Catholic Life August 2017

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Catholic Life Publication of the Diocese of Sale

August 2017

ISSUE 200

Diaconate ordinations TWO of our seminarians will be ordained as deacons at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, on September 2.

They are Avinash George and Hiep Van Nguyen who are studying for the priesthood at Corpus Christi Seminary, Carlton.

Bishop of Sale Pat O’Regan will ordain them at an 11am Mass.

For both men it is an exciting milestone on their long journey to the priesthood, which Godwilling will take place next year.

Avinash, 32 last week, was born in Kerala India, and initially entered a Franciscan seminary there before coming

to Australia in 2011.

He began at Corpus Christi as a candidate for Sale Diocese in 2012 and did his pastoral placement at St Agatha’s parish, Cranbourne.

Avinash will be wellsupported at his ordination by his parents, his uncle Fr Mathew Joseph who served in this diocese for several years, and an aunt and uncle from his mother’s side of the family, who are all travelling from India.

Also there will be some relatives now living in Australia including an uncle Sunny Joseph and his family and several cousins, including fellow seminarian Stanley Devasia.

Hiep, 39, was born in Vietnam

shortly after the reunification of the country at the end of the Vietnam War. He became a secondary school teacher for seven years before discerning that he was being called to become a priest.

He started studies in Vietnam, then came to Australia in June 2010 with a view to entering a seminary here.

He began learning the English language and was accepted as a candidate for Sale Diocese, beginning at Corpus Christi in February 2011.

Hiep did his pastoral placement at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish at Narre Warren.

At the ordination he will have support from two priest friends

Avinash George

Hiep Van Nguyen

who are from the same parish in Vietnam where he grew up.

They are Fr Le Van Truong and Fr Pham Troing Phuong.

200th issue this month for Catholic Life WELCOME to the 200th issue of Catholic Life!

The newspaper first published in November 1997 and was one of the first free religious newspapers in Australia.

The paper came into being following a thorough investigation of the options available to the Diocese of Sale to provide information to the people.

A previous paid diocesan newspaper Sale Catholic Life had been closed down by Bishop Jeremiah Coffey some two years earlier because its circulation had fallen to extremely low levels.

Bishop Coffey accepted the concept of extending the reach of a diocesan publication by distributing copies to families of children at Catholic schools within the diocese.

He employed former Gippsland Times editor Colin Coomber to produce and distribute the newspaper.

Mr Coomber used to write all the articles, take the photographs, sell advertisements, do all the production and then deliver around 15,000 copies to every school and parish in the diocese.

After a couple of months it became evident that assistance was needed to distribute the

Trinity FAMILIES

papers and so two people were engaged to help.

Printing methods in the early days were extremely basic as computerisation was still in its infancy.

Each item and its heading had to be separately printed at the Gippsland Times in Sale, have a wax layer placed on the back and then had to be pasted down. The black and white photographs were individually rephotographed through a screen to produce the dots necessary for clear definition.

The completed paste-up of each page then had to be taken to the Latrobe Valley Express in Morwell where a full-scale negative was made before the printing plate was produced.

After a couple of years, each page could be produced electronically using the Quark Xpress program and the page files had to be taken to the Express.

Files were too large to be put onto the maximum 1.4Mb floppy discs available at the time and so special Zip disks were used.

By the early 2000s, Catholic Life began to transfer files by the internet but the dial-up system was very slow. It took more than an hour to transmit

the files and if the line dropped out during transmission the process had to be started all over again.

Often it proved quicker to revert to the Zip disc process and drive the

files between Sale and Morwell.

Finally, with ADSL internet access and the change to Adobe InDesign program the transfer speed improved rapidly and today 16 full color pages can be uploaded in a matter of two or three minutes.

T h e Latrobe Va l l e y Express continues to print the

newspaper which had grown to more than 16,000 copies an issue and inserts which used to be hand inserted by a team of workers can now be inserted mechanically.

The distribution method has also improved with John Isles Transport in Warragul being responsible for ensuring the papers get to the schools and parishes.

The first color pages in Catholic Life occurred in our fifth issue on May 1988 to announce the launch of the CDF Pre-Paid Funeral Fund.

Apart from spot color on some advertisements, it took until September 2001 for four color to reappear on the front page of an issue heralding the launch of Bishop Coffey’s pastoral plan, Journeying Together.

It heralded the start of a new era and in March 2002 we began producing front, back and centre pages in color, extending to eight pages in 2008 and finally all pages from February 2010.

• Pages from the past.

200 issues in 20 years, see Page 8 The first of our 200 issues.

We need your help to aid others

All donations to Trinity Families are full tax deductible.

Please give generously.

To donate visit www.trinityfamilies.org.au or pick up a donations envelope at your parish, or phone (03) 5622 6688 for a credit card deduction form.

Page 2 - Catholic Life, August 2017

Two Marys allow us to reflect on the gift of grace “GRACE” is one the great words in our Catholic vocabulary.

When we are at our best it is easy to find; when we are at our worst it seems hidden.

Our whole prayer and sacramental framework aims at making sure we are graced that we might be grace for others.

During the month of August we have a great chance to reflect deeply on what that word grace, which pervades the spiritual dimension of our lives, actually looks like.

For in August we have two ‘Mary’ feasts: Mary of the Cross MacKillop and The Assumption, just a week apart.

Both Marys not only believed in but lived their lives by a profound trust in God’s grace, sometimes we also call it providence.

Mary MacKillop’s oft quoted phrase, “See the hand of God in everything”, is but one example.

Both Marys teach us that when grace is operative in our lives, it means that we must think about where we are looking, and what direction our lives are heading.

Both Marys always looked towards Jesus. We live in a world that often distracts us, a world that invites us to look in all the wrong places, one where at times we can settle for something less than we are.

No wonder we can be discouraged at times; no wonder at times we can be looking in all the wrong places.

It is one of the great joys of the last two and half years to see so much of God’s grace at work in the Diocese of Sale.

Meeting so many people throughout our wide and varied Diocese who are truly living their lives gracefully and who are determined to remind us to make sure we keep or eyes

we have been blessed by these two gentleman’s deep faith and belief in God’s providence and grace at work in their lives.

Please pray for them as they continue their journey to priesthood for the Diocese of Sale. You have prayed for them this far let us continue to pray for them and all our priests.

firmly fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

One such grace is that next month on Saturday September 2 our Diocese will be graced with the ordination to the diaconate of two of our seminarians, Avinash George and Hiep Van Nguyen, (see article on the front page).

In an age when vocations are not exactly bountiful

LOST in all the media hubbub is the plight of East Africa.

I have been heartened by reports from around the Diocese of collections that have been taken up to assist in this hugh event unfolding before us.

It is hard to imagine that 23 million people, almost the current population of Australia, are currently on the brink of famine in South Sudan and other areas of East Africa and Yemen.

I realise that there are many calls upon our generosity.

Your urgent donation will help Caritas Australia deliver life-saving food and water to countries most in need including South Sudan, Kenya and Malawi, it also enables us to be ministers of grace and God’s providence in our world.

The two Marys show us the way. God is good.

I’M slowly recovering from a full knee replacement, and I thank everyone of their concern and prayer.

While the doctors and physios assure me all is on track for a good recovery, I am learning a new dimension to that wonderful fruit of the Holy Spirit, patience. + Bishop Pat O’Regan Bishop of Sale

CWL members gather for annual conference

By Moira Kelly

CWL members (from left) Maureen Pawley, Evelyn Stevens, Elaine Carmody, Lena Zagami, Margaret East, Moira Kelly, Pat Allway and Linda Darmody.

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

catholiclife@sale.catholic.org.au www.sale.catholic.org.au Editor: Colin Coomber

Latrobe alley Vunera FServicesl

Published 6 times a year Deadline for advertising copy and editorial contributions for our next issue is October 9.

Issues distributed free through parishes and schools from October 18.

Published by Catholic Media Gippsland, an agency of the Diocese of Sale.

Printed by Express Print, Morwell.

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ABOUT 40 members from branches in the Sale Diocese attended the annual Sale Diocesan Conference of the Catholic Women’s League at St Michael’s Traralgon.

The conference commenced with Mass celebrated by Bishop Patrick O’Regan followed by morning tea and registration in St Michael’s hall.

Diocesan president Lena Zigami welcomed all and league prayers were said. Reports were presented by Lena from Mary Louise Detering and Lodwar.

The Horizon report was given

by Marcia Wilkinson as Sylvia Neaves was unable to attend.

There were two speakers for the day. The first was a group of young students from ECG Community College in Warragul.

They spoke about mental problems suffered by young people. They suffer depression, anxiety and a feeling of worthlessness.

Those who suffer from Transgender Dysphoria are inclined to suicidal tendencies.

Some feel ashamed and will not seek help.

One girl suffered mental illness but overcame it by fighting the negative feelings and helps others to do the same.

Sr Mary Olafu, the CWL spiritual director gave us a very thoughtful and quiet reflection.

The second speaker was from the Better Future for Foster Kids Foundation. These women collect clothes, rugs and toys and pack them into individual cases for foster children, as some of these children are suddenly moved from one carer to another.

These children’s ages range from babies to 16 years old and quite often only have the clothes the stand up in. These cases are their own and give some security and comfort.

General president Anita Toner asked the CWL to write letters to members of Parliament against euthanasia and same sex marriage.

Also young parents need to be made aware that the socalled Safe Schools Program is not what it purports to be.

Anita also told us how wonderful the Mary Glowrey Museum is and encouraged us to visit this historic tribute to this wonderful women.

Diocesan committee for 2017 was announced and raffle was drawn. The winner was a very happy Sr Helen Barnes. The day concluded with Hail Mary and afternoon tea.

Catholic Life, August 2017 - Page 3

Same-sex marriage Bill decision by year’s end THE Federal Parliament is expected to vote on a same-sex marriage Bill before the end of the year.

As of going to press with this issue, the situation is still uncertain with the government’s announced voluntary postal vote being challenged in the High Court.

Senate last week defeated the proposal for a national compulsory plebiscite on the issue and the government has pushed ahead with plans for the postal vote.

Pro-marriage equality groups are challenging the constitutional legality of the funding for the mail survey, estimated to be $122 million.

The Government believes using the Australian Bureau of Statistics to conduct the postal ballot will get around constitutional issues.

The statisticians would work with officials from the Australian Electoral Commission.

The second defeat in the Senate last week means the government will have to quickly arrange the postal vote and mail out an estimated 16 million letters.

It is suggested the mail out will begin as early as September 12, giving about seven weeks for people to access the information and return it by mid November.

Once results are confirmed, the government has promised a free vote in parliament before December 7 which is the last scheduled sitting day for Federal Parliament before the Christmas–New Year break.

There has been strong opposition to any form of ballot of public views with opponents arguing that elected parliamentary representatives should just vote on same-sex marriage without delay.

Some have pointed out that because the result of the postal ballot will be non-binding, politicians will still vote according to their conscience which is what they could do now.

Some advocates of same-sex marriage (they prefer to use the term marriage equality) have announced that they will boycott the postal poll.

Others say that the response to a voluntary postal ballot might not return enough votes so that the winning argument

can be claimed to be the view of the majority of Australians.

Neither side could then claim that a large non-voting population supported their view and so the massive cost of the mail out will be to the detriment of other projects which could be funded by the government.

As we head to a likely postal ballot, both sides will be lobbying people heavily to ensure that they vote.

Both sides appear confident to be able to win the ballot but, as previously stated, that may not carry the same result on the floor of parliament when it comes to politicians having a free vote on the issue.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the weakest argument against a ballot was that voters could not have a respectful discussion of issues during a two-month postal ballot campaign.

He believes debate will be respectful but mental health authorities and gay groups fear there could be personal attacks on marriage equality advocates.

Whatever happens, the issue is now coming to a head after years of uncertainty.

Recruitment opportunities at new Berwick hospital BERWICK – Recruitment is ramping up to staff the new St John of God Hospital in preparation for its opening on January 18.

Already more than 2000 people have registered on the hospital’s website to hear about upcoming job prospects.

More than 200 additional clinical and non-clinical caregivers will be needed to staff the new and expanded services at the hospital.

Specialist staff will be required for the new cardiac care unit, the cardiac/ vascular catheter laboratory, an additional four operating theatres and the region’s first intensive care unit.

St John of God Berwick Hospital chief executive officer Lisa Norman said significant workplace planning had been undertaken to ensure the new hospital had the right mix of staff for the opening.

“We are rolling out a recruitment campaign to advertise the new job opportunities and to promote

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“We are also offering development opportunities for our current caregivers who might be interested in expanding their skills in new areas that will be new to the hospital.

“The business development team developed a medical recruitment plan that identified the number and type of consultants that are needed to enable us to respond to the fastgrowing south east corridor of

Catholic radio programming THE Journey Catholic Radio program airs weekly on Gippsland Christian radio station LifeFM which can be found at 103.9.

This Sunday, August 20 there are God spots from some inspiring people.

Listeners can hear from Sr Hilda with her wisdom from the Abbey and Presence Left Behind, Sam Clear reminds us about Unity while Walking the Walk and Fr Dave Callaghan

© 123RF Stock Photo/Andrey Guryanov

encourages us about Putting our Trust in the Lord.

This is carefully woven together with amazing Christian music artists to help create a show that is all about faith, hope, love and life.

Tune into LIFE 103.9 FM Sunday 10am or go to www. jcr.org.au or www.itunes.jcr. org.au where you can listen anytime and subscribe to weekly shows by email.

Melbourne.”

Ms Norman said interest from doctors had been extremely positive due to the new facility and St John of God’s reputation for delivering exceptional care.

There was a great benefit for doctors working at a location that had a public and private hospital so close together.

“We are pleased to be able to provide a wealth of new employment opportunities to the local community and to provide the chance for local residents to seek fulfilling and meaningful work closer to home.”

Currently more than 70 per cent of the local community travelled outside the region for employment and Casey City Council believed that the new St John of God Berwick Hospital would have a positive impact for local families.

The hospital will be one of the largest employers in the Casey-Cardinia region.

For further information or to registered interest in employment opportunities at the hospital visit www.sjog.org. au/berwickcareers

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Page 4 - Catholic Life, August 2017

Clergy day of reflection

Scams aplenty

THERE must still be lots of people falling for various phone and email scams otherwise why would the scammers persist?

In recent times I have been offered millions of US dollars several times to help poor widows from Nigeria, Iran, Somalia, Philippines and one or two other locations I can’t recall, to help claim money their late husbands had salted away.

I have had several people claiming to be from Microsoft, Telecom (doesn’t exist anymore) and my broadband provider ring up to tell me that they have noticed something wrong with my computer and offering to fix it if I just let them have access.

As well there have been emails from a variety of banks telling me to click a link and upgrade my details on their new system. I appear to have accounts in banks all over the world, including ones I have never heard of, because they are all writing to me.

These scams are so blatantly obvious that they are laughable and yet the scammers persist.

We have heard of one wealthy elderly woman falling for a phone scammer but fortunately she mentioned the incident to her daughter and they were able to contact the bank and stop her accounts from being drained.

We wonder how many people fall for a scam but never report it for fear of being seen by family and friends to be naïve or not able to look after their finances.

I am told one of the scams which usually runs around this time is to get a calls from the tax office requesting further information from you, usually about your bank accounts.

Firstly, the ATO doesn’t make phone calls and they already know more about your bank accounts than you do.

Write letters call

WITH the push for assisted suicide to be debated in parliament the Church has provided resources to parishes to assist people to write letters to Members of Parliament.

The information contains several letter samples, hints on letter writing, the names and addresses of all Legislative Assembly parliamentarians in the diocese.

There too much information for parish bulletins so you may have to ask at the parish office for a copy.

SALE Diocese clergy gathered earlier this month for a day of reflection. It was held to celebrate the feast of St John Vianney, who is patron saint of parish priests.

Support Women for the World WOMEN from around Australia are joining forces as part of a global sisterhood, aimed at raising money and awareness for women living in poverty worldwide.

In September, Caritas Australia’s Women for the World fundraiser will bring together thousands of women who will host their own Women for the World events.

These events will range from a simple morning tea, through

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

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.

to a movie night or a dinner party.

Caritas Australia, part of one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world, works at community level in over 29 countries and with First Australian communities to improve the economic and social participation of women and girls.

Money raised from Women for the World events will go to fund Caritas Australia’s work in 29 countries globally across Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Latin America and within First Australian programs.

Michelle Fernon, a long-time supporter of Caritas Australia, and one of the founders of Women for the World believes it’s time to take action, given women represent the greatest proportion of people experiencing extreme poverty around the world.

“Women have an important and increasingly influential role in the fabric of our society, yet 55 percent of the world’s poor are women,” Ms Fernon said.

“Many face systemic discrimination that prevents them from gaining an education, accessing healthcare and securing employment. But we also know that we can do something about it and if we reach out and help a woman, her family and her community can climb out of poverty.”

Ms Fernon said Women for the World events are all about bringing together those who are passionate about social justice, particularly where it relates to

women.

“The fundraiser is a great opportunity to have a great time with your friends and family, while making an enormous difference to women’s lives globally,” Ms Fernon said.

When you host a Women for the World event, the most important thing is to have fun.

So choose something you like to do, get your friends family and colleagues together and just go for it.

“By bringing together women who care about these issues and utilising their incredible networks, we can build a community of women who are passionate about helping to fight poverty and promoting justice globally.” $50 can build an energysaving stove for a family, which uses less firewood to conserve the natural environment in Malawi, while $100 can provide 15 female farmers with vegetable seeds, so they can grow sustainable food in Nepal.

Last year, Caritas reached over 2 million people directly through its emergency and development programs.

You can register to host a Women for the World event at www.womenfortheworld.org. au where you can set up your online fundraising page.

Find some inspiring fundraising ideas and simple steps for hosting a Women for the World event or call Caritas on 1800 024 413 for more information.

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Catholic Life, August 2017 - Page 5

Applications for funding close at end of August CHARITIES seeking funding for projects to aid families must apply to Trinity Families by the end of this month.

The diocesan charity has about $110,000 to distribute within the Diocese of Sale.

Trinity Families had distributed about $1.2 million over the past 12 years.

Funds are not available to individuals and under Australian Tax Office regulations, only charities with deductible gift recipient status are eligible to apply.

Trinity Families executive officer Colin Coomber said that applications for funding from this year’s disbursement had been trickling in but he

expected there to be a flood of applications over the next few weeks.

The economic downturn over much of the diocese was affecting a lot of families and there would be a heavy demand on the services of charities.

He said Gippsland dairy farmers had been struggling since their milk prices were slashed by dairy companies last year, and many people had been affected by the closure of Hazelwood power station earlier this year.

Fortunately the State Government had reached agreement to acquire a timber mill in Heyfield, but another mill in Morwell would close

soon.

“It is not only the families of workers who are affected but also the business community.

“There are a lot of people who are suffering financially and mentally from the current economic woes.”

Mr Coomber said he hoped that Trinity Families could support those in need by providing the funding necessary to provide welfare and counselling services.

People experiencing a cut in household income often needed help in budgeting and counselling to help them through the early days of their changed situation.

However, experience showed that down the track many people did not cope well and then there was a need for various interventions to help them overcome drug and alcohol abuse and problem gambling.

He said Gippsland was well placed with an array of charities who were there to assist but as always the programs being conducted suffered through lack of financial resources.

“Trinity Families is here to assist and we urge charities to

apply.”

Mr Coomber said he was pleased that the State Government appeared to have increased funding for various projects in the Latrobe Valley following the power station closure because that would ease some of the demand placed on Trinity Families.

In recent years it had only been able to fund about a third of the requests for assistance.

To apply, charities should visit www.trinityfamilies.org.au, download the PDF form, then fill it in and email it back by the due date. Further information is available from Mr Coomber on 5622 6688.

CatholicCare conducting its annual appeal

By Mark Tanti AUGUST is the time of year that CatholicCare has its annual appeal.

CatholicCare (formerly known as Centacare and the Catholic Family Welfare Bureau) has been operating for 82 years.

It has survived that time, due to the generosity of the parishioners of the Catholic Church in Australia.

Trinity Families provide a great deal of financial support,

to assist us in our work.

In Gippsland, the need is great.

We provide many services to both Catholic and non-Catholic families across four locations; Sale, Traralgon, Warragul and Pakenham.

We are also providing an outreach counselling service to families affected by the drop in farm gate milk prices.

For couples considering getting married, CatholicCare provides programs such as “Focus” and “The Two of Us” to help couples prepare for

o w E R U The F U T

marriage.

Separation and Divorce affects many families across Gippsland. Many families have difficulty negotiating this space in a way that doesn’t impact adversely on their kids.

CatholicCare provides programs to help families develop skills to reduce the conflict. In addition to this, we offer school counselling in various schools across Gippsland.

Lots of work has occurred in Pakenham over the last

. . . g n i d rth buil

s e d u l c n i !

E N O Y EVER

couple of years. We have conversational English groups being run for people from nonEnglish speaking backgrounds.

This couldn’t have been achieved, without the support of dedicated volunteers from Maryknoll.

We also started our community garden project this year. Twelve vegetable gardens were made from recycled potato boxes.

The soil was donated by another potato farmer and the seedlings were donated by Bunnings in Pakenham.

The Pakenham office, (which is provided by the generosity of a local family) is currently undergoing a major renovation.

This renovation, which is due to be completed by beginning of September, will enable us to provide a comfortable facility to offer our services.

Thank you for supporting us in our work. Please feel free to contact us on 5622 1188, if you require our services or know someone that does need our help.

Mark Tanti CatholicCare Gippsland

Catholic Life 5622 6688

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Page 6 - Catholic Life, August 2017

Mass times still the What makes us belong? most popular page eflections

PARISH Mass times and parish contacts remain the most popular pages visited on the Sale Diocese website www.sale. catholic.org.au.

Each month we have around 6600 visits from about 3000 individual computers.

These numbers have levelled out again after peaking at 48,000 visits from 29,800 visitors in February at the height of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse.

The link to Jim Quillinan’s on-line column Along the Track was easily the most popular link to another website.

Other pages which rate highly with visitors are information about the diocese, its privacy policy and Catholic Life.

The most downloaded file is

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the information on Working With Children Checks which are now a requirement for all people with volunteer roles at parishes.

That is expected to tail off now that all parishes should have all their volunteers processed Just over 90 percent of visits to the website are short term, allowing the visitor to access the information required or download a document.

Only 4 percent of people stay longer than 15 minutes.

The diocese is currently reviewing its electronic media presence to ensure that it best meets the needs of the diocese, parishes and parishioners.

Various changes are expected by be implemented as time goes by,

Our Family Caring For Your Family Since 1979 Member Of The Australian Funeral Directors Association

SOME time ago, I read a quote from the then newly elected Pope Francis: “How beautiful it is to support one another in this wonderful adventure of faith!”

Faith certainly is an adventure, a journey of discovery, a step into the deep but, as Pope Francis said, our faith needs the support of others.

Last year I came across an article written in response to one of my columns (On Being Catholic) in this newspaper.

Whoever wrote the critique (it was not signed) made some good points, despite his or her disagreement with part of what I wrote.

An exchange of views can be enriching if it helps us grow in understanding of each other and each other’s ways. In such a way our faith can be enriched too.

An exchange of views can lead us to new insights into how we try to describe God’s incredible relationship with each of us and with us in community, as we grapple to understand what St Paul calls ‘the fullness of God’. But that requires openness, generosity of spirit, faith, prayer and above all, sensitivity to another’s faith journey.

Sadly the critique ended in these words: You can tell Quillinan’s writing for a Catholic school audience, to affirm teachers

Help us to help others Tax deductable giving 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

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R

by Jim Quillinan and parents in their lack of commitment to their Catholic faith and to reassure them that there’s no need to change.

Thankfully, the chances that anyone actually reads his reflection are quite slim, I think.

Well, at least one person read it!

Affirming people in their journey of faith is always helpful, as is challenging them to go deeper, to explore further. St Anselm’s motto, for example, was “faith seeking understanding.”

Anselm describes the sort of faith that “merely believes what it ought to believe” as “dead” (M 78). So, for Anselm, “faith seeking understanding” means something like “an active love of God seeking a deeper knowledge of God.” Over many years I have worked with priests, religious, parents and teachers, students and many people who are seeking to enrich their faith, seeking a more active response to God and a deeper knowledge of themselves and God. That has been an extraordinary privilege as well as being very challenging. All of them, I think, have been trying to put their love of God into practice as best they can.

They are at different stages of a journey which is both complex and challenging. As a starting point, that journey deserves to be respected as well as nourished.

For some, their life experience has been difficult and they struggle with their belief in a loving God. Others may feel as if the Church has not been supportive or welcoming, but they hold onto their faith.

Others want to learn more about their faith, to enrich their understanding and commitment.

Affirming that search is important. Helping them to understand that God loves them dearly and that God is present to them may give them the courage to be open to change, to go deeper in their search for faith and understanding.

Pope Francis’ wise words apply: “Who among us everybody, everybody! - who

among us has not experienced insecurity, loss and even doubts on their journey of faith? Everyone! We’ve all experienced this, me too.

Everyone. It is part of the journey of faith, it is part of our lives.

“This should not surprise us, because we are human beings, marked by fragility and limitations. We are all weak, we all have limits: do not panic.

We all have them.”

Pope Benedict wrote that effective Christian witness is about our willingness to be available to others “by patiently and respectfully engaging their questions and their doubts as they advance in their search for the truth and the meaning of human existence” (Benedict XVI, Message for the 47th World Communications Day, 2013).

So what sort of a community do we want our church to be?

Do we form our community by excluding others who, in our opinion, don’t measure up, excluding those who are searching, those who are doing their best in whatever circumstances they find themselves?

Are we a community that bonds with each other more on the basis of what we are against and what we oppose rather than on the basis of what we are seeking together and what we hold precious and want to share.

Who do we want to reach out to? How do we invite people to share with us in a genuine, searching faith, which after all is a gift from God? Surely we invite people into our community on the basis of love and inclusion rather than putting them down or implying that somehow their faith commitment is deficient.

Isn’t our role to support each other in our journey towards an active love and a deeper knowledge of God? What binds us together is not just shared beliefs but a common search for a deeper faith. Jesus asked us not to be judgmental, not to act out of fear and negative feelings towards others, but out of love, empathy, and compassion.

Away for a weekend and need to check local Mass times?

Use the QR scanning app on your smart phone and it will take you directly to the Diocese of Sale website

Catholic Life, August 2017 - Page 7

Euthanasia debate hotting up in Victoria THE debate on euthanasia and assisted suicide is hotting up in Victoria with the State Government seemingly determined to push through its agenda.

The proposed changes will impact everyone, not just those terminally ill.

The Catholic Church believes that any proposal to introduce legislation enabling physician assisted suicide and euthanasia is not in the best interests of the community and will have widereaching ramifications.

People are urged to let their local politicians know their views before the legislation is voted on in parliament.

The Archdiocese of Melbourne has established a website dealing with the issue and all readers of Catholic Life are urged to follow the link from our diocesan site www.sale. catholic.org.au.

The website contains copies of brochures When Life is Ending and Real Care Love and Compassion which deal with the alternatives to euthanasia and assisted suicide.

There are also several videos which outline the State Government proposal, an explanation of palliate care options and an explanation of how Catholic hospitals and aged care providers support people at the end of their lives.

You can also read the open letter sent to the Premier Daniel Andrews by the leaders of the Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Greek Orthodox, Syro-Malabar Eparchy, Ukrainian Catholic and Coptic Orthodox Churches.

In the letter they commend much of the work of the recent Victorian End-of-Life Choices Inquiry, which identified the need to improve the quality and accessibility of palliative care for all Victorians.

However they strongly reject the proposal to legalise assisted suicide and euthanasia in Victoria.

“Better care – not killing human dignity is honored in living life, not in taking it. Even though an act of euthanasia or assisted suicide may be motivated by a sense of compassion, true compassion motivates us to remain with those who are dying, understanding and supporting them through their time of need, rather than simply acceding to a request to be killed.

“It is right to seek to eliminate pain, but never right to eliminate people. Euthanasia and assisted suicide represent the abandonment of those who are in greatest need of our care and support. “ The letter points out that mistakes and abuse are impossible to avoid. No ‘safeguards’ will ever guarantee that deaths under the proposed laws will be completely voluntary. There will always be a risk of error, fraud or coercion.

“Victoria abolished the death penalty because we recognised that in spite of our best efforts, our justice system could never

guarantee that an innocent person would not be killed by mistake or by false evidence.

The same is true of health care. Mistakes happen and the vulnerable are exploited. “ The Premier was asked to consider especially the risks to those whose ability to speak up for themselves was limited by fear, disability, illness or old age. Government endorsed suicide as a solution to pain and suffering sent a confusing

is compromised. It will affect the confidence that seriously ill patients nearing the end of life can have in the treatment and the quality of care that they might otherwise have expected.

“When euthanasia or assisted suicide is an ever present – even if unspoken – option, how long will it be before the option becomes an expectation? We ask you and your government to think again and reject this legislation.”

message to our society, particularly to the young and the vulnerable.

“Suicide is a tragedy that impacts not just the person whose life is lost, but also their family and community. It would be counter-productive to legally endorse any form of suicide when our governments and community groups are working so hard to persuade others that it is not a solution to take their own life.”

Once the fundamental principle to do no harm and never to kill is removed from medical practice, the integrity of our health system

The Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart has expressed dismay following the release of the Ministerial Advisory Panel Report into the legalising of Physician Assisted Suicide in Victoria.

Archbishop Hart said “I urge all Victorians to look closely at what is being proposed. I am proud to be a Victorian but this report makes me very concerned for the future of our elderly and most vulnerable citizens. We need to see this report and its recommendations for what they are and so I am taking this opportunity to bring this vital matter to the public’s

immediate attention.”

Archbishop Hart said “I commend efforts to strengthen and better resource Palliative Care but that is a minimum necessity. While the report recommends what it calls safeguards, the truth is that these safeguards are never going to be enough and that there are no flawless medical procedures.

“All procedures and interventions can have complications. I have watched supporters of this proposal and they are going out of their way to convince us that assisted suicide is acceptable, seeking to lessen our human, moral and natural distress because of suicide.

“It seems that on the one hand we are seeking to lessen suicide in our society – an admirable aim – but here we have this report looking to normalise it. When viewed from the perspective of the whole Victorian community these two objectives cannot be reconciled “Evidence world-wide is that once such legislation is passed, that is only the beginning of the impact and the far-reaching effects extend even further.

The legislation will impose extraordinary and unreasonable responsibilities on our medical professionals who will be called upon to determine which patients are eligible and how the safeguards are to be applied.

“This then becomes a matter for decisions by medical

practitioners and not the patients for whom they are required to care. The report while making clear the number of individuals whose assistance will be required for each case of “assisted dying” including two and in some circumstances three medical practitioners, two independent witnesses, a contact person, pharmacist and a further witness if the lethal medication is administered by a medical practitioner fails to properly consider the impact and support required by all those whose assistance is required in each case.

“While such legislation has passed in a small number of places around the world, the overwhelming majority of efforts to pass this type of legislation have failed, including more recently in the United Kingdom, in the States of Maine, Hawaii and Maryland in the USA and closer to home in South Australia and Tasmania.”

Archbishop Hart urged fellow Victorians to seek out the facts on this matter and he was confident that once they had carefully examined the issue, they would see that here we have a situation where we will be asking doctors to assist someone to commit suicide.

“A doctor is there to promote health and protect life – not to fast forward death. I am deeply saddened that this matter is before us at all and I hope and pray that Victorians will urge their MPs to reject the Bill when it comes before the Parliament.”

Collect bonus interest for regular savings while also supporting the Catholic Community. Sign up for your online student account today! www.cdfcommunityfund.org.au/students

Important Notice: The Archdiocese of Melbourne – Catholic Development Fund (the Fund) is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Therefore, an investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth).

Investments in the Fund are intended to be a means for investors to support the charitable, religious and educational works of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, the Catholic Diocese of Sale and the Catholic Diocese of Bunbury and for whom the consideration of profit are not of primary relevance in the investment decision.

Furthermore, investors should be aware that neither the Fund nor the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation for the Archdiocese of Melbourne is subject to the normal requirements to have a disclosure statement or Product Disclosure Statement or be registered under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has indemnified the Fund against any liability arising out of a claim by investors in the Fund.

Page 8 - Catholic Life, August 2017

s e u s s i 0 20

VER the past 200 issues there have been many great stories told in the pages over Catholic Life about the life of the diocese.

Its name was chosen because of a desire to have a diocesan publication to record the life of the people and parishes. The name also gave a clear link to its predecessor publication Sale Catholic Life.

Since being launched

by Bishop Jeremiah Coffey in 1997, the paper has chronicled the massive urban growth at the western end of the diocese, offset in some ways by the steady decline of the farming and forestry communities of East Gippsland and the hill country.

We have had the new Clyde North parish created, and vast areas of market gardens and farms turned into housing estates.

The City of Casey is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia and most of that growth has been within our diocesan area.

St Francis Xavier College has grown to be one of the largest schools in Australia with campuses at Berwick South and Officer being added to the original Beaconsfield campus.

St Peter’s College at Cranbourne has built a second campus at Cranbourne East and there have been new primary schools built at

O

A milestone worth celebrating

Bunyip, Cranbourne East, Narre Warren South, Officer (2), Drouin, Bairnsdale and Warragul.

Most schools within the diocese have undergone major refurbishment and extensions over the period.

Only school to close was the flood prone Iona primary school from which

House complex in Warragul.

At the same time the diocesan office at Newborough which housed the marriage tribunal and youth office also closed and those staff moved to Warragul.

Regions were established effectively dividing the diocese in seven, and later six geographic groupings of parishes.

students w e r e transferred to the new B u n y i p school.

On the diocesan front, the bishop’s office, finance office and Catholic Development Fund moved five years ago from Sale to the Sion In response to the declining number of priests several parishes have gone into partnership with their neighbors and now share a priest.

On the welfare front we established Centacare Gippsland (now part of CatholicCare Melbourne) and the Bishops Family Foundation, which was relaunched several years ago as Trinity Families.

Our highly successful Catholic Development Fund merged with Melbourne several years ago and has resulted in access to more funds to use in the development of schools and parishes in our diocese.

Bishop Pat O’Regan is the third bishop during the

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A ongoing story on success CATHOLIC Life has been a successful publication, regularly winning awards from the Australasian Catholic Press Association and Australasian Religious Press Association.

It was judged best regional Catholic publication in Australia and New Zealand four times, and best regional religious publication in Australia and New Zealand another three times.

It was also received another 12 minor awards including most improved, best front page, best headline and best feature story.

Initially Catholic Life was published 11 times a year but three years ago Bishop Christopher Prowse reduced the publication frequency to six times a year to free up the editor to take on the added responsibility of being executive officer of the diocesan charitable fund Trinity Families.

lifetime of the paper.

His predecessor Bishop Christopher Prowse was here for only four years after the retirement of Bishop Coffey before being appointed as Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn.

One of our diocesan priests Sale-born Fr Michael McKenna was appointed to be Bishop of Bathurst in 2009 and Iona-born Fr Joseph Oudeman OFMcap was made an auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane in 2003.

We have seen a transformation in the priesthood of the diocese with the arrival of priests from India, Sri Lanka and Nigeria to support our local priesthood.

We have gained two priests from other dioceses and also lost two who have moved interstate.

New priests ordained during the period are Fr Brendan Hogan, Fr Michael Willemsen,

Fr Jeff Kleynjans, Fr Dariusz Jablonski and Fr Siju Xavier.

We have also seen the introduction of five permanent deacons, married men who work in various roles supporting the diocese and parishes.

Another major change was the creation

by Pope Benedict XVI of the Anglican Ordinariate, known in Australia as the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the South Cross, which saw former Anglican priest Fr Ken Clark, ordained as a Catholic priest and running Ordinariate Masses in Heyfield and Cowwarr.

During the time we have had funerals for many of our older priests including Bishop Coffey and most of the Irish missionary priests who came to our diocese in the 1950s.

In keeping with a national trend, we now have seven students for the priesthood training at Corpus Christi seminary a large increase on the one or two men we had at the seminary in early years.

The number of religious sisters working in the diocese has continued to decline with several communities closing, although on the positive side we have had the Sisters of the Nativity from Nigeria establish an outreach mission in St Agatha’s, Cranbourne parish.

The Oblate Fathers presence continues in Moe and Newborough but the Salesian priests have left Bairnsdale where they ran Nagle College.

All of our primary and secondary schools now have lay principals.

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Catholic Life, August 2017 - Page 9

Acting principals are appointed ACTING principals have been appointed at primary schools in Newborough and Traralgon.

Jan Fitzpatrick has been appointed acting principal at St Michael’s Primary School, Traralgon for term three.

Former principal Cathy Blackford has taken on the role of inaugural principal of the new Our Lady Star of the Sea

Primary School in Cowes.

It is the first Catholic school on Phillip Island and will open next year.

Kerry Wadey has been appointed acting principal at Immaculate Heart of Mary Primary School, Newborough until the end of the 2017 school year.

Andrew Osler, who was in

the temporary role of acting principal at Newborough for terms one and two, has resumed his position as principal at St Ita’s Primary School, Drouin.

The principal at St Agatha’s Primary, Cranbourne, Anne Hassall has indicated she wishes to retire at the end of the year and so this position was advertised last week.

30 years of family groups

An invitation to Archbishop’s dinner

By Carmine Miranda SINCE 1999, the Knights of the Southern Cross Priests Support and Education Fund has raised over $1 million for the education of Victoria’s seminarians, and the further education of its priests.

To achieve this end, the KSC has held the annual Archbishop’s Dinner, with the full support and patronage of the Archbishop and the Bishops of Victoria.

The dinner, which has featured many notable guest speakers, is a great way for Catholics from all across Victoria to get to know one another, and support their clergy at the same time.

This year’s guest speaker will be Dr Susan Stevens, principal of Loreto Mandeville Hall, Toorak, who will talk about Catholic Education.

The funds that are raised at the Dinner are split equally five ways between the four Victorian dioceses- Melbourne, Sale, Sandhurst and Ballarat, and the Military Ordinariate of Australia, which is training chaplains for the Australian Defence Force.

As a result, the Ordinariate and the rural dioceses get greater funding per seminarian/ chaplain, and are particularly appreciative of the dinner’s fundraising.

To that effect, the organising committee of the Archbishop’s Dinner would like to extend an invitation to parishioners of the Diocese of Sale to attend this year’s dinner, which will be held at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Friday September 15, from 7pm onwards.

It would be a great opportunity for the people of Sale to attend and support this year’s dinner- with seven seminarians currently studying at Corpus Christi College for the Sale Diocese, per student, they receive greater support from the funds raised than would a seminarian studying for Melbourne.

And we know more priests are needed now more than ever to cover many neglected parishes, particularly in rural areas.

The cost per head is $140, which may be a bit too much for some, but please don’t let it discourage you from contributing to the fund. You can also make a donation, and show your support to the level that you wish. For further details, please refer to the advertisement below.

Ladies retreat planned for Templestowe A GROUP of women from St Mary’s Cathedral Parish in Sale are planning a women’s retreat to be held at Templestowe from Monday October 9 to Wednesday, October 11.

Those interested should contact Anna Allen 5144 3087 or Maureen McLeod 5144 3550 so it can be determined whether to go ahead with the retreat.

Cost will be similar to last year but cannot be confirmed until there is a better indication of the number of women attending.

ENJOYING some of the food at the 30th anniversary function are some of the younger members Eckhai Imhagwe, Cheryl Fernando, Cherish Fernando, Elizabeth Deng, Eve Hanratty, Etse Inhagwe and Jasmine Hanratty.

ST Michael’s Passionist Family and it was with great joy that consumed and there was much Groups in Traralgon celebrated members gathered for the 30th noise and laughter.

The honor of blowing out their 30th anniversary this year. anniversary.

Some former members the candle was given to one of Family Groups originally started in 1972 in Terrey Hills, who had moved away were the youngest members Isaac welcomed back including Kennedy while the honor of Sydney by Fr Peter McGrath.

The aims of Passionist Family former group leaders Colleen cutting the cake was extended to Groups are that members get to and Michael McCaughan who senior member Mary Hourigan.

If you are interested in know other members of their now live on Phillip Island and parish and to support each Koul and Nyapadeng Deng and joining family groups contact the priests or Jenny and Peter others’ joys and sorrows to help family from Warragul.

A wonderful spread was Dal Pra on 5174 1323. build a Christian community.

They wish to involve their children in Christian sharing directly, if possible, and if not, indirectly by their example of “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Family groups are made up of 10-15 units which may be families, couples or single people. There is room for non-Catholic spouses, one THE KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE 19TH ARCHBISHOP’S DINNER TO BE HELD AT parent families, the separated, MOONEE VALLEY RACECOURSE ON FRIDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER, 2017 AT 7:00PM. divorced and single people, whether young or elderly.

THIS PRESTIGIOUS EVENT OFFERS GUESTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALISE WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE WHILE The groups meet regularly, SUPPORTING THE EDUCATION OF OUR CLERGY. usually monthly, in a social setting which may be a picnic, barbecue, movie night, games, Enquiries eating out, or whatever suits the ages of the people in the group.

Val Sumner: 0412 029 389 Some groups with children email valsumner@bigpond.com try to have an occasion night Carmine Miranda: 0412 817 995 without the children and most groups try to have a weekend email c.miranda@ampfp.com.au away once a year.

Norm McArthur: 0407 229 941 Family Groups began in Traralgon in 1987 when Fr email norman.mcarthur@bigpond.com Cagney invited the Passionist Cost- $140.00 per person community to speak about the groups and the advantages there RSVP – Friday 1st September 2017 may be for the parish, especially in giving people a sense of belonging and responsibility towards each other.

Several groups were formed and over the years more have been added.

An initiative of the Knights of the Southern Cross (Vic) Today there are 10 groups comprising more than 100 units

THE ARCHBISHOP’S DINNER 15 SEPTEMBER 2017 INVITATION

Page 10 - Catholic Life, August 2017

Vocations Awareness 2017 EACH August the Church celebrates Vocations Awareness Week.

The focus of this week is to not only promote vocations to the priesthood but also to make people of all ages aware of their vocation in life.

The Diocese of Sale is fortunate to have seven seminarians training for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College, Carlton, but is always looking for more men willing to do God’s work.

After a hiatus where priestly

vocations were on the decline, there has been a worldwide trend of more young men seeking to be priests. Australia has followed the trend and in Melbourne the seminary has had to be expanded to create more dormitory rooms for

seminarians and staff.

Elsewhere crowded seminaries have meant some seminarians are put out into parishes to live and then travel in to the seminary for classes each day.

Young men interested in

finding out more about the priesthood are urged to talk to their parish priest or the diocesan vocations director Fr Michael Willemsen, Bairnsdale, on 5152 3106 or vocations@ sale.catholic.org.au.

Two types of priests confusing to some MANY people struggle to understand the difference between a diocesan priest and one who is part of a religious community.

In most situations a diocesan priest works within a welldefined area, the diocese, alongside his bishop and fellow priests.

He most often works in a parish, but may also be involved in many other forms of ministry: teaching, hospital chaplaincy, prisons, university, migrants and disadvantaged groups.

A religious priest belongs to a community that may go beyond the geographical diocese.

He lives within a community of other like-minded men for mutual support in the meeting/ answering of a need of church and society, and freely commits himself to live a vowed life of poverty, celibacy and obedience.

There is an emphasis in community life on shared values, prayer and commitment to Christ.

In our diocese we have priests from the Oblates of Mary Immaculate assisting on a diocesan level by running the parishes on Moe and Newborough.

Until last year there was a Salesian community in Bairnsdale, assisting in running Nagle College.

Many of the Indian and Sri Lankan priests who have served in our diocese are also on shortterm placement from their religious orders.

On the national scene we have order priests serving as bishops in several dioceses, notably Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher who is a Dominican, Bishop of Ballarat Paul Bird who is a Redemptorist, and Archbishop of Perth Tim Costelloe who is a Salesian.

And of course Pope Francis is also a Jesuit.

Another area where some people struggle is in differentiating between between a brother and a priest?

A brother is a member of a religious community who commits himself to Jesus by the same vows as a religious priest.

The fact that he is not ordained does not mean he is less a member of a community.

Rather, it shows community life to be a gathering of brothers, joined together in a common

purpose.

Brothers work in just about every imaginable capacity; you name it, they probably do it!

The priest, on the other hand, has a distinctive sacramental role: celebrating Eucharist, Baptism and Penance. He may work in other areas as well, but sacramental life is his special ministry.

Religious communities arose in response to the needs of their times.

Founders sought ways of translating the message of Jesus into the daily life and language of their society.

Each congregation has its own particular tradition/ spirit that distinguishes it from other orders.

Consequently, religious orders are not static, but by their nature are dynamic and evolving, seeking new ways of announcing the Kingdom of God. Only brothers in our diocese are the Marist Brothers who have a small monastery in Sale.

BISHOP of Sale Pat O’Regan with priests, deacons and seminarians of Sale Diocese.

Still much work for sisters WHILE the number of religious sisters has declined considerably in the past 50 years, there are still many women making the commitment to serving God through entering a religious community.

There are dozens of different congregations doing all sorts of different work.

Some sisters belong to contemplative orders which have little contact with the outside world but most sisters are out working in the parishes and communities they serve.

There are teachers, social workers, nurses and a host

of other roles which sisters perform.

Initially most sisters lived in community with other sisters but as their numbers have diminished, sisters often live alone in parishes acting as pastoral workers and is some cases even running day to day life in parishes which do not have a resident priest.

Sisters make a vow of chastity and poverty, and make a two step process to becoming a member of the religious congregation.

After a short time in which women decide whether the life

they have chosen is for them, they make their first vows and then some years later make their final profession.

There are more than 70 religious congregations in Australia, some large and some very small, but many of them allow women to enter for a period of discernment before making any choices.

The Internet is a great tool to find out about the various congregations because the main ones all have Web sites.

Alternatively talk to one of the sisters working in our parishes.

A vocation too in marriage, single life VOCATIONS Awareness Week focuses not only on priestly and religious vocations but also on lay vocations.

Whether married or single, you can look on your life as a vocation within the Church.

Thousands upon thousands of people have been married in the Catholic Church which recognises their union as a sacrament.

Unfortunately few couples look upon their marriage as a vocation within the Church.

Marriage is a sacrament which the couple administers to one another with the priest there to lead the ceremony, ensure that the couple is willingly entering the union and to witness the event.

Being married is much more than sharing a wedding day, a couple of golden rings, honeymoon and living together.

A marriage is a life journey with someone with whom you are committed to sharing the rest of your life.

In the context of a married vocation, a married person is a woman or man who: • Shares a relationship with a spouse which is self-giving,

love-giving and life-giving.

• Lives a vow of faithful love to a spouse through the sacrament of marriage.

• Is committed to helping husband or wife grow to human and Christian maturity.

• Lives a life of faith and prayer so as to grow in their relationship with God. • Seeks to form a family home.

• With their husband or wife, are the first teachers of their children in Christian faith and values.

• May serve the parish community as lector, catechist, musician, liturgist, minister of Eucharist, in care and welfare groups, and on committees.

• May serve the Church community in ministries such as social work, health care, education, and lay missionary work, and the wider community wherever time, personal talents, resources and family responsibilities allow.

A married vocation is really about a couple living their life to the fullest in close

relationship with God, their Church community and of course, themselves, their family and friends.

Similarly single people can see their lives as a vocation within the Church without having to enter a religious community.

In Australia we have women who work in the world but have become professed as consecrated virgins, others who have taken a vow of chastity and some who choose to live as consecrated hermits.

The permanent diaconate THE permanent diaconate should be seen within the context of expanded or shared ministry, a concept that recognises the ministry of the Church as proclaiming and living the Gospel.

The deacon, whose ordination represents a lifetime commitment to service, is also a minister whose lifestyle and family places him in a unique way in the midst of the community which he serves.

Service is the crux of the deacon’s ministry. The name

deacon is derived from the Greek work for ‘service’. The permanent deacons never go on to become priests but serve the diocese, parishes and schools in various roles.

These men should not be confused with seminarians who become deacons usually for the final year before ordination as priests.

A permanent deacon is an ordained minister who serves the bishop, priests and people of his parish and diocese through a variety of ministries: assisting

at Eucharist, preaching, baptising, presiding at funerals, witnessing marriages, and providing pastoral care for the elderly, prisoners, the disadvantaged, or wherever the needs of the Church or people are greatest In Australian practise they are almost always married men who move to the diaconate after other careers.

Sale Diocese has several permanent deacons who work in various roles, usually with the assistance of their wives.

Catholic Life, August 2017 - Page 11

Budgeting is an important habit for everyone IT HAS been a while since I wrote about budgeting, but it’s one of the most essential financial skills we can have. It helps underpins our financial plans and progress all our lives.

It can be a daunting task to start, but without knowing the what why and where of your finances it will always be very difficult to make any financial headway.

How often do you say to your self “there’s too much month left at the end of the money!”?

Like space in a house, many of us find that the need for cash always expands to equal what’s available plus 20 percent. It matters not what your income is, we could always use some

more.

Many people, especially the younger tech savvy generation M are finding that credit is not the same as cash and many are incurring huge debts and especially phone debts. The level of bankruptcy in the under 35’s is at a record level.

Whatever your situation, budgeting your expenses to fit with your income is a good thing.

It’s really just another form of planning and everything we do we’ll do better if we’re following a plan, or road map, or instruction manual.

Taking things step by step and doing things in the right order makes good sense, and apart

DOLLAR$ & SENSE with David Wells

from other things also instils a sense of discipline, which is necessary if we are to achieve our short and long-term goals.

Many readers will already follow a budget of greater or lesser complexity. Some of us don’t and some of us don’t know what we do.

Developing a budget is quite a simple process. It is simply

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• 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.

LE

DANNY O'Brien and Les Powell helping out in the kitchen.

that a new Moe Van carry its promotional name.

The current van, the third of its kind, is three years old and is provided and funded as a special project by the State Council of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

In 2012 the kitchen at the Moe Vinnies’ Store needed a substantial upgrade to comply with food regulations.

A submission was prepared and submitted to the Latrobe City Council which provided $5000 for an upgrade of facilities.

This excellent kitchen is used each Monday and Wednesday by separate teams to prepare the soup and sandwiches for the evening deliveries.

Fresh food is purchased for each of these days to ensure quality meals are available. A team of five goes out on the van.

At its busiest over 150 people in more than 50 houses were assisted. Currently about 20 stops are made each evening.

Many of the original group are still involved and are passionate about what they have achieved.

They’ve been assisted over the years by so many people and groups – priests, ministers, nuns, Salvation Army, service club members, local church groups, Mormons, teachers and students of Marist/Sion Warragul to name some.

At the moment the group is exploring the possibility of the van being used one night a week in Traralgon.

This would add another chapter to the “big family” of volunteers who continue to serve community needs in their unique and commendable way.

ED B IT LA M AI LI AV S AT

led to the idea of a van to replace the cars. The local police and service clubs discussed and supported this approach.

The St Vincent de Paul Society was approached to provide a van, based on their Melbourne soup vans.

It was agreed that if the locals could raise half of the cost, a van would be provided. With wide-ranging support this was achieved.

This van lasted over a decade and was financially supported by the power company Edison Mission which gave $5000 annually to support the project.

Other smaller donations assisted.

This van was replaced when Energy Australia gave the St Vincent de Paul Society a large grant on the condition

SE

GIPPSLAND'S one and only soup van has built a long and proud history, serving those in need in the Moe/Newborough townships.

What began 20 years ago as a response to providing meals for families and individuals who were struggling financially, has not only survived two decades, but still provides a wonderful service due to the generosity of so many caring volunteers.

It all began back in the late 1990’s at the St Vincent de Paul Conference at Moe. Those volunteers who carried out the welfare work out of the Vinnies’ store felt an extra approach was needed to provide meals, particularly in the boarding houses.

Meetings were held and with the assistance of Latrobe Community Health the needs were identified. Contacts were made, adverts were placed in the Latrobe Valley Express, and soup and sandwiches were prepared.

At first people didn’t come to the shop to receive the meals, so the team took to the streets to meet them in their own environment.

This was only partially successful, so eventually the teams went to individual homes and boarding houses in their own cars.

After a year or so, discussion

a process of determining our income and establishing our estimated expenditure against that income, so we know what we will be able to spend or not, as the case may be.

Whether you’re an age pensioner, a big business owner or a wage and salary earner, the process is the same.

Mostly we can determine our income fairly readily. As wage and salary earners or pensioners we can easily estimate what we’ll get over the next week, month and year. In business or as an investor we can also make reasonable estimates.

That’s the first step, the easy one.

If you’re a casual or seasonal worker, or otherwise have an income that’s quite variable, it will pay off to work out a “lowest case” level of income in addition to what you may expect to earn The hardest thing is to determining where the money goes. To do this you will need to assess where all your money is disappearing to – rent, contracts, phones, rates, mortgages etc and all the money you spend on a weekly and monthly basis will need to be accounted for.

A good idea is to take a note book and write down everything you spend for a month, in detail, down to the last cent.

Even the casual coffee needs to be counted.

This may seem extreme, but you’ll be surprised at how much you spend on “non-essentials”.

Then categorise all your expenses and list each category by priority.

When all the expenses are totalled you’ll soon see whether you have a capacity to save or whether you need to revisit your expenses.

If your expenses are less than your income then things aren’t too bad. But many of us find that we aren’t earning enough to cover our real expenses after all.

Hence the credit cards aren’t paid off each month and we pay huge interest bills, or we never seem to get any closer to our dreams.

If you take you details and count them across a full year you’ll get a good picture of your annual cash flow. From this you can really take some constructive steps to address any problems.

Ask yourself, “Is this expense really necessary?”

“Can I enhance my income without sacrificing too much?”

The answers will help you take control of your money.

You’ll see whether you are overspending, but most importantly you’ll also see where.

If you know what the problem is you have taken the first and biggest step in fixing it.

Maintaining the numbers on a regular basis will also help to keep you disciplined, and allow you to identify things early and take remedial steps or plan for future expenses in time.

Developing a budget is pointless if you don’t keep it upto-date, so take a few minutes every week and write things down and check your progress.

In time, if you keep to it, your monetary discipline will become a habit and you’ll find things are easier, or if not easier at least you’ll know why.

Restricting your spending to fit with your budget isn’t always an attractive task, but it is definitely necessary if you are to make any progress financially.

Are you interested in the share market?

Do you want the chance to ask questions?

David Wells, W Senior Investment Adviser at Shaw and Partners, and his team will be presenting a “Share Market Evening”.

Date: W 2017 2017 Date: Wednesday Wednesday,26th 25thJuly October Time:from From7.00pm 7pm Time: Location: Woorayl VRI Hall, Pettit Sale (opp railway station) Location: W Golf Club,Drive, Roughead Street, Leongatha Bookings are essential: to secure your seat please call Prue Carroll at Shaw and Partners on 1800 150 009 (freecall) or email pcarroll@shawandpartners.com.au Shaw and Partners AFSL 236048 Level 20, 90 Collins Street, Melbourne www.shawandpartners.com.au w

Page 12 - Catholic Life, August 2017

Woman at the Tomb: Review HOW does a woman, faithful to her Catholic teaching and traditions, have an abortion and move forward with her life?

Jessica Lockhart is still working that out, day by day.

Jessica was in the grip of a life-threatening mental health breakdown in 2011, and heavily medicated, when she discovered she was pregnant with her third child.

Suicidal and desperate, Jessica had an abortion, ending the pregnancy that she was sure would have led to her own death and left her two young children without a mother.

The abortion didn’t cure her bipolar II disorder and it has left her with a deep sense of sorrow and guilt. But she is learning to live with the wound and the ‘comforting presence’ of the child she aborted. She’s also trying to accept God’s forgiveness.

“Sometimes in my imagination I can see the child.

I feel the presence of the baby I aborted and it brings me to my knees,” Jessica said.

The Woman at the Tomb is the story of Jessica’s survival after the abortion. Her two young daughters and her faith in God keep dragging her through the sorrow and back into life.

“Prayer gets me through each day. I wake each morning with a sense of dread. I don’t know what I am dreading, but that’s what mental illness does to you. Each day I ask God to get me through the day and I look for the life in my day. My two

girls are the reason I can do it.

They are compelling reasons to get out of bed and look to life,” Jessica said.

Centred around the story of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Christ, The Woman at the Tomb is a testament to the healing power of prayer.

“There is so much shame and despair around abortion.

I wasn’t stricken with guilt because I am a Catholic. I felt guilt because I had killed someone. I went against my conscience. But there is the possibility of grace after what I did. And there is a way back to life for those of us who find ourselves weeping into the tomb,” Jessica said.

“Even now, several years after the abortion, I sometimes ask myself how I could have done what I did. I do believe that abortion is wrong, so why couldn’t I have given my love to this other person. But I couldn’t see past the despair I was in.

“While I know abortion to be wrong, I also believe that safe surgical procedures should be available to women who need to have an abortion. I know that there is a conflict, a tension between these two positions and I have to live with that.”

Jessica, from Warragul, lived most of her life with undiagnosed mental illness, loathing herself and never understanding why.

Living between Melbourne and Dubai, where her husband worked in construction, led to

a deterioration in her mental health.

She felt isolated, desperate and overwhelmed by the couple’s financial problems and her own inability to get well.

Jessica was medicated and soon after she discovered she was pregnant.

“The bipolar diagnosis wasn’t a cure, but it was a revelation. I realised that I wasn’t worthless and unlovable, but I was sick, really sick. The last six years have been very tough, but I have come to understand that healing is possible,” Jessica said.

Jessica’s decision to abort her baby never seemed like a liberating decision. In her book she writes: “Perhaps not all women go through torment in the process of making this decision, but very many do. It is an act which often takes place in desperation.”

It is difficult to resolve the seemingly obvious tension between Jessica’s faith in God, her commitment to Catholic teaching and her decision to abort a baby.

“I believe God has forgiven me, but it is hard to accept that forgiveness and to forgive myself. Each day I am given graces and though I still struggle, I look towards life.”

Jessica Lockhart, The Woman at the Tomb: Abortion and Redemption, David Lovell Publishing, August 2017, 200 x 148 mm, 96 pp, paperback, ISBN 9871 86355 164 9, rrp $19.95

Sad end for Traralgon man THE funeral of well-known Traralgon district man Thomas Michael Dwyer, 88, was held at Milawa General Cemetery following a funeral Mass in Wangaratta on July 5.

Mr Dwyer came to the Traralgon district in 1990 and was originally from Bobinwarrah near Wangaratta.

He purchased a two hectare lot on Drane’s Rd. and made his home there fattening calves for the market.

On Sunday, June 25, Mgr John Allman, driven by John Benc, called at his home to collect him for Mass at Glengarry which was a normal occurrence but they could not find Mr Dwyer.

They did a search of the house and shed before continuing on for Mass and then returned later that afternoon for a more thorough search of the property, which failed to find him.

They phoned locals Brendan

and Margaret Wilkinson and Ray Moretti who frequently visited Mr Dwyer, and it was Mr Moretti who knew that in feeding hay to the stock each morning, Mr Dwyer sometimes climbed onto the stack of baled hay.

Mr Moretti climbed the stack and found Mr Dwyer’s body wedged between the bales and the corner of the shed where he had fallen.

Ambulance, police and undertakers were called to the property to remove the body.

It was later established that Mr Dwyer would have died on Friday, June 23 as he was preparing to barrow some hay celebrated at St Patrick’s Church, Wangaratta, by Fr for his cattle.

Mr Dwyer had visited his Mike Pullar, assisted by Mgr family in Wangaratta for a Allman, Traralgon. family celebration only a few weeks earlier.

It was his wish to be buried in the family plot at Milawa.

WELL-known author and Requiem Mass was film critic Fr Richard Leonard SJ will be the keynote speaker at the 48th Catholic Women’s League national biennial conference in Adelaide next month.

The national executive, currently based in Adelaide, is hosting the conference as part of its 2016-17 responsibilities.

National president Anne Marie Clark said about 200 delegates from around Australia were expected to attend the conference at the Adelaide

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Quick calendar

What’s on & when AUGUST A special collection will be taken up in all parishes during August for CatholicCare Gippsland 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, 11am 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 8 - Bairnsdale Cup 9 – Term 4 begins 9 – Deadline for October Catholic Life 11 - St John XXIII Memorial 15 - Cranbourne Cup 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 26 - Moe Cup 28 - Feast of St Simon and St Jude 29 - Sale Cup

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 21 - Caulfield Cup 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

DECEMBER 1 – ACBC plenary meeting ends, Sydney 3 - Traralgon Cup 3 - First Sunday of Advent 3 – Start of Year of Youth 6 - St Nicholas Memorial 7 – Catholic Life published 7-9 Australian Catholic Youth Festival, Sydney 8 - Solemnity of Immaculate Conception 8 – Most diocesan secondary schools end Term 4 22 – Term 4 ends (Note: Catholic primary schools may end term earlier) 24 - Christmas Eve 25 - Christmas Day 26 - Boxing Day 26 - Feast of St Stephen, First Martyr 26 - Sale Greyhound Cup 27 - Feast of St John, Apostle and Evangelist 28 - Feast of the Holy Innocents 31 - New Year’s Eve 31 - Feast of the Holy Family

Jesuit keynote speak at CWL Hilton from September 11-13.

Fr Leonard directs the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting and is an honorary fellow of the Australian Catholic University.

He lectures on faith and culture all over ther world and has written nine books including the religious best sellers Where the Hell is God? and Why Bother Praying?

Other speakers include Bill Denny who has had a long and active involvement with the returned services community

and Sonia di Mezza, a human rights lawyer.

Some of the topics to be discussed at the conference through various motions include climate change, child pornography, services for younger people with disabilities, the commercial television code of practice and homelessness.

Mrs Clark said everyone was welcome to attend the conference and could download registration forms at www.cwla. org.au.

Catholic Life, August 2017 - Page 13

world news ...

world news ...

Pope calls to end human trafficking - slavery VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis is urging the world to show a greater commitment to fighting human trafficking, which he calls “a form of modern slavery” and denounces as “brutal, cruel and criminal.”

The pope made the appeal during his traditional noontime Angelus prayer, on the UN’s world day against trafficking.

Francis said “every year, thousands of men, women and children are innocent victims of labor exploitation, and sex and organ trafficking.” He added that it has become something considered normal: “This is ugly. It is cruel. It is criminal.”

He called on the world to renew its commitment to battling “this abhorrent plague, a form of modern slavery,” and to pray that traffickers “change their hearts.”

The International Labor Organisation estimates 21 million people are victims globally of forced labor, including victims of human trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation.

Pope Francis has targeted eradication of human trafficking as one of his papacy’s highest priorities. In May he dispatched one of his top advisers, Bishop Marcelo Sanchez-Sorondo, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the dedication of Metanoia Manor,

a one-of-a-kind shelter for young trafficking victims.

“We need to recognise this crime against humanity and to combat this crime,” SanchezSorondo said at the April 26 dedication, which drew more than 50 supporters on a sunsplashed spring day. “I think this is a grace of God to do all we can do to resolve and eradicate this form of slavery.”

Human trafficking has become an international concern, Sanchez-Sorondo noted, forcing an estimated 50 million victims into prostitution, sex slavery and other abusive behavior. He said 80 percent of the $32 billion generated annually through human trafficking is rooted in prostitution, with some of the girls as young as 12 and 13.

In April, Pope Francis sent a message to a Vienna conference on human trafficking organised by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

In that message, the pontiff called human trafficking a “form of slavery, a crime against humanity, a grave violation of human rights, an atrocious scourge, and it is all the more to be condemned when it takes place against children.”

The pope’s message to the OSCE was given by Fr Michael Czerny, the under-secretary of the Migrants and Refugee

13 dead in church attack in Nigeria NIGERIA - “I have no reason to think that this was an attack against the Church”, said Bishop Hilary Paul Odili Okeke of the diocese of Nnewi in southeast Nigeria.

He was speaking on the telephone to the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need about the tragic attack last week inside the church of St Philip in Ozubulu.

During the 6am Sunday Mass, armed men entered the church, and opened fire on worshippers.

“Some people were killed immediately inside the church, while others died in hospital or in the ambulance on the way there”, the bishop told ACN. “So far the death toll is 13, with another 26 people injured.”

According to Bishop Okeke, the attack was linked to local issues and was in no way thought to be a terrorist attack.

“I have no reason to believe that Boko Haram or any other terrorist group was behind the attack”, he said. “I don’t think it was an attack against the Church but simply an attack that took place inside a church.”

The bishop visited the families of the victims and also the wounded in two different hospitals.

“I met with every one of them and endeavored to comfort them. I urged all my faithful to continue to have trust in God. Incidents like this can happen

to any one of us and at any time, and all we can do is to leave everything in God’s hands and accept His Will.”

The attack inside the church has undoubtedly caused alarm among the local community as in the mainly Christian South of Nigeria attacks of this kind do not normally occur.

China ban on the word Emeritus CHINA – The Chinese government had ordered journalists to stop calling outspoken Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun the “Emeritus” Bishop of Hong Kong, but to instead use the word “former”.

The directive is part of a broader list of banned words and phrases announced to Chinese media by the state-run Xinhua News Agency.

Cardinal Zen, who retired as Bishop of Hong Kong in 2009 is well-known for his loathing of the ruling Communist Party.

He has spoken out on political freedom, human rights and religious persecution and has entered the debate on Hong Kong political future.

Hong Kong was a British territory for a century before being returned to China 20 years ago and being recognised as one of the country’s selfgoverning autonomous regions.

Section of the Vatican’s new “Integral Development” office.

According to the dicastery’s statutes, the section concerning refugees and migrants will be temporarily under the pontiff, who will head it for as long as he considers it necessary.

“All too many children continue to be exploited, maltreated, enslaved, prey to violence and illicit trafficking,” Czerny told the organisation, quoting the pope, “still too many children live in exile, as refugees, at times lost at sea, particularly in the waters of the Mediterranean.”

Czerny spoke about what is called the “three pillars” of fighting human trafficking: To prevent, to protect, to prosecute.

The priest said prevention can only happen by tackling

both supply and demand, noting “several factors increase the vulnerability of the child victims, namely endemic poverty, inadequate child protection, ignorance and cultural constraints” in the places trafficking victims originate.

As for the second pillar - protection - Czerny said that both governments and NGOs have created “many remarkable initiatives” to ensure better protection of child victims of trafficking, but said these must emphasise the best interests of the child, “in which the family dimension occupies a place of greatest importance.”

Turning to the third “P”, prosecution, Czerny said “the complexity of the global human trafficking scenario” makes

this very difficult, noting the movement from countries of origin, through transit countries, and finally to the countries of destination.

Quoting the pope, Czerny said “it is not possible to commit so complex a crime as human trafficking without the complicity, by action or omission, of states.

“While acknowledging the efforts of some countries to punish those responsible for such crimes, we must sadly note that there are still too few cases where ‘consumers’ have ended up in prison,” Czerny continued, “while perhaps not the masterminds, they are definitely the real authors responsible for such heinous crimes.”

Town coming to life again

By Daniele Piccini IN the villages on the Nineveh Plain that were occupied and looted from 2014 to 2015 by the so-called Islamic State the stench of burning is finally being replaced by the smell of fresh paint. In Bartella, the first Iraqi village on the Nineveh Plain to be freed from the clutches of IS, the first six heroic Christian Orthodox families have returned to their just restored homes after three years in exile in the autonomous Kurdistan region.

Prior to IS occupation, which began on August 6, 2014 and ended with liberation on October 20, 2016, 3400 families lived in Bartella.

Two years of plundering and destruction have left their mark.

More than 94 dwellings of Orthodox and Syriac Catholic families were completely destroyed (bombed or blown to pieces), 364 fell prey to fire and 1372 sustained at least slight damages.

The Nineveh Reconstruction Committee, which is coordinated by Fer Andrzej Halemba, the head of the Middle East section of ACN has already restored 17 dwellings and, now that the engineers have completed their cost estimates, another 150 are waiting for funding so that work can commence.

Young engineer Noor Sabah Dana, who is responsible for the rebuilding of houses at NRC, explained “In Bartella, the water network is slowly being brought into service again.

There is not enough water to meet everyone’s needs, and sometimes the network breaks down completely” There is a municipal water tank, which serves other villages as well and is filled on a weekly basis. Electricity is also coming back slowly but there are power failures, especially interruptions in the lines due to repairs.”

THE Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) and the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee have finished restoring the first 17 houses in the Christian village on the Nineveh Plain.

The families who have returned home are saying, “Our life, our history is here. This is where we want to live.”

DESTROYED buildings in a street of Bartella after being liberated from IS © Aid to the Church in Need The municipal administration is trying to do its part as well: an excavator is working to repair the streets; a group of street cleaners is collecting the garbage from the streets.

These are small miracles for a village that bears the deep scars of jihadist occupation everywhere. Despite all of the difficulties, many Christian families who have spent the past few years in Erbil as internally displaced persons profess to being willing to return to the Nineveh Plain and to a normal life.

“At least 200 families come to Bartella from Erbil every day to clean their houses and make them habitable again,” Noor Sabah Dana continued. This is why so many garbage bags are lying out in front of the houses.

“The families come here to clean their flats and clear them out, then they call the committee and ask us to appraise their homes and provide an estimate for the damages. Then restoration can commence.”

The challenges facing Christians in the Nineveh Plains are enormous: Currently

there are still 14,000 registered families who have fled from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains living in Erbil (approximately 90,000 people), nearly 13.000 homes to be rebuilt, security concerns in the villages, Kurdish-Iraqi political manoeuvring on the ground, infrastructure concerns (water, electricity, roads, schools and clinics) and most importantly the transition period between the end of monthly rentals and food packages and the move of these families to the restored villages.

Drawing from the most recent surveys updated by the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee, 1228 families have already returned to Nineveh Plains and 423 properties are being renovated of which 157 have been restored through financial contributions by ACN. Since the crisis began, ACN has provided ongoing support to the Christian refugees in northern Iraq. To date, a total of $45 million has been donated for emergency aid including food, education, housing, pastoral help and reconstruction.

Page 14 - Catholic Life, August 2017

For the Young and Young at Heart Colour in the wise owl

Time for a laugh

A POLICE officer jumps into his squad car and calls the station.

“I have an interesting case here,” he says. “A woman shot her husband for stepping on the floor she just mopped.”

“Have you arrested her?” asks the sergeant.

“No, not yet. The floor’s still wet.”

AN elderly man lived alone. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard.

His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, had recently been sent to prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament: “Dear Vincent, “I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over? I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. Love, Papa.”

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

“Dear Pop, “Don’t dig up that garden. That’s where the bodies are buried. Love, Vinnie.”

At 4am the next morning, police arrived and dug up the entire area, but without finding any bodies. They apologised to the old man and left.

The next day the old man received another letter from his son.

MANDELLA colouring pages have become very popular with adults as “Dear Pop, Go ahead and plant the well as children. Carefully colour-in this wise owl. tomatoes now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances. Love you, Vinnie.”

You can a-maze yourself

Pharmacist: “All speeds and sizes.

Why do you ask? Is there something I can help you with?”

Jacob says to the pharmacist: “We’d like to nominate your store as our Bridal Gift Registry.”

HOSPITAL regulations usually require a wheel chair for patients being discharged.

A student nurse, found one elderly gentleman already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet, who insisted he didn’t need her help to leave the hospital.

After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly let her wheel him to the elevator. On the way down she asked him if his wife was meeting him.

“I don’t know,” he said. “She’s still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown.”

A MEMBER of a diet club bemoaned her lack of will-power.

She’d made her family’s favorite cake over the weekend, she explained, and they’d eaten half of it. The next day, however, the uneaten half beckoned.

She cut herself a slice. Then another, and another. By the time she’d polished off the cake, she knew her husband would be disappointed.

“What did he say when he found out?” one club member asked.

“He never found out,” she said. “I made another cake and ate half.”

A SAW mill advertised for a timber worker. A skinny little bloke showed up at the camp the next day carrying an axe. The boss takes one look at the puny bloke and tells him to get lost.

“Give me a chance to show you what I can do,” says the little guy.

“Okay, see that giant red gum over JACOB, age 92, and Rebecca, age there?” says the boss. “Take your axe 89, are excited about their decision and cut it down.” to get married. They go for a stroll to The little bloke heads for the tree discuss the wedding and on the way and in five minutes he’s knocking on they pass a chemist. Jacob suggests door. “I cut the tree down,” says the they go in. bloke.

Jacob addresses the man behind the The boss can’t believe his eyes and counter: “Are you the owner?” says, “Where did you learn to chop The pharmacist answers “Yes”.

Jacob: “We’re about to get married. down trees like that?”

“In the Great Sandy Forest, near the Do you sell heart medication?”

Kimberley in Western Australia” says Pharmacist: “Of course we do.”

Jacob: “How about medicine for the little fella. circulation?”

“You mean the Great Sandy Desert,” Pharmacist: “All kinds.” says the boss.

Jacob: “Medicine for rheumatism, “Sure! That’s what they call it now!” scoliosis?”

Pharmacist: “Definitely.”

A MEDICAL research group Jacob: “Medicine for memory advertised for participants in a study problems, arthritis, jaundice?” of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Pharmacist: “Yes, a large variety.

They were looking for therapy The works!” clients who had been diagnosed with Jacob: “What about vitamins, this disorder. sleeping pills, antidotes for The response was gratifying; they Parkinson’s Disease?” got 3879 responses one hour after the Pharmacist: “Absolutely.”

THERE was a lot of interest in the maze we published last month and so Jacob: “You sell wheelchairs and ad came out. we have found another one for you to try. walkers?”

All from the same person!

A COUPLE are sitting in their living room, sipping wine. Out of the blue, the wife says, “I love you.”

“Is that you or the wine talking?” asks the husband.

“It’s me,” says the wife. “Talking to the wine.”

Catholic Life, August 2017 - Page 15

Plenary Council facilitator and team is announced

Classifieds prayer

prayer

public notices

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.

St Jude

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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.

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.

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Phone 5622

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THE Bishops Commission for the Plenary Council has announced the appointment of Lana Turvey-Collins as the Plenary Council facilitator.

She will work in partnership with members of the formation team of Catholic Mission, forming a Plenary Council Facilitation Team which will comprise Fr Noel Connolly SSC and Mr Peter Gates, deputy national director of Catholic Mission.

Ms Turvey-Collins and the facilitation team are humbled by the opportunity. “We look forward to collaborating with leaders and their teams across

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Priests & Deacons

Your will be done

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

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

If so please contact

Fr Michael Willemsen 5152 3106

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the diverse ministries and works of the Catholic Church and all people in Catholic communities across Australia.

“Over the coming years, we hope to support local Churches to lead and facilitate authentic and open dialogue about how we are, and how we can be, a community of missionary disciples in Australia. Pope Francis’ writings, teaching and witness are inspiration for us, as he reminds us what Jesus in today’s society looks like.”

Plenary Council 2020 and the process of consultation and dialogue is an unprecedented opportunity for the Church in Australia.

It’s an opportunity to engage with all Catholics in Australia – those who lead, those who work in Catholic organisations, those who may feel they don’t have a voice, those who feel they are outside the Church and those who show up every Sunday for Mass – a process inclusive of all. It’s about becoming the kind of Australian Catholic community which Pope Francis is calling us to be: “a community of communities…”

After considerable deliberation, the Bishops Commission for the Plenary Council made the decision to move away from the more typical executive secretary position, which had been previously advertised, and have instead appointed a facilitator and engaged a facilitation team which will be better equipped to respond to the realities of preparing for and celebrating the Plenary Council.

Ms Turvey-Collins has a wealth of experience in senior leadership, strategic planning, facilitation and stakeholder engagement.

She has been seconded from Catholic Mission, where she has been leading the mission formation team and adult formation program.

She brings to this role a passion for God’s mission and believes there is great strength and wisdom in the diversity of the Australian Catholic community.

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Page 16 - Catholic Life, August 2017

Promoting health and wellbeing at St Kieran’s

By Lina de Vent MOE - St Kieran’s Catholic Primary School is participating in the Victorian Government’s Healthy Together Achievement program.

We value the importance of Health and Wellbeing and the impact it has on the learning of our students.

Our Health and Wellbeing team consisting of parents, students and staff have achieved the benchmarks of physical activity, sun protection, tobacco control and alcohol and other drugs under the program and we are working towards achieving all remaining benchmarks.

We pride ourselves on promoting physical activity including walking and riding to school, and look forward to the annual Ride2School Day which promotes students and their families to leave the car at home and ride to school.

Our school was recently granted a silver classification as part of the Ride2School program.

This recognises our annual participation in the program and rewards us for entering data in the HandsUp count which shows how many students walk, ride or are driven to school.

Our students participated in the St John Ambulance First Aid in Schools training.

The junior students were taught how to identify when there is an emergency, keeping themselves safe and how to call an ambulance.

Senior students were shown delivering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and the things they can do to assist in an emergency.

The staff and students enjoyed the program conducted

by Ashley and Matt from St John Ambulance and were able to share their learning at home with their parents by completing an on-line quiz.

As part of the Achievement program, St Kieran’s is focusing on healthy eating.

Claire Watts, Health Promotion Officer at Latrobe Community Health Service, has been supporting our school in achieving the benchmarks of the program.

Claire conducts fortnightly nutrition sessions with our students covering topics such as: sugar, healthy lunchboxes, reading nutrition labels, five food groups and the effects of marketing on food choices. Our students are enjoying learning all about nutrition and have input on subject choices.

Connecting with our local community is a great way to enhance student learning.

STUDENTS testing their newly-learnt CPR skills on training dummies.

Force and motion tested TRARALGON - St Michael’s School Grade 3/4 students have been learning about physical science.

They researched different forces and motion and planned

Help Religious Sisters - the unsung heroines in the Church!

They were really impressed by it.”

Grade 3 student, Felicity commented,” I compared two balloons one with a coin in it and one without. The coin pulled the balloon down to the ground. We had a poster with the procedure on it to show our parents and help explain what we were doing.”

Harry from grade 4 said,” My experiment was cups going back and forwards on a string, they pushed away from each other.”

MICHELLE and Olivia demonstrating their experiment.

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A complimentary Mother Teresa rosary designed by the Vatican rosary makers and blessed by Pope Francis will be sent to all those who can assist with a donation of $20.00 or more to support this cause and tick the box below.

Mother Teresa, now St Teresa of Calcutta, was canonised on September 4th 2016. The rosary carries the following inscriptions on the reverse side of the JY\JPÄ_ HUK JLU[YHS TLKHS! “A little pencil in the hand of God” and “It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into what we do”.

The colours of the rosary beads represent the simple white sari worn by Mother Teresa and the blue, her devotion to the Virgin Mary.

their very own science experiment to show force, motion and momentum. The children then wrote a procedure and tested it.

Family and friends were invited in to a Learning Together Session to follow their children’s procedures which were on display with their experiments.

Bill from grade 4 said, “I made a parachute. The Learning Session was really fun. We got to show our relatives what we’d created and what we’d learnt.

GRADE 4s, Bill and Darcy with their Parachute Procedure.