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Catholic Life Publication of the Diocese of Sale
All Mass Fr Slater is times for appointed Christmas administrator - Page 2 - Page 3
ISSUE 179
December 2013
Archbishop’s Be prepared Major change Canberra for Royal ahead for installation Commission Catholic Life - Page 12 - Page 5 - Page 3
Catholic Life wishes its many readers have a happy and holy Christmas. We ask God to keep all families safe in their homes, on the roads and at the many holiday venues.
New school takes shape THE Sale Diocese’s newest school St Thomas the Apostle will open in Cranbourne East at the start of the next school year. Construction of the $6 million school will continue throughout the holidays to get the buildings ready for the start of term. Steelwork for the two storey administration and classrooms building is already in place. A prefabricated school hall has been built in Bendigo and will be reassembled on site after being transported on six low loaders next week. The full time staff have been appointed and the school currently has an enrolment of over 110 students from Prep to Year 6. The number of enrolments is expected to grow rapidly once the school is established. Inaugural principal is Brendan Marrinon who has been overseeing the school’s progress for several months. He was previously principal at Don Bosco Primary, Narre Warren, and St Agatha’s Primary, Cranbourne. The staff also includes David Williams, Nicola Saunders, Julia Marino, Anthony Preston, Karina Brady, Amy Gullifer, Cecilia Hidalgo, Pauline Whelan and Joy Andrews. Mr Marrinon said establishing the school has been a long-term project initiated by former parish priest Fr Herman Hengel
THIS bare framework of St Thomas the Apostle School in Cranbourne East will quickly be transformed in coming weeks as the school will be ready for new students at the start of next school year. The site is almost opposite the Melbourne Football Club training facilities at Casey Fields. when he arranged for the land in the Cranbourne East area. The school symbol represents creator and foundation of the to be purchased more than 10 The school community was the Trinity and the school’s Cranbourne East community. years ago. inspired by St Thomas the connection to Sale Diocese. The design of this base is The project continued under Apostle’s life as one of the first Above the cross is a stylised similar to part of the Sale his successors Fr Andrew Wise Christian missionaries. dove representing the Holy Diocesan logo to highlight and Fr Denis O’Bryan with It was said that he established Spirit and the prayer that the the school’s connection to the the support of parishioners the church in Chennai, India in school community will be broader church. This logo was of St Agatha’s parish and the first century. blessed with the gifts of the selected by the community at school, Catholic Education “Therefore, just as St Spirit. the Sunday Eucharist in July Office, Sale, and the Australian Thomas began a new Christian The cross represents Christ’s that celebrated the feast of St Government. community, so the Parish of life, death and resurrection. The Thomas. The school adjoined the St Agatha’s Cranbourne is extremities of the cross widen to The uniform has been design Cranbourne East campus of St establishing a new community symbolise the church’s mission by a committee of parents, CEO Peter’s College at the rear and in Cranbourne East, following of reaching and spreading the staff and Mr Marrinon. eventually a new church and the spirit of St Thomas 2000 Gospel, which also reflects St The school held an presbytery would be built on years later.” Thomas’ mission in India. information night last week and other adjoining land. Mr Marrinon said the school At the base of the cross an orientation session is being He said the school was being had adopted St Thomas’ is a stylised version of the held this Thursday December established to provide a quality acclamation of faith, “My Lord foundation stone that the 12. primary school education in the and My God” as the school cross at St Thomas’ is placed. Catholic tradition for families motto. This base represents God the
A million reasons for your support The Bishop’s Family Foundation has given more than $1 million to helping programs for families in the Great Gippsland area from the City of Casey through to the NSW border. Help grow the fund so we can do more good works. Send donations to: Bishop’s Family Foundation, PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820
Page 2 - Catholic Life, December 2013
Your guide to all Christmas Masses in diocese Shrine. BAIRNSDALE Christmas Eve: 7pm Christmas vigil Mass, (at Presentation Hall, Nagle College, Lindenow Rd); Midnight Mass at St Mary’s Church. Christmas Day: 10am Mass. BASS Christmas Eve: 5.30 Mass. BENAMBRA Christmas Eve: 7pm Vigil Mass. BERWICK Christmas Eve: 6pm Family Mass (in stadium); 7.30pm Family Mass (in stadium); 9pm Mass; midnight Mass. Christmas Day: 9am Mass, 10.30pm Mass. BOOLARRA No Christmas services this year. BUCHAN Christmas Eve: 6pm Mass. BRIAGOLONG Sunday, December 22: 11am Mass. Christmas Day: 9.30am Mass. CHURCHILL Friday, December 13: 7pm second rite of Reconciliation. Christmas Eve: 7.45pm carols; 8pm Mass Christmas Day: 9am Mass. New Year’s Day: 9am Mass. CRANBOURNE Christmas Eve: 7pm Mass; 9pm Mass; Midnight Mass. Christmas Day: 9am Mass; 10.45am Mass. (Note: No evening Mass). CRANBOURNE EAST Christmas Eve: St Thomas the Apostle, 7pm Mass (at St Peter’s College, Heather Grove) COWES Christmas Eve: 10am Reconciliation; 8.30pm Mass. Christmas Day: 9am Mass; 10.30am Mass. COWWARR Saturday, December 15: 7pm carols service. Christmas Day: 10.30am Mass. DARGO Sunday, December 29: Noon Mass and family pilgrimage to St Joseph’s DIOCESE OF SALE
DROUIN Christmas Day: 10.30am Mass. ERICA No Christmas services this year. FISH CREEK Christmas Day: 8.30am Mass. FOSTER Christmas Day: 10am Mass. GLENGARRY Christmas Eve: 7.30 carols; 8pm Mass. HEYFIELD Saturday, December 14: 6pm Mass followed by Christmas get together in school hall. Christmas Eve: 6pm carols, 6.30pm Mass. Saturday, December 28: 6pm Mass, Feast of the Holy Family. New Year’s Day: 10.30am Mass INVERLOCH Christmas Eve: 4.45pm carols, 5pm Mass. Christmas Day: 9am Mass. IONA Christmas Eve: 11.30pm carols; Midnight Mass. Christmas Day: 9.30am Mass.
MAFFRA Saturday, December 14: 2pm Mass, carols, anointing of elderly, housebound and sick, refreshments afterwards in St Mary’s Hall. Thursday, December 19: Advent penance service with individual reconciliation from 7pm to 8pm. Christmas Eve: 8.30pm carols, 9pm Mass. Christmas Day: 9am Mass Sunday, December 29: 9am Mass, Feast of the Holy Family. New Year’s Day: 9am Mass. MALLACOOTA Christmas Eve: Noon Mass. MARYKNOLL Christmas Eve: 6pm Mass.
MIRBOO NORTH Christmas Day: 8.30am Mass. MOE Wednesday, December 18: 7.30pm parish reconciliation. Christmas Eve: 5.30pm carols, 6pm family Mass.; 8.30pm carols, 9pm family Mass. Christmas Day: 8.30am carols, 9am Mass.
NEWRY Saturday, December 21: 7.30pm Christmas nativity play, (at Leathorn, Upper Maffra Rd., Newry). Sunday, December 22: 11am Mass followed whole parish children’s Christmas event. Christmas Day: 11am Mass.
OMEO Christmas Eve: 9pm Vigil Mass. ORBOST Christmas Day: 9.30am Mass. PAKENHAM Christmas Eve: 6pm family Mass; 7.30pm family Mass; Midnight Mass. Christmas Day: 9am Mass. (Note: No evening Mass.)
ROSEDALE Christmas Eve: 9pm Mass.
LAKES ENTRANCE Christmas Eve: 7pm Mass. Christmas Day: 9am Mass. LANG LANG Christmas Day: 9.30am Mass. LEONGATHA Christmas Eve: 7.30pm Mass (in Mary MacKillop College multipurpose area). Christmas Day: 10am Mass.
MORWELL Thursday, December 12: 7pm 2nd Rite of Reconciliation (St Vincent’s) Christmas Eve: 6pm children’s Mass (Sacred Heart); 9pm Mass (Scared Heart). Christmas Day: 9am Mass (St Vincent’s). New Year’s Day: 10am Mass (St Vincent’s). NAR NAR GOON Christmas Eve: 7.30pm Mass.
LINDENOW Christmas Day: 11am Mass. LOCH Christmas Eve: 6pm Mass. LOCH SPORT No Christmas services this year.
catholiclife@sale.catholic.org.au www.sale.catholic.org.au
NEWBOROUGH Christmas Eve: 7pm Mass. Christmas Day: 9am Mass.
PAYNESVILLE Christmas Day: 9am Mass.
KORUMBURRA Christmas Eve: 7.30pm Mass.
PO Box 1410, Warragul Vic. 3820 Phone: (03) 5622 6688
NEERIM SOUTH Christmas Day: 9am Mass.
NOWA NOWA Christmas Eve: 8pm Mass.
MEENIYAN Christmas Day: 10am Mass.
KOO WEE RUP Christmas Eve: 7pm Mass.
Catholic Life
Mass; 11am Mass. (Note: No evening Mass) New Year’s Day: 10am Mass.
NARRE WARREN Wednesday, December 18: 7.30pm Advent family reconciliation service. Christmas Eve: 6pm family Mass; 9pm Mass; 11.30pm carols; Midnight Mass. Christmas Day: 8am Mass; 9.15am
SALE Thursday, December 19: 7pm, second rite of Reconciliation. Friday, December 20: 11am Mass, 11.30-noon reconciliation, 5.30pm6pm reconciliation. Saturday, December 21: 10am traditional Latin Mass, 10.45-11.15am reconciliation; 5.30pm Vigil Mass. Sunday, December 22: 9.30am Mass, 6pm Mass. Monday, December 23: 11am Mass; 11.30-noon reconciliation. Christmas Eve: Noon-12.30pm, reconciliation; 6pm Mass (at Ashleigh House); 7pm family Mass with children dressed as shepherd, angels etc; 11pm Mass (Note: New time). Christmas Day: 9.30am Mass. (Note: No evening Mass) SAN REMO Christmas Eve: 7pm Mass. SEASPRAY No Christmas services this year. STRATFORD No Christmas service this year.
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SWAN REACH Christmas Day: 10.30am Mass SWIFTS CREEK Christmas Day: 9am Mass. TARWIN LOWER Christmas Eve: Mass 6pm.
TIDAL RIVER No Christmas Masses, however from Sunday December 29 until end of January there will be 9am Masses each Sunday in the information centre theatrette. TOORA Christmas Day: 8.30am Mass. TRAFALGAR Christmas Eve: 7.30pm Mass. Christmas Day: 10.30am Mass. TRARALGON Christmas Eve: 7.30pm Family Mass (at Champagnat Centre, St Paul’s campus, Lavalla Catholic College, Greg St.; 11.30pm carols (at St Michael’s Church); Midnight Mass. Christmas Day: 8.30am Mass; 10.30am Mass. (Note: No evening Mass) WARRAGUL Christmas Eve: 7pm children’s Mass (in Marist Sion College hall); 9pm Mass. Christmas Day: 9am Mass. WONTHAGGI Christmas Eve: 6.15 carols, 6.30pm Mass. Christmas Day: 10.30am Mass. WOODSIDE Christmas Eve: 6pm Mass. YALLOURN NORTH Christmas Eve: 5pm Mass. YARRAGON Christmas Day: 9am Mass. YARRAM Christmas Eve: 7.30pm Mass. YINNAR No Christmas services this year. Mass times also on diocesan website www.sale.catholic.org.au
ORDINARIATE OF OUR LADY OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS COWWARR Wednesday, December 18: 10am Mas, 10.30am Adoration. Christmas Day: 10.30am Mass. HEYFIELD Sunday, December 15: 9.15-9.45am Reconciliation; 10am Mass. Sunday, December 22: 9.15-9.45am Reconciliation; 10am Mass. Sunday, December 29: 9.15-9.45am Reconciliation; 10am Mass; 3pm Evensong and Benediction.
Editor: Colin Coomber Published 6 times a year Deadline for advertising copy and editorial contributions for next issue is Monday, February 3 Issues distributed free through parishes and schools from February 12. Published by Catholic Media Gippsland, an agency of the Diocese of Sale. Printed by Express Print, Morwell. Member of Australasian Catholic Press Association
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Catholic Life, December 2013 - Page 3
Major change ahead for Catholic Life next year CATHOLIC Life is changing its publication frequency next year. After being produced monthly since it began in November 1997, the diocesan paper will be published every two months. It will still be distributed free
through the parish and schools network, starting with the first issue in mid-February. The change has been brought about to enable editor Colin Coomber time to reinvigorate and relaunch the Bishop’s Family Foundation.
Bishop Christopher Prowse and Mr Coomber spent several months planning the changes and culminated with the bishop appointing him executive officer of the foundation. The change to Catholic Life will give us a chance to re-
design layouts and introduce some new features in the year ahead. Although Mr Coomber’s time will be split between his media work for the diocese and the BFF, he will still be able to be contacted on Catholic Me-
dia Gippsland’s number 5622 6688. To further free up his time while working on the relaunch of the BFF he has also given up his duties as webmaster of the diocesan website.
Diocesan administrator has done the job before BERWICK parish priest Fr Peter Slater has been appointed administrator of the Diocese of Sale to run the diocese in the absence of a bishop. Former Bishop of Sale Christopher Prowse was installed as Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn on November 19 and Fr Slater was elected by the College of Consultors on November 21. It is the second time Fr Slater has been diocesan administrator as he also served in the position for 18 months following the retirement of Bishop Jeremiah Coffey and until the appointment of Bishop Prowse. Fr Slater served as vicar general of the diocese under both bishops and is also a board member of the Catholic Educa-
Fr Peter Slater
CEO assistant director retires WARRAGUL – An assistant director of Catholic education in Sale Diocese Tilly Hutton is retiring after 33 years with the diocese. She began in 1980 at the former Presentation College, Moe, initially as a teacher then as burser. She moved to the Catholic Education Officer, Warragul, in 1989 as a cleric assistant, then moved into school accounting. Mrs Hutton has been assistant director business service for the past five years. She has been a member of the Catholic Development Fund Sale board since 1996, serving as chairperson for the past five years. A retirement function was held for her at Sion House several weeks ago which was attended by staff. Mrs Hutton has lived in Camberwell for the past couple of years and before that was in Berwick for about 15 years. She is heavily involved as a member of the Rotary Club.
Tilly Hutton
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tion Commission of Victoria. One of his first duties was to represent the diocese at the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference plenary meeting in Sydney. He grew up on the family farm at Poowong and attended the local government school for his primary education. His secondary education was with the Marist Brothers at Warragul, and finally matriculation at St Patrick’s College, Sale. Fr Slater has strong links with the Leongatha community through the early settlers Carmody, O’Reilly and Roughead families from which he is descended. He entered Corpus Christi Seminary in 1969 and was or-
dained a priest in 1975. He returned to studies in the mid 1980’s obtaining a Master of Theology from Oxford University. He has served on the diocesan Council of Priests, College of Consultors, the Committee for Ongoing Education of Clergy, and the Diocesan Education Council. Fr Slater has been parish priest of Berwick since 2000 and has previously been a priest in Sale, Bairnsdale, Koo Wee Rup, Churchill and Morwell.
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It’s not all about the money! Can you help us fulfil the mission the Church in this way? Have you got money invested elsewhere that you could consider investing with the CDF? If you are able to help why not give the CDF a call or email and see how easy it is. You will be rewarded with: • A competitive rate of return on your investment; • The security of investing with the Catholic Church; and, • Most importantly you are making a contribution to furthering the Catholic faith and education in our diocese.
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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 2013
Principals on the move at various diocesan schools
Christmas story
BISHOP Pat Power, a retired auxiliary Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn told an interesting yarn while welcoming Archbishop Christopher Prowse following his installation last month. The bishop picked up on the fact that the new archbishop had indicated an interest in prison visitation. He said that for many years he had visited prisons at Christmas time and one year he had been at Cooma prison. After sharing time with inmates and celebrating Mass with them, he had been leaving the prison with his bag containing vestments and Mass kit, when he met a couple entering the prison to visit someone. They looked at Bishop Pat and mistaking him for an inmate, one remarked “Chistmas Day! What a wonderful day to be released.”
Rubbish is rubbish
AT this time of year it seems lots of people make the time to clear out cupboards and dispose of unwanted items. Much of the clearance ends up on the doorstep of charity op shops such as St Vincent de Paul, but sadly among the goodies is much which is absolute rubbish. It costs the charities a lot of hard-earned money to take the stuff to the tip. In recent weeks we have seen several op shops with
the front doors blocked by donated goods but it only takes a cursory glance to see that much of the stuff is junk. If a toy is broken, bin it. If clothing is stained or torn, ditto. It is sad to see wonderful charity organisations being used as if they were a hard rubbish collection depot.
Feeling unwanted
WE were recently invited online to take 15 minutes or so to do a survey for News Limited. We started the survey and filled out the first couple of answers relating to our occupation category and gender and were then advised that they already had enough people like me who had done the survey. It prompts me to ask how accurate any survey is, if it starts to filter people out before they have even started. Is that also how some of those pre-election surveys are done? What if the survey was set up to reject people in certain occupations or on their gender so that a skewed response could be gained? It bears consideration .
THERE will be major changes to school principals in Sale Diocese from the start of next year. The changes affect at least nine primary schools and a secondary college. Lavalla Catholic College principal Erica Pegorer has been appointed Kildare Ministries national executive officer, a role which oversees educational and community work of the Brigidine Sisters. She has been at the college for 27 years, the past eight as principal. She will be replaced by John Freeman who is currently the deputy principal of Whitefriars College, Donvale. Prior to Whitefriars, he filled a range of senior management roles in pastoral care, curriculum leadership, professional development, administration, and business management at St Joseph’s College, Ferntree Gully, and Salesian College, Chadstone. St Patrick’s Primary School, Stratford, will have a new principal in Damien Hogan who moves over from being principal at St Michael’s, Heyfield. Current Stratford principal Nick Hall has been appointed principal of St Joseph’s,
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Kerang. The Heyfield principal’s position has just eventuated and is likely to be filled by an acting principal in 2014. St Agatha’s, Cranbourne, principal Noela Hyams is retiring and will also be replaced by an acting principal. Principal of Trinity Primary School, Narre Warren South, John Williams is also retiring and his replacement will be announced shortly. Principal of St Therese’s Primary, Cranbourne North, Mark Linden has been appointed principal of Don Bosco Primary, Narre Warren, to replace Brendan Marrinon who becomes the inaugural principal at St Thomas the Apostle, Cranbourne East. New principal at Cranbourne North will be Terry Cahill who has experience as principal of several primary schools and is currently principal at St Francis Xavier Primary, Woolgooga, NSW. Current principal of St Mary’s Primary, Newborough, Teresa Greenough has been appointed principal of St Vincent de Paul, Morwell East. She replaces Christine Elliot who has taken up a position in special education at Marist Sion College, Warragul.
Interviews for Newborough concluded last week and an appointment is expected to be announced shortly. Current acting principal at St Vincent’s Jodie Ware has been appointed principal at St Mary’s Primary, Yarram. She replaces Anthony Sheedy who has been acting principal for the past year. In other school changes Family School Partnership convenors Julie Kindellan, John Kindellan, Dan Hession and Monica Huffer have concluded their three and a half year contracts with the Catholic Education Office. Assistant director Tilly Hutton is retiring, education officer Julie Keeble has resigned after 18 years service with the CEO, indigenous education officer Linda Mullet has retired after 11 years service and communications and media officer Kirsty Pitman is returning to Western Australia to teach at a Catholic school. In other schools news, St Peter’s College, Cranbourne, deputy principal for staff Liz Hanney has been appointed principal of Santa Maria College, Northcote, a girls’ school run by the Good Samaritan Sisters.
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
Protective Security Services 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.
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Catholic Life, December 2013 - Page 5
Call to be prepared for Royal Commission CATHOLICS around Australia have been called on to take responsibility for shaping the emerging Church as it institutes reforms as part of its response to clerical child sex abuse. In a wide ranging speech given in Ballarat the chief executive officer of the Catholic Church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council, Francis Sullivan said many shocking crimes have been committed by people in the Church. “A large number of those people have been brought to justice. Others have covered up those crimes, put the Church’s interests before those of victims’ and compounded victims’ suffering,” Mr Sullivan said. “As the community of believers who make up the Church, we were not responsible for past crimes and cover ups, but we are responsible for how we react to them. “We are responsible for how we respond to the victims, how we deal with the perpetrators, how we get reform and cultural change, and how we talk about sexual abuse in the Church with our friends, our families, our colleagues. “We might not be responsible for the past, but we are most definitely responsible for our future and we will be judged by our actions,” Mr Sullivan said. The Truth Justice and Healing Council’s reform agenda includes: • The appointment of an independent body to determine payments to victims • The appointment of independent, lay experts to strengthen the Church’s National Committee of Professional Standards • The introduction of an independent national corporate entity to develop and administer child protection standards • Greater transparency through public reporting • A national watchdog to ensure child-safe practices • Mandatory data collection and accreditation by an independent national body to cover all institutions working with children • A national approach to screening people who work with children The full copy of speech is available at www.tjhcouncil. org.au. The Royal Commission public hearing into the Catholic Church’s child sexual abuse reparation scheme, Towards Healing, began in Sydney this week. The hearings will be the first of several to examine the application of Towards Healing in responding to victims and allegations of child sexual abuse against personnel of the Catholic Church. This week will focus on the experiences of four Queensland residents who participated in the process. The accused at the time of the abuse were priests and brothers of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Diocese of Lismore and the Marist Brothers.
Mr Sullivan said the Catholic Church, through the Truth Justice and Healing Council, would fully cooperate with the Royal Commission. “There have been many heinous, despicable crimes committed by people in the Church,” Mr Sullivan said. “The testimony of victims will tear at the hearts of both Catholics and non-Catholics alike. “We must all use the opportunity of the Royal Commission to examine our consciences, to take responsibility, to do better, to reform, to hear and heed the victims and address a scandal that has shadowed the Church and driven so many people from it for so long.” The Truth Justice and Healing Council is coordinating the Catholic Church’s engagement with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Mr Sullivan has also written to the Attorneys-General of the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments on behalf of the TJHC asking them to consider a national compensation scheme for the victims of child sexual abuse. The proposal for a national scheme was outlined in the September submission to the Royal Commission on Towards Healing. Last month the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Organisations released its report, Betrayal of Trust. Significantly, the Victorian Inquiry has recommended the State Government examine setting up a specific compensation scheme for victims of child sex abuse, funded by institutions. This is an important initiative that is supported by Church leaders in Victoria. A few days before the release of the Victorian report, Royal Commissioner Justice McClellan flagged his interest in examining whether a general redress scheme should be established for victims across the country. “It would seem there is now momentum at the very least for an alternative process to both the Courts and Towards Healing for victims to seek compensation. “From our perspective, this national scheme would seem to be in the long-term interest of victims, many of whom have faced serious obstacles in having to litigate their claims in court.
“The legal process should always be available for victims but a national victims’ compensation scheme, supplemented by a separate process of pasto-
ral support has the potential to offer better outcomes. “I understand some people may be reluctant to trust the Church whenever we make any
proposals or suggestions about how things could change to improve our response to victims.”
Dual roll for new CDF head CHIEF executive officer of Catholic Development Fund Melbourne John Hurren has been appointed to the dual role of chief executive officer of CDF Sale. He will oversee the smooth amalgamation of the two entities over the next seven months. Mr Hurren visited the Warragul office to meet staff and discuss the transition period. He said the amalgamation was really a threestep process with the first stage being prepatory up until the end of the Diocese of Sale fiscal year on March 31. A steady transition of the two organisations
would then take place in the following three months until the end of CDF Melbourne financial year on June 30, followed by full amalgamation on July 1. From then on there would be common interest rates and procedures. Mr Hurren has been with CDF Melbourne for more than 27 years and has headed the organisation for the past 24 years. He also served on the CDF Sale board as an advisor at the request of Bishop Eric D’Arcy and then Bishop Jeremiah Coffey from about 1986 until the late 1990s.
NEW CDF Sale chief executive officer John Hurren with CDF staff at Warragul (from left) Tracey Puncheon, Sue Eeles and Pat Smart.
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Page 6 - Catholic Life, December 2013
Melbourne position for youth worker
Police medal for Bairnsdale priest
DIOCESAN youth ministry coordinator Jessica Denehy has resigned to take up a similar position with Melbourne Archdiocese. She has accepted the position of director of the Archdiocesan Office for Youth. Her last day with the diocese will be December 23 and she will take up her new appointment in Melbourne in January. She has been a diocesan employee for almost nine years eight and has coordinated many youth events in that time, including taking several diocesan groups to World Youth Days.
Deacon’s appointment DEACON Tony Aspinall has been appointed by the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference as the new coordinator for the permanent diaconate on the Bishops’ Commission for Church Ministry. Deacon Aspinall has been a permanent deacon since August 1998 and was the first ordained for our diocese.
Emmaus June promotion EMMAUS Spirituality Ministry will have a special promotion at Masses in Sale Diocese on the weekend of June 6-7. There will be a short Powerpoint presentation and there will also be items for sale to raise funds for Emmaus which has, as a priority, that no-one be excluded from its retreats due to financial reasons.
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BAIRNSDALE – Police chaplain Fr Peter Bickley has been honored by Victoria Police for his 10 years of service to the force. Superintendent Geoff Newby presented Fr Bickley with his police service medal and a framed certificate. Fr Bickley said his role within the police force was to listen
for vulnerability and provide pastoral care when needed. He said he worked closely with police management and in many cases became part of the family. “Being a police chaplain is about consideration and willingness and a wonderful partnership and bond forms between the chaplain and
officers.” Fr Bickley runs an annual ecumenical service for police and their families, which is also an opportunity for the community to express its support for the work done by police. Supt Newby said he was also worked with Fr Bickley when they were both based in
Traralgon and had found that in a crisis he provided valuable support. “He is someone we can call on for pastoral support.” The police medal is the same one issued to serving police and it recognises that chaplains serve alongside members of the police force.
NZ missionary priest visits diocese By Michael Power MISSION priest Fr John Rea of the Society of Mary, a mis-
Mission retreat in New Year
LALITH Perera and the team from the Community of the Risen Lord, will again lead the mission/retreat in Berwick and Narre Warren Parishes next January /February. This is a great opportunity to step aside from the every day work and world and spend time with this gifted team, growing in faith in the transforming power of Jesus to heal and restore lives. The teaching begins on January 31 evening at St Michael’s Berwick, then all day Saturday and Sunday at St Francis Xavier College, Berwick campus, and will focus on the gift of faith in Jesus and how God can do the impossible. The following week evening sessions will be at Oor Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren, Tuesday to Thursday. Monday will be in St Albans. Full details for times, venues and information contacts, are in brochures, which are available in all parishes.
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sionary priest from Wellington, New Zealand, visited in November and celebrated Mass in eight parishes in Sale Diocese and Frankston and Airport West in Melbourne Archdiocese. Fr Rea in his great missionary style, preached on the first seven statement of the Nicene Creed, at these Masses, focusing on the amazing healing love of God, in each of these points of belief. He gave words of knowledge, (a gift of the Holy Spirit)’ of healings occurring at each mass that either applied to people attending or for those absent, being prayed for. Fr Rea called our
attention to the healing power in each of the sacraments and exhorted people to call upon the healing power in the sacraments, available to them. Fr Rea drew attention to the great evangelising power that healing, through prayer, has in leading people closer to Jesus and often to deep conversion. He encouraged all to be ready to pray for healing when illness of any kind occurs. Although, he said, not all return to thank Jesus for being freed of illness or spiritual bondage. At the end of each Mass, he prayed a general prayer of healing for all present and blessed
each person who came forward with blessed non sacramental oil and prayed briefly for each of them. His comment was, ‘Jesus prayed short prayers for healing so I will too’. Fr Rea at each of the seven Masses I attended, advised any person on medication, to always seek medical advice before altering any medication prescribed for them. This he said was for their protection, but also when healing occurs, the medical person has the opportunity to be evangelised. Approximately 1100 people attended across all venues.
The birthplace of Christmas ‘DO not be afraid”, said the angel announcing the birth of Jesus to the shepherds just outside Bethlehem. “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord (Luke 2:10).” That was quickly followed by an apparition of angels saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill to all.” (Luke 2 14) Today the birthplace of Jesus, who is often called ‘Prince of Peace’, is far from peaceful. Bethlehem is, in many ways, a very sad place. The old city has been surrounded by a very high wall. Access into and out of Bethlehem is restricted. Visitor numbers are dropping and so are employment opportunities. There are two large refugee camps within the walls, one dating from 1948! The United Nations still regularly distributes food and other supplies. It is far from a place of peace and goodwill! Sometimes we can be overwhelmed at the state of our world – conflicts, wars and serious injustices rage in every continent and corner it seems. Luke asks us to think about the angels’ message at this time, to take it to heart. The birthplace of Christmas and peace and joy lies within each of us, in how we have embraced the birth of Jesus and how we work to give birth to His message in our own lives. Firstly we are told, don’t be afraid. Fear does terrible things and can cause terrible things to happen, fear that we are not adequate, not worthy of God’s forgiveness and love, fear of commitment, fear of change, fear of those who might see things differently from us. So many conflicts, in ordinary
Reflections by Jim Quillinan relationships or even on the world stage burst into flame because we are afraid. Because of fear, people have been demonised or vilified so that we come to believe we are simply defending ourselves or getting rid of something corrosive to our society, our way of life, our values or beliefs. The terrible wars in the Balkans and in Rwanda, for example, erupted after careful exploiting of religious and ethnic differences. But even in Australia fear and demonising can make us a less generous and caring society. Do you remember the ‘dole bludger’ campaign of a decade or so ago? Our treatment of those who are seeking refuge in our country is often fuelled by suspicion and anger. Fear is born out of a sense of inadequacy or the anticipation of loss. It is usually accompanied by anger – hence the angels’ prayer for peace. But to whom? To all people of good will. If you practice fear or anger every day, you will become a fearful and angry person. These negative behaviors will become part of our everyday life and thinking. There are times when this behavior has been practiced for so long that the person is unaware that they have a problem with fear and anger. They can become very self-righteous. I t becomes their practiced behavior for dealing with any challenge, rather than the
daily practicing of ‘goodwill’ towards others, no matter who they are. It is always helpful when you are angry, to stop and ask yourself what am I afraid of? Only by being honest with yourself about what is causing anger can you take back control of your life from fear and anger. The angel tells us not to be afraid as he/she is the bearer of good news that will bring joy. A saviour has been born – in some ways to save us from ourselves. The choir of angels declares peace and goodwill to all. Important messages! Important challenges too! Are we bearers of good news, bearers of joy to the world, bearers of peace? Are we bearers of goodwill? That all takes daily practice. To bring out the best in ourselves and in others takes practice and the gift of God’s grace. It takes the courage to listen rather than to judge, to trust in God, rather than to fear, to overcome our desire to hurt as we have been hurt. It takes courage, vision and openness to others’ ideas if we are to be builders rather than destroyers. It takes humility to try to understand the fears and hopes of other people and to keep trying again and again. The angels’ announcement is both a prayer and a challenge – peace will not come about by chance. We need to work at it. Each one of us. Peace and goodwill to you and your family this Christmas.
Catholic Life, December 2013 - Page 7
Walk to school a leap towards healthier living MOE - St Kieran’s Primary School signed up for VicHealth’s Walk to School November, a month long activity that encourages children and families to walk to and from school every day in November. As part of this activity, parents at St Kieran’s organised a Walk to School Breakfast which encouraged students and their families to walk to school then enjoy a healthy breakfast of scrambled eggs, baked beans, spaghetti, tomatoes, cereal, toast and juice. Jannah Reid, Wellbeing Leader at St Kieran’s, commented that before the month of November we surveyed our school
and found that only a small percentage of students were walking or riding to school. Throughout November, they noticed an increase in students and families making the effort to increase their physical activity and walk to school. Each of the classes filled out their Walk to School Calendars and keeping track of their walks throughout the month of November. It was great to see so many children riding their bikes and scooters to school and seeing families walking together. We believe that students and their families will see the benefits of walking to school and make
this a regular part of their daily routine. St Kieran’s is also participating in the Healthy Together Achievement program which is supported by Latrobe City and Latrobe Community Health Service. The Health and Wellbeing Team has been focusing on the physical activity benchmark as one of its priority areas under the program so Walk to School November fits in perfectly with this as it encourages regular exercise. The school is also grateful to Latrobe City and VicHealth for their generous donation towards the breakfast event.
School raise $1352 for Missions WARRAGUL - It was Mission Day at St Joseph’s Primary School in Warragul on November 1. 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, and heaps of exciting activities for students to participate in with chances to win great prizes. One of the most popular stalls was to have the chance to pay to water bomb a teacher, and
the cake and sweet stalls were amazing. Other popular stalls were potato sack races, ‘minute-to-win it’, basketball throw, limbo, knocking over the cans, the craft stall and much more! All students were encouraged to bring along coins to participate and really responded to this well with a total of $1352 dollars 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 our senior students who planned and ran the
NAN Jo, Mum Kristy and Kerry with children Elijah, Paddy, Hamish, Riley, Cooper and Meika enjoying breakfast after walking to school.
day. The money raised went to Catholic Mission, who raises money for the Catholic Church in our world. Diocesan’s representative Susan Grout came to the school and presented the children with a certificate for their efforts and explained where their money will be going and the kinds of people it will be helping. St Joseph’s students and teachers were very proud to be able to donate such a lot of money to help others in Australia and around the world.
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Page 8 - Catholic Life, December 2013
Reflections on the busy year surrounding education Talking Catholic Education with Maria Kirkwood I have consistently seen evidence of this in my visits to schools over the past year and most especially during the awards evenings I have been privileged to attend at our secondary colleges, where spirit and endeavour receive reward and recognition along with academic excellence. My particular interest in the performing arts invariably gets a good workout as I attend these evenings along with the visits to primary schools where dance music and drama have a special place. The talent existing in our schools is truly awesome. We eventually managed to sign off on a Multi-Employer Agreement – the new award structure for employees in Catholic schools. As always with these negotiations there is much passion and spirited debate. Sometimes the reality of what is possible and achievable gets lost along the way and at times it can seem an almost impossible task to reach agreement when positions appear so polarised. Commonsense, goodwill built up over many years and a commitment to fair and just salaries and working
conditions, as always, assisted to bring issues to agreement. As happens in any year there are great joys but also the mind numbing sadness that appears inexplicable and we wonder where and how to find God in the midst of it all. Some of our schools suffered the loss of children, parents and teachers from within their communities. Prayerful support and practical acts of kindness occurred during these challenging times and reminded both those who gave and those who received that as Christians we share a belief that we are constantly in the presence of a loving God whose face we see
in those around us. The Catholic Church in Australia has faced particular challenges this year through the many stories of abuse and neglect that have surfaced during the Parliamentary Inquiry into the abuse which occurred in organisations over several decades. Whilst Catholic institutions were not the only focus of the inquiry, the Catholic Church nonetheless received a disproportionate amount of the media coverage associated with the issue. With a Royal Commission into the subject now well underway we will continue to reflect not just on the failings of the past but hopefully on what we have learned to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children entrusted to our care into the future. Also this year we felt the loss of a much loved and respected bishop when the Archdiocese
of Canberra-Goulburn claimed Christopher Prowse as its new Archbishop. We welcome Fr Peter Slater as the diocesan administrator and look forward to working productively with him as we await the appointment of a new bishop. Probably the highlight of the year for Catholics worldwide was the election of a new Pope – Francis. Already his example of a publicly lived life of simplicity and deep spirituality is making an impact on all who hear and read his many comments. As we approach the Christmas season with all the attempts at commercialisation that surround it, Pope Francis’ consistent messages about what is important in life will hopefully resonate. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all readers a peace filled and blessed Christmas.
Seminars focus on John’s Gospel FOUR diocesan seminars will be held in February as part of the Celebrating Our Faith series. Dr Mary Coloe PBVM will lead the seminars which focus on John’s Gospel which is heard on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays on Lent. The Gospel passages as key texts for our story of conversion and discipleship, particularly to those who are to celebrate the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. John’s account of the Passion will be used on Good Friday. Dr Coloe led a successful series of seminars this year on Luke’s Gospel to provide some fresh
insights from her deep reflection on the texts. The seminars will be St Mary’s Parish Centre, Bairnsdale on February 10 from 9.30am to 12.45pm; St Kieran’s Hall, Moe, on February 10 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm; St Patrick’s Parish Hall, Pakenham, on February 13 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm; and St Joseph’s Parish Hall, Wonthaggi, on February 18 from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. Participants are asked to book their place with the relevant parish office. Cost $5 donation. Participants are asked to take a Bible and a the book A Friendly Guide to John’s Gospel will be available at sessions for $20. o th
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IT’S hard to believe as I sit here writing this final article for 2013 that a whole year has passed since I took up the role of Director of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Sale. It has been an extraordinary year and one which certainly attests to the fact that we never know what is around the corner and that believing we are in complete control of our destiny is naïve in the extreme. On the educational front we worked through negotiations with two Federal governments to try to ensure appropriate, fair and equitable funding for Catholic schools. The drawn out negotiations did, for some time, create a climate of great insecurity and, as current media commentary seems to suggest, funding is still not finally determined. Groups such as the National Catholic Education Commission and the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria continue to lobby on behalf of all schools in the Catholic sector to keep our issues front and centre and we are confident that funding from the Federal government is secure as per the agreements reached earlier this year. Thankfully schools in this, and I’m sure every other diocese, kept their focus on the important things – providing quality Catholic education for the students whose parents have chosen to put their faith in our Catholic system of education.
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Catholic Life, December 2013 - Page 9
Ordinariate sets up in Heyfield parish HEYFIELD – The first parish of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross has been established at Heyfield, in association with the local Catholic parish which has made its churches available. Newly ordained Catholic priest Fr Ken Clark, a former Anglican priest, is the only Ordinariate priest in our diocese. The new Ordinariate parish has been called the Most Holy Family and has been worshipping at St Michael’s, Heyfield, every Sunday at 10am and at St Brigid’s, Cowwarr, every Wednesday at 10am, followed by adoration. The normal Catholic Mass at Heyfield is on a Saturday evening, so the church is available every Sunday for Ordinariate Masses. Fr Clark said he was grateful to Bishop Christopher Prowse for making the arrangements and also to Fr Hilarion Fernando and the Maffra and Heyfield parishioners for their warm welcome. Establishing the Ordinariate parish had been slow but steady with a rise in the number of people worshipping with it, when they were not at their respective Catholic parishes. He said the parish mission was to build on the rich heritage of Catholic faith and English tradition, centring on the Eucharist and honoring God in
Will your gift go on giving?
proclaiming the gospel and sacraments. At the Feast of the Immaculate Conception last Sunday, Fr Clark was the principal celebrant at normal 9am Maffra Mass at which members of the Ordinariate parish combined with the Maffra congregation for a unique celebration in Sale Diocese. The Ordinariate parish will be holding its inaugural patronal festival at St Michael’s, Heyfield, on Sunday, December 28, at 10am, followed by Evensong and Benediction at 3pm. The Ordinariate was established by Pope Benedict XVI to allow Anglicans who were disenchanted with the way the mainstream Anglican Church was heading, and who felt a connection with the Vatican to become part of the Catholic Church, but maintain Anglicanstyle traditions and liturgies. The liturgy used by the Ordinariate has been approved by the Vatican and a Catholic attending an Ordinariate Mass is regarded as having fulfilled their Sunday obligation. There are only a handful of priests from the Traditional Anglican Communion churches who have crossed over to the Ordinariate in Australia. Fr Clark was ordained a Catholic priest by Bishop Prowse in October.
Christmas is a great time of the year when we exchange gifts with those we love, and maybe even help the less fortunate. But when the party is over, the wrapping paper is discarded, the empty bottles go in the recycling and the Christmas tree is consigned to the tip – has your gift really made a difference? Families need your generosity not just at Christmas but throughout the year. Struggling families need to access services such as drug, alcohol, family and relationship counselling, youth services, family support, bereavement support, suicide prevention, emergency accommodation, assistance for at-risk adolescents – and the list goes on! The Bishop’s Family Foundation is there year after year, providing much needed finance to charities which run programs for our needy families. So far we have distributed more than $1 million to the cause.
Teaching day is led by Indian priest
This Christmas please donate generously to the Bishop’s Family Foundation. Send your donations to: Bishop’s Family Foundation, PO Box 1410 WARRAGUL 3820 or phone 5622 6688 for details of how to make a direct transfer of funds All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale Charitable Fund ABN 51 486 581 500
WARRAGUL – About 50 people from across the diocese were present for strong and encouraging teaching and preaching, with Fr Babu Vaddakkekara at the Sion Teachers Centre, Warragul in November. The theme for the day focused on the power of family prayer and action. Reaching, to the heart, of our compassionate and living God. Fr Babu, drawing from the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI’s, Dei Caritas Est, (God is Love,) asked the great question, ‘have you seen the Lord whom you adore?’ ‘The Lord who gives the Spirit, without measure’, John 3.34 and ‘who from his fullness gives grace upon grace’, John 1.16. He spoke of the differences between giving and receiving and how different these actions are. How our worldly think-
ing, causes us to not be open to receive the gifts, God plans to pour out on us. Gods gifts through his Holy Spirit, enable our lives to grow in faith and our prayers to be prayers of trust in our loving Father, bringing amazing life in us and those we pray for. In his homily in the Mass, Fr Babu, spoke with passion on the great strength he had gained through the family prayer as a child and through his parents continuing prayer, his journey to priesthood. He said they awoke early every day, to pray for him. The day was assisted greatly by the music team from Spiritual Renewal Ministry, prayer group, who meet each Friday at 7.30 pm, in St Mary MacKillop School hall, Narre Warren North.
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Donation form: Bishop’s Family Foundation I/We enclose $............ towards the work of the Bishop’s Family Foundation. Please find enclosed a cheque/money order payable to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale Charitable Fund or debit my Visa or Mastercard.
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Page 10 - Catholic Life, December 2013
Investment schemes and trading Quick calendar plans not a good investment What’s on & when NOW that the share market has improved substantially over the last 18 months, we’re seeing more and more advertisements for investment plans appearing in our papers, our magazines and in our email inboxes. All purport to help us make more money than ever before and more than the experts say we can expect. All promise good times in the future if we only follow the ideas generated by this wonderful scheme. Sounds good? Sounds too good to be true? You’re right, but many, many people get sucked in. After all, if no one bought these schemes, we wouldn’t see them promoted so much. Not all are for listed securities, even. There’s one going round for a horse racing betting program. This one uses “Investment” in its promotion material and the people who will call you won’t use the words “betting” or “horse racing” at all, either. Unfortunately this is not covered by ASIC rules about investing - they don’t need an Australian Financial Services Licence as it’s horse racing. Nor are they acting contrary to ACCC rules unless they actually deny it’s horse racing, so it falls between the two camps. One of the offers coming from Queensland keeps turning up from a different company each time, but with the same address and directors. Need I say more? Their spiel can sound con-
DOLLAR$ & SENSE with David Wells
vincing, as it needs to be to lure otherwise intelligent people to seriously consider handing over thousands of dollars. However, for serious investors, even, or especially those with smaller portfolios, there are other, more tempting and just as dangerous advertisements out there. You can see them on the back page of the dailies especially. “Make Hundreds of Dollars” – “I made $10,000 in a month working from home” and today I saw on the web – “How I Outscored the S&P500 by 618 percent to 12 percent in only six months!”. All the ads start with or contain words such as those. If you see them, be very, very careful, or even better, ignore them. I could claim to have made more than this for some clients – in one case a 10 cent share doubled overnight. That’s 100 percent in one day – or even better sounding, a 36,500 percent gain annualised. Numbers can say many things! These are trading platforms which in many cases involve using very highly leveraged securities, such as options and even more leveraged and dangerous Certificates For Differ-
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ence (CFD’s). In some cases for every dollar invested in options you can be risking $10,000 or more and in the case of CFD’s this may be as much as $50,000 or more. If that’s not scary then bear in mind that the options market is a zero sum game and every profit has a corresponding loss. You will be playing against some very expert institutions with seriously large amounts of money. As well, some of these programs are targeted toward Self Managed Superannuation Fund trustees. SMSF’s are regulated by the Australian Tax Office, which takes a dim view of any SMSF which is trading options. It allows these to be used a hedges against changes in the value of existing share holdings but not for trading. It’s a simple give away if the fund trades an option over a share that the fund doesn’t own. As for CFD’s these are totally disallowed by the ATO in any SMSF. Should a trustee using these investments lose money from the fund (almost certain at some stage) they will be committing an offence. The fund’s tax status may be put at risk (meaning the value of the fund could be taxed to 45 percent) and also the trustees could be liable, even if unaware of the trading. The Horse racing “Investment” scheme just isn’t allowed anywhere near any form of superannuation. The people who make the most from these trading platforms are those who promote them, not their users. Normal returns can be exceeded, but not by much over a long term. If something sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is too good. The cost of some of the programs can run to thousands of dollars – money that can be much better spent on a really solid investment that will allow you to sleep at night and make some real gains over time. If you have any doubts about any program or offer, you can look at a website sponsored by ASIC – www.moneysmart.gov. au. Or you could call me on 1800 339 521 or email dwells@ baillieuholst.com.au if you wish. • 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.
DECEMBER
JUNE
15 - Celebratory Mass for newly ordained Fr Siju Xavier, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, 9.30am 20 – School holidays begin (primary schools) 24 – Christmas Eve 25 – Christmas Day (Holy Day) 26 – Boxing Day 26 – St Stephen Feast Day 27 – St John Feast Day 28 – Holy Innocents Feast Day 29 – Holy Family Feast Day 31 – New Year’s Eve
1 – Ascension 4 – Catholic Life published 6-7 – Emmaus Spirituality Centre promotional weekend 8 – Pentecost 9 – Queen’s Birthday public holiday 15 – Trinity Sunday 22 – Corpus Christi Sunday 24 – Nativity of St John the Baptist 27 – 2nd Term holidays begin 27 – Sacred Heart of Jesus 29 – Sts Peter and Paul
2014 JANUARY 1 – New Year’s Day 1 – World Day of Peace 5 – Epiphany 12 – Baptism of the Lord 17 – St Anthony 26 – Australia Day 27 – Australia Day public holiday 28 – St Thomas Aquinas 31 – St John Bosco 31 – Start of 7 day retreat in Narre Warren and Berwick parishes
FEBRUARY 1 – St Brigid of Kildare 1-6 – Risen Lord retreat with Br Lalith in Narre Warren and Berwick parishes 2 – Presentation of the Lord 3 – Deadline for February Catholic Life 5 – St Agatha 10 – St Scholastica 11 – Our Lady of Lourdes 12 – February Catholic Life published
MARCH 5 – Ash Wednesday 10 – Labor Day public holiday 14 – Valentine’s Day 14-16 – Camp Nazareth, Diocesan Family Retreat, Trafalgar East 17 – St Patrick’s Day 19 – St Joseph 24 – Deadline for April Catholic Life 25 - Annunciation
APRIL 2 – Catholic Life published 4 – 1st Term holidays begin 6 – Daylight saving ends (turn clocks back 1 hour) 13 – Palm Sunday 18 – Good Friday 19 – Holy Saturday Easter Vigil 20 – Easter Sunday 21 – Easter Monday public holiday 22 – 2nd Term begins 25 – Anzac Day public holiday 25 – St Mark 27 – Canonisation of John Paul II and John XXIII 27 – Divine Mercy Sunday 29 – St Catherine of Sienna
MAY 11 – Mother’s Day 24 – Our Lady Help of Christians 26 – Deadline for June Catholic Life
JULY 5 – St Thomas the Apostle 14 – 3rd Term begins 22 – St Mary Magdalene 31 – St Ignatius of Loyola
AUGUST 6 – The Transfiguration 8 – St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 11 – Deadline for August Catholic Life 11 – St Clare 15 – The Assumption 20 – Catholic Life published 27-28 – Catholic Women’s League state conference, Warragul Arts Centre 28 St Augustine of Hippo
SEPTEMBER 3-5 – Australasian Catholic Press Association conference, Canberra. 7 – Father’s Day 13 – St John Chrysostom 14 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross 19 – 3rd Term holidays begin 21 – St Matthew 27 – St Vincent de Paul 27 – AFL Grand Final
OCTOBER 1 – St Therese of Lisieux 4 – St Francis of Assisi 5 – Daylight saving begins (turn clocks forward 1 hour) 5-19 – Extraordinary Vatican synod on the family. 6 – 4th term begins 6 – Deadline for October Catholic Life 15 – Catholic Life published 15 – St Theresa of Avila 18 – St Luke 28 – Sts Simon and Jude
NOVEMBER 1 – All Saints 2 – All Souls 4 – Melbourne Cup public holiday 9 – Dedication of the Lateran Basilica 11 – Remembrance Day 23 – Feast of Christ the King 30 – Advent begins 30 – St Andrew
DECEMBER 3 – St Francis Xavier 6 – St Nicholas 8 – Immaculate conception 14 – St John of the Cross 18 – Christmas holidays begin 25 – Christmas Day 26 – Boxing Day 26 – St Stephen 27 – St John 29 – Holy Family Feast Day 31 – New Year’s Eve
Catholic Life, December 2013 - Page 11
The Cathedrals of Orvieto and Lucca in Italy ear where we were staying at a farm house in the Tiber Valley was Orvieto, a hill-top town in Umbria in the countryside north east of Rome. Orvieto is famous for its cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Our Lady of the Assumption). In the centuries before Christ Orvieto was an Etruscan town until taken over by the Romans. Like nearby towns in the Tiber valley such as Perugia, it stands isolated atop a volcanic plug, easily defended from attack in past times. The cathedral was originally constructed in the Romanesque style but subsequent alterations have transformed it into a Gothic structure. The exterior façade of the 14th century church is a marvel of Renaissance art, with disparate forms blended into a harmonious whole. The cathedral is constructed of alternative rows of white Travertine marble and blue grey basalt, giving it a striking polychrome appearance of horizontal stripes. The interior walls and pillars have an identical striped appearance. The façade has a central rosecolored stained glass circular window, golden mosaics, sculptures of scenes from the Old and New Testaments, and a row of statues of the 12 apostles, which are outstanding examples of medieval Italian art. The interior is renowned for
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History with Patrick Morgan its chapels, and for its altars covered with frescoes. In one chapel a piece of cloth stained with blood from a host has been preserved in a frame. The story is that a local priest had doubts that Christ was actually present in the host. At one Mass the host began to bleed, an occurrence which overcame his misgivings.
stained cloth is venerated as the centerpiece of the Corpus Christi day procession at Orvieto. In another chapel are frescoes painted by Fra Angelico and Luca Signorelli. One is an apocalyptic painting of the Judgment Day when God separates the saved, who are shown ascending into the heavens, and the damned who descend through the Gates of Hell into its sulphurous fires. This scene was commonly painted, as a warning to the faithful, on the rood screen in churches all over Europe before the Reformation, but is now usually seen SANTA Maria Assunta Cathedral in only in some small churches in remote Orvieto. parts of eastern The miracle was taken up by Europe. St Thomas Aquinas, then living Here it is repeated behind the at Orvieto. As a result in 1294 main altar and on one of the the Pope inaugurated the feast marble panels of the exterior. of Corpus Domine, later called The sculptures and frescoes Corpus Christi. of Orvieto’s cathedral illustrate Aquinas wrote the hymns how salvation (symbolized Tantum Ergo and O Salutaris by Our Lady’s triumphant Hostia for this feast. The Ascension into Heaven) can
Female saints to inspire you Talking about Books SISTERHOOD OF SAINTS by Melanie Rigney, published by Franciscan Media, distributed by Rainbow Books, hardback, 369 pages, rrp $24.95.
CATHOLICS don’t have to be told of great saintly examples which we can strive to emulate. Honoring saintly-lives has long been part of our tradition and from the earliest days of the Church we have dedicated our places of worship to saints. Legend has it that Joseph of Aramithea established the first Christian church in Glastonbury, England, in AD65 and named it after the Virgin Mary. There are countless books and web sites devoted to information about the saints but this book provides daily inspiration and guidance in prayer by focusing on a different female saint. From the Virgin Mary on January 1 through to the hermit Melania the Younger on December 31 there is a wonderful list of members of the sisterhood of saints. It is not just a list of the better known saints but also includes those canonised women who were homemakers, nurses, teachers, politicians, wives, widows, prostitutes, slaves and unwed mothers. Each day features a short reflection on the life of the saint with brief biological information and here relevance to the particular day.
There is often an inspirational quote from the saint but in many cases there are no known quotes, and so there is a passage from Scripture or perhaps her canonisation ceremony. Importantly there is always a challenge based on the charism of the saint on which the reader should reflect or try to emulate. SALT OF THE EARTH LIGHT OF THE WORLD, Spirituality of the Sunday Gospels Year A by Peter Varengo, published by Mosaic Press, distributed by Rainbow Books, paperback, 251 pages, rrp $34.95. THE author of this book is a well-known Melbourne Salesian priest who is now actively involved in adult retreat work. The book reflects on the Sunday Gospels for the coming year but instead of just being a commentary on the text, they look deeper to the message of the text which should inspire us. Integral to the book is the author’s assumption that life and faith go hand in hand together
and that it is God who brings freshness into our lives, energising us and gifting us. Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe SDB provides the foreword. MARY MOTHER OF GOD, by Chris O’Donnell O.Carm, published by The Columba Press, paperback, 64 pages, rrp $13.95. MUCH has been written about Mary but in this small book, the author reflects on the 40 key references to her in the Bible, the writings of the mystics, Byzantine liturgy and documents of Vatican 2. He brings together the various images of Mary into our everyday lives and also reflects on how Mary is presented in Protestant and Byzantine traditions. Interestingly the book was originally written in English, then translated into Czech where it was first published, then into Irish (Gaelic) for its second publishing before finally we get to see the original English test.
DUOMO di San Martine Cathedral in Lucca. overcome the fear of death, above. The façade includes mortality, sin and damnation. an iconostasis with Christ These intertwined themes of Pantocrator at the highest level. The building is in the style the drama of earthly life and the hereafter echoed strongly in the of Tuscan churches in nearby Pisa, Sienna and Florence medieval mind. Orvieto, being close to Rome, the cathedral in Orvieto was was used by some Popes in influenced by this style. The medieval times as the base of apex of this style is the grand their operations. The cathedral, cathedral at Florence, called one of the most impressive in the Duomo, with its enormous Italy, forms part of a complex dome and exterior entirely including a Papal Palace, clothed in white marble. Inside the Lucca Cathedral administrative offices and the most famous art work is an museum. We also visited Lucca, a elaborate dark cedar statue of walled town in Tuscany in Christ’s crucifixion, said to have central Italy. Originally an been carved by Nicodemus, Etruscan town, it was, like a witness to the event. Art Orvieto, taken over by the historians say it is in reality a Romans in the centuries before replica in an 8th Century Syrian style. the Christian era. The carving was once carried From early medieval times Lucca established itself as in processions through the one of Italy’s independent city streets of the city. The statue is states. Though it was small housed in the chapel of the Volto and didn’t have the clout of Santo (Holy Countenance). The church’s interior includes other city states like Venice and Genoa, Lucca and nearby elaborate tombs, a marble choir Parma retained their self- screen, and religious paintings government until taken over by Tintoretto, Fra Bartolomeo by Napoleon’s invading French and other famous Renaissance artists. The cathedral, though armies in 1805. Lucca’s earthen defensive an active church, has the feeling walls, built during the of a museum, as it contains Renaissance period, remain items from many different intact, and are now used as a time and places, including circular track for promenading. Byzantine style icons, painted Lucca’s cathedral church, altar pieces and marble tombs the Duomo di San Martine, of past worthies. Adjacent to has, like many of Lucca’s the cathedral is a large Bishop’s other churches, a Romanesque Palace and a campanile (bell basilica shape from the 11th tower), both in the Romanesque century. The church was begun style. There are a number of similar in 1070AD by St Bishop Anselm, later Pope Alexander but smaller churches in Lucca in this striped style - rectangular II. The shape of the church was in outline with elaborate marble reconfigured in the Gothic facades. In one of these churches style in the 14th Century. The we heard a performance of spectacular Renaissance façade Verdi’s Requiem, broadcast of gleaming white marble from on a screen to the crowd in nearby Carrara has arches the square outside on a warm forming a portico of sculptures summer evening.
Central Catholic Bookshop 322 Lonsdale St., Melbourne (Next door to St Francis Church) Visit our Website at www.catholicbookshop.com.au
Browse through our range of books and sacramental and religious gifts, or search for specific items by author, title or keyword. Open seven days Phone and mail orders welcome. Credit cards accepted.
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Page 12 - Catholic Life, December 2013
Our bishop welcomed into Canberra cathedral ARCHBISHOP Christopher Prowse was installed as Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn at a two hour Mass in St Christopher’s Cathedral, Forrest, on November 19. About 700 people squeezed into the cathedral for the ceremony which was also broadcast live across the internet. Parishioners in Canberra were told not to bother trying to get a seat and so most parishes set up screens in their local parish halls to broadcast the event live. The archbishop’s 60th birthday on November 14 was his last day in Sale Diocese where he served almost four and a half years as the eighth bishop. In his homily the archbishop reflected on three main points – the first of which was his name. He told the story of the Eastern Church devotion to St Christopher who lived around 250AD in what is now Turkey. Legend had it had St Christopher had asked a hermit how he could best serve Christ and the hermit had replied that given his tall stature, he could help people to cross a nearby dangerous river. This Christopher had done and one day he had an encounter with a child who seemed intolerably heavy as he crossed the river. Christopher had rebuked the child for putting him in great danger and said he did not think the whole world would have been as heavy.
“It is Christopher knocking at the cathedral door of St Christopher’s.” He pointed to the bishop’s chair or cathedra and said it was from this chair that the archbishop presided over the liturgy. By symbolic extension it was from here that the archbishop carried Christ to the entire archdiocese as the visible agent of unity in teaching, sanctifying and governing. Archbishop Prowse said that he looked forward in the years ahead to listening to everyone as they recounted the Gospel energies which had gone forth from St Christopher’s Cathedral and also St Peter and Paul’s in Goulburn. He would enjoy hearing how they had carried Christ to the peoples of the diocese and how they had carried the poor, the lost and marginalised to Jesus, the Good Shepherd. “It is clear that you have done this most eloquently via education, health and social services. However, not only am I keen to hear what you have done … but I am keen to hear also how you have done this.” In his third point he said Christopher could be a name that all of us could share collectively as a metaphor for missionary discipleship. Recently in an address to the council in Rome which coordinates the new evangelisation, Pope Francis had said “Every
THE newly-installed archbishop blesses the crowd as he leaves St Christopher's Cathedral. The child had replied “You had on your shoulders not only the whole world but Him who made it. I am Christ, your King, whom you are serving by this work. The archbishop said Christopher became defined as the “Christ-bearer” or the one who carried Christ through his encounter with the Christ-child. Archbishop Prowse said “So here I am as your new archbishop. It is Christopher who greets you now. I want to be Christopher for you. I want to carry you and your burdens to Jesus, the great burden-bearer, across the dangerous river of life.” He asked the people to let him carry them to Jesus in the times ahead. His second point was to seek entry to the fine cathedral which incredibly bore the name of St Christopher.
baptised Christian is a Christopher, namely a Christ-bearer as the Church Fathers used to say.” Archbishop Prowse said “Our burdens seem to abound. For example, in Australia we are now in a time of a Royal Commission and Parliamentary Enquiries into child sex abuse where we truly feel for its victims. “In our times globally, the authority of personal experience and self-determination seem to undermine rational and traditional authorities of any kind, including those of the Church. In our families, we see growing challenges to its stability and capacity to pass on religious belief in a culture no more “religious” but one of “choice”. “So, in these burdensome times, let the Christopher in each one of us truly believe that in Jesus alone the yoke becomes
easy and the burden light. It is not us carrying Jesus, but Jesus carrying us! Ultimately, it is a crisis of belief – Do we truly believe this? We pray: “Jesus, carry us home to the Father of all mercies”. “In the final analysis, we are left with the primal choice found in today’s Gospel. When Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4), he was left with a choice. He could ignore and dismiss the command of Jesus for good practical reasons and continue to mend and wash his nets. Or, responding in raw faith to Jesus, pay the nets out for a catch in deep and unfamiliar waters. We know what happened. Obedience in faith led to a bountiful catch. Two boats were filled to sinking point with fish. “We are all left with a similar stark decision in our troublesome times where the fish seem to be found in other waters. Either we sit on the shore of life and mend and wash our fine Church buildings and institutions. Or we learn from the Faith of St Peter and evangelise afresh in uncharted waters but knowing Christ, the fisherman of us all, commands us to a “new” evangelisation. Let us respond with Petrine Faith. “Let us go out with courage and hope in the deep waters to the new depths of evangelisation opening up in our times – the depths of discovery and science, the internet and social media, art and beauty, the new poor in families - First Australians, migrants and refugees, the search for God, the city and rural areas, politics and economics, culture and inter-religious dialogue, the search for meaning and purpose in life. Let us go fishing with Christ! “So many of us were delighted to hear Pope Francis’ homily at the Chrism Mass this year, in Rome. He stated that pastors must have “the odour of sheep” on them in imitation of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. But, in the light of today’s Gospel, it could also be said surely, using another significant ancient Christian leadership metaphor, that the Christophers of the future must also have the “odour of Fish” on them too!
ARCHBISHOP Christopher Prowse is led to the cathedra or bishop's chair by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paul Gallagher. “It has been noted by others that bishops, priest and deacons make good shepherds but poor fishermen. Maybe we ought to reflect upon this as missionary disciples, named Christophers. “We may not smell very pleasing to a world where institutional religions seem to be nowadays “on the nose”. But, then again, we might find ourselves
better placed pastorally to respond to today’s challenges. “We will become close to the scandal of Christ Crucified. It is at Calvary that we are truly commissioned to become Christophers in our world, aching and searching for God. Here we will find our hope for salvation.”
THE large gathering of clergy at the installation which included more than 20 bishops and 150 priests and deacons.
PART of the large crowd at the installation, including in the front row, the archbishop's brother, sisters and their families.
Catholic Life, December 2013 - Page 13
Youth festival a dynamic celebration of faith By Cassie Gawley HISTORY was made last week with over 3500 young people, including 160 from the Diocese of Sale, gathering in Melbourne for the first Australian Catholic Youth Festival. The festival encompassed the theme of “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” and was held at Australian Catholic University’s Melbourne campus in East Melbourne, with three plenary gatherings occurring at Festival Hall in West Melbourne on Thursday afternoon, and both Friday and Saturday evenings. At the opening plenary
on Thursday afternoon, the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paul Gallagher welcomed all assembled in Festival Hall, which was packed with young people from all over the country who gathered to sing, dance, listen to inspiring talks and stories and ultimately to praise God. The energy and enthusiasm of all present was infectious, and the atmosphere was electric for all sessions. Special guests at the plenaries included the incredibly talented international singer and songwriter Steve Angrisano, who travelled from the US to be a part of the Festival, Fr
OUR Lady Help of Christians Youth Group from Narre Warren enjoying the festival.
Rob Galea from Shepparton who inspired and energised the audience in every performance, and Genevieve Bryant; a Melbourne music minister who’s passion was clearly evident through her beautiful performances. Bishop Eugene Hurley from Darwin was a crowd favorite, along with Archbishop Christopher Prowse from Canberra, Bishop Bill Wright from Maitland-Newcastle and Bishop Vincent Long from Melbourne who all delivered wonderfully inspirational talks and motivated young people by sharing their stories and their love for the young Church of Australia. Melbourne-based youth minister James Edwards and his band contributed to the amazing atmosphere by performing the festival theme song, Your Spirit. This vibrant atmosphere also transferred to Australian Catholic University during each day as young people actively engaged in workshops, discussion forums, exhibits in the INcounter space, prayer and worship, interactive outdoor activities and social justice activities. Workshops and discussion forums provided young people with an opportunity for dialogue with bishops and religious members of the
PARTICIPANTS from St Ita’s, Drouin, St Joseph’s, Warragul, and Marist Sion College, Warragul. Church about issues that are relevant to them today, and the INcounter space allowed young people to discover more about the Church’s organisations and the work they do. The festival was a dynamic event, with something for everyone, as the workshops, forums, prayer spaces, live performances and plenary gatherings provided opportunities for the young people of Australia to learn more about and be involved in aspects of the Church which interested them. The festival concluded with Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart leading a beautiful
closing Mass, which all attending bishops, priests and 3500 young people on the Saturday evening. The Australian Catholic Youth Festival was an amazing, life-giving experience, which challenged the young Church of Australia to encounter Jesus and to let the Holy Spirit enter and be part of their everyday lives. The festival was a blessed celebration of the young Church of Australia and has significantly inspired those who attended to live as modern day disciples of Jesus in the world today.
LOTE week has Italian flavor TRARALGON - St Michael’s Primary School celebrated LOTE week last month and as they all learn Italian, what better way to celebrate than with an Italian Week. (LOTE is an acronym for Languages Other Than English). The week started with all the students watching a performance called Dammi il cinque. 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 an Italian character or wear the national Italian colours of red, white and green.
Dress up day was incredible! The school was awash with the colours of green, white and red. Not to mention gondoliers, pizza chefs, artists, flags, Super Marios, Ferraris, gangsters and lots more. Some of the grades 5/6’s were asked what they most enjoyed during LOTE week and these were their responses. Grade 5 student, Noah explained, “The performance was about a lady being teleported around Italy. The parade was good because there were a lot of different costumes this year.” Grade 6 student, Georgia replied, “I liked the show because it was informative. We learnt information about different places in Italy.” Grade 5 student, Roarke said,
“LOTE week was great because I’m new at the school I liked doing something different, especially the cooking.” Matt from grade 5 responded, “The costumes were cool. I liked cooking and eating the crostoli and the cannelloni.” School principal, Cathy Blackford said,” A huge thank you and congratulations to Signora Massaro for a very enjoyable and successful LOTE week. The culmination on Thursday was a real credit to Signora.”
YOUNG people from Catholic College Sale and Heart Region heading home after an action-packed time at the festival.
Reflect On Your Life A CDF Pre-Paid Funeral plan allows you to arrange and pay for your funeral in advance at today’s prices with the funeral director of your choice. Neither you nor those you leave behind will have to worry about it again. CDF Pre-Paid Funerals are the only Fund established specifically for South Eastern Victoria. Monies paid are invested locally through the government approved Trust Fund. Organise and pay for your CDF Pre-Paid Funeral through any participating funeral director within Gippsland, Mornington Peninsula and outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne. For more information contact:
CDF Pre-Paid Pre-Paid Funerals CDF Funerals PO POBox Box508 1410 Sale 3853 3820 Warragul GRADE 1 student Austin and grade 2 student Noah both came dressed as Italian chefs.
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Page 14 - Catholic Life, December 2013
For the Young and Young at Heart Colour Santa in his workshop Time for a Laugh
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Age . . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Send entries to Catholic Life Colouring Contest. c/- PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820.
TWO men managed to steal a truck load of footballs and were driving them interstate where they hoped to sell them for a big profit. On the way their truck narrowly missing getting hit by a spacecraft as it crashed on the highway in front of them. Two dazed aliens climbed from the wreckage and asked to be given a lift to the next town when they would be able to contact the mothership to arrange a rescue. There was no room in the cabin so they let the aliens climb in the back with the footballs. Shortly afterwards the stolen truck was stopped by police who asked the two crims what they were carrying. Thinking quickly, one of the crims told of their encounter with the crashed spacecraft and said they were transporting alien eggs to New South Wales where
they would be hatched. The policeman scoffed at the story and took a look in the back of the truck where he saw the two little aliens sitting on top of the footballs. He quickly slammed the door and told the crims “Get out of here. Hurry. Two of the eggs have hatched already.”
DID you know that according to the song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, Santa has twelve reindeer? Sure, in the introduction it goes “There’s Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen...” That makes eight reindeer. Then there’s Rudolph, of course, so that makes nine. Then there’s Olive. You know, “Olive the other reindeer used to laugh...” That makes ten. The eleventh is Howe. You know, “Then Howe the reindeer loved him...” Eleven reindeer. Oh, and number 12? That’s Andy! “Andy shouted out with glee.” The proof is in the song! THIS is an unusual paragraph. I’m curious how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it? It looks so plain you would think nothing was wrong with it! In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is unusual though. Study it, and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out! Try to do so without any coaching! Answer below: The most common letter in the English language E has not been used anywhere in the paragraph.
A GUY goes into the confessional box after years being away from the Church. He pulls aside the curtain, enters and sits himself down. There he finds a fully equipped bar with crystal glasses, the best wine, beer on tap, cigars and liqueur chocolates nearby. He hears a priest come in: “Father, forgive me for it’s been a very long time since I’ve been to confession and I must admit that the confessional box is much more inviting than it used to be”. The priest replies: “Get out, you idiot. You’re on my side”.
This month’s prize winner THIS month’s winner is JAIME LITTLE, 7, from Pakenham, who attends St Brigid’s Primary School at Officer. Her colouring of Mary and the Baby Jesus was fantastic. Thank you to the many, many children who sent in their entries this month and throughout the year. We always appreciate receiving your great work. We will deliver Jaime’s prize to her before the end of the school year.
GRACE Adams, 10, from St Joseph’s Primary, Korumburra, JAI Moloney, 7, from St Michael’s Primary, Traralgon, shows shows the prize she won it the October colouring competition. off his book prize won in the September contest.
Catholic Life, December 2013 - Page 15
Yarram church re-opens
Classifieds bingo
prayer
prayer
situations vacant
Sacred Heart School
OH HEAVENLY MOTHER, Our Lady of the Holy Eucharist, through Thy most powerful intervention and since Thou art the Mother of Our Saviour, we lay our petitions and necessities in Thy hands, for through Thee, all these favours will be granted. I humbly beseech Thee, Oh Heavenly Queen, to cast out all doubt, anxieties and all other mishaps which have brought me to this state, and plead with Thee, on bended knees, to hear and answer my prayers. (Mention your request.) I further fervently promise to spread this devotion of Thine throughout the world and pray that all our requests and needs will be made through Thee, (Say this prayer for nine days consecutively and by the 9th day you can be sure this prayer will not have been made in vain.)
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.
SACRAMENTAL COORDINATOR
CHRISTMAS
Friday, December 20, 2013 Morwell RSL Club, Elgin St., Morwell Join our annual giant customer Christmas giveaway. Bingo will be closed from December 20 reopening January 24, 2014. Further details phone 0401962 404 or 5133 7221 (AH) To our valued patrons, thank you for supporting the children of Sacred Heart School during 2013. Through your generosity we have been able to complete many projects this year. Have a joyous Christmas and festive New Year from all at Sacred Heart School Bingo.
wanted known Let’s leave something for those in need
THANK YOU ST JUDE. O Holy St Jude Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen.
The Parish of St Mary’s Bairnsdale is seeking interest for a qualified person to lead the Parish Sacramental Program from 2014. The successful applicant will be working across a wide section of our Parish community: • With students and parents in the preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation • Parish Sacramental Team • The Liturgy committee • Working with the Parish RCIA team • Parish Baptism program. • Parish Pastoral Team All interested persons are asked to contact Fr Peter on mobile 0408 517 073 and/or the Parish Centre for further details. 5152 2942. Applications no later than December 18, 2013.
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YARRAM – St Mary’s Church, Yarram, had reopened for Masses following an extensive period of repairs to the roof. For the past year Masses have been held in the neighboring St Mary’s School hall. Sunday Masses are being held at 9am and an official celebration of completion of the repairs be held on December 1. Bishop Prowse ordered the church closed and fenced off to protect the public and Massgoers after roof tiles began falling. A consultants report found that fortunately the roof structure had not been weakened by water but the tiles on the newer section of the building needed replacing.
public notices
VOCATIONS Priests & Deacons Are you considering a vocation as a priest or deacon for the Diocese of Sale? If so please contact Diocesan Vocations Director
Fr Darek Jablonski 5133 8132 vocations@sale.catholic.org.au
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Nagle hockey boys win thrilling state final BAIRNSDALE - The Nagle College Year 9-10 boys hockey team took out the recent School Sport Victoria State Final in Melbourne with a thrilling 4-3 win over Frankston High School. Nagle reached the finals day after winning the Gippsland Region and the East Gippsland Division competitions last term. On the finals day, the Nagle boys defeated Blackburn High School 8-0, Maribyrnong College 1-0 and St Josephs, Mildura 4-0 in their pool games to advance to the grand final. In the final, the scores were locked up 1-1 at full time. The game then went into penalty strokes with each team nominating five players each to take the strokes. Nagle players to convert their strokes successfully were Oscar Crunden-Smith, Sam
Parwatta and Kia McKeon with the scores once again level 3-3. The teams then had to go into sudden death penalty strokes with Oscar CrundenSmith once again scoring and Darcy Willowhite in goals for Nagle denying Frankston the opportunity to equalise. Nagle ran out winners 4-3 in the penalty strokes to give them the state championship. Players were presented with medals to recognise their outstanding achievement. Team members included Ben Howden, Chaz Newcomen, Jack Bowden, Darcy Willowhite, Darcy Simpson, Riley Simpson, Kia McKeon, Jordan Gibbs, Zach Coulton, Alex Crowe, Sam Parwatta, Chris Mason and Oscar Crunden-Smith. The team was coached on the day by past student Michael Howden.
THE victorious Nagle boys hockey team with their medals around their necks.
Catholic College cricketers at Marist carnival SALE - Catholic College Sale’s Marist cricketers will be heading to Perth to compete in the 41st Marist Cricket Carnival. The boys will play five games over six days against teams from across Australia. Taylor Tatterson, playing in his fourth carnival, will captain the team and Jayden Allison and Cormac
Hassett will be his deputies. The team has a good mix, with six new players and seven experienced players. Ned Hurley, Kerrod MacGregor-Davies and Taylor Tatterson will lead the attack with Jack Rietschel and Jack Goodwin likely to play key roles as spinners. Cormac Hassett and Tim Des-
sent, the openers, will be hoping to get the team off to solid starts. With Jayden Allison, Jesse Collins, Taylor Tatterson and other capable batsmen to follow, the team is hoping to post some competitive scores. Luke Drummond (coach), Josh Davis (assistant coach) and Bro Paul Murphy (man-
ager) will accompany the team to Perth. The team recently played the annual Brother Crispen Shield game against Marcellin College in Melbourne. The boys performed well having a good win for the 4th consecutive year. Catholic College 7-167 defeated Marcellin College 163. C. Hassett 71, J. Rietschel 22, T. Dessent 21, K. MacGregor-
Davies 2-20, N. Hurley 2-24 Catholic College last won a Marist Carnival at Lismore in 2005. They were unlucky at Auckland in 2011 when rain came and washed out their chances of a certain carnival win. This year the team is confident of performing well and hopefully claiming the Marist Carnival 2013 title.
MEMBERS of the Catholic College Sale team after winning the Brother Crispin Shield for the fourth consecutive year. To see/order our full range of olive wood carvings please go to our website www.aidtochurch.org and click on the on-line store.
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Consider bequest to aid your Church LEAVING bequests to the Church is time-honored tradition in the Catholic Church. Some of the finest Cathedrals in the world have been aided by generous benefactors who have willing part of their estate to the Church. In this diocese we have also benefitted from time to time by people willing money to the Church but in comparison to many other areas of Australia the bequests are infrequent. If writing a new will you are asked to consider leaving a portion of your estate to further the work of the Church in our diocese. People can leave a set mon-
etary amount or a percentage of the estate. How to do this is best discussed with the solicitor when preparing your will. Money can be left simply to the Catholic Diocese of Sale which allows the bishop to use the funds where there is the most need at the time or the money can be directed to specific purposes. Examples might be the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale Charitable Fund (Bishop’s Family Foundation), Priests’ Welfare Foundation of the Diocese of Sale, or you might leave it to the diocese to pay for training seminarians and further education of priests.