakenham, local parishioners, residents from Shanagolden Aged Care and Village, and residents and their families from Villa Maria Catholic Homes, Berwick. Pictured with the statue at Shanagolden are (from left) Catherine Driessan and resident Heni Phillips.

EVERY now and then, there is news story that gives you heart.

I read recently about a cafe in Leeds (UK) run by the Real Junk Food Project, whose meals are made from waste or donated food.

The project is addressing not only the waste of food but also the waste of social opportunity.

This project brings together people of all ages, from all stations of life, who had never come together before. They talk away over dinner like old friends, it seems.

The author of the article wrote: Breaking bread together: this is still the best and simplest way of reconnecting. If there is an irrepressible human trait it’s the determination, against all odds, to reconnect. Though governments seek to atomise and rule, we will keep finding ways to come together. Our social brains forbid any other outcome. They urge us to reach out, even when the world seems hostile.

If that is true, our social brains must be working overtime at present. There have always been divisions, there have always been different approaches, different ways of doing things but we seem to live in a highly polarised world.

That is quite different than mere difference.

Our public conversations are so often marred by bitterness and lack of respect, especially to those who may think

Help help others May is us ourtoappeal month Donate now to support charities aiding families Trinity Families needs your financial support to ensure that it can continue to meet the needs of families in our region.

We need to greatly enlarge our financial base so we can continue our support to charities providing vital welfare services.

Direct debits can be made to Trinity Families BSB 083-879 A/c 84343 9687 or you can use the form below to make a credit card donation.

All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale Charitable Fund

✄

Reflections

by Jim Quillinan differently than ‘we’ do. Such a mean spirited approach is not healthy, it does not promote understanding and cooperation.

Some have become experts in exploiting differences, playing on the fears of others, fostering an anger a paranoia about the other. We listen to and respect only our own kind.

That creates deeper divisions, more suspicion and empathy, compassion, understanding become highly selective, available only to ‘our own’.

Are we no longer capable of having a respectful conversation with each other? Can we have a discussion on any sensitive political, moral, or issue of faith that does not degenerate into name calling and disrespect.

Surely as people of faith, followers of Jesus, we are meant to be people of community, people who work to bring people together, people who personify what it is to love one another as Jesus loved us.

At a time when divisions are being manipulated, in a climate which almost promotes misunderstanding, is it any wonder that anger, intolerance, impatience, lack of respect, and lack of charity are so rampant and dividing communities.

It is time for those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus to take a lead in imitating his acceptance of others, his empathy and compassion, his openness to those who were different or suffering or poor or outcast from society.

Surely it is time to show, to personify what the Gospel says about respect, charity, understanding, patience, and gentleness towards those who oppose us.

As St Paul urged the people of Corinth: “When we are ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we respond gently.”

(1 Corinthians 4, 12-13) Surely this bruised and wounded Church that we live in today may be still able to stand up once again, to be people who build bridges, who grow community and grow in community, to be people of graciousness and encouragement, compassion and empathy, people who don’t seek to dominate but who encourage dialogue and understanding, to be people who meet intolerance with patience, to seek out what promotes justice and fairness, but people who have the courage to challenge those people and ideas that seek to divide us.

Do we ever ask ourselves as faith communities what are we doing to soften hearts rather than harden them, to replace the strident language with the language of inclusion and understanding? Are we people who challenge the bitter and entrenched, the suspicious, the joyless crusaders?

Or will we drift further apart from each other in our churches and in our politics?

I believe that the urge to connect is overwhelming. It can be transformative. When we are estranged from each other, when we are lonely or feel threatened, we become vulnerable and easy to manipulate. By providing opportunities to talk together, by listening to others, by trying to walk in their shoes, we find our common voice.

Jesus often broke bread together, with those who shared his ideas, shared his passions and beliefs but he also tried to connect with those who opposed him, those whom society had abandoned, those who did not share his faith and his way of seeing the world.

In these polarized times, his example of reconnecting, of building community stands tall.

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Catholic Life, April 2017 - Page 7

Helping role changes with time for volunteers

By Trevor Fogarty

PETER and Dorothy Smyth sort clothes with Jean Greenslade.

Giving us our daily bread A CHANCE conversation almost 25 years ago has led to needy families being provided with leftover bread ever since then as a local initiative of St Vincent de Paul Society.

Mary Smits was a catechist of Longford Primary School when she began chatting with a couple who owned a Sale bakery.

She explained that her husband Bill was president of St Vincent de Paul in Sale and the couple offered to pass on their left-over bread if they wanted to give it to needy families.

And so began the bread run which has helped thousands of households over the past 25 years.

Initially Bill and Mary, with the help of other volunteers, collected the bread twice a week but

within six months the service grew to five nights and sometimes six.

Over the years all Sale bakeries have been involved at one time or another.

Although both now 88 years, Bill and Mary still spend a couple of hours one night a week providing the valuable service to Sale’s needy.

There are currently about 80 families, comprising 217 people, receiving free bread from the band of volunteer

BILL and Mary Smits.

deliverers.

Mr Smits said the aim was to provide bread to each family once a week and each household was usually given one loaf or half a dozen buns for each person living there.

What bakeries provided varied from night to night and sometimes they received pies and sausage rolls which they made sure went to families with young children.

“The little kids get to know our car and often come running when they know we have arrived with bread.

“More than once we have heard a little one say things like ‘Mum, we now have something for dinner!’”

He said that many people did not realise the number of families who were struggling below the poverty line in an outwardly affluent city like Sale.

In several instances, there was also generational poverty as the children and grandchildren of people they had donated bread to 20 years ago were now on the list.

Mr Smits thanked the various bakeries for their generosity in helping needy families by donating their left-over bread which otherwise would have been thrown out or used as animal food.

WHEN Peter and Dorothy Smyth first became involved with the St Vincent de Paul Society in the early 1960’s the work was remarkably different to the role they have now.

At Orbost in the 1960’s they volunteered under the guidance of Fr O’Hagan, alongside Tom and Jill Shanahan.

They met in the presbytery after Mass and discussed the various family situations that warranted the use of parish funds to provide some support with food for that week. Or perhaps it was petrol money needed to enable a traveller to continue along the highway.

Eventually the Smyth Family, which grew to seven children, moved to the Maffra district where Peter continued his volunteer work with the society as president in the early 1980’s.

Maffra, a bigger town with a larger group of volunteers, ran a strong welfare program which it funded from a monthly garage sale, rather than from a Vinnies’ store like most conferences.

This sale is run monthly from the Jack Kelly Shed on parish land and provides the local community with a wide range of cheap goods and a social gathering on the first Saturday of each month.

Hundreds attend.

Alongside the welfare work for this community, collecting and processing goods for the monthly sale demanded a considerable time commitment and gradually the volunteer workforce has risen to 30 conference members and over 40 other volunteers who assist on sale day.

Many of these helpers are nonCatholic but see great value in the work

of the society locally.

The welfare work of the conference has been a major focus for the Smyths over several decades.

Along with other members they have responded to a huge number of pleas for assistance, visiting the homes, helping decide priorities and providing assistance in so many ways to give those in need a hand up.

So why do they spend so much of their lives as volunteers in the St Vincent de Paul Society?

Essentially they take to heart the words of Jesus when he said, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. But there are other benefits that they have gained too.

They lead a rich social life working alongside a group with similar interests, and they rarely have time to be bored with life. They have a sense of achievement that satisfies them.

If you aren’t in any way associated with the St Vincent de Paul Society, and are looking for a wider sense of purpose in your life, it is worth exploring what your local conference has to offer.

It could open up a whole new chapter in your life. As Dorothy and Peter would say, “Vinnies always needs more volunteers”.

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Page 8 - Catholic Life, April 2017

Ex-Sale woman’s 50 years a nun A FORMER Sale woman has celebrated the Golden Jubilee of religious consecration with the Sisters of St John of God. Sr Felicity (Helen) Scales arrived in Perth in February 1963 to commence formation for religious life.

Another newcomer was Sr Alicia Hyland who also celebrated her Golden Jubilee at a joint Mass at the Subiaco convent chapel on February 6.

Sr Felicity was drawn to St John of God Sisters because she was inspired by their commitment to the sick and the poor, especially the Aboriginal people of the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

After she was professed in 1967, she worked in the Kimberley until 1980 when she accepted the call to become one of the founding sisters in

Pakistan where she worked for 32 years, serving the poorest of the poor with care, compassion and empathy.

During those years she was able to make occasional visits back to Sale to see her parents and a brother.

Her pioneering work in Pakistan brought a blend of professional standards, compassion and down to earth understanding.

This was especially true in her work at Fatima Hospital, Sargodha, were she established an outreach health program to surrounding villages.

She returned to Australian in July 2012 and went back to the Kimberley.

The jubilee celebration was attended by Sr Felicity’s brother Brian, his daughter Susan and her husband Greg.

WYD operator named COSMOS will be the official tour operator to coordinate the Australian pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2019 in Panama.

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, the Australian Catholic Bishops Delegate for Youth announced the company has been selected following a rigorous process of informing, identifying and selecting a company to support the Australian pilgrimage.

Cosmos will manage up to 30 groups and over 1000 pilgrims

from Australia.

The company managed the successful Australian pilgrimages to WYD 2016 in Krakow, as the ACBC tour operator.

Australia’s participation at the WYDs is overseen by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference Office for Youth.

The Office for Youth is currently establishing a comprehensive planning guide with tools for preparation for WYD 2019.

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Project Compassion launch

BISHOP OF Sale Pat O’Regan (left) and Fr Ronald Tonette with Catholic College Sale student leaders Shannon Darmuc, Monique Barter and Abbey Walsh.

SALE – Catholic College Sale hosted the While Caritas had singled out the struggles of diocesan launch of Project Compassion at its a Filipino woman Dinia to highlight the program historic Sion campus. it runs with SPACFI, he assured representatives Special guest at the launch was Fr Ronald of the diocesan secondary schools that her story Tonette from the Diocese of Daet in the was repeated many times over in the Philippines.

Philippines who spoke on his role as director of “Without help people struggle to live, to support the Socio Pastoral Action Centre Foundation Inc. their families and to educate their children.” He which is supported by Caritas Australia. said.

He said his part of Philippines was regularly hit Caritas Australia speaker Patty Luna spoke by typhoons but there was a lack of government about the various programs which were being services to aid recovery from these natural highlighted this year as part of the Love Your disasters.

Neighbor theme.

Pilgrimage includes Lourdes and Fatima in itinerary A WARRAGUL travel agency is offering a truly hassle free tour that includes a pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fatima, with the added experience of Carcassonne Burgos and Santiago De Compostela - The Way of St James.

The tour organised by Travel Plus commences with a pick up from many Gippsland towns and then arrival at Melbourne airport.

Of course, there will be assistance with all the departure procedures to make the way to Spain with no hassles.

On arrival in Barcelona, there will be a Trafalgar tour representative to meet travellers and transfer them to the Novotel Sant Joan Despi hotel for the next two nights.

Those on tour will be able to commemorate a century since the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three young Shepherds’ at the holy sanctuary of Fatima.

This 12 day trip through Spain and Portugal culminates in Mass at the shrine of Fatima the special celebration of the anniversary of the Fatima apparitions and plan for the 100th year.

The pilgrimage travels to stunning Barcelona then onto the French medieval walled city of Carcassonne and the world’s most famous place of pilgrimage, the Grotto of Massabielli in Lourdes.

Participants will follow the 19th Century way of St James through Burgos and Santiago De Compostela with their journey culminating in Fatima for a morning Mass at the Shrine of Fatima before journeying onto Lisbon.

The final day is in Lisbon where there are many options.

Those completing the tour, will be transferred to Lisbon airport late in the afternoon before boarding a flight back to Melbourne where they will be

met and transferred safely back to Gippsland.

Some of the options for persons wishing to extend their trip: • Perhaps a 3, 4 or 5 day tour of Rome including a papal audience of Pope Francis (Subject to Pope Francis being in Rome). Or a choice of 96 other Trafalgar tours throughout Britain and Europe.

• A river cruise on Portugal’s famous Duoro River or on any other nine European Rivers.

• Extend the stay in Europe and fly home from your choice of many European and British cities.

For a free brochure, call Travel Plus on 5623 5555 or email travelplus@dcsi.net.au.

The single supplement is very reasonable at an additional $550 per person and Travel Plus welcomes enquires of singles wishing to share.

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Catholic Life, April 2017 - Page 9

Hospital works progress Managing life’s losses THE new St John of God Hospital at Berwick is progressing rapidly with the main construction of the shell and facade being almost complete.

Two huge cranes have dominated the skyline next to the Monash Freeway for many months.

The facade consists of beautiful panels of blue and green glass.

St John of God has begun taking departmental teams through the building on caregiver familiarisation tours.

These tours allow caregivers to be involved in the construction process and also to begin to feel at home in the spaces which will soon become their workplaces.

As construction and internal fit-out continues staff can begin to envisage more clearly how they will work in these new spaces and what they need to do in preparation.

The hospital also recently celebrated St John of God Foundation Day where it celebrated the Spanish heritage and mission of St John of God. To do this, they served 1000 churros to the construction team at the new hospital, sharing with them the history, mission and values of the organisation.

It was a welcome treat as they are

By Linda Davis CatholicCare Family Counsellor

working hard to complete the hospital and it gave them a sense of what it is they are building and who they are building it for.

Education program to break poverty cycle

AT a steering committee meeting at CatholicCare Gippsland office in Warragul are (from left) Dr Joanie Smith from Federation University, Susan Lloyd from Clemente, Mark Tanti from CatholicCare, Julie D’Angelo Kaik from Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault, Jo Wilkinson from Anglicare and Steve Koczwara from Quantum Support Services.

AN innovative education program that aims to break the cycle of poverty, inequity and social injustice is helping Gippslanders facing multiple disadvantages and social isolation to access university education.

The Clemente Program has been running for a couple of years through an association with Federation University and interested service providers A steering committee meets every two months and includes organisations such as CatholicCare, Anglicare, Quantum, Berry Street, Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault and Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation..

Clemente gives people the opportunity to study four units of a university arts degree at no cost.

More than a dozen Gippslanders have been fortunate enough to be involved in the program so far and it is hoped that many more will also be given a boost

through the program in future.

Celente aims to: • enhance participants self-confidence through rigorous learning and so bringing about personal change • promote a positive view of the future for those who have been marginalised from society thus enabling them to reengage with society • make university education accessible to disadvantaged Australians • use the potential of Humanities education to change lives and promote social inclusion • engage in genuine inter-sectoral collaboration for the benefit of disadvantaged Australians.

Clemente started in the United States in 1965 and came to Australia in 2003 when Australian Catholic University introduced it with funding from St Vincent de Paul Society, the Sisters of Charity and Sydney City Council.

MANY people are experiencing significant changes to life in the home and in the community particularly due to loss of employment following the closure of Hazelwood.

Our region has endured challenging times and the future for some, remains unsettled.

It is common to associate grief and loss with the death of a loved one; however, loss of employment can have similar impacts on the individual and on families.

Grieving is a normal experience arising from loss of employment, even for those who have been successful finding alternative employment.

Naturally, what’s forefront in people’s minds is putting food on the table and keeping a roof overhead, but the less tangible pressures are the things that can creep up and cause anguish.

People may experience a sense of loss of identity built over years in the workplace, friendships may have been cut off and loneliness can emerge. The sense of mastery and status gained from “doing the job” vanishes.

Familiar routines, begrudged perhaps in the past, are missed now.

Expectations about the future may have changed significantly and uncertainty may be a new experience.

The impact of grief is a very personal one, influenced by personality, prior experience, the supports people have around them and a range of other factors.

There is no timetable for grieving.

Reflecting on experience of job loss, many will come to know that the whole family may be affected. Of particular concern may be the impacts on children;

unusual behaviors may emerge.

Children may be grumpy and argumentative or withdrawn or trying to take on the role of the parent; acting out in ways parents may not have experienced before.

Counsellors and other support staff at CatholicCare and other community agencies can help families and individuals explore ideas and strategies that may help your way through change.

Skills and knowledge can be developed to help in better understanding the reality of family changes, to work through pain of grief, to adjust to a changed family environment.

Importantly, staff can support families to understand grief and loss from the child’s point of view and to develop effective strategies to help children feel confident and grow through the experience.

Counsellors listen in a supportive manner to individuals’ concerns. They can help people recognise that, in most cases, their emotional reactions are natural, normal, and to be expected.

They can help individuals to recognise and manage the wide range of reactions to loss, such as numbness, frustration, confusion, anger, anxiety, sadness, and feelings of helplessness.

Counselling assists individuals to draw on their own strengths and develop healthy coping mechanisms that permit them to gradually resume their normal level of functioning.

A counsellor will sensitively and caringly helps individuals to grieve their losses in their own unique ways.

Any individual feeling uncertain about the impacts of life changes, about the effects of loss of employment, can ring CatholicCare for support on 1800 522 076

Page 10 - Catholic Life, April 2017

Fatima centenary recalls 20th Century miracle THE Dance of the Sun witnessed by about 70,000 people at Fatima on October 13, 1917, was immediately proclaimed a miracle by the many Portuguese who were there.

Even as the event took place some people were shouting “Miracle! Miracle!”

Portugal’s largest newspaper O Seculo, which had written scoffingly about the predicted sign from heaven, changed its tune completely as the managing director wrote: “It was a spectacle unbelievable if one had not been a witness of it…the sun made some brusque movements, unprecedented and outside all cosmic laws.”

Attention now turned more closely to the three young shepherd children who for months had been claiming to have been seeing and talking to a woman in white who told them of the miracle to prove she was from heaven and to give them an important message for mankind.

Lucia Santos, 10, the oldest of the children, became the spokesperson and repeated what the lady had told them.

She said the lady had identified herself as “The Lady of the Rosary” which people immediately identified as Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Lucia also told them that people must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins.

They should continue to say the Rosary every day.

The lady had warned that if people did not amend their lives, in the time of the next Pope there would be an even more terrible war than the Great War which was then raging in Europe.

Lucia told that on their July 13 apparition, the beautiful lady had poured a penetrating light from her outstretched hands which seemed to penetrate the earth and reveal hell.

She described that they had seen “a sea of fire; and plunged into this fire the devils and the souls of the damned in human form, but as if they were red hot coals.”

The lady had told the children to avoid sin and pray for the conversion of sinners because many people went to hell because there was no-one to do penance for them.

Specific instructions were given on how to practice devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

People should say five decades of the Rosary every day, they should receive communion in reparation for sin on the second Saturday of the month and participate in a five first Saturday devotion.

The lady requested that on the first Saturday of five consecutive months people receive communion, recite five decades of the rosary, meditate upon one of the mysteries for 15 minutes and receive the sacrament of penance.

Lastly the lady asked that Russia be solemnly consecrated by the Pope and all the bishops of the world to the Immaculate

THIS is the second of a three part series on the apparitions at Fatima which occurred 100 years ago.

Heart of Mary.

This was particularly topical in 1917 as the first revolution in Russia has taken place in February and then in October there was a second one which led to the Communists taking power.

The Catholic Church moves slowly when reviewing claims of miracles, and this is the case in Medjugorje where the Vatican has only just recently sent an envoy to investigate apparitions which have been occurring since 1981.

However, in Fatima, the Bishop of the diocese opened an official inquiry in 1922. This process consisted of a scientific and theological examination of all evidence and studying testimonies of many witnesses.

The two youngest children Francisco and Jacinta Marto had died during the Spanish Influenza epidemic which killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide between 1918 and 1920, so the remaining child Lucia Santos was questioned at length, as were the two families of the children.

Lucia revealed that the visions of the beautiful lady were not the only visions the children had seen.

She revealed that in late spring or summer of 1916 they were playing on a rocky outcrop near their village when a bright light revealed a transparent young man of great beauty who identified himself as the Angel of Peace and taught them a prayer.

They received further visions of the angel in coming months, once at a well at Lucia’s home and then again at the rocky outcrop.

Lucia also revealed that the Lady of Fatima predicted that Francisco and Jacinta would die young and she had entrusted three secrets which they were told not yet to reveal After eight years the bishop delivered his verdict “We declare worthy of belief the visions of the shepherds at the Cova da Iria in the parish of Fatima in this diocese on the 13th day of the months from May to October 1917. We give official permission for the devotion to Our Lady of Fatima.”

This was not Vatican approval but this came later with his statements being ratified by all Popes since that day, including the short-lived John Paul I. Pope Pius XII established the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1942 and on July 7, 1952 consecrated Russia and the world to the Immaculate Heart.

Lucia went on to become a Discalced Carmelite nun and on December 10, 1925, the Blessed Virgin and the Child Jesus appeared above a luminous cloud in her cell at her convent in Spain.

The virgin showed her heart surrounded by thorns and the Child Jesus urged Lucia to tell everyone to confess, take

communion. Pray the Rosary and meditate on the mysteries on five consecutive first Saturdays.

On February 15, 1926 the child again appeared asking if Sr Lucia had yet published the devotion to his Blessed Mother.

Sr Lucia explained the difficulties of people going to confession on Saturdays and the child agreed that it could be before or after the first Saturday as long as people were in a state of grace and had the intention of offering reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

NEXT month: The three secrets revealed.

THE three young shepherd children Lucia Santos, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto.

Canonisations are tipped THE canonisation of young Fatima shepherds Francisco and Jacinta Marto appears to have moved a step closer.

Pope Francis held an ordinary public consistory of Vatican cardinals last week to discuss the causes for the brother and sister.

They were beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 13, 2000 – the anniversary of the first apparition – and with Pope Francis going to Fatima on May 12-13, many observers are predicting he will announce their forthcoming canonisation to co-incide with the centenary.

Meanwhile, the cause is also progressing for the other seer Lucia Santos, or Sr Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart, as she became known in the Carmelites.

Sr Lucia died in 2006 after 57 years in a Carmelite convent and in 2008 Pope Benedict XVI gave a dispensation for the need to wait five years after her death to open her cause for sainthood.

The diocesan phase ended in February and it

Sr Lucia has now gone to the Vatican.

Sr Lucia and her two cousins are all buried at the shrine at Fatima.

Irish Benedictine to speak at Marian lecture in Warragul A WORLD-renowned Irish Benedictine monk will speak at the inaugural Marian lecture in Warragul on June 1.

The lecture, Underground Cathedrals – A Spirituality for the 21st Century, invites ordinary people to encounter the Holy Spirit in ‘underground cathedrals’ in extraordinary and unexpected ways, ignited with a new sense of contemplation, and more conscious of their interior lives.

You are invited to enter this conversation in search of ‘underground cathedrals’ with the wisdom of noted educator and spiritual guide Mark Patrick Hederman OSB of Glenstal Abbey, Ireland.

Whether we are educators or simply ‘seekers’ trying to discover the way forward – our mission is to allow the energy of divine love to stretch us.

This happened to Mary, the Mother of God and if she can do it, we can do it.

In the words of Hederman: “Everyone’s baptismal name is Mary.”

Hederman is an educator, headmaster, poet, philosopher and public intellectual. He has been a monk of Glenstal Abbey in Limerick for over 40 years.

Formerly headmaster of the school, he has just completed eight years as Abbot.

Hederman has a doctorate in the philosophy of education and studied in Paris under the famous Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas.

He has lectured in philosophy and literature in America, Nigeria and Ireland, and is author of many books including

the 2016 release of The Boy in the Bubble: Education as Personal Relationship.

Don’t miss this inaugural Marian lecture which will take place in the Marist-Sion College Marian Theatre from 6pm to 7pm on June 1.

Doors open from 5.30pm and tea and coffee will be available.

Those intending to attend are asked to email marianlecture@ marists.org.au.

For further information contact: Br Mark O’Connor FMS, Marist Centre Melbourne on 9389 3100.

Please donate generously to the appeal for Trinity Families.

The Sale Diocese charity serving the families of Greater Gippsland.

Details at www.trinityfamilies.org.au or collect en envelope at your parish

Catholic Life, April 2017 - Page 11

What retirees need to know about the sharemarket I WAS discussing with a client the other day what their options were in order to recover some of their income, after the recent asset test changes reduced their Centrelink aged pension.

The client was fortunate enough to have sufficient financial assets to have lost their entire pension entitlement, but they still wanted to recover the income he’d lost.

And then I saw a note from Plato Investment Management which addresses the same issue.

In the retirement phase of superannuation, when a pension is being drawn down, there is no tax levied on the superfund (pension) account paying the pension and there’s no tax on the pension if the recipient is over the age of 60 years.

That means there’s no income tax and just as importantly, no Capital Gains Tax (CGT).

So franking credits are very important to retirees and CGT is irrelevant within a pension fund.

Franking credits are allowed (at the equivalent of the

company tax rate) so that an investor isn’t subject to double tax.

Effectively $1 fully franked dividend becomes $1.43 income. So to a non-taxpayer (your pension fund) that’s what it’s worth.

On the minimum tax rate that $1 dividend is only worth about $0.81. And it’s the same with CGT. To a pension fund $1 gain is $1.

On the maximum tax rate it may be as low as $0.53.

Delaying investment decisions to avoid CGT can be very damaging for a pensioner.

A low-turnover strategy, espoused by many fund managers may well be counter productive.

So, while tax shouldn’t be a consideration how does one recover the pension following the recent asset test changes?

A home owner couple with $800,000 in assets would have lost about $365 per fortnight and would need to return about 7.8 percent to offset the loss.

With bonds and term deposits

DOLLAR$ & SENSE with David Wells

this is impossible. With a good share portfolio this is quite possible.

As I write the gross yield on National Bank is 8.73 percent, and the Dividend Harvester ETF has a gross yield of 12.73 percent, so it can be done.

Plato Asset Management is introducing a new listed investment company aiming to achieve something similar.

But a retirement portfolio should also be constructed so that the capital doesn’t diminish excessively over time too, unlike an annuity. Shares may allow for this to some degree.

Commonwealth Bank’s dividend has nearly always been in the range of 6 percent to 9 percent gross of its current share price.

In the meantime its price has risen from $5.40 to $84.50 – and that gain isn’t taxable in a pension fund!

A pensioner wouldn’t want to be invested totally in National Bank, or in any other single security, but a sensibly diversified portfolio with solid exposure to Australian high yielding quality shares is necessary to enhance the income.

This is the power of dividends.

The capacity to increase income as the capital base increases.

Bonds and term deposits can never achieve that.

A further point about dividends.

The Australian share market has been derided as providing less growth than the US markets.

Since the high of 2007 our market, when dividends are included, has risen to its high this year, by 39.3 percent That imitates the S&P500 in the USA very closely.

And yet commentators, such as Alan Kohler, dismiss the benefit of dividends, saying that we have performed poorly in our markets, compared to overseas.

The truth is we have outperformed most of the rest of the world – it’s just that our institutions don’t count it!

Dividends are a very important part of the retiree’s armoury, and when any excess income is reinvested, these benefits just get better and better.

• This report is intended to provide general advice. In preparing this advice, David Wells and Shaw and Partners did not take into account the investment objective, the financial situation and particular needs of any particular person. Before making an investment decision on the basis of this advice, you need to consider, with or without the assistance of an adviser, whether the advice is appropriate in light of your particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances.

Camp Coolamatong inspires teamwork TRARALGON - St Michael’s Primary School Grade 6 students recently travelled by bus to Camp Coolamatong for four days of teamwork, fun and learning.

Camp Coolamatong is located on the Banksia Peninsula in the Gippsland Lakes, near Paynesville.

The goals for the camp were; • To spend quality time with classmates and teachers in a setting that is natural and uncluttered.

• To promote unselfishness and consideration for others through cooperation and team work.

• To experience new activities in an unfamiliar environment.

• To develop independence and self-reliance through spending time in situations different to everyday life.

When asked what their camp highlight was; Grade 6 student Andrew replied, “The food was good.”

Sophie answered, “The staff were passionate about what they were doing and interacted with all the children.”

Kaidin said, “I loved climbing

and bush craft.”

There were many activities for the students to experience such as canoeing, abseiling, a night hike, low ropes, archery, feeding the farm animals, a boat cruise on Lake Victoria, games at the beach, cycling and bush craft.

The bush craft was a popular activity. It involved learning how make a safe fire and then cooking damper, pancakes and popcorn.

Students were able to cook all of the foods on offer with many going back for seconds.

Canoeing was the perfect opportunity to cool off during the hot weather while some of the groups found strong winds an extra challenge.

Two of the highlights of the camp were the disco which had a sport theme and Grade 6’s Got Talent where everyone was entertained by some very JASPER and Harry try their hand at canoeing on Lake talented students.

School principal, Cathy Victoria.

Blackford said, “The children skills whilst on camp to enhance have come back with new their final year at primary insights into what they are school but also their futures, capable of and stories to tell. thus ‘Learning for Life’.”

Not only have they gained new

Christians are most persecuted CHRISTIANS are the most persecuted religious group in the world, Australia’s Catholic bishops have told a Parliamentary inquiry.

More than 100,000 Christians are killed each year because of their faith and the bishops highlighted how Christians had been driven from the cradle of Christianity in the Middle East.

The Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade is holding an inquiry into the status of the human right to freedom of religion or belief.

Christians are by no means the only people suffering for their faith, with the submission also

condemning the persecution of Yazidis, Baha’is, Jews, Muslims and others.

Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference president, Archbishop Denis Hart said “Understanding and recognising the full complexity of the right to freedom of religion or belief will be increasingly important to Australia negotiating its way in the world.

“The proportion of the world’s population who have a religious faith is increasing at the same time as it is decreasing in Western countries like the United States and Australia.

“If Australian governments want to understand the world -

and the majority of Australians who proclaim a religious faith - they need to understand and accommodate religious belief.

“Across the world, religious belief is under challenge, both from violent attacks or government restrictions on people who have a faith but also, particularly in the West, from a more aggressive atheism that does not tolerate dissenting views and tries to exclude religious beliefs from the public square,” said Archbishop Hart.

You can find a copy of the submission here: https://www. c a t h o l i c . o rg. a u / a b o u t - u s / public-policy-office-contact

Investments made simple.

Personal advice Unrivalled experience Buy and sell shares, portfolio managememt Investment research and daily market information Investment advice for self managed super funds For all your investment needs please contact: David Wells W , Senior Investment Adviser on 03 9268 1157 or toll free 1800 150 009 or dwells@shawandpartners.com.au

Page 12 - Catholic Life, April 2017

Serra golf hit by heavy rain

Quick calendar

What’s on & when APRIL 26 - Feast of St Mark the Evangelist 26 – April Catholic Life published 29 - St Catherine of Siena Memorial

NOT overly confident about teeing off for the Serra Golf Day are (from left) Des Fitzgibbons, Guy Bateson and the Vicar General Fr Peter Slater, Warragul.

SALE – Constant rain at Longford forced the annual Serra Club Golf Day to become a nine hole event on April 10.

Many abandoned plans to play but 30 very keen golfers turned up at Sale Golf Club for the annual event.

After lengthy delays it was decided to hold a nine hole event and 12 hardy souls ventured out in the weather with their clubs.

It would be correct to say that no-one really enjoyed their afternoon as conditions were extremely trying for most of the time. For some a hot shower at the end of the day would have been the best part.

That evening 104 people joined the Serra Club for a dinner at Sale Bowls Club.

The meal was followed by some great fellowship as 32 religious attended including Bishop Pat O’Regan and many of our priests and seminarians.

The Uniting Church was represented by the Rev Susan Stott, Flooding Creek Church

by Pastor Bob Nicholls, a former professional golfer.

Also present were Mary and Neville Hackett, long-time Serrans from Melbourne.

Members were delighted to have Jan McIntyre, widow of the late Anglican Bishop of Gippsland John McIntyre present. The bishop had donated the Bishop Jeremiah Coffey Trophy which is usually hotly contested between Catholic and Anglican religious.

After presentation of trophies, the annual raffle was drawn with the $1000 first prize being won by R. Greer of Wharf Court, Sale.

Sale Serra Club president Reg Carmody thanked all who had worked tirelessly in approaching local businesses for donations, selling raffle tickets and working tirelessly to ensure the event was a success.

Next year’s event on March 26 will be the 30th year the Fr Frank Carroll Shield will be contested between priests and

Serrans.

Trophy winners: Jeremiah Coffey Perpetual Shield (Catholic v Anglican clergy) won by the Catholics; Fr Frank Carroll Shield (aggregate Religious v Serrans) won by Serrans; Oils Aint Oils Trophy (Best Sale Diocese priest) Fr Peter Slater; Neville McLeod Shield (best score of day) Reg Carmody; Best Catholic religious, Fr Peter Slater, runnerup Fr Brendan Hogan; Best religious (other denominations) the Rev Tony Peters, runnerup Pastor Bob Nicholls; Best Serran, Reg Carmody, runnerup J. Cahill; Best Friend of Serra, Joe Tettman, runnerup Guy Bateson; Nearest the pin, Fr Peter Slater; Longest drive (all religious) Rev Tony Peters; Longest drive (Serran) Reg Carmody; Longest drive (Friends of Serra) Joe Tettman; Not a Golfer Anyway, Fr Peter Kooloos.

Taking on the circus challenge

MAY Annual appeal month for Trinity Families, the Sale Diocese charitable fund 3 - Feast of St Philip and James, Apostles 6-7 - menALIVE retreat, Maffra 10 – 130th anniversary of Diocese of Sale 4-11 – Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference plenary session, Sydney 7 – Good Shepherd Sunday 7 – Special collection all parishes for Education of Seminarians Bursary Fund 13 - Our Lady of Fatima Day 14 – Mother’s Day 24 - Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians, Patron of Australia 28 - The Ascension 31 - Feast of the Visitation JUNE 1 – Inaugural Marian levtyure, Marist Sion College, WQarragul, 6pm 4 - Pentecost Sunday 5 – Deadline for June Catholic Life 11 - Holy Trinity Sunday 12 - Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday 14 – Catholic Life published 18 - Body and Blood of Christ 23 - Sacred Heart of Jesus 24-25 – Annual collection all parishes for St Vincent de Paul Society support of the poor 29 - Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles 30 – Term 2 ends JULY 2 – Special collection all parishes for Peter’s Pence 2-8 – NAIDOC Week 3 - Feast of St Thomas, Apostle 17 – Term 3 begins 22 – Golden jubilee of ordination of Fr Herman Hengel, Warragul 22 - St Mary Magdalene Solemnity 25 - Feast of St James, Apostle

PRACTISING their plate spinning skills at the workshop are (from left) Kayla Saunders, Eliza Paynter and Poppy Weare.

CRANBOURNE NORTH - St the fun, learning to spin plates outside their comfort zones and Therese’s Primary School was and helping out in the juggling try new things. Following the show Circus Challenge offered visited by Circus Challenge last acts.

The talented performer kept hands-on workshops to all of month.

The day started with a 45 the students and staff alike in the students.

Students enjoyed trying to minute slap-stick comedy constant fits of laughter with circus-skills show for the whole his slap-stick performance and master the traditional circus skills such as plate spinning, dead-pan humor. school.

The show is designed to juggling and spin sticks.

A few lucky students were invited on stage to partake in motivate students to step

AUGUST A special collection will be taken up in all parishes during August for CatholicCare Gippsland 6 - The Transfiguration 7 – Deadline for August Catholic Life 8 - Solemnity of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 10 - Feast of St Lawrence 11 - St Clare Memorial 15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

16 – Catholic Life published 22 - Queenship of BVM 23 - St Rose of Lima Memorial 24 - Feast of St Bartholomew, Apostle 28 - St Augustine Memorial SEPTEMBER 2 – Ordination to diaconate of seminarians Avinash George and Hiep Nguyen, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale 3 – Father’s Day 3 - Special collection all parishes for Priests’ Welfare Foundation 8 - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 14 - Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross 15 - Our Lady of Sorrows Memorial 21 - Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist 22 – Term 3 ends 23 - St Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) Memorial 27 - St Vincent de Paul Memorial 29 - Feast of Archangels Sts Michael, Gabriel and Raphael 29 - Grand final eve public holiday 30 - AFL grand final 24 - Nativity of John the Baptist OCTOBER 1 - Daylight Saving begins (turn clocks forward one hour) 4 - St Francis of Assisi Memorial 7 - Our Lady of the Rosary Memorial 9 – Term 4 begins 9 – Deadline for October Catholic Life 11 - St John XXIII Memorial 18 - Feast of St Luke, evangelist 18 – Catholic Life published 22 - Mission Sunday 22 – Special collection all parishes for Catholic Mission 22 - St John Paul II Memorial 28 - Feast of St Simon and St Jude NOVEMBER 1 - All Saints Day 2 - All Souls Day 7 - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday 9 - Dedication of the Lateran Basilica 17 - St Elizabeth of Hungary Memorial 25 - St Catherine of Alexandria Memorial 26 - Solemnity of Christ the King 27 – Deadline for December Catholic Life 27 – Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference plenary meeting begins, Sydney 27 – 20th anniversary of ordination of Fr Darren Howie, Maffra 30 - Feast of St Andrew, Apostle

Catholic Life, April 2017 - Page 13

Pastoral letter on euthanasia to Victorian Catholics THERE is a renewed push in Victoria and in many other parts of Australia for euthanasia and assisted suicide to be legalised. Misplaced compassion leads some to call for the deliberate ending of life by the direct action of a doctor or by a doctor helping someone to suicide.

This is never justified (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2277).

In this latest push the term ‘assisted dying’ is being used to describe both euthanasia and assisted suicide. While it is never easy to face the end of life of a loved one, we cannot support this kind of legalisation however it is described.

Assistance in our time of dying is something that we should all want for ourselves and for others – however, this should not involve a lethal injection or offering a lethal dose.

As Pope Francis recently reminded us, “The predominant school of thought sometimes leads to a ‘false compassion’ which holds that it is … an act of dignity to perform euthanasia. Instead, the compassion of the Gospel is what accompanies us in times of need, that compassion of the Good Samaritan, who ‘sees’, ‘has compassion’, draws near and provides concrete help.”

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are the opposite of care and represent the abandonment of the sick and the suffering, of older and dying persons.

Instead, we encourage all people of goodwill, to respond to this new challenge with truth and compassion.

We wish to affirm that our task is to protect, nurture and sustain life to the best of our ability.

We thank the Government for its recently increased commitment to palliative care. We encourage them, rather than taking the negative path towards euthanasia or assisted suicide, to continue to invest in the care and support of all Victorians in need. There is clearly much more work to be done.

Last year a Parliamentary Committee recommended Victoria move towards legalising assisted suicide and euthanasia. This was endorsed by the Government in December with a

consultation currently underway to look at how such laws can be made ‘safe’.

We should be clear – there is no safe way to kill people or to help them to their own suicide. For millennia, the Church and civil society has understood such actions to be morally and ethically wrong. The commandment, ‘Thou shalt not kill’ is both a biblical and civil dictum and should remain so for very good reason.

Since the Northern Territory’s brief experiment with euthanasia in 1996, euthanasia and assisted suicide legislation have been continually rejected in state parliaments around Australia.

Why? Because when parliamentarians take the time to debate the issue fully and to consider all the consequences they realise that to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide would threaten the lives of vulnerable people.

During 2008, this issue was at the forefront of the public debate in Victoria.

Since then little has changed.

The proposals then, as now, would allow some people to be treated differently under the law, where their lives could be taken at their request. It would create a lower threshold of care and civil protection afforded to the sick, suffering and vulnerable. Such a law would serve to exploit the vulnerability of those people, exposing them to further risk.

Such legislation is usually presented as being limited: only for terminal illness; only for those in the last weeks and months of life etc. However, the evidence from jurisdictions where assisted suicide and euthanasia are practiced legally show that incremental changes follow over time once the notion that some lives are not worth living becomes accepted in the community.

Euthanasia for children was adopted in Belgium in 2014. Likewise, euthanasia for psychological illness is now legal in Belgium. In Holland, there is pressure to allow assisted suicide for people over the age of 70 who have simply become ‘tired of life’.

We must, therefore, urge our elected

© innavlasova / 123RF Stock Photo

representatives to resist this ‘first step’.

As medical advances increasingly lead to a longer life for many people, we should view older people as a blessing for society rather than a problem.

Each generation has much to teach the generation that follows it. We should therefore see care of the elderly as repayment of a debt of gratitude, as a part of a culture of love and care.

The Catholic community already does much to care through our network of hospices, hospitals, aged care facilities and other services. We call on the Catholic community and people of goodwill to continue to care for the frail, elderly, the sick and the dying, at every stage of life. We ask you to continue to journey with those who are sick and

in pain, to visit them, and ensure they have appropriate care, support and pain management and most of all someone to remain close to them.

We thank those healthcare professionals and palliative care specialists, nurses, doctors, psychologists, pain management teams, pastoral carers, religious, volunteers and others who work every day to reduce pain as well as social and spiritual suffering, in positive and life-affirming ways.

We ask Victorians to continue to love and care for those who are sick and suffering rather than abandoning them to euthanasia or supporting them to suicide. Our ability to care says much about the strength of our society.

At this time we especially also want to encourage you, our sisters and brothers, to pray and to act. We commend the efforts of lay groups and associations and all people of goodwill who respectfully let their parliamentary representatives know of their concerns.

Please do what you can to stay informed about this issue.

If you would like to contribute to the efforts of your local parish, ask your parish priest how you can be involved.

If you would like more information on this issue or would like to find out how you can contribute locally, contact the Life, Marriage and Family Office of the Melbourne Archdiocese on: lmf@cam. org.au or (03) 9287 5587.

In all our efforts, let us never cease to call on Jesus Christ and the intercession of Mary our Mother.

Yours sincerely in Christ, Most Rev Denis Hart DD Archbishop of Melbourne Most Rev Paul Bird CSsR DD Bishop of Ballarat Most Rev Patrick O’Regan DD Bishop of Sale Most Rev Leslie Tomlinson DD Bishop of Sandhurst

St Peter's students have had a head start this year CRANBOURNE - St Peter’s College students have had a ‘HeadStart’ in their learning Students and staff alike have been seen to be settled

and focussed on their learning and teaching, free from the distractions often associated with the settling in phase of the new year.

menALIVE retreat coming to Maffra AT a time when there is great confusion about sexuality, (eg. the prolific discovery of new genders), we do well to recall that ‘God made them male and female’ (Mark10:6).

The Creator made sex enjoyable, so clearly sex is meant to be enjoyed; but in the context of creation.

Indeed, one of our vocational sacraments, marriage, sanctifies the consummation of the sexual relationship between a man and a woman.

The mother makes her body available for the conception, gestation, birth and nurture of one made in the image and likeness of God. This generosity clearly calls for great support and encouragement.

The father’s responsibilities

are less clear cut, but these demanding responsibilities also call for great support and encouragement. menALIVE addresses this need. Certainly, not all men get married.

Indeed, within the Catholic church, the second vocational sacrament, orders, is essentially for those who choose not to marry.

So unmarried men can also have fatherly responsibilities which menALIVE addresses.

A menALIVE retreat will be held in Maffra on May 6-7.

Further details can be obtained from Charles Bagguley, charles@oakwell.com.au, or.

5147 1252 (after hours), or John Cooney, jandjcooney@ bigpond.com, or 5148 9220.

The end of the school year, when assessments are complete, can often be marked by a reduction in work by students, a reduction in learning opportunities, and a sense of biding time before the holidays descend.

Headstart Programs where VCE students get a taste of the year ahead by entering into classes for a week or two has been common in most schools for many years.

Questions began to be asked at St Peter’s College, “What can be created to keep students stimulated in their learning the whole year through”?

The concept of a whole school roll-over or HeadStart Program morphed from this essential question.

Students moved into the next year's classes with their timetabled teacher of the following year and began work.

There was a sense of purpose and direction to student learning in the last three weeks of the school year.

Added benefits of the program have included; improved student attendance rates, stimulated student learning opportunities, provision for data gathering of

students abilities prior to the beginning of the next academic year, teething problems associated with subject clashes ironed out and VCE students having a solid foundation prior to the holiday period with a purposeful holiday homework program embedded.

Acting principal Chris Black explains,“The beginning of the academic school year 2017 has seen students and staff alike settled and focussed on their learning and teaching, free from the distractions often associated with the settling in phase of the new year.

“Students have had the best of starts to the beginning of the year and this provides the most

conductive of environments to maximise learning outcomes.”

Feedback from a recent parents and friends meeting had all members expressing what a success the program had been, their students were focused at the end of the year, had holiday work set and were eager to get it done, and came back to school with far less disruptions, particularly those students with special needs who had always took some time to settle in the past.

Next year's Year 8-12 classes will begin on November 21. For all college tours and enrolment enquiries contact registrar, Kerrie Birrell on 5990 7777.

Page 14 - Catholic Life, April 2017

For the Young and Young at Heart Jesus rises from the dead

Time for a laugh TWO country lads are heading off on their first trip to the big city.

Before leaving home, their father gives them both a bit of advice: “You watch those taxi drivers. They’ll rob you blind. Don’t you go paying them what they ask. You haggle.”

At the Sydney airport, the lads catch a cab to their hotel. When they reach their destination, the cabbie says, “That’ll be $20 please.”

“Oh no you don’t! My dad warned me about you. You’ll only be getting $15 from me,” says one of the teenagers.

“And you’ll only be getting $15 from me too,” adds the other.

A DRUG squad policeman stopped at a farm and talked to an old farmer.

He told the farmer “We are doing a random check of foothills properties to see if there is any marijuana being grown.”

The farmer said “Look anywhere you like but don’t go in the paddock down by the creek.”

The policeman verbally exploded and said “Look mister, I have the authority of the government with me!” Reaching into his rear back pocket, the arrogant officer removed his badge and proudly displayed it to the rancher.

“See this badge? This badge means I can go wherever I want... On any land! No questions asked, no answers given! Do you understand old man?”

The farmer nodded, apologised, and AT Easter we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead. His followers found his went about his chores. Moments later tomb empty and he appeared to some of them. The first to see him and relay he heard loud screams. He looked up the message to his disciples was Mary Magdalene. Colour in this picture and saw the policeman running for which shows Jesus appearing to her as she prayed in the garden. his life, being chased by a big bull.

With every step the bull was gaining ground on the officer, and it was likely that he’d sure enough get gored THREE dimensional figures are before he reached safety. The officer ones which, in simple terms are was clearly terrified. figures which have a height, width SOLID CONE The old rancher threw down his and depth to them. tools, ran as fast as he could to the While a rectangle has only two fence, and yelled at the top of his dimensions (width and height), a lungs. piece of paper is three dimensional “YOUR BADGE! SHOW HIM because it also has depth in the YOUR BADGE!” thickness of the paper.

However, just to confuse matters ONE cold morning after her there are some three dimensional husband had gone to work, a woman shapes which only have two texts him “Windows frozen. Won’t surfaces. open.”

Examples are solid cone, a solid A couple of minutes later she gets hemisphere or dome and the Mobius a reply “Pour warm water over it and strip. tap gently as you open.”

To make a Mobius strip, cut a Five minutes later she send another strip of paper about 4cm wide and text “I think the computer has really 30cm long. Add glue to one end and had it now.

Maybe I had the water too instead of gluing it to the other end hot.” to form a circle, give it a twist before gluing the two ends.

A BOY asks his father, “Dad, are SOLID HEMISPHERE To prove this shape has only two bugs good to eat?” surfaces, take a felt tipped pen and “That’s disgusting. Don’t talk about draw a line in the middle of the strip. things like that over dinner,” the dad Eventually you will come back to replies. where you started.

After dinner the father asks, “Now, To find the second surface, do the son, what did you want to ask me?” same with the thin edge.

“Oh, nothing,” the boy says. “There That’s why a Mobius is such an was a bug in your soup, but now it’s interesting shape. gone.”

Now think, what is a three dimensional shape with only one A MAN was driving and saw a truck surface?

MOBIUS STRIP stalled on the side of the highway that

A lesson in three dimensions

had 10 penguins standing next to it.

The man pulled over and asked the truck driver if he needed any help.

The truck driver replied, “If you can take these penguins to the zoo while I wait for RACV that will be great!”

The man agreed and the penguins hopped into the back of his car. Two hours later, the trucker was back on the road again and decided to check on the penguins. He showed up at the zoo and they weren’t there!

He headed back into his truck and started driving around the town, looking for any sign of the penguins, the man, or his car.

While driving past a movie theatre, the truck driver spotted the guy walking out with the 10 penguins.

The truck driver yelled, “What are you doing? You were supposed to take them to the zoo!”

The man replied, “I did and then I had some extra money so I took them to go see a movie.”

A MAN who was just married flies to North Queensland for a business trip and his new bride was going to follow him up him the next day so they could spend the weekend together at a resort before flying home.

When he gets there, he e-mails his wife to let her know he made it there safely. When he sends the e-mail, he mistypes the address.

In Sydney, a grieving widow, whose husband has recently passed away, receives the e-mail. She reads it, screams, and faints.

Hearing her grandmother’s cry, the widow’s 18 year old granddaughter runs into the living room to see the computer on, with a message that reads, “Dear love, I just got here.

Preparing for your arrival tomorrow.

Can’t wait to see you. PS ... Sure is hot here.”

A MAN calls the hospital and speaks frantically into the phone, “My wife is having a baby, and her contractions are only two minutes apart!”

“Is this her first child?” the doctor queries.

“No, you idiot!” the man shouts.

“This is her husband!”

YOU are on a horse, galloping at a constant speed. On your right side is a sharp drop off, and on your left side is an elephant travelling at the same speed as you.

Directly in front of you is another galloping horse but your horse is unable to overtake it.

Behind you is a lion running at the same speed as you and the horse in front of you.

What must you do to safely get out of this highly dangerous situation?

Just get off the merry-go-round when it stops.

ONE to ponder: If a woman is always right and a man is always wrong, what happens if a man tells a woman she is right? Is he right or wrong?

Catholic Life, April 2017 - Page 15

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public notices

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VOCATIONS

YAMAHA Electone electric organ, model B-205F, 100 watts. Comes with wooden seat.

Situated in Sale. Phone 5144 4251.

prayer HOLY SPIRIT You who makes me see everything and shows me the way to reach my ideals, you who gives me a divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me; in this short dialogue I want to thank you for everything and affirm once more that I never want to be separated from you, no matter how great the material desire may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in Your perpetual Glory. (Mention your request). Thank you Holy Spirit for your love towards me and my loved one. Amen This prayer should be said for 3 consecutive days. After the 3rd day the request will be granted, no matter how difficult it may be. While making the request one must either promise to publish on granting the favour or promise to circulate copies of it to as many people as possible. This is to spread the wonder of the Holy Spirit.

NOVENA. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved, adored, glorified and made renowned throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us, Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us. Thanks St Jude for prayers answered.

Say this prayer nine times a day for nine days. By the eighth day your prayers will be answered.

It has never been known to fail.

Publication must be promised.

READERS please note that published prayers reflect the beliefs of those who place the advertisements. We ask readers to judge for themselves, especially in regards to suggested fulfilment of requests made in these prayers.

Priests & Deacons Are you considering a vocation as a priest or deacon for the Diocese of Sale?

If so please contact

Fr Michael Willemsen 5152 3106

How should we care for our migrants and refugees?

THE care of migrants and refugees coming to Australia is one of the most divisive issues in Australian public debate.

Pastoral care of migrants and refugees will be top of the agenda for the Church in Australia later this year as Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana and Cardinal Orlando Quevedo from the Philippines arrive in Melbourne to give keynote addresses at a national conference on the issue.

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office, an agency of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, will host this timely conference at the Australian Catholic University, Melbourne Campus, on July 19 and 20.

Cardinal Turkson will deliver a keynote address focusing on his role as Prefect of the

vocations@sale.catholic.org.au

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Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development within the Roman Curia.

The Dicastery is in effect a department to promote the care of vulnerable and marginalised people. The Ghanaian Cardinal will also reflect on his work with Pope Francis.

Cardinal Quevedo will describe the pastoral models of care for migrants and refugees in our communities.

He will also join a panel discussion about the pastoral care of migrants in a multiethnic church and whether one size fits all.

Cast Into the Deep is the theme of the conference highlighted by Pope Francis’ call to go out to the margins of society and “cast into the deep” (Luke 5:4).

Fr Maurizio Pettena, director

wanted known

Your will be done Trinity Families asks you to consider assisting our work in funding charitable projects across the diocese.

Remembering Trinity Families in your will by making a bequest is an effective way of ensuring that you do something to help those struggling families in our midst.

If you need more information on bequests contact: PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820 Ph: 56 22 6688 ABN 51 486 581 500

of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office said, “The dignity of the human person is central to our work as a Church agency.

"I hope that this conference will put the pastoral care of migrants and refugees firmly on the political agenda here in Australia.

"Over the two-day event, there will be many opportunities for debate with key stakeholders about the best way forward on this issue”.

Registrations are now open at, https://ors.eventsair.com/ acmro-2017 The conference provides an opportunity for delegates to reflect on the vital issue about how we treat people moving between countries. It will be of particular interest to overseas clergy, religious, migrant chaplains and those who work in the area of pastoral care within migrant communities.

A multi-cultural Mass and the launch of the annual migrant and refugee parish kit will be among the highlights during this two-day conference.

All those who are passionate about our migrant communities are warmly invited to attend the conference.

I do not fear tomorrow for I have seen today - Philippians 4:13

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6688

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Page 16 - Catholic Life, April 2017

Melbourne footballers teach skills at St Therese’s

ST Therese’s students run through a training drill after being shown how to do it by the visiting Melbourne players.

CRANBOURNE NORTH - Melbourne Football Club players were welcomed to St Therese’s Primary School in Cranbourne North to run a skills workshop.

Players Max Gawn, James Harmes, Joel Smith and Liam Hulett held the workshop with students from Grades Three

through to Six during the visit.

After taking the students through a series of drills they held a question and answer session, gave out prizes and signed autographs.

They were also happy to pose for photographs with the youngsters, some of whom may end up playing AFL or the

AFL Women’s League in future years.

Melbourne Football Club’s training ground is at Casey Fields which is just off Berwick-Cranbourne Rd. at Cranbourne East and so three or four Catholic Primary Schools in the vicinity can claim the club to be their local AFL team.

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Help Religious Sisters - the unsung heroines in the Church!

MELBOURNE’S bearded cult-hero ruckman Max Gawn with students Darcy Cowan and Denzel Dirckze.

Gearing up for youth festival THE Australian Catholic Youth Festival organisers have announced preparations are well underway for the event that will draw an estimated 15,000 young people to Sydney from December 7-9 this year’ The festival will be held in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct using the Sydney Showground and Qudos Bank Arena venues and will culminate with a closing Mass on Saturday, December 9 at the Domain, not far from St Mary’s Cathedral and adjacent to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

The three-day festival is a youthful and energetic celebration hosted by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference in partnership with the Archdiocese of Sydney.

It will feature international and national presenters and performers who will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference has made arrangements with the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust to secure the harbour-side venue.

The Domain is renowned for hosting iconic Sydney events such as Carols in the Domain, Symphony in the Domain and

Tropfest, and will become the location for a Eucharistic celebration for tens of thousands of people in the heart of the city of Sydney.

The Mass in the Domain will be an open event for families and others to join in and a highlight to the closing of the festival.

Organisers from dioceses around Australia are invited to attend a briefing day on Friday April 28 and again on October 13 in Sydney to collaborate in bringing young people from city and rural communities across the country. Registrations will be opening shortly.

The festival exists to provide young people with opportunities to deepen their relationship with Jesus, celebrate their faith and encounter the vitality of the Church in Australia.

It will mark the beginning of the Year of Youth in 2018 proclaimed by the Bishops of Australia to celebrate 10 years since World Youth Day was hosted in Sydney.

Theme of the Festival is Open New Horizons for Spreading Joy: Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment.

For more information about the Festival, see www.acyf.org. au.