Catholic Life - December 2012

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Catholic Life Publication of the Diocese of Sale

Stations of the Cross returned - Page 3

ISSUE 168

Newest member of youth team - Page 7

December 2012

Pregnancy support centre planned - Page 8

‘Unlikely’ priest dies

By Colin Coomber

ST Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, was always central to the faith life of Fr Tim McInnes and so it was fitting that his Requiem Mass was held there.

Fr McInnes who died on November 22 used to say his only claim to fame was that he was the only Sale-born person who had been baptised, confirmed, ordained a deacon and ordained a priest in the cathedral.

By his own admission he was the most unlikely person ever to be ordained a priest in the modern era.

His early life was dominated by his desire to enjoy the company of others, usually over a few jugs of beer, and more than once he likened himself to a prodigal son who returned home to the church.

His decision in 1981 to become a late vocations priest floored many of his closest friends.

He had been having dinner with Fr Peter Bickley at the home of close friends John and Maureen Cunninghame in Sale when Maureen asked him if he had ever considered becoming a priest.

His response that he had amazed his dinner companions and so Fr Bickley asked why he hadn’t done something about it.

Tim replied “Because no-one asked me before!”

From then on he had a battle, with the assistance of both friends and clergy, to convince Bishop Eric D’Arcy that he had undergone some sort of conversion and was really dedicated to serving the Church.

In January 1982 Bishop D’Arcy accepted him as a

BISHOP Christopher Prowse leads the service at Sale Lawn Cemetery which followed the Requiem Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral. candidate for the priesthood but even then the battle was not over because St Paul’s Seminary for late vocations was reluctant to accept him because he had left school at age 15 without completing a formal education.

Finally, in 1983 after insistence from the bishop, the seminary accepted him, for four years of study for the priesthood.

He was ordained at a deacon at St Mary’s Cathedral in May 1986 and then to the priesthood

in December of that year.

He went on to serve as a curate at both Cranbourne and Bairnsdale before being appointed parish priest at Orbost from 1993-97, Koo Wee Rup from 1997-2000 and then Heyfield from 2000 until his retirement in January 2010.

In all places he continued to frequent the hotels, to meet the common people and to bring a little of God into their lives.

Fr McInnes often used to cite instances of people he

had been able to bring back to the Church by meeting them and explaining his remarkable faith journey.

Baptisms, confirmations, marriage and wedding anniversary functions were regularly organised at the pub where people were on their home ground, rather than being asked to visit the priest back at the presbytery.

After retirement he continued to live on in a unit in Heyfield’s main street and it was there that he suffered the first of his major

strokes.

He was found lying on the floor, perhaps many hours after the stroke and was rushed to the Sale hospital in a serious condition. The stroke robbed him of mobility and speech but he was still able to recognise visitors.

A second major stroke on November 12 left him in a critical condition and he slowly deteriorated over the next 10 days.

• Continued Page 2

Your generous gift will go on giving A donation to the Bishop’s Family Foundation will aid needy families in the Diocese of Sale by funding much needed counselling and other programs.

Send tax deductible donations to: Bishop’s Family Foundation, PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820 Phone 5622 6600 for more information

Page 2 - Catholic Life, December 2012

Grace and Faith found in Christmas manger T

he sending and receiving of Christmas cards is still popular.

The first card I received this season gave me some reason to reflect on Christmas for three reasons.

First, in the bottom left hand corner of the card were the three wise men on pilgrimage to Bethlehem.

Like the three wise men, in this Year of Grace and Year of Faith, all of us are on pilgrimage to Jesus. We cannot imagine a new evangelisation in Australia or our world without “starting afresh from Christ” (John Paul II). Liturgically, the Advent season celebrates this penitential pilgrimage in Word and Sacrament.

It is a time of conversion. Please consider the importance of going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation in this penitential season. It is a wonderful way of preparing for the joyous season of Christmas.

Secondly, the three wise men are travelling at night and are guided by a star.

We are travelling towards Christmas this year in a kind of “night” too. The recent media exposure of sex abuse of children in society and in our own Church has once again concerned us profoundly. We are trying to stand in solidarity with the victims. Our

To God’s People in the Catholic Diocese of Sale 16 year old national protocols have helped so much to respond to this scourge in the Church. But still, the fact that some of our own church personnel have been involved as

our people who are so scandalized by these events that their faith has been shaken and confused.

Thirdly, the star led the Magi to a humble stable in which the child

abusers continues to shock and humiliate us all.

Yet, in all this, the star leading us to Jesus travels by way of the road of conversion and humility.

Simplicity and justice will be our response as we pilgrimage with the Magi towards this Christmas and beyond. We pray for the victims of child sex abuse. We pray too for

Jesus is found in a manger.

Where Jesus is found there is the Church. We must never separate Christ from the Church.

At Bethlehem Jesus is found in the humility of the stable. A manger is a feeding vessel for animals. Our Sacred Tradition has suggested that the manger is a symbol of the Eucharist. Jesus feeds us

Reflection 2

with himself at Mass. In all our confusion and darkness we come into the presence of Jesus, the Light of the World and food for the nations.

The “glitz” of the Christmas preparations and its commercial aspect must be kept in proper proportions. The key words are not “big”, “expensive”, and “useful”.

When the Magi experienced a personal encounter with Jesus on that first Christmas, maybe their key words were: “small”, “fragile”, and “profound”.

Only a heart that is comfortable with silence, contemplation, simplicity and humility will truly encounter Jesus in a lowly manger.

Grace and Faith open the door to the child Saviour.

Let us all pray for an increase of Grace and Faith this Christmas. Let it begin in our hearts, and let it pass onto our families, communities and to the marginalised.

Be assured of my prayers for you all at Christmas. May you then have a restful holiday time in January 2013. May you find extra time for prayer and meditation.

May the joy of the Lord be with you as 2013 approaches.

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance” (1Peter 1:26). + Bishop Christopher Prowse Catholic Bishop of Sale

Funeral of Sale’s ‘unlikely’ priest • From Page 1

Fr Tim McInnes DIOCESE OF SALE

Fr McInnes was the second eldest of eight children, raised in Briagolong and attended the local state school before moving to Sale to stay with his grandparents and enrolling in St Patrick’s College, Sale, as a day boy in 1945.

He left school in 1949 to work for the Post Master General’s

Catholic Life PO Box 1410, Warragul Vic. 3820 Phone: (03) 5622 6600

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

Department as a telegram delivery boy for the Sale Post Office.

His PMG career took him to various post offices in Victoria and Tasmania over a 15 year period before he returned to Sale in 1964 to begin 19 years with the Australian Electoral Office.

In 1974 he was seconded to the Northern Territory to become

Latrobe alley V uneral F Services

the first Commonwealth Government electoral officer in Alice Springs where he was responsible for conducting elections in five seats, taking in three-quarters of the territory.

In his young days he was an accomplished cricketer, showing great skills behind the stumps as wicketkeeper for Briagolong and Old Collegians, and once represented SaleMaffra Cricket Association at Country Week.

One of his great loves was golf and not too many years ago he won a golfing tournament playing against other Victorian priests.

First prize was trip to Ireland

and so he headed off and spent the entire holiday playing golf at various courses in Ireland, Scotland and England.

At his Requiem Mass, his youngest brother Gary paid tribute to the people who had found and supported Tim after his first stroke, and also to the doctors and staff at Central Wellington Hospital.

Facing the Truth Log in to follow the Catholic Church response and latest on the Victorian Government inquiry into child abuse. www.facingthetruth.org.au

Editor: Colin Coomber Published monthly except January.

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Catholic Life, December 2012 - Page 3

Christmas message from Bishop Chistopher Prowse Dear People of God in the Diocese of Sale, We are celebrating Christmas during the Year of Grace and the Year of Faith.

Christmas is surely where Grace and Faith meet. The Grace of God sends us Jesus, God-with-us. The Faith of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the Magi all “contemplate the face of Christ” resting in the humble stable of Bethlehem. Even such great Faith is an initiative of Grace.

We too join in this profound contemplation of the Saviour.

Indian priest and seminarian on the way THE clergy in the Diocese of Sale will be strengthened with the arrival of two new men from India in the coming weeks.

Stanly Constantine Devasia will arrive first and will begin studies for the priesthood at Corpus Christi Seminary in the new year.

Fr Aju Varghese from Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, Kerala, India will arrive early in the new year to serve as a priest in our diocese for about three years.

Last chance for diocese postmark

STAMP collectors only have a couple of weeks to get themselves a special Diocese of Sale postmark from the Sale Post Office business centre.

The postmark has been in use since May to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the creation of the diocese.

It was the first time a diocese had been recognised in such a way by Australia Post.

The postmark can be put on any letter but it must be specifically requested from post office staff.

The diocese also has on hand a limited amount of numbered first day of issue envelopes featuring the postmark.

Each envelope is hand numbered and is dated May 4 which was the first day of issue. In addition the envelopes have been embossed using Bishop Prowse’s official seal.

To obtain one of these contact the bishop’s personal assistant Cathy Dougan on 5622 6600.

Cost is $5 each.

Thank you for your Faith and strength during these dark times where the issue of child sex abuse is for all to see.

May the star of Christmas lead us in this darkness to the light of the child Jesus.

May you all be blessed by the Lord at this Christmas time.

Bishop Christopher Prowse December 2012

Sion Sisters return Stations of Cross WARRAGUL - The original stations of the cross have been returned to Sion House by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion.

The new diocesan headquarters was originally the Sion convent and the 14 brass stations of the cross were removed when the sisters left Warragul.

Sr Angela Bayliss and Sr Margaret Rush presented the stations to Bishop Prowse last month.

They are currently being placed on wooden plaques before being mounted on the walls.

Both sisters have a strong link with the building. Sr Margaret was sent there as a boarder after the 1939 bushfires had burnt out their family home in the high country near Harrietville.

Sr Angela, whose father was weirkeeper at Glenmaggie Weir, near Heyfield joined the Sion Sisters in Sale and went on to teach at Warragul.

She was one of the last sisters to leave the old convent in 1972, sharing the facilities with the Taylor family when Ken Taylor was appointed the first lay principal of the college.

The Sisters of Sion were the first religious congregation in the diocese after being encouraged by Bishop James Corbett to come from France to Sale.

They established their mother house, orphanage and school in Sale and later expanded to establish schools in Bairnsdale and Warragul.

The last Sion Sister in the diocese was Sr Lauraine Brice who moved from Sale to Melbourne several years ago.

The Sion House chapel has been fitted out with furniture built in Maffra from Gippsland mountain ash timber, and had

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

an altar stone and brass tabernacle which were sourced from the old Josephite convent in Yarram.

Bishop Prowse has begun saying regular early morning Masses in the chapel when he is available.

RIGHT: Sr Margaret Rush nds (left) and Sr Angela Bayliss nds with Bishop Prowse and some of the brass Stations of the Cross.

It’s not all about the money!

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The Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale is not subject to the provisions of the Corporation Act 2001 nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Deposits with the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale are guaranteed by CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for this purpose. We welcome your investment with the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale rather than with a profit orientated commercial organisation as a conscious commitment by you to support the Charitable, Religious and Educational works of the Catholic Church. Neither the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale nor the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Trust Corporation for the Diocese of Sale are prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority; contributions to the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale do not obtain the benefit of the depositor protection provisions of the Banking Act 1959; the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale is designed for investors who wish to promote the charitable purposes of the Catholic Diocese of Sale.

Page 4 - Catholic Life, December 2012

Lumen Christi refurbishment

Deceptive

SALE woman clearing out her cupboards prior to a move to the big smoke decided to donate some of her jewellery to a friend’s granddaughter.

There was an old set of rosary beads and what she thought was a St Christopher medal among it.

The friend looked at the various pieces and asked if she happened to be born under the star sign Aquarius.

Sure enough, the “St Christopher” was not carrying Christ at all but had a big jug of water.

It was her Aquarius pendant.

Blame the Chinese

FAIRLY new voice on a Gippsland radio station is showing her tender years with some of her comments.

But we thought her announcement last week that it was the anniversary of the Chinese attack on Pearl Harbor during World War 2 that really showed history was not one of her greatest subjects.

Christmas lights

NOT so many years back we had a plethora of homes covered in Christmas lights.

Local media outlets and even councils promoted competitions for the best lights in most towns across the region.

We ended up with some displays being impressive and many being downright tacky.

Now a few years later, it seems most people have tired

of the competitive spirit.

Most towns still have a few homes which put on a really good show but instead of every house in the block having a light display, there is now only one or two.

And while on Christmas displays, it must be said that most municipalities and business associations have backed off on their street decorations.

We have been through lots of the diocese in the past few weeks and have noticed the lack of Christmas decorations.

The high cost of such decorations and the desire to have something different every year has obviously made them prohibitive.

Christmas Masses

PARISHES are deluged each year by people wanting to know Christmas Mass times.

Many have recorded messages but the easiest way of locating a Mass closest to you is to go on our website www.sale. catholic.org.au, then clicking on parishes and Christmas Masses.

Last year more than 1000 people logged into the page in the week before Christmas.

BISHOP Christopher Prowse blesses the refurbished junior block at Lumen Christi Primary School, with school leaders, principal Cathy Blackford, Minister for Higher Education Peter Hall, director of Catholic education Maria Kirkwood, and Fr Francis Otobo.

CHURCHILL - The new jun- eral Government had given She also praised the chilior block at Lumen Christi Pri- $200,000. dren’s work on display in the mary School has been officially More importantly, the school classrooms. opened and blessed by Bishop community had got behind the Principal Cathy Blackwood, Prowse. project and raised $40,000 of who leaves at the end of term to The long awaited renovation local contribution. take over as principal at St Miwas part of an ongoing upgrade Director of Catholic edu- chael’s, Traralgon, announced of the school. cation Maria Kirkwood also that the school had just been The bishop spoke enthusiasti- congratulated the school and advised by the Federal Govcally to the children and gave praised it for the high standards ernment that it would received them a talk on the famous Lu- which were evident whenever $550,000 to refurbish the senior men Christi painting which he she visited. block. had seen when in England.

Minister for Higher Education and local Member of Parliament Peter Hall said he was pleased to see the development at the school.

He said the State Government had provided $400,000 towards the refurbishment and the Fed-

Young debaters up to the challenge

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

ST Michael’s debaters (from left) are Joshua, Erin, Sarah, Olivia K, Tahlia and Olivia W.

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.

BERWICK - St Michael’s Primary School Grade Six debating teams, set out to influence and persuade the judges to agree with their point of view at the inter school debating competition, held at St Catherine’s Primary School last month.

Both sides were able to provide solid reasons for their argument, outlining their contention and demonstrated their support for each other throughout the entire debate.

Both St Michael’s teams are

to be commended on their delivery with one of its students, Sarah M receiving an award for best speaker on the day.

Testing out their ideas against difficult oppositions resulted in one of their teams coming first.

Both teams’ achievements were admirable; their ability to plan and think logically has sharpened and each of them has gained invaluable skills in planning and delivering a structured argument in a formal setting.

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Catholic Life, December 2012 - Page 5

Statement from bishops on Royal Commission WITH leaders of Religious Orders, we welcome the establishment of the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse.

It is an opportunity for those who have suffered to obtain a compassionate hearing, justice and further healing.

It is also an opportunity for the Church’s processes to be scrutinised with greater objectivity.

This will allow further refinements that seek justice and pastoral care.

However imperfectly, this work has been going on in the Catholic Church for the last two decades. It will continue.

Once again, we renew our heartfelt apology to those whose lives have been so grievously harmed by the evil perpetrated upon them by some priests, religious and church personnel.

In order to work as effectively as possible with the Royal Commission, we have established a supervisory group of representatives from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Catho-

lic Religious Australia.

This supervisory group will establish and oversee a new Council for the Royal Commission consisting of 10 people (including bishops, religious and lay people) served by an Executive Officer.

Our hope is that, in its search for truth, the Royal Commission will present recommendations ensuring the best possible standards of child protection in our country.

Painful and difficult as this might be for the Church, it is nothing compared to the hurt of those who have suffered sexual abuse, particularly by clergy and religious.

Through the days of our meeting, the bishops and religious leaders have appreciated the support of the prayers of many in the Australian Catholic community.

That’s only $76 a day!

- Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference November 30, 2012

Josephite Associate enrolled CRANBOURNE - On the Feast of Christ the King, the roof was raised by the beautiful voices of the Samoan choir at St Agatha’s Church, as the first Cranbourne Josephite Associate was enrolled at the 10.45am Mass.

There were lots of congratulations as Colleen Nazareth made her commitment to friendship, prayer and service.

Associates are lay women and men who feel drawn to the charism of Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods, co-founders of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.

Associates and the Sisters are linked by the centrality of the Josephite charism and the commitment to friendship, prayer and service. They accept the challenge to make a difference in the world wherever they are for the sake of the reign of God in our world.

The most common statement

heard from other parishioners after Mass was that, although people loved the idea of being an associate, they were concerned that they, “Can’t fit anything else into their already busy lives”.

When asked about this comment Colleen said, “I have found that these are the very people that are already living the Josephite charism, as they are positive forces in their families as parents and carers, or in their parishes as lectors, welcomers, choir members and extraordinary eucharistic ministers.

“My reply to these active and inspirational people is quite simply this: Being a Josephite Associate doesn’t add more work to my already busy life; it adds a new dimension to what I am already doing in my life.

“I know that as I move through my busy day that other

associates and the Sisters of St Joseph are holding me, and all that I do in their prayers. While there are opportunities to connect regularly with the sisters and other associates, I am asked to attend one regional meeting in two years where I connect with other associates. When I reap such incredible blessings from being an associate I think I can meet that requirement”.

If you would like more information about the Josephite Associates email Sr Mary Fermio at associatesvic@sosj.org.au

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Page 6 - Catholic Life, December 2012

Government back-flip on bus subsidies welcomed OVERTURNING a decision to means test families for student bus subsidies has been widely welcomed.

The Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale, Maria Kirkwood, has welcomed the Victorian Government’s decision to remove means testing for student bus subsidies.

The government had previously announced that the Bus

Conveyance Allowance would be means tested, meaning hundreds of families would be disadvantaged.

Education Minister Martin Dixon announced the change had been made after representations from various groups about the unintended consequences of the proposed 2013 changes.

Ms Kirkwood thanked the Minister and government for listening to the concerns of

Catholic education and affected parents.

“Many of our Catholic schools are in some of the state’s most disadvantaged areas and means testing of the bus conveyance allowance was likely to cause financial stress to many regional families, who would be relieved to hear the Minister’s announcement.”

She said that changes to the urban growth boundaries to

include schools in the western end of the diocese meant that in future the allowances would be affected.

She understood that students who currently received an allowance would continue under a “grandfathering clause” but students changing schools might not be eligible.

Students with Beaconsfield, Officer, Pakenham and Cardinia postcodes would still be eligible

Taizé service under the Southern Cross AN ecumenical prayer service was held at Drouin Anglican church on November 27.

The “Taizé Under the Southern Cross” event, which attracted a sizeable gathering of young and old from all over Gippsland, was an initiative of the Sale Diocese Ecumenical Commission.

The Rev Amy Turner of the Anglican Church, along with Mike Hanson and Deacon

Mark Kelly of the ecumenical commission led prayer and scripture readings, while the Lavalla College liturgical choir led the singing.

In this Taizé style service the congregation gathered around the cross of Jesus to light a “Christ Candle” and express prayers of intercession for themselves and for the needs of the world.

The gentle Taizé chants, lead

by the young, accomplished Lavalla choristers, made it a deeply reflective experience.

After the reading of each petition, those present were invited to approach the cross and light a taper from the Paschal candle if the petition resonated with someone or some situation they wanted to remember in prayer.

The participation of all those present, especially the youth, made it a very moving experience.

A reading from the Gospel of Mark related both the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain and his rejoining the other disciples afterward on the plain below where he healed the boy possessed by a demon.

The message conveyed by the passage was that we cannot remain on the mountain top, engulfed in the mystical revelation of God, but must come down to the plain to confront the needs of a world in pain.

By the end of the service the mass of lighted remembrance tapers under the cross made a forceful statement. It made visible the belief that the Light of Christ can be borne by each one of us in prayer and solidarity with the world.

Many people spoke after the service of the great blessings they had received praying with Christians of other denominations and seeking unity together as our Lord so desires for us.

as these areas had been declared exempt by the government while public transport was still limited.

However, Cranbourne and Berwick were not exempt and so students moving from primary school to secondary school would no longer be eligible for the subsidy in those areas.

Principal named for Maffra DARREN Stanbury has been appointed principal of St Mary’s Primary School, Maffra from the start of the 2013 school year.

He is currently principal at Sacred Heart Primary School, Casterton.

He has held a number of leadership positions in schools in Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria.

He replaces Anita Little who has decided to return to classroom teaching at St Thomas’s, Sale.

At St Mary’s, Yarram, deputy principal Anthony Sheedy has been appointed acting principal to replace Di Austin who has moved to Queensland.

What gift should I pray for?

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WHEN King David died, Solomon was chosen by God to be the next king of Israel.

God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

Solomon answered, ”God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”

In another place it is translated as “Grant that I may have the gift of listening with the heart”.

What a gift to pray for as we prepare for Christmas, the gift of listening with what St Benedict calls ‘the ear of the heart’.

The ear of the heart hears the voice of God above the voices of the world, the voice of God in our life journey, in the others around us, in what we have come to believe. The ear of the heart is sensitive to the voice of God who is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love (Psalm 145:8).

The ear of the heart hears in the Christmas story the overwhelming expression of the love of God for all people, especially those who are poor or oppressed or suffering.

When we listen again to the Christmas story, we hear of those three travellers from the east and the shepherds who left their flocks to come to the stable – the ear of the heart hears the voice of welcome.

Reflections

by Jim Quillinan The ear of the heart hears in this story the voices of the outcaste, for those for whom there is ‘no room’, the homeless, those whom society excludes, the voice of those seeking refuge within our shores.

Listening is a gift, but like all gifts and talents it needs to be cultivated, to be improved by practice. Listening with the ear of the heart changes us, it helps us to see each other and the world we live in as God sees them.

It encourages us to give thanks for all our blessings, large and small.

Praying for the gift of listening with the heart means praying that we might not be too quick in our responding, rather than waiting and listening for the movement of God in our hearts, praying that we not be too quick to judge rather than listening to what it feels like to walk in the other’s shoes.

We pray that the ear of the heart might hear the voice of hope when things are not going the way we would like or when we despair, or that we might hear the voice of calm in the midst of anger, the voice of courage especially when we are afraid, the voice of welcome, the voice of peace brought in our working for justice and fairness.

Christmas reminds us each year that in Jesus we see the

overwhelming love of God for each of us. May we learn to listen with the ear of the heart to the voices of those who love us, who care for us, who inspire us and challenge us and may we share that love fearlessly and with generosity and courage.

I found this verse on a card some years ago: When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with the flocks, then the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal those broken in spirit, to feed the hungry, to release the oppressed, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among all peoples, to make a little music with the heart…

And to radiate the Light of Christ, every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.

Then the work of Christmas begins………

Catholic Life, December 2012 - Page 7

Newest member of youth team Pastoral plan next year THE newest member of the Sale Diocese youth ministry team is Cassie Gawley who started work at Sion House, Warragul, last week.

She is 19 and graduated from St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield, last year where she

was college vice captain.

Cassie said she was excited to be taking on the role of youth ministry support officer for the diocese.

She said she had a lot of experience in youth ministry, particularly as a student, as she was

actively involved in the Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia program, and it was something she felt passionately about. “I feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to work as a part of the Diocese of Sale in this role and I am really looking forward to what the year 2013 has in store for me. “I am really looking forward to meeting young people from our secondary schools and also to engage in and work with the current youth ministry activities that are in place over the diocese.�

A PASTORAL plan to direct the Diocese of Sale over the next five years will be released

by Bishop Christopher Prowse in his annual Pentecost Pastoral Letter next year.

The new pastoral plan has been developed by the bishop over the past couple of years following a series of regional meetings with parishioners.

Theme of the letter will be Family Evangelisation and there will be a different focus each year.

The first year’s focus will be family prayer and members of the Diocesan Pastoral Council

are assisting is developing the necessary resources for use by families.

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Page 8 - Catholic Life, December 2012

Making present the Kingdom of God AS the new Director of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Sale, the month of November has been a very busy one and December is shaping up to be equally so.

Over recent weeks I have been visiting several schools in the diocese for a range of reasons – School Renewal follow up, Blessings and Openings of buildings, Presentation and Awards evenings and occasionally just to visit.

Several things have been evident during these visits and special occasions. Firstly, there is great diversity amongst our schools. This diversity is experienced in the size, shape, environment and demographics of each of the locations.

Student and staff profiles vary greatly from place to place and have an impact on which particular educational program or endeavour has priority or specific focus.

Having been in the business of visiting a large number of

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schools over the last 18 years for a variety of reasons, I have become attuned to the differing nuances of school life and to picking up rather quickly where the strengths and weaknesses, joys and challenges exist within each setting.

Arriving at a school and, as is often the case with me, looking lost and a bit confused trying to find the main office, I have been struck by the number of times I have been approached by a staff member, parent or student offering help. The sense of hospitality this invariably conveys is a great starting point for any visit.

On the occasions when I have had to ask for assistance I have also found that students in particular have been willing to leave their companions and instead of just pointing towards a door have accompanied me to the exact spot.

Walking into the reception area of any school gives the next clear message of what is important in this particular school community. For some it is their history, for others their future.

For all of the ones I have visited to date there is a strong sense of a Catholic community proud of their particular identity, grounded in a commitment to follow the teachings and actions of Christ.

This has been evidenced by the obviously carefully chosen

Talking Catholic Education with Maria Kirkwood pieces of art and iconography, vision and mission statements and student art everywhere on display. Visitors and prospective parents and students are left in no doubt that these are Catholic schools.

I have personally felt an enormous sense of pride as well as good fortune to be associated with this vibrant community of schools in the Sale Diocese.

Some recent awards nights at Catholic Secondary Colleges in the diocese have left me with a sense of great confidence in the young people who are leaving our schools to go out into a world that is far more complex than the world many of us entered when we left school.

The joy, spirit, confidence, talent and goodness that I have both witnessed and felt at these events have been exceptional.

When I consider that many of these young people will have the opportunity to take up significant leadership of our cities, state and country I feel confident that the grounding they have received in Christian principles and ethics will stand us all in good stead in the years

ahead.

In the director’s message on the Catholic Education Office website the following passage occurs and sums up my recent experiences: Yet clearly we are all about the same thing – making present the Kingdom of God to our communities, providing students with the opportunity to grow in the love of God and develop a respectful knowledge of their world in an atmosphere of peace, joy, hope, justice and love.

As we enter the season of Advent on the journey to Christmas I take this opportunity to wish all associated with and interested in Catholic education in the Diocese of Sale a safe and joyous Christmas.

New apostolic administrator for Wilcannia THE Bishop of Armidale Michael Kennedy has been appointed new apostolic administrator of Wilcannia-Forbes Diocese in outback NSW. He replaces Bishop Kevin Manning, retired Bishop of Parramatta, who has filled the position for the past couple of years.

Wilcannia-Forbes has been without a bishop since Bishop Chris Toohey resigned in 2009.

The future of the outback diocese, which covers almost half the area of NSW but has few populations centres, has been debated for several years with suggestions that it be carved up between neighboring dioceses Wagga Wagga, Canberra-Goulburn, Bathurst and Armidale.

One suggestion was for eastern part to be taken in by neighboring dioceses but the outback region be taken under the wing of and be serviced by priests from Sydney Archdiocese.

Pregnancy support centre is planned

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Kirsten Finger (left) and Melissa Raymond STRONG public financial support is required to make the dream of a pregnancy support centre in Warragul come true.

Olivia’s Place is the dream of a local group of women who as mothers themselves identified a gap in the community for supportive services for mums and families in need of a little additional support.

Organisers Kirsten Finger of Drouin and Melissa Raymond of Warragul are hoping that a shopfront will be open in Warragul next year to provide services to those experiencing difficulties during pregnancy.

Olivia’s Place will be a community based organisation, and as such will be seeking sup-

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They said the centre would provide support needs from early pregnancy through to the baby’s first birthday and unlike many other services would also provide support for the fathers and families.

Olivia’s Place would have all the latest information on available services and trained volunteers would be able to refer people to the best services to meet their needs.

A booklet for new parents, called The Olive Guide, has been produced and will be widely available in Baw Baw Shire.

Olivia’s Place plans three major fundraisers a year, targeting Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and an annual baby bottle appeal in which people are encouraged to donate in the over 300 baby bottles that have been spread around churches and businesses.

Regular sponsors will also be needed to ensure the success of the project.

More information is available from the website wwww.oliviasplace.org.au.

Catholic Life, December 2012 - Page 9

Youth seminar at Narre Warren Oblate's 40th jubilee

NARRE WARREN - A youth seminar day was presented

by Morwell assistant priest Fr Francis Otobo, with the support of Catholic Charismatic Renewal coordinators Michael and Wendy Power and Peter Schreurs.

The day was attended by youth from both Narre Warren and Cranbourne.

Fr Otobo commenced his inspirational day about the Year of Grace, speaking about the grace of God in our lives explaining that the grace was a gift of God that came when we least expected it.

After having conversation with a parent in relation to birth and marriage giving him an inspiration to share about the Grace of God within his own life, how his mother explained that he came into this world by the Grace of God. Through this sharing we were able to see how we can see God at work in

our lives.

Do we remember the reading about Joseph being sold into slavery? Fr Otobo pointed out the Grace of God shown by Joseph to his brothers when years later they had come begging for help.

Fr Otobo spoke about salvation and that it came through one man. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned.

Does God reject his people, absolutely not. He reassured the Youth that Father continued to speak about whether God rejected his people in answer to this we find in Reassurance was given for the Youth that there is a small number left of those whom God has chosen because of his grace.

God’s choice is based on his grace, not on what they have done.

Digging deeper into our hearts Father spoke about the life of St Paul how he went against God but how God transformed him

through grace.

At this point in time Father graced us with a very touching song reflecting life and the graces that flow.

The afternoon continued with more inspirational words in relation to challenges and obstacles which don’t always come from afar but from close by.

In the Gospel of John we are promised a helper, we will not be left orphans.

We need to encourage Catholics to pray more, we need someone to have the courage to say yes to allow the Holy Spirit to move, when you receive the Holy Spirit you will have the power to say Jesus is Alive, to Praise God, to be Passionate about your faith, allow the Holy Spirit to take control and lead you.

We concluded with praise and worship and a Calling of the Holy Spirit which was beautifully lead by Narre Warren Youth Prayer Group music ministry.

Fr Leon Anderson OMI a remarkable recovery and being well enough to work at St John Vianney’s in Springvale North and later Our Lady of Lourdes in Lesmurdie, Western Australia before retiring in 2011 to the Little Sisters of the Poor hostel in Mount Hawthorn, Western Australia.

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By Therese Hummel

AN Oblate priest who was seriously injured in a car accident while serving at Moe has celebrated 40 years of the priesthood.

Fr Leon Anderson OMI was the first priest to be ordained in the new Oblate parish in Sefton, New South Wales on December 8, 1972.

Ofter the ordination, he worked for two years at St Kieran’s in Moe, before serving in parishes in Queensland and Western Australia.

In February 1993 he returned to St Kieran’s as assistant priest and in August that year he had a near-fatal car accident while returning from celebrating Sunday Mass at St John’s in Erica when his car skidded on a wet road and hit a tree.

Fr Anderson spent the next two years in intensive rehabilitation programs before making

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Page 10 - Catholic Life, December 2012

KWR remembrance

FRANK Worcester and John Hester enjoy the barbecue lunch.

KOO WEE RUP - St John’s annual remembrance Mass, held early in November each year, has become a significant celebration for parishioners and visitors alike.

Families of deceased parishioners were invited to join in the Mass during which representatives were invited to come forward to light a candle in memory of each parishioners who died during the past year.

As a community we remembered and gave thanks for their lives and their contribution to parish life. Morning tea following Mass provided a great opportunity for some reminiscing and catching up.

Significantly this year’s remembrance Mass was held on November 11 which was Remembrance Day and so the sacrifices of our fallen servicemen

and women were also recognised prayerfully during Mass with the tolling of the church bell at 11am as a reminder of the hour to the entire Koo Wee Rup community.

During November we also had cause to congratulate Fr John Allen who celebrated a significant birthday.

St John’s Christmas barbecue was held on November 18 following Mass. Thanks to Rob and Leonie Mure for their expertise in cooking and to all those parishioners who brought along food to share. It was a great event with lots of talk!!

The refurbishment of the parquetry floor in the large sanctuary area of the church continues in the hope of restoring it to its former condition prior to Christmas.

Mental Health first aid course TRARALGON - Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon Secondary College and local mental health education and training group Minding Mental Health, joined forces recently to give staff the opportunity to undertake 14 hours of Youth Mental Health First Aid training.

Twenty four staff met over four weeks to increase their knowledge, skills and awareness around this increasingly important topic.

The course is for adults working or living with adolescents (those aged between 12 and 18 years), however, the course can be relevant for those helping people who are a little younger or older. This course is particularly suitable for parents, teach-

ers, sports coaches, employers and youth workers.

The course teaches adults how to assist adolescents who are developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Course participants learn about adolescent development, the signs and symptoms of the common and disabling mental health problems in young people, where and how to get help when a young person is developing a mental illness, what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation.

The developing mental health problems covered are depression, anxiety, psychosis, eating disorders and substance misuse

The mental health crisis situations covered are suicidal thoughts and behaviors, nonsuicidal self-injury, panic attacks, traumatic events, acute effects of drug or alcohol use and severe psychotic states Participant feedback was extremely positive with recommendations that the course continue to be offered to school based staff and parents.

St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield, is currently undertaking the training as facilitators who are happy to travel when the need arises.

Further details about future courses is available by emailing Susanne or Caryn at mindingmh@gmail.com

Busy time for CWL branches OCTOBER and November have been very busy months for the Catholic Women’s League.

Three regional retreats have been held in the West Region/ Latrobe Valley, South Region and East Region.

All retreats were well attended with approximately 30 members at each. All speakers were very inspiring and successful days were enjoyed by all.

All 18 branches in the diocese held their annual meetings in October and November.

Diocesan committee members attended all meetings and were grateful for all the good work done by branches. Members clean their parish churches

read at Masses, cater for funerals and many more varied work in their parishes.

The Catholic Women’s League donate to many charities here and overseas. One of our main charities is Lodwar home for girls in Kenya run by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary nuns.

The girls are taught sewing and cooking and after two years training they graduate and most are successful in finding work.

We also donate to Caritas, The Bible Society, Right to Life, Missionaries Of God’s Love, Franciscan Missions, Father Yelds in Kiribati and many other charities.

Some branches grant an award to a child in Year 6 level at their parish school for achievements throughout the year.

Bishop Prowse requested we donate towards our seminarians. This is done through the diocesan committee and the money is divided between these young men.

The CWL is looking for new members to join our branches.

If you feel you cannot attend meetings on a regular basis you may wish to become an associate member. Contact any branch in your area for more information. Membership is $20 per year.

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Catholic Life, December 2012 - Page 11

50 somethings - Facing up to future financials THIS is the third in this series of articles written for Catholic Life and this time we look at our investment needs and approach as we move through our fifth decade.

The 50s is that stage of life where we realise just how far we’re going in our career and realise that things are really finite.

The decisions we’ve made in our earlier years have created

our life position and there’s not that much time left to change things before we contemplate retirement. In a 45 year working life, at age 50 we’re two thirds the way through.

Fortunately the mortgage is probably gone or under control, although these days many 50-year-olds have mortgages on bigger and more valuable homes.

We are generally are more ac-

Quick calendar

What’s on & when December 21 – Summer holidays begin (primary schools) 25 – Christmas Day 26 – Boxing Day 30 – Feast of the Holy Family 31 – New Year’s Eve

2013

Trafalgar, 7.30pm 19 – Pentecost 22 – West region meeting, Nar Nar Goon, 10.30am 24 – Our Lady Help of Christians 26 – Trinity Sunday 31 – Visitation of the BVM

January

June

1 - New Year’s Day 1- World Day of Peace 1 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 6 – Epiphany 13 – Baptism of the Lord 17 – St Anthony 20 – West region meeting, Nar Nar Goon, 10.30am 26 – Australia Day 28 – St Thomas Aquinas 31 - St John Bosco

3 – Corpus Christi Sunday 7 – Sacred Heart of Jesus 8 – Immaculate Heart of Mary 10 – Queen’s Birthday Holiday 20 – World Refugee Day (UN) 20 – Valley region meeting, noon 24 – Birth of John the Baptist 26 - South region meeting, Leongatha, 11.15am 29 – Sts Peter and Paul

February 2 – Presentation of the Lord 5 – St Agatha 5 – East region meeting, Omeo, 10.30am 9 – Diocesan pastoral council meeting, St Michael’s Parish Centre, Traralgon 10 – Chinese New Year 11 – Our Lady of Lourdes 13 – Ash Wednesday 21 – Valley region meeting, noon

March 6 – South region meeting, Leongatha, 11.15am 11 – Labor Day Holiday 18 – St Patrick’s Day 19 – Central region meeting, Drouin, 7.30pm24 – Palm Sunday 28 - Holy Thursday 29 – Good Friday 30 – Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil 31 – Easter Sunday

April 7 – Daylight saving ends (turn clocks back 1 hour) 8 – Annunciation 16 – East region meeting, Lakes Entrance, 10.30am 18 – Valley region meeting, noon 23 – World Book Day (UN) 23 – Diocesan pastoral council meeting, Sion House, Warragul 25 – Anzac Day

May 12 – Ascension 12 – Mother’s Day 13 – Our Lady of Fatima 14 – Central region meeting,

July 9 – Ramadan begins

August 6 – Transfiguration of the Lord 8 – St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 9- International Day of Indigenous Peoples (UN) 12 – International Youth Day (UN) 13- East region meeting, Bairnsdale, 10.30am 15 - Assumption 15 – Valley region meeting, noon 17 - Diocesan pastoral council meeting, St Michael’s Parish Centre, Traralgon 20 – Central region meeting, Warragul, 7.30pm 21 – West region meeting, Nar Nar Goon, 10.30am 22 – Queenship of Mary

September 1 – Father’s Day 2 – Jewish New Year 21 – International Day of Peace (UN) 27 – St Vincent de Paul

October 1 – International Day of Older Persons (UN) 1 – St Therese of the Child Jesus 4 – St Francis of Assisi 6 – Daylight Saving begins (turn clocks forward one hour) 10 – World Mental Health Day 15 – St Theresa of Avila 17 – Valley region meeting, noon

cepting of debt at this stage of our lives than in the past. The children hopefully have left home or are at uni, so the matter of looking after them financially is or has become optional.

We’re at that stage of looking back at the financial travails of our earlier years and saying “whoopee – it’s me (or us) time” and then turning round and realising that the light we are seeing at the end of the tunnel may just be the retirement train heading straight toward us.

It’s a fact that more than 70 percent of Australians of age 50 will not have enough funds in retirement to provide a comfortable lifestyle.

Just at the time we’re wanting to spend on ourselves for a change, and just when we should be looking at conserving what we have built up, we need to be more aggressive in trying to grow our retirement capital.

Unlike our parents we at least have our Superannuation Guarantee contributions since 1994 but these have now also been shown to be insufficient.

So we need to employ some strategies to get us further toward our goals. Bear in mind that the longer we live the longer our life expectancy. Even in the last decade, the life expectancy of people aged 65 increased to 83.7 for men and 85.8 years for women. When I started planning I was told that we only had to fund retirement to age 81!

It’s harder to change habits the older we get, but unless we have a very good superannuation scheme, or have been successful business people, sold the farm or have wealthy parents and no siblings we need to increase our funding.

The first point of call is superannuation. As mentioned in the previous articles this avenue is not as much benefit as it was, but it’s still the best way, so we can contribute $25,000 each year of pre-tax money to this.

With no mortgage and children out of the way it should be possible to do some or all of this.

If we have other assets, we’re allowed to contribute another $150,000 each year in after tax value – cash or appropriate investments. We can’t access this money until we’re aged 55 so if it’s contributed, it’s gone.

At age 55 we can start a transition to retirement pension and there are strategies regarding this involving re-contributions.

These are still positive but less so than previously.

Outside these we have to look after ourselves. We need to invest for growth, not income, and in our mid-50s we can expect only one more investment cycle before retirement, so we can’t afford to be too conservative.

Whether we invest in property or shares, we need to concentrate on quality and to manage it well and consistently.

We need to generate better than average returns and to do it consistently. Over time shares have been shown to be slightly better than property but it’s a

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case of do what we understand.

If we are not confident then we need to find a competent investment adviser who will work for us and in whom we must also have complete confidence that they are on our side, are listening and heeding our considerations. If we’re not set up properly by age 60 then we’ll have difficulty achieving our retirement goals.

There are many things that I could tell people to do, but there are two things that are great investments and worth far more than their cost if done correctly.

The first is to get a proper and well developed and thought out strategic plan that encompasses your requirements, and then use that to invest sensibly in good quality investments that with the help of a professional, you can control yourself.

In your 50s, you’re running out of time to make mistakes and recover from them.

On a brighter note, I hope your Christmas is happy and joyous, and doesn’t blow your budget out of the water. And

may 2013 be your best year yet.

Merry Christmas.

• This report is intended to provide general advice. In preparing this advice, David Wells and Baillieu Holst Ltd 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.

Fine tune numbers for paper SCHOOL principals are asked to advise any adjustments in the number of issues of Catholic Life to be delivered each month in 2013.

A change in enrolments could mean you will have to adjust numbers.

Just email the number of issues you want to catholiclife@ sale.catholic.org.au by the first week of February.

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Page 12 - Catholic Life, December 2012

Melbourne Before Mannix launched by the bishop BISHOP Prowse launched my new book Melbourne Before Mannix: Catholics in Public Life 1880-1900 in Warragul on November 15. Below is the talk I gave on that occasion.

This book was written to commemorate the centenary, which occurred in October, of Dr Mannix’s appointment as Coadjutor Archbishop of Melbourne. This book has two connected parts - the first two thirds is on Catholics in public life during Archbishop Carr’s reign, and the last part is on Mannix’s early years in Melbourne. This arrangement came about in the following way. My main focus was on Mannix.

To understand his 50 turbulent years in Australia, his many biographers have combed through his earlier 50 years in Ireland, searching for clues which might explain his behavior here.

But often in vain, as in Ireland he had been largely a private figure, living in a seminary, Maynooth, all his adult life.

My basic idea for this book was that understanding the decades in Melbourne Catholic life before he arrived is the true prehistory of his activities here.

Then we can ask what Mannix inherited from the Melbourne archdiocese, how he fitted in and, most importantly, what he changed.

Though I had my eye on Mannix, I discovered that the Carr period was a wonderful story in its own right, as under him a great flourishing of religious activity took place.

Archbishop Carr, unlike Cardinal Moran in Sydney, encouraged Melbourne lay Catholics to be prominent. The dozen or so Melbourne lay Catholic activists described in this book were all thinkers, writers and organizers.

Melbourne Catholics, both clerical and lay, started up institutions which spread nationwide, like the Hibernians, the CYMS, the Australian Catholic Truth Society, the Newman Societies and the monthly magazine, Austral Light. The Melbourne Archdiocese led the way.

Writing this book became for me a voyage of discovery of things I’d taken for granted as I grew up. Why was Melbourne a Christian Brothers domain, in contrast to Sydney where the Marists predominated?

Why were there Vincentian and Dominican parishes located

Gippsland Gistory H with Patrick Morgan in Malvern and Camberwell?

Why was the heaviest concentration of Irish Catholics in North Melbourne and beyond?

I discovered that the lineaments of the Catholic Melbourne I knew after the second world war had been established not by Archbishop Mannix, but by his lesser known predecessor, Archbishop Carr.

Nineteenth Century Melbourne was almost a quarter Irish Catholic. It was the Australian city most conscious of its Irish Australian heritage, and most conscious of the wrongs of old Ireland.

Mannix’s arrival in Melbourne was therefore not entirely random in time and place.

He came to the Australian city most aware of its Irishness. And in time he came just before the Easter Rebellion, when Irish events began for the first time to play a role in Australian public life.

But there was a catch – there’s always a catch. The leading clerical and lay figures in Melbourne were, with very few exceptions, much more moderate than Mannix on Irish and other political issues (for reasons explained in this book).

When he arrives in Australia, Mannix’s biographers tend to place him in a political context, leading a Catholic phalanx into battle with Billy Hughes. This makes him look dominant, as he was soon the equal and opposite of the Prime Minister.

But his primary location was in the Catholic Church.

Viewed from this perspective he looks a less assured (though still an important) figure, one who was himself on a steep learning curve.

The squabbles weren’t just the public ones with the British Australian establishment over conscription - to which so much attention has been drawn - there were also deep disagreements within the Catholic community.

Mannix had to form a new alliance, over the heads of the Catholic elite, between himself and ordinary Melbourne Catholics, who applauded his interventions.

Mannix changed the style of

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Melbourne Catholicism. He didn’t talk at his people, but identified with them, speaking on their behalf to the public rather than blaming them, which made them warm to him.

He didn’t confine himself to internal church arguments, but went out into the public realm to argue the church’s - and his own – case.

Mannix also changed the style of public debate in Melbourne. He didn’t employ the high hectoring tone of escalating vituperation common in Melbourne’s sectarian debates at the time. Instead he spoke in a sly, apparently self-deprecating, tone to undermine his targets.

This infuriated his opponents in both the church and in the political realm. Some Catholic figures complained about his activities to Rome - as a result Mannix received two Papal reprimands.

Billy Hughes similarly asked the British government in London to get rid of this troublesome prelate.

In later life Mannix’s favourite anecdote related to these attempts to restrain him: During the first world war the English statesman Asquith happened to meet the leading English Catholic cleric Cardinal Gasquet at a garden party at

Archbishop Carr Two writers who were promiBuckingham Palace.

Asquith asked the Cardinal to nent in early Gippsland literapass this request to recall Man- ture, George Dunderdale and nix to Pope Benedict XV. Car- Marion Miller Knowles, pubdinal Gasquet, startled by the lished in the Melbourne Cathorequest, said: “But what could lic journal Austral Light.

Irving Howe called his hiswe do with him? “Well” said Asquith “couldn’t you bring tory of his own people - the him back to Rome and put him New York Jewish community in charge of a college?” “God The World of Our Fathers. This forbid!” said the Cardinal. “At book could equally be called least in Australia he’s as far The World of Our Grandparents, as it’s a homage to the vast away as he can be”.

A major figure under Arch- network of family and cousbishop Carr was Fr Patrick inage groups which constituted Phelan, who became succes- Victoria’s Irish Catholicism at sively Dean of St Patrick’s Ca- the time, and which many of us thedral, Vicar General, Monsig- come from. nor, and finally Bishop of Sale.

Story of the ark in rhyme Talking about Books TWO BY TWO, by Emily Hawkins and Nick Belcher, published by Pippbrook Books, distributed by Rainbow Books, hardback, 22 pages, rrp $12.95.

WE are amazed at how many children’s books come out each year with Noah’s Ark as the theme. Most are well illustrated and rely on the appeal of animals to children.

This latest offering is extremely well illustrated by Maggie Kneen who is one of England’s top illustrators and children’s book authors.

However, what sets this book apart from many others is that the story of Noah and his ark is retold in rhyme by the dove which finds land and returns to the ark with the olive branch.

It starts: The day was bright, the air was clear, no cloud was in the sky.

I soared above the open plain and something caught my eye.

I settled in an olive branch to find a clearer view: A man below was toiling hard with cypress wood and yew.

It is hard to find decent rhyme in children’s books nowadays and this one has an easy rhythm which we believe will appeal to youngsters and have them asking for the story to be read over

and over.

ST FRANCIS, A Short Biography, by Kathleen M. Carroll, published by Franciscan Media, distributed by Rainbow Books, paperback, 58 pages, rrp $7.95.

YOU would think that after so much has been written on the great St Francis of Assisi, there could be little left to write.

However, such is the appeal of Francis that his story continues to be told year after years to new and interested audiences.

This small booklet draws on the writings of dozen much larger tomes to provide a snapshot of the saint who lived 800 years ago in rural Italy.

He fascinated biographers in his own century and continues to inspire, films, novels, plays, poem and music.

Here was a man born to wealth, who gave up everything to live out the gospel wearing the poorest clothes he could find.

Such was his appeal, he drew

around him a group of like minded men and women such as St Clare and from there we have today almost countless different religious congregations living in the tradition and charism of St Francis.

PSALMS FROM THE HEART, by Marion Van Der Loo, published by Pray Today, distributed by Rainbow Books, paperback, 130 pages, rrp $9.95.

THESE psalms are really spiritfilled prayers, the same as the psalms contained in the Bible originally were.

The author reflects on day to day life, the seasons of the Church and nature.

Each psalm is a meditation to draw readers deep into her thinking as she seeks to verbalise her relationship with God. They are beautiful prayers collected together in a small pocket or handbag-sized book which will appeal to many people.

Catholic Life, December 2012 - Page 13

And the heavens opened

Koinonia John the Baptist visit

By Pat Kelly

BISHOP Christopher Prowse leads prayers at the annual pilgrimage, surrounded by devoted young Catholics.

SALE - A dramatic storm meant a last minute change of route was necessary the 2012 Diocesan Youth Gathering: Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

However ,no amount of rain or thunder could dampen the spirits of more than 100 people who gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral for this annual event.

Led by the youth of our diocese, pilgrims prayed the luminous mysteries as they made their way to the shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. However, instead of a picturesque pilgrimage walk around the Port of Sale, a symbolic pilgrimage was made around the Cathedral as thundered ech-

oed outside. The result was an intimate, moving and intense prayer experience.

Following the Benediction pilgrims made the move to St Mary’s Primary school to indulge in some afternoon tea and show off their dance moves as “Compliments of Gus” entertained the crowd. Pilgrims also raised several hundred dollars which has been sent to support the work of the Marist Brothers in Aleppo.

Many thanks to Mike Hansen, and all of the volunteers, whose hard work and generosity made this event possible.

We look forward to making the pilgrimage again in 2013 – rain, hail or shine!

NW prayer group hosts Life in Spirit THE Narre Warren Prayer Group had the privilege of attending a Life in the Spirit Program conducted by Philip and Margaret Maloney, who have travelled from Ireland to Victoria.

They were recently in the Melbourne Archdiocese before coming to the Sale Diocese.

Over the weekend we had the pleasure of Catholic Charismatic Renewal leaders Michael and Wendy Power attending.

Praise and worship was conducted by Narre Warren Prayer

group musicians/singers and Spiritual Revival Ministry Maggy, Mibil, Salmon, Rony, Jolly, Navya and Angeline.

We would like to extend our thanks to all ministries involved and a special thanks to Philip and Margaret Maloney.

It was with great interest that we were informed about the Eucharistic Congress which was recently held in Dublin, Ireland and will be held in three years time at the Island of Cebu, Philippines.

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WHEN Pope John Paul II called for a New Evangelisation he called for an evangelisation that was new in its ardor, new in its methods and new in its expression.

The emphasis being on something that was new. One response to this call was a new charismatic, evangelising community the Koinonia John the Baptist.

The Koinonia is a community of friends, called to evangelise in the power of the Holy Spirit, following the example of John the Baptist, the one who witnessed and pointed to Jesus.

The Koinonia John the Baptist was founded with four people in Italy in 1979 and over the last 30 years it has spread to 16 countries with nearly 5000 members including 200 consecrated brothers and sisters and 30 priests.

In November, Fr Artur Bilski, and two sisters, Christine Sawey and Bernadette Callaghan, from the Koinonia John the Baptist community visited Sale Diocese, including Wonthaggi, Lakes Entrance, Cranbourne, Traralgon and San Remo.

Fr Artur is a Polish priest who leads the KJB in Los Angeles USA, Christine is from Ireland and lives at the KJB headquar-

KOINONIA members gathering during the visit to Sale Diocese. ters in the Czech Republic and Fr Artur and the sisters explored Bernadette is a sister who is the possibility that there might “consecrated in the world” and be an opening in Australia to lives in Belfast in Northern Ire- establish a consecrated comland. munity of brothers and sisters.

The Koinonia has had a tiny Along with local mempresence in Australia over the bers Anne and Pat Kelly, they last two years, with seven lay met with Archbishop Denis members centred in Wonthaggi Hart and Bishop Christopher parish. They meet once a week Prowse. and evangelise through a home Both bishops expressed their based House of Prayer. support for the community and They also seek to live the life- gave them permission to work style of the Koinonia focused in their respective dioceses. on evangelisation, committed The hope now is that suitable friendship and a charismatic accommodation for a comspirituality founded on the munity of consecrated people Word of God and joyful praise. might be found in either MelDuring their visit to Australia bourne or the Sale Diocese.

Renewal of covenant vows

By Therese Hummel NARRE WARREN – The Narre Warren Prayer Group welcomed Catholic Charismatic Renewal representative Peter Schreurs to attend the renewal of covenant vows on October 26 Ten cell servants made their commitment to Jesus before the community, led by Fernando.

Through the night various cell members got up and shared their experience of being involved in their cell groups.

The previous month 16 cell members from the community renewed their covenant vows along with two members from Hampton Park Prayer Group and five cell members from the Good Shepherd Servant Community, Clayton.

Some cell members were away overseas or had other schedules and were unable to be there during the covenanting ceremony.

A covenant is an agreement or a pledge in the context of our covenant with God and each other. It is a solemn agreement between the members of a church to act together in harmony with the direction of the Gospel as a rule of action or as a rule of conduct.

In the Cell we grow deeper in relationship with God and with Cell members, we put love into action or it becomes lip service.

We respond to God’s love. We give Jesus our commitment in response, because He committed His life for us first.

In Mathew 22:15-36 which is the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus answered, “Love

your God, with all your heart, will all your soul, with all your mind”.

Then Jesus says, “This is the Greatest and the most important commandment, the second most important commandment is like it. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.

In Mathew 28:18 I have been given all authority in Heaven and on Earth, Go then to all

peoples everywhere and make them my Disciples.

These are the basis of our covenant : Love God, Love Your Neighbor, God Make them my Disciples.

For more information on cell groups contact Lindsay and Arianne D’Argent, on: 9796 2661 or email aldargent@hotmail. com

Kimberley Catholic Volunteer Service WANTED: VOLUNTEER WORKERS The Diocese of Broome, WA, requires volunteers to assist with the work of the local Church on Aboriginal Missions.

There are various important voluntary tasks: administration, building maintenance, gardening, shop staffing, cooking, cleaning etc. Placements are preferred for a period of 12 months plus but a reduced time would be considered. For further details, and an application form, please contact: Volunteer Coordinator: 08 9192 1060 or 0415 526 142 Email: volunteers@broomediocese.org Web: www.broomediocese.org Mail: PO Box 76, BROOME WA 6725

Owned and operated by Ray and Maree Anderson With care & dignity we serve South Gippsland and Phillip Island Main office: WONTHAGGI/INVERLOCH 5672 1074 176-178 Graham St., Wonthaggi 3995 Fax 5672 1747 PHILLIP ISLAND 5952 5171 15 Warley Av., Cowes 3933 (by appointment only) Email: randm33@bigpond.net.au Pre-paid & pre-arranged funeral plans available CARING & PERSONAL 24 HOUR SERVICE Member of Australian Funeral Directors Association

Page 14 - Catholic Life, December 2012

For the Young and Young at Heart Santa Claus is getting ready

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Age . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Post entries to Catholic Life, PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820

Happy book prize wins

PROUDLY showing her prize won in the October colouring contest is Mia Stothers from St Thomas’s, Sale.

A big thank you

Catholic Life thanks all our young readers for sending in their entries to our colouring competitions during the year.

Unfortunately there can only be one winner each month because we have so many talented artists in our schools.

Thank you also to the teachers who encourage WITH her book prize won in students to enter and for last month’s nativity contest organising whole class is Matilda Licciardello from entries.

Merry Christmas!

St Joseph’s, Warragul.

Time for a Laugh A PRIEST was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish. A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little speech at the dinner.

However, he was delayed, so the priest decided to say his own few words while they waited: “I got my first impression of the parish from the first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place.

“The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set and, when questioned by the police, was able to lie his way out of it. He had stolen money from his parents, embezzled his employer, and taken illegal drugs. I was appalled.

“But as the days went on I learned that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people.”

Just as the priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and gave his talk: “I’ll never forget the first day our parish priest arrived,” said the politician.

“In fact, I had the honor of being the first person to go to him for confession.”

Moral: Never, Never, Never Be Late

home phone number and was greeted with a child’s whisper. “Hello?”

“Is your daddy home?” he asked.

“Yes ,” whispered the small voice.

“May I talk with him?”

The child whispered, “No.” Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, “Is your Mummy there?” - “Yes.” “May I talk with her?”

Again the small voice whispered, “No.” Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, “Is anybody else there?”

“Yes,” whispered the child, “a policeman.”

Wondering what police would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, “May I speak with the policeman?” “ No, he’s busy,” whispered the child.

“Busy doing what?”

“Talking to Daddy and Mummy and the Fireman,” came the whispered answer.

Growing more worried as he heard a loud noise in the background through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, “What is that noise?”

“A helicopter” answered the whispering voice.

“What is going on there?” demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive.

Again, whispering, the child answered, “The search team just landed a helicopter.”

Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, “What are they searching for?”

Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle ... “Me!”

IT was Christmas and the judge was in a lenient mood.

He asked the defendant what he was charged with.

“I was doing my Christmas shopping early, your honor,” replied the man.

“That’s not an offence,” said the judge to the IN an effort to help a prosecutor, who replied “He was shopping before the student understand the concept of addition, he store opened.” asked “John, if you had $7 MARIA went to the in one pocket and $5 in the post office to buy some other what would you have?”

John thought for a while Christmas stamps.

“What denomination?” and answered “Someone else’s trousers!” asked the clerk.

“Good heavens. Let me see.

A YOUNG apprentice I’ll have 10 Catholic ones and five each of Anglican butcher was sacked unfairly and he decided to get even and Uniting.” with the boss.

On Saturday morning THE boss wondered why one of his most valued when the shop was full of employees was absent but customers he walked in and had not phoned in sick one put a dead cat on the counter. day. Needing to have an “That’s nine. I’ll get you the urgent problem with one of other three for the sausages the main computers resolved, by Monday morning,” he he dialled the employee’s said.

Catholic Life, December 2012 - Page 15

St James' fete goes off with a bang

Classifieds wanted known

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Let’s leave something for those in need

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

If so please contact Diocesan Vocations Director

The Bishop’s Family Foundation helps families by funding charitable projects throughout the Diocese of Sale.

You can help by making a bequest in your will.

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Do it today and sleep easy knowing you have done your part

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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.

LILY Moloney gets her face painted and crazy hair done at the St James' Fete at Nar Nar Goon.

NAR NAR GOON - Not even the pouring rain could dampen the spirits of the St James' Primary School in Nar Nar Goon

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Community on their Twilight Fete Day. The lead up to the day was exciting and everyone was preparing for a sensational event.

Parents helpers and kids swarmed together on the day to help set up a range of rides and stalls for the anticipated evening.

All of the students of St James' worked tirelessly on their papier mache sculptures for three months to create beautifully painted animal money boxes and parents banded together to bake a range of yummy goods for the Country Kitchen Stall.

Students donated bottles of anything you liked throughout the year for the “Mystery Bottle” stall.

The Pre-loved stall was a hit selling all sorts of goodies donated by families including clothes, homewares and toys.

The silent auction was also a hit with the fete goers.

In between the downpours, children and adults alike hurried out to the rides and food stalls and needless to say, everyone was saturated by the end of the night.

Children milled around with hot chips and fairy floss, painted faces and crazy painted hair!

The St James Twilight Fete went off with a bang with the display of magnificent fireworks that whizzed and whooshed everyone into amazement at the end of the night.

It was a fantastic event and a great opportunity for all of the community to work together and be involved in a great cause, with all the proceeds going towards resources for the school.

Page 16 - Catholic Life, December 2012

Italian LOTE Week On a mission for Caritas

PREPS at St Michael's, Traralgon, get the taste for gelati during Italian celebrations as part of their LOTE Week.

TRARALGON - St Michael’s Primary School recently celebrated LOTE week - LOTE being an acronym for Language other than English.

At St Michael’s the children learn Italian.

The week started with all the students watching a performance called “The Time Warp.”

The show was based on travelling back in time to Venice during Carnevale time, to the Colosseum, then to visit Pinocchio and lastly to the San Remo music festival. Some of the children were invited up to be part of the performance.

Throughout the week each class was involved in cooking and tasting Italian cuisine.

Each child was given the opportunity to sample Gelato which was served by parent helpers.

Finally to round off a truly Italian week the children were asked to dress up. They could either dress as something Italian or wear the Italian colors of red, white and green.

Dress up day was amazing!

The school was awash with the Italian colors, not to mention gondoliers, pizza chefs, artists, flags, Super Marios and Luigis and lots more.

St Michaels Primary recognises that such a successful week would not have been possible without Italian teacher, Signora Massaro.

TRARALGON - Grade 1-2 students from St Michael’s School Traralgon have been on a mission.

Their aim was to raise money for Caritas and help people in poorer countries have clean water, schools and food.

The children participated in a drawing competition, Guess the amount of Jelly Beans competition and “Who can fill the class mission box?” competition.

The children then used all the money to make the word “GIVE” on the playground to encourage other classes to give to the poor. The children raised $139.

St Joe's raises $1350 WARRAGUL - Mission Day at St Joseph’s Primary School in Warragul was held last month.

The grade 5/6 leaders of the school organised and ran an amazing array of activities in the school hall with classes visiting at different times during the day.

The hall was full of wonderful and challenging games, music, lots of raffles, stalls, secondhand items for purchase and lots of exciting activities for students to participate in with many chances to win great prizes.

One of the most popular stalls was to have the chance to pay to water bomb some teachers, and the football handball and ‘minute-to-win it’ were also a

big hit!

All students were encouraged to bring along coins to participate and really responded to this with a total of $1350 raised!

It was a fantastic day, very well organised, lots of fun and is now an annual event during Mission Month at St Joseph’s.

It is also a great leadership responsibility for the senior students who planned and ran the day.

The money raised will be going to Catholic Missions, who raises money for the Catholic Church in our world.

Some of the money will also be going to Sr Bridget Arthur and the Brigidine Nuns who help many refugees in Australia.

Students focus on just leadership

“ … Churches in the Middle East are threatened in their very existence…

May God grant ACN strength to help wherever the need is greatest.”

Pope Benedict XVI

Catholic Life Sale

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The cribs are lovingly, handcrafted by poverty stricken families in Bethlehem and your donation helps them survive.

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Please tick this box if you would like to receive the crib ❏ Aid to the Church in Need …. a Catholic charity dependent on the Holy See, providing pastoral relief to needy and oppressed Churches

SALE - Some 56 Year 5 students gathered together to share in a day on justice and leadership at St Thomas’s Primary School on November 21.

Tony Dalton from Caritas in Melbourne led the day which involved students from St Thomas’, St Mary’s Sale, St Mary’s Bairnsdale, St Mary’s Maffra and St Michael’s Heyfield.

The students learnt about leadership skills and how these can be used for the good of others, especially in the context of Project Compassion. While fundraising is certainly part of the process, the students were challenged in their perceptions of and the actual reality of global need.

The facts and figures presented are astounding.

The students learnt that ...

• In a world where we produce enough food to feed everybody, nearly 1 billion people are still starving • 80 percent of the world have only 17 percent of the world’s resources • 1 billion people live on less than $1.25 per day • 1.1 billion people have no access to safe drinking water

• 5 cents can provide medicine to save the life of a child Time was spent on three of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching: The dignity of the human person, the call to live as family and the need to care for the poor.

The work of Caritas was explored and in school groups, the students came up with ideas to take back to their schools in order to raise awareness and develop Project Compassion initiatives for 2013.

Catholic Life wishes all its readers and contributors a very happy and holy Christmas.

Please keep safe over the holiday period and we look forward to being with you again in 2013.